Homeschool Curriculum for 2010 – 2011 ~

This is our new school room.  Ok, ok, it’s really our homeschool area.  And if it looks like a mess…well, that’s because it is.  And this is only about one fourth of the mess.  :)  When I finish, I will share our new homeschool area because it is most definitely not ready to reveal just yet.  Actually, when Dave gets home tonight, he and I will be moving it around a bit more. 

However, I have finished the curriculum order (finally!).  I realize that if you are not a homeschooler this post will be a bit boring.  But we homeschool moms are known for talking about curriculum.  It’s kind of like pregnant moms talking about birth experiences  and moms of toddlers talk about potty training & pediatricians.  We moms always have our “mom topics”!

So without any more chit chat because this post will be long enough without all of that, here are our 2010 – 2011 school plans!

7th Grader ~

• Bible – Sonlight 3 + 4
• Literature – Sonlight American History readers, read alouds, and other selected books
• Math – Saxon 87
• Grammar/Writing – Saxon Grammar and Writing
  • Dailygrams
  • Institute for Excellence in Writing (have not ordered yet but am planning on it)
• Spelling – Spelling Power
• Science – Apologia Science – General Science
• Word Roots/Vocabulary – Vocabulary from Classical Roots
  • English from the Roots Up
• History/Geography – Sonlight 3 + 4 (American History)

5th Grader ~

• Bible – Sonlight 3 + 4, Bible Drill
• Literature/Reading – Sonlight American History Readers, Read alouds, and other selected books
• Math – Math U See
  • Teaching Textbooks 5 or Saxon 6/5 when finished with Math U See
• Grammar/Writing - Saxon Grammar and Writing
  • Dailygrams
  • Writing with Ease
• Spelling – All About Spelling
• Science – R.E.A.L. Science – Biology
  • Physics when finished with biology
• Handwriting – A Reason for Writing – Cursive
• History/Geography – Sonlight 3 + 4 (American History)

2nd Grader ~

• Bible – Sonlight 3 + 4, Bible Drill
• Literature/Reading – Learning more reading with An Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading
  • 2nd grade readers from Sonlight
  • Literature selections from Before Five in a Row with her little sister
  • Listen in on read alouds from Sonlight 3 + 4
• Math – Math U See
• Grammar/Writing – First Language Lessons
  • Writing with Ease
  • Dailygrams (I have an old copy of 2nd grade level.  I’m not sure they publish this anymore.)
• Spelling – All About Spelling
• Science – R.E.A.L. Science – Biology
  • Physics when finished with biology
• Handwriting – A Reason for Writing – Manuscript
  • She will begin cursive towards the end of the year.
• History/Geography – Sonlight 3 + 4  (She will mainly listen in on this and glean what she can.  I am more focused on reading, writing, and math at this age.)

4 year old preschool ~

See my plans at the bottom of this post.

Art and Music

We will study at least three composers and three artists this year but I haven’t gotten that planning done just yet. 

We incorporate drawing and painting into many lessons because my children got their dad’s artistic capabilities.  (Thankfully, they did not get mine!) Also, we are trying to fit in guitar lessons for the older boys and piano for our daughter this year.  And when I say fit in, I’m talking about the budget. ;)

Notes ~

This year I am doing something that I have never done before in our five years of homeschooling:  I am buying curriculum that is planned out for us.  :)  I love to pull together my own plans but last year it was a nightmare.  I spent hours and hours on Sunday nights planning.  And that led to burnout.  So this year, I’ve bought plans that are written and I’ll plug in bits here and there.  I’m hoping this will lighten my load a bit. 

I will be using Sonlight 3 + 4 for our main course work and plug in some of the other subjects.  I had the hardest time deciding between Sonlight and My Father’s World.  However, I have wanted to try Sonlight since we started homeschooling in 2005.  Dave and I finally decided to just go for it!  I am very excited about our new school year!