Curriculum Choices 2016 - 2017

Oh my, we start school in one week!  Today I was going through everything to make sure we're ready.  This is such a stressful week for me.  We're still waiting for one last set to arrive and I don't know if it will get here in time!  I've had a good time planning this summer though, and I have some new things we're trying.

History, Literature, Science, Geography, Music, Art

The Family School Year 4

This is the one we're still waiting on.  The joys of being on the newest year of a brand new curriculum!  I have access to the online version so it's all good!

We love this curriculum though.  The whole family can learn together, then the assignments are done according to age group.

Piano: Hoffman Academy All 4 of my children use this now!  They love it and are doing quite well with it.  Their new program, Hoffman Academy 2.0 is supposed to be available in September and we're excited to try it out.  One of my children will have a Lifetime Subscription to the new version!

Typing: The older three will use typing.com to learn keyboard skills.

Fact Practice: In addition to what their math curriculum supplies, we use XtraMath.  The app is so easy to use and really helps kids practice math facts quickly.  My oldest doesn't really need it anymore, but she is working on the division in under 2 seconds program right now.  She wants ALL the certificates!

I had a great idea this summer to help the three children who will be using IEW writing.  We use the Mini Posters frequently, and with three kids one set wouldn't work.  (These are available with Teaching Writing: Structure and Style Premium Subscription or to purchase on the website.)  I printed a set of Mini Posters for each child and spiral bound them.  Some kids decorated the cover, some just put stickers to make a title.

8th grade Curriculum

Spelling:  We started using Phonetic Zoo sometime last year and will continue using it.  It has been a great method for my older kids.  I especially love their Personal Spelling Victories every 5 lessons.

Grammar:  We're halfway through Fix-It! Grammar book 2 and will begin book 3 after that.  See our post about it here.

Writing:  She started IEW writing about 2 months into the school year last year.  We're going to do it again, but we're using IEW's U.S. History-Based set this year.

Math: Saxon Algebra 1/2 with Art Reed's DVDs.  We stick with what works around here!

Electives:  These will come from The Family School courses.  She's picking two or three to work through.

6th grade Curriculum

Spelling:  He's using Phonetic Zoo too.  He is almost finished with Words Their Way: Derivational Relations book so he'll finish that as well.

Grammar:  We're halfway through Fix-It! Grammar book 2 and will begin book 3 after that.  See our post about it here.

Writing:  He did GREAT with IEW writing last year.  It helped improve his writing and attitude about writing.  We're going to do it again, but we're using IEW's U.S. History-Based set this year.

Copywork:  He will use pages from Homeschool Copywork and various other websites, or our reading and Family School lessons.

Math: Saxon Algebra 6/5 with Art Reed's DVDs.  We stick with what works around here!

The Checkbook Project: This is a fun way for kids to learn to budget and use a checkbook and bank account.  I can't find the version we use online anymore, but this one looks similar.

Logic: He'll be using Mind Benders and Building Thinking Skills.

3rd grade Curriculum

Spelling: We're going to finish All About Spelling Level 3 then move on to 4.

Writing: She's going to start Writing With Ease Level 3.  She'll also be doing IEW Writing using the source texts that come with Teaching Writing: Structure and Style, and the Writing Resource Packet included with TWSS.  I feel like doing these two together will continue practice with dictation and narration and give a gentle introduction to IEW.

Copywork: She will use pages from Homeschool Copywork and various other websites, or our reading and Family School lessons.

Math: She's already finished with Saxon 3!  We're going to do Saxon Intermediate 3 this year because I don't want to push her into 4th grade work yet.

Reading: We're working on more Memoria Press Literature Guides.  She wants to start with A Bear Called Paddington.

Kindergarten

This will be the last time I do Kindergarten work!

Math: She's going to start Saxon K.  She'll begin Saxon 1 when she finishes K.  I discovered that it's much easier for kids to keep their papers together if I spiral bind the Meeting Book with a folder page in the back for loose shapes and papers we need to reuse!

Copywork:  For starters, she will copy short sentences from her reading curriculum.  Eventually she will use pages from the same places the older kids do.

Reading: She's already using All About Reading Level 1.  When she finishes that we'll move on to Level 2.

Penmanship: She's working on Fundanoodle I Can Print Lower Case right now.  She wants so badly to write cursive, so when she's almost finished with this book I will consider if the time is right to start Cursive Logic.