Our 2010-2011 Curriculum Choices

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Well, the final decisions have been made and I am in complete planning mode. Here is what we have in the works for our 2010-2011 curriculum:

Spelling: KJ will be using Spell to Write and Read Core Kit. We started it last year and once I dove in head first, it worked really well! There was a bit of a learning curve (for me) when we first started it, but things have been going great! I just love the way it approaches reading and spelling because it is a complete phonics based program. This is not the way that I learned to read as a child, but as an adult I have learned SOOO much since starting it! 

Grammar: This is actually incorporated with the lessons in SWR. However, this year I will also be using the My Wise Guide Grammar Books to go along with it. (Since I will have three kids in SWR this year, I figured it would save me some time having the pages pre-formatted for me.)

Reading: SWR covers this as well, but for reading comprehension we will use McCall Crabs: Standard Test Lessons in Reading. I am really excited to use this, because it addresses an issue that I had growing up. You remember the tests where you have to read a paragraph and then answer questions about what you read? Well, I ALWAYS had to look back in the paragraph to “check” my answers. McCall Crabs provides lots of practice so that you learn to retain what you read.

We will also be spending lots of time at the library so that KJ can pick out tons of books to read. For read-alouds, we will be using the books that are part of our Adventures in My Father’s World curriculum. I plan to add to this list of books, but I haven’t quite decided what exactly we will be adding yet. 

Math: We will continue to use Singapore Math (Primary Mathematics Std Ed) We will finish up 1A/B and moving on to 2A/B. As a former math teacher, I am really enjoying Singapore Math. I think it really encourages mathematical thinking. Plus I will continue to integrate living math books from The Living Math Book List.

Science: Some of our topics will be on stars, weather, plants, animals, energy, gravity, friction, sound, computers, and magnets. We will be using materials from Adventures in My Father’s World curriculum:

• First Encyclopedia of Science
• Science with Air
• Science in the Kitchen
• Birds, Nests, and Eggs
• My First Magnet Kit

History/Geography: The focus will be U.S. History and Geography. Along with our lessons from Adventures in My Father’s World curriculum, I plan to use the Liberty Lapbook. {Be sure to enter my giveaway to win one of these 130+ page resources for yourself!} Some of the other books we will be using are:

• American Pioneers and Patriots
• North American Indians
• Red, White, and Blue
• The Thanksgiving Story
• The Fourth of July Story
• plus some read-alouds (all from Adventures in My Father’s World curriculum)

Art: This year KJ will use I Can Do All Things. I love that she will have her own art “portfolio” of sorts when she is all done!

 

Music: KJ will start up her piano lessons again and we will be incorporating music from Tchaikovsky and the Nutcracker. We will be using:

• The Story of Tchaikovsky in Words and Music
• Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker Highlights
• The Nutcracker Ballet (all from Adventures in My Father’s World curriculum)

Typing: KJ currently only uses the computer for a few things. Since I am planning to incorporate a tiny bit more “screen time” for her, I figured she should learn proper typing technique. So, she will be starting up with Typing Instructor.

Spelling/Reading: My 5 year olds We will be using My Father’s World from A to Z. Although it is a complete kindergarten curriculum, I do not use all of it. I love the hands-on aspect of it, the use of picture books, and the fun art and science activities. However, I omit their ENTIRE reading program and I use Spell to Write and Read instead.

Math: While I do do some of the the suggested math activities in My Father’s World from A to Z, I plan to start the big boys will start out with Singapore Essentials like I did with my daughter. It is very similar to Singapore Earlybird Kindergarten, but alot less expensive. I will also be integrating living math books from The Living Math Book List.

Science: Science in integrated into My Father’s World from A to Z. Some of our fun activities will include a Butterfly Garden, an Ant Hill, and learning about What Really Happened to the Dinosaurs.   

Handwriting: KJ learned to write in cursive VERY quickly and I am hoping that the boys will be just as successful. I plan to use Cursive First, but if it proves to be too much, I will back off and wait until 1st grade.

 

For now my plan is to use bits and pieces from the following to come up with something for my 3 year olds.

• Itty Bitty Bookworm (Bo & Bailey)
• Hands on Homeschooling (Year 3)
• Letter of the Week from Confessions of a Homeschooler
• Tot Books/Packs & Raising Rock Stars from 1+1+1=1

 

Bible: Although Bible is integrated in both Adventures in My Father’s World curriculum and My Father’s World from A to Z, I do not rely simply on them for our Bible lessons. In the past I have pulled from various different resources to make sure my kiddos are learning what we believe they need to know. I will continue to do that. However, I will also be using Polished Cornerstones and Plants Grow Up. I am REALLY excited about using these! I have wanted to get them for awhile and I finally broke down and made the purchase!! So glad I did!!

 

African American History: Much like my “Brown Like Me” Book Review, I want my kids to not only read books with characters that look like them, but I also want them to have a sense of their history. So, I plan to come up with lessons for them based on famous African Americans in history. And, yes, I do plan to post the lessons in case you want to use them as well!  🙂

Spanish: I so wanted to go with Rosetta Stone, but I fear that it may be a bit too much for my kiddos right now. So, after MUCH searching and researching, I am super excited to try out La Clase Divertida. It incorporates lots of hands-on activities along with the Spanish lessons Plus, we will be watching lots of little Spanish videos from the library!

Life Skills: I am excited about this one too! I am planning to use Keepers at Home and Little Contenders for the Faith. I have had the books for awhile now…just haven’t used them yet. Well, that I all about to change! Yeah!!! I even may start our own little Keepers Club! Who knows!!!

PE: Believe or not, I am really bad in this area. I used to be a collegiate athlete, but I am just no longer interested in running around and doing PE type stuff…at all! But, I found The Ultimate Homeschool Physical Education Game Book at the library and I am hoping it will kick start the kids {I mean me} into doing some sort of organized PE activities. 

 

Nature Walks: I hope to be alot better about this one too! The plan is to take weekly nature walks (weather permitting) and document/illustrate our findings. I will be sharing my printable for this too!

Crafts: Well, if you have been following my blog for any time, you probably know that we love to do crafts. I will continue to share what we come up with!

Wow, I am tired just from typing all that out. I really have quite a bit on my plate, huh!?!?!? 🙂 We will see how it all goes. But for now, these are our 2010-2011 curriculum plans!

Be sure to head over to to Heart of the Matter to join in on the fun! Next week is School Room Week, which means I will now have some motivation to get our classroom all straightened up so that I can share some presentable photos!  🙂

Jenn