From House to Home {Link Party}: 2013 Summer Homeschooling Plans

May 23, 2013 By 1 Comment

Summer Homeschooling Plans

 

The From House to Home Link Party is open below.  Please link up a post or two!

One of the greatest blessings about homeschooling is that we have freedom!  We school year-round and just take breaks when needed.  And I’ve decided:  I need a break now!  Friday is going to be our last official school day of this year.  Then we’ll take a couple of weeks off to regroup.

Here are our plans for the summer:

Bible Bee Sword Study and Memory Verses–  This is an in-depth Bible Study which takes about 30 minutes a day.  It incorporates reading, writing, history, using reference materials, etc.

Lots of music lessons– B (12) will take violin and saxophone lessons.  J (11) will take percussion, piano, and violin lessons.  M (9) piano and violin.  R ( 8) piano.  T (6) violin.   And  they will all take singing lessons with me (mostly group, but the oldest ones will have some private lessons as well).  We’ll also do some focus on music theory, written as well as computer or iPad apps.  (If you know of any good ones, let me know!)

Summer camps– One week of sports camp called LifeSports and one week of theater camp with Spotlight.

Math– My oldest needs to finish his 6th grade math book.

History– We’ll continue reading history to finish volume 2 of Mystery of History.  I also have a couple of historical fiction books to do a review on.

Science– I have a unit study science book to do a review on, so we’ll do a couple of those.

Phonics/Reading Lessons– Do Alpha-Phonics with R (8), T (6), and L (4)

Typing– I like to use the summertime to have the kids do typing practice.  We like these free websites:  typingweb.com and bbc.co.uk/schools/typing

Art– We might add in some drawing lessons.

Reading– Summer reading programs where they’ll do lots of silent reading, I’ll continue to read aloud


Jonathan Park– We love to listen to these great CD dramas and learn about creation science and apologetics.  I’m going to see if I can add in some enrichment activities to go along with the reading.

A.C.T.S. Summer of Service–  Service Projects

So, things that will to on hold until next fall are: Latin, Logic, Writing, Math, Worldview, Handwriting, Spelling, and Grammar!

Also, my oldest has been begging to do football for years.  This might be the year we relent (we have one more month to think about it).  If we do, that will consume months August – November.  Do you sense that I’m not into it?  The weirdest thing is that he actually “looks” like a football player.  Trying to make the right decision here.

Vacations–  The first that I’m so glad we get to do is our state’s annual homeschooling convention called ICHE (Illinois Christian Home Educators).  I first went when my oldest was 17 months old and my 2nd child was 6 weeks.  We went every year since until last year because Baby E was born.  She’s almost one and started walking yesterday!  Anyway, my husband and I be going to the convention with the baby and two oldest boys in June.  We have a couple of young ladies (sisters) who will come and stay with the other kids.  We might do a road trip, but haven’t made any plans yet!  And we’ll do our summertime trip up to the lake where my husband’s parents live.

 

What are your summer plans?

 

It’s time for our Link Up Party: From House to Home!

Only 2 rules:

1. Link up family-friendly posts (exact post, not website) about making your house into a home: homemaking, parenting, homeschooling, marriage, loving God!

2. Link back to my site with the button below or a text link. Thanks! The code can be found at the top of the Link Party page. (If you don’t link back, your link might be deleted.)

I Choose Joy!



See the wonderful blogs I’ve linked up to here!

(Post contains affiliate links.)

 

Filed Under: Family Time, From House to Home, Homeschooling Time Tagged With: , ,

Review of Alpha-Phonics: A Primer for Beginning Readers

May 10, 2013 By 3 Comments

I am happy to share a review today of a great reading curriculum:  Alpha-Phonics: A Primer for Beginning Readers by Samuel Blumenfeld.  (And read to the end of the post to see how you can win a copy yourself!)  The first thing I noticed about Alpha-Phonics was how simple it is–not a lot of pieces to lose or complicated instructions.  The main book comes comb-bound (I took it out and put it in a 3-ring binder to help it last longer).  There are 128 lessons, each about a page long.  In the back of the book, it gives the teacher/mom a simple instruction on how to teach each lesson.  So, each day when we got to a new lesson, I would turn to the back and quickly read my instructions before I had the child do his/her reading lesson.

Alpha-Phonics 003

 

Alpha-Phonics 004

Also, in the back you’ll be able to read the philosophy behind the type of phonics instruction that Alpha-Phonics uses.  They start out by teaching the short vowels, then the consonant blends (final blends first, then the initial blends).  Last they teach the long vowels in their great variety of spelling forms.  There is also some pre-reading instruction (teaching the letters and their sounds), so this curriculum will work for anyone starting out to teach their child to read!

I used it for the past few weeks with three of my kids.  My 4-year-old already knows the letter names and sounds and was ready to start with lesson 1.  We got through Lesson 10.  She did well and I think we’ll keep using Alpha-Phonics all the way to the last lesson to see how she does.  I expect she will be reading quite well by the time we get to the end of the book.  She also used the “Little Companion Reader” Short Vowel A book and had fun reading a real “book!”

Alpha-Phonics 005

 

Alpha-Phonics 006

The second child I tried Alpha-Phonics with is my 4th child, my 8-year-old.  She is my struggling reader.  I am debating whether to continue through this curriculum with her or to try a multi-sensory approach (one that is hands-on and uses colors, etc.)  The other 2 curricula I have used with her (TATRAS and Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons) are similar to Alpha-Phonics in their approach.  Those worked great for teaching my first 3 kids to read, as well as the 2 kids after her!  She isn’t catching very quickly with this approach, so I might try something different with her.

The third child I used Alpha-Phonics with was my 6-year-old son, who has just “taken off” with reading and will pick up his own books to read now.  :)  I started on Lesson 20 with him because he can still use some focus on recognizing phonograms (ch, dge, ough).  I’ll continue with him through the rest of the Alpha-Phonics book.   He had fun reading the Little Companion Reader “The Chums” which uses short vowels with digraphs.

Alpha-Phonics 007

Another thing he really enjoyed (and it kind of surprised me) was the Companion Workbook.  It contains about 40 worksheets, the answers, and ways to work on syllabication (how to divide words into syllables).

Alpha-Phonics ICC Chapter Presentation 002

Do you want to know one of the best things about the Alpha-Phonics curriculum–well, besides the fact that it’s so simple to teach and it will teach your kids how to read!?  It’s so affordable!  The cost is only $34.95, and that includes a CD-Rom of all the lessons–if you’d prefer to use the computer monitor to show the kids the words to read each day.  (The CD-Rom also includes the parent/teacher instructions and pronounces things).  The Little Companion Readers (set of 10) are $24.95 and the Companion Workbook is $19.95.

Check out the Alpha-Phonics website to see samples and videos.

 

And now a giveaway of the Alpha-Phonics Primer for Beginning Readers with the CD-Rom!  Enter through the Rafflecopter app (click through to my website if you don’t see it.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Thank you to Alpha-Phonics for providing complimentary copies of the above items so I could write this honest review.)

Linked toGiveaway DayConservamomTheBetterMom.com

Filed Under: Curriculum Reviews, Giveaway, Homeschooling Time Tagged With: , , , ,

Review/Giveaway of “Heaven is for Real for Kids” 4 DVD-Based Sunday School Lessons (for ages 9-12)

January 25, 2013 By 3 Comments

 

Today’s review is of
Heaven Is for Real for Kids: 4 DVD-Based Sunday School Lessons for Ages 9-12

Last year I read Heaven is for Real, the bestselling book by Todd Burpo, the father of a little boy who tells about an experience he had going to heaven. Colton almost died from a burst appendix, and as he was in surgery he says he spent time in heaven with Jesus. He met people, family members and those from the Bible and describes much of what he saw and did there. One thing that makes the story compelling is that Colton was so young (almost 4) and described things that he shouldn’t have known or understood yet. After I read the book I came away with a greater love for my Lord Jesus and absolutely no fear of death! I’m excited to go to heaven!

The materials I’m reviewing today are a set of four lessons on DVD with an accompanying booklet to be used in a Sunday School class (or homeschool co-op, backyard Bible club, etc.). The format works like this:

The booklet tells the leader what to say and do and what materials to prepare beforehand. The DVD is played in small segments throughout the class. There is discussion, Bible reading, or an activity in between each viewing of the DVD.

My kids and I watched the DVD and did some of the activities listed in the booklet. The DVD is well-done. It shows Colton sitting in his room and his parents sitting in their family room. They describe the experiences, both of Colton almost dying and what he says he saw and did in heaven.

The four lessons are meant to be taught on four different days. They are What is in Heaven?, Who is in Heaven?, Who is the God of Heaven?, and How Do I Get to Heaven?

Most of what Colton describes simply brings what we know from the Bible to life. But there are some strange things that he describes as well: Jesus has a rainbow horse and kids go to school.

Before you use this curriculum, I want you to think through a few things. If this experience of Colton’s is completely real (and not just a fever-induced hallucination or hoax–which I doubt), then there are a few whys. Why did God decide to reveal this information to him and not put it in the Bible? Do we accept this as new revelation and teach it to our children as such? What about the verse at the end of the book of Revelation in the Bible that says, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”

Everything Colton says, in my opinion, seems plausible. It certainly doesn’t contradict God’s Word. But it does add to it.

My recommendation would be that if you choose to use this curriculum, you talk through these things with your kids. Go through all the verses in the Bible that talk about heaven and study them. See what is the same as Colton’s experience and what isn’t.

I really do love that the entire purpose of the Burpo’s ministry through these Heaven is for Real books, DVDs, and curriculum is to encourage people to learn about and love Jesus and to know for sure that there is an afterlife and we all must deal with it. Accept Jesus as your Savior so that your sins won’t send you to hell for eternity. He loves you so much!!!

You can find product information here.

 

See an excerpt from the DVD here:

Tommy Nelson Publishers are providing a copy for a giveaway! Join through the Rafflecopter app below (click through to my website if needed). The contest ends next Friday, February 1, 2013. The winner has 48 hours to respond.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Thank you to Tommy Nelson for providing a complimentary copy of this curriculum in exchange for this honest review. This post contains affiliate links.)

Linked to Giveaway Day For giveaways

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Curriculum Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Using CurrClick to Help in Homeschooling

January 7, 2013 By Leave a Comment

CurrClick

I’ve been using CurrClick for years to help in my homeschooling.  We’ve loved doing lapbooks and adding notebooking pages to our lessons.  Did you know they also have online classes?  I’ve thought about doing the Lego class for my Lego-maniacs, but we haven’t had time to add anything else to our lives yet.  :)  Other ideas I’m considering–foreign language, writing, art, and science experiments.

Here are a few things to check out there:

They have a Freebie every week.  This week’s is “Make Your Own ABC Book About . . .  The Animal Kingdom”

CurrClick

If you’d like to learn more about the classes, today and tomorrow you can check out the Winter-Spring Meet and Greet Open House.  It’s free!

Click Here!

 

(Post contains affiliate links.)

 

Filed Under: Homeschooling Time Tagged With: , ,

Homeschool Curriculum 2012-2013

October 2, 2012 By 2 Comments

Here is our 2012-2013 Curriculum

 

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

B (age 11, 6th grade):

Following “The Grammar Level:  Ten Things to Do From Ages 10-12″

Bible:  Discover 4 Yourself Inductive Bible Studies for Kids — Revelation (Bible Prophecy for Kids and A Sneak Peek into the Future)

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

Public Speaking:  Institute for Cultural Communicators Basic Public Speaking book
Worldview: Who am I? book and notebooking journal by Apologia
Geography Bee
Spotlight drama class (and possibly perform in a musical)
J (age 10, 5th grade):

Following “The Grammar Level:  Ten Things to Do From Ages 10-12″

Bible:   Discover 4 Yourself Inductive Bible Studies for Kids — Revelation (Bible Prophecy for Kids and A Sneak Peek into the Future)

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

Worldview:  Who am I? book and notebooking journal by Apologia
Geography Bee
Spotlight drama class (and possibly perform in a musical)
M (age 8, 3rd grade):

 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

Bible:   Discover 4 Yourself Inductive Bible Studies for Kids — Revelation (Bible Prophecy for Kids and A Sneak Peek into the Future)

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

Worldview:  Who am I? book and notebooking journal by Apologia
Pre-Logic:  Think a Minutes from Critical Thinking
Spotlight drama class (and possibly perform in a musical)

 

R (age 7, 2nd grade):

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

Worldview:  Who am I? book and notebooking journal by Apologia
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
T (age 5, Kindergarten):

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

Worldview:  Who am I? book and notebooking journal by Apologia
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
Music:  violin lessons
L (age 3, Preschool):

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

Worldview:  Who am I? book and notebooking journal by Apologia
Linked to

Filed Under: Homeschooling Time Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Homeschool 2012/13: Historical Fiction for Middle Ages

August 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Along with our wonderful history curriculum, Mystery of History, we’ll be reading lot of historical fiction.  It’s such an exciting way to study history–and makes it more memorable, too!  We’re in volume 2, which covers Pentecost (A.D.  29) through the Gutenberg Press (1456).  This period of history always feels very boy-oriented to me:  evil Roman emperors, Vikings, Knights, Robin Hood, and Marco Polo!  It should be a fun year!

We’ll also be listening to Story of the World in the car (end of volume 1 through volume 2).

Photobucket

In the following list, the number before the book name is the corresponding chapter in Mystery of History.  (I’m sure we won’t have time to read all of these, but here’s what we’ll choose from.)

1-  John: Son of Thunder (Ellen Gunderson Traylor) own

1- Twice Freed (Patricia St. John) own

2- Adventures in Odyssey:   Bible Eyewitness Hall of Faith, New Testament stories — audiobook at library

9- Pompeii. . .  Buried Alive (Kunhardt) library; The Buried City of Pompeii (Tanaka) library; Eyewitness: Volcano (Dorlink Kindersly) DVD at library

22- Days of Knights and Damsels: An Activity Guide (Carlson) own

22- The Knight and the Dragon (Tomie DePaola) own

22- St. George and the Dragon (Hodges) own

22- The Barefoot Book of Knights (Matthews) own

22-The Door in the Wall (Margueite de Angeli) own

22- Castle (David MacCauley) library

22- Castle Diary: The Journal of Tobias Burgess, Page (Platt) library

22- The Story of King Arthur and His Knights (Pyle) own on Kindle

22- King Arthur and His Knights (Jim Weiss) audiobook at libary

23- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (Mark Twain) audiobook at library

24- Camelot — DVD at library

25- Across a Dark and Wild Sea (Don Brown) library

32- Beowulf (children’s version) library

38- Arabian Nights (Jim Weiss) audiobook at library

37- Son of Charlemagne (Barbara Willard) own

39- Beorn the Proud (Pollard) own

40- The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow (French) library

47- Grimm’s Fairy Tales — own on Kindle

52- Leif the Lucky (D’Aulaire) library

53- Macbeth: For Kids (Burdett) or in Lamb’s Book of Shakespeare — both at library

53- MacBeth- DVD of the play — library

53- Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare (Nesbitt) own on Kindle

55- Cathedral (David MacCauley) library

58- Paula the Waldensian (Lecomte, translated by W.M. Strong) own on Kindle

62- Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest (Ann McGovern) own

62- Robin Hood — movie versions

63- The Trumpeter of Krakow (Kelly) library

63- Men of Iron (Pyle) own on Kindle, audiobook at library

64- The Apple and the Arrow (Buff) library

66- Adam of the Road (Gray) own

71- Marco Polo for Kids (Herbert) library

71- Marco Polo (Kent) own

72- In Freedom’s Cause:  A Story of Wallace and Bruce (Henty) audiobook at library

78- The Beggar’s Bible (Vernon) own

78- Morning Star of the Reformation (Thomson) own

79- Chanticleer and the Fox (adapted by Barbara Cooney) library

81- Joan of Arc (Morpurgo) own

 

(contains affiliate links)

Filed Under: Homeschooling Time Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

CurrClick Freebies Olympic Fun

July 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

CurrClick

Have fun at CurrClick finding 12 freebies!

 

(contains affiliate links)

Filed Under: Homeschooling Time, Special Deal Tagged With: ,

Apologia Flying Creatures Lapbook

June 8, 2012 By 1 Comment

Now that we are finished with school, it’s time to share what we did this year!

Two of my kids (ages 8 and 10) enjoyed doing the lapbook materials which are included in the Apologia Zoology 1, Flying Creatures Notebooking Journal.  (My oldest, who doesn’t like lapbooks, did all the vocabulary crosswords which are included in it.)

Here are some pictures of their lapbooks!  (If you aren’t familiar with lapbooks, inside each of the flaps/booklets/etc. they have written and drawn pictures of what they learned.)

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Next year we are doing Zoology 2, Swimming Creatures and will be using the Notebooking Journals again.  They now have a Junior version, which will be great for my younger kids who don’t write as much.  I love these science books!

 

And I love Family Fun Magazine!

Sign up for a complimentary subscription to FamilyFun. Enjoy a 20 issue subscription. No strings attached. You’ll never receive a bill. FamilyFun is the magazine for parents with children ages three to twelve. Family Fun is an ideabook for all the exciting things families can do together!

Filed Under: Homeschooling Time, Lapbooks Tagged With: , , ,

Gardening and Plants–our new unit study

April 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The free lapbook at CurrClick this week “Lapbooking Through Plants” fits in perfectly with our new preschool/lower elementary unit study!
CurrClick

Another wonderful resource at CurrClick is the Hand of a Child project pack called “Get Ready To Garden.”

In addition to the lapbook, here are some other things we may do (depending on my energy level with these last 6 weeks of pregnancy!)

The Secret Garden by Burnett  I love listening to this in the car!  We’re going to start it this week.

Beatrix Potter books

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

Linnea in Monet’s Garden by Christina Bjork

My Pinterest Gardening board has some neat links about indoor and container gardening, while the Homeschooling-Botany board has a lot of fun activities.

Dole Garden Kit  Designed to teach kids how food goes from field to fork, the DOLE Garden Kit is packed with everything you need to start your own vegetable garden.  Included in the kit are 12 Peat Pots with Quick Soil Mix Pellets, 2 Trays, 10 Individual Seed Packets, 12 Row Markers and a Journal filled with gardening tips and recipes.

 

(contains affiliate links)

Filed Under: Gardening, Homeschooling Time, Lapbooks Tagged With: , , , ,

Homeschooling Curriculum 2011-2012

November 30, 2011 By 1 Comment

Well, better late than never, right!

Here is what we’re doing this year in our Homeschool.

For the younger kids I follow the Bluedorn’s guide found in the article “Ten Things to Do Before Age 10″ (full article here).

Ten things to do with Children before age 10
1. Reading & Writing Intensive Phonics; Copywork; start English Language Notebook
2. Oral Narration Daily
3. Memorization Bible; poetry; passages of literature; Greek and/or Hebrew alphabet
4. Hearing & Listening Read aloud 2 hours per day from a variety of fiction and nonfiction; start History Notebook; timeline
5. Family Worship Family Bible study morning and evening using grammar level questions
6. Arts & Crafts Provide the time, space, and materials; develop creativity
7. Field Trips & Library Start learning elementary library research; investigate the world
8. Work & Service Schedule for chores; visit nursing home, etc.
9. Discipline First-time obedience
10. Play & Exploration Develop the imagination

3-year-old daughter  Listens in on Bible reading, character studies (Character First!), participates in Scripture memory, listens to history and science readings, and does lapbooks that her older siblings do.  She will start with the preschool Handwriting Without Tears book in January.  She practices letter names and sounds with me.

 

5-year-old son and 6 year-old daughter  Listens to Bible reading, character studies (Character First!), participates in Scripture memory, listens to history and science readings, and does lapbooks for the monthly unit study.  Each does the Handwriting Without Tears book at the appropriate level.  For phonics, we use TATRAS (Teach America to Read and Spell), Bob Books,McGuffey readers, and Rod and Staff readers.  Swim lessons.  My daughter also does science and art at our co-op, BSF (Bible Study Fellowship), and Upward Basketball.

 

8-year-old daughter  Listens to Bible reading, character studies (Character First!), participates in Scripture memory, listens to history (Mystery of History Vol. 1 and Story of the World Vol. 1) and science (Apologia Zoology 1:  Flying Creatures) readings, and does lapbooks for the monthly unit study.  Science (Apologia Flying Creatures notebooking journal) and history (Homeschool in the Woods Old Testament and New Testament) lapbooks.   Copywork of the book of Acts.  Handwriting Without Tears cursive.  Rod and Staff readers for read-aloud practice.  Science and art at our co-op, BSF (Bible Study Fellowship), piano and violin lessons, Bible Bee and Upward Basketball.

 

9-year-old son  Listens to Bible reading, character studies (Character First!), participates in Scripture memory, listens to history (Mystery of History Vol. 1 and Story of the World Vol. 1) and science (Apologia Zoology 1:  Flying Creatures) readings.  Science (Apologia Flying Creatures notebooking journal) and history (Homeschool in the Woods Old Testament and New Testament) lapbooks.   Math (Math-U-See Delta and Epsilon).  Copywork of the book of Acts.  Logic Critical Thinking Co. Building Thinking Skills Level 2) and Latin (Latina Christiana book 1).  Science and art at our co-op, BSF (Bible Study Fellowship),  piano and violin lessons, Bible Bee, and Upward Basketball.

 

And my oldest son has moved into the next level of the Trivium.  (Actually, my 9-year-old son has already started a lot of this, too, but not grammar, composition, or interpretive reading.)


Ten Things to do from Ages 10-12

1. Family Worship

2. Literature and Reading Aloud
This will include memorization of poems and speeches and interpretive reading.

3. History
We’re starting at the beginning again this year, and will go through the time of Christ’s resurrection.  He will keep a history notebook with map work, notebooking, and copywork.

4. Composition
Copywork, dictation, narration, journaling, writing letters, writing stories and poems.

5. Spelling and English Grammar
We’ll use  Daily Grams (Phillips) for grammar. He’s a great speller, so I’m not planning on using anything specifically for spelling.  There is a lot of grammar in the Latin curriculum as well (Latina Christiana 1).

6. Latin and Greek
Latina Christiana 1 for Latin. No Greek studies at this time.

7. Early Logic
Building Thinking Skills, book 2.

8. Arithmetic
Delta and Epsilon from Math-u-See

9. Science
Zoology 1 (Flying Creatures), projects with our co-op.

10. Art and Music
Art (drawing) at our co-op. Violin lessons. Band (clarinet) at Christian school.

Other: Bible Study Fellowship (studying Acts and the Epistles), P.E. (including swimming and basketball), Bible Bee, Geography Bee

 

Here is a list of some of the read-alouds we are doing this year.  Some are historical fiction which go along with our Ancient History studies.  Others are read by my husband to the boys or by me to the girls at night before bed.

Adam and His Kin, Life in the Great Ice Age, Mara Daughter of the Nile, Hittite Warrior, God King, Victory on the Walls, Theras and His Town, Greek Myths, Famous Men of Greece, The Bronze Bow, Famous Men of Rome.  The Hobbit, Anne of Green Gables series, Summer (Fall/Winter/Spring) With the Moody’s, Poetry Anthology (one poem/day), Bartholomew’s Passage.

Monthly Unit Studies for the Younger Kids:  Hermit Crabs, Fall (pumpkins, apples, leaves), Beavers, Thanksgiving, Christmas (Jesse Tree), Dinosaurs, Arctic Animals, etc.

 

linked to

Filed Under: Homeschooling Time Tagged With: ,
«Older Posts