2014-2015 Homeschool Curriculum

I cant believe that we are heading into our 3rd year of homeschooling! I am looking forward to this year more than I have in the past. I feel more at ease teaching my children, more prepared as a CC Tutor, and more confident in the Classical process. I want to be more intentional with my homeschooling and while I do want to find new ways to drive in the memory work, I also want to stay true to the Classical model and be as simple as possible. And can I just say that simple is hard? There is SO much out there!


Chase- 1st grade

1. Saxon- I LOVED  Saxon last year and Chase did really well with it. Continuing on to Saxon 2!



2.Handwriting- We started A Reason for Handwriting in the Spring, but we crashed and burned and took our summer break early. I really like the colorful pictures, the Scripture sentences, and it offers lots of practice.


3. Spelling/Phonics- We also started All About Spelling in the Spring and stopped when we needed the break (we finished our 2013-2014 curriculum early and I thought it would be a good idea to continue school- I was wrong). We will start over from Lesson 1 when we start school in a couple of weeks. I don't love All About Spelling (it is pretty teacher intensive and uses lots of manipulatives which drives me crazy), but Chase doesn't mind it. I do think that it will give him a solid spelling/phonics foundation and have been told that it is a great prep for Essentials.




4. Grammar- I havent completely decided if we will use the 2nd grade portion of First Language Lessons. I loved the 1st grade portion, but 2nd grade seems like a lot of writing for a 6 year old boy. If it doenst work out then I will stick with Sonlight LA.


Ansleigh- Kindergarten

Ansleigh will be joining us at the homeschool table and will be enrolled in the Abecedarian class in Foundations. She is SO excited to be in "real " school!


1. Math-Saxon 1.


2. Handwriting-A Reason for Handwriting.


3. Reading- I tried using The Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading with Ansleigh. I thought she would like all the little songs and flashcards, but she hated it. Hopefully this will work better for her!




For both kids-

1. Sonlight- I cant stay away from Sonlight. I love, love, love their literature selections! Last year we just read from the Sonlight list, but this year I am wanting to dig in a little more. After looking through a friends Instructors Guide, I have decided that we will be using Core A  with some supplementing. I am praying that it wont be too much- We shall see!


2. Classical Conversations Cycle 3-We will continue to meet once a week at Classical Conversations of Evans. I will be tutoring again this year and I am so excited! This cycle the kids will be introduced to American History, US Geography, 24 science facts (including the first 12 elements of the periodic table and the parts of 8 body systems), Latin rules and John 1:1-7 in latin, English grammar facts, and multiplication tables up to 15x15, squares and cubes, basic geometric facts, etc. It seems like a lot, but it really isn't! The kids will learn over 400 pieces of information through songs, chants, hand motions, etc. They have so much fun!


3. Carols Curriculum- I am mainly using Carols for preschool craft activities. Chase and Ansleigh loved it when they were smaller and I think AG is old enough to enjoy it now. Plus, I love that everything comes in a box and I dont have to plan anything! :)


The more that I prepare the more that I am looking forward to this upcoming year! I am praying that it will be our best year yet! :)

Edisto 2014

We are back from an amazing week in Edisto, SC!
 Spending our time discovering Botany Bay, nightly golf car rides with Nana and Dada, splashing in the waves and playing with the boogie board, ice cream, collecting sharks teeth and spending the day in Charleston at Charles Town Landing!