Our curriculum for 2013-2014 school year

Finally!  It's here!  Our plan for the 2013-2014 school year!  I have spent weeks, and many late nights scouring the internet trying to figure out what we are going to do.  I really wanted to do Sonlight, but it's expensive and I'm not sure how great of a fit it would be for our family.  So, again, I pieced it all together!  All that scouring to realize that this is how I like to do it anyway, piece by piece.

Really not a lot has changed in some subjects.  Maybe the next level up in some cases.  We are still using a lot of our old favorites.  I've added in some online classes for April to give her something different, and hopefully a little more challenging/interesting.  Another big thing is April's Shakespeare class that she'll be doing.  This is an awesome opportunity for her that we are really excited about.  I'm hoping that between those 3 things it will give her more of a exciting/challenging year.

April 7th grade

This picture sure doesn't look like a lot, but she has quite the spread for her curriculum this year.  There are also a few things not pictured as we are waiting for the packages to come.

Science:

•  Apologia:  Exploring creation with general science

• Laser maze logic game

• Snap circuits XP:  she finally has her own set of snap circuits!  She'll learn about computer programming with this set.

Writing:

• online course at LEA academy:  Excellence in writing (beginning) using this book All things fun and fascinating (IEW)

Math:

• Life of Fred: Mineshaft, then Decimals and percents,  

• Teaching textbooks Math 7 

• Xtra math : for practice of math facts

• Extreme dot-to-dot animals 2

History

• Story of the world vol. 1:  CD's, and activities

• Story of the world vol 2:  CD's, and activities

Art:

• Chalk pastels through the seasons by hodgepodge

• Online course at LEA academy: Art foundations

• Art and music appreciation:  Harmony fine arts

Reading

•  Shakespeare:  she will need to read, watch or listen to 17 shakespeare plays for her co-op class.  Other Shakespeare explorations at co-op including a production in the spring of 2014.  I might start her with a graphic Shakespeare like this one, Macbeth-graphic, to get her warmed up to it. 

• Comprehension guides (Veritas Press) for selected readings.  April has picked out so far, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and The Call of the Wild and White Fang.

Spelling

• Spelling workout level G

Other studies will include

• Scripture studies

• Violin lessons at Music man studio (she wants to do this, we are looking into it)

• Nature studies from the Handbook of Nature study

• Cake decorating class

• PE through Family time fitness

Aaron 2nd grade

Not much is new for this 2nd grader.  He's continuing most books from last year that he didn't finish.  The biggest additions to his curriculum are the Master reader program, and the typing.

Science

• Apologia:  Exploring Creation with Astronomy

• 4D Science plant cell model

•  Giant Science Resource book by Evan Moor for delight directed science studies

Math

• Horizons math 2

•  Life of Fred Elementary series--he's currently in Butterflies

Reading

•  Magic tree house online book club at Currclick

• Explode the code 1

•  Selected books from a 2nd grade reading list

• Hooked on Phonics Master Reader

• Bananagrams game

Writing

• Handwriting without tears 2 

• Classically cursive by Veritas Press

History

•  Story of the world vol. 1:  CD's 

Geography

• Beginning Geography workbook by Evan Moore (from previous year)

• Continue with US geography: Road trip USA

• Galloping the globe

Multi-subject resources:

• Easy Peasy homeschool--online  (selected activities)

• Lapbooks to go along with any study

• Download and Go units

Extras

• co-op classes

• cub scouts when he turns 8 later in the year

• Possible violin lessons as well

• Typing (he'll start out on the spongebob square pants program, then move to Mavis Beacon)

Aric Kindergarden

I am excited for this Kindergarden year.  I hope I can keep this active little boy busy with these choices!  A lot of his books are the same books his brother used.

Math:

• Horizons math K 

Thinking skills/logic

• Developing the early learner series

• Wrap-ups: Alphabet

Science:

• Daily science grade 1

• Usborne beginning readers science topics

• Squishy circuits Hardware Kit

Reading:

• All About Reading level 1

• Get set for the code book B

• McGuffey's First Eclectic Reader

• Usborne beginning readers

Language Arts:

• Language lessons for little ones 2

Writing:

•  Handwriting without tears package K

• Draw, Write, Now books (art and drawing too!)

Multiple subjects

• Easy Peasy Homeschool 

• Five in a row

Extras

• Soccer in the Fall 

• He wants to try taekwondo

• swimming lessons later in the year

Alex Preschool/tot school

Preschool is my favorite age to teach. 

• Before Five in a Row (and FIAR with his brother)

• Kid-o A to z magnatab

• Letter of the week/tot school printables:

• Big preschool workbook:  this book was purchased because he wants to steal his brother's Math book everytime we do math.  He thinks he should have a math book too.  I'm hoping this looks close enough to a math book to him :-) 

• My first school book : by Handwriting without tears.  He will like having a "school book" of his own to do letters in

• Lots and lots of play:  manipulatives, sensory bucket, crafts, etc.

Family 

(lessons and activities all together):

Christian liberty nature readers

Story of the world activities

Family math

Family time fitness

Nature studies

A Child's Geography

Letterboxing (something I hope to do all year long): You use clues to find a box that contains a stamp to stamp into your log book

That about wraps it up for our main curriculum.  We will probably add or take away throughout the year, and I will try to update this list as we do so.  I am looking forward to our year now that the planning part is done!  Phew!  On to the next blog hop...the room!

I am linking up with iHomeschool network's curriculum blog hop for the Not back to school blog hop during the month of August.

Your homeschooling friend,

Desiree