Planning for Next Block Semester

How do we position ourselves and our kids to go beyond the normal? We take a plunge. Try it out. Decide then to keep going or redo. Nothing is wrong with the experience of a repeat. We see ourselves get better.

TAKING A CHANCE

Well, I decided to just enroll Speed Racer in a College Class for Algebra! I don't know if he is ready. I will just get a tutor to help him. It will only be an 8 week class. If he does well, I'll sign him up for another, then another and who knows.


Truth is, I am a bit impatient with progress on studying for the CLEPs and DSST when my son can add up the college credits in just 8 weeks. So it will be an extra expense, but we will find a way to fund it.

PLANNING OUR NEW SEMESTER to START in JANUARY

After, evaluating what work for us this semester and what didn't. I realized that Speed Racer is maturing as a student. He likes to have ordered task that he can do independently. He also, is now rather good in math. Not so much in writing, but, we will recover that skill next semester.

We decided to change somethings up from what we originally planned for January to May 2018 semester.

1) College Math - Enrolled Speed Racer into college Dual Enrollment program. He is allowed to take up to 7 credits which we will break up into 2 - eight week classes. They will be MATH to include Introduction to Algebra (aka College Math) and Intermediate Algebra. These are the pre-requisite course to take prior to Pre-Calc.Speed Racer has to take up to Calc 2 for his selected major.

2) Writing Intensive - Writing Tutor for Intensive 3 Month Writing Class. Speed Racer can write, he just is lazy about it and needs to learn how to better correct his work. Since he and I seem to clash at this, I am hiring a tutor for writing to review and help him with his writing of 350 word / 5 paragraph essays to improve his speed of reasoning and writing. He will need this skill for college level courses I plan to enroll him in next fall.

3) Programming Intensive - The local coding school offers one on one tutoring for programming. I am hiring a tutor to help Speed Racer with this. I have a curriculum selected and want him to have some one on one help with getting through it.


All his other classes will be on Acellus since he seems to like the platform and is learning.

OUR WEEKS IN MOTION

We went to the GLOBTROTTERS! Loved it! I have seen them when I was a kid, when my oldest were little and now with my little ones.

GETTING AUTOGRAPHS

Art Gallery Trip

SPEED RACER's Progress

He is loving using  (1) Quill (Language/Writing) and (2) Knowre (Algebra 1 practice)

I've fallen off the wagon for Daily Status Checks but when I checked he only had a few items left to finish with his Algebra review.

His progress with combine math review of College Math Prep, Algebra 1 and Basic Math is going well. I am shocked how much he retains and works through easily.

English and Writing is not going so well. He is putting in very little effort and will need more hand holding in the future. Reading is going at a steady pace as his father is reading a book with him, essentially they have their own book club.


For History he is working with Acelles. His Coding with Java is going well although I don't think he is grasping it as deeply as I'd like. Still using Quizlet and Instantcert to study for the DSST Computing Exam. He is doing just okay and this may take longer for him to prepare than I thought.

Bible consist of a daily devotion he reads and chats about with his dad. We dropped Logic for now as we don't have time to finish it during the day.

TIGER LILLY's Progress

She finished one class with an A and is now finishing up her Software and Hardware course. Her 2nd half of classes just started and they are pretty challenging. She is taking Business Continuity Planning, Motion Graphics, System Analysis and Design and Information Systems Management.

In addition to those above, her Business Management homeschool course is finishing up. She finished her company's website. Putting together her marketing plan.

Internship interviews and applications are going out. She is learning to do it, and she thinks it difficult, but she is getting better at it. She even attended some virtual Internship fairs.

WORK and HOME BALANCE

Working and Homeschooling 

MEAL PREP: I had good intentions, but fell off the wagon and missed two nights of prepared dinner. Oh well.

HOUSE CLEANING: I had to stand behind kids on 'CLEAN UP' patrol for some reason they haven't been doing a good job at keeping everything clean.

LESSON PLANNING: This is on track for now. It will be easier in January when we are on a set curriculum.

MARRIAGE CHECKUP: So excited that we are going on a vacation with no kids in November! My hubs mentioned he wanted some time alone with just me when I started planning this as a 'family getaway' so I asked my older kids to take over while we go on vacation and I spoil my hubby. I have a plan to send him romantic text and notes leading up to our weekend getaway.

SELF CARE:Working out now on a regular schedule of at least 4 days a week. Trying really hard to keep us as I tend to slip after two weeks :P  

Stumbling Along and Still There is Progress

HOW THE TIME FLIES and STILL I WONDER 

IF I AM DOING THIS RIGHT.

Speed Racer our first Year

Both Speed Racer and Tiger Lilly Now

Two WEEKS in REVIEW

I've been rather lax in daily accountability, but the kids are doing fairly well with a few days here and there of slacking.

My oldest got engaged and we are now in the beginning phase of wedding planning. We had many friends and family illness so attending to that has put a damper on our energy.

The kids are involved in several collaborative efforts regarding state legislation and political awareness.

SPEED RACER's Progress

Added two new courses (1) Quill (Language/Writing) and (2) Knowre (Algebra 1 practice)

Overall we've finished a lot of curriculum. He's been working mostly independent but falling behind on subjects that I don't do Daily Status Checks on regularly.

He has a lot of MATH review to get him prepped for the College Math Clep I hope he will be ready to tackle in May. His Math includes, Algebra 1 review, College Math (working with tutor and Acellus) and basic math fact review. He is actually pretty darned good at Algebra 1 and Geometry and rarely if ever uses a calculator for his problems. He is getting high 90s and is progressing well.

English and Writing are some of the major areas we need tuning. His Time4Writing stint is almost over and I will be using Quill and Egump for language arts tuning as well as LifePac. Also, we are starting to do weekly Writing Prompts that we will work through weekly. That's planned for this coming week. He hates writing so I am prepared to negotiate

For History he is using Acellus and is doing well, hopefully, he will be able to retain it for when he starts to study for the CLEP. He is doing Coding with Java with Acellus and in person at a local computing lab, and using Instantcert to study for the DSST Computing Exam. He has to make at least 80% on the practice exams in order to be ready and now he is only making 50s, so we have a way to go.

Bible, Reading and Logic are both being covered with dad so they are having some great conversations and starting to develop an enjoyment for the same types of books.

TIGER LILLY's Progress

After dropping two classes due to incompatibility with the teachers, Tiger Lilly only had 2 college classes until October.

She is doing well in her college classes that remain. Tiger Lilly is working on her micro-company website and blog. Also, building up her product list for sell. Her sister Rose is helping and they are collaborating to have a big launch in May of next year.

Tiger Lilly and her sister are now taking Adult Ballet classes (I scheduled it in order for them to have a hobby they could do together and it's working).

The in person Blender and Unity 3D class Tiger Lilly is taking is fun and she hopes to continue after the fall.

WORK and HOME BALANCE

Working and Homeschooling 

MEAL PREP: I've been on a roll these last few weeks. I prepped meat, seasoned it and we had fun and interesting dinners. I am tired though and was slipping this last week.

HOUSE CLEANING: It's been tidy, but cluttered. We didn't get around to cleaning our own rooms, but the kids cleaned the common areas and it lasted oh, about two days.

LESSON PLANNING: Only taking me an hour, but did it at the last minute on Monday mornings and had to email it to the kids.

MARRIAGE CHECKUP: We were able to go out alone two times in the last few weeks. Then we took a nap when the older kids took their siblings out.

SELF CARE: I am doing a decent job at exercising now. I sneak it in while I am at home with the kids in the evening and checking their work.