Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Homeschooling For the 2013-2014 Year

My ever present stack of books. They almost always include foodie type books and homeschooling tomes.



Last year we began homeschooling in January. I really had no idea what I was doing. I totally winged it. Cobbling together various curricula, starting in the middle of some of them, determining where my children were academically. It was a learning experience for all of us.

We learned that Saxon math works great for the younger kids in our home but it is a complete drag for the older one.

We learned that we all need to read more.

We learned that History might be everyone's favorite subject.

We learned we need to take more time for outside activity.

I also determined where my kids strengths and weakness lie and how to instruct them better in the upcoming year. Cash will be staying on his grade level for language arts but will be moving ahead a grade level for Math. Stella will be doing all first grade level work. In public school she would be in Kindergarten. We managed to do all her Kindergarten work in 5 months and taught her to read. Her favorite books to read are Elephant & Piggie books.

In the middle of all our schooling this past Winter and Spring, I was reading Susan Wise Bauer's fantastic book The Well Trained Mind. I was inspired to teach my children in the classical style with a few modifications. I researched curriculum, taking some suggestions from the book. I set up binders in the organization style she recommends. I love that it is literature and history heavy.

Here are our curriculum picks for the 2013-2014 year:

Cash:
Math - Teaching Textbooks 3
            Life of Fred
Grammar- First Language Lessons Level 1 & 2
Spelling-  Spelling Workout B
Writing- Copy Work
Reading- Read alouds from the suggested lists in The Well Trained Mind
               Fun reading from library books on his reading level
History- History Odyssey The Ancients
               Story of the World Vol. 1 Ancient Times
              Child's History of the World
              Usborne Encyclopedia of World History
              History Pockets
Science- DK  First Animal Encyclopedia
               Kingsfisher First Human Body Encyclopedia
               Earth Child
Art-      The Most Complete Beginner's Art Book
Music- Various Classical Pandora stations
             Classical composer CD's (in the car)
             Beethoven Lives Upstairs
Foreign Languages: English From the Roots Up (Latin & Greek Root Word Flashcards)
                                 Spanish Flashcards

Stella:
Math- Saxon 1
           Life of Fred
Grammar- First Language Lessons Level 1
Spelling- Spelling Workout A
Writing- Handwriting Without Tears
               Copywork
Reading- Read alouds from the suggested lists in The Well Trained Mind
                Fun reading from library books on her reading level
History- History Odyssey Ancients
              Story of the World Vol. 1 Ancient Times
              Child's History of the World
              Usborne Encyclopedia of World History
              History Pockets
Science- DK First Animal Encyclopedia
              Kingsfisher First Human Body Encyclopedia
              Earth Child
Art-      The Most Complete Beginner's Art Book
Music-Various Classical Pandora stations
            Classical composer CD's (in the car)
            Beethoven Lives Upstairs
Foreign Languages: English From the Roots Up (Latin and Greek Root Word Flashcards)
                                 Spanish Flashcards

As you can see they will be doing Science, History, Art, and Music together while working on their Language Arts and Math curriculum separately.

             



A few links to share with you:

A great article on a secular homeschool co-op. I hope one day to start one in my area. But that is a long time from now.

101 Best Chapter Books for kids. Feed them good food and good literature.

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