I don’t have a frugal post for you today, as I was super busy yesterday. Besides cleaning up my house and trying to get organized before homeschooling sets in this September, yesterday was Box Day!
Don’t know what Box Day is? Neither did I, until I started researching homeschool curriculum. Basically, Box Day is when your box (or in our case, boxes) of Sonlight curriculum arrive via FedEx. Our three big boxes arrived yesterday morning, but I promised the kids I would wait until they got home to open them up.
My son lost interest before my daughter got home, but as soon as my daughter walked in the door, she was ready to start opening boxes!
Opening the first box…
A Markable World Map!
Look at all those books!
All organized. One bookshelf for 1st grade, and one bookshelf for 6th grade.
Now I just have to put the instructor guides together and start going over our schedule next year. I’m amazed at how much information we’re going to cover, and I don’t even have math books on the shelf yet! I may get a grammar book, too. Otherwise, we’re all set. I know we’ll be using Math-U-See for math. I’m even going to borrow a friend’s curriculum for my daughter (so I can claim to be sort of frugal). As far as grammar goes, I’m looking into Easy Grammar or Daily Grams. I still haven’t decided. Any advice?
I’ll probably pre-read some of the books for subject matter, not to censor information, but to be aware of sensitive subjects that we need to discuss.
I’m starting to get excited about next year! I never studied the Eastern Hemisphere in school, so my daughter’s course will be a great learning experience for me, as well as for her!
I’ll be back tomorrow with a great question. Hint….”As Seen on TV,” a question prompted by a reader.
{ 14 comments }
We began using Math-U-See for my daughter last year when she was in fifth grade. It’s been great for her. She is math-phobic, and MUS has helped alleviate some of that. I’d recommend Rod and Staff for grammar. It is traditional, thorough, and includes all-important diagramming. I know a lot of people don’t like diagramming, but I know of no better way to make students think about the function of every word in a sentence. If you do choose Rod and Staff, don’t feel like you have to do every sentence in every exercise. I think that would be overwhelming!
God’s blessings to you as you embark on this journey!
Wow, that looks like fun! How much did that cost you?
Looks like you are well on your way Lynnae– good luck!
I am very interested in your future updates on the homeschool experience.
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Both of those grammar programs look really familiar– I think my mom used them both on me at various points. I turned out to be an English major and to love my linguistics class, for what it’s worth. :)
What fun! It looks like you and your children will be having a lot of fun, along with the learning. Good for you for starting out on the right foot with your organization; it is time well-spent! I can’t wait to hear how it goes.
Oooo, I want to go through those books! How fun!
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We used Easy Grammar and, if I remember correctly, Daily Grams was “part” of Easy Grammar…It’s been many years since we homeschooled (my kids are now 22 & 25)…so forgive me if my memory isn’t exactly correct on that!
I loved, loved, loved Easy Grammar…it really did make things “easy”…*I* even learned a lot from it…LOL.
We also used Saxon math because it made math terribly simple to learn! Repetition is the key to learning and that is what both Saxon math and Easy Grammar use/build on.
Hope this helps…
and good luck with your homeschooling.
What surprised me was how organized you already are – with the bookshelves already in place! Way to go!
Can’t believe tho that you got thru school without Eastern geography! Hard to believe! Of course, most of the country names have changed since I took it – so I get lost in the daily world news these days!
Mah u see is great. My son has ADHD and a learning disability and it is great for him.
I love to get boxes. Especailly boxes with books in them. My boys love bubble wrap-lol!
You are super organized. We are still doing this year stuff (we are behind) so have not really bought much for next year. I have thought about how I will organize differently next year though.
I will be using Math u see with boys my boys next year (6th grade & 1st garde.) I will also be using Rosetta Stone so we all can learn spanish. I am using The wel trained mind for Launguage Arts and hope to use that again next year. I am not sure what I will be using for spelling.
I love homeschooling!!!
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I am so excited to see how this next school year goes for you and your family. I have a 15 month old (so I have a ways to go!), but I’ve just recently started thinking about homeschooling (something I would have NEVER thought about before!), so I’m anxious to see how you set everything up and how it all goes from the very beginning.
Good luck!!
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i’ve used Sonlight for the most part for 12 years. There is nothing like box day! I miss it now that I’m in the twilight years of homeschooling. enjoy Sonlight and savor every minute of your journey.
We have used Daily Grams. It was ok. Easy to do. We have switched to Rod and Staff for one child and the other two are on Switched on Schoolhouse from AOP for their english. They have ADD and ADHD so the comptuer is an easier way for them to learn.
LOVE Math-U-See!!! My one in the middle does not use it but the other two do. It is easy. We watch the movie clip together and then they go on with their lesson. I wish my middle child was using it but she was about to pass the older one and that was about to make her feel bad. So we just went to a different company. IT has been good for her because she learns different.
“Can’t believe tho that you got thru school without Eastern geography!” (Quote by Marci)
Hey, Marci, I can’t believe that you got through high school and actually HAD Eastern geography!!! LOL!
In all of my schooling, including all of the college prep and AP history courses I had in high school, all we EVER had was U.S. History. Nothing at all was/is taught.
And, among all of the adults I’ve asked, in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, none of them ever had any history except U.S. history while in school. It wasn’t until most parents begin homeschooling that they actually learn anything at all about ancient history, eastern history/geography, and history of Europe. Shocking. So thankful that we homeschool and can fill in all of my gaps in history knowledge as well as give my children an excellent, complete foundation in historical background or world civilization.
I know that you’ll enjoy Sonlight, Lynnae. Woo-hoo!
And yes, Daily Grams is a part of Easy Grammar. I looked at both and realized that my children didn’t need official “lessons” using Easy Grammar. So, I just bought the Daily Grams workbooks for them, and they have learned it all very well just with that, basically on their own. They are down taking their CAT tests this morning (requirement every few years in Oregon), and I know that they’ll score in the high 90th percentile in grammar, etc. because of the constant review with Daily Grams.
In another year or so, we’ll begin a more rigorous grammar program (either Rod & Staff or Winston Grammar), but for now, Daily Grams is totally meeting our needs – cheaply, easily, with no prep time for me as teacher, and only takes them a few minutes a few times a week.
Julieanne
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/iLoveHomeschooling
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@Julianne: :) I’m 55….
I grew up on a little laid back island/beach area in SW Fla.
A long long time ago :) Each grade had under 30 kids in it.
We had Florida History in 4th, US History/Geography in 5th,
and World Geography/History in 6th grade.
In 7th we had US History/Geography again – in more depth.
And in 8th grade back to World Geography. Again.
In 10th grade we had a great class called Ancient Civilizations –
it totally rocked :) And in 11th a course that should be mandatory in
schools – PAD or Problems in American Democracy. We learned about domestic and foreign/world governments, biasness in reporting, facts vs fallacies, and how to research for unbiased facts (not easy to do)
We also had personal finance – which should also be mandatory.
Maybe it’s cuz I had all those courses back in the 60′s thru ’72 ?
Somethings gotten lost along the way, for sure!
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