Summer plans

We finished up schoolwork Tuesday and kicked off summer with a trip to the US Space and Rocket center. Today's a bit of begging (doggone auto-correct) vegging since I am still so sore from all the walking and lifting yesterday. I have about thirty days to finish up the required school days for our cover school. I have schooled year round before. We are expecting a baby in September so I really debated about whether to start the next grade early. But I have come up with a different plan. It may take a couple of weeks next summer to make up what we miss with the craziness of life with a newborn. But this summer will have a different objective.

Religion - We'll continue with reading through the Bible in the evenings as a family. I had to reread the reading from Tuesday night. I wasn't very focused. It will get done in 365 days, just maybe not 365 consecutive days.

Math - this is one of the subjects that we can't afford to lose ground in. We use an IPad app that the boys enjoy so we will continue this throughout the summer. Especially in the van on trips to field trip venues.

Reading - the boys can earn a Happy Meal for every 15 books they read. 15 books because they want instant gratification and go for smaller, easier books. I think I'll add an option to read a chapter book and write a one page report showing they understood it.  So trips to the library will be planned weekly. If the boys don't need books from the public library, we will go to the Parent library for activity packs for Katie Rose.

Field trips - We can go to the Children's Hands On Museum, Birmingham Zoo and McWane Science Center. We also have the Natural History Museum and Moundville Archaelogical park. Hoping for a trip to Atlanta, Jackson, Montgomery, and Mobile. Maybe even Louisiana and Tennessee. We'll see what we can work into the summer.

Routines - I want to plan an outing every day that doesn't involve thunderstorms. Errands, field trips, and playing at the park. There needs to be motivation to get done quickly so we get to the fun sooner. The more consistent that we are, the more efficient we'll become. I want to build a good routine each morning so that we eventually leave a very clean house. I am starting with them making sure they get dressed, make up their bed and eat breakfast first thing rather than dilly-dallying. Eventually, I hope to have the whole house picked up, dishwasher unloaded and a load of clothes washed and hung up to dry. Then an evening routine where we prepare for the next day's activities, fold and put away laundry, and bath and bed routines. A couple of afternoons when we get home at a decent hour need to be devoted to deeper cleaning like dusting, mopping and vacuuming.

Getting ready for baby - We need to go through old clothes and see what we have that will work for the new baby. While we're at it, see what else we have for John Micah to grow into this fall from Davy and James' clothes in storage. We already have the new crib and majority of the baby needs are simply hand-me-downs like the blankets, carseat, swing, etc. Need a mattress and a few clothes. Then we should be ready. Remember to include pre-registration for the hospital and cooking meals for the freezer.

Planning for the next school year - This year was new for me even though I have been homeschooling for a while. I had to get accustomed to the new state laws, planning, and keeping records. I want to make a very detailed plan with spelling words, copywork, and all. So there is no need to switch gears in the middle of the year. I am going to hope that I can get them in a very solid routine in August so that they can complete their assignments in September without much of a hiccup.