It’s that time of year! Even though we school over the summer, we do start our new year in September.
I’ve got four school years I am planning for this year – Year 6, Year 2 and Kindergarten and Pre-K (Pre-K is mostly follow-along with Kindergarten).
We are heavily literature-based, so our curriculum is A LOT of good, quality books. Much of our reading is done as group read-alouds with an expectation of discussion and narration. A significant portion of our school day is spent reading together, rotating through reading selections for the three age groups. I look at Ambleside Online, Build Your Library, Beautiful Feet for reading selection and scheduling ideas.
We spend approximately an hour and a half per person (for Year 6 and Year 2) working on individual subjects – Math, Language Arts, Latin and some Science. This is a mixture of guided lessons and independent work that is done.
Year 6 (6th Grade, age 11/12)
Math
Singapore – we use the student textbook, workbook, intensive practice, as well as t he Home Instructor’s Guide (I definitely recommend this!)
– Level 5B, Level 6A and Level 6B
Language Arts
Grammar for the Well-Trained Mind – Book 1 – I teach from the Core Instructor Text and Student Guide Key and student works from the Student (Purple) Workbook
Evan Moor – Reading Comprehension Fundamentals Grade 6
Evan Moor Building Spelling Skills Grade 6+
Vocabulary From Classical Roots – Level B
Science
* Chemistry is our focus this year. While our Year 2 will be participating in read alouds and demos, subject matter level is aimed at our Year 6 student.
DK The Way Science Works (spine text)
The Wonder Book of Chemistry by Henri Fabri
The Mystery of the Periodic Table by Benjamin D. Wiker
Usborne’s Dictionary of Chemistry
Evan Moor Daily Science Grade 5 for supplemental reading and practice
History
* Renaissance/Early Modern and US (mid-1400s to early 1800s)
*We will be spreading the reading of our spine texts over the entire year. In addition, we have an extensive historical fiction read-aloud list that will be included
The Age of Science and Revolutions
The World of Christopher Columbus and Sons by Genevieve Foster
The World of Captain John Smith by Genevieve Foster
George Washington’s World by Genevieve Foster
Abraham Lincoln’s World by Genvieve Foster
Historical Fiction read-alouds:
The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood
Pippo the Fool by Tracey E. Fern
The Ghost of the Tokaido Inn by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler
The Ravenmaster’s Secret: Escape from the Tower of London
The Matchlock Gun by Walter Edmonds
Poor Richard by James Daugherty
A Courage Undaunted by James Daugherty
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Statham
The Great Little Madison by Jean Fritz
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
Out of Many Waters by Jacqueline Greene
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Indian Captive: The Mary Jamison Story by Lois Lenski
Literature
Bulfinch’s Greek and Roman Mythology: The Age of Fable – started this past year, will be completing this year
Plutarch’s Lives – using the Ambleside Online Study Guides
Shakespeare -I use Folger Library editions. Books with annotations (links below) with printable versions for student (no annotations) through the Folger Library (tons of resources here so check it out!).
Geography
Carpenter’s North America Reader
DK Geography: A Visual Dictionary – select physical geography topics
Latin
Bible/Theology
AWANA – continuing with AWANA program
The Shorter Westminster Catechism – typically we work to memorize one Question/Answer every week or so, and review what we have covered
Parables from Nature – we enjoy short faith based stories during our morning read aloud time.
Scriptures – following the Ambleside Online reading schedule, we will cover Genesis and Matthew over the course of the year
Nature Study
Experiencing Nature with Children – loosely following for seasonal suggestions
Handbook of Nature Study – an excellent parent/teacher resource
Cornell Lab of Ornithology – we will participate in Project Feederwatch again this year and use resources throughout the year, such as Bird Academy and eBird.
Critical Thinking
Building Critical Thinking Skills Level 2 – a great resource for verbal and figural critical thinking skills
Year 2 (2nd Grade, Age 7)
Math
Singapore – we use the student textbook, workbook, intensive practice, as well as the Home Instructor’s Guide
Language Arts
First Language Lessons Level 1
Evan Moor Building Spelling Skills Daily Practice Grade 2
Evan Moor Reading Comprehension Fundamentals Grade 2
Evan Moor Basic Phonics Skills Level C
History
Story of the World – Book 2 The Middle Ages – book and activity guide (for map work and suggested supplemental reading)
Science
Burgess Animal Book by Thorton Burgess
Kid’s Guide to Exploring Nature
Childcraft Annual (1995) – Our Amazing Bodies
Evan Moor Daily Science Grade 2
Geography
Tree in the Trail by Holling C. Holling
DK Geography: A Visual Dictionary – select physical geography topics
Latin
Literature
Aesop’s Fables – completing this fall
Tales from Shakespeare (Lamb)
The Wind in the Willows (Graham)
Bible/Theology
AWANA – continuing with AWANA program
The Shorter Westminster Catechism – typically we work to memorize one Question/Answer every week or so, and review what we have covered
Parables from Nature – we enjoy short faith based stories during our morning read aloud time.
Scriptures – following the Ambleside Online reading schedule, we will cover Genesis and Matthew over the course of the year
Nature Study
Experiencing Nature with Children – loosely following for seasonal suggestions
Handbook of Nature Study – an excellent parent/teacher resource
Cornell Lab of Ornithology – we will participate in Project Feederwatch again this year and use resources throughout the year, such as Bird Academy and eBird.
Kindergarten (Year 0) – Age 5/6
Math
Family Math – games and hands-on activities
Starfall – online as well as printables
Language Arts
Starfall – online and printables
Literature
Five in a Row (FIAR) Volume 1 and 2 – literature selections and discussion prompts
Bible/Theology
AWANA – continuing with AWANA program
The Shorter Westminster Catechism – reading and review during morning reading time but no memorization expected at this age
Parables from Nature – we enjoy short faith based stories during our morning read aloud time.
Scriptures – following the Ambleside Online reading schedule, we will cover Genesis and Matthew over the course of the year
Critical Thinking
Building Critical Thinking Skills Beginnning Level – a great resource for verbal and figural critical thinking skills *I will say that this Beginner level has some content that is “too easy” for my Kindergartner. But I decided to start him at this level because the next level up has a lot of writing, and he is no where near ready for that yet.
*** Science and Nature Study are “tag -along” at this level
Pre-Kindergarten – Age 4
Math
Family Math – games and hands-on activities
Starfall – online as well as printables
Language Arts
Starfall – online and printables
Literature
Five in a Row (FIAR) Volume 1 and 2 – literature selections and discussion prompts
Bible/Theology
AWANA – continuing with AWANA program
The Shorter Westminster Catechism – reading and review during morning reading time but no memorization expected at this age
Parables from Nature – we enjoy short faith based stories during our morning read aloud time.
Scriptures – following the Ambleside Online reading schedule, we will cover Genesis and Matthew over the course of the year
*** Science and Nature Study are “tag-along” at this point
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It seems like a lot once it’s all on paper, but it really is mostly a ton of good books! My oldest LOVES workbooks, so I tend to load her up at her request, and I use multiple resources spread across the week for them all – it helps break up tasks too – I can do “table” work with some while others are doing independent reading. It works for us.
Note – I’ve loved Evan Moor workbooks for years, and usually bought the teacher’s guide and photocopied them as needed. This year I have started buying the e-books directly from Evan Moor and it is a life saver! Printing from my computer instead of photocoping is definitely the way to go!
Michelle Home Scholar 