Kris over at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers is hosting a Curriculum link-up and it’s the push I need to really get down to it. As homeschooling is going to look very different for us this year with the older two boys going to a brick and mortar school and just the five younger kids at home. The kids who will be here are all within a few years of each other and most are at approximately the same level. There are some unique learning needs in the mix with two English as a second language “students”, one with Aspergers, and one with a neurodevelopmental disorder! I need to give this year’s curriculum a lot of thought and have spent most of the summer worrying about it.
I tend to be drawn towards a very relaxed approach to homeschooling, but some of my kids NEED structure and routine and I am working towards that.
Here is what I know I am going to be using because it worked for us last year:
Nest Videos and Activity Books
Lapbooks (Hands of a Child and various free internet printables)
Unit Studies using notebooking, lapbooks, reading, projects, crafts, activities
-undersea creatures
-penguins
-horses
-dinosaurs
-character traits
Memory Work (poetry, quotes, memory verses)
Color the Classics (Music)
Heroes for Young Readers
Art classes, swimming lessons, gymnastics
I am still completely undecided when it comes to Spelling, Geography, Math, Reading, Handwriting, Devotions, and copywork. I am considering all kinds of things.
It seems like a lot of people are talking about using All About Spelling this year and that is what I am leaning towards for Spelling because it incorporates sight, sound, and touch, which seems like it has the best chance of working with multiple kids. Does anyone have any experience with this curriculum?
For handwriting, I am torn between A Reason for Handwriting and Handwriting Without Tears. I have never used either. Any opinions?
For Science, I’ve looked into several options, but it seems that many of them require a fair amount of prep. work on my part or going to several different stores to purchase materials for experiments and I know that I won’t find success with that. I have a few friends who have suggested Sonlight. Science is not a passion of mine in the least and so I am nervous about the decision.
Math is where I am the most nervous though. I am not strong in the least in Math and feel inadequate to equip my kids with a solid foundation in that area. In the past, we have used Abeka, Switched on Schoolhouse (Fred really liked that, but our computer has been plagued with other problems and so I can’t use a computer based program), Life of Fred, and Math U See (that worked really well for awhile and then Fred hit a brick wall with it). So, I am stuck on what to use with the younger ones. Last year, they just used various workbooks. I may try Math U See with the three 9 year olds and see how it goes. Any other suggestions?
I really want to find a great Devotion to do with the kids this year. Last year, we did 2. We did a Veggie Tales one about honesty that was designed for younger kids, but adapted perfectly for them. The one we did after was a one year devotional and it was too advanced for the kids and the reading parts were too long every day to hold their attention. So, I am looking for suggestions for that too! And for reading and for geography and for anything else!
I guess instead of this being a summary of what we are going to be using this year, it is a plea for help. I need to know what has worked for others. Keep in mind that I need something that takes minimal prep. work for me and that some of my kids have special needs and that I am hopeless when it comes to Math and Science.
HELP!!!
Hey Sharla, for Science you might want to check out Apologia’s elementary curriculum. follow this link: http://www.apologia.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1
It follows the notebooking method, I think. Lots of reading together. A lot of families I know have used it and love it because it’s so easy to use and really interesting.
I’ve heard lots of good about All About Spelling and Handwriting Without Tears (especially for special needs kids). I would choose HWT over A Reason For Writing for that reason.
Oh, and I’ve heard great things about Aleks Math, but it’s online. What about Professor B Math, or Teaching Textbooks (for Gr. 3+, I think) – uses CD’s and is easy to use, or Right Start Math (teaches concepts very thoroughly and uses the abacus– especially good for kids that might struggle with basic textbook curriculum. All of these have been given rave reviews by families I’ve worked with.
Hope that helps!
Thanks Aneta! I really appreciate the feedback and suggestions!
I liked Horizons Math. Kenya still goes and gets her math book to see if there are any more pages she forgot to do.
Hi,
First of all I want to say I really enjoy your blog.
For spelling, we have used the All About Spelling and quite like it because it encompasses so many learning styles. The only thing I am thinking of for you is that it requires you to be there for the whole lesson. You can’t just teach the kids a concept and then let them do the worksheet. You are there from beginning to end.
Math U See has been a success in our household. I love how the instructor teaches each concept. I also love how it includes word problems on each page. However, someone just brought the Khan Academy to my attention. It is a free website that uses videos on Youtube to teach concepts. So, if you are wanting to have a concept taught by an instructor yet don’t want to pay a fortune for books you could use that website and just buy one of those universal books for a specific grade. If your children need extra worksheets to help them with a specific concept, you could always print off sheets from a free website.
Handwriting Without Tears is something we have used in the past and have enjoyed. I love the simple style. My boys hate, and I mean hate putting a pen to paper so this program works well for us. There is not a lot of “busy” work. It teaches a letter and doesn’t make you write it over and over again. If you have to write a whole row of lets say B’s, by the end of the row your B’s don’t look very nice.
Hope that helps.
Thanks Lisa! I really appreciate you sharing your experience. It’s good to know that I need to be there the whole time for All About Spelling as that will factor into my decision.
This coming month is the Not Back To School Blog Hop at Heart of the Matter — and this week is curriculum. Be sure to check out everyone’s posts – last year I got tons of great ideas!
Thanks Mary! I will check it out.
Hey Sharla. I’m totally a “newbie” at the whole homeschooling thing – just one year under my belt but I’ll tell you what we’ve done or are doing in case something interests you.
For science last year, we did Sonlight. It was okay – nothing exciting. This coming year, we’re doing one of Jeannie Fulbright’s Apologia studies – Botony. http://www.jeanniefulbright.com/ I think someone above also mentioned it. I’m totally excited about it. On Fridays I plan to do a simple experiment with the kids – just on random topics. The Scientific American magazine has 20 experiments listed on their blog. They’re simple and use things you would have around your home anyway. They’re explained really well so the kids learn while having fun. Go to this link: http://www.scientificamerican.com/ and go under “education”. The experiments are under the topic “Bring Science Home”.
Last year for Math, we started out with Horizons. It was always a fight to get the kids to do it. Then I switched to Time 4 Learning http://www.time4learning.com/ It’s an online program that you pay a monthly price for. It also includes language arts and science but we just use the math. The kids enjoy doing their math online much more so it works for us.
For Bible next year, I’m going to start out using the book “Grandpa’s Box”. http://www.amazon.ca/Grandpas-Box-Retelling-Biblical-Redemption/dp/087552866X It seems a bit more in depth than some of the other devotion books we’ve used. Definitely geared to my oldest two. It’s a book that helps bring the whole Bible together from beginning to end and connects the redemption story. I printed off a study guide from the internet to use with it. I’ve heard really good things about it. We are also going to use the devotion book “The Big Book of Animal Devotions” http://www.amazon.com/Big-Book-Animal-Devotions-Readings/dp/0764206699 That’d be like Bible and Science all in one right? LOL . . . Kidding! Also, have you heard of Scripture Adventures? http://scriptureadventures.com/ We’ve used the Christmas and Easter curriculum from them and enjoyed it. Someday I might do the life of Jesus series. You just purchase them online and download them to your computer and print as you go. It’s easy and affordable.
We’re also doing the Canada study from Donna Ward https://www.donnaward.net/ and will be adding in some Canadian history for the older kids as we go along.
Okay, that’s a long comment. I’ll leave it at that. I may have forgotten something but I think those are the things you asked about.
Have fun planning and preparing!
k
Thanks Karen! I will be checking out those websites. We did the Africa study from Donna Ward a number of years ago and added a lapbook from Hands of a Child on Africa and it was awesome! I plan to do her Canada one at some point in the next few years.
Hi, stopping by from the “Not” Back-to-School Blog Hop. Sounds like you have gotten some really good suggestions. We LOVED Aleks Math, if you can afford it. Blessings!
Thanks Dawn! That’s a program that I don’t think I’ve ever heard of so I will look it up.
Oh, one more thing (cause my last comment wasn’t long enough!). Last year when we were bored with the same old, same old and needed something fresh to do for a change, we put everything aside (except math) and did a unit study. We used http://www.unitstudy.com/index.htm by Amanda Bennett. We studied Chocolate and the kids (and I) loved it. It incorporates almost every subject and has tons of online links for videos and other activities. So very fun. Would even be a fun summer thing when you need a change or routine again.
Okay – that’s all. I think.
k
@Sharla…About Apologia, there isn’t a whole lot of prep time if you purchase a lab kit. Otherwise, you have to find the materials yourself. (Hint)there is a pre-made list of materials ready for you and/or use Donnayoung.org (Click on Apologia Science) –even breaks down each book/lessons for you. I do believe it’s adaptable for teaching as a group. That’s why I do like it. Even though I get two different books for my boys…I find them sharing their knowledge with each other. Each lesson is how much you want to read. We usually read 3-4 pages per day; plus go over review questions/projects. Hope this helps!
Happy Homeschooling. *Some people don’t like Apologia -for some reason (content/textbook-like), but we do enjoy it.
Jessica, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions and for the tip about the lab kit and materials lists!
Hi, Sharla! It’s nice to meet you. Thanks for stopping by my blog. We use All About Spelling and love it. The lessons are short, no more than 15 minutes and even less if your child catches on quickly. We’ve even done it outside of school for fun. How many spelling programs can you say that about? Ha ha! I hope you have the best school year ever with your precious children!
Thanks Marsha! That’s a pretty amazing endorsement if your kids actually want to do spelling for fun!
We loved Handwriting without Tears!! Love it! My son’s ot was the one who suggested it for cursive too and I didn’t know it was availably for cursive! Love it!
For science, we use Apologia. It is phenomenal in my opinion.
For math, check out Singapore math. IT’s great for my 2 visual learners and my son with autism likes it no nonsense approach. Hope you have a great year!
Thanks Penny! I am getting so excited about Apologia after all the endorsements I’ve been hearing.