2014-2015 School Year Curriculum

So yet another year is here!  I'm not sure where the summer went, but we are welcoming the new school year and getting back into a schedule.

I have decide to try a couple new things this year, which  is what I do every year! What can I say, I am embracing change for once! I guess I figure, if I get bored with something the kids will too, so I try to mix it up once in awhile.

First for the curriculum. Our core is still A Beka, but I have added a few other things here and there.

For Minnie (me) who is in third grade this year, she is using A Beka for Reading, Phonics, Language, History, Writing, Health and Spelling.  I think they have a great reading program, so I am sticking with it! When she first started using this, she already knew the letter sounds, so I moved her ahead and we began blends in pre-K.  (another plus to homeschooling, you can move ahead!)  You can check out all their curriculum here:  ABeka

For Math, we are using Saxon 3. I really love Saxon and how hands on the program is. My kids are such hands on learners, so this was perfect for us!  Check them out here:  Saxon Math

Minnie (me) does Science in co-op, but I do have her reading the ABeka reader for extra knowledge and a longer reading time!  (aka quite time)

For Super Boy, who is a second grader this year, he also is using A Beka for Reading, Phonics, Language, History (he is actually doing 3rd grade History) Writing, Health, and Spelling. He too is using Saxon Math, but Math 2.

Super Boy is doing his Science in co-op as well, but just like Minnie(me), he is reading the science reader from A Beka.

Every year, I have the kids do an "All About Me" worksheet where they write all kinds of sweet things about themselves. This year, they wanted to read them in from of the "class".  I thought it was a great idea and I loved that they wanted to share it with me and their sibling!

Another thing I am trying this year is getting on the workbox bandwagon. We're only on day three of school, but so far it's working like a charm!

I do all my prep work the night before, so I go through and see what we're doing the next day.  I put the child(rens) work in the draw and it goes with a number. (1-??)  So after our Bible time, which we do together, they go to number one.  They both have something different for that number, so that gives me time to teach one child while the other one is working on something quietly. (like reading, writing or doing a lapbook)  When that subject is done, they move it over to the subject spot and then they know to move on to the next number.  I am loving it because I don't have tell the child I am not working with at the time what he/ she should be doing. They just do to the next number. Some number do have a spot that says "Work with Mom", so they know to wait for me to be done with the other child.  I also made cute number labels for the kids favorite things (or one of them).  Minnie(me) has American Girls and Super Boy has Transformers.