next year?

So, we're exploring options for next school year so that we can start saving money *if* we decide to go away from OHVA. We're looking at a few different programs, and I'm starting to branch out from the stuff I am failiar with into different areas. I know I don't want anything that takes a lot of prep work for me to do successfully (part of why OHVA works so well for us, I like to be lazy about prepping to teach) but I like having interaction with the girls and feeling and seeing what they are learning while they do it.

I've looked at Switched On Schoolhouse for when the kids each hit that level that they can do the work, and I like it because it doesn't take a *lot* of work for me. However, I don't like it because they would be doing all the learning themselves without my direct involvement like I am doing now (I'm not sure I'm ready for that kind of teaching to happen suddenly in one school year, I prefer that they go more independent slowly like they are now with a few subjects)

Sonlight. Ahhhhhh beautiful Sonlight. I own 3 cores, 2 lang. arts, and a science. I love their materials obviously. Great quality materials, wonderful books. We LOVE great literature and learning through reading. So, what is the problem with it? Too much legwork for me to prep for the day. I also am finding that I prefer to hand out a worksheet for comprehension instead of asking questions and gauging her answers for comprehension, and I feel like its not *quite* guided enough. Its perfect for preschool though, which is where we'll stay with for now.

Tapestry of Grace. Hmmmmmm now this one is a bit more complicated. Its a lot like Sonlight, but not at the same time. I LOVE how the program is set up on a classical 4 year history cycle, from creation to current day. I love how all levels are included in one guide for each unit of the year plans. I even like the activities that are suggested in TOG for further study and reinforcement. I mean come on, they have LAPBOOK KITS you can buy for each unit. It would really fit well for us with my love of literature for learning, the hands-on that the kids love with all the activities, and they have quizzes that I can buy to give me the worksheets that I like to use. So what is the downside? Prep time involved. The year plans are expensive enough for us that I'd have to do the first year of each plan piecing together the books from thrift stores, yard sales, and the local library. Too much legwork for me lol But it is awfully tempting still..................

Calvert. Oh man, don't start on this one. I like the text-based thing for some reason. It makes teaching the kids really simple. The huge downside is the cost, obviously. I've been eyeballing Calvert since Melissa was just a year old.

So, I've found a lot of options that I can discount easily because of cost, prep work involved, or a number of other reasons. Not looking good for us if we decide not to stay with OHVA................ lol I am still exploring options, and weighing the pros and cons of each. So, why is it that we are looking at possibly leaving ohva after this year you ask?

We have 2 children back to back, one in K and the other in 1st grade. I do their work with them individually, and I'm noticing a few little issues. First, Melissa is studying ancient history in 1st grade, which follows Story of the World pretty well. Lydia is studying world geography and a few fun tidbits about each country while we're at it for 1st semester, and will do American history a bit for second semester. Next year, Lydia will do the history Melissa's doing this year, and Melissa will move up to the second stage of world history (following SOTW vol. 2 fairly closely from what I hear) I'm not sure if it would be a good idea to have me teaching a time period in history two years in a row for at least 4 years, until Melissa is old enough to go independently with her history studies.

That is just one reason though. Second would be the requirement for "social" face to face events. We are required to attend 4 events each school year that the kids are signed in for. Meaning, I can do one on one with each kid and do a total of 8 events, or I can do 4 and sign both in together each time (so far this is how we're doing it) I don't do social situations well at all. Anyone who knows me, they have probably noticed that I don't do well with a lot of eye contact and I have a hard time on occassion with carrying a normal conversation. I also have annoying little tics that happen when I'm in a situation that makes me nervous, I start counting my kids over and over to make sure they are all here, I bounce my legs (5 bounces on one, then 5 on the other, and repeat), and other little things that aren't as noticeable. I don't do well in social situations. I FORCE myself to do them though, so that the girls are given the social outlet that they need since they aren't in a public school stuck with 25+ kids their age all day in a classroom sitting at desks/tables doing worksheets and being reprimanded if they talk to their "seat neighbors" Now this social requirement they have is a pro and a con both. If I didn't have the requirement, then I'd probably not go out at all except for soccer practices and games, and the occassional daytime shopping trip (I prefer to go shopping after the kids are in bed at 8pm) That is a pro for it. Now the con is that I have a mild anxiety attack every time I walk out the front door to head to a social situation, and it takes everything I have in me to not crawl out of my skin and run screaming back inside and under the covers on my bed to shake like a leaf. I obviously have gotten really good at bottling that up, I can now hold it in until I get home and am able to escape and just shake a while. (I had soccer games this morning at 9am and 10am, and I came home and pretty much immediately went back to bed to hide for 4 hours)

However, you can't beat the price of OHVA. Everyone likes a free curriculum, and its a really good one too. It fits our style, and provides the accountability that we need to actually do lessons daily. I have someone that I'm held accountable to, and am required to actually teach the kids and log my time for the work we did. Its not that bad of a deal for us.

See the problem with pros and cons lol

Right now I'm researching the Robinson curriculum. I found a link to it in an ad banner on facebook, of all places. I'm not too familiar with it, so I'm going to be taking time ot read about it. It appeals to me because its a more independent program from what I see, and it is one that I just purchase one time (only have to buy math books for it) But I don't know enough about it yet to make much of a decision yet.