Tangible Tuesday- It's that time of year!

It's that time of year again, and I have to say that we are EXCITED about it. I have ordered almost all of the curriculum and books for the year and we are all set with some old stuff and some new stuff. The classroom is still there but it has become a home base for us rather than our actual classroom. Notice there are no desks in that room. : ) This room houses all of our supplies, books etc. It works great for us. There is still a workstation there with the computer in case the need arises but both kids now have laptops that are on their desks in the living room.

Andrew's desk is in the living room facing the backyard window.


Alora's desk is in the living room facing the front yard window.

It works perfect! We are in our biggest room in the house, with great views outside, and we can meet together in the living room floor right between the two desks.

They have their personal space and we have a more comfortable place that doesn't feel like the walls are closing in.
With Andrew being in 6th grade and Alora being in 2nd, they just needed to stretch out and not be so close together. We really are liking this alot after the first week and we can do projects together on the floor in the classroom!

Win! Win!

This year i have made some curriculum changes that I think will benefit us all:

History and Bible- From Veritas Press Chronological History to...Mystery of History Chronological History. We still bought the history cards that went with Veritas Press but we just needed a change. The good thing is that it is still chronological and Mystery of History picked up right where we left off. We are also using ILLUMINATIONS which goes with the Mystery of History but combines reading and much much more. There are lit guides that coorespond with reading material that cooresponds with the history. It even adds a little Drive Thru History on DVD and Netflix! We are loving it so far.

Math- From Math U See to... Teaching Textbooks. We really needed this change. Teaching Textbooks is entirely on computer, even the teaching lecture. I just provide assistance when needed. I periodically look over their shoulder but majority of it is on their own. We really needed this.

Spanish- We added back Rosetta Stone Spanish for Andrew but will also be receiving instruction in Spanish this year! Yahoo!

Language- From Shurley English to... Shurley English. We stayed the same in this dept. but are adding a supplement that actually came from our ILLUMINATIONS- English From the Roots Up- Greek and Latin.

Spelling- From IEW to...IEW but this year Alora gets to do it too. Last year she used Veritas Press and I am excited to have them in the same program. Each week they have the same rule but different words to go with the rule! Love the unity.

Science- From Apologia Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day Zoology 1 to... Apologia Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day Zoology 2. We love Apologia and are excited about Oceanography. We are really going to incorporate some Aquarium field trips, with some Wii Endless Ocean and some Planet Earth as well as Co Op lab in oceanography! cool!

Art History is new to us this year! And we are very pumped about it. I see much art and art museum trips in our future!

We began Art History class with a lesson on Joni Earikson Tada. She has no use of her hands due to a diving accident and so the kids had to draw a picture using their mouths instead of their hands. If you have never seen Joni's artwork--it is AMAZING, and she does it all with brush or pencil in her mouth! The kids loved this and have a great appreciation for Joni.

Andrew's finished project!

Alora worked hard!

Alora's finished project.

We are still participating in Co Op this year.

Andrew will have: Zoology Lab, Microsoft Office, Journey Thru Africa and Critical Thinking and Team Building.

Alora will have:Zoology Lab, American History using American Girls, P.E. and Journey Through Africa.

Also this year, Andrew will be continuing with drum lessons and robotics once a week, while Alora is taking on gymnastics twice a week and piano once a week.

She is so pumped about gymnastics!!!

It is a busy schedule but we are very excited about our semester. Hope you are having a great start to the school year too!

Many blessings from our home to yours!