As our new homeschool year is quickly approaching I have been taking time to pray and discern about what curriculum choices will work best for our family in the upcoming year. When we started homeschooling a few years ago I liked having a boxed curriculum to teach ME what to do. Now, as I continue to teach our children I am learning to be more flexible with creating our own curriculum to best fit our lives and our children's learning styles. Beyond this I am learning to step outside of the "grade level box" and learning to look at each individual child is, assess what learning level they are at, what their interests are and go from there! The following is what we have chosen to use as curriculum for this next year. While it kind of looks like a lot all together, many things are only once a week or even once a month. Some things take only 5-15 minutes per day and no one thing takes more than about 20 - 30 minutes per day.
Also, when I first started homeschooling I would see what someone else was using and think, "Oh, no! They picked X, Y, or Z!" Maybe I should switch what we are using for math!" Although it can be very helpful to see what other people are using for curriculum and learn about possible new resources I have also learned to trust in what you determine is best for your family! Many prayers for everyone as the next year is getting ready to begin!
Also, when I first started homeschooling I would see what someone else was using and think, "Oh, no! They picked X, Y, or Z!" Maybe I should switch what we are using for math!" Although it can be very helpful to see what other people are using for curriculum and learn about possible new resources I have also learned to trust in what you determine is best for your family! Many prayers for everyone as the next year is getting ready to begin!
Stay tuned for my schedule and how we plan on breaking out what we do each day and when!
Morning Basket (with Everyone):
- Reciting the Morning Offering Prayer
- Saint of the Day & Once Upon a Time Saints / Around the Year Once Upon a Time Saints
- Poetry Memorization from The Harp and Laurel Wreath
- Days of the Week/Months of the Year/Season/Weather
- Reading from our current novel or read alouds
Ryan (6 1/2 years old) 1st/ 2nd Grade
Mathematics:
- Mathematics 2 for Young Catholics (Seton) - 4 days per week
- Life of Fred Edgewood and Farming - Summer Math
Religion (Including Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion):
- Life and Faith 2 Text & Activity Book (CHC) - 5 days per week
- Preparing to Receive Jesus: A Hands on Religion Resource - Once a Week
- St Joseph First Communion Catechism - With Morning Basket
- A Little Book about Confession for Children - November and April before Receiving Sacraments
- Catholic Mosaic Booklist and Activities - Ongoing
English / Phonics:
- English 2 for Young Catholics (Seton) - 4 days per week
- Phonics 2 for Young Catholics (Seton) - 4 days per week
Reading:
- StoryTime Treasures (Memoria Press) - September - December Once a Week
- More StoryTime Treasures (Memoria Press) January - April Once a Week
- Faith and Freedom Readers - These are Our Neighbors, This is Our Parish, A Book of Sanctity (Seton)
- American Cardinal Reader Book 2 (Tan) - Finished Summer 2016
- Devotional Stories for Little Folks (CHC) - Bedtime Story Reading
- Devotional Stories for Little Folks, Too (CHC)
Geography:
- Maps, Charts and Graphs: Level C, Communities (Seton) - Once a Week
Handwriting:
- New American Cursive 1 & 2 (Memoria Press)
- All About Spelling 1 & 2 - 2 -3 days per week
Science:
- Exploring Creation with Astronomy (Apologia) - Twice a Week
History:
- The Story of Civilization (Tan) - Student Textbook/ Workbook, Timeline and Audio CD's - Once a Week
Latin:
- Song School Latin - Once a Week
Art/Music/Enrichment:
- Art 2 ( Seton) - Once A Week
- First Grade Enrichment (Memoria Press) - Two Days a Week
- Art Cards (Memoria Press) - Once A Week
- Art Masterpieces, A Liturgical Collection (CHC) - Once a Month
- Making Music, Praying Twice - Listen to in the Car, Formally Study 2 times per month
- Piano Lessons - One a Week
Physical Education
- Soccer with Parish School
- Tae Kwon Do - Once a Week
Connor (5 years old) Kindergarten/1st Grade
Mathematics
- Mathematics for Young Catholics 1 (Seton) - 4 days per week
- Life of Fred Cats and Dogs - Summer
- Religion 1 for Young Catholics (Seton) - 4 days per week
- Catholic Mosaic Booklist and Lessons - Ongoing
- Catechesis of the Good Shepard - Once a Week
- English 1 for Young Catholics (Seton) - 4 days per week
- Phonics 1 for Young Catholics - Part 1 and Part 2 (Seton) - 5 days per week
Reading:
- Finishing Little Stories for Little Folks (Has done Levels 1-3; completing Level 4) (CHC)
- Faith and Freedom Readers - This is Our Family, These Are Our Friends (Seton)
- What Do You Like to Do - and What Can You Do Easy Reader (CHC)
- American Cardinal Reader Pre-Primer and Book 1 (Tan) - Finished Summer 2016
- StoryTime Treasures (Memoria Press) - September - December Once a Week
- More StoryTime Treasures (Memoria Press) - January - April Once a Week
Geography:
- Maps, Charts and Graphs A & B (Seton) - Once a Week
- WITH HIS OLDER BROTHER (Casually) -
We have learned that Connor is advanced for his age and thrives with structure and activity. We will let him follow along with our oldest son as much as he wants to with the following activities. If he does not want to, that is fine too at this age!
Handwriting:We have learned that Connor is advanced for his age and thrives with structure and activity. We will let him follow along with our oldest son as much as he wants to with the following activities. If he does not want to, that is fine too at this age!
- New American Cursive 1 & 2 (Memoria Press)
Science:
- Exploring Creation with Astronomy (Apologia) - Twice a Week
History:
- The Story of Civilization (Tan) - Student Textbook/ Workbook, Timeline and Audio CD's - Once a Week
Latin:
- Song School Latin - Once A Week
Art/Music/Enrichment:
- Art 2 (Seton) - Once a Week
- First Grade Enrichment (Memoria Press) - Twice a Week
- Art Cards (Memoria Press) - Twice a Week
- Art Masterpieces, A Liturgical Collection (CHC) - Once a Month
- Making Music, Praying Twice - Listen to In the Car, Formally Study 2 times per Month
- Piano Lessons - Once a Week
Physical Education
- Soccer with Parish School
- Tae Kwon Do - Once a Week
Luke (3 years old) - Pre School
Luke already knows his numbers up to 50, all of his letters/letter sounds, shapes, colors, etc. I think it is a perk of homeschooling families that he is around his older brothers when I am teaching them and hearing what they are learning throughout the day. Because of this it has been very easy for him to learn his basic skills. We will use these books to review and solidify learning for him this year.
The biggest thing that we are going to work on this year is having fun and life skills (sharing, being kind, proper social skills, manners, etc). I know if we can improve behavior, listening, respect, etc that the rest of the homeschooling years will go much more smoothly!
Luke already knows his numbers up to 50, all of his letters/letter sounds, shapes, colors, etc. I think it is a perk of homeschooling families that he is around his older brothers when I am teaching them and hearing what they are learning throughout the day. Because of this it has been very easy for him to learn his basic skills. We will use these books to review and solidify learning for him this year.
The biggest thing that we are going to work on this year is having fun and life skills (sharing, being kind, proper social skills, manners, etc). I know if we can improve behavior, listening, respect, etc that the rest of the homeschooling years will go much more smoothly!
Mathematics:
Religion
- Catechesis of the Good Shepard - Once a Week
- Catholic Mosaic Booklist and Activities
- Who Am I? (CHC)
English/ Phonics
- I Can Find Letter Sounds (CHC)
Reading
- Before Five in a Row Booklist and Activities
Art/Music
Peter (Baby) - Tot School
Reading Stories, Cuddling, Playtime and hopefully taking a nap once a day for us to have some time to focus on more structured lesson time!
See what we have done in the years past at our
