Usually the first thing people ask after they find out that we're homeschooling is, "What curriculum are you using?" It's a valid question, but it's so hard to answer because we're doing a few different things!
When we made the decision to home school, I got a bit ahead of myself and ordered a ton of 2nd and 4th grade workbooks, lol. I'll use the pages from these as extra practice and reinforcement. I can see us using them in the evening while we're in between soccer practices and dance classes. During wait times at the dealership or doctor. On road trips. Or knowing my girls, just for fun!
Classical Conversations
I heard about this program from a good friend. She joined this co-op with her daughters and spent a lot of time with me over Winter break explaining how it worked. You're basically creating "pegs" in your child's brain upon which to build. It only meets once a week and I get to decide, as the teacher, what we delve deeper into. It covers history (I like the timeline!), science, grammar, Latin, geography, and math. There's a focus on memory work, but it also brings in public speaking and the arts.
I was not looking for a faith-based group; we are a secular family. While this program is faith based, I am told that we can take and leave what we want. I'm curious to see if the girls take interest in the religious aspect.
We visited a CC class in March so we could see what it was like. The girls loved it! I was a bit overwhelmed by how DIFFERENT it was from our typical school day...and then I had to remind myself that we were striving for something different!
Audrey will also do Essentials, which is language arts, writing, and math. Initially I wasn't going to sign her up; but after seeing the progression and results I was sold!
Traditional School
In addition to coming to CC with us, Miss Anne will be attending preschool 3 days a week. I really want her to have the experience that the older girls did- with a teacher, friends her age, a set schedule. She needs to have her own "thing." She flourished last year at GES! She went to a week-long camp at her new preschool over the summer and just loved it. Technically she meets the age requirement for Kindergarten...by 5 days! I just cannot see my little baby going to school 5 days a week for 7+ hours a day. I'd much rather have her be the oldest among her peers (especially 10+ years from now!) We can't wait to see what this year holds for her.
Time4Learning.com
I knew I wanted some type of curriculum to follow, but I didn't want to purchase a ton of books that I would be committed to. I also wanted something the girls could do somewhat independently. I came across T4L and it checked a lot of boxes for me- independent, interactive, no commitment, detailed reports on progress, and customized. They can work at their own pace and I can jump in to help when needed.
Evan Moore/Kumon books
Kiwi Crate
These monthly subscription boxes are awesome! Abby started getting them as a Christmas gift, and they play perfectly into our home school. Chris really wants the girls to be more exposed to STEAM, and this is just one convenient way to do it.
Mathnasium
Our awesome Uncle Jerry owns the area Mathnasiums but we've never quite had the time to take advantage...until now! The girls went in July for their assessments and we've already been a few times this summer. My goal is to go at least once a week to work on their customized learning plans.
Library & Scholastic
One of my biggest goals this year is to increase the time they spend reading. Audrey and Abigail are great readers, thanks to their teachers. I want them to read to learn, read for fun, and read to Anne. We've made reading to Anne part of their bedtime routine. I even made a special basket of short books for them to pick from!
Netflix. YouTube. Magic School Bus.
There are sooo many great videos and documentaries out there to supplement our studies!
Magic Tree House series
Abby took a real interest in the series this year. I loved reading these books to my 2nd and 3rd graders as they correlated to whatever we were learning about in Social Studies. I plan on using these for unit studies. I love how they have Fact Tracker & Research Guide companions. Can they please make a TV show out of these already?!
Field Trips
I think the best way to learn is to get out there and experience things. Unfortunately, we don't get to do that a lot in public school. I tried to sit down and plan out where I wanted to visit and when...but it was difficult to nail down places on a particular timeline. That's the beauty of home school, right? We're ALWAYS learning! We can go to Jamestown whenever we want- we don't necessarily have to be studying it. We can go and learn as a family...it can be a peg in their minds to build upon later.
We can visit the apple orchards and pumpkin patches mid-week (because in years prior I was just too dang tired to drag us out on the weekends!) We have so many incredible opportunities around here. I am so excited to give our girls more life experiences!
Physical Activity. Lots of it.
All 3 girls will be playing soccer this Fall. Audrey and Anne were asked to join the Company (competition) team at dance, and Abigail is excited to continue with Cheer. In addition, Audrey and Abby will be doing a "Triple Threat" class on Tuesdays from 12-4. It includes dancing, voice, and acting. I'm legit going to have to sell a kidney on the black market for dance tuition! But all of this will keep the girls active, and that's a BIG goal of ours; keeping them involved in something physical throughout their teen years.
Art
My girls love to draw! They also love to create. I swear, Annie has made the craziest things this summer out of duct tape, card stock, mini solo cups, and Sharpies, lol! While I don't have an Art "curriculum" per se, I do plan on utilizing the Internet (haaaay Pinterest!) to keep them engaged with art. So far all the local art classes conflict with other things, but maybe we'll find something!
Me!
As a teacher, I have the ability to take a learning concept and RUN wild...projects, interventions, experiments, research, enrichment, field trips...it's going to be so fun finding ways to enrich our studies!
So, that's the plan! I'm excited to dive in (our first CC class meets next week!) And while I think I've got everything planned out...there will be things that work and things that don't. I'm going to enjoy the flexibility!
this is fantastic! im very happy for all of you
ReplyDelete