One of my favorite parts about reading blogs of other home-educating moms are the posts where ladies share what resources they plan to use or have used. It's been super helpful in building my body of knowledge on what is available.
So here I am piping in with my selections for the year.
I have twin boys in the second-grade and a 3 (almost 4) year old girl. I'm not planning any formal pre-school activities with Nutmeg at this point but she's a little sponge and loves "doing school." I have no doubt she'll be learning too! I am due for baby #4 in December, so I am flexible and realistic with my plans. I love to learn with my kids but I am also a realist. If need be, we'll stick with the 3 R's.
Reading (daily)
"Phonics Pathways"
This is our third year with this resource. I love it! My boys are reading successfully (and voraciously, not at my urging. Wahoo!) I have never taught anyone to read before but we are doing it! I love this book because there isn't prep work. Well, maybe in the beginning for a few games but that's it. We just sit on the couch together for a few minutes a day and there you go. My little men are reading! I am very pleased with this simple but effective resource.
*Sage was "slower" at learning to read and I had to modify what we did a bit but we still used "Phonics Pathways." If you want to learn his story, feel free to ask.
Math (daily)
Singapore Math
This is also our third year with Singapore math. I feel much the same about Singapore math as I do about Phonics Pathways. These two resources are my "Old Faithful." Each concept in Singapore math is introduced concretely using manipulatives or everyday household items. We also do some review using online math games. There is some prep work that involves a little reading using the accompanying home instructors guide.
Linguistic Development and Writing (daily)
We are working primarily from a Charlotte Mason perspective and are planning on easing our way into a more classical education. Next year (third grade) I am planning on making some large steps towards a more classical education with implementing materials from Institute for Excellence in Writing and also beginning Latin. Yeah, I'm a bit nervous about that but one day at a time, right?
Narration
Narrating from read-alouds, history, Bible stories, and science.
Recitation (just a couple minutes daily)
Memorizing weekly Scripture verses and monthly (or however long each takes) poems.
Poetry selections from "Favorite Poems Old and New."
Copywork
This is primarily for handwriting practice but also for learning grammar, vocabulary, etc through imitation of excellent writing.
Copy poetry, verses, quotations, selections from literature.
The second half of the year we'll ease into cursive using Simply Charlotte Mason's "Print to Cursive Proverbs."
Dictation
Used in conjunction with "Phonics Pathways." For spelling."Daily Grams"
Short and sweet daily grammar practice.
Faith (daily)
"Children's Bible Reader"
Race for Heaven first communion materials
Family celebrations of feast days (twice monthly)
History (4ish times a week)
"The Story of the Greeks"
This is our second year using these history books by HA Guerber. I was afraid the level was way too advanced for my boys but they didn't want me to stop reading last year's "The Story of the Ancient World." They may not have grasped everything but they certainly looked forward to each day's reading. I am pretty darn excited to learn about ancient Greece. I know next to nothing about the subject. I'm hoping to do some activities to accompany our readings using ideas I've found in Pinterest. We'll see about that. That part is optional in my mind. I'm a realist. :) But who wouldn't want to sit down to a Greek feast?!Science (2ish times a week)
Apologia's "Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day: Exploring Creation with Zoology 1"
Notebooking with the same
I don't have high expectations for the notebooks but I'm pretty sure the kids will love it if we can fit it in. As for the textbook, it awfully interesting. It's a textbook written in narrative. At the very least we can cuddle up on the couch to read a couple of pages. Basil is a little naturalist so I have no doubt he'll want to take it further.Picture Study (once a week)
One artist at a time.
Degas, Monet, and Cassett using coffee table books found at the library. These books usually have nice large prints.
Stories about each artist found at the library.
Music Study (once a week)
One composer at a time.
Hadyn, Mendelssohn, and Brahms using CDs found at the library.
Stories about each, if available.
Art (once a week)
artforkidshub.com
Weekly drawing or painting.
Other seasonal ideas from Pinterest as I have time/energy.
Geography
Bi-monthly Travel Club with friends
Read-Alouds
We'll read aloud from a list of books I've compiled.
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