2013-14 Homeschool Plan: Language Arts

The other primary subject that the boys do independently is language arts. Like math, this year will be the first time I intentionally use different curricula for each boy rather than just different levels of the same curricula. It's gonna get complicated, lol, but will hopefully go smoother than last year's trial and error. ;)

GRAMMAR: I'm going to have Noah tackle Analytical Grammar, all three seasons if possible because we're gearing up for the placement testing for high school at Early Colleges and know that this is an area of weakness for us. I'm very much in love with the idea behind this program of not repeating most everything every year and just hitting it all when students can actually retain it. In light of that, I'm *not* doing grammar with either of the younger boys next year. So there. ;)

WRITING: This is the one. It's gonna be crazy. But. I'm stoked. I think this has the potential to work really well and play to each boy's strengths (and boost their weaknesses)...*if* I can figure out how to fit it all in, lol. So. I'm going to work through IEW's Rockets, Radar & Robotics theme pack with all three boys, to work on skills like outlining and taking notes. Then, each boy will have a separate plan...

Noah: The Analytical Grammar program also has a writing component, called Beyond the Book Report. We'll give that a try, hoping that the very straight forward approach is a good fit for this no-nonsense sort of boy. I'll also have him tackle this Killgallon book.

Asher: Asher's my story teller, my language arts boy who might actually enjoy writing. So, we're going to try a new curriculum called Cover Story. It's by the same folks who do the One Year Adventure Novel program that I've looked at in the past (with an eye toward using it in the future), so I'm pretty excited and hoping that it's as much fun as has been advertised.

Micah: Like Asher, Micah loves telling stories. Like Noah, Micah prefers a more no-nonsense approach. ;) Given that he's only technically a third grader, I'm going to have him using Writing With Skill. 

SPELLING: I'm still very happy with All About Spelling and am going to just keep working through that. We're partially through level 6 right now and will aim to finish that and level 7 by the end of the year. I still don't know that having all three doing the same level is the best plan, necessarily. But. Micah's holding his own...just gets a bit more frustrated sometimes...and Noah is still challenged every now and again. I'm just going to leave well enough alone. :)

VOCABULARY: This is new-ish. I've done plenty with vocabulary in the past, but usually through other subjects and never in a concerted manner. This year, I'm going to have all three boys work through Word Roots on the computer. (I'm thinking the younger two will do level A1 and Noah will do both A1 & A2...just a lesson or two a week...easy exposure.) I'll also have them each do different levels in All About Homophones. 

READING: Each boy will have assigned reading each session. I haven't finalized these plans and will probably change my mind each time. ;) Right now, my thinking is to assign a specific book or two in addition to letting them pick a book or two (probably on a designated subject). At the end of the session (6 weeks), I'll have them report back...requiring different types of reports given each boy's age/aptitude. My rough lists right now have each boy reading a mix of more classic literature and contemporary books. I also have a list of books we'll read aloud as a family at night. Over the summer, I've been reading a number of these books (from all the lists) and am excited about many of them...hoping the boys enjoy them. :)

Whew. That's language arts. ;)