You would think that “Writing” would be on the top of my list of subjects to teach my kids each year, since I absolutely love to write. It seems though, that except for some journaling and small projects here and there, Writing seems to always get pushed to the bottom of our list, trumped by Reading, Math, History, Science, and the like.

This year though:  I have a writing plan for the boys, and we will be sticking to it!

First, let me share the boys’ Reading Lists with you, such as they are right now. I plan to adapt these through the year and hopefully add to them in January. Seeing their Reading Lists will help make their Writing Assignment List make more sense. I think. At least it makes sense in my head.

Here is our partially filled book shelf. Not all of the books have been filed yet.
I’m still working on it.  But doesn’t it look clean and organized?  :)

I typically go off of Sonlight Curriculum’s book list for our Reading, History, and Science. Their lists are wonderful, huge, and thorough, so I have found that I need to pare each list down to make Reading/History more attainable for my family. In addition, for Asa, Matt and I hand selected some books we’ve been wanting him to read that will help shape his character and give us an opportunity to discuss topics with him that we feel are important. With each list, some of the books will be read with a parent, and some will be read independently. I didn’t type out our family “Read Aloud” book list because I’m still working on it.

Asa (Grade 10) – Studying 20th Century World History

• I Kissed Dating Goodbye
• Choosing God’s Best
• Do Hard Things
• Crazy Love
• Our Century in Pictures
• Winston Churchhill:  Soldier, Statesman, Artist
• All Quiet on the Western Front
• After the War
• When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
• China’s Long March
• Albert Einstein and the Theory of Relativity
• The Hiding Place (most incredible, inspiring book ever!)
• Exploring Creating with Physical Science

Justus (Grade 7)  and Elias (Grade 5)

• D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths
• By the Great Horn Spoon
• Old Yeller
• The Call of the Wild
• Henry Reed, Inc.
• Archimedes and the Door of Science
• Aladdin and Other Tales from the Arabian Nights
• Homer Price
• A Gathering of Days
• Adam of the Road
• Star of Light
• Mystery of the Roman Ransom

Malachi (Grade 2)

• Frog and Toad Books
• The Fire Cat
• Green Eggs and Ham
• Put Me In the Zoo
• Little Bear

Malachi is not yet a fluent reader, but is making great strides! We have not pushed him, and at his own pace, reading is finally start to click. He has loved the Frog and Toad Books we started having him read this summer, so I feel that he will soon take off and plow through that list. Not to worry, I have many more books ready to add to his list once this happens. :)

I plan to read The Story of the World (Ancient Times, The Middle Ages, and Early Modern Times) to Justus, Elias, and Malachi as we study World History this year. Even though the boys are all at different grade levels, I have found that it works very well for me to study the same History subject matter with them altogether. Each of them catches and learns what they are capable of for their age. It works beautifully.

In addition, the three younger boys will be studying science together, focusing at least first semester on a Human Body unit – all books from Sonlight.

Of course, our entire family will be reading the Bible and some devotional/study books together at breakfast time each day. Asa and Justus will continue to learn Spanish from the incredible Rosetta Stone CDs. Malachi will use Miquon math books, while the other three use Teaching Textbooks at their grade level (5th, 7th, and Algebra 2). We’ll go through grammar books, phonics books, spelling, handwriting, and vocabulary books as is needed and grade level appropriate. And I’m sure I’m forgetting something, but that’s okay. As long as they are learning how to learn, we’re good to go, right?

Now…for writing. Here  are the plans I’ve made for each boy. I will assign deadlines for each project.

Asa:

• Write one 3-5 page paper about what you loved about your summer, what you feel God taught you, and how you feel you grew.
• Write one 3-5 page research paper about a subject chosen from something you’re studying in Science.
• Write one 3-5 page research paper about a major event you’re studying in History.
• Write one 3-5 page research paper about a person you’re studying in History.
• Write one fiction story, following the guidelines for LTC.
• Write one poem, following the guidelines for LTC.
• Write one (or more) devotional, which you will present at church when the opportunity arises.
• Write two book reviews, choosing from the first four books on your reading list. Agree? Disagree? Personal thoughts and goals?
• Write letters and emails of encouragement as the need arises.

Justus and Elias:

• Write a one page research paper about something you’re studying in History.
• Write a one page research paper about something you’re studying in Science.
• Write one poem, following the guidelines for LTC.
• Write one fiction story, following the guidelines for LTC.
• Write one song, following the guidelines for LTC.
• Write dictation sentences on Mondays and Wednesdays to practice and learn good sentence structure.
• Journal each Monday, one full page, highlighting events from the previous week.
• Write and send cards of encouragement as the need arises, about one each week.

Malachi:

• Journal twice each week, and illustrate.
• Write dictation sentences on Mondays and Wednesdays to practice and learn good sentence structure.
• Create and write fun/silly sentences with Mom, then illustrate.
• Make cards and write notes of encouragement, at least one each week.

This is a very long post, so if you’ve stuck with me this long, you now get to see the pink I was referring to in my post title. When we purchased school supplies for the boys earlier this week, on Malachi’s list was “card making supplies” to go with his writing assignment of making and writing notes to people. (Justus and Elias got to pick out ready made notecards instead.)  I already had card-stock, and I let Malachi pick which colors he would like in his “card making kit box”. He chose green and blue, of course. But then he also chose pink “for the grandmas and aunts and ladies at church”. How sweet is he? He also chose some cupcake stickers, deciding that he may need to make treats to take people that he made cards for. I love this idea, and think it is a perfect service idea to  follow up on our Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve Curriculum that we’ve done the past few years.

Phew, so there you go. Hope you survived this post which was about twice as many words as I typically write in one post. I’ll try to make up for it on the next one by writing very little. No promises.  Apparently I have lots to share as we prepare for school next week! ;)

Whether you home school or not, I’d love to hear:  Are you starting school soon? Are you ready?! :)