I started to title this post “I love my math books”, but then I realized that the books weren’t mine (which is probably at least a small part of why I love them).  But “Life of Fred” for geometry is wonderful.  My daughter actually said that she thought it was a trick to get her to like math.  She is enjoying it and that is a first for us!

Singapore Math is also working out for my little one.  It’s colorful and moves at just the right pace–not so fast that she can’t keep up and not so slow that she get bored.  I like it so much that I have now ordered the Singapore Science.  I hope that it is as good as the math program.

And my son is loving UL.  He’s had a half week now, and it’s going really well.  Every time one of my children is succeeding in an academic setting, I am grateful that my kids are bright and interested and do well in whatever situation they find themselves in.

It’s a great start to a new school year.

Posted: August 27th, 2008 under Resources, emotions.
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Tomorrow is the second and (so far) final NBTSB.  This time we’re going to a park for a “bring your own breakfast” picnic.  This is probably going to be the bigger event, since I think that parents with younger children might be moe comfortable at a park rather than in a restaurant.

Here on the home front, I’ve chosen to add 2 new math programs:  Life with Fred (geometry) for Martha and Singapore Math for Annette.   I’ve never been really unsatisfied with Saxon (except for the K-3 program), but it was time for a change for me and, therefore, for the kids.  I’m looking forward to seeing the programs, because I’ve heard a lot of great things about both of these.

One of the things that I want to work on this year is diversity for my kids–but more on that later.

Posted: August 14th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
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Well, this morning’s Not Back To School Breakfast was an unmitigated success.  The kids had a great time and the moms got a chance to visit and even begin to plan field trips for the coming year.  It looks like we’re underway!

Posted: August 8th, 2008 under celebration.
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Tomorrow is the first of our Not Back to School Breakfasts.  We are really looking forward to getting together with our friends and celebrating the fact that our schooling is part of our family lives and isn’t compartmentalized.  We’ll meet this week at a local restaurant and then next week, when more people can come, we’ll meet at a park for a BYOB(reakfast) picnic.

Our children feel a little sad for the kids in school who don’t get to do this.

Posted: August 7th, 2008 under Uncategorized, celebration.
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I can’t believe how long it’s been since I last updated.  The summer has been really busy (why do I still think that summer=vacation for me), and time has gotten away from me.

My two older girls spent a week in New York while Martha attended a dance intensive at the Alvin Ailey Studio.  Beverly Spell’s Lafayette Ballet Studio went and Martha in particular loved being in New York again and getting to see a couple of shows and feel the energy of the big city.

Then we went on a family trip to Washington, DC.  None of our family (including my husband or myself) had ever been to the capital, and it was a surreal experience.  All our our lives we had seen pictures of the buildings in which the political power of the United States is concentrated, and actually seeing them was amazing. 

Now we’re home again, and the time has come to start gearing up for the beginning of the school term.  I’ll have 2 in college this year, and there are things that need to be done for that.  Then I need to finalize the curriculum for the 2 still at home.  I’ve pretty much got everything I need for Annette (the younger of the two), but I’m still tweaking Martha’s books. 

It’s also time for letters/forms to the state DOE to comply with the registration laws, but that won’t take any time at all. 

The Magnolia group is also gearing up for the year.  Plans are already in the works for monthly meetings at the public library and get togethers are being planned.  It going to be a busy month or so until we’re all finished with the beginning of the year.

Off to get some actual work done–I’ll be back with more specific posts about curriculum and all soon.

Posted: August 4th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
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