What Are We Doing????

I admit, there are moments I raise my hands in defeat and ask that question. But this time, I mean it literally....this is what we're doing:

Our math curriculum repeats concepts over and over, so in one day's lesson, they're each doing several different things. Right now, Alana is doing 3-digit addition with re-grouping (in the olden days, we called it "carrying") along wth some time and money. Erin is doing time, money, simple fractions and 2-digit addition and subtraction, without re-grouping.

We're still working basic phonics with Erin, but her reading ability is really improving. Alana insists she doesn't like to read (pretty sure she inherited that from her father) but does very well. We're struggling with our Language curriculum....I think it is wonderful, but the format just isn't us. I've been adding more grammar (parts of speech) that may be pushing her a bit, and I'd really like to do more writing work with her. She just tends to rebel against that.

We do science and history together, which I think I'll continue to do for as long as I can. However, I'm thinking seriously about adding a more formal science curriculum. I think I need more than the "guidance" I get with our current curriculum. We have just wrapped up talking about dinosaurs and are now moving into life cycles.

With history, however, guidance and library books work just fine! We began the year with North American explorers, moved into the colonies, and are now at the pilgrims.

Then, based on the calendar, I throw in bits and pieces. Yesterday, for example, was the death anniversary of Harriet Tubman, so we read about her. Today is the celebrated birthday of Johnny Appleseed, so we'll discuss him. Alana is a bit of a tv geek....forget cartoons, she goes for Nat Geo, History, and Discovery! I swear, she could watch that stuff all day! I try not to promote tv, but she really does learn a lot. Sunday night, for example, we watched a 2-hour show on the people of 10,000 BC. Yep, we're geeks! :)

I personally can't wait for spring to come. We love to take nature walks and I can just imagine the projects and studies that will follow!

Anyway, THAT'S what we're doing!