Summer Plans...

Ahh yes summer...my least favorite time of the year. Seriously. There are lots of people who LOVE the summer time: BBQ's, beach days, fun in the sun...I am not one of those people. Here it's usually to hot and the air quality too bad to do anything during the day, so we are forced to run our errands early in the am to be done by 10, and I pretty much try to keep the kids indoors until after 7. Do you have any idea how hard that is? In any case that's one of the reasons why we school year round. Another reason is because it is just too hard to get them started again in the fall. I've always believed in year round schooling, even when my darling children were in public school they went to summer school. Also, I'm trying to teach them that learning and seeking knowledge isn't based on a calander of days or seasons, but is something that should be done all the time and never stop.

So here are our summer plans:

Leena-
Math: Key to Algebra Book 9, and Straight Forward Pre Geometry Books 1 & 2.
Science: Biology Coloring Book, Teaching Company Biology: The Science of Life DVD, and 10 Essential Herbs course.
English: The Elegant Essay, English from the Roots Up and a reading list which will most likely include only about 3-4 books from her Sophomore English teacher’s summer reading list.

The algebra is just to keep her refreshed and the pre-geometry and biology are to give her an exposure to what she will be doing next fall. The herb course is just for fun, but fits nicely into biology and the writing is to help hone her writing skills. Ideally, I'd like her to complete a research project, but I don't want to push my luck.

Xan-
Actually with Xan, his summer work is just a continuation of his 4th grade work and reading list that he didn't finish this year. We will probably do some lapbooks on topics of his choosing for fun and I might try to get a jump start on the chemistry program he will be using for next year, which I'm still undecided about. I know we will definitely be using SLOOH and we'll probably do a lapbook on that as well.

We are also taking a trip to Michigan later this summer and we are all super excited about that. Both of the kids have expressed an interest in doing a state report before we go, so we'll being working on that as well.

I think we've got plenty to keep us busy during the hot season, but lest you all think I'm a slave driver, we have other trips and pool time planned as well. Plus there's always $1 scoop night at Baskin Robbins. Now that's something about summer that I can cheer about.