Home is where you start from: consuming happening over here

Thursday, June 28, 2007

consuming happening over here

"There's just too much consuming going on...!" a quote from Senator Byrd, high on my list of favorite, silly quotes..

anyways..the subject of my post will be: my homeschool curriculum lust for fall.
Can you believe we are in the midst of curriculum shopping season already??

here is a list of what I am considering, needing an ounce of courage to actually start ordering...

Math

We have always used Abeka math, I have decided to order the K level Math U See for Amie and the next level up for Demi-Sky (or where-ever he tests out at). We need to finish up the older girl's Abeka math books this summer and then I will order Math U See for them also. I think. This is hard for me, switching.

Grammar

I am looking at Growing with Grammar, which will be a new switch for us. I really like that starting with the 3rd grade level, it is designed for the student to read and complete the lesson on their own..I will be needed only for help and looking over the lesson to see if done correctly, and maybe for administering tests.

I will have 4 students this year, I need to delegate my time wisely..this has to be a plus for me. I also like that it seems more classically structured, I've been more warm/fuzzy grammar..which is creating some holes I am afraid. I will order this for Demi and Josie, and maybe for Meg- if after looking it over I find it would be good for her. Amie will be concentrating on phonics, which will be Abeka...'cuz it's what I know...

Writing

I am seriously looking at Classical Writing, this would be for my 2 oldest students...my coming 5th grader needs some work with writing I think this program which teaches through imitation might really help her come up to speed. We are finishing up a writing sentences workbook right now, and I do not see much improvement.

I like the set-up with this program, it is set up to be used 4 days a week in two separate sessions. I think I can do that... I like that I can do as much or little, exercise-wise as is needed for each skill, and it teaches them to construct sentences, paragraphs and essays according to a classical model that builds on itself logically.

Handwriting- will continue on with Abeka handwriting, except for Meg, who gets to move on to copy work of bible passages and book excerpts.

History/Literature/vocabulary/Church History/world views/geography

ahh, the big one...
Going to make the jump to Tapestry of Grace.
I am drooling over this choice. I will let you know how I do, queen of all that is unstructured/unorganized and spontaneous.

*Why I am drawn to this choice, I can use it will all 4 different level students, it is designed with a classical rotation of history..we will get to use each year again in the next 4 year cycle. It is scheduled weekly..I crashed and burned with the daily Sonlight schedule. Includes so much more beyond history!

Science

I haven't made up my mind completely..but I am thinking of using our Sonlight 3 Science I have from last year, that we didn't finish. I have it, have all the stuff..I should probably use it, I liked the worksheets, I think the kids will enjoy it.

They are also all signed up for a marine biology class through our charter school.

I am also hoping to stick in Latin and Greek root words in here somewhere with
English from the roots up..which I have had in my closet for a few years now...

yes, I've got some big plans...we will see how I do. I want to cover it all, but I am such an unstructured person. Will sheer determination help this year??
So much ordering to do!

Labels: homeschool

posted at 11:38 PM
6 comments

6 Comments:

At 11:49 AM, Anonymous said...: Wow Jenny! You are really making some tremendous changes! Abeka to Math U See and SL to TOG are large jumps. We did SL for 5 years, TOG for 1 year and then WP this past year. You didn't mention which year of TOG you are trying. Have you looked at the various book choices at the library? It will help with your decision. I would encourage you to try and lay out a few weeks worth of books on a table and look at what kind of books are there and how your feel about the choices. It will help you with your decision.

I've heard a ton of good things about GWG on the Well Trained Minds Board. Super things about CW too. I organize a writing homeschool co-op. We are going to be in our 4th year this Fall. We use IEW. However, had I not started with IEW, I probably would have used CW. I thought there was a ton of grammar in CW. Do you think you'll still need GWG?
HTH
Holly
At 9:13 PM, Melissa Stover said...: i'm going to blog on my curriculum choices soon too. i'm always interested in what others are doing.
At 9:56 PM, Hen Jen said...: Hi Holly,

yes, some big changes in the way we do things in the works, tho still going to approach these things with a Charlotte Mason flavor..short lessons, narrations...

I am really wondering if I need the grammar, the Classical Writing does look like it has grammar, I am wondering if we will have too much. Then again, I feel like we have been a little 'lite' in our grammar up till now. Not sure what I should do, maybe I will ask the hive mind...

so glad you stopped by!
At 9:55 AM, Shelby said...: enjoyed reading your blog this morning - found your through blogging chicks - take care and happy day :)
At 7:00 PM, Cyndi said...: What fun!! I'll upload you some courage to place the order. (I have extra, it's the $$ that's running thin!) If orders could be placed on courage alone, I'd be ordering more... but alas, they want money, too... :) These choices sound *great*. I've been drooling over TOG, too. We loved MUS from the Primer level all the way through Zeta (until we switched to Teaching Textbooks) but I know what you mean about being nervous about switching. Messing with math curriculum makes me twitchy, too, but I know you've prayed about it. Go for it! We also really enjoyed English From the Roots Up. I can tell you've really done your homework. I can't wait to read how it goes. :)
At 11:26 AM, Anonymous said...: Great list. We love Math U See, especially now that my oldest is getting into stuff that is so far buried in my brain that it is painful to remove it! Mr. Demey does a great job teaching what I can't.

I am also hoping to add English From the Roots Up. I need to see if I can find a used copy somewhere. It just goes against everything in me to pay full price! ;o)

Thanks for the new blog links. I can't wait to check them out.

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