Wow.  Here it is the 26th of September and I’ve written only three posts this month.  I feel crazy busy and there are definitely aspects to that I do not like.  I’ve dropped the ball more times than I would like to admit lately, especially when it comes to family and friends.  I’ve met more people in the last month than I have in probably at least the last five years.  And since I’m not an extrovert, that’s a big deal to me.  I truly hope that the next few months will begin to smooth out and I can do and be what I really need to do and be.  Meanwhile, we’ve started school around here, and I thought I’d share just a couple things I do like.

We’re using a curriculum called My Father’s World – Adventures this year.  It includes history (overview of US history and learning something about each state), Bible and science.

Last week, we had a discussion about density and how salt water makes things float better than fresh water does.

We’re continuing with Singapore Math, some Explode the Code and will begin Primary Language Lessons and Daily Grams.  We’re also continuing All About Spelling, which I really like.

This is our spelling board with the All About Spelling tiles.  Ethan is alphabetizing them (while on the couch) to get the board ready for the next lesson.  These high quality materials are so well organized and easy to use with lots of built-in review.  I feel that if he isn’t a reasonably good speller after working through this program, then he just wasn’t meant to be a speller!

Speaking of spelling…we used the Bananagrams tiles for a crossword puzzle the other day…and lo and behold if Ethan didn’t spell…TOOT.  (Please see my previous post.)

Something I kinda splurged on last week was a new timeline book for our history lessons.  This one will be used and added to throughout his learning years.  It’s called History Through the Ages – Record of Time, by Homeschool in the Woods.

It comes in a lovely 3-ring binder with the above cover.  Inside are lined and dated, ivory, cardstock pages.  I also got the CD collection of over 1200 timeline figures that can be printed off onto full-sheet labels (many on a page), cut out and placed in their correct spot in history.  I even got the placement guide which shows where to place each figure in order to fit everything on the pages.  Amy from Homeschool in the Woods has actually drawn all of the figures and maps.

Oh, the maps.  I do love maps.

And these are such pretty ones.  They have an old world quality to them.  And they have wonderful details.

Look at the delightful compass.  Yes, a compass can be delightful.

My favorite maps came as a purchased download, so I don’t have pictures of them yet as I haven’t printed any yet.  But we have each state in three forms:  fully detailed and labeled, labels removed, details and labels removed.  That way they can be studied and then filled in by the student.  The notebook pages to go with each state are so wonderful.  Beautiful drawings of the state bird and flower are included, as well as space to write down other state info.  I know these maps and the history timeline book will be some of my favorite materials this year.  Ethan likes maps, too, so I think he will also appreciate these.

Well, we have other materials and things we’re doing, and more that I’d like to add.  But I feel like we need to streamline what we’re currently doing before adding more.  Quite frankly, our days are full and I’ve let some things go.  Like keeping up with my Google Reader.    (I know!  That is SO important!  Hehehehe…)  I used to keep up fairly well, or at least mark things as read even if they weren’t but I knew I wouldn’t have time for them.  But for the past six weeks or so, my Google Reader has had 500-600+ unread items in it.  OK, so maybe I have too many things in my reader to begin with. 

Anywhoo…other than Ethan having a hate-affair with anything to do with writing, we’re off to a pretty good start for 2nd grade.