Homeschooling a Second Grader

I am back to blogging about our experiences homeschooling Esme and excited about it. I have been reading several other homeschooling blogs lately and feel very inspired to come back to it with new enthusiasm. I'll start with a somewhat random list of things about this new year for us......

1. We are now using an online Math curriculum, through Time4Learning.com. It was a big decision for us to actually start paying for something, since we have used all materials we've managed to get free or near free in the past. But we also just decided that one-lesson-a-day-5-days-a-week systems just aren't flexible enough for us. Esme has started doing lessons on Time4Learning and so far I think we're happy with it. We'll also be supplementing with materials from The Mailbox.

2. Esme's reading took off last year and we're starting this year with the Magic Treehouse series. She loves reading them and gets some science and social studies too. We are all using the research guides and a mix of library books for non-fiction information on the same subjects. We'll also be mixing in some other chapter books to make sure she stays challenged and moving in the right direction with her reading.

3. Science is still far and away Esme's favorite subject. This weekend she went to a program put on by a local museum about dinosaur tracks, right after reading Dinosaurs Before Dawn. This summer she was super interested in the Water Everywhere Brownie Try-It.

4. Speaking of Brownies, we are excited that our Girl Scout council has decided to do a whole Journeys series for homeschoolers! I have been pushing for more involvement in the homeschooling community for years, and finally my wish is coming true. Esme will do the Wonders of Water Journey with other homeschoolers over the course of the 2010-2011 school year. Our troop is very active as well - we're working on the Animals Try-It right now. Esme is also going to be a charter member of our council's Girl Advisory Group.

5. Esme is involved in lots of other activities as well. This year she's starting with the Instructional Level Swim Team at the YMCA and ballet. We're also hoping she might add a musical instrument if we can fit it in. We are also very active in our church, and she'll be back in Sunday School starting next week.

6. Our Not-Back-to-School picnic is Wednesday. I didn't get to go last year, so I am extra excited about it this time. I can't wait to connect with other homeschoolers, and hopefully plan some activities together. I love collaborating with other parents.

7. So far this year my favorite part of homeschooling is Esme's journal. I love seeing what she chooses to write about. I might post a couple pages with her permission. I love kids' writing in general.

That's all for now - more within the week!