Home is where you start from: homeschool soup

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

homeschool soup

So much of what I do is pieced together. I would love to be able to say that we've used such-n-such curriculum for so many years. I'd love the safe feeling of having one curriculum to fulfill all our needs; one program to follow year after year-insuring no learning gaps.

I'd love to be that together. Okay, I'd love to seem that together. But I'm not. {obviously}

What I am, it seems, is eclectic. And meandering.
And rambling.

I was contemplating the other day on how my homeschool life seems to be one of making homeschool soup. We use a bit of this, a bit of that, the recipe this year might taste great, but next year I will change it up a bit.

We just started using Writing With Ease by Susan Wise Bauer for writing with the 3 Littles and for Josie. This is week 2 and I'm loving it, still. That 's a good sign, right?

I love the philosophy behind her method, I love that she is a college writing professor, beside homeschool mom- and that she obviously knows what she is writing about. I love that the directions are in the front of the book, and I can tear out worksheets at the back. -remember my worksheet lust?

A review will be forthcoming, after I've used it a few weeks, promise. :)

Here are a few other stand-outs in our years of making homeschool soup:

Five in a Row. -gentle. If you are starting out with littles, I encourage you- do this, a smidgen of Math and that is all!

Headsprout phonics -online! Because I am too tired/bored to teach phonics. again. -and my boys won't sit still.

Story of the World. I keep coming back to this. The activity book has worksheets! {lust}

Growing with Grammar - I was a diagramming fool in Jr. High. Diagramming makes me happy and squishy inside. -nerd much??

Math U See. the lesson each week is on video. Each week is predictable, we do a page a day and then a test. :)

Abeka cursive handwriting

Sonlight. -this has made homeschooling my elders much simpler. I love the books. The lack of worksheets brings me seriously down, tho. -I tweak, I stir, it comes out good...

**give it a stir...

{soup's on!}

What are some of your very favorite materials?

Labels: curriculum, homeschool, show and tell

posted at 11:53 PM
8 comments

8 Comments:

At 12:59 PM, Theresa said...: I love your honesty. You have no idea how much of an inspiration you have been to me since I started homeschooling. My husband is from Socal and if we ever get out there again, I would LOVE to meet you!

I am so the same way. I wanted to plan and have a schedule...but that is not me. I read some homeschool mom's blogs and they have it so planned out and I just wish I could be that way...but it's not me. I can't say I am Classical or Charlotte Mason. I like a little of everything.

I love, love, LOVE Story of the World. My kids love it. I have learned sooo much from it! I love how it is presented. I love reading it!! I love the activity book. It's the one thing that I would never change. So, I am very interested in Writing with Ease...I think we are going to consider it for next year!
At 10:07 PM, Hen Jen said...: Theresa,

thank you for the encouraging words! I would love to meet you next time you are out!! For sure email me and we will set something up! :)
At 8:27 AM, megan said...: Wow! I admire your courage and enthusiasm! What a beautiful family you have. They are so blessed to have such a dedicated mom.
I'll look forward to reading your blog.
Have a nice day!
Megan
At 3:55 PM, Hen Jen said...: Megan,

aww, thanks for the positive words, made my day! I'll be by to visit you :)
At 10:55 AM, Annette said...: Stopping by from the hip homeschool hop, we use math u see and it has really worked for us, definitely a keeper.
At 12:29 PM, Lizzie said...: Hi Jenn
Eclectic here too from a jumpstart into the whole thing from our friend SWB.
Hits here are never what I expect them to be but some that have worked for a few years in a row were The Mystery of History with Truthquest combo I put together and CLE math and grammar. Now I am at a total overhaul with my 4th grader but it turns out my highschooler likes textbooky stuff. She chose Omnibus for high school and loves it! Loving the journey.
At 12:58 PM, Lisa Boyle said...: Just stopping by from HHH. I use a curriculum for my kids mostly as a guide, but add different things as we go along and as I see what learning styles each child has in addition to their own interests. I think our children (and ourselves) are so "programmed" to do worksheets that many think they are learning if they don't do them! (not that worksheets are all bad, but you know what I mean!) Blessings to you and your family! :-)
At 7:28 PM, Unknown said...: It is so nice to hear that someone else uses a little of this and a little of that. I have struggled this year with my curriculum choices for the kids. I tried to stick with one curriculum provider as I thought that was what the kids needed. After the Christmas break I decided this was not working for us and made some big changes. We are now using a mixture of books for school and things have become so much more relaxed in our home. Thank you so much for sharing. It sounds like you have some great choices here!

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