Just because I haven't seen a thread like this in a while, and I feel like being nostalgic. What curricula are you using, whether it be new stuff you're excited to just get, or if your year started with the calendar so you're almost half done - whatever. Don't forget to include kids' ages and/or grade levels! 5th/6th grader Bible - finish CLP Book E English - Rod & Staff Vocab - English from the Roots Up Writing - Learning Success Institute tweaked by Illuminations History - MOH v1. Still. Second half! Literature - Illuminations study guides, corresponds with our history Science - SOS!!! Handwriting - haven't been doing it but might get the first cursive A Reason For Spelling - haven't been doing it but might start Spelling Power for fun Math - MUS Epsilon Electives: guitar, karate/martial arts and either tennis or swimming (seasonal), Boy Scouts, and hopefully a co-op (but maybe not til fall) 1st/2nd grader Bible - storybook by Vos and coloring pages from online English - First Lang Lessons Phonics - Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading, and ETC maybe. Spelling - find a working mix of Scholastic workbooks, Spelling Power, and just oral drill Handwriting - A Reason For Math - MUS Beta Science - delight directed, and scouting History - maybe none, maybe my own American thing Literature - great read-alouds, and maybe FIAR or similar Electives: karate/martial arts and either tennis or swimming, Cub Scouts, co-op K/1st grader pretty much the same as above Bible - Vos and coloring Phonics - OPTGR and ETC English - not til fall, FLL HW - A Reason For Math - MUS Primer and Alpha Science - delight directed and scouting History - maybe none, maybe American Literature - great read-alouds and maybe FIAR Electives: martial arts and tennis or swimming, scouts, co-op
CURRENTLY USING: 4th/5th grader Preparing Hearts For His Glory - history Learning Language Arts Thru Literature (orange) - language Spelling - a spelling workbook I picked up Science-also in Preparing but also doing Nature walks Math-Modern Curriculum Press K/1st grader Explode the Code & 100 Easy Lessons - language Singapore Earlybird series - math History & Science - what ever is interesting at this point with him Pre-K/K Explode the Code & 100 Easy Lessons - language Singapore Earlybird series - math History & Science - tagging along This is what we are finishing up with this year and next year is gonna be totally different but it's not finalized yet.
Whatever I can get my hands on for free My plan for curriculum next year is lessonpathways and headoftheclass and supplement with other free resources based on what my child(ren) are into at the time. 3 year old and 1st grader next year They will also take classes at co-op. Next semester my oldest will be taking apologia zoology 1-I'm excited about that
I am still working on my things so will come back once I get it nailed down.. I know 180 lessons for english and my own put together Geography.. we are doing MOH this year renn but stopped because next years Net Flix history videos came and ds totally is enjoying it so we are doing part of US history for this month and then back to finish our REN.. funny thing is in history we are abotu to where US started so it fit right in! Kind of like what was going on on this side of the world while the other was going on over there! so my plan is to do some Civics second semester, Geography first semester maybe second depending on how deep we go.
Kindergartener Bible - stories on life of Jesus and apostles, Bible memorization and look-up practice, praise music, mission stories Math - Mathematical Reasoning by Critical Thinking Company Reading - Sonlight readers Phonics - mixture of ETC, MCP, AAS, and Sonlight Handwriting - Italic Writing - Write About Me and blogging History/Geography - unit studies on ancient history and Europe Music - Music Ace Mandarin - Rosetta Stone Mandarin French - Ecoutez Parlez Arabic - Alif Baa and Instant Immersion Greek - Hey Andrew Teach Me Some Greek Book 1 Vocabulary - Rummy Roots 2nd grader Bible - stories on life of Jesus and apostles, Bible memorization and look-up practice, praise music, mission stories Math - Mathematical Reasoning by Critical Thinking Company Reading - Chapter books of interest Spelling - Sequential Spelling 1 Grammar/Writing - Bob Jones English 3 Handwriting - Italic History/Geography - unit studies on ancient history and Europe Music - Music Ace Mandarin - Rosetta Stone Mandarin French - Ecoutez Parlez Arabic - Alif Baa and Instant Immersion Greek - Hey Andrew Teach Me Some Greek Book 1 Vocabulary - Rummy Roots and Very Very Vocabulary Typing - Roller Typing
Our year will start next month and we will be using: 1/2 grade: Math: Saxon Math 2 History: Mystery of History, Student Bible Atlas, go-alongs from the library Science: Considering God's Creation, Science Center, and library books Phonics: Phonics Pathways (to fill in gaps) and Reading Pathways (to increace fluency) Reading: Library books Spelling: SeekingmyLord's spelling index card system Language: English From the Roots Up (modified for young ones) Handwriting: letter writing, copywork, science and history notebooks Art: Rod and Staff Artpac 1 Music: Children's Hymnal I think that about covers it, though as always it's subject to change if something isn't working.
Embassy-how well does the rosetta stone program work for the kindergartner? I've been thinking, once hubby gets a job, I'd like to learn a 2nd language and have heard good things about rosetta stone (for adults), and thought maybe me and the kids could learn a new language together. Do they make a kids version or are you just using the adult version for them?
For this year my son is in 8th grade and we are using the following: -Pre-Algebra Teaching Textbook--I love it. -Jump In for writing -Writing Skills Problem Solver for spelling/vocabulary/punctuation/etc. -A World of Adventure for history and science and Bible--my son liked a lot. I added to the science section. -We did a hodge podge of other stuff that is not a curriculum as in reading and discussing the Fallacy Detective, art, learning and using different navigation tools, lapbook on ancient China, etc. -My son also had three projects. One was giving a presentation using PowerPoint. Another was making a poster of explorers that we studied. The last one was designing on the computer an island. I know this is not a curriculum but thought it might give someone an idea of something their child could do. I love reading all the ideas from others. It helps me a lot. I am looking forward to reading what others have used and will be using. This upcoming school year I will be using a new curriculum, SOS, because of all the great things people have written about it on Homeschool Spot.
They only have one version. It is doable for them, but they don't love it. I don't find them learning a great deal with it. Maybe it is their age. Maybe it is their learning style. Maybe it is the program. I don't know. I will be trying another program next year for Mandarin and supplementing with Rosetta Stone. Depending on what language you choose there are many programs for kids out there. To get started with an language for free I would check out YouTube. There is a lot available there.
Grades 2/3: MAth: MUS Beta Gammma Science: Apologia Zoology 1 History: SOW ancient Handwriting: For a reason "transition" Latin for kids Shurley English
I'm still up in the air about a lot of things for next year. In fact there is a chance we might not be homeschooling next year, but that's a whole other topic. Here's what I do have planned: 3rd grade Horizons math 2 Explode the Code: finish 6, do 7 and probably 8 Lifepac Language Arts 3 (son says he wants it, but I am looking at other options, too.) k/1st BJU math K5 (finish book, he will be about half way when we break for summer) Explode the Code 1 and maybe 2 (taking it slow) Spectrum Reading Little Critter (finish K, start 1) They do science, social studies, art and whatever else we do together. We have been doing our own unit studies on animals and habitats, but I am looking into doing something more organized next year. I am researching Galloping the Globe right now, it looks interesting to me. I got A Reason for Science A really cheap so may use that with them both, starting now finishing next year.
As it sits at this moment, as you all know not everything works out the way it is planned. Math - McRuffy color math grade 1 LA- McRuffy SE color phonics and reading grade 1 Science- McRuffy grade 1 Nature walks and study (I made up a nature/explorer kit and we will keep track of stuff in a binder and small box) A reason for science (if I can come up with the money for this one) And all kinds of experiments and projects I have a big science guy! History- American history (I pulled from many reading lists out there, like Guest Hollow, Beautiful Feet, Truth Quest, and more. The add in some of my own, a few activity books and movies. That will be our history for the next couple of years.) Handwriting - McRuffy traditional grade 1 Art - How to teach children art Geography- Down to Earth Geography grade 1
Well.. for the littles this coming year: Phonics: McRuffy SE Color Phonics K Hooked on Phonics Leap Frog DVDs Starfall.com ProgressivePhonics.com (we or umm I, like variety) Math: McRuffy Color Math K Family Math for Young Children a variety of living math books and activities Social Studies: a mommy made up curric. of community, family, holidays and other children around the world Science: McRuffy Science K Let's Read and Find Out Nature studies Art, Music, Health and PE just come naturally for us. If Garrett comes home: Grammar: Easy Grammar (I guess since I have it) Spelling: from the zaner bloser site Vocab: from the Wordly Wise 3000 site Math: TT6 (again since I have it) Science: Prentice Hall Science Explorer series (since I have them) Social Studies: The Complete Book of World History as a spine adding in lots of living books and hands on projects and movies (this will take several years to get through) Typing: Mevis Beacon (since I have it) Sign Language: Instant Immersion (since I have it) Spanish: Rosetta Stone (since I have it) Art: delight driven Music: Delight Driven PE: Delight Driven If Garrett comes home, he won't be getting anything new because I spent all I had to spend on the little ones
CALVERT! Dh said we couldn't order this year because if money. It's boxed but I like it a lot. I was pleasantly surprised by the tracking info that was sent to me via email. He surprised me and ordered it anyway.
We've got about 4 weeks left but this is what we're finishing up: 6th/7th grader Chalkdust Pre-Algebra (she just started this a month or 2 ago when she finished Horizons 6), Abeka World History 7, R & S English 6, IEW, Apologia General Science, Presidential Penmanship, Spelling Power, Various reading from Sonlight's reading lists and other literature (she finished Core 4 earlier this year but is still reading some of the books that she skipped or just wants to re-read from Core 3 & 4...plus a zillion other books), Get A Clue (online vocabulary program) 4th grader Horizons Math 4, R & S English 4, IEW, Apologia Anatomy (we're about to start this), Sonlight Core 1+2 for history & reading, All About Spelling Level 3(plus she just started Seq. Spelling with her brother), A Reason for Handwriting, Type to Learn 3. 2nd grader Horizons Math 2, R & S English 2, science and reading/history same as 4th grader, Seq. Spelling, Worldy Wise 3000 2nd ed Book 3 (just started a mo or 2 ago), A Reason for Handwriting T (just finished B...moving onto the cursive transition book) Next year's plan includes the same basics/publishers only the next level for the younger 2 as they finish their current items. Still working on the 7th graders plans for literature in particular. She's also grammared out so I'm pondering The Latin Road to English Grammar to get a bit of grammar but mostly a focus on Latin....we'll see. I will mostly be looking for items for her at our state convention in June. I'm very comfortable with the younger kids curric.
This is what we are using this year, next year isn't quite finished yet because of figuring out the dual credit stuff. 8th grader Bible - Abeka Math - Abeka Lanuage Arts - Abeka Spelling - Spelling Workout History - Simple Schooling Science - Apologia Music - Guitar Spanish - Rosetta Stone Typing - Mavis Beacon 10th grader Bible - Abeka Algebra II - Abeka Lanuage Arts - Abeka World History - Abeka Biology- Abeka Spanish - Rosetta Stone Typing - Mavis Beacon Both kids - Consumer Science - abeka & mom
Well...at the moment Together (4th & 7th) Learning Adventure for history/art/bible/science/geography/LA (Middle ages,Renaissance & Reformation) Spelling power (well, not together but both.) Saxon math (again...not together but both.) a bit of Lightning Literature...mostly last semester. 7th Science - simple schooling Physics plus simple schooling interactives for supplement in science...for both boys. Summer - which is quite relaxed but I count for days...like two days a week depending on what they get done, self paced and fieldtrip and experiments. plus some math to keep fresh....finishing up some workbooks that we have for Dutch and finishing the Saxon book. (we are on lesson 113 today on day 170) because we did some supplementing. Going to do (maybe) an algebra workbook that I got for Jazz. "The Algebra Survival Guide" it explains things well and gives real world examples...why do I have to know how to do this...I was pretty excited by it. And while I am not a fan of early Algebra...there is so much of it in the books that these are all concepts we have covered (or a lot of them). A library unit (skipped in Learning Adventure) the 30 day section of Learning adventure on New World Explorers...(with oceanography for science and we are going to the coast for vacation: how cool is that.) Next year.... Definitely TT pre- algebra for 8th...haven't decided on Dutch yet...I have the next Saxon book............but he might really like TT, might play with it this summer and see. Trying to decide whether to continue with Learning Adventure (US history) Unit study or piece it all out again. LA is very mom intensive...and while I should be more available next year...well, I am not sure it is what I want to do. (I am feeling behind...because I don't do everything and she has it planned for 180 pretty full days....plus some days we are done in a few hours, it doesn't always seem real balanced. But the boys are really liking it. IF I piece it together... finish up Physics with Simple schooling for Jazz(actually we will do this anyway because the science in LA is not enough for 8th grade) Grammar and writing still quite up in the air. We are bad at this and need something structured (I think) LA has been perfect for grammar, but the writing is not working for us. I did fairly well on Grammar this year but not writing and so will probably concentrate on that. Dutch likes the Observing God's world (Abeka) for science, so might continue with LA and just supplement with that (like this year)as one of the "read about ...for the rest of your science time" I know the first science topic is insects and I assume he will think that is cool. Dutch will drop cursive as a subject and pick up typing...but all his written work will be in cursive. Jazz will continue with Band at PS. even if we don't do Learning Adventure...our Literature will be historically topical. Everything subject to change on a whim of course. lol.
