Thinking Curriculum

With us being snowed in I have had lots of time on my hands. What better time to start thinking about next year's curriculum?

Since this was our first year homeschooling, we have totalling winged it. What we have done has been very successful, but there are some changes I would like to make based on many factors.

Here is what I have tentatively planned for next year, so far:

Dawson ~ 9th Grade (next year)

Language Arts: Easy Grammer Ultimate Series 9
Science: Apologia Biology
Math: Life of Fred: Pre-Algebra with Economics and then Beginning Algebra
Social Studies: American History by using "America: The Story of Us" video series from The History Channel with Notebooking using Advanced History from Hold that Thought!
Literature: Every three weeks we will read a Living Book based on our history topic
Writing: IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing) U.S. History-Based Writing Lessons Volume 1
Art: The Usborne Art Treasury ~ study one artist per month
Personal Reading: Student's choice
Typing: Good Typing (continuation of lessons from this year)
Spanish: LiveMocha (continuation of lessons from this year)

** Does anybody have any bad experiences with any of these curriculum choices? **

Brynne ~ 2nd Grade (next year)

Language Arts: Easy Grammar Daily Grammar Teaching and Review for 2nd Grade
Science: Interest-based (self built curriculum) starting with The Human Body and Health using primarily Living Books
Math: Math Mammoth Light Blue Grade 2
Social Studies: Following Dawson's curriculum with self-built lessons using primarily Living Books starting with Jamestown, Early Settlers and Boston Tea Party and with Notebooking using Beginning History from Hold that Thought!
Literature: Each week we will read several Living Books based on our history topic
Writing: IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing) U.S. History-Based Writing Lessons Volume 1 and copywork with Copywork for Little Girls.
Art: The Usborne Art Treasury ~ study one artist per month
Personal Reading: Classic stories and student's choice
Nature: We will follow lessons from Barb at Handbook of Nature Study

And those are my preliminary plans for next year. I welcome any comments or recommendations. I am trying to stay as much on a Charlotte Mason path as possible, keeping in mind that my son needs to be prepared to re-enter public school at any time we might decide that it would be best for him to return. (I don't have any plans for that at this time, but I want to be prepared.)

Cells ~ It's What's for Dinner

Dawson made edible cells on Friday. He made an animal cell pizza ... and a plant cell chocolate chip cookie ... He reviewed what he's learned about cells the past two weeks, and I had dinner made by someone else. Win, win!! I am linking up at Science Sunday at Adventures in Mommydom.

A New Year, the Same Me

Happy 2019! It is that day of the year where everybody is up extra early starting their new exercise routine, eating only healthy foods, cracking open the pages of a new planner and Bible study, and debuting their Word for the year. You chuckle or roll your eyes, but you are doing at least three of these things. By the way, so am I. So let's start with the Word of the Year. Mine this year is Lagom. It's the Swedish word for "not too little, not too much, just right". It's a concept of being, doing or having just enough. So let's rewind to last New Year's Day. My Word was Might. And that's how I planned to tackle my year. And, I did. I worked out hard, I mommed hard, I traveled hard, I worked hard. And it was a good season. It prepared the way for this year. I accepted the Challenge I set for myself and succeeded. But, I don't need to keep up that pace. I am at a place in my life where I can kind of sit back and enjoy my life without f...

Science Sunday ~ Hmmm ... Let Me Think About It!

This week in our study of the Human Body , Brynne moved on to the Nervous System . Our first stop was a Pamela Hill Nettleton book called, Think, Think, Think: Learning About Your Brain . As part of our discussions about the brain , and the fact that it's the BOSS of the body, we discussed the importance of the spinal cord . We did a hands on spinal cord project by alternating gummy Life Savers and wagon wheel pasta on a pipe cleaner. We talked about why there was the "squishy" stuff in between the vertebra and how the back can bend and sway because of it. We completed "The Brynne" by adding the stomach, small intestine and large intestine, from our study last week of the Digestive System (although I just realized I have the large intestine coming out of the stomach, when the small intestine should be) and the brain and spinal cord. We are now done talking about the parts of the body and will conclude our study of the Human Body with a two-day unit ...

closedFebruary 6, 2011 at 12:41 PM
I think your off to a great start! I have also been snowed in and making my order list for next year(: I would suggest for math, math U see, it has great reviews...if you want to check out reviews for anything you have or are thinking about you should check out homeschoolreviews.com its great and has been very helpful! Blessings!!!
StandinginhislightFebruary 6, 2011 at 1:02 PM
Fabulous choices; stay w/ what is working for you all.
For the younger years, Math-U-See or Abeka arithmetic are good choices.
Keep on keep o;, you, dear mama, are doing fantastic!
~Sheri
Aloha AcresFebruary 6, 2011 at 5:16 PM
You probably already have a plan, but we love the history living books / study guide from Beautiful Feet. (www.bfbooks.com). You can purchase the study guide and get the books from your local library. Brad and I have used it for two years in a row and it's been great.

I know, I know .... you asked about "math", not "history". I get side-tracked easily. :)

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