Homeschool Curriculum 2015-2016

So, I really enjoy hearing how others teach their children at home and what all they use. (So if you don't homschool/have no interest in homeschooling-probably wanna skip this post!) I think we can learn a lot from each other, instead of thinking we have to stay stuck in a rut of one thing. And I am someone who has to see other ideas to figure out what I should do. I can't just pluck things out of my own brain to use to teach my kids. Which makes sense since I didn't study to be a teacher! And some teachers spend years and years getting ready just to teach!

Okay, so first of all, I'll start off by listing what curriculum I am using for each of the kids for each subject. I am not totally happy with everything we have this year, homeschooling seems to be a lot of trial and error for me, figuring out what works for me, what works for the kids, etc... but I mostly noted what i don't like for now.

(I will do another post on how I organize each weeks lessons and our "schedule", motivational ideas, etc.)

Okay, so this year:

Zethan, 1st Grade:
We are doing Sonlight Level 1 for his Language Arts, which includes: Spelling, Phonics, Reading, Writing

Then supplementing phonics with Explode the Code, Level 1-3. (Which is what Sonlight recommends if you do want to supplement) These are worksheets and then the teacher's manual has activity/game suggestions for practicing sounds. 

He also has some ipad apps that help review sounds/words/reading.

Math: Math-U-See, Alpha

Handwriting: A Reason for Handwriting, Level A






Science: Elemental Science for the Grammar Stage. Earth Science and Astronomy. This I can use for all 3 of my kids that are in school! Love that!











History: We should be using the Sonlight Core A that I got to use but found that using 3 different cores of Sonlight was just way too much for my style. So we actually dropped the history that I bought for Zethan (and Titus) and are more or less just doing unit studies with them. I feel like they are learning a lot more and then I can kind of coordinate the History that Lillie is doing, with the boys also. I should mention that I really really liked the idea of Sonlight with all the great books and everything working together, but unfortunately it just did not work well with 3 grade levels and having a 3 year old and a newborn in the house!

I also try to get in at least 30 minutes of reading out loud to Zethan from a book or books of his choice!

Bible/Verse Memory: Probably slacking more than I should in this area since obviously our relationship with our Lord and Savior is most important. But we are just working through our church's Awana program. So Zethan is learning verses for that!





Art: Different project each Friday from things I find online!











Titus, 3rd Grade:
Spelling: Sequential Spelling level 1 the DVD-Rom version.

Phonics: MCP level 3, worksheets 

Reading: All About Reading

Grammar: First Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind, level 2. This has grammar and also has poem memorization

Writing: Getting ready to start, Institute for Excellence in Writing, Student Intensive A. Super excited about this!

Math: Math-U-See, Gamma level. Also flashcards for getting those math facts down!

History: Unit studies

Handwriting: A Reason for Handwriting, level T, which stands for transition. That means he will be learning cursive this year! He is actually very excited about this!

30 minutes of me reading to him from his choice of book

Bible/Verse Memory: Awana program from church










Science: Elemental Science for the Grammar Stage. Earth Science and Astronomy. This I can use for all 3 of my kids that are in school! Love that!








Art: Different project each Friday from things I find online!

Lillie, 5th Grade:
History: Sonlight Core D+E, American History. This has books for her to read out loud and also books for me to read out loud to her. It has actual History books and fictional books that all work together. She is really enjoying all the stories!

Grammar: First Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind, finishing level 3 from last year.

Spelling: Sequential Spelling, level 2, the DVD-ROM version

Vocabulary: Wordly Wise, level 3000

Writing: Getting ready to start, Institute for Excellence in Writing, Student Intensive A. Super excited about this! Lillie and Titus will be doing this together. 

Handwriting: A reason for Handwriting, level E.

Math: Math-U-See, Delta level, Also flashcards for getting those math facts down!

Science: Elemental Science for the Grammar Stage. Earth Science and Astronomy. This I can use for all 3 of my kids that are in school! Love that!

Bible/Verse Memory: Awana program from church

Typing: Free online programs

Art: Different project each Friday from things I find online! Having a lot of fun with this!

Lillie also reads chapter books on her own and has a chart she fills out. Once she gets to 20 or 30 books she gets to pick out a book to buy! Great motivator for her!