Curriculum 2012-2013

For the past two or three years, our curriculum choices have remained unvaried.  But this year, I will be mixin' it up quite a bit.  My choice for change is NOT at all due to the fact that I no longer like my previous selections.  For the most part, these alterations have stemmed from the natural ebb and flow of life.  As I add more students to our school day and as my older kids begin to show a natural aptitude for or a struggle with a certain area, I make adjustments.

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So, after spending much of the summer in prayer and deliberation about our upcoming school year, the Hubs and I have finally determined our plan of action.  (I am highlighting all our changes in red.)

DRUMROLL, PLEASE...

The older children will be working on independent study skills by 

using task cards to keep track of their  daily to-do's.  (More on this to come...)

Group Lessons:

• Bible:  God's Names, Well-Versed Kids memory verse packets (We will begin doing Bible time at the end of dinner, instead of first thing in the morning so that the Hubs can do more of the teaching.)
• Science:  Question & Answer Books series, living-literature style books to go along with the unit studies from the science series, lapbooks, notebooking pages
• History:  TruthQuest History Guide: Ancient Egypt & Ancient Greece, lapbooks, notebook pages
• Geography:  Galloping the Globe w/CD, Eat Your Way Around the World 
• Phy. Ed:  Leslie Sansone Walk at Home, Denise Austin's Fit Kids and possibly a membership to the YMCA for family swimming, basketball, etc. (fingers crossed)
• Art:  The Usborne Complete Book of Art Ideas (We are in year two of a three year plan.)

Sweetie Pea-4th Grade:

• Devotions: Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions For Kids (I'll be using the adult version for my own personal study and look forward to great conversations with my girl as we read through the books together...only separate.), What the Bible Is All About Handbook for Kids: Bible Handbook for Kids
• Language: BJU English 4, All About Spelling, Abeka Read & Think Skill Sheets 4, a homespun spelling word bank notebook, a homespun writing portfolio notebook to be used with the BJU writing projects
• Math:  Abeka Arithmetic 4
• Handwriting: A Reason for Handwriting: Level C
• Creative Writing:  homespun writing prompt cards
• Logic Skills:  Building Thinking Skills, Level 2
• Foreign Language:  Rosetta Stone Chinese (Mandarin) Level 1
• Typing:  Typing Instructor For Kids
• Life Skills:  Uncle Gene's Breadbook for Kids, continue to make Sunday night dinners, finish sewing the matching aprons for her and her American girl doll
• Music:  weekly piano lessons
• Penpal:  for the fifth year in a row, she will continue to practice her writing skills by writing to her homeschool buddy in another state
• Handwork for Read Aloud time:  make friendship bracelets, cross-stitch on canvas projects, choose from activities in the handwork basket

Super Boy-1st Grade:

• Devotions:  The Hear Me Read Bible
• Language:  A Beka Letters and Sounds 1, Language 1, Spelling & Poetry 1, a homespun spelling word bank notebook
• Math:  Arithmetic 1
• Handwriting:  A Reason for Handwriting: Manuscript A
• Creative Writing:  My Starfall Writing Journal 
• Logic Skills:  Can You Find Me? K-1
• Life Skills:  Lessons in Responsibility for Boys Level 1 to do with the Hubs once a week
• Penpal:  for the second year in a row, he will continue to dictate...and later in the year write... letters to a homeschooling buddy in another state
• Handwork for Read Aloud time:  Orb Factory Sticky Mosaic Pirates , choose from activities in the handwork basket

Blonde Warrior-Kindergarten:

• Devotions:  choose from a picture Bible to look through from our "good morning" basket
• Language:  Phonics K
• Math:  ABeka Numbers Skills K 
• Handwriting: A Reason For Handwriting K
• Creative Writing:  homespun writing prompt cards
• Logic Skills:  Can You Find Me? Pre-K
• Handwork:  Orb Factory My First Picture Maker, choose from activities in the handwork basket

Greased Lightening-Preschool:

• Devotions:  choose from a picture Bible to look through from our "good morning" basket
• ABC:  Sesame Street Letter Sounds with Cookie Monster, homespun ABC book
• Language Development:  Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever
• Numbers/Shapes/Colors:  homespun activities along with some core books/games
• Handwork:  choose from activities in the handwork basket

Although this looks like a very full day, not all of these items will be tackled everyday.  In the coming days, I will be sharing a bit about our daily school schedule and how we orchestrate all of this learning each week.  For now, be sure to take a peek at how I hope to implement so much CHANGE into our upcoming year

Need more curriculum ideas, head on over to iHomeschool Network and check out what other homeschool families will be learning this coming school year.