Coming soon: Our educational philosophy
My Favorite Books (for Homeschooling, Parenting, and Organization)
Here is our 2012-2013 Curriculum
B (age 11, 6th grade):
Grammar: Daily Grams 6 (Easy Grammar)
Latin: First Form Latin
Music: violin lessons, band (saxophone) at Christian school
History: Mystery of History and Story of the World, vol. 2 (After Resurrection thru Middle Ages) with notebooking materials from Homeschool in the Woods (New Testament) and Lilliput Station; read-alouds of historical fiction
Pre-Logic: Logic: Building Thinking skills, book 3 figurative
Math: Epsilon math, then Zeta math from Math-U-See
Science: Apologia science Zoology 2 (Swimming Creatures) with notebooking journals and experiment kit
Composition: How to Write a Story by Evan-Moor, then Writing for 100 Days
Following “The Grammar Level: Ten Things to Do From Ages 10-12″
Spelling & Grammar: Better Spelling in 5 Minutes a Day and then Spelling Power; Daily Grams 5 (Easy Grammar)
Latin: First Form Latin
Music: violin and piano lessons
Art: ocean boxes
History: Mystery of History volume 2 and Story of the World volume 2 (After Resurrection thru Middle Ages) with lapbooking materials from Homeschool in the Woods (New Testament) and Lilliput Station; read-alouds of historical fiction
Pre-Logic: Logic: Building Thinking skills, book 2
Math: Epsilon math from Math-U-See
Science: Apologia science Zoology 2 (Swimming Creatures) with notebooking journals and experiment kit
Public Speaking: Institute for Cultural Communicators Basic Public Speaking book for public speaking class
Reading and Handwriting, Narration: read to self 30 minutes a day; finish reading Rod and Staff readers–Bible Nurture and Reader Series (finish brown books and first gray book); copy work of Revelation
Arts and Crafts: ocean boxes, sewing projects, Picture study of paintings
Music: violin and piano lessons
Math: Alpha and Beta, Math-U-See
Science: Apologia science Zoology 2 (Swimming Creatures) with notebooking journals and experiment kit
History: Mystery of History volume 2 and Story of the World volume 2 (After Resurrection thru Middle Ages) with lapbooking materials from Homeschool in the Woods (New Testament) and Lilliput Station; read-alouds of historical fiction
Public Speaking: Institute for Cultural Communicators Basic Public Speaking book
Reading and Handwriting, Narration: phonics (TATRAS) and read aloud to Mom (McGuffey readers then Rod and Staff Bible Nurture and Reader Series, green books); Explode the Code (book 3 – ?); finish printing Handwriting Without Tears books and then do various copywork.
Bible: Mom reads aloud The Jesus Storybook Bible ( Lloyd-Jones), Roma Downey’s Little Angels Bible Storybook, and Leading Little Ones to God (Schooland)
Science: Apologia science Zoology 2 (Swimming Creatures) with notebooking journals and experiment kit
Arts and Crafts: ocean boxes, sewing projects, Picture study of paintings
Public Speaking: Institute for Cultural Communicators Basic Public Speaking book
Reading and Handwriting, Narration: phonics (TATRAS) and read aloud to Mom (McGuffey readers then Rod and Staff Bible Nurture and Reader Series, green books); Explode the Code (book 2 – ?); Handwriting Without Tears books and then do various copywork if time
Bible: Mom reads aloud The Jesus Storybook Bible ( Lloyd-Jones), Roma Downey’s Little Angels Bible Storybook, and Leading Little Ones to God (Schooland)
Science: Apologia science Zoology 2 (Swimming Creatures) with notebooking journals and experiment kit
Arts and Crafts: ocean boxes, painting, play-doh
Public Speaking: Institute for Cultural Communicators Basic Public Speaking book
Reading and Handwriting, Narration: phonics (TATRAS); Handwriting Without Tears books and do various copywork
Bible: Mom reads aloud The Jesus Storybook Bible ( Lloyd-Jones), Roma Downey’s Little Angels Bible Storybook, and Leading Little Ones to God (Schooland)
Science: Apologia science Zoology 2 (Swimming Creatures) with notebooking journals and experiment kit
Arts and Crafts: ocean boxes, painting, play-doh
History: Mystery of History volume 2 and Story of the World volume 2 (After Resurrection thru Middle Ages) with lapbooking materials from Homeschool in the Woods (New Testament) and Lilliput Station; read-alouds of historical fiction
2012-2013 Homeschooling Schedule
Yes, every year is different, and I usually end up tweaking our homeschooling schedule throughout the year as well. But this is what is (sort of) working right now!
8:00 Breakfast
8:30-11:30 Morning chores and schoolwork
11:30-1:00 Lunch, chores, and free time
1:00 Baby down for a nap
1:15-2:30 Afternoon read-aloud time
2:30-3:30 Quiet time (alone time for Mom)
3:30-5:00 Afternoon chores, instrument practice, dinner prep
5:00-5:30 Educational video
5:30-6:30 Dinner and after-dinner chores
I’ll post separately about the chores that the kids do throughout the day.
A book I highly recommend to helping to schedule your day is “Managers of their Homes” by Maxwell.
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So – is there no math for young kids – like 5/6 year olds? Just trying to figure this out as we will begin our first year of homeschooling in August – with my oldest who will be a kindergartener . I was thinking we would use Math U See – move through Primer quickly and get on to Alpha. Does the mode you use not suggest math? I may be missing something
Also – is Story of the World appropriate for young kids like 4/5/6 year olds? We have been considering that as well. Thanks for your insight!
Jennifer
Twitter: ichoosejoynow
says:
I’ll answer these questions as soon as I can. Am recovering with my newborn at present!
Twitter: ichoosejoynow
says:
Finally getting to this! I’m sorry I’m so late since you started homeschooling last month.
I do not do formal math until my kids are older–so far they have been at least 8 or 9. There is so much better use of your time at the younger ages than to have them do math pages (see the Ten Things to do Before Age 10) listed above. Math-U-See Primer is unnecessary in my opinion. If you’re doing normal life and homeschooling them in other ways, they will know all of that by the time they’re 8. I only do Alpha so they learn the unique features of the Math-U-See curriculum. If you wait until they’re older, they can easily go through 2 books a year and then will be “caught up”. My oldest is in 6th grade this year. He’s finishing up Epsilon and will most likely compleste Zeta before next fall when he’ll be ready for pre-algebra in 7th grade. He did no formal written math until 4th grade. Search through my blog if you’d like for ideas on informal math in the early years.
Yes, I would say Story of the World is appropriate for 4-6 year olds–if you start with volume 1. The author wrote the series to increase in age level with the child. So, srecommends not using volume 4 (Modern Times, lots of war) with a child that young.
–Gena
genamayo recently posted..Ocean Boxes- Lesson 2
Thanks!!!
Jennifer recently posted..Make a Weaving Loom
Thanks for the idea of penciling in alone time for mom. Often times we tend to forget that.