2016-2017 Homeschool Curriculum Choices for Preschool Thru High School

Today is August 1. How is your homeschool planning coming along? We plan to start school at the end of the month, and I still have a few things to order and A LOT of organization to do! But, I’m happy to say that most decisions about curriculum have been made and am glad to share our 2016-2017 Homeschool Curriculum Choices with you today.

One huge change this year is that my oldest will be attending public high school. He is a sophomore, and we’re praying it’s a good experience for him. He (like all of my kids) has always been homeschooled. My second son is a freshman, and I’m glad I still get to homeschool him. Homeschooling high school is great!

Our Homeschool Curriculum:

Many of the links below are affiliate links.

 J (9th grade):

(See more details at my post on Preparing to Homeschool Ninth Grade- Our Curriculum Choices.)

• Math:  Teaching Textbooks Geometry
• Science: Apologia Exploring Creation with Chemistry, labs with College Prep Science
• History: Tapestry of Grace Year 2 (300 A.D.- 1799) history, including discussion time at Fellowship Group
• Literature: Tapestry of Grace Year 2 literature (Medieval, Renaissance, through 1799), including discussion time at Fellowship Group
• Writing, Grammar, Vocabulary: IEW-The Institute for Excellence in Writing Student Intensive C,  Tapestry of Grace assignments associated with history and literature, Greek Morphemes for vocabulary, IXL Grammar
• German: Middlebury Interactive Languages high school level 1
• Bible: Philippians in 28 Weeks from Homeschool Adventure Co.
• Government: Choosing from: TeenPact, Mother, Should I Trust the Government, For You They Signed by Marilyn Boyer, A Journey in Liberty by Knowledge Quest, and We the People: Getting to Know Your Constitution by Homeschool Legacy. [Update: We didn’t use these, but he used Notgrass government during the 2017-2018 schoolyear.]
• Economics: Simply Put: A Study of Economics by Catherine Jaime [Update: He hasn’t done this yet. We might use Notgrass instead.]
• Public Speaking (speech and leadership): Institute for Cultural Communicators
• Music:  private piano lessons and theory
• Theater: working backstage during musicals with Spotlight Youth Theater, Scenes in Shakespeare at homeschool co-op
• Physical Education: Family Time Fitness’s Homeschool High School program, cross country in fall and track in spring with Home Run Kids, tennis and more at homeschool co-op
• Health: Family Time Fitness’s Homeschool High School program (in summer) [He didn’t do this yet.]
• Volunteer: drums for worship team at church and youth group), graphics at church
• Financial Literacy: Dave Ramsey at homeschool co-op
• Engineering Class at homeschool co-op
• First Lego League Robotics competition

M (7th grade):

• Math: Teaching Textbooks finish Math 7 and start Pre-Algebra, IXL
• Science: Bright Ideas Press Christian Kids Explore Creation Science. [Update: She started this but found it too easy, so she switched to Apologia General Science for the rest of the year.]
• History: Tapestry of Grace Year 2 history
• Literature: Tapestry of Grace Year 2 literature
• Writing and Grammar: IEW-Institute for the Excellence in Writing Student Intensive B, IXL Grammar
• Spelling: IEW Phonetic Zoo Spelling Level B
• Public Speaking: Institute for Cultural Communicators Class
• Art: See the Light art
• Music:  Private violin lessons, Private piano lessons and theory, Music Appreciation at homeschool co-op (Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical–taught by me. Look for this new curriculum to be available in 2017!)
• Theater: Classes and Musicals through Spotlight Youth Theater, Scenes with Shakespeare at homeschool co-op
• P.E.: at homeschool co-op

R (5th grade):

• Math:  Math-U-See Gamma and Delta, IXL
• Science: Apologia Exploring Creation with Zoology 1 and Zoology 2, science activities at co-op
• History: Tapestry of Grace Ancient History
• Literature: Tapestry of Grace Year 2
• Grammar and Writing: Choosing from IEW Bible Heroes, Grammar Galaxy (with workbook), and WriteShop Level D
• Reading and Spelling: All About Reading Level 4 and All About Spelling Levels 3-5
• Handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears and copywork
• Bible: Chosen from Not Consumed, Homeschool in the Woods (New Testament lapbook), and Grapevine Studies
• Art: See the Light art
• Public Speaking: Institute for Cultural Communicators Class
• Music: Private piano lessons
• Theater: Classes and Musicals through Spotlight Youth Theater, Scenes with Shakespeare at homeschool co-op
• P.E.: at homeschool co-op
• Tennis: at homeschool co-op

T (4rd grade):

• Math: Math-U-See Delta and IXL
• Science: Apologia Exploring Creation with Zoology 1 and Zoology 2, and science activities at homeschool co-op
• History: Tapestry of Grace Year 2 history
• Literature: Tapestry of Grace Year 2 literature
• Grammar and Writing: Choose from IEW Bible Heroes, Grammar Galaxy (with workbook), and WriteShop Level D
• Spelling: Spelling You See
• Handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears and copywork
• Bible: Chosen from Not Consumed, Homeschool in the Woods (New Testament lapbook), and Grapevine Studies
• Computer Programming: KidCoder from Homeschool Programming
• Art: See the Light art
• Public Speaking: Institute for Cultural Communicators Class
• Music: Private violin lessons, Private piano lessons, music activities at homeschool co-op
• Theater: Classes and Musicals through Spotlight Youth Theater
• P.E.: at homeschool co-op
• Engineering Class at homeschool co-op
• First Lego League Robotics competition

L (3rd grade):

• Math: Math-U-See Beta and IXL
• Science: Apologia Exploring Creation with Zoology 1 and Zoology 2, and science activities at homeschool co-op
• History: Tapestry of Grace Year 2 history
• Literature: Tapestry of Grace Year 2 literature
• Grammar and Writing: Choose from IEW Bible Heroes, Grammar Galaxy (with workbook), and WriteShop Level D
• Spelling: Spelling You See
• Handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears and copywork
• Bible: Chosen from Not Consumed, Homeschool in the Woods (New Testament lapbook), and Grapevine Studies
• Art: See the Light art
• Public Speaking: Institute for Cultural Communicators Class
• Music: Private violin lessons and private piano lessons, music activities at homeschool co-op
• Theater: Classes through Spotlight Youth Theater
• P.E.: at homeschool co-op

I (1st Grade): 

• Phonics: Alpha-Phonics: A Primer For Beginning Readers
  
• Science:Apologia General ScienceExploring Creation with Zoology 1 and Zoology 2, and science activities at homeschool co-op
• History: Tapestry of Grace Year 2 history
• Literature: Tapestry of Grace Year 2 literature
• Handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears
• Writing: Writeshop Level A
• Bible: Chosen from Not Consumed, Homeschool in the Woods (New Testament lapbook), and Grapevine Studies
• Art: See the Light art DVDs
• Math: IXL
• P.E.: at homeschool co-op
• Music: violin lessons, music activities at homeschool co-op

E (4 years/ Preschool):

• READ from Crafty Classroom
• Preschool class at homeschool co-op
• Phonics: Alpha-Phonics: A Primer For Beginning Readers
• Music: Early childhood music and movement class at our Tapestry of Grace homeschool co-op
• Listening in on read-alouds (history, science)
• Various printables I have already in my computer, like those from my Premium Membership at Meet Penny

Other Activities for various kids throughout the year:

• Swim Lessons E, I, L, and T
• Basketball for J
• Worldview Academy for J
• Speech tournaments for M and J
• Piano recitals J, M, R, T, and L
• Piano competition, festival, and theory exam for J and M
• Violin recital for M, T, L, and I
• Geography Bee for T, M, and J

Our Homeschool Schedule:

• 6:00 Mom gets up, Quiet Time, shower, exercise
• 7:15 Kids up, get ready, eat breakfast, morning chores
• 8:00-9:00 Kids start individual work and instrument practice
• 9:00-10:00 Couch Time for elementary and preschool kids (Choose from: Bible, Literature, Memory Work, History, Science, Spanish, ICC practice speeches, music/hymn study. Not every subject every day!)
• 10:00-11:30 Reading and Spelling lessons with R (has dyslexia and needs extra one-on-one time) and phonics lessons with I and E
• 11:30-12:30 Lunch Break and lunch chores (Mom does emails, phone calls, bills)
• 12:30-1:30 Help kids with individual work
• 1:30-4:30 Mom’s computer work time (blogging, product creation). Older kids continue school-work until finished.
• 4:30-5:30 Afternoon chores and dinner prep
• 5:30 Dinner and dinner chores

Changes to schedule:

• Tuesday: Piano from 1-2:30, Spotlight Youth Theater at 4:45 for winter and spring
• Wednesday: Tapestry co-op from 9:30-12:30, Afternoon co-op from 12:30-2:30
• Thursday: Violin lessons from 9:30-12, ICC every other week 1:00-3:00, Spotlight Youth Theater at 4:45 for fall
• Friday: Piano from 1:00-2:30

Looking for Music Appreciation Curriculum? Take a look at 15-Minute Music Lessons for Elementary Students and 20th Century Music Appreciation for High School.

The awesome Science Giveaway!

Has ended, but take a look at the neat science materials we gave away:

• Microscope with Camera Attachment: OMAX 40X-2500X Lab Binocular Compound LED Microscope with Double Layer Mechanical Stage and Digital Camera $239

• Exploring Creation with Biology (high school) from Apologia Educational Ministries Superset (contains 2nd Ed. Textbook, Test & Solutions Manual, Student Notebook, MP3 Audio CD, and Instructional DVD)  
• The Deluxe Adventure Pack with 10 Unit Studies from Adventure Homeschool. Combine Exciting Curriculum with Adventure Gear to Instill a Lifelong Love of Learning and a Passion for Discovery! The Adventure Pack – Hands on Learning Kit comes with binoculars, magnifying glass, fossil kit, shell kit, owl pellet king & much more. It includes 10 complete weekly Unit Studies for the family. 
• “I Believe in Homeschooling” tote from Apologia.
• Apologia Elementary Science sets (Zoology, Astronomy, Botany, Human Anatomy, Chemistry/Physics). Sets include textbook, notebooking journals, and audio MP3.