Homeschool Curriculum Plans for 2016-2017

I know, I know...I skipped doing this last year.   Saweee!  Here ya go....

Sixteen years of homeschooling.  Wow.  Seems like five.  Anyway, blah blah blah...here's what I am doing with the kidlets this year...

After you look through all of this you might be thinking, "How in the WORLD does she organize all of this?"  I create, throughout the year (rushing sucks) a schedule for EACH child.  Yup.  If I don't make these, things get behind and/or not done.  "I" have the final decision on what books we will/will not read...not some boxed up curriculum.  I tried that for YEARS and it drove me batty.  Some books were GREAT, while others...."ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz."  Being in control rocks.  Totally worth the time.  And, yes, it takes time to schedule them all, etc.

IF you would like to see how I schedule, feel free to message me (you'd have to give me your email, though)...a "safer" way would be to message me on Facebook here:  Tracey's Facebook.  However, please let me KNOW that you have messaged me, because my security is high and it will go into a "Message Requests" folder...I might not notice it for a few days...or weeks.

EVERYONE

The Mystery of History, Volume III -- NO, we don't do every project; NO -- we don't do the memory cards...I have more "NO's."  Do what works best with YOUR children.




Teaching Textbook Math - Even ol' mom is doing Algebra I, II, and Geometry in the next few years.  

Learning Language Arts Through Literature





English From The Roots Up, Volume 2



Living books - most of which are found by looking through All Through The Ages OR Learning Language Arts Through Literature.  ***Please note -- I strongly encourage you to read these books WITH your children (you read a page, they read a page, or whatever works best).  These are the most precious times of our homeschooling.  Yes, even with the high schooler's.**  It's a great bonding time. I can't WAIT to read the books I've chosen for this year with them.  




Bible - 4th grader - Bible Stories To Read


Bible - 6th grader - various Bible reading plans from the Early Reader's Bible


Cursive - 6th grader - A Reason For Handwriting Cursive D



HIGH SCHOOLER'S
9TH GRADER
Bible - Our Daily Bread (including the "Read Through The Bible in A Year" plan)



Spelling - Apples 2



Handwriting - A Reason For Handwriting Cursive E


Typing Instructor


Science - Apologia General Science with Student Notebook (no review, sorry for the words)



12TH GRADER
Bible - Our Daily Bread (including the "Read Through The Bible in A Year" plan)


History (also listens in on our MOH reading above) All American History - Part 2


Science - Apologia Biology w/Student Notebook


Personal Finance package from My Father's World


Logic - The Fallacy Detective & The Thinking Toolbox

Homeschooling, Soccer, and Fishing...oh my!

Whew -- we're busy!  But...not toooooo busy.  ;o)  You know how that is, right?  Where you schedule is pretty packed, but you aren't all stressed out.  That's just how I like it.  Ahhh...the kids are involved in some good stuff, but I'm not having screaming fits over not having enough time for everything.  All is well in the world.

Homeschooling -- We've been keeping on track with our new schedule for My Father's World.  This is way more realistic for our family.  Four days of MFW per week is plenty.  I'm doing the crafts, games, and activities a LOT more...and am enjoying it!  I take one day off for things like appointments, shopping, field trips, or other activities.  I'm so glad I finally came to terms with what works for us.  It feels grand.  My teacher's manual will NEVER control me again.

Did the "metal casting" activity this week from ECC Week 20.  Pretty cool, but I let the kids paint them on their own (I think I was in the tub or outside in the garden).  They didn't turn out too fantastic, but, oh well.  Plaster of Paris is cheap.  I want to work with that stuff again, but in a way that is more interesting...like casting foot prints or something.

"Metal Casting" from ECC week 20 -- took some tin foil and wrapped it around bowls, then filled them with plaster.

Let them dry, then popped them out.

Painted with washable tempera paint.

Soccer -- My kids do sports off and on...but never like this.  This year, with my new-found energy (so to speak) and desire to get my kiddos involved in more outside activities, I enrolled my three oldest in soccer with our church's school, "Grace Christian Academy."  It's been great!  Really busy...games or practice just about every day, but great!  My oldest (16yo daughter) is really into it, and even though their team is in dead last (it doesn't help that they only have about 11 players altogether), she has been really into it.  She gets all banged up, bruised, but goes back in fighting.  Love it!  Don't get me wrong, there are some great players on their team, but there are only 11 of them, where most teams usually have at least twice that.  No one gets a break on our team.  Anyway, I just take along the school work that needs corrected or my crocheting, sit, and gab with my friends.  This is much better than doing the town sports.  I don't know anyone, and they would all have different practice times and games all over the place.  Bleh.

Tasha, Jordan, and Tristin

Fishing -- Well, the season is winding down.  Not my cup of tea, but hubs and most of the kids love fishing.  My husband aint' no amateaur, either.  My man is SERIOUSLY into fishing.  We're talkin' fishing shows, BassMaster magazine, Bass Times magazine, tons of lures from Dick's...dreams of going pro someday...serious fishing.  He doesn't have a boat (yet), but knows the good spots around town.  His favorite spot is just around the corner on Tacoma Lakes.

Jaden, Chet, and A.J. after a morning of fishing.  They catch 'em this size ALL summer long!

Life is good.  I'm still free in my foxhole...and am loving the Lord and life!

Stretching the My Father's World 5-Year Plan to 7 Years

MFW has a Multi-Age Family Cycle that is supposed to take five years to complete.  However...after having gone through this cycle once, I have determined that it might be better for us to do it in seven years.  This way, each child will go through each year of the cycle once (instead of repeating two of them...which isn't bad, but I will explain my reasons).

Why?  I feel a bit rushed if I do it in five.  I want to be able to go off on a bunny trail if we want to and not panic about catching up or not getting everything done.  Now, don't get me wrong, MFW has a great scheduling system.  I'm sure that most families probably don't feel this way, but...I'm a laid-back southerner at heart (hahaha...even though I grew up in Michigan...I lived in Pensacola for twelve years, though), and I want to relax my homeschool a bit.

I don't want to go so far with relaxed homeschooling that I don't have structure, though.  I'm either not ready for that, or the Lord just isn't leading me that way.  I just want learning to be more fun...not stressful and feeling like, "WE HAVE TO FINISH THIS WEEK'S WORK OR I'M A FAILURE!"  I refuse to let that happen anymore. RE...FUSE.

So, I've divided 5 years by 7 and came up with 0.71.  Okay, I can do that.  As long as I do at least, oh, let's round it up to...75% of a year's worth of curriculum in one year without skipping anything that I feel we are led to do -- we don't do every project recommended by MFW...in fact, they say you probably shouldn't try to do every project and that they don't even do every project with their own family! -- I will be happy.

The homeschool law for our state requires us to do at least 175 days of school.  If we complete 25.5 weeks of the curriculum per year (that's about 75% of a year's worth) or 127.5 days (that's 25.5 weeks times 5 days of school each week -- are you confused?), then we will have about 47.5 days of "going off on a bunny trail" days!  Cool!  We could watch a movie about what we are learning...go on a field trip...explore further...whatever we want!  Love it.

Pretty good idea...don't you think?

Why we used My Father's World

We used My Father's World curriculum from 2006-2012.  Before that, we used Sonlight.  I've also tried and/or seriously researched Tapestry of Grace, Biblioplan, Mystery of History, TruthQuest, Heart of Dakota, Winter Promise, Five In A Row, and maybe a few more that aren't coming to mind right now.  Not to say that those other curriculum (curriculi?) aren't wonderful (they are or I wouldn't have even considered them!), it's just that MFW had what works best for us and the vision that God has given us as a homeschooling family.

After all of my research, and lots of prayer, I had no doubt in my mind that My Father's World was the curriculum for us.  Here is why: 

1. They (and I am actually quoting their website here, because they say it better than I could -- haha) "combine the best of Charlotte Mason, classical education, and unit studies with a Biblical worldview and international focus."  I LOVE Charlotte Mason.  One of the first books I ever read when we decided to homeschool in 2001 was "A Charlotte Mason Companion:  Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning."  It really helped me to see what was really important in homeschooling.
2. The projects are EASY.  I am not the type of mom who likes to work on a complex-almost-impossible-to-finish project.  Ugh!  I want things as simple as possible.  MFW has done that for me.  They are a no-nonsense company.
3. Their mission's focus.  LOVE IT!  The stories of missionaries fascinate and inspire me!  My older children love for me to read them aloud.  They are special moments for us.
4. Everything is explained so well.  They almost make it too easy.  I have never had to call the company and ask a question.  I do sometimes glean some ideas from the message board.
5. They are as "twaddle-free" as possible.  I rarely feel like anything I am reading or teaching is a waste of time.  I am big on not wasting my time.
6. It works for all types of learners and learning styles.
7. It prepares them for living in the real world.
8. I can focus on Kindergarten and 1st grade, teach 2nd-8th grade together, and high school is done independently (mostly).

You can read MFW's overview and more information here.  Their FAQ list is here.  Just hold your arrow over the "About" link at the top, and read more!

Edited 3/22/13
I have, however, switched to a more "design my own" approach.  Not completely, however, as we are very much enjoying The Mystery of History, Learning Language Arts Through Literature, Teaching Textbooks Math, and living books.  I also still plan to use My Father's World Kindergarten and First Grade. You can read more about our switch here.

What curriculum ideas DIDN'T work last year (2011/12)

Well, last year I posted about how I was going to use a read-aloud that was more to my younger childrens' level wasn't listed by MFW (My Father's World) when reading about Cameron Townsend in ECC (Exploring Countries and Cultures).  Well, THAT sure didn't work out.  The book I chose read like a poem.  I'm not too keen on living books being poems.  So...I won't try that again.  I don't know why I really sweated that whole idea, anyway.

I've since come to realize that it is not the end of the world if a younger child (say, fourth grade or younger...depending on their maturity level) isn't able to narrate back to me or answer questions about living books that we are reading.  They'll get it someday.  I still want them to sit in, though.  They can be playing with Lego's, blocks, drawing, just about anything that isn't causing a disruption (a.k.a. "being too noisy").  They still need to get into the habit of listening in on a long story that doesn't necessarily have a lot of pictures, and I've come to realize that this is a gradual process.  I've seen my now eighth grader go from not remembering a thing about what I've read to now remembering almost everything -- and asking for more!  Yay!  They will all learn to become better listeners...and appreciate listeners at that!

I'll still use "Book Basket" books in MFW (suggested books to borrow from the library that are listed at the back of MFW's teacher manuals) to use as "readers" for the younger ones to read to me during reading time...that way they will also be getting a book at their level on the subject/person we are studying.

This year I will also be switching the following:

Spelling Power (will just make personal spelling books/lists as well as vocabulary).  Spelling Power does not seem to make my children better spellers.  I think just experience will do that.  I used Apples with my 7th grader last year, and that went well.

Rosetta Stone French did not work well with my 10th grader.  After two years of her telling me that, I've finally decided to listen and ditch it.  I am going to let her try either Learnables or The Easy French.

Teaching Textbooks math is not working as well with my 8th grader as I had hoped.  Either that, or she just needed to back away from it for a while.  We might try Math-U-See with her.  We'll see after starting up the new year again.  She really needs to see and get a hands-on view of math.  I will still continue to use Teaching Textbooks with my 5th and 11th graders, though, as they are doing very well with it.

2012-13 Curriculum Plans

2012/13 curriculum plans for 5/6 of our children ages 16, 13, 9, 7, and 4.  This is our 12th year of homeschooling, so we already own much of this.  :o)

Curriculum 2012-2013

Tristin – 11^th grade

My Father’s World U.S.History to 1877                           

        (Covers U.S. history, government, English, and Bible (3 full-year 
              credits).

Science – Advanced Biology - Apologia                             
                  (also purchasing Sonlight.com's supply kits)

Math – Teaching Textbooks Geometry                             

Foreign Language (French)

                Le Français Facile! Level IA (HS Reader Award)

Elective:

        Health Package                                                       

        Psychology                                                              

End of year CLEP

        CLEP College Composition Exams w/ CD-ROM                                       

        REA CLEP History of the US 1 w/ CD-ROM                                          

        CLEP College Algebra                          

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Tasha - 8th Grade

2^nd half of MFW ECC                                                 

Science – ApologiaGeneral Science                               

Math – MathUSee Delta                                          

Language Arts

Writing Strands 5                                              

All-In-One English Series                                  

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Jordan - 5th Grade

2^ndhalf of MFW ECC                                                                       

Math – TeachingTextbooks 5                                                           

Language Arts

        Intermediate Language Lessons                                                

        Writing Strands 3                                                                    

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Jaden - 2nd Grade

End of MFW 1^st - Listen in on ECC                             

Math - Complete Book of Math/living math real books  
            Singapore Math 1A & 1B set                           

Language Arts

Spelling w/sound and structure                        

Primary Language Lessons                                

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A.J. - Kindergarten

MFW Kindergarten

Teacher Manual                                         

        Student Sheets                                            

        Say Hello to Classical Music                           

        Kindergarten Literature Collection              

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My homeschool system

I thought I might share how I have things set up in case someone might need some ideas or just a fresh perspective.

A couple of years ago I heard about a system involving work boxes. I went ahead and purchased the manual explaining it. I liked it, but knew that using shoe boxes was not for me, and that that system seemed a bit too rigid. I wanted something easier. So, I came up with my system...and it is really no big deal.

Our school boxes

Close up of school box with green file folder

Almost all of my children's homeschool materials are kept in these file boxes. You can purchase these at almost any office supply store. Here is a link to one like I purchased at WalMart. They run about $15 each, but should last throughout your child's homeschool career. I put their first name on them with a label this size, and remove the lid. As you can see, the lid wouldn't shut if it was on. Some things won't fit into these boxes, and some things make them too heavy, so not everything goes in them. I also keep a green hanging file folder in each box for smaller or misc. items like math CD's (we use Teaching Textbooks) and the country sticker books.

Envelope and plastic 3-prong folder

Almost every "subject" is kept in a 10" x 13" envelope, unless it is already in a sturdy binder. The envelope has the name of the subject on the front. I either reuse these envelopes the following year by covering the old sticker with a new one (if the envelope is in good enough shape) or I pitch them and use a new one.

Preschool materials on top, followed by MFW family cycle

My 10th grader's shelf

I keep most textbooks (i.e., Apologia science), our reading books, timeline books, music CD's, and the Teacher Manual on our book shelves. Each child either has their own shelf, or shares, if needed. My children learn pretty quickly which of their items are kept on shelves, and which are in their boxes. I also keep every year (Kindergarten, First Grade, Exploring Countries and Cultures, Creation to The Greeks, Rome to The Reformation, Exploration to 1850, 1850 to Modern Times, and all of the high school years) of our MFW curriculum on our shelves at all time, instead of storing them away like some families do. I like the children to have access to them if they want to pick up a book from last year, etc. I keep them separated by year and use the awesome different colored book labels that Sonlight Curriculum sells. This way, if a child takes a book off the shelf to read for fun, they or I will know which "year" it goes with when they go to put it back. Sonlight is the only place I know of that sells these. If you look closely at the top of my books, you will see the little stickers. Some books have two or three stickers, if they are used in more than one year.

Homeschool correction box and goofy poodle

After a child has completed a subject, they put their envelope or folder/binder into the homeschool correction box. This box above is a bit small. I plan to purchase a larger one soon. My goofy poodle wouldn't get out of the shot. ;o) Isn't he cute, though? He needs a bath. I tell ya what. If you ever have a dog that turns up missing, ask me about Sunny. He was missing for two weeks once, and traveled about 7 miles before we found him. Long story. Anyway, back to business...

Later that day, I go through their completed work and correct it.  After I correct their work, I either give it back to the child to fix (depending on how much they got wrong) or just place it right back in their box. I take any papers that need to be filed in their notebooks and put them away in one of those green hanging files until I have time to file them. I file them myself in their notebooks (instead of having them do it), well, just because I'm so OCD about them having very nice notebooks. :o)

That's it! This system is simple, yet it works perfectly for us. Hardly anything gets lost. No assignments get forgotten (usually -- I have had a child, on occasion, "accidentally" place their finished work back into their own box instead of the correction box).

I keep their boxes on the island in our kitchen during the week. This way, they are easily accessible during the school day. On Friday evening we put them away for the weekend. We all like them out of sight, out of mind for a few days. :o)

Feel free to copy any of these ideas. Leave a comment and link me to YOUR system. I'd love to see it. I might even get a better idea from yours!