Our 2013-2014 Curriculum List

Link

This summer is going way to fast!  Before we know it, we’ll be back in full swing. I thought it was time to get a plan together for next year.  We won’t be starting school officially until the end of August or the beginning of September. I have not decided yet when our first day will be. We work on some lessons all summer like math, grammar and spelling, taking lots of days off for friends and fun. When are you starting back up?  Do you go all year or take a nice long break?

5th Grader

Bible –  Awana, Lapbooks and units
Math –  Math U See Zeta and IMACS computer programming
English –  Jr. Analytical Grammar – Mechanics
Spelling – All About Spelling 4 and 5
Vocabulary – Word Builder -Foundations
Reading – Head for Home Intermediate gr. 5, Units and Lit Guides
Science – Lapbook and Unit Studies
History – Story of the World 1 – Ancients
Handwriting – Teaching Cursive
Art – Atelier Art Level 4
Spanish – Rosetta Stone Homeschool 1

 
 3rd Grader
Bible –  Awana, Lapbooks and units
Math –  Math U See Gamma then Deta and IMACS Elementary
English –  Easy Grammar and Daily Grams
Spelling – All About Spelling 3 and 4
Vocabulary – Word Builder -Foundations
Reading – Head for Home Intermediate gr.3, Units and Lit Guides
Science – Lapbook and Unit Studies
History – Story of the World 1 – Ancients
Handwriting – Teaching Cursive
Art – Atelier Art Level 4
Spanish – Rosetta Stone Homeschool 1

 

Good Reads – Review of Explode the Code book 1

I have recently joined a site called Good Reads. A fellow homeschooler sent me the link a while back. I’m just now getting to it. Seems like a neat site and a good way to learn about books you might be interested in.
Explode the Code 1 Explode the Code 1 by Nancy Hall

My review


rating: 5 of 5 stars
My kindergarten has really enjoyed this book this year. We are about to move on to book 2. I recommend ETC, they read and do a little writing as well.

View all my reviews.

Books and Curriculum

We will be using Konos this year for our main curriculum.  I’m really excited to get started!  I’ve been getting ready.  My favorite Konos information I’ve found is from Sprittibee.  She is SO organized and makes it seem possible to use Konos successfully. 🙂 If you do a google search for Konos organization you’ll find links to her blog.  We’ll officially start school this year just after Labor Day. Actually, we really haven’t stopped this summer we just do less and I try to make everything more fun.  B will start Kindergarten this year and J will be doing stuff along side us.  I love lapbooks and plan to do as many as we can of different subject.  Last year, Five in a Row was big for us.  We’ll continue rowing some books this year as well.  I love Five in a Row.  The booksare awesome and we never mind reading them over and over.  Some, like Lentil, we’ve read well over 5 times.  I started off just rowing the books I could find at our local library but then ended up buying quite a few used at Amazon.com.  You can also buy lots of Five in a Row books on e-bay.  Most of the books are so good you’ll want to have them in your home library.  
This summer we’ve been reading some good books.  B is almost 5 1/2 and is really close to reading on his own. I think he can read but lacks some confidence.  We’ve just discovered the Magic Tree House Series.  Here is a review from HomeschoolBuzz.com.  B and J have liked chapter books for a while now but these seem to really hold their attention.  They usually want me to read the whole book in one setting (this only takes 30 mins. or less).

A great book we checked out from the library, and love is The American Story which is  series of 100 short stories from American History.  They are short enough to hold everyone attention.  
Another book I love is Discovering Great Artists.  Each page has an artist and their story along with a project kids can do in the style of that artist.  We plan do get into some of these projects this year.  I might co-op some. It’s always neat to do projects with other families.  Makes it more fun and exciting.

Accountable Kids


 

In January we started using a program called Accountable Kids and we LOVE it. The program helps us gently remind the kids of what’s expected of them daily. There are 3 sets of reminder cards; morning, afternoon, and evening.


Each set of cards completed earns the child a ticket that allows them to do a privilege like watch a TV show or do something on the computer (anything that works for your family).
We only have them do simple daily chores that they should do anyway; make they beds, clean their rooms, clothes into hampers, get dress, brush teeth (with our help). The tickets can also be taken away for discipline for not listen, name calling etc. It’s really worked out well.   We don’t expect perfectly made beds but sometimes they do extra well and over time, we hope, it will stick with them and realize that it’s nice to have a tidy area to play and live. Over time we can start to pay them for extra chores completed like taking the trash out. a reward for 10 days without loosing a ticket your child can get a date with whoever they choose. Here, J went for ice cream with Mama