Time to be searching for curriculum for this fall. So, what does or did 3rd grade look like on your house? 1st grade? And what can I use to combine the two as much as possible? Thanks! This is my favorite part of HSing, well one of them anyway!
I feel like I just figured out what to do for THIS year!! Time is FLYING! I do think that we will continue on with what we have been using with the exception of Science. I think we will be switching to Mr Q.. Although, I think we may be doing some Math and Language Arts with the public school kiddos this summer to keep it fresh in their mind so probably will be on the hunt for some free worksheets
All of mine is in my siggy. I tend to combine science & history, and I have them do things like vocabulary alone (online). The only things they really NEED me for are English instruction, science experiments, spelling tests, and the occasional help with a math problem. They're mostly independent.
I prefer CLE for reading, LA, math, and SS, with R&S for science for third grade. Actually, we already finished R&S 3 SS and are about to start CLE 3 SS. In first grade, I prefer CLE for reading (Learning to Read, then Reading), LA, and math. For science and social studies I have made "little units" of my own.
My 3rd (and 6th) grader is doing Paths of Exploration. I love that it combines them for everything but math. it may be something you want to look at in a couple years. When they were K and 3rd (the last time we homeschooled) I used Galloping the Globe and Considering God's Creation with both and the appropriate BJU math book and Explode the code levels as well as Spectrum reading workbooks.
1st grade and 3rd grade are all about reading. I didn't use any curriculum. Went to the library at least once a week and let my daughter pick one book for each year of her age, and I picked a book for each year of her age...and we tried to get them all read in a week. Usually with success. Make sure you've got two kinds of books. Books that are at skill level for them to read...and books that are entertaining and above their skill level to read aloud to them. Good books they'll both enjoy having read aloud.....Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing series, and Ramona series. I think these would be great for your kids because they're about an older child with a younger sibling that are near your children's ages. Really funny enjoyable books. At Christmas, get the Best Christmas Pageant Ever (the book, not the film). Love the horrible Herdmans! Make sure to read aloud...so much of language and comprehension is learning to hear and understand the contextual significance of words. I know that sounds weird and simple...but it's tremendously powerful in building sequence skills, comprehension skills, writing skills. Read Aloud! Have Dad read aloud. My husband did every single night for an hour without exception. American History....Read the Little House on the Prairie books. Great stories! Have them write journals about their own lives for future children to read, too. Make a time capsule. Have dad read aloud, have Grandma and Grandpa read aloud. Have the older one read to the younger one. Let them read aloud to anyone who is willing to let them. Work on basic number concepts. Master addition and subtraction facts, and work on multiplication facts. Work with fractions in the kitchen with measuring cups. Look at metric measurement. Work on days of the week, months, counting by 5s, 10s, mixing colors, writing sentences and paragraphs. Third grader should write a real life snail mail letter to someone who might write her back. She should learn how to address it, formal and informal formats, and you should let her buy her own postage at the post office and send it. Third grader might also write a fan letter to a book author she enjoys and ask some questions about the book. (surprising how often they send something back! quite a treat!) Work with coins and money and telling time. Work on citizenship and character. Watch lots of science documentaries. Spend a lot of time outside. Do a lot of art, music, exercise. Attend kid's museums, gardens, events. Go places, lots of field trips, visit friends, play a LOT! Mostly, stop worrying and just enjoy it. Those are wonderful, and very forgiving ages to educate your kids. They'll do great
Also...drawing is huge. It improves fine motor skills they'll need for writing and typing. Learning to play a simple song on a piano lays pathways in their brain for keyboarding later. Drawing is also great for space relation, analysis, and creative interpretation. When you ask your kids to draw, teach them to see. Have them draw a picture of something with their drawing hand and paper inside a box so they can't see what they're drawing....teach the idea of looking at the details, examining the contours, paying more attention to observation than reproduction. All this is great for a bunch of other more complex skills later. Also...free draw...and have fun. All good stuff! Long live the handmade greeting card for Grandma!
LOL ME TOO! I had to change what we were doing and started all over with new curriculum two months ago.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Paths of Exploration. This is what we started the year out doing and I can't sing the praises high enough. That said, it didn't work for my daughter. She absolutely LOVED the content as she is a big history buff, but she did not like the approach. She is an independent, workbook kid and she did not like me sitting with her, reading with her or doing much of anything WITH her. So we switched to ACE and she is doing well and more importantly, she is happy with her work. I'm still mourning the loss lol...
A reminder that there is no perfect curriculum. Even a great curriculum is not the right fit for some families. We just have to do the best we can at researching and then still be willing to adapt or even completely change if what we pick isn't right for our kids.
