Plan of action!

We have already started "school" a month ago. We are doing Time4Learning.com and also through the Old Schoolhouse Magazine we are getting the opportunity to try out and reviewBigIqkids.com. So far so good with both of these sites. A~man in particular does really well with computer learning as it really seems to hold his interest as he is a visual learner.

In September I hope to add in the rest-

Science- Christian Kids Explore Earth and Space by Bright Ideas Press. I actually got this for last year but we ended up doing science a bit more interest led.

History- Mystery of History Volume I Creation to the Resurrection. I started this one last year too but we ended up doing our own thing with library books and history videos last year. Also we will be going through the book/videos from America The Story of Us. I think will have the hubby do this actually with them. ;) He is the history buff and honestly taught me all of the US history I know as the school I went to failed to teach me ANY history. (I'm sadly serious about this) So history is something I have been learning along with the kids!

Grammar- We are using Easy Grammar/Daily Grams by Easy Grammar Systems.

Literature- My favorite! :) First off we are going to read "Where the Red Fern Grows" together and do a unit study on it. Z has already seen the movie but we all know the books better than the moive remakes.

Spelling- I have never really used a spelling curriculum *gasp* I do find sample spelling lists by grade and include them in our writing assignments or in playing spelling games online. I am AMAZED how well Z spells without teaching her "formally" spelling. Ok now I'm bragging, sorry. ;)

Mathematics Masterning Mathematics. We have been using this for a few years and I hoped to try something different (NOT in the budget though) but with using the two online places and mixing it with some MM I think it will work out great.

Reading- For the A~man Time4Learning and I'm hoping to get him back to reading to us twice a day. His reading progresses very slow...but it still progresses.

Writing- We do this informally. Z once a month is making a newspaper that she brings to the neighbors and sends to the grandparents. I cannot tell you how fun this is for her! There is weather, current local events and of course a comics page. Her brother is an contributing writer that often also supplies an art page. Both kids write lots of letters and thank you cards throughout the year. Every couple of months we will do a copy book to work on pennmanship and also on occasion we work on our A Reason For Handwriting books.

Art Another one of my favorites that we do not use a set curriculum. I do want to do more of this, by myself and with the kids. We do have an awesome couple sets of Go Fish for Art cards that I highly recommend.

Then add in Girl Scouts, Geography Club, violin and a fun new 4H club we joined that teaches robotics through legos. It should be a busy fun year!

Rough day

Not even gonna blog about it. Tomorrow is a new day. I plan on getting up early and doing an entry on our plan of action for the next school year. Now for your viewing pleasure I will post a pretty picture to brighten up my blog.

Dreams

Everyone has dreams and aspirations. With a child with extra needs I think it can be even more. Over the last couple of years he is obsessed with who can drive and who cannot drive. I have friends on my FB that either have Prader-willi syndrome or have kids with PWS. It is his current obsession to ask whoever he knows how old they are and if they can drive. He asks this of his friends in the community (that work in stores and have special needs)if THEY can drive. Heck he asks any teenager if they drive or have their "permit". One of his favorites (and mine too) is a young man who bags groceries that has Down Syndrome. This young man is A~mans hero....he wants to be just like him. But no he is not able to drive a car either. I think in the next year or so it will sink in that most likely A~man will NOT be able to drive a vehicle. There have been times this makes me sad. Then I look back at what the predictions(by doctors)of his prognosis and see how far he has surpassed EVERY thing all of the doctors said. Super A~man is a little miracle. (ok he is not little anymore and I'm dealing with that hahahaah)

Another thing he is obsessed with tractors, lawn mowers and weed whackers. This last year he has really progressed with his art work and I need to post some of his abstract tractor pictures. They are REALLY good! Anyway recently we purchased a reel lawn mower. The non motor kind you push around. Our yard is a bit big for such a machine but between hubby, Z AND A~man...the yard is looking good. A~has talked for years about wanting to mow the yard and he is learning to do just that! Hubby made a video that I'm going to try and attach to this post. Z and I were inside working on her school work when they did this video but when I saw it I could just see how proud of himself A was!!! I hope he will grow to realize the many things he CAN do! A VS the lawnmower