Home Education Plans for 2016-2017

Every year I look forward to sharing what we’re planning to use in our homeschool. I’m not sure why…I guess because I enjoy hearing about what others are using. I just love books!

Tapestry of Grace

I’ve already mentioned that we’ll be using Tapestry of Grace Year 2 (see my TOG review post) for history, church history, literature, government, etc. Everyone will be studying the same time period at their own level.

I am so much looking forward to all the books we’ll be reading. First I went through the guide and decided which books we wanted to use (I’m not planning to use all of them), and then I also added some things that I found on my own. Like these lovely Lamplighter books:

I found some of these castle/knight/medieval books at the Lamplighter clearance sale and got a really good deal. They’re such beautiful books.

Geography

For Geography, we’re using Pin It! Maps, the map aids from TOG, and reading Charlotte Mason’s Elementary Geography during Morning Time.

I’m so happy to have found this hands-on map resource (read my review here)!

How is it possible that this is my eldest’s last year of school??? I’m still in shock over this.

12th Grade:

• Tapestry of Grace (History/Geography/Literature/Government/Philosophy/Writing)
• Abeka Consumer Math (not pictured because it hasn’t arrived yet!)
• Abeka Grammar & Composition (My daughter was determined to use this program since she started it several years ago, and she actually likes it!)
• Logic Books by the Bluedorns
• Latin Alive! Book 1 Program (review coming soon)
• Rosetta Stone Spanish
• Piano

9th Grade

• Tapestry of Grace (History/Geography/Literature/Government/Philosophy/Writing)
• Teaching Textbooks Algebra 1
• Apologia Exploring Creation with Biology
• Winston Grammar
• Logic Books by the Bluedorns
• Latin Alive! Book 1 Program
• Pin It! Maps
• Rosetta Stone Spanish
• Piano

7th Grade

• Tapestry of Grace (History/Geography/Literature/Writing)
• Teaching Textbooks
• Apologia Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics
• Science in the Ancient World (I’m using this with the younger three during Morning Time)
• Winston Grammar
• Spelling Wisdom
• Logic Books by the Bluedorns
• Computer Programming and Coding (a personal interest he’s been pursuing on his own)
• Pin It! Maps
• Rosetta Stone Spanish
• Piano

5th Grade

• Tapestry of Grace (History/Geography/Literature/Writing)
• Teaching Textbooks 5
• Apologia Zoology 3: Land Animals
• Science in the Ancient World
• Winston Grammar
• Spelling Wisdom
• A Reason for Handwriting
• Song School Latin Book 1 (review coming soon)
• Pin It! Maps
• Piano

1st/2nd Grade

• Tapestry of Grace (History/Literature)
• Pin It! Maps
• All About Reading Levels 1 and 2
• Song School Latin Book 1 (he’ll watch the DVD’s with his sister, and we’ll use the card game)
• Nature Study

I refer to grade levels only loosely, which is why I’m calling this year “1st/2nd” for my youngest. He’s extremely smart and has always been very verbal. But he has trouble with writing, so we didn’t even get halfway through any of his workbooks last year.

I noticed that he had difficulty forming his letters/numbers and holding a pencil. He despises coloring. Rather than push him, I decided to just wait. I’ve had success with this with one of our other children who had a similar aversion to writing (although hers was not this pronounced). Instead of forcing him to write his answers, I allowed him to do most of his work verbally, which seemed to work well (even though we have no formal evidence that he actually did his school work!).

Instead of getting frustrated, I decided to try a different approach. I put away all the workbooks. He doesn’t have a single workbook this year. I still have plenty of workbooks available from last year should we need them. 🙂

Instead of doing workbooks, we will be doing hands-on everything. We will continue with his reading lessons (he’s still finishing up All About Reading Level 1, but he’s reading really well already, and I have no doubt we’ll be in Level 2 in a few months).

For writing, he’ll use his Montessori sand tray, trace sandpaper letters with his finger, and do lots of activities that will help develop his fine motor skills.

For math, we’re taking a totally hands-on approach. I’ve been devouring all of the information in these two books:

The first book, Making Math Meaningful, explains a Waldorf approach to teaching math. I’ve often been drawn to many aspects of Waldorf education, but there is much that I can’t endorse. I simply ignore the spiritual views that are briefly mentioned, and focus on the useful aspects.

The second book, Teach Your 3-7 Year Old Math, is based on a Montessori approach to math. I love this book! I’ve also been drawn to Montessori teaching methods for years. The difficulty was that I couldn’t figure out how to implement them at home. This book teaches you how to do it, and as inexpensively as possible.

I’m really looking forward to this year with my youngest. It will be filled with reading good books, meaningful play, and hands-on learning.

Music

For years I’ve dreamed of having our own piano so the kids could take lessons. This year, I put the piano on my prayer list, specifically asking the Lord to provide one for us. At the same time, I started setting aside some money, hoping I could save up enough to buy one.

One day we were at a homeschool gymnastics class. I was talking to a mom I had just met, and the subject of piano lessons came up. I told her it was silly of me to be thinking about lessons since we don’t even have a piano. She said, “Do you want a piano?” It turns out they were getting a new one and they offered to give theirs to us! I was elated! She said she had paid $5 for it at a local Methodist Church garage sale years ago, so we could just have it.

The piano isn’t beautiful (it has scratches on the front of it and on the seat), but it’s beautiful to me because the Lord gave it to us! And I love listening to my children playing it (one of my daughters plays by ear). We’re looking forward to starting piano lessons in September!

In addition to taking piano, we’ll also be doing composer study during Morning Time.

Almost Ready

I think we’re almost ready to begin our new school year! We have a few family events coming up, so we’ll probably wait until mid-August to get started. I can’t wait!

 

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