Good-bye History Club, Hello Girls Group
So, now it’s time to replace History Club with our beloved Girls Group. I sent out a separate note about the specifics of Girls Group, this note is just to say good-bye for now to History Club, we will see you again next summer, and hello to Girls Group.
Our family is ending our 3rd week of school. I’m getting in a groove, and I have a few moments to spare to give an update on the History Club, and the upcoming Girls Group. History Club ended with the last book in the Addy series. I had a discussion with the girls about the quilts, and we all decided that it would be really cool to wait until next summer to make the quilts, when we have all the American Girls and all the time periods to represent, instead of making 2 quilts. Another factor in this decision is that I am a complete dunce when it comes to sewing. I took one sewing class in high school, which I didn’t do very well in, and that is the extent of my knowledge of sewing. With that in mind, I need to read up and practice the art of quilting before I can guide the girls in making their quilts. What I would like to do, if I can find the time, is take a Saturday class to learn the basics of quilting. Then, by next summer, after some practice I think I can guide the girls in making their quilts (crossing fingers).
So, I hope to see you all in Girls Group starting October 7th. Please read my previous post for Girls Group specifics.
Categories: Girls Group, History Club (HC), History Club Members, Uncategorized
Sharon
Jennifer, this is our first year homeschooling. The curriculum I chose is not working out for our family so we are in the process of signing up with K12.com here in SC. Our girls are in first and second grade like yours and our son is in 7th grade. I was wondering how you combine your little girls science, history etc. That is what I am doing now and they enjoy doing the work together. We don’t have our books yet so I didn’t know if the first and second grade use the same books or if you just choose which lessons they will do from two books.
You have inspired me to get in gear and get everything nice and organized as we begin our new adventure using K12. I’d love to have any advice you want to send out about organizing or school in general. Our son is so b o r e d with school. He is just flying through Teaching Textbooks. Apologia science has him bored to tears even when I try to supplement it. I am praying that K12 will help us get him into a higher level so that he won’t be bored.
Thanks a bunch!
Sharon
Jennifer.
Sharon, In my state we have to request combining with our teacher. They usually approve if you choose the lower level. So, for 1st and 2nd grade, you would choose 1st grade Science, History, and Art. You would get the 1st grade materials, and work through the lessons with both of your kids going at the same pace. What I do is have one sit on my left, and one on my right. I read to them from the screen or from a book, then I ask the questions. When one of them answers, I ask the other one if she disagrees or agrees, this way they are both answering the question, because sometimes they disagree and one is right and the other is wrong. If one of them gets a question wrong, I go over that material again, usually in a different way, like on the chalk board, or with a physical illustration, or I just re-read that section of the lesson. When it comes to history, the only difference between the two children is their ability to narrate the lesson. My 1st grader draws a picture, titles it, and explains it to me, while my 2nd grader writes a few sentences, and reads it back to me.
Regarding your 7th grader, I think he will be plenty challenged with the K12 curriculum. I looked into Teaching Textbooks right before switching to K12, and it seemed about 2 levels lower than the standard grade level work. K12 1st through 5th math is right on grade level, or a little above. I hear that it gets much more rigorous from 6th grade on, though I don’t have personal experience with anything above 5th grade math. We did Apologia Biology a few years back, and we couldn’t continue past the first few lessons; I was falling asleep as I read to them, and they were not paying attention at all, so it was a waste of time. Right after that, we switched to K12, and I was super happy with their science; I still am.
K12 should provide plenty of challenge for your kids. You’ll see when you get the books; the curriculum it top notch. I have used many, many programs, and nothing that I have used compares to K12. The only subject I’m not super excited about is the writing. I’m dealing with that through supplementing and working on writing in the summer.
I wish you all the best. Check out my blog entries about classroom organization and the 36 week filing system. I also wrote about scheduling. Maybe one or all of these posts will be a help to you. Also, please subscribe to my blog to receive notices through your e-mail, because I will be posting all year long about using K12, and since our kids are so close in age, those posts might be helpful to you as well.