We are Loving Grammar Island

I mentioned in a previous post that a homeschool friend of ours was letting us borrow, Grammar Island, by Michael Clay Thompson. I have to tell you, I love it, and my daughter begrudgingly likes it. My 10th grader, was listening to us do it one day, when he said that may be the cutest and dumbest thing all rolled in one. LOL! It is a little silly, which is why my daughter likes it. To make it even more fun, instead of writing out the sentence work, we are using her brand new chalkboard door that we painted for her birthday. It is nice for those dreaded multiplication tables too. Why did I not think of chalkboard paint before? Anyway, we are only on the first level, and we will work on it all Summer, then purchase the next level for next year. We are moving through it pretty quickly as some of it is review, really. This is a curriculum you really should be willing to do with your child. I read the assignment to her, and then I have her read it back to me, and we discuss. Nice set, well worth the look.

Camp Kulaqua Water Park in High Springs

I had heard of Camp Kulaqua before, but had never been there. My husband, and son, went many years ago on one of their family weekend events. Camp Kalaqua is a Christian camp and event center. Most of their calendar is filled very quickly with reservations for groups. There are a few weekends a year they open up the water park for families. This is nice, because if your family is only four members, and not ten or more, you can go and enjoy the water park and other activities. We went with the Gainesville Homeschool Group, on Monday. It is a little water park, but it was peaceful, quiet, and easy to keep track of your kids because of the size. There is a wave pool, lazy river, and a water slide. It doesn't sound like much, but it kept all the kids busy. Plus, they let you bring in your own food and drinks, offer the tubes at no extra cost, and chairs and pavilions are also at no extra cost. They had plenty of lifeguards on duty, and they were very attentive. I would definitely go again.

Just a quick note. I have a disclaimer somewhere on this blog about affiliates, and such. When I do a review of somewhere we have been, or a product I have purchased, it is my review. I was not paid or in any way persuaded to do it. If I do get offered a payment, or product to test, I always say that very clearly. The Amazon products I share, are an affiliate program.  I make little to no money from it, but it does help in search engines. 

A Few Changes to Language Arts Curriculum for 10th grade and 6th Grade

While at a birthday party, for a homeschool friend, yesterday the mom and I got discussing homeschool curriculum, of course.  She buys from the Critical Thinking Company, for Language Arts, and has been very pleased with the results.  Since Language Arts is on of the more boring class to teach, I am always looking for something more interesting.  So, I went to their website last night, and decided to save a few of their products, to purchase when I am ready.  Oh, by the way, I am considering getting the Algebra 1 book from The Critical Thinking Co, as well.  I was checking it out, and it looks amazing, especially for the way they want the kids to learn the Math now.

http://www.criticalthinking.com/word-roots-level-1.html
http://www.criticalthinking.com/critical-thinking-book-one.html

For Writing, I have saved:
http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/sku/047638

Those are all for my High School child, though word roots I may use with my 6th grader as well.  The earlier I start, the better.

For my 6th grader, my friend is letting us try a curriculum her girls did not care for, but that I think mine will love.  It is from Micheal Clay Thompson, and we are starting right off with level one.  If she likes it, I most definitely use it again.  Language Arts is her biggest complaint, and hardest subject to teach her.  I am hoping this will be a good fit for her.

http://www.rfwp.com/pages/michael-clay-thompson/

Tomorrow we are off to a fun day at the water park.  I feel like we have not accomplished a ton the last week.  We were at the springs twice, and now the water park.  However, this time of year with lots of birthdays, and end of year fun stuff it is hard to say no.   We aren't behind, I just like to drive myself crazy, lol. 

6th Grade Homeschool ELA Language Arts Curriculum Lesson Choices

I finally decided what I will be using for my 6th grader, next year, for ELA Language Arts.  There are actually a few websites I will be using.  I really like the K12 that follows the Common Core Standards.  I know, I can't believe I just said that either.  I just like the set up and the quality of the worksheets provided.  So, we will be using it.  She will continue to read books I choose, and some she chooses, with book reports for each. 

http://www.k12reader.com/grade-level/grades-k-12/grades-6-8/
http://www.scholastic.com/freebiecorner/
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plans/free-lesson-plans/search?subject[]=303
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/writerschoice/course/grade6/pt1_sr.shtml
http://www.cpalms.org/Public/Search/CriteriaSearch?search=Resources&subjectId=39&gradeId=11&resourceKind=Mea

Are You Tired of School Yet? I Am! Visit Honeymoon Island State Park

I hope my kids don't read this, but I am tired of school now, lol. We have six weeks left, and have finished up some of our lessons. But, not all of them, so we go on. I always get tired of school, this time of year. I would much rather be by the pool, which isn't even open yet, grr, or at the beach. Normally we go to one of the local springs, or St Augustine to visit the Atlantic Ocean. But, I wanted to go somewhere different. So, we headed south to Honeymoon Island State Park, a very busy state park I might add. On the Gulf side of Florida, the water is much calmer, so it is more clear, and safer if you ask me. DJ had a ball using his goggles to see all the things under the water. Thank goodness he didn't see a shark. Caitlin enjoyed playing in the water without the waves knocking her over, or pulling down her bathing suit. I too felt more comfortable on the Gulf side, and it was a beautiful day. We will definitely visit Honeymoon Island again. Until then, we will finish up school

6th Grade Science Curriculum Finally Decided

So, I finally decided what I will be doing for my 6th grader next year, for Science.  I have previously posted Social Studies.  I will be using Ambleside Online, which is a Charlotte Mason inspired type of learning.  I love this for homeschool Science, especially in the younger grades.  I also have collected a whole bunch of Science unit studies, over the years, both printable and hard copy.  I will be using those as well.  Some of them she has started this year, because she finished up her Rainforest curriculum.  I also have two Science textbooks, that I don't completely like, but I can pick and choose from them what I want her to do.  She does experiments, now, with her older brother.  At least ones that are appropriate for her age.  I will layout the other subjects, and my choices, when I make a final decision.  I think the only one left, that is final is Math which will be Life of Fred, and ck12 elementary math.  That really only leaves Language Arts.  I also would really like to her to pick up on an Art that she loves.  She draws quite well, but has slowed down interest due to not wanting to draw things she doesn't want to draw.  So, I might just try and find a curriculum that just lets her draw what she is interested in drawing.  My son has taken to music quite nicely, but my daughter shows no real interest.  She loves to do nails, and interior design type stuff.  Maybe I can somehow foster that love.  She is only 10, lol.

The Wild Wild West 6th Grade Homeschool History

Science, and History were the two subjects that I still had to decide for my daughter, who will be in 6th grade next year. So, I finally decided on the West. The Wild West, history of how the western states came to exist, and Geography of that area. Below you will find the resources I found so far, for this class. I am sure Little House on the Prairie would work too, but she hates it and doesn't want anything to do with it. Netflix has a streaming series called the West, which is a PBS show. We will be watching that. Now, I still have to decide for Science. I do have an older book I might just go ahead and use, not sure.

http://www.wildwesthistory.org/
http://www.historynet.com/magazines/wild_west
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/lesson_plans/
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tsl/archives/04-1/lesson033.shtml
http://www.50states.com/
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/06/50-u-s-states-got-names/