Sharing our 2020-2021 Catholic Curriculum choices and review for our 8th grader, 3rd grader, 2nd grader, and kindergartener.
You all love seeing what our plans are and also how those plans follow through. Today I’m sharing our 2020-2021 curriculum picks for our Catholic homeschool!
(UPDATE: 8/30/2021, Done with the year and leaving a review on the curriculum we used!)
Here are some Catholic Homeschool Curriculum reviews from years past:
- 2019-2020 Curriculum Review (7th, 2nd, 1st, Pre K)
- 2018-2019 Curriculum Reviews (6th, 1st, K)
- 2017-2018 Curriculum Review (5th, K, PreK)
- 2016-2017 Curriculum Review (4th, K)
8th Grade (Isaiah)
Math- Merrill Algebra II
Merrill Algebra books (I and II) are hand-me-down from Husband’s homeschool days. They are a great fit for our family and we have appreciated saving some money on our homeschool curriculum.
You can read my review of Merrill Algebra I here.
REVIEW (8/30/2021): The Merrill books are created for a classroom and midway through the year we really began struggling with this course. The material was enough in depth that even my engineer husband had to take time preparing for the lessons. Even then, there weren’t very good examples or explanations. We really liked Merrill Algebra I, but Algebra II was a flop!
Prentice Hall Algebra II: Husband (the engineer) researched and then chose to switch the Prentice Hall Algebra II (used by Memoria Press). It was a great fit! We used the quizzes and tests from Memoria Press.
We began Prentice Hall in September and finished our year with it.
Also available: Algebra II lectures from Memoria Press
Writing- Following Narnia Volume I: The Lion’s Song (IEW), 4-H Speech Competition
We continue to use and love the IEW theme based writing after completing the Student Writing Intensive B several years ago.
Isaiah will also develop a speech as a 4-H presentation in the spring. He has done this several years now and it is a wonderful experience for a homeschooler! He’s enjoyed winning a spot to present at the Iowa State Fair twice!
REVIEW (8/30/2021): Still love IEW! Isaiah also took IEW Speech Bootcamp over the 2021 summer term and presented a speech for 4-H at the county and state fair level. (for a more in depth review see past curriculum reviews!)
English Grammar – Fix-It Grammar Series (IEW)
Normally, I would use Seton English Grammar series, but I’m trying to cut costs a bit this year. We already have the Fix-It Grammar series and so we’ll be using that.
It is very easy to use and I like that Isaiah will have to do some writing corrections, a valuable skill.
REVIEW (8/30/2021): I still like Seton as an easy workbook style intro to grammar but I LOVE IEW’s Fix-It for application of grammar concepts. We are continuing with IEW’s Fix-It series next year.
Latin- Latin for Children then Latin Alive! Book 1
Since we homeschool year round, our books don’t always finish with the traditional school year. Isaiah has a handful of lessons left in his Latin for Children Primer C and then will likely switch to Latin Alive!
I have a bit more research to do before committing to Latin Alive! but it seems like a natural choice since we’ve been quite pleased with Latin for Children.
REVIEW (8/30/2021): We finished our Latin for Children Primer C and then decided not to begin another text. Isaiah will be taking Henle Latin I in 9th grade in the coming year.
I continue to like the laid back, easy to use style of the Latin for Children.
History- Christ and the Americas
REVIEW (8/30/2021): Isaiah enjoys his history. The text is a bit dry but gives a good foundation for the sequence of American history. We would review the chapter questions together weekly to check for understanding.
Religion- daily Bible reading and prayer, Living for Holiness (OLV)
We continue to like Our Lady of Victory’s religion series. Of course it is supplemented with good ol’ fashioned Catholic family life and his own personal Bible and prayer time. He is so faithful to his daily devotion time!
He got The Great Adventure Study Bible for his birthday and that is what he is using for his devotion time.
REVIEW (8/30/2021): In doing the review with Isaiah for his religion course, he and I (and Dad too!) decided that it was quite repetitious of his many, many years of catechism. He has a very solid understanding of the faith and so we decided to choose tracts and booklets from our Catholic bookshelf for him to read for his religion studies.
Some of the works Isaiah read included: Will Many be Saved by Ralph Martin, Where is that in Tradition?, Catholic Answer Tracts (i.e. ones on evolution, the Church and science, Adam and Eve, origins of the Bible, Church Traditionetc.)
Science- Apologia Physical Science
This will be our first year of formal science study. I’m slightly nervous about the load it will add onto Isaiah, but I think he will find the subject interesting and exciting.
We’ll be trying out Apologia Physical Science course and I’m excited to let you know how it goes.
I plan on purchasing the Apologia Physical Science Lab Kit so we have everything we need for our experiments.
REVIEW (8/30/2021): This course was okay. Nothing to write home about. It was a casual introduction to science which is basically what I wanted for him this year.
Art – You Can Draw in 30 Days
We have about half the book to go and then I think Isaiah will be done with formal art instruction.
REVIEW (8/30/2021): Isaiah worked this this book over a couple years and he actually enjoys drawing now (and is quite good at it!).
Piano- Hoffman Academy
I don’t have enough good things to say about Hoffman Academy!
REVIEW (8/30/2021): No review needed – still love it!
Computer Programming
This is a subject where Husband gets 100% say in the curriculum choice- it’s a foreign language to me!
I only ask that it is independent as possible. Husband is usually able to find plenty of free programs online to keep Isaiah busy for the year.
I’ll let you know the final plan when the year is over.
REVIEW (8/30/2021): Isaiah has really enjoyed the free lessons offered by Top Tech Boy here or on Youtube.
Reading- Intentional Reading List
I used to spend time curating a printed reading list for Isaiah to read from throughout the year, but now we just walk into our little home library and make stacks of books that are appropriate and challenging enough for him.
(We aren’t quite fancy enough to have a “real” home library, but we do have a set of bookshelves in the corner of one of our bedrooms.)
You can learn more here:
- A Required Reading List for Your {Catholic} Child
- Resources for creating a Catholic Required Reading List
- Get FREE Vintage Books for Your Homeschool
- Creating a {Catholic} Bookshelf You Love
3rd Grade (John Christian)
John Christian is 9 and age-wise a 4th grader. Due to some serious health issues a few years ago, he is a bit behind but is catching up nicely with year-round homeschooling!
Math- Abeka Math Grade 3 and then ?
Since we homeschool year round, John Christian is in the middle of his Arithmetic 3. I’m thinking we will move into Abeka 4 before switching to Saxon 5/4 but need to do a bit of research before I fully commit!
He’ll be ready for his new book around Thanksgiving so I have plenty of time to think about it!
REVIEW (8/30/2021): Again, I still love Abeka for K-3rd. We floundered a bit trying to find what came next for John. We played around with MCP, Saxon 5/4 and now finally are working through Rod and Staff math.
Phonics- Explode the Code Workbooks 5 and up, Faith and Freedom Readers, 1 hour of Independent Reading per day
John Christian began reading the Boxcar Children series independently in the past few months so I will probably phase out his Explode the Code workbooks by the end of the year.
I find once my kids are reading on that level, simple phonics instruction during one-on-one reading practice works well enough to bolster their phonics.
It’s also a major milestone because when a child can read Boxcar Children independently they earn a Kindle.
This is super exciting for them and it allows us to access tons of free books and our Kindle purchases for their daily reading hour.
READ MORE: A Required Reading List for Your {Catholic} Child
Handwriting- Seton Penmanship 3
I really like Seton handwriting books because there is sooo much practice. We don’t necessarily do all the practice but it is nice to have it if the student needs extra reinforcement on a particular leter.
I’m trying to cut some homeschool costs this year, so I was grateful to find this book in our homeschool storage. I’m guessing I picked it up used in the past few years in anticipation!
Another great help we’ve found for letter formation is the free app Cursive Writing Wizard. To complete the letter, it must be formed correctly – yeah!
REVIEW (8/31/2021): John struggles with his handwriting and we found that the Good and Beautiful 3rd grade print book has just the right mix of cursive to print for his abilities.
Typing- Typing.com
We used this free program with our oldest and it worked well!
REVIEW (8/31/2021): John didn’t spend too much on typing this year but did a few lessons. He will be doing more in the coming year.
Memory Work – poetry and scripture
2nd Grade (Clare)
Math- Abeka Math Grade 2
We continue to use and love Abeka Math for early elementary (until students are ready for Saxon 5/4).
REVIEW (8/31/2021): Still love Abeka for K- 3rd!
Phonics and Reading- Explode the Code series, Faith and Freedom Readers, 1 hour of independent reading
Clare also began reading the Boxcar Children and American Girl series independently in the past couple months. We’ll probably do a couple more Explode the Code workbooks (since I have them in hand already) and then stop formal phonics instruction.
She has fully earned her Kindle and now we just need to get her one!
READ MORE: A Required Reading List for Your {Catholic} Child
Penmanship –New American Cursive and Seton Handwriting 3
Again, I’m trying to use up some things I have on hand instead of spending unnecessary money this year. I found New American Cursive in our homeschool storage so Clare will start the year on that.
John Christian will likely not need all the practice available in the Seton Handwriting 3 Book so he can “share” his extra pages with Clare.
Clare also uses Cursive Writing Wizard app when she is stuck with a letter formation, but doesn’t need it quite as much as John Christian.
REVIEW (8/31/2021): Clare did great with all her practice!
Memory Work – poetry and scripture
Kindergarten (Elijah)
Math- Abeka Math K and Abeka Math Grade 1
This year, Elijah wanted and was ready to do “real school” so I got him some phonics workbooks and Abeka Math K. He is nearly done with his Abeka Math K and will move into Abeka Math Grade 1 in the next month or two.
REVIEW (8/31/2021): Elijah moved through his Math K and into Abeka Math 1 with no problem. Again, love the Abeka Math for grades K-3rd.
Phonics & Reading –Explode the Code series, sight words, Little Angel Readers
I really like the Explode the Code series! Elijah is moving pretty slowly through it. He know his basic sounds and can blend very well but just needs lots of practice and short lessons.
I like to do sight word drill several times a week, which is great for increasing reading speed.
The Little Angel Readers are my favorite phonetic readers. I like to alternate them with Faith and Freedom readers which are more sight word based.
REVIEW (8/31/2021): Still love all the practice in Explode the Code. I just need to be better about practicing reading a couple extra times a day with Elijah!
Handwriting- Seton Handwriting K
I have lots of pages from John and Clare’s previous Seton K workbooks along with other handwriting resources that will be “free” and great for Elijah to use for handwriting practice.
REVIEW (8/31/2021): Love all the practice in Seton handwriting.
Memory Work – poetry and scripture
Youngest 3 together:
History- Turn of the Century, Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans
REVIEW (8/31/2021): The kids LOVED both of these books and really enjoyed our time working through them. It was fun to sit on the couch and snuggle and enjoy the together.
Bible Stories, Saint Stories, and Narration
Two or three times a weeks we’ll be doing some reading and narration together.
REVIEW (8/31/2021): We were really good about this until George was born (10/21/2020). Always something I want to get better at making time for!
Religion- Baltimore Catechism
The Baltimore Catechism has been a stand-by from our earliest days homeschooling.
READ MORE: BALTIMORE CATECHISM: Step-by-step Guide to Using it in your homeschool (with printable schedule)
REVIEW (8/31/2021): Still love the Baltimore Catechism.
Art- various “how to draw” books
This happens very organically, even though I tentatively schedule it for once a week. There always seems to be a card to make for someone and the kids get lots of practice!
Skip counting, counting to 100
Skip counting is great for memory work and for building math concepts. It will be something we continue to do together.
Geography – States and Capitals
We’ve worked our way through half the states and capitals and hope to finish up this memory work this year.
I’d love to know what you are planning in your homeschool!
Read More:
All the Catholic Homeschooling Posts
Step by Step Guide to Baltimore Catechism in Your Catholic Homeschool
Printable Catholic Homeschool Planner
