Homeschooling & Curriculum Choices 2012-2013

Overview of our school year:

This school year I will have the privilege and challenge of teaching: Pre-K 4, 2nd grade and 4th grade.  There will be 4 official students in our homeschool and 1 unofficial one (Bean, age 2).

We consider ourselves year round homeschoolers. In the past we’ve begun using our new curriculum in August, however this year we will most likely begin using our new curriculum in October.

 

Overview of our school day:

I generally teach from 9am – 4PM Monday-Friday and 9-Noon on (most) Saturdays.

Included in these hours is:  lunch, snack, nap time/quiet time, driving to extra curricular activities and working with various children at different times.

We began homeschooling on Saturday mornings as a way to address our bigger projects (Science, Geography) or some electives (Chess) that we were unable to do during the school week.

The average school day for our oldest boys is 2.5-3 hours.

Our oldest daughter (Pumpkin) has a typical school day of 1.5-2 hours

Pixie’s school day is typically 45 minutes to 1 hour

 

Family Curriculum

Because of the age and interests of our children I don’t teach very many subjects together.  I’ve tried in the past and it hasn’t worked as well for our family as teaching them individually (by grade level) does for most of our subjects.

The subjects/Curriculum that HAVE worked for us (consistently)  in a group setting are:

• Bible
• Handwriting

For handwriting we use, and will continue to use, Handwriting without tears.

Our Bible Curriculum continues to be an eclectic mix which includes: Bible Study Guide for All Ages,  Kids 4 Truth, Little Contenders and Little Keepers.

*Kids 4 Truth is a program led by our church but involves some home study that we incorporate into our school day.

 

2012-2013 Curriculum Choices by Grade Level:

I prefer to teach some subjects by grade level. I’ve never been able to fully embrace the “one room school house” where I have multiple grades and subjects going at the same time, in the same room.  For us, I work with children individually although other students may be doing independent work when I’m working with their siblings.

Please click on the graphics below to view the Curriculum Choices for this year by grade level.

 

Extra Curricular Activities:

Each year we try to encourage our children to pursue their interests and try new things.  Sometimes they have an idea of what they would like to pursue, other times we need to encourage them and give them options.  Regardless of what they choose we do require them to finish what they start.

Music Lessons is mandatory for each of our children.  They begin with Piano and eventually they may choose an instrument that they would like to play however we believe that learning to read music and play the piano is a starting point for them in their music education.

4th Grade

• Basketball
• Tai Kwan Do
• Golf/Archery Co-Op
• Chess
• Piano
• Art

Basketball will be a new adventure for the boys this year. It was important to their father that they play a team sport as part of their Physical Education.  This will also be the first time they participate in a group Tai Kwan Do class, after taking private lessons last fall, the boys expressed a desire in continuing to learn this martial art.   Notice all the physical activities for the boys this year?  My boys are growing up!

2nd Grade

• Gymnastics
• Ballet (tentative)
• Horseback Riding
• Piano
• Art

Horseback riding will be a new adventure for us this year and although I’m nervous I think it will be a good experience for the girls. We are going to give it a try for 7 weeks and see what we think.

Pre-K 4

• Gymnastics
• Ballet
• Horseback Riding

Although Pixie is excited about horseback riding she  has been counting the days until she can begin ballet classes so we are most certain that she will love it. We have found a classical ballet studio (close to home) that comes highly recommended and will include some friends from church.