At your request, here is an idea of some of the books we’re using this year for school:
Bible: We’re starting off the year reading through the book of Luke together in the mornings during breakfast. Matt does scripture memorization with us all during lunch and dinner (I can share more about this if you want). Also, two days a week I’m using Proverbs for Parenting to teach the boys more about studying the Bible (and hopefully we’ll all gain a little more Godly wisdom while we’re at it).
History: We’re studying American History this year, reading most of these books from Sonlight.
Geography: Since we are learning American History this year, I felt it appropriate to do a unit on US Geography. I put together a portfolio packet of activities and lessons for the boys with things I found at the library. They’ll also do special projects and maybe write a paper featuring a state of their choice.
Also, I was SO excited to find a States and Postal Abbreviations ebook from Joy at Five J’s which goes right along with what we’re studying this year. It includes writing activities and flash cards so the boys can practice and learn easily.
Click here to view more details
Science: We’re doing a unit on weather based on this book. Then we’ll try to get through several of these books to learn about how things work.
Reading and Read Alouds: We’re reading a TON of great books this year either individually, or out loud. To list them all would take up a lot of space here, but I pieced together packs of books for each of the boys based on what I felt they were ready for. Check out Sonlight’s book lists if you ever want anything awesome for your kids to read, or to read to your kids. You can not go wrong with Sonlight book recommendations.
Spelling: I’m using Spelling Power for Asa (age 12). This year we’re starting something new for Justus and Elias (ages 9 and 7): Sequential Spelling. I think this program is just what they need at this point. So far they are both doing well with it.
Two other things we do for spelling: Matt has a really great bedtime tradition he started with the boys several years ago. It’s a great spelling tool. Also, I’ll be using SpellQuizzer for fun extra practice for the boys.
Math: This year is a little different as we’re doing three different math programs for three different boys. Asa is using Teaching Textbook Math 7. Justus is using Saxon 54. Elias is using Miquon. We decided to use Teaching Textbooks for the older grades because it is so wonderful…but it’s also pricey (which is why we didn’t buy a program for both Asa and Justus this year). Justus graduated out of Miquon last year so we’re borrowing Saxon for now until he can use the Teaching Textbooks Math 6 we previously bought for Asa. Elias is in the Miquon blue book (and will hopefully get through the green book this year too). Miquon teaches math in a different and “backward” way…but it’s worked well for our family and we really like it.
Handwriting: Justus and Elias are using Italic Handwriting. I like this method of writing because the cursive is so much like the printing…just hooked together. Plus, it just looks so nice. Asa doesn’t do handwriting practice from a book anymore. He has nice handwriting and I just have him practice by writing letters to people or copying Bible verses.
Typing: I bought this computer program this year to help teach the boys to type. They each spend about 15 minutes, four days a week practicing with this software.
Pre K: I’m using a few Rod and Staff books for Malachi this year. Plus, I’m feverishly trying to finish a complete preschool curriculum which I will put into ebook form. It’s not complete enough to offer for sale yet, but I’m using the concepts and ideas with Malachi this year. Hopefully we can fine tune it while we use it before we put it into the shop!
What are some of your favorite books?
Becky says
Thanks for sharing this with us! I love reading about what you do with your boys.
I’d enjoy hearing about how you do scripture memorization, too. I’m trying to do more it simply for myself, but I’m having a tough time.
Beth says
Laura, thank you so much for sharing with us your resources for this year! I just love to see what others are doing and always get great ideas!!
I have also gained support and strength from women like you who are willing to share their homeschooling experiences! Especially at this time of year, it is somewhat difficult to keep focused on “why” we will homeschool our sons and that for our family it is the best decision.
I also wondered if you might share with us what your homeschooling days look like, especially when teaching multiple children.
Thanks so much!! Hope you guys have a great year!!!
Jenn says
Those look like great resources! If you still homeschool when your boys are older you might want to look at Harold Jacobs math. I loved that book! He is very interesting and engaging, and he can clearly explain difficult concepts. I got pretty bored with Saxon when I did it, but I know some people really like the repetition.
Once I got into high school I used apologia by Dr. Jay Wile for my sciences. My siblings also used in it middle school. That is by far my favorite science book series. I used abeka as well, and I was a much bigger fan of Wile. He provides a good Christian perspective on a lot of challenging, controversial issues. And he is interesting, which I think is a definite plus.
Hallee says
I only homeschool preschool, but I love this site:
http://www.first-school.ws/sitemap.htm
and this site:
http://letteroftheweek.com/
We also teach our 7th grader creationism in defense against the evolution she’s learning in school this year. The Creation Museum and Ken Hamm have limitless resources on that.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/catalog/Curricula,127.aspx
She gained such a vast knowledge on the subject that her science teacher last year told her she couldn’t be involved in discussion/debate about it for the rest of the year. He was tired of her tripping him up with facts, I guess.
Lisa says
Laura,
Thanks so much for sharing what you’re doing with your boys. I never tire of hearing what other people use with their children. We are currently using a devotional in the mornings, but I’d like to check out Proverbs for Parenting. Sounds interesting. I used Rod & Staff with my pre-K daughter last year and loved it. We are doing Horizons this year as well as some of the Rod & Staff we didn’t get through.
Good luck with all your homeschooling ventures this year. Can’t wait to hear more.
We start school on Monday at our house.
Lisa
Luke Holzmann says
Yep! It’s true: Sonlight books are fantastic! [smile]
~Luke
Kim Taylor says
We use “sonlight” as well; and love it. I would have never been able to find such amazing books on my own; we are now crazy about reading. This year we are also using “my fathers world”, which is going to be perfect for the way my 6 year old learns. I also really like “progress in mathematics” and sadlier and oxford phonics, vocab and grammar. I am going to be using “english for the thoughtful child”. I enjoy doing different unit studies around history and science. We also use “Story of the World”. Im getting more and more into charlotte mason teaching style, i really appreciate a lot of her teaching ideas. It has helped me to learn many different styles, because all my children are so different and I want to help them succeed; I really struggled in school and know I could have done way better, with a different approach. Anyway I could talk all day about that. My 6 year old Josh would be lost if he were in the system so Im very thankful that the Lord is teaching me how I can help him be successful.
Erika says
We’re doing Sonlight Core 3 as well! We’re only 3 days into it, but we’re already fully engrossed and in love with it. I’m using it with both my 5 1/2 yr old and my 9 yr old, and so far, it’s going very well. American History is so exciting!
Danielle says
I went to PS…. and to this day I remember in 7th grade having to learn about a country, and all the imports, exports, stats and stuff. THEN we had to draw the country on a sheet of poster paper. (I did Japan, btw… but I don’t remember too much about it lol) All our posters were hung up in the teacher’s room for the school year.
Just an idea when they get to that age. I know you mentioned the states, and doing something like that.
Danielle says
You know, I never was taught how to type, I just did it. I didn’t pick up speed until senior year of HS, when I did my papers on a word processor, as opposed to a typewriter lol. You pick up on it, when you have 10-12 pages of reports/term paper/essays to type every month!
Wendy @ Sun-Kissed Scholars says
This is a great list! We love Teaching Textbooks, Spelling Power, the “living books” to teach history and literature. There are just so many amazing resources available!