School Year in Review

It always seems crazy to look back and realize a whole school year has passed in a proverbial flash. 

This was an extra full school year. I found myself in my van more than in past years, but I think it was worth it in the end to be able to take advantage of so many wonderful classes, activities, and groups.

Aubree's Homes United Co-op logged it's second full year. I just LOVE this group of kids and parents!

This was our first year having students spanning from 6th-8th grade, which was a bit of an adjustment, but not as big as I was expecting. We are learning a lot each year about what works well and what doesn't.

Our class line-up this year was a little more "serious" than last year, but we still managed to find plenty of opportunities to have fun.

 Art was always a fun class!

 

I taught a full year of Shakespeare. Talk about a learning experience! I thought I had an okay grasp on Shakespeare before this year, but I quickly realized how little I actually knew. So, the students and I learned together. 

 

We covered A Midsummer Night's Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, and Twelfth Night in depth. We covered Hamlet, MacBeth, and Romeo and Juliet briefly. At the end of each play I tried to incorporate fun games and review activities. Once I even tied in Jenga.

We didn't have as many field trips this year (that should be remedied in a major way next year), but we did have a few memorable trips.

We are super excited about next year's class, teacher, and student line-ups!

Bryce, Thane, and Graham had a great year. Graham did our standard (and well-loved) Five-In-A-Row kindergarten curriculum. We were pretty basic is our approach this time around, but our weekly Coberly co-op allowed us to do some really fun and interactive activities.

 

I think the activities were especially well received when they involved food.

I mentioned in my last post that Graham enjoyed his weekly Let's Play Music class. He will continue with that program and be in Year 2 in the fall.

About halfway through the year I started Graham on The Good and The Beautiful language arts level K. He was astounding. He flew through that coursebook and finished by June! He's an incredible little reader.

I've also been impressed with his focus and diligence. The coursebook includes a few art projects and Graham spent hours working with complete attention to finish his projects. 

He will officially start kindergarten in the fall.

Thane also completed his Level 2 TGTB language arts book (and yes, of course he's intentionally holding it upside down in this picture). I had to slow him down to make the book last almost to the end of the year. He wanted to start Level 3 immediately, but I'm a mean mom and am making him wait until September to start.

Bryce had the challenge of completing two TGTB levels in one year. He finished Level 3 in December and is planning to finish Level 4 by the end of the summer (it's on his chore challenge). I really like the art appreciation and applied art lessons contained in the course. Bryce isn't quite as sure (he doesn't love the chalk pastels).

Bryce and Thane loved their outside classes - PE, art, and SteamBoat science. All three were incredibly well done. We also loved our weekly mini co-op with friends where we did a Story of the World project and a math activity. Like their younger siblings, these big kids especially loved activities involving food. In the picture below, we are making jelly doughnuts after learning about JFK's infamous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech.

Bryce and Aubree had to take end of the year testing as part of our Parent-Partnership-Program. They both finished their tests lightning fast (we still haven't received the results of the testing, so I can't yet say whether their fast finishes were a good sign or a terrible one). Finishing quickly allowed them plenty of time to play outside with other testers. Aubree helped organize games of Mafia.

And so, another year of homeschooling is in the books.