My blog has been inactive as far as my posting but I have not been. Behind the scenes here I’ve been in the throes of pulling together my resources for this coming year.

My plans sort of took a turn for the better, I pray(I pray that I’m hearing God right on this one). I’m still using Ray’s arithmetic but I’ve purchased Abeka’s math text for grade 2 to sure up my dd’s foundation in applying the operations of arithmetic to the categories and in learning the ‘rules’ of the categories….those who have read the Arithmetic portion of GACE know what I’m talking about…:-)

I have finally conceded to the notion that I need help in teaching, especially the BPA approach. I don’t have the time to write as much as I want but this past year gave me a good start. I think I was dreaming of the time when I’ll have more time to just study and write lessons but that time is not now…it will come though!

I also purchased the Language text, Spelling and Poetry text, and Cursive Writing tablets (to begin cursive writing) from Abeka. I was blessed by another mom GIVING ME(not selling) the K4 and K5 Lesson Plans for Reading, Phonics, Writing, AND Math!!! Oh My!!!!
Do you think that perhaps God is trying to show me that this is the way I should go for this year?

Once I got into the Charlotte Mason approach(before BPA) I swore I’d never go back to workbook, even though our experience with workbook was a very positive one. (Sometimes though u may need to take a break from it and liven it up) So I’m still a little surprised at the direction I’m going in here.

SSSSSooooooooooooo, now that I have all of this I borrowed another mom’s Lesson Plans for Grade 2 to look thru, (since I did not purchase these) just to see if I can put these plans together myself or if I need to use ‘theirs’. Well, guess what?

I found a posting on Vegsource where a mom was selling the Parent Kit for Grade 2(which includes all lesson plans just for homeschoolers in Phonics, Reading, Writing, Poetry, Language, Seatwork(Homework), Math Games and Charts and the Primary Bible Reader and Reading Handbook———————————> all for $54.

Can you believe it? I almost can’t!! and yes I bought it. Now the only thing left to consider is if I should buy the student texts for my Kindergartener since I was GIVEN the Lesson Plans for Kindergarten.

I think I will….

So that takes care of what I call my CORE subjects. Bible, Literacy (this includes Reading, Phonics, Spelling, Grammar, and Writing), and Math-those are everyday. These are done first in the day along with a morning Read-Aloud period. I won’t say first in the morning b/c sometimes we don’t start until 12 noon or later.

After those are done then we’ll snuggle up with our unit studies of the Chain of Christianity.

I’m so excited b/c I can see all of this coming together in a fashion that I am satisfied with!!!!! Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Over the past year I 4R’d the subjects of Literacy and Math (along with History and some of the 7 Principles of Life-see previous post). So I have all my biblical foundation for my core subjects and biblical principles that I studied out. The FACE guides also give good information on other principles specific to the subjects. So what I plan to do is as I teach the ‘rudiments’ of each subject I can also pull from my study and teach from my biblical principles and insert them into any lesson that we do wherever they fit and make sense. The Principle of Individuality seems to be one that I’m finding many opportunities to teach. Then there are also principles SPECIFIC to each subject, not (just) THE 7.

So I feel I’m on my way. I’m overjoyed that the image I have in my spirit of basing our homeschool/learning and lessons on God’s principles is beginning to take shape and form.

I’m also excited to see that I can use ‘other ‘ resources and still apply my leading ideas and principles to our lessons. These other resources in no way take away from learning that all these things begin and end in God. It’s as MY mind is renewed to be able to discern God’s purpose and principles that enables me to see how to apply BPA to our homeschool…as I understand how to teach the rudiments(beginning principles and facts) of each subject, then the ‘other ‘ resources become my tool and not my master.

1. I love what you wrote about resources being your tool and not your master.

   Comment by momof3feistykids — June 30, 2006 @ 6:54 am

2. Hi Momof3feistykids,

   thanks for stopping by and reading (and commenting-letting me know u came by). I’m blessed by this realization that we don’t have (and should not be) enslaved to any curriculum(to anything, really, but the Lord) and be free to homeschool as the Lord leads…

   dee

   Comment by Deidra — June 30, 2006 @ 9:54 am

3. I’m so happy for you that you feel satisfied as to the direction to go this year; and I “hear” your excitement coming through about all of your plans. That has to be a great feeling!!! I’ll look forward to hearing how everything continues to go. All the best to you and your family as you (continue to) gear up for the new year!

   Comment by Kim — July 1, 2006 @ 7:27 pm

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