anybody else still trying to figure out next year?

[Emmy]

Considering next year starts in a few weeks....I need to make decisions! *sigh*

I'm still struggling to nail down bible and science I guess. I think I will likely follow sonlight-ish recommendations for bible. Science is harder cause it all looks so fun. I want to do everything! But I want it to cost like $12. :tongue_smilie:

Anyone else still planning???? Or are you all relaxing and enjoying summer basking in the knowledge that you are ready to go..... :glare:

[Homeschooling6]

I am. I thought I had it all figured out. I even bought everything early, only to find HOD and now I'm back to square one:confused:. I should just stick with MFW this year since I have it.

I'm also still trying to figure out Phonics for my 5.5 yr old. I have tons of phonics programs but he needs something more hands on. I'm looking into Happy Phonics.

For my oldest I think I have the 3R's down. Annette, Caleb & Brent I'm up in the air still. Yikes! I'll probably use a mix of R&S and WTM:confused1:. Although Brent will use The Reading Lesson through out the Summer and than start MFW-1st Grade in the Fall. Can you tell I'm so confused:001_unsure:

Well, I'm glad I'm not alone :001_rolleyes:

[Kathie in VA]

Are you Kidding? We just finnished testing for last year, still have basic school work to finnish up for last year, and I have all these ideas for next year but I still need to determine if/how they will fit into a school day!

so nope, not done planning. probably won't be done till after I've started next year! :001_smile:

[Sue G in PA]

I'm suffering big time from the "grass is always greener" syndrome. I had everything picked out, ready to roll. Then...well, you know. I read about this curriculum and then that one and then my plans go out the window and I'm back to square one. My sticky wickets are science, K plans for ds5, math for all but dd11 and an art program for ds10. I think I have LA figured out. We are definitely using MFW ECC, AAS, LLATL, PLL and ILL. My huge dilemna is time really. I have MFW K to use w/ ds5 but I'm wondering how to fit that in! Then I have FIAR and really LOVE it, but again...time. How to fit that in. THen I have Little Hands to Heaven for dd2 (almost 3) and really like it but again...you guessed it...TIME! I can't do it all. So, I'm trying to figure out a plan to use all of them but not in their entirety, KWIM? Oh ugh...I really feel your pain. Don't even get me started on math b/c I'm going to go batty if I don't figure it out!

[GSMP]

We haven't even started our testing and it is due to the county by Aug 1st.

I have made some choices but am still researching the other items.

Oh well......It will all come together...it has to....:001_huh:

I've read so many interesting threads out here that I have become more confused on what I want to do then I was a month ago.......

I have found some really neat things...thanks Ladies.

Right now I just want to finish testing before I finish planning......

[kls126s]

I'm already done planning.

AND we've already started next year!

I hadn't planned to start first grade for few more weeks, but we are moving at the end of the summer (I hope!) so I decided starting now would give me wiggle room to take time off of school to pack/unpack then.

[DIY-DY]

Anyone else still planning???? Or are you all relaxing and enjoying summer basking in the knowledge that you are ready to go..... :glare:

As it stands, I need to order science, greek, and logic materials, and I. Am. Stumped.

Everything else just bleeds into the next level as we finish, so for that, I'm grateful. But those three are just killing me.

[Sue G in PA]

I'm already done planning.

AND we've already started next year!

I hadn't planned to start first grade for few more weeks, but we are moving at the end of the summer (I hope!) so I decided starting now would give me wiggle room to take time off of school to pack/unpack then.

No tomatoes! I'm happy for you. I had planned to take June off and start back after the 4th. That's not happening. My house is such a wreck and so disorganized and this baby is just not cooperating and getting on anything that remotely resembles a schedule! We'll be lucky to start by the end of August! I'm just so overwhelmed trying to get organized so that school will actually run smoothly. And this baby! I love him dearly and love holding him and snuggling with him, but good.ness! All I need is one hour here and there to tackle some projects that must get done!

[OhElizabeth]

Well I can't help you with the planning, because I'm there myself, hehe! But I can give you $12 science... Your oldest is 8 and you have a bunch of littles, so simple and hands-on is good. What I did with my dd this year is take a simple book like Sunlight, Skyscrapers, and Soda Pop (which unfortunately is oop and way too expensive, find another book) and just DO it. We read the two page spread and then did the activity. Next time, repeat! It sounds so simple, but it was SO memorable, so fun, so easy and cheap. You could do this with anything. Wanna do chemistry? Get an usborne book with a chapter on chemistry and work through it. I bought RS4K Pre-Chem, which was fine but not stunning, then found I could have accomplished more or less the same thing using one of the Usborne books I had on hand and just working through their chapter on chemistry a bit at a time. I dug through my closet and found some simple books on physics I had picked up over the years. Anything like that would work. A Janet VanCleave book from the library would work. Sure it's cool to have all coordinated, fan-dangle science, but the $12 approach (a book that you pick up, read, and do an activity from) will be quite memorable and affordable. We had as MUCH fun with that book this year as we have with any of the other fancy, expensive curriculum we've tried. It totally turned my eyes around on how to teach science. I still like curriculum, but it's not the only way.

[Wendi]

I still haven't decided on a Bible curriculum. I haven't decided whether to get US History-Based Writing Lessons or not. I haven't decided what to do for vocabulary. And I haven't figured out whether I should stick with Shurley Grammar or not. I haven't found something for poetry yet. I haven't chosen the books we'll study for literature. Oh, and I haven't decided whether I should get DIVE Cds or Teaching Textbook for Saxon math. :confused:

So, yeah, I'm still working on next year!:001_smile:

Wendi

[dkt320]

Yes! We just finished our first year and used straight Abeka. I am now in the process of deciding between MFW and TOG. This is so hard!

[qfbrenda]

I spent some time trying to decide on continuing MFW or going back to Sonlight, but my budget made the decision for me.... MFW. So I'll order that next month and we'll do Explorers to 1850 this year. That will take care of history, Bible, science, art, and music.

Our basics will stay the same, thankfully.

[Another Lynn]

I'm still figuring out Bible and Science too! And on top of that I'm wavering for history on my ker and 1st. They'll start ancients the following year (when my oldest does because he'll be 5th then), so I have a couple options for history for them this year.... what to do?

But really Bible and science I'm struggling with more. What kind of Bible study/reading to have my 4th grader do alone? What Bible to do with everyone together? My oldest will do CC this year and get most of his science there. But what about science for my 1st and Ker? I had thought about 6 different topics we would spend ~6 weeks on a piece. May still do that....

So, still planning here....

[starlashine]

I have all the books I can afford for next year, and I'm pretty firm about sticking with SOTW-we'll be doing Middle Ages next year-but I bought some supplemental spines for different cultures and I have to figure out how they're going to fit in. I've got the books I want to use for science, but am debating whether I want to pull the curriculum together myself or buy Elemental Science or Trivium Academy's guides. I bought Artistic Pursuits, which looks good, but I already had Drawing with Children and keep coming back to wanting to do nature study, so the Handbook of Nature Study is on it's way and I'll be using HarmonyFineArtsMom's suggestions for blending the two. Also have to figure out PE that we will stick with, and how I want to implement Growing,Growing Strong, the Health curriculum I purchased. Was going to take all of July off to plan, but my ds does not do well coming back to schooling after long breaks, so I'm going to be spending a lot of late nights figuring stuff out. Oh well, at least I'm firm on using Saxon Math 2 next year, and that's all waiting in it's pretty red box, for me to open and just use.

[tristangrace]

I'm wading in . . . only about knee-deep so far. Last year was kindergarten with my oldest, and we "winged it", so this feels like my first year of planning. On the one hand, I don't feel too much pressure, and I have only one kid to plan for (just doing some easy, gentle stuff for the the 4yo and the 2yo). On the other hand, the relative "newness" of the planning and the need to nail down--even loosely--the larger goals, objectives, and trajectory can feel a bit overwhelming.

I have a couple of big pieces in place (math and LA), and am moving deeper and deeper in to the other aspects.

[OhElizabeth]

Another Lynn, I got a workbook bible study series called Proverbs People from the Boyers of www.thelearningparent.com It's adorable and right on for a 4th grader to do independently, maybe with mom checking once a week.

[Melanie]

I'm still trying to decide between Biblical and Classical Greek. Everything else is set, though. :D

[kailuamom]

We haven't even started our testing and it is due to the county by Aug 1st.

I have made some choices but am still researching the other items.



This is where we are, too! (And in VA, too.)

[jejily]

I'm suffering big time from the "grass is always greener" syndrome. I had everything picked out, ready to roll. Then...well, you know. I read about this curriculum and then that one and then my plans go out the window and I'm back to square one.

Same here.

Suffering from this syndrome in a big, bad way.

[dragons in the flower bed]

Anyone else still planning???? Or are you all relaxing and enjoying summer basking in the knowledge that you are ready to go..... :glare:

Yeah, actually, I had a great plan all done. Then I started replanning, and unplanning, and replanning again, and dreaming about it at night, and making up long pros and cons lists with point values that correspond to our educational goals . . . until I said forget it! and decided to only do the core subjects, language arts and math, and let the rest be accomplished as we feel like it. With a house full of resources, and kids who are now in the habit of notebooking, we can wing it for a while.

So who wants to take odds that I'll follow the plan to a T, since of course, I plan not to . . . :tongue_smilie:

[nutmeg]

I'm pretty sure I know what we want, and our conference/sale is tomorrow.

I am still looking for Bible for the middle schooler, but other than that I think we are set.

[CChauvette]

Have you looked at Memoria Press's Christian Studies Book I for bible? Your kids are young enough that you could use this program with all of them. Book I covers creation, the patriarchs and exodus.

[Novafan]

I'm in what I'd like to call "tweaking mode." I have a plan, a HUGE plan, but I keep fussing with it and changing and adding things. I seem to enjoy tweaking though, so I'm going to keep doing it. I do have my core subjects figured out, so I feel great about that. Oh, and I still need to purchase a bunch of books and curriculum materials, but that will happen in late-mid July or early August.

I had hoped to take 2 weeks off from thinking about HS stuff because I'm down in FL visiting my parents right now. However, I emailed all of my planning documents to myself so I can access them while I'm here. I haven't opened them yet to start fussing with them, but I know I won't be able to resist much longer.

[lauranav]

I'm sorry all of you aren't finished with your planning and all set for the next school year. But it was only a few weeks ago that I suddenly realized I could consider homeschooling my 13 year old nephew and started the research. I was feeling very much behind and even a bit overwhelmed when I saw all the choices out there!
It is encouraging to see others who have been doing this for awhile are facing the same curriculum envy and indecision that I am.
This forum has become a bit of an addiction this week, and I've had so much fun checking out all the blogs.
I've gone back and forth between picking some complete curriculum or creating a hodge-podge and following TWTM closer. Three times this week I've ended the day with a set list of curriculum that I'm happy with. Then the next day I see a discussion of something new that leads to something else and there I am tweaking or changing again.
And I'm enjoying it! Thank you for all the posts.
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[sadiegirl]

I amjust a tad bit overwhelmed. I read post after post thinking I have my choices all set and then I read another post that send me in a new directions. I have always used a combination of books rather than an all-in-one curriculum and I know that puts added pressure on me. Wow...do you think that there is such a thing as a homeschool personal shopper????

[sleepy]

:lol: I'm still trying to figure out how to pay for next year. :lol:

We start our new year in September, so I've got a while... but I sure will feel better once I have all the curricula in hand.

[swellmomma]

I thought I was 100% decided, and even posted my choices, but then reality of what my Ker can and can't do, now that he has been nearly Dx with SPD is changing my choices for him, so back to the drawing board as far as what I will be doing with him. I think though I am still set for the olders, thank goodness.

[Bee]

I haven't even started 7th grade math with dd and I already know I'm not looking forward to it.I have started 2nd grade math with younger dd and she is so bored with it already and so am I.I hate to waste the money I've already spent but I really want to change things.I still need to decide what to do for art or music and practical skills for older dd.I have thoughts but no plan yet.

[Mosaicmind]

Still thinking, planning, choosing, deciding, pulling my hair out for next year here too. A week ago exactly we decided to keep ds/14 and dd/12 home also for next year. Ds was supposed to try out school for one year AGAIN, and dd/12 had just finished 6th grade in ps, it was not a success imo. Anyway, I had already bought the materials for next year in March.

I am now back to doing all of that curriculum planning decision making stuff that stresses your brain so much that I now have a huge headache. :confused: But, the upside is that I am a curriculum/planning junkie and I am getting the fix I have needed for the last couple of weeks. ;)

[Ali in OR]

Just finished planning this week--I was so excited to have finally just made a decision on Latin that I updated my sig line immediately. Don't have everything ordered yet, but I know where we're going.

The decisions I had to make this year were writing, grammar, Latin, and Spanish. Deciding on WT 1 and Spanish for Children was pretty easy. Grammar and Latin took months. I was going to order both R&S English 3 and FLL3, but I got R&S 3 first and have decided it should suit us well so I'm going to try to keep it simple and not get FLL 3. Latin was down to Lively Latin and LFC A. I think either would be just fine, but after finally reading through the sample chapters, I decided LFC A fits the way I think so that's where we're headed!

[kls126s]

Yeah, actually, I had a great plan all done. Then I started replanning, and unplanning, and replanning again, and dreaming about it at night, and making up long pros and cons lists with point values that correspond to our educational goals . . . until I said forget it!

Lists with point values! :lol: That literally made me LOL!

I wonder what we're all going to think when we look back on all of this on the other side of this journey...

[dragons in the flower bed]

Lists with point values! :lol: That literally made me LOL!

I wonder what we're all going to think when we look back on all of this on the other side of this journey...


Haven't you read the "What Would You Do Differently" threads? We're all going to think that we should have planned less and actually done some of it.

So that's what I went with. I planned just the three R's, and if I don't do it, I'm going to . . . I don't know what. That's not an option. I have to do it. These are my babies.

[Chris in CA]

I have it all figured out, well almost - only have to buy the materials. We are just ending next week and have 10 weeks off ------Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I'm going to shelve my planning hat until the beginning of August

[Emmy]

Well I can't help you with the planning, because I'm there myself, hehe! But I can give you $12 science... Sure it's cool to have all coordinated, fan-dangle science, but the $12 approach (a book that you pick up, read, and do an activity from) will be quite memorable and affordable. We had as MUCH fun with that book this year as we have with any of the other fancy, expensive curriculum we've tried. It totally turned my eyes around on how to teach science. I still like curriculum, but it's not the only way.

I think this is the track I'm on honestly....everytime I look at sonlight or noeo I am excited about it but the $150-$175 price tag makes me swoon LOL. thanks for your thoughts!

So who wants to take odds that I'll follow the plan to a T, since of course, I plan not to . . . :tongue_smilie:

I have no doubt!!! LOL

Have you looked at Memoria Press's Christian Studies Book I for bible? Your kids are young enough that you could use this program with all of them. Book I covers creation, the patriarchs and exodus.

Thanks for the suggestion I'll look into it. I had been looking at Abeka bible but it's really expensive so that moved me in the direction of Sonlight's bible, but I'm willing to check out whatever. Thanks!