I'm back! Did you miss me?

So I took some time off from blogging for a while...  Okay, a long time.  I needed some time AWAY from the computer world to refocus on some priorities and seek the direction in which the Lord is leading us on number of levels.  Of course, I'm still seeking Him, but at least I've got a good vision for what our school year will hold for fall 2011.  Check out my final plans here.  (It's under my various labels).  I've got most of my stuff bought and our school schedule typed out.  Now I just need to get organized.  We've been doing some light-schooling throughout the summer, with some math and English, so the transition into doing more school work shouldn't be too difficult.  We have an official start date of August 23rd, but I'll probably only introduce two or so new subjects every few days until we are in full swing.  I find the gradual additions to make for a smoother transition out of our summer mode and into the world of academics.

Sister Strings received a scholarship to participate in our homeschool summer musical theater orchestra pit this summer.  They needed a flutist, so I am also participating as well, and it's turning out to be a lot of fun for her and me.  It's some tough music though, around 50 pages worth, so practice is a must.  The rest of our time has been spent visiting with out of town family, picnicking at the park, and just enjoying the warm weather while it's here.  Our neighbors have a pool, so the kids have enjoyed swimming quite a bit as well.  I'm looking forward to fall, though, as that is my favorite time of year.  Oh yeh, and I turned 40 a couple of weeks ago...Okay, moving on...

Anyways, just checking in to let my readers know that I haven't fallen off the planet, and I'm looking forward to another great year of watching my kids grow up some more.  I'm slowly updating some of our blog photos too, along with playing around with the templates.  Sister Strings is being a bit camera shy.  I'm trying to capture a nice sunset photo of her with her violin.  I need to do it soon before the weather gets too cold again. I should probably update my photo too.  I guess she's not the only one around here who's camera shy.

EASTER (not spring) BREAK this week

All of our schools had their spring break a couple of weeks ago, while we did school.  The kids weren't too happy that I made them do school then, knowing "everyone" else was off.  I explained that back in the day, schools had an EASTER break every year, and somewhere along the way in our postmodern society, schools decided that "spring" sounded more politically correct, I guess.  Well, no matter what the latest trends are in school, I informed my children that our break will occur during Easter time.  So, we are off this week...sort of.  We have some loose ends to tie up with an IEW writing assignment for tomorrow along with our usual music activities, but mostly we're going to spend a good portion of the next few days watching Matthew, the whole book on video, word for word (NIV), acted out by one of the first professing Christians to ever portray Jesus on video. (We have the older VHS version).  My older two have seen this before, but this will be the first time that my 10 and 6 year olds will join us.  On Friday, we plan to go to our church's Good Friday service.  I also am going to attempt to do my first lap book with the kids, while we continue to study through the New Testament together, using this.  We're going to start with the Last Supper, Crucifixion, and the Resurrection.  We just got done reading through the Book of John last week.  Now they'll get the Book of Matthew's perspective on the life of Christ.  I'm looking forward to a great week and  little bit of a break from our normal routine.  Sometimes a good "break" entails much more than the beach, although, that sounds pretty good too, considering that our northern weather is very confused right now, as my six year old keeps putting on shorts each morning due to the warm Sunday we had last weekend, which creates an issue considering that we had snow flurries today.  :-/  He just doesn't understand our MI weather yet.  He feels that the weather should be cooperating with the calendar. 

Reading aloud for Grandma

Baby Bach is finishing up Kindergarten this year, and he wanted an opportunity to show off read aloud for his Grandparents. It's tough being the "baby" sometimes. He's doing great with his phonics and blending, and as you can see here, we're working on fluency and flow...especially remembering to stop at the periods. :) I also should have had him spit out his gum first! He's also got a case of the "sillies" here, so he's trying really hard not to giggle. Enjoy!

Oh, and for those other homeschoolers who are wondering what he is reading from, it is a CLE reader (book 3 in the 1st grade LTR series). We use A Beka for phonics, though. A friend loaned us her CLE readers for some extra reading material, but we do not use their program. His main reading program is A beka.

Showcase Concert for Beginning music students

Brother Brass is improving in his French Horn playing, and here he is with his fellow beginning band students (and mom conducting) performing their favorite piece: The Pirate's Cave. He's in the back, to the left of the trumpets.

STATE Solo & Ensemble success!

Sister Strings performed for our state level S&E on Saturday and received a 91 out of 100 on the Proficiency I level. This level is for 10th graders, and they are required to play their prepared solo, scales picked by the judge (including minors-3 octaves!), and a sight reading piece in which they have 60 seconds to look over. She brought home a blue medal, and she's very happy with her overall performance. She was quite nervous about the scales and sight-reading part. She handled herself very well under the pressure. I think I get more nervous than she does. LOL!

Here's her solo performance, which got cut short because they are only allowed 5 minutes max per session (or something like that). There's no penalty for picking a longer piece. :) This is Haydn's Concerto in G major. Her pianist is also her violin teacher, and we just love her!

Is it right/biblical to name names when addressing false teachings?

In light of the recent controversy surrounding Ken Ham, I came across this really great article about it. I'm not going to repeat everything buzzing around the internet here.  No need to beat a dead horse.  Bottom line:  I fully support Ken Ham and his stand against false teachings.  There is a strong battle of the worldviews going on in today's world post-modern church, as the authority of God's Word is called into question.  I will stand by my brothers and sisters who unashamedly stand for absolute, biblical truth, even if it means being persecuted for it.

Homeschool Curriculum Plans 2011-2012 (Final Draft)

Sister Strings-11th grade (7.5 credits)


BIBLE:  Demolishing Strongholds (*worldview curriculum together with Brother Brass*-once/week); various Bible doctrine books

HISTORY:  ACE U.S. History ;  For you they Signed (2x's/week); Drive Thru History DVDs


ENGLISH:  Wordsmith Craftsman; CLE English Handbook Grammar Review; BJUP American Literature (online streaming); Word Roots (computer game)

 ALGEBRA 2 (finish)/GEOMETRY:  Teaching Textbooks

SCIENCE:   A Beka Physical Science (DVD course with Brother Brass)

ELECTIVES: 
FRENCH 2:  Rosetta Stone
PERFORMING ARTS:  Home school Orchestra/Violin Lessons
LOGIC (2nd semester):  Fallacy Detective/The Thinking Toolbox


Brother Brass-9th: (7 credits)

BIBLE:  Demolishing Strongholds (worldview course *with Sister Strings*-once/week); Who Am I? And What am I Doing Here? (Apologia)

HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY:  A Beka History of the World/Geography (online streaming)

ENGLISH:  ACE English I;  ACE Etymology; IEW SWI-B

SCIENCE:  A Beka Physcial Science (DVD course w/ Sister Strings)

ALGEBRA 1:  Teaching Textbooks (w/ new automated grading system! :) + CLE Math 7 LU's

ELECTIVES: 
PERFORMING ARTS:  Piano and Intermediate Band (French Horn)
HEALTH:  A Beka's A Healthier You (first semester)
P.E. : Already earned .5 credits due to his summer activities in learning a variety of sports


Miss Melody-5th

BIBLE: Apologia Worldview Training vol. 1; Bible Story Book OT (Vos)


HISTORY:  A Beka's 5th grade Old World History and Geography

ENGLISH:  CLE LA; IEW SWI-B

SCIENCE:  God's Design for Science (Answers In Genesis); select chapters from A Beka Science


MATH:  CLE Math


BABY BACH-1st

A Beka online streaming for MATH, Bible, Science/Social Studies, and Art

A Beka phonics with mom (continuing the current progress-using their program loosely)

CLE LA