I’ve been tagged by Pam at Everyday Snapshots for this fun homeschool meme. I don’t normally do memes, but this one seemed very relevant. So, thanks, Pam!
According to the meme, I am supposed to tag six other homeschool bloggers to participate. But I’m going to take that lazy cop out and simply invite any one reading this post to participate.
The Eight Original Homeschooling Questions
1. One homeschooling book you have enjoyed.
The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling Teens by Debra Bell
I got this at the Homeschool Convention this spring, and I am so glad I did. I can see that it’s a volume I’ll be referencing often as I finish middle school and move into high school with Sprite.
2. One resource you wouldn’t be without.
Over the years, our most used resources have changed. But a dictionary is really an essential tool for all levels and for all academic areas. Dictionary Day, Oct. 16, is coming up, by the way.
3. One resource you wish you had never bought.
This is a really tough one. I love almost all books and rarely find them a waste. Even if a book turns out to be less than I expect, I can usually find enough good from it to feel that I got my purchase price.
I also spend a lot of time researching my purchases, and I’m thankful to say that I cannot think of a single homeschool purchase that I totally regretted.
4. One resource you enjoyed last year.
We have enjoyed the Metropolitan Museum of Art Page a Day Calendar for two years now — 2010 and 2011. The 2012 version is already available for sale, and I really need to do buy it before it sells out. (It does sell out every year before the previous year is even over!)
5. One resource you will be using next year.
(Since this year has just begun, I’ll reinterpret this question to mean this year, Sprite’s 7th grade year.)
The Art of Argument: an Introduction to the Informal Fallacies from Classical Academic Press
I wanted to do our advertising unit before we looked at this more abstract and comprehensive unit. I think it’s going to be fantastic, and Sprite is at the perfect age for it.
6. One resource you would like to buy.
I so want a microscope for our science studies.
7. One resource you wish existed.
I would love to have a living books based science curriculum (like Noeo Science) for high school levels.
8. One homeschool catalog you enjoy reading.
Of course, Rainbow Resource is THE catalog just because it’s so thorough. But I also really enjoy looking at Home Science Tools and Teacher Created Resources.
My Two Add-on Homeschool Questions
This meme is called Homeschooling in Ten Easy Questions, but Pam’s post had only eight questions. To fix the discrepancy without renaming the meme, I’ve chosen to create two of my own questions. Sorry to end on a negative note, but the struggles are where we learn the most, so I don’t want to discount them.
9. What homeschool subject gives you the most frustration or anxiety?
Math is the one area I worry about the most. It is not my personal strength or preference. Because Sprite wants to be a nurse, I know that she needs top-notch math skills. I sometimes wish math would just go away.
10. What is your greatest challenge in homeschooling right now?
My greatest challenge lies with the the tween/teen years in general. Making this transition is not easy, and I often don’t know the right things to do. It is a season of much prayer and seeking grace and wisdom.
Now it’s your turn! Go ahead. Copy the questions and do the homeschooling in 10 easy questions meme. It’s fun.
Hi! I just wanted to leave a quick thank you for suggesting the page-a-day art calendar. I had read your recommendation of it in the past, so I ordered the 2012 edition. It is beautiful–I am eagerly awaiting January 1st!
That’s wonderful to know that you loved the calendar. I would think that after two years with one, it would be boring. But Sprite really want to get a new one. And she can’t wait to “use” this old one once the year is up. It is going to make excellent art notebooking fodder.
Jimmie,
I too read an earlier post from you and added the calendar to my “homeschool registry.” At the time, 2012 wasn’t available, but since it is now, my parents will be buying it for our school.
Jimmie,
A bloggy friend of mine just switched from Apologia Biology to a living books Biology curriculum. Here is a link to her posts about it:
http://journey2excellence.blogspot.com/search/label/Biology
I don’t know much about it at all but it sounded like something to investigate if that is something you really want to do. It might give you a base from which you could continue to tweak, tweak, tweak.
I used Apologia for Biology and it’s definitely a textbook but my daughter and I liked it. We’re using Apologia’s Marine Biology now and like it very much. The Apologia text or any other text could be used just as a spine with the labs.
You must spring for the microscope if it is at all possible. The purchase is huge but it really is used a ton in Biology (and Marine Biology). We have had a wonderful experience with the one that is sold as part of the Biology kit in the Sonlight catalog.
Samantha
Thanks, Samantha! I am excited to find that information!
Thanks for playing Jimmie. I always love your blog posts. We got the Met calendar this year and my daughter (age 6) absolutely loves it. She changes the page each morning and has me tell her what the artwork is. I usually give the name, artist, and a short comment or two. That is it, but we have been exposed to so much art this way. With a toddler and 4yo in the house, art study is one of those things that just doesn’t get planned out and done. The calendar makes me feel much less guilty about that.
Thanks for sharing Jimmie. Here is my meme:
http://everybedofroses.blogspot.com/2011/09/homeschool-meme.html
Oh, I’ve got one for #3: Saxon Math. Big fail. I hate Saxon.
I’m posting the 10 questions on my blog(well my kinda blog, I’m techno challenged), but wanted to share a few answers with you.
#3: Real Science4kids; Too expensive for what you get.
#5: I will be using Notebooking/Lapbooking: that is one source we will use until my dd who is Emma’s age, goes to college. I LOVE these methods. I think using them should be a law. LOL 🙂
#9: Math is most frustrating subject,mine and dd’s least favorite subject.
#10: My biggest challenge is space. Our rental house is too small and has NO storage. It makes the OCD part of me absolutely insane.