Wait..school time? I dont think I had a summer vacation yet

Yep, Summer is almost over. I have mixed emotions on this one. I LOVE to have fun, but I also like my kids on a routine. It helps with the loooong hot days in the desert.

We tend to vacation in the fall, so summer is pretty long and I start back to school before vacations have even happened. This year we are camping and then heading to California in a two week time period. The beauty of it, we go in September and we have the beach and forests practically to ourselves!

I just purchased this book on Amazon $.99 for my Kindle. Sounds encouraging!

http://www.amazon.com/Simply-Homeschool-Having-Less-Clutter-ebook/dp/B006GIHQBQ/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1WCEKHH8XQSAH45GKZ6E

So I'm sitting in my school room and I'm motivated to organize the upcoming year. My new purchase, a 10 drawer organizer. Each child has a couple of drawers to hold their daily work. There is a checklist in their top drawer and they check each item off as they go. Creating independent learners is this year's goal. My 6th grader has a weekly syllabus and he can choose to do small amounts each day or get it done in just a few days. This will hopefully prepare him for a college schedule. Well I'm being optimistic in July, aren't I?

 My school room is changed this year. I change it every year to keep us from getting bored. The Tepee was built this summer. I've decided to use it as a reading room.

This picture reminds me that I've decided to drop history this year. I know, GASP! I have the coolest curriculum for it too. Story of the World Vol. 1, some Abeka Old World History readers and even a time line. It was hard for me to put it back in the cabinet. But as I was going over my schedule I was already feeling the weight of adding it into our school day. Who knows I may pull it out second semester. It's one of those subjects I know we will repeat in Jr. High and then again in High School. I mean how many times can you possibly teach about the American Revolution and the Rise of Rome? With five children, you can teach it A LOT...so I'm doing it next year.

This picture also reminds me of the library reading program this year..LAME! It was difficult to sign up for with multiple children and they lacked the little $1 toys that my children loved to fight over. Last year we received free Chipotle kids meals. And where are the Diamond back tickets? ? So, if I could have ever signed up for Fizz Bang Read, or whatever they called it, I would have been greatly disappointed with my free book. Last Spring their reading program deleted our library fines, I am really hoping for that program this year. Although after deleting mine, someone probably lost their job. I'm sure we're supporting someone's take home salary.

Coffee is ready and I must feed the masses..