Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Fall 2010 Curriculum

Little Man Jack.  He's starting Kindergarten!  Can you believe that?
Three years ago the idea of teaching Jack anything was a bit scary, but not anymore.  I am so excited for him.  It is a privilege to be able to stay at home with him and be the one who teaches him all sorts of new things.  Especially, how to read.  This is my favorite part of homeschooling.  Seriously.  I'm just giddy over it!

As the school year progresses, I'll come back to update.  Honestly, I really am not sure just how this is going to play out as far as scheduling goes.  Schooling 3 kids at once?  In the back of my consciousness something is chanting the word Crazy!  I have all the weeks planned out (mostly done for me), but I'm still not seeing the visual, yet.  I'm all excited, but still partially confused.   Now I'm sure you can believe that part.  ;-)

We are using My Father's World A to Z base curriculum, with some additional phonics help from Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.  I used both of these with Aislinn back in 2007/2008, and I think they will be a great fit for Jack as well.  My Father's World is a fun, Christ-based, classical-model curriculum.  And they have a forum full of wonderful moms who are ready and willing to share ideas if we get stuck somewhere along the way.

In addition to story time reading, we'll be reading through a list of Literature Recommendations.  Lots and lots of reading while curled up on the couch together.  Books, hot chocolate, a snuggly blanket, and a warm fire...  now that's what homeschooling in the late fall sometimes looks like.  You know those cold, freezing rain, blizzardy days where you really don't want to leave the house?  Um hmm.  Well, we just won't.  Snuggles, cocoa and a good book.  Sign me up, please!  It has been incredibly hot here lately, so those cools days sounds quite nice at the moment.

Now Gigi isn't even 3, yet.  But you see, I've done this stuff before.  I can almost call myself a veteran homeschool mom.  This time I just went ahead and bought a extra package of kindergarten student sheets for her.  So sure.   She's not ready for Kindergarten and yes, she might just color (ahem.  scribble) all over those student sheets.  Fine.  Fine with me.  If she's included, she'll be happy.  And a happy Gigi means a more peaceful homeschool session.  I also ordered some of the fun manipulatives from the preschool and kindergarten packages to keep little hands busy with play.  Playing is the best learning activity anyway.  And the reading!  There is nothing better than just cuddling up and reading with your children.  Yes, I speak repetitively.


Little A.  My Aislinn.  Third Grade!!!  Yes, I'm shouting that.  This will be our 4th year of homeschooling.

4th year!  What a blessing homeschooling is.

I do know that this is the first year that I am way more excited than I am scared.  ;-)

We are going to study through Adventures in My Father's World, Math-U-See, Spelling Power, and Rosetta Stone Spanish, along with our Literature Reading.

Now the Adventures curriculum is for second or third grade.  I am 99.9% certain that is on the almost-way-too-easy side for Aislinn.  But I decided to go with it anyway for a few reasons.

  1. Easy is always not bad.  Sometimes it can build your confidence and make learning fun.  
  2. I'm stacking her literature list on the heavy side, therefore she will still be challenged.  
  3. While she is very strong in reading and language arts, I think she could use some strengthening in Math.  I want to make sure we have plenty of time to build up her confidence in Math.  
  4. I want to spend a little more time fortifying her education on matters at home and on Biblical history before we move on to in depth studies of other countries and cultures.  
  5. We are beginning foreign language this year.  I only wanted to add some many knew things at once.  
  6. I want to go through Adventures!  I remember putting together a state book in 4th grade.  I was so tempted to buy an extra set of student sheets so I could make another state book. ;-)  
  7. If it is way too easy, we can always just drop this and move on to the next level.  I would rather try something that could be too easy and then have to move ahead, than forge ahead and miss out on something wonderful.  At least at this point in time.  

So all in all, I think the Adventures curriculum will be just right for her.  This year will truly be a customized education for her based on her individual preferences, strengths, and needs.

What else are we doing you might be wondering?  You mean all that isn't enough!??  Of course, not.  We just started this fun Character Development study from Focus on the Family.  Check it out here.  We just started, but so far I like it.  And then the kids have gymnastics, swimming, and field trips.  This is going to be a fun year.

If you want to see what other people are doing with the My Father's World curriculum, look here.

MFW Blog Roll

6 comments:

  1. Hi! I found you on the MFW Blog Roll, and I'm following you now. :^) Can't wait to read more. I'll be using MFW K for the first time, and ECC with my older girls - looking forward to both. I did Adventures with them last year and, yes, you are right that it's a fab curriculum. It'll be great for your daughter - for the reasons you listed and because you can easily "beef it up" if needed. One great way to do that will be to find several of the suggested book basket books each week and have her read them to you or by herself...instead of doing them as read-alouds. They are great selections, and you and she will love them. Looking forward to hearing more from you all around...oh, and I hope you can stop by my place, too: http://tinahollenbeck.blogspot.com. My Blog Roll post is a couple weeks old, but you can find it by scrolling down a bit or going to my MFW topic link. :^)

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  2. Your year looks extremely similar to ours...we'll have to keep each other motivated!

    Saw it was Day 1 for you...it gets better. Promise :)

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  3. I just found you on MFW Blog Roll as well!!
    This is my first year doing homeschool AND...
    I am a photographer and using 100 easy lessons
    along with MFW!!! Just had to stop past and tell you
    how much we have in common!!!!!!
    Blessings and praying you have a fantastic year!

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  4. Eeek! I'm going to subscribe to your blog! I'm starting my FIRST official year of home schooling and Ben will be doing MFW first grade (he's 6 next month and we did some of the kindergarten last year. not that you asked.)
    :) anyway, I love to see what others are doing!! thanks so much for sharing!
    ~Jenny

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  5. Thanks for all the comments! Lots of luck this week Jenny, Tara, Kathi, and Tina. I hope you all love homeschooling this year!!

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  6. Hi dropping by from the MFW Blogroll. We are doing week 4 of Adventures this week. Drop by! You will love it!
    Monica at discovertheirgifts.blogspot.com

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