In which we purchase a curriculum, and embark on a new adventure.

Thus begins our year of homeschool.  This afternoon I clicked the "add to cart" button a few times, and, finally, the "confirm purchase" button on the Moving Beyond the Page website.  They've developed a literature-based curriculum that incorporates language arts, science, and social studies (and, in A's case, math).  Instead of textbooks, they use age-appropriate books (for A, books like "If You Give a Pig a Pancake" and "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse", in G's case, "Little House in the Big Woods" and "The BFG") to guide exploration and learning.  Though I was sorely tempted to buy the "complete package," our dwindling finances and the huge sticker price dictated that I order the online curriculum only, and check the books out from the library (don't worry, I made sure the library HAS the books!).  I am really excited to start this with the Gals.  We're also going to do the Right Start math program, which also has me bouncing off the walls with excitement--the focus is to teach math intuitively, instead of by rote.

A has been asking all day "when can we start school?  when do we get to do school?"  It makes me feel so hopeful for the success of our little endeavor.  I feel pretty confident that this is the right place for us to be this year, but it is good to have the kids (and the dad!) back me up.

My plan for this blog is that it will provide a place for me to journal about our homeschool experiences, as well as give the Gals somewhere to post their "assignments."  I'm also hoping to periodically post science-y videos, music & poetry podcasts, and other stuff we come up with.  We're just gonna have FUN!

SO, strap on your thinking caps, folks!  Get ready for a wild ride!