What we’re using 2017-18 School Year

I’m a curriculum junkie.  I love the homeschool movement and chatting curriculum is my drug of choice.  This time of year is almost like a second Christmas – planning, reading what others are using, and receiving our latest curriculum in the mail – yep, I love it all!

If you enjoy homeschooling and curriculum as much as I do, this post is for you.  Here is what is on tap for our coming school year.

Fifth Grade:  Lowell (10)

We are going to focus a lot on improving Lowell’s writing this year.  We’ll focus on neatness, composition, spelling, speed, and other basic writing mechanics.

• Math:  Saxon
• English/Grammar:  Seton
• Spelling:  Seton
• Writing:  Writing and Rhetoric (Classical Academic Press)
• Latin:  Latiana Christiana (continuing the same text as last year)
• Required Reading List
• Geography:  Geography I  (Memoria Press)
• History:  Story of the World Audiobooks and Required Reading List
• Religion:  Our Lady of Victory (this is new to us, but we’re really excited to give it a go!)
• Poetry Memorization (Beginning of the Declaration of Independence; O Captain, My Captain; Jesu Dulcis Memoria; The Destruction of Sennacharib; Psalm 8)
• Piano:  Hoffman Academy
• PE:  Swimming lessons  (for 8 weeks)
• Life Skills:  Prepare simple lunches, and learn to cook 3 more involved dinner meals independently

First Grade:  Christian  (6)

School has been tough for this guy the last year.  As his mom and instructor, I have to gauge his capacity for learning every day (some days are better than others).  Praise God that he is now completely weaned off of 2 of his 3 anti-convulsants!  We are expecting to begin weaning him from his 3rd and final seizure medication as soon as next week.  This is such a huge blessing but there are a lot of struggles with withdrawing from a medication.

Not knowing what is ahead for us, I have difficulty setting goals for our school year.  My plan is to accomplish some short school time when we can and to hopefully make some progress no matter how small.

• Phonics:  1oo Easy Lessons and Alphaphonics and TATRAS
• Reading:  Bob Books, Seton Readers, and many, many others as well as sight word flashcards (from TPT)
• Math:  Singapore and  skip counting
• Handwriting:  Seton
• PE:  swimming lessons (4 weeks this spring, as long as we continue to be seizure free)
• Poetry Memorization (The Frog; City Mouse, Country Mouse; The Months; The Scorpion; Four Seasons of the Year; Windy Nights; The Land of Counterpane; Psalm 23)
• Piano:  Hoffman Academy (potentially later this year if his fine motor skills improve after medication reduction)
• History:  Story of the World Audiobooks
• Lifeskills:  Tie shoes, address, phone number, fire safety

Pre-School:  Lilla (4)

(School is not mandatory in our home until a child hits about 6.  However, I like to keep workbooks for the younger crew so they can “do school” when the mood strikes.)

• Rod and Staff Workbooks
• Poetry memorization (Rain, Happy Thought, Whole Duty of Children, The Turtle, At the Seaside, The Swing, Proverbs 3:5-6)
• PE:  swimming lessons (4 weeks this coming spring)
• Lifeskills:  Tie shoes, address, phone number, fire safety

Cooperative Learning

I always enjoy getting a bit of family learning time in, although I admit that I struggle to do it on a consistent basis.  It is on the schedule this year and not just a “when I feel like it” subject, so it WILL happen.

This year, I decided to focus on one subject per each school term (our terms are approx. 6 weeks in length).  I thought this would make this cooperative learning time a bit more doable and approachable.  The hope is that I will actually get something done instead of taking on too much and accomplishing nothing.

Here are the subjects we plan on working together on this year.

Term Intensive Subjects

Nature Study (1 term)

• Create a family nature journal and use Handbook of Nature Study

Art Appreciation (2 terms)

• Rosary in Art from Seton
• Child’s Book of Prayer in Art

Art Instruction (1 term)

• Drawing Textbook

Music Appreciation (1 term)

• Hymn Study (review O Come, O Come Emmanuel in both Latin and English, and learn Tatum Ergo in both Latin and English)
• Attend a recital at a local college
• Story of the Orchestra

Shakespeare (1 term)

• Read from The Children’s Shakespeare and then read selections from the original

Other daily cooperative:

I’m trying to keep it really simple, but I am tacking on these other items to our learning time together.

• Weekly Bible Verse
• Character First (totally free character program that we just started and the kids love)
• Prayer
• Classically Catholic Memory History Timeline Cards

Our Catholic Co-op

Our Catholic co-op has shrunk this year, but I’m really excited about what we will be doing.  We plan on doing 3 units. My fabulous friend (who should really have a blog all her own) came up with the idea of teaching the true, the good, and the beautiful.  Here is what our year looks like.

• Unit 1- Apologetics (true)
• Unit 2- Art Instruction (beautiful)
• Unit 3 – Hospitality (good)

I’ll be in charge of the apologetics unit.  I have a few ideas, but still need to nail down all the details.  I am amazed at the lack of resources available for teaching Catholic apologetics to kiddos.  I would be so grateful to you if you have any suggestions to pass my way!

What are you excited about this coming year?

You’ll also enjoy:

Required Reading List for your Catholic Child

My 10 Criteria for Choosing Homeschool Materials

Create your Own Scope and Sequence (this is actually fun!)

Countering “I could never homeschool”