2012-2013 Homeschool Curriculum and Activities

Wow, I think I am in denial that another school year is about to begin! It's hard to believe it's almost time to start our SIXTH year of homeschooling! We've had a wonderful summer, but as usual, it went by way too fast! My two older kids did some school throughout the summer, continuing their work from the previous year. They moved up a grade in January so we are about half way through some of this year's curriculum already. This fall we will be starting out with a 4th grader, a 2nd grader and a PreK-er. Sometime in December or January, they will probably finish those grades and move up to 5th, 3rd and K5. We let them go at their pace so whenever they finish a grade or subject, that's when they move up, whether it's in September or December or March. I have considered schooling year round, but after schooling till the end of July, I realized we do need a longer break in summer, so we are taking August off this year. We do take several breaks throughout the year too so we don't get burned out.

As for curriculum, things are pretty much the same as they were last year except we've moved up grades. We are still very happy with A Beka and I will be starting the program with my youngest this year. So now I will have three to teach! Yikes! My little guy is super excited to do school like his big brother and sister, so I think it will be fun! Anyway, since things are pretty similar this year, I am just going to copy and paste a few things from last year's curriculum post, and update things as appropriate.

Here goes....

God has been so good to us to allow me to stay home with my kids and be able to experience this homeschooling journey 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 a 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 half a grade level ahead in most subjects), why change it? So after five years, I am still as happy with it as I was that first year.

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 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 3rd grade if they are in 2nd and 4th grades). I will also include our youngest in the group studies and try to find ways to help him understand the topics at his level, as well as study special topics appropriate for him.

Zachary, age 9 (technically 4th grade):

Language/Grammar- 4th/5th grade A Beka (start 5th in approx. Dec/Jan)
Creative Writing- 4th grade A Beka and co-op class
Spelling- 4th grade A Beka Reading- 4th grade A Beka and our own books
Penmanship (Cursive)- 3rd grade A Beka
Math- 4th/5th grade A Beka


Katelyn, age 7 (technically 2nd grade):

Language/Phonics/Reading- 2nd/3rd grade A Beka and our own reading books
Creative Writing- 2nd grade A Beka and co-op class
Spelling- 2nd grade- A Beka
Penmanship (Cursive)- 2nd grade A Beka
Math- 2nd/3rd grade A Beka


Luke, age 4 (K4)- He may possibly start K5 sometime this year. We will see how he does with the K4 program first. My other two did not do K4 and started with K5 at his age, but he is not quite ready. (:


ABC-123 Phonics and Numbers- K4 A Beka
Writing with Phonics- K4 A Beka
Readiness Skills- K4 A Beka
Reading- K4 A Beka and our own books (lots of read alouds to all three kids!)




Subjects they do together:

Bible- 2nd grade Bob Jones University Press

History/Social Studies- Our American Heritage- 3rd grade A Beka
Health- Health Safety and Manners- 3rd grade A Beka
Science- Exploring God's World- 3rd grade A Beka- I also want to let the kids pick a few topics they are interested in and do some unit studies/lapbooks 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 keyboard. We will see!
Art- Art Projects 2- A Beka and Draw, Write, Now books

We are also part of two homeschool co-ops. 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 fourth year with one and our second with the other.

Here are the classes they are taking:
Zachary-Physical Education, Sign Language, Caves, Art, Creative Writing, Learning about Science through God's Creation
Katelyn-Physical Education, Sign Language, Worldwide Adventures, Ballet, Creative Writing, Learning about Science through God's Creation
Luke- (going to just one group for now)- Physical Education, Learning Centers (rotate tables with math, art, science topics, etc)

I am linking up with the Not Back to School Blog Hop! Check it out to see what everyone is doing in their homeschool this year!!