Does this look feasible for next year? I'm hoping to get the kids into an art class in the fall and possible some music lessons (although they do both sing and do handbells at church). Have I neglected any areas? I'm not making too many changes or adding too much, b/c we'll be adding another little baby in May and I'm sure I'll have my hands full with the newborn and our 3 year old in the fall in addition to the two 'big' kids' school work!

For 5th grade dd (will be 10 in September):
Grammar: Rod and Staff English, 5th grade
Vocabulary: Wordly Wise 3000 Book 2
Handwriting: A Reason for Handwriting, Book E
Spelling: Spelling Power, Level F
Writing: Institute for Excellence in Writing
Math: Math-U-See Epsilon; Math Superstars 5th grade; mixed with a little Singapore Primary Math 4
History: second half of Story of the World, Vol. 2
Science: second half of Apologia Astronomy
Art/Music: ?

For 1st grade ds (will be 6 in August):
Handwriting: A Reason For Handwriting, Book A
Spelling: A Reason For Spelling, Level A set
Phonics: Phonics Museum, Explode the Code Book 2 and 2 1/2
Math: Math-u-See Alpha, Math Superstars 1st grade; Singapore EarlyBird 2B
History: Story of the World, Vol. 1
Science: Second half of Apologia Astronomy
Art/Music:

sounds like a lot to me but I am very relaxed in our schooling. Especially when a new baby is around. Are your dd and ds pretty good at self-directed learning or sitting and doing work without too much of your help or sitting there to make sure it is done? I am asking because I have one that is and one that isn't. We mostly sat and read and read and read and read during the Fall of '06 and baby was already 5mo when we started. Just now (baby is 11 months) have I gotten it together enough to be able to, sort-of, plan a day and stick to it. I was just too tired most days to do much other than read, have Katie work on her math and spelling and reading..... I guess I did ok, but I didn't expect too much of myself or of the littles because I didnt' want to stress about it.

You may already be super organized and your children just know what to expect and what to do but I am not always organized but I am working on it. And working on getting to bed earlier and rising earlier now that Andrew (11mo) is sleeping more.

I bought plenty of materials but am slowly working my way through them with each of the littles. Rod and Staff has those early ed. books and I love them. My 3.5 yo ds is working through one while the others do some work too and the baby crawls on the floor or I hold him, etc.

Sorry to ramble, I just wanted to share..

The only thing I would change, if it were me scheduling is adding your 1st grader to your 5th graders history. History takes up a big chunk of time for us, and I have to combine where possible. Other than that, I think it looks great!
What all are you adding that you haven't been doing.

The only thing I would change, if it were me scheduling is adding your 1st grader to your 5th graders history. History takes up a big chunk of time for us, and I have to combine where possible. Other than that, I think it looks great!
What all are you adding that you haven't been doing.

That's exactly what I was going to say. I would combine the history for both of them.

Looks like most of the stuff for your 5th grader will be things she can do mostly on her own. I have yet to delve into IEW - we've done little things here and there, but it does take planning time (and effort).

I would have preferred to have both kids on the same history cycle, but my ds was still in preschool last year and didn't get to do VOl 1 then! Now my dd is already halfway thru Vol. 2.....I wouldn't want her to have to go back and repeat Vol. 1 and I don't want ds to skip it (he's really interested in the pyramids and ancient Egypt, etc.) So, we'll finish Vol. 2 with her next year and Vol. 1 with him...Then we'll give her a year off and let him do Vol. 2 in 2nd grade...and then they'll be caught up with one another.

Are your dd and ds pretty good at self-directed learning or sitting and doing work without too much of your help or sitting there to make sure it is done?
You may already be super organized and your children just know what to expect and what to do but I am not always organized but I am working on it. And working on getting to bed earlier and rising earlier now that Andrew (11mo) is sleeping more.

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My dd is very independent and self-directed. Most of her work can be done independently, with only guidance and review from me. My ds is very eager to learn and although he does need more "instruction" due to his age, he enjoys it and is easy to work with.

I wouldn't say that I'm "super-organized," but I'm pretty used to getting back into the swing of things immediately after birth. I do in-home daycare also for another little girl (friend of our family), so I have to be up and dressed and somewhat organized!

Wow Jenn, you are organized!

Sounds like you will have a great year next year.

I study some of the same subjects with each of mine, at different times of the day and if they want to sit in and listen with each other they can and most often do, unless something has their attention!!