Mid-year thoughts about home school

Now that we know for certain that we are staying the course with home schooling, I feel the sudden urge to evaluate where we are for the year. Last year was our first year to home school. All things considered, I was very pleased and we all enjoyed it. But this year has been very enjoyable for me. I am sure a big reason is because I do not have a needy toddler any more. Home schooling is so much more difficult with a younger child that needs so much attention and constant supervision. This year, Lydie sits and does her own activities and is beginning to play well on her own. Also, the boys are able to do almost any type of chore around the house now. So my housework load is much less. We have really gelled with our family routine and I absolutely love all that we are using for academics this year. I have changed a few things around since the beginning of the year. Here's what we do:

Discipleship:

Devotion: Leading Little Ones to God (looking for a different book with a reformed worldview) and hoping to soon begin Family Time Training books by Kirk Weaver

Memorizing: catechism questions, bible passage and OT books, poetry, and a hymn each month from this book:

Bible Study: Veritas Press

**Occasionally doing a topical study comparing one character strait with another (recently: lazy vs. diligent man) as the Lord leads.

**The most important discipleship comes along during the course of the day. They have so many questions!
The framework(Taught every day.):

Phonics: (J)Explode the Code 8/ (T) Explode the Code 5

Reading: (J) Veritas Press' reading list and comprehension guides gr. 4

T)Veritas Press' reading list gr. 2

**Plus, lots of read-alouds all the time. I use Honey for a Child's Heart as a reference tool, along with this website. I get simple book reports from How To Report on Books (gr. 1-2 or 3-4). We am hoping to have J do some reports on men from Famous Men of the Middle Ages (Greenleaf Press) soon.

Grammar/Writing Technique: (J) BJU Press English 3

(T) BJU Press English 2

Creative Writing: (both) daily journal writing- free choice, a topic from history, or a given topic

Cursive handwriting: (both) Abeka workbook

Math: (J) Saxon 3/ (T) Horizons 1 + lots of computer math games for drill+ math shark

**This is the only subject I hear complaints about. Jaybird really hates math. He especially hates that his work is always in black and white, while his brother's is colorful. But Saxon has been highly recommended for him, so we are staying the course. Praying it will get easier/more enjoyable for him.

Learning about the world (History is taught every day. The others are taught twice a week.):

History: Mystery of History, vol. 2 + timeline. We love the lessons, quizzes, and hands-on projects!

Science: Andy was supposed to teach but honestly they are getting zilch! Hoping to follow The Well-Trained Mind's recommendations as soon as I can figure out when to fit it in!

Geography: excerpts from Galloping the Globe/ Geography songs/ Maps workbook

**Our goal is to learn the location of all European countries, along with major landmarks, capitals, and facts. And we hope to learn how to read a globe, map, and atlas well this year.
Latin: Song School Latin

Fine Arts (Usually each topic is taught twice a week):

Drawing technique: How Great Thou Art (continued from last year) and Nature Study. I was hoping to draw in our nature journals once a week. But we usually only draw in them once a month. Hope to also use the Draw Write Now (Middle Ages) book soon.

Art projects: fun ideas from here or here or Family Fun magazine.
Artist study: follow ideas from here. I use a lot of library books. And we have done some fun projects from Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of Great Masters.
**This book has been a good investment for the beautiful pictures: Composer study: follow ideas from here. I use a lot of library books. And we usually check out the cds from the library and listen to them while we are working or eating.

Music: finished Story of the Orchestra (continued from last year)/ hoped to start piano or guitar lessons, but we have not

Extras (Usually once a week, or as time allows.):

Logic: Mind Benders

Baking: seasonal or from this book:

We usually spend around 4 hours a day doing "school", although life and school all mesh together now. I enjoy our life immensely!