Sona Creidhe Homeschooling

Still a work in progress but posting it as we decide things. Thanks

Social Studies/US-World History/Geography- Big B absolutely hates History so I’m going to try doing a Book Of Centuries and Copywork that is geared towards History. He’s also started reading more historical books during his Silent Reading time. No specific books, curriculum, or program just winging it as usual.

Reading/Vocabulary/Language Arts/Literature- I put these all together because we will be criss crossing into each constantly. We will do Silent Reading as usual, Literature will be reading and discussing the classics, Language Arts will be done through Copywork and various things we find interesting to try, we will be having a weekly Poet on our wall and learning some of their famous poems/quotes, Daily Journals are going down to Twice Weekly Journals where he will write one on what he did during the week and the other will be a Freewrite Friday from BraveWriter.com to help him develop proper writing skills, and then Vocabulary words will be on our Weekly Learning Wall as well as done individually throughout the week.

Science- We’re unsure at this point what to do about Science. He doesn’t want to take the classes in the EM so I have to figure out what to do and use. He volunteers at the Wildlife Rescue which has taught him an amazing amount of Science and Biology thanks to our friend K. We’ll be doing some Science experiments at home this year and he is teaching himself Physics. Nature Sketchbooks will also be used this year during Nature Walks in hopes of getting everyone more in tune with nature. I hope to find a way at some point to get in some Lab time for him but we will have to wait and see.

Math- I feel he still needs some time with Algebra I so he will take the first three months to finish that and then move on to Algebra II. If my husband can’t find the time to tutor Big B this year in Algebra then we may hire a tutor that can help him out.

Foreign Languages- It seems no one in this house can make up their minds on what languages they want to learn. I think at this time that Big B will do the weekly Latin and Spanish lessons with the rest of us. He mentioned something about Russian once but I haven’t heard anything else since. We’ll be using the Rosetta Stone programs for language, making a game out of finding new words to post on our wall each week, and playing games that involve each of the languages.

Religious Studies- We are starting with Buddhism and then moving on from there. I believe his second study will be on Atheism since that is what he feels he relates most to. My hope is to cover one religion every month or bimonthly. Enough to raise their knowledge and awareness but not enough to be cramming something they may decide they are against down their throats. We will have discussions about the religions, visit the houses of worship of several, learn about and partake in some of their ceremonies (not sacred ones), and talk to people who live these religions everyday. I have a strong belief in letting my children find their own religious paths and my hope is that during our studies they will find their spiritual “home” and continue learning about it.

Big B has also turned his blog into a Creation Myths blog where he will post the various Creation Myths from as many religions and and cultures as he can find. His hope it to learn more about what makes these cultures unique and also what they base their religious beliefs on. I'm looking forward to watching his progress.

Art- We will be making Artist Trading Cards but only for ourselves unless some of the local homeschoolers get into doing it too. I am using the book “Discovering Great Artists” this year and plan having the kids make an Art Card using each Artist’s medium and style. I have several canvases that I’m going to allow them to do their own artwork on and use to decorate our home. I figure the best artists I will ever know are my own children. I can’t wait to see what they come up with.

We will also be taking trips to the Art Museum here in town and any art shows that may come up. Even though Big B is kind of big for crafts I hope to have him help me while the younger two do them. I feel his feedback would be very encouraging and helpful. We are all starting Nature Sketchbooks this year and will be using them both for Science and Art as well. The kids have been informed that it doesn’t matter how well they sketch only that they do it and use their imagination and heart for it.

Music- Big B will continue learning on his guitar and we are hoping to get him lessons at some point this year. There will be a Composer/Musician of the Week on our learning wall and we will listen to works by that artist throughout the week. I wanted to just do Composers but Big B especially just wasn’t having it so we added Musicians as well. Wish me luck and hope my ears don’t bleed from the noise. lol

Physical Education- We will pretty much continue the way we have been going. That means the following things will be covered- Walking, Running, Basketball, Football, Raquetball, Tennis, Weightlifting, Bike Riding, and Climbing. Big B rides his bike about 2 miles in the mornings twice a week, attends a Teen Group once a week where he partakes in various sports and games, does weightlifting here at home but will be joining the YMCA soon in order to use their weight rooms and have more choices, and climbs on just about anything the kid can get his hands on. We have also decided to start doing Tai Chi as a family. This should be fun and interesting.

Socialization- For all those who think Homeschooled children are un/undersocialized. As I said, Big B attends Teen Group once a week, also hangs out with one or more of his friends at least once a week, will be joining a paid activity this year (just because we would like to expand his interests), will be weightlifing with others at the Y, and plans on getting a job as well. If that isn’t enough socialization then I don’t know what to tell you. It’s more than I ever got as a public school student I can tell you that much!

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