(Eva sniffing Maggie's skirt during lessons)
I figured since I put our original plans on the blog I might ought to come back and post the changes we've made. We're a few weeks into things and some things weren't working too well.
(a couch full of learners)
Math - We are loving Horizons. I thought about moving Emma back into the Workbook B for First Grade but she's moving along well after an initial brain freeze so I'm leaving things as planned. I admit that the girls don't know their addition/subtraction facts by memory and that *really* slows things down. I just can't seem to bring myself to drill with flashcards but I guess that's the only way to memorize them. Suggestions?
(a little one on one)
Reading/Phonics - I almost bailed on Abeka Reading but after a friend offered me the needed flashcards for free we're plugging ahead. We seem to be making good progress. I don't want reading to be drudgery so I'm keeping things short and typically end the lesson when they start getting flustered. We're normally finished before that point.
(Eva learning to cook)
Spelling - I totally bailed on Sequential Spelling. Not because I think it's a bad program. I actually want to use it in the future but just seemed more "intense" than what I wanted this year. So I ordered the Abeka First Grade Spelling book to go with the Phonics we are already using. It's simple and quick.
(Z and K "reading" the Jesus Storybook)
I also decided to put up BJU Bible 2 until the girls are able to read better on their own. It was too much at this point. So we're going back to reading from The Jesus Storybook Bible and discussing it in detail. The littles love this too. And I do too. I can rarely make it through a story with my voice cracking and tears flowing.
So I think that about sums up the changes.... so far. Things are always changing. We've added in a few extra curricular activities, which is a first for us, but more on that later.