2019/2020 Curriculum

    I think we finally found our groove, at least in what curriculum we use.  As I mentioned in my previous post, I went to the Called to Teach Homeschool Convention recently.  There were a couple things I have/had to order online, and there was one thing I already have.  That being said, I did come home with or order there at convention, much of this coming year's curriculum.

   The convention location was different, and it was a bit smaller than in the past.  But it all seemed to work out for us.  In the past, this particular convention has been held in Arlington at a huge convention center.  This year, due to construction, it was moved to Dallas at the Sheraton Hotel.  In part because of the cost of this venue, there were fewer vendors on site.  For instance, Apologia was not there.  I am not sure if it was due to cost or what their reasoning was for not attending, but they were missed.

   Though we are not using Apologia's science this year, we will use a planner through them.  My oldest has used the Ultimate Weekly Planner for Teens, and it has really helped him keep track of his assignments.  I will likely have Porthos use one this year.   That being said, Porthos will be doing General Science 2 through Master Books.  The set includes books on Caves, Fossils, Geology, and Archaeology.

    Sticking with what we know, the boys will be using Teaching Textbooks for their math.  Since I had purchased Pre-Algebra last year, and hadn't yet used it, Porthos will be using that this year.  Aramis will be using TT's Math 6, which Porthos completed last year.  So there was no math purchase this year.

    Porthos discovered this year that he likes the format of AOP's LifePac for Language Arts.  I think he really likes the workbook style that LifePac offers.  We are going with that again this year for both him and Aramis.  I'm not sure yet what next year will hold, but for now, it's LifePac.

    Our favorite for history, bible, reading, art, and music, has and still is My Father's World.  This year we will be working with 1850 to Modern Times.  We started using MFW with Exploring Countries and Cultures.  I love the set up.  The Teacher Manual has every day, every week mapped out for you.  This is a circular curriculum, which basically means that when you have completed all five years, you can go back to the beginning and run through it again if you need. 
 
    A couple extra items this year are going to use:  Auto Upkeep through Christian Light Publications.  This is a basic automotive information and maintenance curricula.  For the hands-on bit, we will be going to a local mechanic for assistance.   There will also be a focus on cursive again, as we did not do that this past year.  At convention, I purchased New American Cursive through Memoria Press.  That's about it, I think.  I just finished a video overview of this, so you can see all the items mentioned above.  You can find it on YouTube, titled "2019 curriculum review", or click here:

Spring 2019

    It has been a hot minute since the last time I posted anything.  So much has happened, but I am going to focus on right now.  It's the middle of May, and every weekend is booked.  Graduation ceremony, homeschool convention, karate tournament, and karate belt test take up every Saturday.  Next month is nearly as busy.

    My 4th was the local homeschool graduation ceremony.  Yes, we went full Star Wars theme with it too.  Athos is my first graduate, and we are so excited for him.  Homeschoolers do things different for graduation then what you see in public school.  There were 13 students being promoted.  Each student had a display table highlighting their school years.  Each had a bio in the program that was read by the MC.  Each had a slide show of their lives, and some of the parents got up and gave a brief speech.  It was an amazing experience.

    The second Saturday I took Porthos and Aramis with me to the Called to Teach Homeschool Convention in Dallas.  It was in a different location than years' past, and had a lower attendance of vendors.  Apologia was not there.   My Father's World stopped coming a couple years ago.  So those are things I have/had to order online.  What did I buy?  You'll have to wait for the next post, which I promise won't be two years from now.  There were some good finds there though.  I did not attend any of the seminars, sticking only to shopping this time. 

    This Saturday is a karate tournament.  Porthos has decided that he wants to go to State this year, and so is competing in regional tournaments to hopefully earn enough points to be invited to State.  Although all three of the boys are in karate at this point, I have agreed to let tournaments be Porthos' thing.  He needed something that was just his. 

    Speaking of karate, Porthos and Aramis earned their final stripes on their current belts, and will be belt testing next Saturday.  It's a big belt test day, where multiple students will be testing.  The lower belts have only to do their sparring portion of the belt test now.  The higher belts may still have katas, combos (kicks and punches), and self-defense to demonstrate.  Porthos is blue belt, testing for green.  In December he can test for brown belt.  Then in two years he can test for black.  He really has done an amazing job, and excelled in karate.  Aramis is orange belt, testing for purple.  Although he is not naturally athletic, he has made great strides.  Athos can test in July, I think, for his purple belt.

 

    As crazy full as this month is, the past year + has been equally so.  There has been loss, stress, setbacks, and blessings.  Through it all, God has been with us every step of the way.  I know He will always carry us through whatever we face.