We finished the year 2007 well. So far we have completed the first 16½ weeks of the 36 week school year. During the holiday break we evaluated what we are doing and decided to make some changes. Of course we will continue with the Sonlight literature and history programs, Teaching Textbooks math and Apologia science. Christian is in his first year of a two year survey of world history, Algebra I and General Science. Kelly is in her first year of a two year survey of American history, Algebra II, and Physical Science. Kelly will stick with her Teaching Terrific writing, but we have switched Christian to Grammar Ace for awhile. We will drop the Wordly Wise vocabulary books because they are so nauseatingly politically correct and even wrong in some of their material (an example being the material they wrote about Rachel Carson, the author of Silent Spring). Of course, the kids will continue with their Rosetta Stone Spanish. I think the only other things they will continue doing as in the past are their current events, memorization, and music (Kelly – piano, Christian – guitar).
The exciting news for the new year is that we added five major new programs. Two of them are common to both the kids, one unique for Kelly, and one unique for Christian. First, the kids will go through the study program and be intimately involved in our financial plan based on Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace book. Second, we will all (Kelly, Christian, and I) start studying through a General Radio Operators License test preparation manual. We have been told that it might take us a year, but we can pass the test with this manual. Third, we will start reading a textbook on different world views together as a family — we want to include Mom in this just like with the Financial Peace book. Kelly will study some CLEP preparation manuals so she can get credit for some college classes. The first will probably be the first of two History of the USA tests. Christian will jump back into programming. I think it is time for him to start programming C++.
Our short term plan is just to do four more days of school between now and when we go on vacation to Mexico. Then, do only four days the week after we return. That will put us right at 18 weeks or halfway through the whole year.