It was fun to read my year-end wrap-up and goals for 2010 that I posted 8 months ago. I did manage to let go of the blogging guilt. The funny part is that I am always wanting to blog. Speaking of which, I really need to update this thing,. The last month or two I've been finding myself detaching from my computer and online activities. I'm certainly not a Luddite, my new iPod proves that, but I am discovering that I am much happier when I don't feel "chained" to my computer anymore. I need it to be a TOOL, but not a LIFE.
It's back-to-school time around here and I've been making plans and getting supplies. I'm excited to start another year of homeschooling. This year I have 2 official students, Trevor is 5 and will be starting kindergarten. We homeschool through a virtual academy that provides us with the curriculum of our choice, within public school parameters, and funding for off-campus classes by providing them with a little information about what our school year plans are, a commitment to school a certain amount of hours, and have weekly and monthly check-ins with an advisory teacher. I've picked up a few things myself this year to save more of my funds for classes. Back-to-school shopping has always been my favorite. I love paper goods and pens and pencils and doo-dads and all that good stuff. And books. Oh how books make me swoon.
I'm participating in the Not-Back-to-School Blog Hop this year and hopefully it will kick-start a new blogging habit.

This week is curriculum week, so here is what I have planned for the year. It is, of course, subject to change and my children's interests and needs change.
Anneliese - Grade 3
- Math - Singapore Math 3A and 3B, lots of boards games and fun manipulatives, and Mathematicians Are People, Too.
- Social Studies - History Pockets "Explorers of North America," "Life in Plymouth Colony" and "American Revolution;" lots of living books and biographies about Christopher Columbus, the Founding Fathers and the American Revolution
- Language Arts - Handwriting Without Tears Cursive Success, All About Spelling Level 2, Grammar Tales and Five in a Row vol.1 with Trevor
- Science - R.E.A.L. Science for Kids pre-level 1, homeschool science classes at the Tacoma Nature Center
- Fine Arts - Artistic Pursuits Grades K-3 Book 2, lots of museum trips and classical music listening, possibly a drama class with the Broadway Center.
Trevor - Grade K
- Math - Earlybird Kindergarten Math A and B, lots of boards games and fun manipulatives, and Mathematicians Are People, Too
- Social Studies - listening to Anneliese read some of her history books aloud and Five in a Row.
- Language Arts - Handwriting Without Tears Letters and Numbers for Me, Five in a Row vol. 1 and all the books he enjoys reading himself.
- Science - R.E.A.L. Science for Kids pre-level 1, homeschool science classes at the Tacoma Nature Center
- Fine Arts - Artistic Pursuits Grades K-3 Book 2, lots of museum trips and classical music listening
Lots of our schooling involves living life and we don't always stick to the books. As a family we are striving towards more and more self-sufficiency and the kids are just as involved in that as we are. They will be helping with the chickens after they arrive and grinding the grain for our flour. Right now the kids think "school time" is fun and they like to sit and work on things together. When that changes we will figure out something else.
I hope to share our progress through the year and maybe even have the kids share a book report. Oh fun!