Curriculum 2018-2019

It's my favorite time of year: time to go shopping for next year's curriculum!  When I went to look at what we have been doing this year, I realized I never actually posted what we are using here on the blog. So here I am, just a few months late.

So one of the big things I changed is how segmented everything was. Instead of having separate curriculums for all subjects and kids, I attempted to combine some things, so we could survive another pregnancy and birth, as well as a toddler.

Our Spine:

We are basing our school year off the Connecting With History curriculum. It is basically a reading list, but put together with a Catholic worldview.  Together, we read and talk about history, going through ten units throughout the year: Early World, The Patriarchs, Egypt and Exodus, Desert Wanderings, Conquest and Judges, The Royal Kingdom, The Divided Kingdom, The Exile, The Return, and the Maccabean Revolt. We are learning about the history of our world, but in context to what is happening in the Old Testament. It is  wonderful way to learn about the ancient cultures. Connecting with History gives us all the books, ideas, and resources to do history, reading, art, social studies, and more together which has helped me streamline school and not go insane with pregnancy and then the birth of our fifth baby. The book lists are set up with four different age levels: beginner (k-3), grammar (4-6), logic (7-9), and rhetoric (10-12). It comes with daily lesson plans too!  Okay, enough of the review, here is what we are using this year.

Sebastian

Language Arts 

Reading

There is an incredible amount of reading in our spine, so I am not hung up on a reading curriculum. We have a huge reading list, and I won't share it all here. We are using the Novel Inquiries from Connecting with History to further investigate some literature. We will read the following books in-depth:

• The Golden Goblet by McGraw
• Tirzah by Travis
• Hittite Warrior by Williamson
• The Children's Homer by Colum

Writing

I am introducing the IEW units this year to my kids together. It is a loose year, and we aren't following a book so we don't write something every week, but I make sure we write something in each unit of Connecting with History.

Grammar

Language of God, book E

Spelling

IEW's Phonetic Zoo, finishing level A and beginning level B

Religion

Faith & Life 6Bible for Young Catholics by Hefferman

Science

Harcourt's Science text for grade 6

Math

We are taking a break from MathUSee this year, and we are doing Saxon 7/6. Last year was a war with math, so we are taking a different approach this year to help him mature before we move into pre-algebra.

Social Studies

A World's Story: A Simple History for Boys and Girls by O'Neill

String, Straight-Edge, and Shadow by Diggins

Ancient Egyptians and Their Neighbors by Broida

Famous Men of Greece & Famous Men of Rome by Haaren

Map Trek: Maps of the Ancient World

Specials

Phys Ed

Phys ed class at co-op in the fall.

Art

Art Hub for Kids on YouTube

Music

music appreciation by listening to various composers that correspond to history and literature

Kaelyn

Language Arts 

Reading

There is an incredible amount of reading in our spine, so I am not hung up on a reading curriculum. We have a huge reading list, and I won't share it all here. Here are a few that are on the list:

• The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
• Achaeologists Dig for Clues by Duke
• Tut's Mummy, Lost and Found by Donnelly
• Ox, House, Stick: The History of Our Alphabet by Robb
• The Trojan Horse: How the Greeks Won the War by LIttle
• What's Your Angle, Pythagoras? by Ellis

Writing

I am introducing the IEW units this year to my kids together. It is a loose year, and we aren't following a book so we don't write something every week, but I make sure we write something in each unit of Connecting with History.

Grammar

Language of God BPlaid Phonics C

Spelling

All About Spelling level 2 and 3

Religion

Faith and Life 3New Catholic Picture Bible by Lovasik

Science

Harcourt Science Grade 3

Math

MathUSee Gamma

Social Studies

Founders of Freedom (Land of Our Lady series)

Time Traveler by Hindley

Ancient World by Chandlier

Classical Kids by Carlson

Old Testament Days by Sanders

Famous Figures of Ancient Times by Diez-Luckie

Map Trek: Maps of the Ancient World

Specials

Phys Ed

Dance class twice a week

Art

Duct Tape Art at co-op

Music

music appreciation by listening to various composers that correspond to history and literaturevoice and violin lessons

Miles

Miles is four this year and with a new diagnosis of apraxia of speech, I decided we would continue the speech therapy at home during "school time."  We probably spend less than 30 minutes doing school every day. When he turns five in February I plan on adding in All About Reading Pre-Reading level to the mix. He seems to be getting ready to learn more, so I want to ease him in with fun activities. Our preschool days look like this:

Day 1:

• Read a book
• Look at the letter of the day
• Build the letter with blocks
• Cut out and glue a letter person
• Work on a speech book (usually getting him to say sentences or specific words)

Day 2:

• Read a book
• Build the letter in sand or rice or playdoh
• a craft of some sort
• Work on more speech

Day 3:

• Read a book
• Use a chalk board to write the letter
• Do-a-dot the letter, but only let him dot when he repeats words correctly or says a sentence (whatever we are working on that week)

Day 4:

• Read a book
• Do the corresponding letter page in the Handwriting without tears book
• Add the letter to our letter art book
• Work on speech

Oliver

I am a HUGE proponent of letting children play. Oliver is two. I encourage playing, games, and generally having fun at this age. He loves to come to the table and play with stickers, kinetic sand, or play doh for "school time" and we read books together. That is it!  Nothing else.