More School Thoughts...

So, now we're to Daniel. He starts 3rd grade this year! I can hardly believe it. I've been home-schooling for 4 official years now, plus all of the preschool stuff we did. I don't think I'll ever feel like a "veteran" homeschooler, simply because with each year comes new challenges! So, here's his list:

Daniel, 3rd Grade

Horizons Math 3

Spelling Workout C -- He started this book in 2nd grade. We'll finish it this year, and move on, possibly to Spelling Power, when we get there.

Rod & Staff Grammar -- We're moving in a new direction with grammar this year. First Language Lessons is finished, and I was looking for a good program. Many other moms recommended this program. I borrowed it for a bit, looked it over, tried it out, and I think it's intensive enough for us. It's somewhat old-fashioned, but I like it. I always thought I'd use Shirley Grammar, but I'm really liking the possibilities with R & S.

Explode the Code & Beyond the Code -- Daniel's almost finished with the Explode the Code program, and we'll be moving on to Beyond the Code. Again, extra help with reading, comprehension, and spelling.

Wordly Wise -- This is a new one this year. Vocabulary!

Living Learning Science 3 -- We'll finish up LL 2 because it's too good not to finish, and then begin the 3rd in the series, which is chemistry. I'm picking up some neat experiment books and such to go along with this year.

Story of the World -- We're still in the Middle Ages, and will be for a while. I'm hoping to progress a bit quicker and pick and choose which chapters are absolute necessities, interesting, and needed. I'd really like to move a bit quicker in the history realm. We'll see how we do with that this year.

Latin -- This was thrown on the back burner last year, even though he was doing excellent. We'll get back on this, same book as last year, Prima Latina, and finish up. He'll have a good base, and we'll go from there.

Daniel will continue in piano lessons and Artistic Pursuits. I'm throwing in some fun things this year to lighten up our school days. We're going to have "wild days" in nature, and cooking days with mom and a retro Betty Crocker Cooking With Kids cookbook. I'm trying to decide on some 'read aloud' books that we can do together, and he'll be reading lots of library books and Pathway Readers and such that are handed down to us from other families. Oh, and I forgot to mention handwriting for each kid! We use "A Reason for Handwriting" which has nothing really spectacular to it. Just good practice. Daniel started cursive in 2nd, he'll continue with that. Plus all the extra workbooks and whatnot that I do....we definitely stay busy.

I'm gonna have my hands full! It's good that I'll have such things to occupy my mind. :~)