2012-2013 planning post

Warning:  very long post ahead! 

We're planning on starting our school year on August 27th and working for 34 weeks, finishing on or about July 12th.  We school year round, taking a week off every 4 weeks or so.  2 weeks at Christmas and Holy Week/Easter.  This year we have a family vacation planned to the Smokey Mountains to see fall leaves.  We school 4 days a week, taking Wednesday off.  This works extremely well for us.  It allows time to get work done, but a day for shopping, errands, doctor's visits, household projects, etc.

A few years ago, I got an idea off a blog about planning a school year with Post-It's.  I thought about it, and it just seemed like a really good idea.  I only had 2 students at the time, and it worked great!  The world has gotten more complicated :)

I have columns for each child on each day (Monday for each, Tuesday, etc).  In years past I've put the kids down the side and the days across the top.  Down the side are the times.  Each Post-It has the subject written on it.

This year when I went to plan, I was going to just lay out the Post-It's on the desk.  I finally got it cleaned off and it's big enough :)  But hubby was going to work on schedules for work and I didn't want him to mess it up to be in his way.  In looking around for another way to do it, I found a board that is going to be used for another purpose.  Perfect!

I was planning on making a household schedule after I got the school schedule done, but everything just started flowing.  So, I let it flow around the school schedule :)

The Plan...  (do you hear God laughing???)

The Professor ~ 4th grade (though he's doing mostly 5th grade work)
Math ~ Math U See level Epsilon.  The focus is fractions.
Religion ~ Faith and Life 4
      reread of Baltimore Catechism 1
      Stories of the Saints and celebrating the Liturgical year
      Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls
      More Catholic Tales
      Rare Catholic Stories
Science ~ Finish Physics
       Exploring Creation with Anatomy & Notebooking Journal  (I'm really excited about this program.)
       We ordered the lab kit from Rainbow Resources  so doing the experiments should be a lot of fun.                 There are a lot of supplies called for in this program.  I'm also thinking about getting models of the                 heart,  the eye, and the ear. 
World History ~ Connecting with History book 2  63 BC to 1066 AD.  He'll be working at the  Grammar
        level, reading lots of books and completing several projects.
American History ~ We'll be covering the 1600's and 1700's.  I have 5 units planned:
       American Government~ this is a brief overview of how our government works.  I'm going to tie it in with
      the upcoming election.
       The Colonists~ The Pilgrims as well as the other colonies that have settled here.
       Colonies ~ how the colonies were established.
       The Revolutionary War
       The Constitution ~ The conventions, writing, the signers. 

Geography ~ We'll be completing the rest of the states in order of statehood and completing our
          scrapbook(s).
Map Skills ~ level D
Writing with Ease ~ level 1  The Professor has been having trouble summarizing and narrating from his
          reading, though he answers questions without difficulty.  Hopefully this will help.
Grammar ~ Language of God level D
Vocabulary ~ 240 Vocabulary Words 4th Grade Kids Need To Know.
Art ~ Drawing Basics 
         ArtPac 2 

Velcro Boy ~ 2nd grade
Math ~ Math U See level Beta
Religion ~  Faith and Life 2
              Baltimore Catechism 0
              Celebrating the Liturgical year and Stories of the Saints
              Devotional Stories for Little Folks & Devotional Stories Too
             We'll also be preparing for First Communion, so I'm sure there'll be some projects :)
Science ~ Behold & See 2.  We've been using the Exploring Creation series with The Professor, but I 
             don't think it will hold Velcro Boy's interest.  In reviewing this, I think it's just perfect.  I'll also 
             supplement with other books and we'll be dong the experiments.
World History ~ Connecting with History book 2, he'll be doing the Beginner level.
American History ~ same as The Professor, just with books geared to his level.
Geography ~ Same and above, just doing a sticker book instead of a scrapbook and cooking projects!
Phonics ~ Reading Eggs
Writing with Ease ~ also level 1
Spelling ~ All About Spelling level 1
Art ~ Art Pac 1
          various projects I have around the house

Doodlebug ~ Kindergarten  (like the Professor, this kid is too smart)
Lucky little Doodlebug gets to walk the Alphabet Path (again)!!!!  I say again, because he tagged along when Velcro Boy walked it 2 years ago.  It's going to be so much fun (and work) and fun, but so worth it!
Math ~ Math U See Primer.  Since he already has a good grasp on the work in this level, I'm sure he'll fly
    through and move on to Alpha.
Religion ~ with Velcro Boy
Science ~ with Velcro Boy and alphabet themed reading
World History ~ with Velcro Boy
American History ~ with Velcro Boy (Doodlebug loves to read, so there's no getting rid of him when a book 
        is out)
Geography ~ with Velcro Boy
Phonics ~ Reading Eggs 
Handwriting ~ Catholic Heritage Handwriting level K 
Art ~ Glitter letters
           projects
          coloring pages (saints, virtues, and alphabet)
Alphabet Path ~ a new letter every week or so
          a Mrs. Applebee story
          An Alphabet of Catholic Saints
          My ABC Bible Verses
          different animals and topics each week based on the alphabet letter we're covering
          several kitchen projects

Pumpkin ~ 
learning to walk
learning to talk
learning to climb stairs
learning to dress himself
learning to feed himself
learning to handle a cup
learning not to eat the books!

Kid's rooms

We recently redid the kids rooms (prior to finding out about our new little bundle), so, yes these will change but it works well for now.  Seems like just when I get everything settled, something changes.  Sigh...  Oh well, it's worth it!

This is The Professor's Room (it WAS the nursery, hence the teddy bear border)

Doodlebug's bed.

The inside of their closet.  I moved the toys in here.

Velcro Boy's side of the room.

Came out pretty well, I think.

This to this

We've been making some changes to the house recently and just now gotten to the kids' rooms.  We decided to sell the glider since we're running out of room.  When posting the pics to Craig's list, the boys wanted to get in on the action.  It reminded me of an older picture we have...

This was taken Jan 2007, when The Professor was 3 1/2 and Velcro Boy was 1 1/2.

This was taken last month, so The Professor was 7 1/2 and Velcro Boy was 5 1/2.  What a difference 4 years makes...

So much difference in fact...

That Doodlebug was almost 3 in this shot :)

Home Makeover...the school room edition~completed!!!!!

It's done, it's done, it's really, really done!!!!!  Insert happy dance here :)

I'm soooooo glad to have this project done.  

Doodlebug's area.  The cards on top of the bookcase aren't normally there.  *Someone* just had a birthday!

Velcro Boy's area.  We refer to them as cubicles :)  The small bookcase on the right holds my lesson plan book with my scheduling calendars, etc hung over it.

The Professor's with our "altar" on the left

The new table and chair.  They look really tiny in the pictures, they really are bigger :)

Our t.v. area.  On the right is our "tv" (actually an "old" computer monitor).  We can also connect the laptop to watch DVD's back here.  Excellent lighting for reading, painting, sewing, etc back here!

Not sure how long the play kitchen will stay here.  Maybe Doodlebug's room, maybe elsewhere...

This is the corner where the bookcases used to be!  This desk is huge!!!  Almost triple the space we used to have.

The Professor made this decoration all.by.himself.!!! (It's a stand up skeleton and black cat on a fence.)

So, that's our makeover!  Now on to the next BIG project.

Planning curriculum for Velcro Boy (and overhauling the schedules and plans for the rest of the house).  Having him in school wasn't working out.  They weren't giving him the speech therapy he needs, so Friday was his last day!  I've ordered a few things and I have a bunch of workbooks to go through, but we'll take it easy the first week or two.  I also have to find some speech exercises that I can do with him here at home.

After that we need to go through everything in the attic and purge some things.  I also need to go through the kids clothes for winter stuff.  The Professor is all set for winter, but I realized yesterday afternoon that he needs new shirts for church.  His current ones are about as tight as they should get and still look OK.  He can't grow more then 1/2 an inch or so this winter, or his pants will be too short :)  These kids need to stop growing :)

Home Makeover...the school room edition (cont 2)

the bookcases in position...

On the other side of the room...

The "new" (and very temporary) location of the entertainment center.

 

filled bookcase (all the books are roughly in place)

The new location for the couch.  Yes, it's in the back room.  Told 'ya it was a paradigm shift :)

The desk (foreground) is now over in the corner where the bookcases used to be.  With the file cabinet & printer next to it and some tv trays as extra surface area.  We'll be getting a L-shaped desk for this area and replacing the old one.

Next to the desk is the loveseat (the end tables are now set up on either side).

The new desks!!!!!  Still waiting on the chairs...

Unheard of!

Well...I finally did it...I packed up the shopping cart cover!!!  We got it when The Professor was ~6 months old and it's been in the car ever since.  The timing of the kids' births never allowed for me to put it away.  Well, Doodlebug is old enough not to need it.  And, quite frankly,  it's getting to be a pain.  I pulled it out of the car after our last shopping trip, washed it and it's ready for the next box destined for the attic.

I'm also packing up the high-chair cover, though we haven't used it for several months anyway.

Small Successes

For the week of: January 3, 2010

"It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that."

1.

We got started back to school this week.  I *really* didn't want to, (I have so many unfinished things...)but I know it's what the kids really need.  We all do.  It feels good to be getting back to some structure and order around here.  

2.

I got my projects list for the coming year made up.  I even figured out a loose schedule of sorts so that I can actually get them done this year!!!  I'm so happy.

3.

I got a *bunch* of the kids' older toys packed up into the attic or off to Goodwill.  Stuff they had outgrown or stopped playing with and a few things that just drove me nuts :)  I'm sure we all have a few of those toys around the house.  I'm keeping stuff since I think we're done having kids, but then again...you never know.  I *do* know though, that if I were to get rid of things, I would regret it.

A New Years' Small Success: remembering to actually use the new date each time I've needed to write it (so far)!

What are your Small Successes this week?

Stop by Faith and Family Live to read more of this week's Small Successes.

Daybook January 4, 2010

For Today...

January 3, 2010


I can't believe that another year is already gone and another one is here.  Time goes too fast.

Outside my window... Darkness again.  The daytime was beautiful though.  Clear blue sky.  Cold as the dickens (for south Florida ~58 degrees.)  The days are passing too fast lately.  I feel like life is spinning (nearly) out of control and that I can't catch up. 

I am thinking...that I want to live more deliberately this year.  I feel that I've been just drifting along, more-or-less just reacting to things that come up or happen.  Rather than having a prayerfully thought out plan or goals that I would like to meet for the year(insert the sound of God laughing).

I am thankful for...blogging!  I've gotten so many wonderful ideas for schooling, and living the liturgical year that I can't even begin to thank all the lovely ladies that give of themselves so freely.

From the learning rooms... back to school (finally)!  We took the last 3 weeks off (mistake??)  We start back tomorrow.  And I'm looking forward to getting into a routine again.  We're doing full days for 3 days per week for a while, so we can enjoy the beautiful weather that is sometimes a Florida winter.  I'm not sure how long this will go on though.

I created a bit of a household schedule and as long as *I* stick to it, it works quite well.  The problem is not getting distracted by this wonderful machine I'm typing on right now ;)  In addition, The Professor and I sat down and discussed his subjects and revised the way we do our school days.  I think we came up with a workable routine.


I'm also revising (again) how I do the lesson plans.  It drives me nuts to plan out to do a certain amount of work each week, not get to some of it, and have to flip backwards in the plan book to see what was planned when we're into a new week.  So I was doing a new plan each week.  Time consuming!  So I decided, last night no less, that I *think* I can live with making a month's worth of plans.  That way I can change the plans if we get behind, or ahead which does happen, and hopefully not drive myself too crazy.

From the kitchen...chicken with duck sauce, brown rice and mixed veggies.

On weight-loss...I started out this year with the same resolve I started last year.  To get healthier and lose some weight in the process.  My goal last year: 40 pounds.  Real results:  12 pounds lost.  Not so great.  Good start though.  A vacation half-way through the year got me off course and I never got back on again.  So, I'm starting this year with a more realistic goal:  18 pounds.  By May 31st.  I think it's quite doable.  About a pound per week, with a few set-backs allowed.  I'm also renewing my goals of eating healthier and getting some exercise.  I want to feel better as well as like the scale a bit more.  So, I joined the same gym that hubby goes to.  They have a kids club and everything.  While I sweat, they get to play.

I've eliminated high fructose corn syrup, partly and fully hydrogenated oils and interestified oils as well.  There are one or two products in the house that still have these items, and some slip past on occasion.

I am wearing... jeans and a purple sweatshirt.  It's chilly!

I am creating...a very long list of projects and some organization.  I have so many things that have piled up on me that I want to do that I decided they might actually get done if I were to put it all down on "paper".  I started a list.  It's a very long list.



I'm also working on some reorganization.  The bookshelves need a major overhaul.  Especially now that my blockade to keep Doodlebug from the "big kid" books no longer works.  Fortunately it doesn't seem to be necessary either.  He is so good with books most of the time that I'm not too concerned.  The books with tabs and flaps and pull outs, that's a different story.

I am going...to bed soon.  I'm tired tonight.  I have been a lot lately.

I am reading...nothing right now.  I finished the other books I was reading, so I'm taking a bit to get a reading list together for this year.  Any suggestions??

I am hoping...for a productive, peaceful and purposeful new year.

I am hearing...blessed silence.  Which is something the Professor also likes!  Leaving Wal-Mart today (after a marathon shopping trip), he's sitting in the car with his brothers while I'm finishing loading the car.  I get in, and before I start the engine, he says "mommy, I like the sound of silence."

Around the house...it's still Christmas.  And it will be for another week.  Sunday ends Christmas season with the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, and we're celebrating Epiphany here on Saturday with a 3 Kings get-together with the family. 

One of my favorite things...cuddling with my kids.  I've been able to do a lot of that lately with all the books we've been reading lately.  So many books...so little time.

A few plans for the rest of the week: School, visit the gym (never been, want to see the lay of the land prior to my first work out), my first gym workout, MOM's meeting, Epiphany celebration, knocking out some of my short-term projects.

Here is picture thought I am sharing... nada!  No new pictures, except for Christmas.  I need to break out the camera again.



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