Since we were packing and moving in August and early September, we waited to begin our 2017-2018 school year until after we hit the ground in Bishkek. Our official first day of school was the 18th of September, just 6 days after we landed!
Since we weren't in our rental house yet, we had to start school at the Southside Guesthouse. We have a 9th grader (Rhetoric level,) 7th grader (Dialectic,) and 5th grader (Upper Grammar) this year. This is our 12th year of homeschooling as I started when Krypto was 2 and we made the decision to not have him go to pre-school, but instead teach him his letters, numbers, and how to use crayons and scissors at home. Each year we've added just a little bit more to the mix and so it's been a smooth and wonderful learning experience for us all.
My sweet Sissi, a 5th grader. This is my last year with a Grammar level student.
Gwangi, a 7th grader. He is right in the middle of the Dialectic years.
Krypto, our 9th grader, and his first year at the Rhetoric level.
A piece of Sissi's artwork. She is taking an online Art Journaling class this year.
The first couple of weeks, school looked like this. It was a bit difficult to be walking all over each other, but we made it work and it makes us all the more grateful for the space we have in our new house.
This year, the kids are memorizing the book of Philippians. When they finish, we'll move on to another epistle.
We're covering the 20th Century for our Humanities studies this year. This means that our History, Literature, Government, Geography, Philosophy, Worldview, Fine Arts, and Writing Assignments are all covering 20th Century events. We're working our way through it chronologically. In this photo, Gwangi is working on a lapbook that covers many of the issues of World War I.
A close up of one of his entries for his lapbook.
Sissi working on a diorama that depicts the first Christmas of World War I when the two sides celebrated Christmas together and had an unofficial cease fire.
Playing a board game, The First World War by Phalanx Games.
Gwangi and Sissi working on Science together. They are working their way through the Apologia Zoology books. Kyrpto is taking Apologia's Chemistry course and listening to lectures on line through the Virtual Homeschool Group. They also keep his quiz and test scores for the course.
Since Krypto is now in the 9th grade, he was eligible to take the PSAT; his first time taking a test away from home. We took him to Hope Academy and he said he felt like it went well.
Another entry in Gwangi's lapbook.
Krypto, watching his math lesson online. He is taking Math U See's Geometry this year. Gwangi is taking Pre-Algebra and Sissi is in Epsilon.
Another piece of Sissi's artwork. This one we mailed back to the US for entry into an art contest.
Gwangi spent 4 weeks on this project for his study of World War I. He was very happy with how it turned out. He and Krypto also memorized all of the US States, their locations, their capitals, and their 2 letter postal codes. They are now working on all the countries and their capitals. The Western Hemisphere is done and they are now in Europe, working their way south and east.
I love how they quote what they've memorized so differently. Here, Gwangi is quoting Phil 3:1-17 and he is pacing back and forth. Krypto stands still and taps one hand on top of the other and Sissi sits and pats her legs.
One of the newest additions to our homeschool this year, and we have really liked it, Analytical Grammar. It is hard hitting on the grammar and diagramming for a school year, something we needed after a few years of just doing Daily Grams. I was very diligent about doing 1st-4th grade grammar using Bauer's "First Language Lessons" books, but in the 5th-8th grade, I let the older ones do Daily Grams rather independently. I felt one year, of good grammar attention, before doing the SAT, would be useful. Krypto is remembering so much and we're enjoying our time together each day doing this. I look forward to a repeat with Gwangi and Sissi in the coming years.
How is school going for you and your family?! Anything new or exciting? Share!
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