2014-15 Homeschool Plan: Math

I'll start with math. Look here for last year's information. This year, we're returning to having both boys doing the same thing.

The plan is to work through Discovering Math 7B with both boys, review Discovering Math 7A (which we worked through together this past year), and use some of the Key to Algebra books to review and reinforce topics as we go.

Having used both of these programs before, I can say that I like both. The Discovering Math books are very clear and easy to teach from...with plenty of sample problems, problems to assign and workbook reviews. We're still at the point where I work through the lessons with the boys, rather than leaving them to tackle it on their own. (But I can see that just handing these books to students to work through on their own would also work well, if that's what you're looking for.) The Key to Algebra program is excellent for concise summation of topics and quick review. (They'd probably also work as a step before introducing a topic...to lay the groundwork.)

To touch on what worked and didn't last year:

• Art of Problem Solving: Algebra...used this for Noah and definitely like this program. I'll use it again when the younger two get older.
• Teaching Textbooks...used this (Math 7 and then Pre-Algebra) for Asher for the first half of the year but then switched, as he decided it was not challenging and too repetitive. I'm still appreciative of the ease of using this program but apparently it's not a great fit for us.
• Life of Fred...had Asher read through these on his own last year (Decimals and Pre-Algebra 1). I think they were valuable as a supplement.
• Beast Academy...had Micah use these some last year but finally stopped, as we found that bouncing back and forth between material was unnecessarily confusing. I still really enjoy this curriculum and wish that they'd been around sooner.
• Hands on Equations...didn't use this as a curriculum but found the manipulatives and ideas behind this were valuable for setting up the introduction to equations.

So. That's math. ;)

2013-14 Homeschool Plan: Everything else

Almost done. ;) Here are the last few odds & ends that we'll cover:

ART: I'm going to try for a project every other week using this book and others that I already have around here to pull ideas from.

ECONOMICS: I'm not tackling this extensively but have this book and a lesson plan guide that accompanies it. My plan is to simply work through a chapter every other week or so.

WORLD VIEW: Similar to economics...just working on some more intentional exposure to the topic. Last year, we worked our way through this book (supplementing with library books) to introduce the main world religions. This year, we'll use this one.

TYPING/HANDWRITING: I'm going to have all three boys work on typing skills using Type Fu. I've also got a handwriting/cursive workbook that I'm going to have Micah work through...because, though he's well advanced in most subjects, his handwriting is that of a seven year old. ;) 

MUSIC: Micah's the only one who will end up with an actual music class this year. He's taking piano at Options. I'm still working out how and whether we'll pursue other music...perhaps just online videos on their own (for guitar) or just continued practice on piano and recorder (and drums in Asher's case) on their own or maybe I'll try to find a class for Asher, who'd love to take clarinet lessons. (Sadly, Options didn't have any music classes for Asher that he hasn't already taken.)

PE: I'm fairly sure both Asher and Micah will have PE at Options this year (and they're looking forward to having Ms Toni again). They'll also both continue with karate twice a week.

(And, hey, because Micah turns eight shortly and Asher's small enough to warrant staying in this age group, they're both in the same time slot again!! It's been three years, but we're back to the two of them being in the same classes and it's lovely. ;) (They'd been divided due to age, such that we'd go to karate twice a week but one would sit with me during the first class and the other would sit with me during the second class.) Ta da! Just saved me more than 1.5 hours each week!)

Asher will then also have his extra karate stuff for demo team each week. Noah will do swim team again 2-3 times a week. And Noah and Micah will both do JOAD archery again, practicing 1-2 times a week from mid-September to end of April-ish. I think that's enough PE. ;)

Whew. And that's what our homeschool plan is for next year. (Oh, and I updated the curricula lists for each boy over to the left for a quick glance sort of dealio.) Thanks for hanging in there! ;)

2013-14 Homeschool Plan: History & Geography

History is another of those subjects that we do together. We do both world and US history. For both, we're just going to be continuing what we did last year. :)

So. For WORLD HISTORY, we'll cover Volume 3 of Story of the World. This year, I'm going to work at more intentionally incorporating projects and games (like Timeline, which I recently discovered but haven't tried yet) and will also start giving tests each session. 

For US HISTORY, we'll cover the 1800's...books 4-7 in Joy Hakim's A History of US. We'll supplement that with lessons out of Critical Thinking in US History-New Republic to Civil War. We used both last year and will simply continue. I really like how the Critical Thinking program offers more ways to look at historic events and encourages kids to think about how information is presented.

As with history, we do both world geography and US geography. 

For WORLD GEOGRAPHY, I'm making my own plan. Since we'll have six sessions, I'm going to cover one continent each session (and omit Antarctica...sorry, Antarctica!). During each of those sessions, we'll spend the first week reviewing the countries, landmarks & physical features. The next week will introduce some stories from that continent. The third week will cover history of that continent. The fourth week will cover current events on that continent. And the last two weeks my plan is to have the boys work together to plan a trip to that continent...what would they want to see? how would they travel? what currency would they need? how many time zones will be covered? what customs will they need to be mindful of? The list goes on...I'm hoping it will be as fun as it is in my head.

(Obviously, this will all be limited and not all-inclusive, but it should give the boys a nice picture of each continent and we can work from there in the future.)

It may be worth noting to some that I initially thought perhaps I'd just read through "Around the World in 80 Days" and follow that travel plan and study the areas passed through during the year. I even found some lesson plans online to help. But then I actually tried to read the book. And I decided my new plan is more interesting and comprehensive. ;)

For US GEOGRAPHY, I'm going to go through the 50 states again...this time adding in things like postal abbreviations and the history of how that state got its shape, altogether instead of separately as I've touched on in the past. As with world geography, I'll build in more time for review and also for planning road trips. :) 

2013-14 Homeschool Plan: Science

Moving on from the subjects we do independently to those we do as a group...

Last year, we used Elemental Science...the Intermediate Earth Science & Astronomy unit. It went pretty well and covered a good variety of stuff, but just wasn't as challenging as we needed. 

Next year for science, our plan is as follows:

We'll start with Human Body Detectives, completing the Circulatory and Nutrition units during our first six week session. (We've already done the Digestive and Immune System units. I think I like them, though I find the organization of the lessons a tiny bit confusing. I haven't been doing all of the activities (as my boys would really rather not color and things like that) but like that the program makes them available.)

After that, we'll spend a couple of sessions on Ellen McHenry's The Elements program. I haven't used this before but have heard good things. From the samples I've been able to see, I think it will be a nice challenge for us.

Finally, we'll follow that up with Ellen McHenry's Carbon Chemistry. Same as above. ;)

I think we'll end up with a session free so am thinking I'll assign individual research or projects.

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. ;)