2011-2012 Curriculum and Activities

It's that time of year again- choosing and organizing curriculum for the new school year! I can't believe we will soon begin our FIFTH year of homeschooling! God has been so good to us to allow me to stay home with my kids and be able to experience this with them. We have all learned so much, and I feel that each year I learn something new too! The thing about homeschooling is you never quite get it "all figured out". There is alot of trial and error and changing things up. Even throughout a year I am tweaking and changing things to accommodate our schedule and learning paces of each child. It all works out in the end though and if anything, it teaches me patience and flexibility! LOL!

So, on to the curriculum. Back when we were first thinking of homeschooling, I knew that I wanted to use A Beka curriculum. There were so many choices out there and so many great programs, but I kept coming back to A Beka. I just knew it was the right fit for our family. For one thing, growing up, I attended Christian school where they used A Beka, so I was very familiar with it. Then, after I went to college to become a teacher, I got a job at another Christian school where they used A Beka. I continually saw how effective the program was, and I wanted that for my children. I decided I would try it for the first year of homeschooling just to see how it fit our family and then reassess at the end of the year and try something else if need be. That first year, we started my son (4 years old at the time) with the K5 program and he completed it with flying colors. He loved it and learned so much. I loved it because everything was laid out for me, and I knew he was learning all he needed to for that year. Just to be sure, I looked into many other books, programs and curriculum and found many great resources, but knew in my heart that I was to stay with A Beka. I figured if my kids and I are happy with it, and they are learning (both my kids are at least a grade level ahead in most subjects), why change it? So after four years, I am still as happy with it as I was that first year. Now we have two kids in the program and both of them are doing great, even with opposite learning styles!

Now, I don't just blindly follow the curriculum, nor do I do it to a "T". I add my own ideas in to supplement the lesson plans, and omit things from the curriculum that I don't feel are necessary. We use the curriculum as a base of topics to learn and a guideline to follow, not a rule book.

That said, here are the subjects and grade levels that we are doing this new school year. I do not stick with one grade level for every subject because sometimes they are at grade level for one subject but ahead in others. Sometimes they finish a grade in the middle of the year or sometimes they need to go back a level. I just go at their pace and move around as necessary. Also, the two kids also do several subjects together as I will outline below. They are two years apart in age so generally I go with the grade level that is in the middle of where they are (use 2nd grade if they are in 1st and 3rd grades).

Zachary, age 8 (technically 3rd grade):

Language/Grammar/Creative Writing- 4th grade A Beka
Spelling- 3rd grade A Beka
Reading- 3rd grade A Beka
Penmanship- 2nd grade A Beka
Math- 3rd/4th grade A Beka-last year we had to back off on math (3rd) for a while because he was having a hard time grasping a few concepts. We took a few months off and just worked on topics he was struggling with. When we resumed the official lessons, it all started clicking for him much easier. We still ended the year a bit behind so he will finish the 3rd grade lessons (about 8 weeks worth) and then start 4th grade math.

Katelyn, age 6 (technically 1st grade):

Language/Phonics/Penmanship- 2nd grade A Beka
Spelling- 1st/2nd grade- A Beka- she only finished the first half of the spelling curriculum last year (we took our time since some of the words were a little difficult for her). We will finish the 1st grade book and then start 2nd, I am thinking some time after the new year.
Reading- 1st/2nd grade A Beka- she has about 4 weeks of 1st grade to finish and then we will start 2nd grade
Math- 1st/2nd grade- she has about 8 weeks of 1st grade to finish and then we will start 2nd grade

Subjects they do together:

Bible- 1st grade Bob Jones- We will finish this book (about 10 weeks left) and then we will study Character Traits (like the Fruits of the Spirit) using various resources
History- Bob Jones- Heritage Studies Gr. 1- we will do this for Sept-Nov (10 weeks) and A Beka- Our America Gr. 2- we will do this for Nov-Dec (finishing up from last year)
Health- A Beka- Health Safety and Manners- Gr. 2- we will do this for Jan-Mar (12 weeks)
Social Studies- A Beka- Community Helpers- Gr. 1- we will do this for April-May (6 weeks)
Science- We won't have an official curriculum this year. I want to let the kids pick a few topics they are interested in and do some unit studies with them. I am going to talk to the kids about it soon so I can start making my plans! (:
Music- I am thinking about having them both learn to play the recorder or the piano. We will see!
Art- Art Projects 2- A Beka and Draw, Write, Now books

We are also part of two homeschool co-ops this year. We go once a week (alternating weeks between the two groups) and the kids take classes there as well as go on field trips and other activities. This is our third year with one and our first with the other.

Here are the classes they are taking:
Zachary- Lego Robotics, First Aid, Apologia Zoology-Land Animals, P.E., Lapbooking, American Icons
Katelyn- Ballet, Cooking, Fun with Books, P.E., Learning Centers (they rotate to tables around the room with various activities)

It's going to be another busy year but we are up to it! We can't wait!