The Start of the First Homeschool Year

As I stated before I've decided to try home-school with my two sons who have Asperger's Syndrome this year. I came to this decision mainly because I've have had so many problems with the various public school systems when it comes to dealing with/handling their disorder. About a month before the school year officially started I enrolled the boys in an Alaskan run home-school program called PACE. We looked at their website and ordered the classes we thought they would need (with a little help from a school official of course).

Here is what we decided on:

Buck, the 12 year old's, classes:

English,
Reading Comprehension in Varied Subjects 1st Semester
Spell n' Write for the 2nd Semester

Math,
Basic Math Skills Grade 6 Year round

Science,
Simple Chemistry 1st Semester
Energy (circuts and electromagnets) 2nd Semester

Social Studies,
American Civil War 1st Semester
Daily Geography 2nd Semester

Technology
Technology Grade 6 Year round

World Language
Rosetta Stone German

Turtle, the 10 year old's, classes:

English,
Connecting Reading and Writing with Vocabulary 1st Semester
Non-Fiction Reading 2nd Semester

Math
Basic Math Skills Grade 5 Year round

Science
Simple Chemistry 1st Semester
Energy (circuts and electromagnets) 2nd Semester

Social Studies
American Civil War 1st Semeter
Daily Geography 2nd Semester

Technology Grade 5 Year round

World Language
Rosetta Stone Japanese

That makes nine classes each this year, six per semester.

For an extracarricular project I bought them a 35 mm camera kit, made completely of paper, which they have to put together.

The books started arriving last Thursday, first Turtle's Connecting Reading and Writing with Vocabulary, and of course, he had to start the first lesson as soon as we opened the envelope Then the boys started checking the mail daily for new boxes. Next came the box of science experiments (on Friday), and Buck had to read every direction, and note, in that box.

Today we received the box containing the rest of the books. The 10 year old started jumping around demanding to be the one who opened the box. As he was opening it he exclaimed "This is just like Christmas! I'm getting presents, and books, and cool things, to do!" In the meantime I had to step outside for a minute and when I came back the 10 year old had locked the door, he refused to open it until I told him what the secret password was. It turned out to be his favorite schoolbook for the year. I asked him what it was, and he said Math. He then opened the door claiming voice recognition.

With them being so excited just by the books and workbooks, I wonder what their reaction is going to be when their laptops arrive.

As the school year progresses I hope to leave more hubs about our experiences with home-shooling and Asperger's Syndrome kids.
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Well we spent three hours at the library yesterday. The boys were being tested to see where they are scholastically. We should get the results early this coming week.