Summer is on the Horizon

We are in the home stretch! Only 9 days left of school and in 4 days my youngest turns 6 (where does the time go...eeek!). Unfortunately the weather is not cooperating with our dreams of summer. Texas has experienced a ton of rain these past few weeks and the weekend forecast just calls for more. It is times like this that I'm thankful I have no idea how to cook anything on a grill :)  

This past week in pictures:

                       

                        

We haven't picked up an ounce of after school work, but I am planning out summer lessons in any spare time I can find. We will probably slowly add in school work rather than take any time off this summer. My son has a trip planned with his father this August and back to school preparations may force us to cut the summer short. However, I'm hoping to school right through June and July without many interruptions.

I searched and searched and I could not find a planner that inspired me. Well, not one below $50. As a single mom, that is just out of my reach right now. So... I decided it was time to join the digital age.

Welcome to the line up.... Microsoft OneNote! I love that I can create a separate tab for each curriculum and then further outline plans for each week. The fact that these aren't dated makes it super easy to just pick up right where we left off. It also means that I don't have to rewrite a ton of plans if one week we only get to math and language arts.

I still love the feel of pen and paper, though. I may just create my own planner/journal of sorts to keep track of what we actually accomplish each day. I love any excuse to buy a new notebook!

How was your week? Any special plans this summer? Will you school through the summer or take time off to recharge?

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Beginning of the End

It's that time of year! The school year is winding down, field trips are happening, and field day is just around the corner. I love this time of year and am counting down the days until summer along with my children. I can't wait for days spent by the pool and lazy movie nights.

However, I am also in full planning mode for this summer! So far I've nailed down:

History - I've decided to use Story of the World: Ancients by Susan Wise Bauer this summer. I'm assuming we will make it through the first 8-10 chapters only, but it is an easy read aloud that we can continue throughout the next school year.

Bible - The kids have fallen in love with "What's in the Bible" and I am trying to look for ways to flesh it out over the summer. Right now we just watch the videos, usually once a week or so, and then discuss what they've learned. I would like to include some activities, memory verses, or tie in daily Bible reading.

Math - Monkey is going to work through Singapore 1A (already started) and 1B Intensive Practice this summer. He seems to do better with fewer, more difficult problems than a page of drill. He will also continue working on his math facts through XTra Math. I have no idea what Boots will be doing this summer... sigh.... She loves worksheets, but hates for me to actively teach her. She is my highly independent child. Both kids will continue working through Life of Fred.

Handwriting - Both kids will be learning cursive this summer!! I don't know if they share my extreme enthusiasm for cursive, but Monkey and Boots have shown a lot of interest. I've taught them each to write their first and last names, but we will use New American Cursive from Memoria Press to work through cursive in a more systematic fashion.

I'm still contemplating adding back in a phonics/spelling curriculum, but I haven't decided if it will be worth the time. I also want to add in a writing curriculum or start copywork and narration work. Monkey also needs a grammar review as that is emphasized at his school.

Now I just need a spiffy new planner to write it all in!

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