New Beginnings-- HOME SCHOOLING

For the 2014 year, our family will be doing lots and lots of traveling. First of all, Rylan's job has us traveling for trainings and certifications.  Secondly, I really would like to go to home for Christmas. Lastly, who knows what God has planned for us.  In order for all this to flow and work, our new we as a family has decided that Home Schooling Alohi would be the right choice for us.  Rylan asked me over a year ago if I would consider it.  He didn't ask me to give him an answer because he knew my answer was "NO," but to consider it.  After praying and seeing what is on our plate, I know Home Schooling is the right decision for us... for now. Don't know if this will continue into other "grade levels" but for now it is the right decision.

Thankfully there are a bunch of families in Scottsbluff that home school and I was able to ask questions. I reached out to friends that I knew home schooled to get some direction and was invited into many home school social groups. Let me tell you there are so MANY different ideas, methods, curriculums, etc. Research can be a good thing and a bad thing. After about a month or two of reading, internet searching and then authentic conversations with Rylan and Alohi. We decided to stick to a more "traditional" approach.  I am sure I could do a full blog about the different approaches out there, but not going to do that.

Why? Well because we aren't sure if this is going to happen for just the year or continue for a couple of years. We can't answer that right now and with the possibility of Alohi potentially going to public school later on, we thought that a more traditional approach would be better.  Personally, I am more of a unit study approach where materials over lap and learning is combined with all subject matters.  However, I don't necessarily have the time to work with this type of curriculum, then add all the traveling I didn't think this would be a good start.

Now that we decided on a direction, then comes the fun part... NOT REALLY... Picking a curriculum.  Thanks to some friends, we choose a program that is used in homes and in private Christian schools. ABEKA.  1- I know people that use it and can go to them for help if needed at any time. 2- Its laid out nicely; has progress checks, scripted, and it has everything needed in one stop.  However, we have everything in this one curriculum but I am pretty sure I am going to end up using another math program.  After Rylan gave Alohi a few math pre-test, we have found out that she is in the middle of a kindergarten math program.  So with that, we may go through kindergarten math quickly and start 1st grade math.  We will see were we end up with Math.  I feel stronger in teaching Math than I do teaching reading. So I feel like branching out in that area would be the best place to explore a little bit more.

So here is what we have planned so far (this is subject to changing since the "school year" hasn't started:
1- phonics, reading, writing ABEKA program; with this program we will be introducing Alohi to cursive writing... why? She already knows her alphabet in print so why not try something different.
2- math ABEKA or Horizons (the reason why its an "or" was it was cheaper for me to buy the whole ABEKA "kit" than for me to buy this individually. Literally took me two hours to figure this all out)
3- social studies will be a combination of things.  ABEKA book and a few things I have planned up since we will be doing all our traveling.  I will be making a note book of all the 50 states in the US. We will map all the states we are traveling to, looking for state flag, flower and animal.  (thinking it would be cool to have a 50 states passport) Then we will look at modes of transportations, along with maps.
4- science will be a combination of things as well. ABEKA book (you know since it is done and easy) and the following topics: weather, 5 senses, exploring nature and I know I have a book in my teacher materials that is 365 home experiments.
5- daily note book a mix of resources I have found.  this is like a daily calendar, weather chart, etc. I am hoping to have something for Po'o to do here as well.

Speaking of how to get Po'o involved with all this, I am hoping to just get one of those big "workbooks" you find in Sams or walmart for him to do "school work" with sister.  Along, fun things I can find that will go along with big sisters stuff that is on topic.  Alohi does such a good job teaching him all the things she learns that I am really excited to see how this will all work together!!

If anyone is looking at starting homeschooling here's the first book I read on the matter and helped me figure out materials and curriculum.

Also, I was recommended to try this book with Alohi.  We are working through it and we are both enjoying it.  I am really proud of her! And me!

Here's some of the "school" fun we have been doing!