“What curriculum do you use?” is probably the question I get asked the most. So I’ll just delve in:
Kindergarten:
- Math: Saxon 1
- Reading: All About Reading
- Handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears
- Reading list (poetry, history, religion, etc) all from Mater Amilibus. That site is a blessing!
- Science: One Small Square: Backyard, as well as tons of library books and watching/helping older siblings to experiments.
- History: Connecting with History (RC History) Volume 1 (upcoming post about the glory that is this history curriculum)
- play, play, play…lots of free play time especially outside!
2nd/3rd grader: (she’s at different levels in different subjects)
- Math: Saxon 3
- Reading: All About Reading level 3 and various novels
- Spelling: All About Spelling level 2 and 3
- Handwriting: Penmanship class at homeschool enrichment school
- Science: Harcourt Science at homeschool enrichment school
- Poetry: some poems are memorized for history class, and some just for the fun of it
- Grammar: Rod and Staff English 2
- History: Connecting with History (RC History) Volume 1.
- Geography: Evan Moor Daily Practice 3 as well as mapping for history and literature
- Art: Various picture studies and crafts
- Religion: Faith and Life series and history class also covers Bible history.
4th grader:
- Math: Saxon 5/4
- Literature: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Peter Pan, The Wind in the Willows, and The Magician’s Nephew will be covered this year as well as family read aloud in the evenings (currently Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix).
- Spelling: All About Spelling level 4
- Science: 13 Moon Series with activities to support each book (we’re having lots of fun with this!!) These books are out of print, but I’ve been able to find a few so far for around $1-$5 each.
- Grammar/Vocabulary/Poetry/Writing: Michael Clay Thompson level 2 (This is a big hit and the boys are doing so well with this program)
- Geography: Evan Moor Daily Practice 4 as well as mapping for history and literature
- Art: Art Elements at homeschool enrichment school
- History: Connecting with History volume 1
- Religion: Faith and Life Series plus history class
- Latin: Prima Latina
- Greek: Hey Andrew, Teach me some Greek (both this and Latin are taught at homeschool enrichment school)
- Keyboarding: Keyboarding Without Tears
5th grader:
- Math: Saxon 6/5
- Literature: Same as 4th grader. Makes it easier on me. 🙂
- Spelling: All About Spelling level 4
- Grammar/vocabulary/poetry/writing: Michael Clay Thompson level 2
- Geography: Evan Moor Daily Geography 5 as well as mapping for history and literature
- Art: Art Elements at homeschool enrichment school
- Religion: Faith and Life Series along with history
- History: Connecting with History volume 1
- Latin: Classical Latin at homeschool enrichment school
- Keyboarding: Keyboarding Without Tears
- Science: Harcourt Science at homeschool enrichment school
Wow! That looks like a lot when I type it out!! And I’m sure I missed a lot of little things we do. However, we do not do every subject every day, so it’s not as bad as it seems. We still have plenty of hours in the day for play and hobbies and of course minecraft.
A bonus of having a big family and lots of kids to teach, is that most of the books I buy can be reused. I find that homeschooling gets a little easier on my wallet every year!
