Our Curriculum Choices for 2013-2014

These are my babies, except that they're two years older now .

 Most of our homeschool career, I have allowed a ton of flexibility and individuality and that will not change.  But, we will add a bit more structure and raise the bar just a little.  This is my oldest's last year before beginning high school courses so I'd like to make sure she's prepared.  Not stressed.  Just prepared.  And the bar raises a bit for each of the others as well.

We've always used tons of literature in our homeschool and we will continue reading classics and novels. 

This may seem like an oxymoron after what I just wrote, but we are also adding textbooks this year.  Only one other year have we gone with textbooks and I know that we needed that simple guideline for that year. I didn't have to put things together or come up with lessons on the fly.  I'm feeling the need for that again and so it will be this year.

I'm more of a life-schooling Mom than a school-at-home teacher.  That flavor will continue.  The use of texts will give me  a reliable backbone for our studies. When I need to , I can just have them read their chapter and be able to discuss the comprehension questions and be done.  That's what I need. 

I have previously thought of textbooks as rigid and boring but this year, I see them as giving me the gift of flexibility.  And they loove having their "own" books. 

So, without further ado,

1st Grade
MCP Phonics
Copywork--from our Five in a Row book
Abeka Math
Readers-I consider the science (CLP) and history (CLP)text readers at this point, but she devours books.  So, I will actually let her read....readers!  I own the 1st grade Abeka set and the CLP Nature Readers.
Artpac 1
Composer study with the family (from Confessions of a Homeschooler)
Literature-alternating a few of the Literature Studies from Confessions and Five in a Row

4th Grade
Primary Language Lessons
Spelling Power
Continue learning cursive
Abeka Math
Readers-CLP Nature Reader, library books
Artpac 4
Composer study with the family (from Confessions of a Homeschooler)
Literature-alternating a few of the Literature Studies from Confessions and Five in a Row
Instrument--he wants to learn drums.  But we don't have a set yet.  For now, we will encourage him with the tambourine to hear the beat and accompany his brother/sister and some basic keyboard.

6th Grade
Rod and Staff English
Spelling Power
Christian Light Reading
Abeka Math
Abeka Science
CLP History
Various novels from our home library
Artpac6
Composer study with the family (from Confessions of a Homeschooler)
Guitar

8th Grade
Rod and Staff English
Spelling Power
Christian Light Reading
Saxon Alg 1/2 with DVD tutor
Abeka Science
CLP History/Civics
Various novels from our home library
Artpac 8
Composer study with the family (from Confessions of a Homeschooler)
Guitar

Tulips have nothing to do with my homeschool curriculum choices, they're my favorite flower, that's all. :)

Curriculum Thoughts from This Year

Okay, since this is the "real" post on  our  homeschool year-end thoughts, here's what curriculum choices worked and didn't for us this year.

Hits:
Five in a Row for my younger two, ages 7 and 9
Winston Grammar for my older two, ages 11, and 13
Abeka Math
A Reason for Handwriting
Primary Language Lessons for 9 yr old


Misses:
Beyond Five in a Row for my older two.  They do  not work well with this style for chapter books.
Saxon 1/2--But that was user malfunction.  We will be continuing in this.  It just happened that this child hit a brick wall with Math in general.