Greek Mythology Lapbooks

The kids were anxiously anticipating Greek Mythology ever since they heard we'd be covering it this year. But I stuck with our Classical curriculum and we enjoyed everything even more ancient before we worked our way here.

And Story of the World only had one small chapter on Greek Mythology!

So I decided we needed to make lapbooks, and spend 2 whole weeks on it. Thanks to Rick Riordan, we LOVE Greek Mythology. :)

I gave the kids some options on how they wanted to create their own lapbooks. And I am actually quite thrilled with how they turned out. There's some personality coming through here.

3 is 6 years old, and technically a 1st grader. He likes drawing comics.

And he colored the Greek gods family tree and created his own Greek gods trading cards.
He also drew additional pictures of Medusa and Poseidon.
2 is almost 9 years old and a 3rd grader. He created trading cards for the Greek gods . . .
. . . and for the Titans. (And cut out his own Greek gods family tree.)
He also colored some additional pictures and wrote an invitation to a party on Mount Olympus.
#1 is 10 and a 5th grader. She wrote out her own copy of the family tree, created a few news clips and an advertisement for Aphrodite's salon, and wrote a correspondence between Apollo, Artemis and Aphrodite.
And she created her own Greek gods trading cards.
We had so much fun with this!

Where I Stand Now

I don't keep a journal, but this journey needs some documentation so I can learn from my own mistakes--and hopefully also a few successes. I enjoy reading homeschooling blogs and learn so much from them. I keep thinking I need to start my own, even if I am the only one learning from it!

So, here goes.

We've been homeschooling a few months now, and I am constantly adapting and adjusting. Here's our curriculum right now.

The kids' universal favorites are history and religion. We are learning about ancient history from Story of the World in history. We've been using the Activity Guide and made a couple of lapbooks (Moses and Greek Mythology, so far). #1 has done some additional reading, worksheets and outlining from other books I have gathered. For religion, we've been studying the Old Testament (correlates quite well with our ancient history study) using Discover the Old Testament.

Science has stagnated a little. We enjoyed learning about our bodies (and supplemented with The Body Book, which was really fun!). But then we came upon the animal kingdom. I don't own a microscope and haven't had to budget to do so, so the Real Science 4 Kids is on hold. It was always intended as a supplement for #1, so I haven't been too worried about it. But then R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey wanted us to dig up worms and it was 20 degrees out. So... We've been doing extra history and I am going to pull out some experiment books so we can just play with random sciencey stuff until it warms up a bit.

We are still using Spelling Power with #1 and 2. I have started some adaptation with 3. My kids are GREAT spellers, and this has been working for us. (Though 2 hates spelling and gets really mad any time he misses words--and the point is to miss several each time or we aren't pushing hard enough. I think he's used to easier lists and is frustrated that he tested straight into a 5th-grade-equivalent level at age 8.)

#1 took some time off from Writing Strands to participate in NaNoWriMo last November. She wrote over 5,400 words, and we revised it a couple of times. I am really proud of her! It turns out she loves writing, particularly poetry. So we've added a few writing for fun kind of projects to her schooling. I am also looking at starting Wordsmith Apprentice, for something a little different. She's almost done with Writing Strands even having taken time off.

2 and 3 are still plugging their way through Writing With Ease. Mostly I am happy with it. They aren't strong writers, and this is good reinforcement and they enjoy the exposure to new stories. But, despite knowing why creative writing isn't being pushed right now, I still want to implement something that gets their creative juices flowing. When #1 was writing her novel, the boys both asked for their own notebooks and started novels of their own. Neither of them made it very far, but it was encouraging to see them interested in writing. I am mulling over some ideas for making "mini offices" and having them do a little writing on their own occasionally.

I have been inconsistently using Winston Grammar for #1 and 2. It's not very writing intensive, which is why I picked it (for 2). I just need to be more consistent and I think I will like it better. For 3 we are using First Language Lessons. It's very repetitive and I find it quite boring. He seems to like it, but we aren't very consistent with that, either. That's one of my goals for this new year...

I also have goals to work more on art, start learning about some classical music, and geography. We'll see how that goes...

The kids have really enjoyed Mindbenders puzzles and are always eager for more. My only complaint with those is that the books are so teeny and cost so much!

My real beef has been math. I was so sure about Saxon! They've been using it all along! How could I go wrong with that?

I HATE SAXON MATH! It's repetitive and boring! The DIVE CD's put us to sleep. It takes so long... (I realize repetitive is good for some people. But my kids don't need the repetition to get it, and it's just become a major down point in our days.)

I don't think any of my kids are excited about math (which isn't a deal-breaker in and of itself), but I found myself unable to completely jump ship after the investment we made... 3 and I work together, so I can adapt the lessons to work for us. #1 is sweet and complacent, so she's trying to make the best of it. But 2 and I butted heads over math EVERY SINGLE DAY. I found myself wanting to bang my head against a wall. Is this what homeschooling is all about???

So I started researching math. (I hadn't done much research to begin with, because I was going with what they knew.) And I decided on Teaching Textbooks (TT). I read a couple of reviews complaining that TT is below grade level. To me that's a concern. In part because I really don't have long term homeschooling plans and I want to leave us the option of going back to school if the need arises. 2 is in 3rd grade, using Saxon 5/4. So I tested him at Math 5 and he passed... We ordered it and he's been doing it the last week and loves it. Granted, he's starting out a new school year (review and usually not difficult), but I was thrilled when he informed me that math is now one of his favorite subjects! #1 and 3 are anxiously asking if they can switch math text books, too. I just hope we can wait it out until we're through the books they have.

(As a disclaimer. I am not a big fan of using the computer to educate my children. I really thought I should be able to do it on my own. But with 3 school age kids and 2 toddlers, I find myself pulled in so many directions all at the same time that I can't pull it off without help! TT does feel a little like a computer game. I wish it didn't. But I think that's what attracts 2 to it. And I just need him to be happy and to learn. So I had to swallow that bitter pill, and I think we are all happy that I finally did!)

We've been using an adaptation of workboxes. The kids each have a cardboard filing box and hanging file folders. It mostly works for us.

Our general schedule has been something like this:

7:30 Get the kids up, eat breakfast, do chores, get dressed.

9:00 Start of school. When the weather was nice, we started with a walk or bike ride around the block. When the weather first got cold, we had some indoor things to do to burns some steam and get us going. Now, we skip this...

9:30 Real start of school. "Workboxes" stagger the subjects so I can, hopefully, work with kids individually as they need me. We have a snack mid-morning, and lunch right after math.

12:30 After lunch, the two littler kids go down for naps, so that's "work together" time for history or science.

We're usually done by 1:30-2, depending on how distracted and hyper everyone has been. That's free play time, until Taekwondo, scouts or any other activity we may have.

Some things I have learned from this. (Well, more from my own laziness, but relating to scheduling.)

We NEED something active first thing in the morning. When I have been distractedly "working" at the computer in the morning, or the baby has slept in, I try to skip this to make up for lost time. We always regret it. And then do it again the next day. (Winter is a beast for this!)

We are all happier if I actually have their file folders filled the night before. Sometimes I think I will just wing it. I have a list of everything that needs to be done. But then a toddler grabs me and the kids get off track and don't know what's next and the whole day collapses in on itself.

I need to pay more attention to what the kids aren't enjoying and why. I like to think they are old enough to be more independent than they are. I am wrong. This is hard, because I don't feel like I have the time to walk them through everything. But sometimes it is necessary.

I need to give more choices. I had my elaborate lapbook plans, and then realized they were really geared toward #1. 2 and 3 weren't really ready for that. We improvised and everyone was happier for it. I know what they are learning. They don't need to do excessive busywork to prove it to me.

And, right now, I am relearning that I shouldn't try to get anything done with a 1-year-old in my lap because it's slow going. And I am going to end up with a whole slew of useless labels because my label-maker was within reach. It seemed like a good idea--his own keyboard! But that power button has a strong pull and he's managed to move faster than I have. Turns out it's pretty intuitive.

My Initial Research

Note: This is more Pre-Actually-Homeschooling reflections. I just want it all in one place for my own benefit! Bear with me... I don't keep a journal. I need it all written down SOMEWHERE!

This has not been a decision to take lightly. So I had to read up on it. (My husband jokes that I can't do anything without first buying a book off Amazon about it. He's only half joking, because it's kinda true...)

This time, however, I started with the local library. I'm only going to mention the books I found helpful, and leave out the ones that just repeated the same things I felt were better explained elsewhere.

I read "The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child." I found it very informative and helpful. But I didn't buy it. Because I will only have one first year of homeschooling, and I can check it again if I need a refresher. (If you know me well, you were so proud of me when you read that!) This book helped me determine that I cannot pull off unit studies. I can't wrap my head around "unschooling." I need more structure. I need something more traditional--so I can see what they are supposed to know and make sure they are learning it.

I read "100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum" and made lists of curricula to look into further. (I don't know Cathy Duffy from Adam, so I am not buying anything solely on her recommendation. But I liked her detailed reviews, as they helped me rule some things out completely, and gave me ideas of where to delve in deeper.)

I had a hard time getting into "The Well-Trained Mind." I have several friends who homeschool or have homeschooled in the past. This book comes up. I know it's supposed to be great. I started reading it, and got really excited. And then I pictured my active 8-year-old son sitting at a table while I dictated to him for pages on end. And I looked at the recommended time durations for the various subjects. And my blood pressure sky-rocketed. And I set the book down and walked away.

I read up on Sue Patrick's Workbox System. Great ideas for keeping kids on task and moving through material quickly. I am looking for an inexpensive way to implement that--without taking up a lot of space. (I will be starting with 3 kids already "in school," and since I don't know how long I'll be doing this, I am keeping in the back of my mind the possibility of, at some point, teaching 5 at once.)

I researched A LOT online. I found homeschooling websites, stores and blogs and have been packing my brain full of ideas. What's my teaching style? What type of curriculum am I interested in? I have had catalogs trickling in as I have requested more information. Fun reading material that's easy to set down and come back to.

We'd determined a budget, based on what we spend NOW taking them to a charter school. There's the fuel cost, getting them to and from school. The annual donation. Fund raisers. School uniforms. School isn't cheap. But neither is homeschooling! What if I buy a bunch of stuff, and it doesn't work for us? The pressure is on...

I picked up "The Well-Trained Mind," again, and started looking at it a little less rigidly. I can loosely follow the ideas. I think I lean toward an "eclectic" mix of traditional and classical homeschooling. (This said before I have done any official homeschooling at all!!! I am just going on what feels right and comfortable to me.) So, I ordered it on Amazon, so I can make notes as I flesh out my curriculum choices. :)

Another book I've bought is "Discover Your Child's Learning Style." In my experience teaching my first 3 to read, I am keenly aware of the fact that they don't all learn the same way. At the time, I didn't understand why #1 excelled so well under the "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" approach, and 2 would rather have knocked his head into the wall for the 20 minutes it took each day. (Back then, I thought our personalities just clashed, and that I'd never be successful teaching him at home. Now I realize it just wasn't the right style for him. I've taught him all sorts of stuff since then, and neither of us are bloody and bruised. :) )

We copied the quizzes and I gathered the kids together so we could take them. 2 and 3 started first. They were a little overwhelmed at all the pages and the small type size. After a couple of pages, 2 declared that he needed a break. #1 came in around then and started on her own. She flew through it, and even started tallying her scores! All while I switched to reading the questions aloud for 2 and 3--just because I am impatient and wanted to get them done!

2 did pretty well answering questions orally. 3's answers concerned me. (How accurate will the results be when 3 declares himself good at "skateboarding, snowboarding and skiing"--none of which he's ever even attempted???)

I'm hoping to glean something useful from this...

The Fall Curriculum

Note: This is the bare bones of our initial curriculum. We started in August 2010. We have already made some major changes...

So, for year one, this is where we are starting out. I realize that there will be some trial and error as we go. There will be some things that work, and some that don't. I like researching and planning, so I am sure I will always be on the lookout for something better.

That said...

Math was my easiest choice. Our charter school has been using Saxon Math, and Saxon has a homeschool program. And there are accompanying CD-ROMs (another company, DIVE) that teach the lesson alongside the books (for grade 4 and up). I already know which levels to buy, so we're sticking with it. #1 will be Saxon 7/6, 2 will be Saxon 5/4 and 3 will be Saxon 2. (The charter school starts them at grade 1 in kindergarten, so they're ahead of schedule.) I got the CD-ROMs for #1 and 2, but 3 and I will get to do his math together.

I've decided to use Spelling Power. I like that it has one manual that works the whole way through (about age 8 through high school). One of the many educational books I have acquired over time is a Hooked on Phonics 1st grade spelling workbook, so I will probably use that for 3 this year, until I feel like he's ready to start Spelling Power.

I will be doing history with all of us together. I've decided to try The Story of the World, starting with Ancient Times. We'll be using the Activity Book to flesh things out, and be sure to pull in supplemental material to keep the older kids involved. (In my "practice run" this summer, I will be teaching the kids some American History--specifically the Revolutionary War and why our freedoms are worth fighting for. In looking into materials for this, I discovered History Pockets and they look SO FUN! I may subscribe to teacherfilebox.com, because it looks like most of these books are available there--and then I don't have to find shelf space for, or scan and copy, all the History Pockets books I would want to buy!)

For science, we're doing R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey, Life Science, Level 1. This isn't academic enough to cover #1, in 5th grade. So we will be supplementing with Real Science 4 Kids Biology Level 1 (which covers grades 4-6).

For writing, the boys will be using Writing With Ease, levels 1 and 2. #1 will start with Writing Strands Level 3--but she enjoys writing so I anticipate we will move through this quickly.

The Decision

Note: I wrote this to myself the spring before we started homeschooling. I just can't start a homeschooling blog without including the WHY.

We've decided to homeschool our children. As this is a big decision for us, and not exactly making my life easier, I expect there will be days that I wonder if I really did know what I was getting myself into. This is for my own future reference. I expect to need it. You are welcome to read it, or not.

Of course, being such a major, life-changing decision, there are LOTS of factors involved. And when there's a lot to say, I take the round-about approach and say a lot more than is even necessary. So, if you aren't the insanely curious type, you may not want to read everything I am going to tell you. In which case, you can read . . .

The short version:

We believe in a Heavenly Father who guides and directs us in our lives. This decision has been made prayerfully. We have considered all of the options available to us. We feel very strongly that homeschooling our children is what we are supposed to do. It is right FOR US. RIGHT NOW.

The long version:

I'll start with some background. My parents subscribed to the belief that "School Can Wait" and homeschooled all 7 of their children through kindergarten and first grade. I entered the public school system in second grade, as an 8 year-old. I was shy, and the first school I went to was a disaster. It was because of that school that my parents moved the next year. In my family, education is of the utmost importance, worth sacrificing for. To me, homeschooling isn't weird. It makes sense.

Then why, you may ask, have I not been homeschooling already?

I started slow, with school. None of my kids have gone to preschool. I just don't like them being gone so much when they are so young. (I know I am in the minority with my anti-preschool stance, and I am okay with that.) I have kept my kids home and taught them to read myself.

I debated the homeschool issue back in 2004, when #1 was approaching school age. I researched various homeschooling styles, options, curricula... It was while researching curricula that I discovered the charter school movement. We prayed about what to do. I was afraid of the thought of taking it all on--what if I screwed up? What if they fell behind, academically? Or worse, socially? At the time I also had a preschooler (2) and a little baby (3). I didn't think I could pull off schooling with any regularity. We got into a charter school we liked, and didn't look back for several years.

We've been happy in our charter school, for the most part. I have a few bones to pick with them, but it's nothing worse than you'd find at any other school. In fact, we've firmly held that it's better. We've committed to a longer commute, to and from school. Longer school days. More homework. Required volunteer time and annual donations. School uniforms.

Last year, I started second guessing the charter school. My kids are gone way too much. Couple that with my husband's career demanding much more time than it used to, and his church calling being rather time-intensive, and you have a family that struggles to find time together. We get the evenings, with the "Do your homework!" "Why aren't you in the shower?" "Have you done your chores yet?" and "You're late to bed, again!" It feels like we are always negative. Always nagging. So I started researching again. I looked into my options. Sticking with the charter school, switching to the local school or homeschooling. At the time I had a little baby (4) and was pregnant (with 5). We prayed and determined that we should stick with the charter school. But even at the time, I wasn't sure how permanent the decision was.

And, now, I will try to catch you up to the present.

I have been down about my parenting skills (nagging Mom, you know). I want my kids to have time to play, but also learn the importance of contributing around the house with chores and completing their homework on time. And I want them to have time with US, when we aren't on their cases about something or other.

I heard about a book, "Kids Are Worth It!" and I checked it out from the library. As I was reading it, I felt that a lot of the advice rang true. I don't like bribing and buying my kids' obedience with money or stickers or treats. I want them to have integrity, a desire to do what's right simply because it is right, and not because they'll be getting something out of it. (Right now, we have a bad case of the "what's in it for me's" around here.)

As I was reading the book, and thinking, "I want to do this!," I realized I wouldn't be very effective. I get my kids for maybe an hour or two each evening (when they aren't doing homework, Taekwondo, scouts, activity days, etc). How could I, in that time, break them of the need for their tickets (in #1's class), class dollars (2's class) and gold coins (3's class)? I was frustrated and discouraged. As the parent, I can't actually parent them because I can't get any time with them!

My husband was out of town at the time, and we talked about it over the phone. He made a comment about how maybe we should homeschool them.

It was like a light went on in my head.

I could teach them what they are learning in school AND give them time to play AND do their chores AND not pay them off for it.

Once the bug bit, it was all I could think about. I have been eating, sleeping and breathing homeschool.

It still scares me. But we've been praying for a way to help our kids. To help them recognize their worth (which doesn't come across as well when it's all nagging they get from me). To give them responsibilities they can achieve and still leave them time to be kids. To build bonds within our family, and reinforce good habits.

As I was praying about what to do, situations arose that, I feel, pointed me toward teaching them at home.

2 played with 5 all during scriptures one evening. 5 was giggling and enjoying his brother. But we were late, and I had to cut it short. 2 prayed that 5 would be cheerful again the next day, so he could play with him. They don't really play together because they don't really see each other.

3 tells me that he is so glad he's in kindergarten, so he can still spend the mornings playing with 4 and being with me. He misses us when he's at school. But he also doesn't like it when #1 and 2 are always gone.

#1 came home from school one day with a horrible headache. "It was super science day at school, so we watched a lot of movies and that always gives me a headache." (Super Science Day is movies?!?!?!?! That's one of the bones I have to pick with schools--if you have to take my kids away from me all day, at least do something productive!)

2 brought home a story he'd written in school. As I was reading it, it made me smile. Until I got to the last page, where the potty humor kicked in. It was crass and inappropriate. And he got full credit on it--there wasn't even a note calling him out on it! When I asked him to tell me about it, he was clearly embarrassed. He knows he's not supposed to talk that way, but he does it because the other boys do.

For me, this decision is more about time than anything else. Time to be together, to enjoy each other, to learn the lessons that are important to our family.

Education is of the utmost importance, and I will be sure that they are well-educated.

We have fabulous kids in the neighborhood and lots of opportunities for extra-curricular activities to keep them "socialized." (This is honestly our biggest concern. So, you neighbors of mine, I am counting on you to send your kids over to play with mine!)

Now that I've actually made this decision, to teach my children at home, I almost feel like I've been unconsciously building up to it all along. We own several thousand books (that book buying addiction is actually going to pay off!), hundreds of which are nonfiction and education based (yes, I do buy those "curriculum helps" types of books, even though I never see my kids or have time to create "math centers" for them). I find myself giddily planning the best location in our home for the "school room" and "where can I fit a white board?" (And, can I justify buying myself a laminator? I have always been nerdily excited about school supplies!)

There are parts of me that worry that I can't pull this off. That I am biting off more than I can chew. That I will get burned out and fail them. But there are parts of me that feel that way about everything at some point or another. There isn't a single part of being a Mom that is always easy. And if this is what the Lord wants me to do, to help my children be the best that they can be, I am going to drop everything else and do it.

Because, ultimately, they are my life. And if I fail them, I will never be happy.

I am so blessed.

I have such an amazing husband. He's so supportive, and so eager and willing to help me do this. We will both have to sacrifice to make this work--time, money, the fun things the money could've bought . . . But he's a great Dad who loves his kids and wants what's best for them more than he wants a new bike (which is a WHOLE LOT, let me tell you!). And, he works hard. So hard. We are so fortunate that he's been blessed with a job that can financially support our family and allow me to be home with our children. (And buying books!!! :) )

I know this will probably raise a few eyebrows. And, I won't lie to you, I don't want people thinking I am weird. I don't like to stand out. I want to fit in and be normal and mostly not even noticed. But, more than that, I want to be the best Mom I can be for the children the Lord has entrusted to me.

And, so...

Hi, my name is Libby and I am a homeschooler.