Starting, but not from the start

We started school a few weeks ago. We have made family trees and cave paintings and Nile Rivers. I have been trying to get this blog going but it seems to never, so I am starting here...right where we are.

School

Math-Saxon 2 for Alexander and Saxon 1 for Nathaniel. We are trying for math 4 days a week. I am really not sure about this. Nathaniel is really ready for more advanced work than what he is doing but it's a good starting place. Alexander could be more challenged but I want him firmly grounded in math facts and that is happening. I really like the timed drills. I think it is good for them!! If Alexander had his choice, he would take hours to do everything, but he is so competitive that he loves testing himself. I think it works out well.

I am thinking about what we will do for the summer. I am leaning toward Miquon but I don't know. I want to supplement with a competely different style fo math work. We did Math-U-See last year and none of us liked it. I will keep researching.

Phonics-Alexander has been slow to start to read but now that he is reading things are moving along fast. We are finishing Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons with Alexander and and moving slow and steady through it with Nathaniel. We are working on reading every day. In addition to 100 Easy Lessons we are using Bob Books and Dr Seuss.

History-Story of the World, Ancients. We are using the Activity Guide and the book. I have the test book but will be using it more for re-inforcement than testing. I can see in future years using the test book. We are a few weeks into this and I am very happy with it. The library is a source of frustration as they don't have many of the titles that we need. Interlibrary loan is hit or miss. I am buying a lot of titles off of Amazon. I am trying to cover one chapter per week.

Grammar-First Language Lessons. So far so good. We are trying for 2 to 3 lessons per week.

Handwriting-Handwriting Without Tears. This has been good but I don't know that we will continue with it. I hate to switch mid-stream but the paper is ruled so different. When the boys try to do any other assignment that is written on ball and stick type ruled paper, they get confused. I really think I need to make a change here.

Memorization-We are using the Poetry course through Institute for Excellence in Writing. The kids love it. Nathaniel can't get enough memorization. We usually listen to it in the car as we are going to activities or running errands. There are other things to memorize such as Awana verses, Sunday school things, and our Bible lesson verses.

Bible Study-Explore's Bible Study, God's Promises. This is not ideal, but I was at the point of needing something and I just couldn't decide. This is what we are going to do for now and we will move on to something different next. Then again, over the course of time it may turn out to be great.

Science-Apologia Astronomy. Ugghhh...I just don't know. My kids are so hard-wired for science. I'm just not sure of this. I have aleady found several things that I don't believe are grounded in fact and are presented as fact. I want something with a Christian base, but I just don't know. So, for now we will continue on and I will consider where to go from here. My plan has been to get through astronomy with enough time to study earth science this year. We have the kit from Creation Sensation.