2013-2014 School Year

We do school year around. Some things change at the start of the calendar year, somethings change with the school year, some things are continuous and don't really "stop and start"

We do Charlotte Mason Style homeschooling.... we try to do most things together as a family, with the exception, of math, and language arts.

Our Theme program we are doing this year is Early American History 1500-1860
The program I am using is Winter Promise American Story 1 - I bought this set used on ebay. We read  books and do different activities, movies, project etc under whatever time in history we are learning about, the boys are also working on a time line book with activity pages with in the book. Bellow is a picture of some of the books in the program. We started this in Jan 2013 and we are all really enjoying it. I was a little nervous about doing history all year, I thought I might get board, or the kids would. But we have all really enjoyed it, and I have learned all sorts of things I never knew.

 For Language Arts we are doing a combination of a different things. For Ryan who is in Kindergarten this year we are using the Delightful reading kit. I have adapted it a little, and we are both really enjoying it. I am also using these word wheels, and phonics letters, and other file folder games to make things fun.

 The older boys Both Ethan and Aaron are reading fully independently, and we do review the phonics rules, when we do vocabulary, and sometimes spelling. Ethan is doing Intermediate Language Lessons and Aaron is going a Mix of The First Language Lessons, (which I like- but it is very classical style but there are some things I love about it) and also some from Primary Language Lessons.  I also got the book Story Starters for creative writing, but we have not used it yet, there is enough in there Language lessons, but Ethan really loves writing so I wanted more options for him. There are a couple other books on that shelf, a Parents Guide to Teaching reading, and Spelling Teachers lessons, I use these for reference and helps/aids but not a main curriculum program. (all these are on the top shelf in this pic) The bottom self is are bunch of easy readers and the Now I am reading books which I used when Aaron was learning to read, and Ryan is loving them too.

 Math we use Math U See, I love this simple and easy to use program. I also add hands on games and activities to help practice the topics they are learning about. you can see the DVD in the above pic. My kids Love getting "a math movie" watching their teacher on the TV teaching them math.

 Science- in the past I have gotten literature based science kits, and we have enjoyed them, but when I was looking this year I could not really find much that I loved. Everything I found I felt was either the same as we did last year, or to advanced for all the kid, and I did not want to spit them up and create more work. So I am taking a leap of faith on science this year. I am letting the boys plan it. I have collected a bunch of science books, magic school bus books, nature books, the One small square books from our curriculum last year (great books) and more. I told the boys that they are to look through these books and pick out things to read, and projects to do. They are totally excited about it. They will each take turns "teaching science" I am sure it will be completely random, but I am excited for the "searching skills, planning skills, teaching skills, and more that the will develop. Plus I want to give opportunities for them to become self learners, and find answers. I am not going to be there their whole lives to spoon feed them info, and things to do. I am not going to do this for ever but for the next year for sure.

 Art  I LOVE art, the program we are doing this year is Artistic Pursuits, this program is soooo wonderful, I will be using it again, and again. It would work for many grade levels. There three books (grade K-3 but really any grade) and I got them all. LOVE them! I also have baskets of just different art books that I have picked up here and there, about different artist. I want to study them more, when we are learning about that time period but for now I just keep them here for them to look at, on there own. (some examples are picture above)

 More Language Arts  My boys LOVE LOVE LOVE reading, and both Ethan and Aaron are doing this program Drawing into the heart of reading. It teaching the basic reading genre's, and other things about reading, moods, character developments, Biblical charteristics, and more. My boys beg to do this program. Also they give book suggestions but you can you any books. There is a work book too (not pictured) - also I did ask the company and you can make copied of the work books for your own kids, with in your family- love that! Grammar  - I hate grammar! I think it is soooo boring! last year I did first Language lessons level 3 and it was soooo painful! I found Winston Grammar and I LOVE IT! the boys get grammar in their Language lessons. I have been using this for Ethan, and I have been loving it. It has easy, quick, and visual lessons. Both boys read these books to go along with there lessons. They are called Grammar Tales, and they love them. Writing They really have writing in their Language lessons and I do not feel they "need more" but Ethan really likes it, and Aaron needs the handwriting practice so it is a win win! We are doing this Writing strands book, am liking it ok, we have only done a few lessons, They have been fun activities, that creating writing ideas.

Spelling For spelling I do dictation, using the book Modern speller, (free on line just google it) I have also used Spelling Wisdom, but it was a little advanced so we switched to Modern speller. BUT I will go back to Spelling Wisdom in the Future, Ethan really like it, you learned good quotes from people like Ben Franklin, and others. I just felt it was giving some really hard works to fast.

Other things we do:

Preschool-  I do not do a "preschool" curriculum, I am more about hands on learning, activities, exposer to words, and books and learning through play at this stage. You can always "click" preschool to see some of the things I have done in the past. I do let my kids watch the "your baby can read" Dvds, books cards etc but I do not "do the program"

Habit Training- more to come on that, but each month we focus on a habit to develop, and have lessons and activities to go along with it.

Geography- some US is in our Themed program from Winter Promise, I know this will be covered more when they are older in other themed programs right now I just have a bunch of books (pictured next to the art basket) that they read and learn on their own.

Sign Language-  We are still doing the Signing Time movies, and them I am teaching them some basic lessons as well.