Due to having an infant in the house who is not in as good of a routine as the other children were at this age, we plan to start with the basics (Bible, Language Arts, and Math) and then add in more formal science, history, and geography in a couple months.  We’ll just have to see how smoothly, or not, things go!

Bible and Devotions

1. Daily Proverbs
2. Family Memory Verse Work
3. Character Traits and Bible stories from Joyful Heart Character
4. ‘Thankful Thursday’ gratitude notebook
5. Proverbs Family Night Tool Chest by Jim Weildmann – one night a week with Daddy!

Science/ Art / Music / Foreign Language

1. Backyard Nature Notebook
2. A homemade orchestra study incorporating ‘A Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra’
3. Rosetta Stone Latin American Spanish

Read Alouds
Until we begin our purchased MFW curriculum, we plan to read classics such as The Trumpet of the Swan, Heidi, The Secret Garden, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, and Charlotte’s Web.

Reading / Language Arts /Math
our 3rd grader…

1. Readers:  a mixture of Sonlight 2A and 3 regular readers, free choice reading on her own, Book Report Task Cards
2. Explode the Code books 7 and 8 for phonics
3. Sequential Spelling
4. A Reason for Handwriting Book T – We plan to finish the transition lessons and then move into the second half of the book.  This series has the child practice writing a few letters and words each day that pertain to a certain Bible verse.  Then, on the last day, the child copies the full verse neatly.
5. Copywork – Bible verses from the Joyful Heart Character lessons
6. Grammar and Writing:  Primary Language Lessons and writing letters
7. Horizons Math (completing Level 2 and heading into 3)
8. Flashcards
9. Hands on Math games from Right Start
10. Calendar Binder and Math Task Cards

our First Grader…

1. Readers: Abeka 2nd grade readers, free choice reading on own, book sheets
2. Explode the Code books 4 and 5 for phonics
3. Sequential Spelling
4. Copywork – Bible verses from the Joyful Heart Character lessons
5. Grammar and Writing:  Daily Language Lessons for 1st, Grammar & Punctuation,  and writing letters
6. A Reason for Handwriting Book B
7. Horizons Math Level 1
8. Flashcards
9. Hands on Math games from Right Start
10. Calendar Binder and Math Task Strips

our Pre K child…

1. Joyful Heart Character -Bible story, memory verse, character trait study, and beginning reading activities
2. Calendar Binder

our toddler…

1. Singing verses in her Joyful Heart Tune Binder
2. Manipulatives and games with Mommy
3. Do-a-Dot Letter Art – from Confessions of a Homeschooler
4. Enjoying books
5. play, play, play =)

our infant…
I keep joking with my husband that our youngest ‘student’ is the one I expect to see the most growth in this year!  From getting into a consistent routine, rolling over, sitting up, eating baby foods, ‘talking’ more, etc, he has his own full blown curriculum to work on!

Lifeskills and Extracurricular Activities

1. Hand Sewing:  We will continue to use My First Sewing Book (Level 1) and My First Embroidery Book (Level 2) both by Winky Cherry.
2. Gymnastics (oldest three kids)
3. Ballet (oldest two girls)
4. AWANA – We have a T&T, a Sparks, a Cubbie, and a Puggle now!
5. Family Chore Time
6. Some homeschool outings/ field trips with other families in our church.

To Be Added in a Couple Months
It was difficult when we came to the conclusion that it would be best for our family to wait a couple months before working through the following curriculum!

History / Geography
Exploring Countries and Cultures in My Father’s World from My Father’s World Curriculum is our choice for this school year.   It includes geography (learning about various countries around the world), a Bible study of the book of Matthew, praying for unreached people groups around the world using Window on the World, science (biomes),  hands on art and science projects, integrated narration and copywork, read alouds about missionaries, music from other countries, and cooking experiences.  We can’t wait to start our adventure around the world!

Bible and Devotions
MFW study of the book of Matthew
(including copywork for the oldest two girls  ~ You can find free printables to coordinate with the verses from Matthew here.)

Science
As we learn about different countries and cultures, we will also be learning about the animals that live in those environments.   We plan to use the resources suggested in the MFW ECC curriculum – The Living World Encyclopedia, Properties of Ecosystems, The Big Book of Animals, The Great Animal Search, and the Encyclopedia of Animals.

Art

1. MFW incorporates the use of Global Art by Mary Ann Kohl.
2. Draw Write Now – We will be drawing animals to coordinate with the different continents and regions/habitats of the world.

If you are interested in seeing what other homeschoolers are doing, check out the Not Back to School Blog Hop hosted at Heart of the Matter!  It is Curriculum Week!

Sue Patrick’s original system consists of using 12 clear plastic shoeboxes for each child, placing a learning activity in each one.   You can learn more about her full system at her website and through her book.  I could see the benefit of her ideas, but I also knew there was no way I was going to be able to purchase and eventually store 5 sets of 12 boxes! (My husband would have balked at the idea as well =) )   I knew that implementation of the entire system was not realistic for our growing homeschool family, but the goal behind it still intrigued me.   After reading several blogs of how other homeschooling moms of 3+ children altered the system to suit their needs, including this homeschool mom at Color Me Orange, I grabbed some containers and followed suit!   I decided to try to use one plastic file box with 12 hanging files per child.  I made, printed, laminated, cut, and attached labels and we were set to go!

At the end of our school year, I asked each child, “What did you like about our workboxes this year?”   Here is a quick review by our kids…

4 year old preschooler

1. “the name on it and the picture”
   (Mommy’s Interpretation:  He likes that he has a box with his very own name on it.  He also likes that he got to choose the color and background for the front of his box.) 
2. “finding verses in it” 
   (Mommy’s Interpretation:  In the very first folder, I would place his Cubbie book containing his Bible verse from AWANA so that we would be sure to practice it daily!)

6 year old kindergartener

1. “putting the tags on” 
   (Mommy’s Interpretation: She liked being in charge of removing the tags from her folders and placing them on the outside to show that she was finished with an assignment.)

8 year old second grader 

1. “When I put the tag on, I know that I did something.” 
   (Mommy’s Interpretation:  She likes the visual to know when she has accomplished a task and how much she has left to do.)

Mommy’s Review of our Workboxes 
Likes:

1. I like that I wasn’t the keeper of all the books and materials!   In previous years, I had one tote for all of us.  It was becoming more and more difficult to fit everything for our growing family all in one tote.  Language arts and math for each child, history, Bible, etc. was overflowing and weighing my tote down!  This year, I reserved the tote for activities and lessons we would do together as a family – science, history, Bible, art, and music.  The childrens’ individual language arts and math lessons now had a new home in each child’s very own workbox.
2. In previous years, I would be in charge of when the kids worked on their assignments.  This year, using individual workboxes, the children were given more freedom and control over which subject they wanted to work on and in which order.  At the start of the day, they would check the front of their box to see how many assignments they had and then check the outside of each hanging file to see which assignments were to be completed on their own and which were labeled as ‘work with mom’ or ‘work with a sibling’.  They would then then peek into their folders to get a glimpse of what they would be working on that day.  Previously, with the one tote, it was hard for them to see what we had to work on for the day and they never knew what was coming next nor how much more we had to do.  Individual workboxes, with the chart and movable tags, gave the children a visual for how much was left and for what they had already accomplished.  I  think they found it motivating.
3. For our preschooler, his workbox was set up to be almost all ‘work with mom’ time.  His workbox gave us an organized space and order for working together.
4. I truly think the implementation of workboxes made preparing and organizing work for each child more manageable as well.  Whenever there is a designated place to put items, it makes things go much more smoothly! 
5. Using file boxes with handles made the workboxes portable.  We could work in a variety of places throughout our home and easily take our work with us… to the basement, an upstairs bedroom, the living room, even on a trip to dentist!

Dislikes:

1. We used standard hanging files and several hanging file folders ended up tearing and splitting half way through the year.  I attempted to tape and mend them to make it through the year, but it was not a pretty sight.

I am looking forward to using our workboxes again this coming school year. The only changes I am planning to implement are using heavier duty hanging files and adding a small pouch to the front of each box to hold pencils, a small box of crayons, a glue stick, and pair of scissors for each PreK child or older.  I am also considering letting our fourth child have her very own workbox (slightly different than the older kids) and join in on the fun as well =) 

Oh, one last favorable review of workboxes came from Daddy –
“If it keeps mommy sane, I like it!”

I nursed the baby.
I looked in the baby’s bright blue eyes and told him that I loved him.
I held a fussy baby and prayed to know how to help soothe him.
I washed the dishes.
I got my heart checked by a cute, in-house, princess doctor.
I swept up the noodles that strayed from the kids’ sensory tub.
I filled, ran, and emptied the dishwasher.
I prepared lunch.
I wiped cheesy wild rice soup remains from a toddler’s face.
I kissed a toddler’s knee after she fell and wiped away her tears.
I changed diapers.
I tried to keep my calm as a little one in training became wet once again.
I cried out and prayed to the Lord for strength.
I listened to a 6 year old read a funny story and heard her laugh.
I helped a 4 year old make a list of foods that he wants to bake when he grows up and becomes a chef.
I washed, dried, and redid sheets.
I sang silly songs and got to dance.
I kissed the sweet cheeks of a sleeping infant.
I shared a lift the flap book with a toddler while lying on the floor.
I heard God’s Word being sung through a child’s voice.
I got my order taken by a little waitress, over and over again.
I got to comfort an 8 year old with a headache that doesn’t seem to go away.

I died to self as things I wanted to do were put aside.
And, I nursed the baby again, washed the dishes again, changed diapers again…

I got nothing done today – at least by this world’s standards.

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up.

Proverbs 17:14
Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam. 
So drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

My oldest had the opportunity to practice her dictionary skills as she and the other kids wondered what some of the words meant.  We talked about what it meant to quarrel, to dispute, what a dam is, and learned about the word breached.

• quarrel: verbal disagreement between individuals or a group, to make
  complaint or find fault
• dispute: to quarrel or fight about; to quarrel angrily; to wrangle
• dam: a barrier to stop the flow of water, built across a stream or river
• breach: to break; a rupture; a gap made in a wall; a severance in friendly relations

Then I shared with them a visual…
What does a dam look like and what happens when it is breached?

A simulation of a dam breaking
Real footage of the aftermath from a dam breaking.

They were amazed that a small hole in the dam could be so powerful and have such a large effect!  Our words and how we choose to respond, act the same way.  We can choose to be peacemakers.

And of course, I couldn’t help but put the verse to a tune so we could all sing it…

Joyful Heart Tune – Proverbs 17:14

I was so excited to get to share this with the children.  It seemed to really make sense to them!

Thank you Lord for this clear illustration from Your Word!

I searched online, asked for suggestions from friends, looked through colonial activity books, and sifted through sewing books for ideas. I then shared them with our daughter who helped to make the final decisions.  Here is what we came up with to make a special Colonial Sewing day for her…

Beforehand, she sent out patchwork invitations.

The girls made a colonial type toy – a ‘bilboquet’. 
  

She and her friends also made some colonial garb – mob caps and aprons.  The ideas for these two projects came from Just Call Me Jamin.  At her blog, she shares ideas that correspond with many of the American Girl dolls!
   
The day before the party, our daughter even made a mini sized mob cap and apron for her miniature Felicity doll.

She also helped to make these needle cases for each of her guests.  The idea for the cases came from Sewing School.

The girls participated in two Colonial style games – ‘Hunt the Needle’ and ‘Hide the Thimble’.  (Colonial girls would actually have played ‘Hunt the Ring’, but we were trying to keep with the sewing theme as well and so used a plastic needle instead of a ring.)

For fun, they also used whip stitches to sew together felt bears.   The idea and pattern for the bear is from My First Sewing Book by Winky Cherry.

And of course, we had to have a sewing related cake.  She wanted to celebrate with a patchwork cake.

It was a joy to be able to plan the party and then watch her delight in the afternoon with her friends!

Philippians 3:7-14

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.  Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

When I read these Words (above) and hear this song (below), my heart longs to truly know my Savior more….

from Casting Crowns ‘Until the Whole World Hears’ album

To know You is to never worry for my life
To know You is to never give into compromise and
To know You is to want to tell the world about You
Cause I can’t live without You

To know You is to hear Your voice when You are calling
To know You is to catch my brother when he is falling
To know You is to feel the pain of the broken hearted
Cause they can’t live with out You.

More than my next breath
More than life or death
All I’m reaching for, I live my life to know You more
I leave it all behind, You’re all that satisfies
To know You is to want to know You more
To know You is to want to know You more

To know You is to ache for more than ordinary
To know You is to look beyond the temporary
To know You is believing that You’ll be enough
Cause there’s no life without You

All this life could offer me, could not compare to You , compare to You
And I count it all as lost, compared to knowing you , knowing You

I hear You Lord and I want to know You more…..

I had already worked hard on getting all of the lesson planning finished and materials gathered as much as possible before the baby arrived.  It was sort of like planning for a maternity leave – only there was no substitute to call!  (Okay, daddy did sub a few times while he was off and we team taught for a little bit before he returned to work.  He did an excellent job =)  )

Now, it is just me, attempting to complete our school year with five little ones – a 2nd grader, Kindergartner, preschooler, toddler, and 2 1/2 week old infant.

So far, my goal has been to ease into school, taking two days (just mornings basically) to complete what we use to accomplish all in one day (usually all morning and some time in the afternoon).  This means that it will be taking us twice as long, 40 days to get through 20 days of actual school!  If we happen to occasionally get a full day in,  I will consider it to be a great feat!  Breaking the days up and stretching them out seems overwhelming, but it is making school with a newborn manageable.  That is what counts.  My kids don’t deserve to have a crazed mommy pulling her hair out each day!

With a newborn in tow, God is having me revisit a word I don’t often like – flexibility.  Taking two days per school day is a start.   However, I have to be flexible, not only about how much we accomplish each day and when we may actual complete this school year, but I also have to be flexible with our normal routines – when we school during the day and how we accomplish typical learning tasks.  Here are a few examples…

-taking advantage of doing hands on projects while our newborn takes a good nap
-having kids read to me or complete some work with mom as I hold a calm or semi-sleeping baby
-focusing on trying to have kids do their independent work from their workboxes as I nurse or try to console a crying, fussy baby
-asking the oldest two children to take turns playing and reading with our toddler (Since our 2 year old is use to being the baby, she seems to be experiencing greater difficulty than the other children with the adjustment to being a big sister- and having less one on one time with me.)
-being willing to read aloud stories and history as I’m nursing
-allowing time for older siblings to be around their new brother.  This might take the form of them doing their schoolwork nearby or just talking, holding, and bonding with him.

Also, I’ve determined that if a day is extremely trying now and then, I want to be able to throw out the academics, turn on the music (my kids love to sing and dance), play games, go outside, get out the paints, have a tea party, etc.  Yes, we will still get to the ‘school’ stuff, but we are a family first and life with a newborn is demanding – an adjustment for everyone in the home =)

As  our newborn is able to stay awake longer, we will also have to incorporate the use of our infant swing, use the play-mat and bouncy seat more, institute pack in play time, etc.  Babies grow and change quickly and we’ll have to be willing to adapt right along with our new little guy!  God has placed him in our family and I am so thankful for this opportunity to be bent and stretched.

For more thoughts on homeschooling with a newborn, you may wish to read this blog entry posted by another homeschooling mom of 6.

Day one of being home alone with all five precious kiddos brought this…

the good

• Our oldest got all of her work with mom and independent schoolwork completed.  (amidst cries from her youngest sibling)
• Our preschooler didn’t argue about going to his room for ‘rest’ time. (It was amazing!) He played contentedly for a long time – building with blocks, constructing with Super Structs, and playing with his cars and trains.
• I think I experienced a couple of 5 minute naps in the late afternoon, in between each time the newborn’s pacifier came out.
• I was able to sneak a leftover chocolate frosted cupcake without any of the kids noticing.  (Any mother can see the importance of this, right?)

the bad

• I left the school/playroom to attend to our newest little one.  I returned 5-10 minutes later only to find toys strewn all over the floor –See Exhibit A, below. (At least they were educational games and they were learning – Yes?  No?  Okay, this may just be wishful thinking. It is more likely that the toddler just dumped them out.)

• While I was reading aloud to the older children and holding our newborn (who was refusing to nap anywhere other than in Mommy’s arms), our toddler got into the pantry, took out some cereal, and was proceeding to locate a bowl for it.  I told her no and I removed the cereal box from her hand.  She then threw the bowl and began to run away from me, throwing toys, a book, anything she could get her little hands on. (Ahh, the joy of having a dearly loved, spunky, red headed two year old…)

and the just plain ugly.

Through groggy eyes and an unguarded tongue, mommy’s impatience made appearances off and on throughout the day.

Be completely humble and gentle.
Be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:2)

(Yes, even when I’m tired… Ouch.)

In addition, we are also seeing much more of this

(in lingering piles)

and this

(Yes, that says AM. It could start with a 1,2, or 3.  We’ve seen them all!)

which, of course, means a lot less sleep!

But…. it is soooo worth it for this little blessing!

(In a blink of an eye, this stage will pass quickly.)

So, guard your heart and mind, mama.  Stay in the Word.  Pray for daily, hourly, and minute by minute doses of wisdom, grace, and strength.  Consider His faithfulness.

I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.  (Isaiah 41:10)

-caressing your smooth sweet baby skin,
-smelling your newborn baby hair,
-holding onto your two little feet and long skinny toes,
-looking in awe at your two small hands and tiny fingers grasping onto mine,
-watching you stretch and uncurl your long skinny legs,
-running my fingers through the ends of your fine baby hair,
-tracing the outside edge of your perfectly formed ears,
-feeling you lean against me, knowing you feel loved and safe, as you lay your head on my shoulder and rest your arm on my neck,
-marveling at God’s Hand in the creation of you.

For you created my inmost being.
       You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
       Your works are wonderful,
       I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
       when I was made in the secret place.
       When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
       All the days ordained for me
       were written in your book
       before one of them came to be.
(Psalm 139:13-16)

I’m thanking God for you, little one.

Our two oldest girls and I have just started to do some hand sewing using felt.  It is a great material for beginners to use!  We have been using My First Sewing Book: Hand Sewing by Winky Cherry, which I highly recommend, to learn basic hand sewing techniques and to learn to make some felt stuffed animals.

So, when I came across a post at Sewing School about these cute felt Easter bags, I immediately knew that it would have to be our next project.  The original idea for the bags comes from a book by Kata Golda called Hand Stitched Felt.  I am thinking if the projects in the book are similar to this one, we will have to go invest in it!

The girls absolutely loved the process and the end product turned out great as well!  Take a peek!  In the pictures, you will see four bags.  Our kindergartner sewed one for herself.  I made a bag for our toddler.  Our oldest daughter (a second grader) made a bag for herself AND one for her preschool aged brother.  These were fun and easy for beginners to complete and take pride in!

We did decide to make a lamb finger puppet instead of the bunny puppet. (That is just our family’s preference, as we tend to focus on Christ, His sacrifice, and the Resurrection around Easter time instead of the ‘Easter bunny’.) We encouraged the girls to recite memory verses with their ‘lamb of God’ finger puppets.  Also, one chose to use her bag at Good Friday services to hold a small Bible.  The other decided to use her bag to hold some crayons and paper.

We just had the picture from Sewing School to go by, so I had to come up with measurements, etc. on my own.  It wasn’t too difficult to do.

For the Easter bag:
Fold a 9 by 12 inch piece of felt in half, placing the folded edge at the bottom.  Cut a two inch strip from one side.  (This strip can be used as one the handles.)  From a coordinating color, cut a pocket shape and another 2 by 12 inch strip (for the second handle).  Pin the pocket onto the piece to be used for the bag.  Sew.  Pin the side edges of your bag, with the pocket now on the inside.  Sew.  Flip the bag inside out so that your pocket is now on the outside.  Fold your two 2 by 12 inch strips lengthwise and pin.  Sew.  Pin the newly formed handles to the outside of your bag.  Make several X stitches to firmly secure the handles to the bag.

For the lamb finger puppet:
Cut two 3 inch by 3 5/8 inch pieces of white felt.  Also cut a small tail and a shape as seen below for the ears.  Cut a small oval face shape from light pink, tan, peach, or gray felt.  Sew the tail to one of the white rectangles.  Sew the face to the other white rectangle.  Sew the mouth, nose, and eyes onto the face (or draw with permanent marker).  Insert the ear piece at the top, between the two pieces of rectangular felt.  Pin to secure.  Sew around the edges of the rectangle pieces, leaving an opening at  the very bottom.  Voila!  A lamb finger puppet to make a home inside the pocket of your Easter bag!