Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Homeschool Open House 2009

Yesterday was our first day of homeschool for 2009-2010.  It was a relaxed first day, focusing on some review products first and less of our core curriculum, but it was a good day.   If you're wondering what a school year at our house looks like, here are our curriculum plans for the upcoming year. 

(Although being a member of The Homeschool Crew means that we may need to set these plans aside at times to review other curriculum options we're assigned.)


A ~ 9th grade (14 next week)

  • Tapestry of Grace (government, literature, writing, social studies, history, church history, art and music history and appreciation, geography)

  • Science For High School Biology

  • Saxon Algebra 1/2 (pre-algebra)

  • A Reason For Writing (cursive handwriting -- because we decided that italic cursive wasn't flowing well and all the kids are now learning standard cursive instead)

  • Spelling Power

  • Auralog Tell Me More Spanish

  • ARTistic Pursuits art

  • grammar and writing still uncertain -- still looking for curricula for these, or deciding which items I already own will be best to use

  • home economics, physical education, nature study, and life skills -- Mom-led through learning lifestyle


R ~ 7th grade (12 years old)

  • Tapestry of Grace (government, literature, writing, social studies, history, church history, art and music history and appreciation, geography)

  • Apologia General Science

  • Saxon Math 76

  • A Reason For Writing (cursive handwriting -- because we decided that italic cursive wasn't flowing well and all the kids are now learning standard cursive instead)

  • Spelling Power

  • grammar and writing still uncertain -- still looking for curricula for these, or deciding which items I already own will be best to use

  • home economics, physical education, nature study, and life skills -- Mom-led through learning lifestyle


C ~ 5th grade (10 years old)

  • Tapestry of Grace (government, literature, writing, social studies, history, church history, art and music history and appreciation, geography)

  • It Couldn't Just Happen  (and other creation science books)

  • Saxon Math 54

  • A Reason For Writing (cursive handwriting -- because we decided that italic cursive wasn't flowing well and all the kids are now learning standard cursive instead)

  • Spelling Power

  • ARTistic Pursuits art

  • Intermediate Language Lessons (grammar and writing)

  • Book-It Reading Program

  • home economics, physical education, nature study, and life skills -- Mom-led through learning lifestyle


J ~ 3rd grade (8 years old)

  • Tapestry of Grace (government, literature, writing, social studies, history, church history, art and music history and appreciation, geography)

  • Christian Liberty Nature Readers (science and reading practice)

  • Reading Aloud With Mom

  • Mathematical Reasoning C followed by either Horizons Math 3 or Math Mammoth

  • Various Traditional Manuscript and Cursive Transition workbooks and ebooks

  • Spelling Power or All About Spelling?  (I need to sit down with J and both these curricula and see which he responds better to)

  • ARTistic Pursuits art

  • Primary Language Lessons  (grammar and writing)

  • Book-It Reading Program

  • home economics, physical education, nature study, and life skills -- Mom-led through learning lifestyle


M ~ Kindergarten  (5  years old)

  • Five In A Row literature-based unit studies (social studies, language arts, art, applied math, and science)

  • Homeschool Share free literature-based unit studies (social studies, language arts, art, applied math, and science)

  • Reading Made Easy, Bob Books, Short Vowel Phonics 1, and Rime To Read books

  • Mathematical Reasoning A

  • Various Traditional Manuscript handwriting workbooks and ebooks

  • Leap Frog Phonics and Math DVDs

  • Book-It Reading Program

  • Creative and Educational Free Play

  • Puzzles, puzzles, puzzles

  • Arts and Crafts

  • home economics, physical education, nature study, and life skills -- Mom-led through learning lifestyle



L ~ Preschool (3 years old)


  • Five In A Row literature-based unit studies (social studies, language arts, art, applied math, and science)

  • Homeschool Share free literature-based unit studies (social studies, language arts, art, applied math, and science)

  • Various Traditional Manuscript handwriting workbooks and ebooks

  • Various preschool math skills workbooks

  • Leap Frog Phonics and Math DVDs

  • Creative and Educational Free Play

  • Puzzles, puzzles, puzzles

  • Arts and Crafts

  • home economics, physical education, nature study, and life skills -- Mom-led through learning lifestyle


G ~ Baby (11 months old this week)

  • snuggles

  • books

  • kisses

  • hugs

  • chase kitties

  • explore his world

  • learn boundaries

  • test boundaries


Homeschool Group Co-op (once monthly for all kids)

  • American History unit study

  • Art appreciation

  • Science

  • Crafts

  • Manners and Etiquette

  • Choir lessons

  • Science Fair

  • Fine Arts Fair

  • International Fair

  • Field Day

  • Field Trips


4-H Club (for oldest 5 children)

  • Individual Projects (developing new skills, learning responsibility, practicing record keeping)

  • Develop Leadership Skills

  • Develop Public Speaking Skills

  • Community Service



Of course, we are relaxed homeschoolers, so not all these subjects will happen daily (especially for the younger students).  The subjects that can be done independently happen daily, while the Mom-directed subjects are fit in around household and children's needs.

We value life-learning in our family, so I definitely count lessons learned through daily living:  family situations, church, 4-H, homeschool group, daily chores, gardening, animal care, home economics, and new skills learned all count as part of school in my book!
If you want to participate in the Homeschool Open House during the month of August 2009, you'll have the chance to win some great prizes.  My favorite prizes are the

  • Rainbow Resource $50 gift certificate,

  • the Curr Click $50 gift certificate,

  • the Homeschool Boutique tshirts for the whole family,

  • Reach For The Stars writing book,

  • Revive Our Hearts Lies Young Ladies Believe set,

  • Circle C Adventure books,

  • Doorposts chart

  • Fun Felts gift certificate

  • oh, who am I kidding ... they're all great prizes!



I hope you have a great 2009-2010 school year.  We're looking forward to ours!

Take joy,
April E.