We have been home schooling since my oldest was born! Big O Daddy O wasn't 100% sure it was the way to go in the beginning. My oldest was born a social butterfly. She was her happiest when we were out and about town and she could capture the attention of others. She would even chase down the neighbors shouting, "HI ! HI !" until they would stop and turn around and say "Hi!" back. So of course, he was concerned about her socialization. That of course is pretty hysterical to think about. She wasn't in daycare and she was already pretty socialized. So we agreed to do what was best for each of our children and we would make a decision each year of what we would do regarding their education.
Eleven years later we are still homeschooling. It hasn't always been easy. Actually, I wouldn't say it has been easy at all. There are moments as there are with anything. However, I would say, I have enjoyed it immensely. We have struggled through the years with new babies and toddlers and the preschool years and learning to read. Now all five are in school! But with all struggles, you can learn, grow and gain so much more than you could have imagined. Life has thrown us a few curve balls here and there, but with God's grace we have weathered each season and grown closer as a family and to Him.
I am often asked what we use or do for our curriculum. It has been a hodge podge over the years. A mix that works for whichever season we happen to be in. Some years, I needed my oldest to be a bit more independent and I needed less grading to do so we used Switched on Schoolhouse. Other years, we used Life Pacs and workbooks. In the really, early years, we used Five in a Row.
This is what we do now:
Kindergarten
Awana
Horizons Math
Explode the Code
100 Easy Lessons (Reading)
Homemade folders for each letter of the alphabet and numbers to 10
File Folder games
http://www.starfall.com/
Listening in on Science and History
What Your Kindergarten Should Know
Second Grade
Awana
Horizons Math
Horizons Phonics and Reading finishing up First Grade workbooks (I spread this out over 3 semesters
Spelling Power
Listening in on Mystery of History and Exploring Creation ~ Zoology Flying Creatures by Jeannie Fulbright
US Presidents and States....something I have put together using various resources
Health - Abeka
Typing - Mavis Beacon
Spanish - if he is interested- Rosetta Stone
Piano
What you 2nd Grader Should Know
SRAs from Hooked on Phonics - Reading fluency and comprehension
Fifth Grade
Awana
Horizons Math
What Your 5th Grader Needs to Know
Spelling Power
Mystery of History
Exploring Creation ~ Zoology Flying Creatures by Jeannie Fulbright
US Presidents and States....something I have put together using various resources
Wordly Wise
Vocabulary from the Roots Up
Bob Jones Writing and Grammar
Piano
Rosetta Stone Spanish
Mavis Beavis Typing
Health - Abeka & The Care and Keeping of You
Sixth Grade
Awana
Horizons Math
What Your 6th Grader Needs to Know
Spelling Power
Mystery of History
Exploring Creation ~ Zoology by Jeannie Fulbright all 3 in the series if he gets into it and works at. He is super motivated to do this.
US Presidents and States....something I have put together using various resources
Vocabulary from the Roots Up
Wordly Wise
Bob Jones Writing and Grammar
Rosetta Stone Spanish
Mavis Beavis Typing
Piano
Tenth Grade
Saxon Geometry
Mystery of History
Apologia Chemistry
Rosetta Stone Spanish
Piano
Home Economics ~ extensive syllabus over the whole year. I posted here about it.
US Presidents and States....something I have put together using various resources
Bob Jones US History
Bob Jones American Lit
Bob Jones Writing and Grammar grade 11 ~ split up over 10th and 11th grade
Jensen's Format Writing
Julius Caesar
MacBeth
The Lord of the Flies
To Kill a Mockingbird
Horse Back Riding
Servant Team at church
We tend to throw in sports, museums, park time and homeschool group activities in where we can. The kids are involved in AWANA and other church activities. This year we will continue to care and love for various Grandparents as they need us and we need them. We love our time with them.
