Twenty-Ten Curriculum Picks

This is the type of post you'd normally get in the fall, just before a new school year starts. However, because of my wishy, washy, indecisiveness...you're getting it now. After Christmas break, we decided it would be best to homeschool Kade. In other words, Kade and I both missed it dearly and were giddy at the idea of homeschooling again. You can read more about that here.

I didn't have a lot of time to plan. I used a blend of my three favorite methods last year (Charlotte Mason, Classical, and TJED). I was pretty sure I wanted to use them again, even though they are time consuming for the parent, they are in my opinion the best way to encourage a love of learning. Plus, as a bonus I get to learn right along with him.

I am still using (and loving) the 3 ring binder system. This is recommended in The Well Trained Mind and I've found it's the easiest way to organize, notebook, and journal everything. I catagorize subjects like so...

Kade is 7 and is doing 2nd -3rd grade work, here's what we are using this year. We used some things last year (like The Story Of The World & Saxon Math), some of the curriculum is new to us this year but is working like a charm already, and others we just recieved from Amazon. Toward the end of the school year I'll write a review and let you know what I like and dislike.

Bible - daily verses and discussion.

Memory - Ten Commandments, Psalms 23, Phillipians 4:8 (so far), Shakespeare, poems, various scriptures...I'll update this as we go.

Math - Saxon 2 (book 2), flash cards, online games, manipulatives

Writing - Writing With Ease, daily letters/notes to friends & family, narrations from reading.

Grammar - Shurley English

Spelling - Spelling Workout C, words I notice he's having trouble with, new words that we are learning in history.

History - The Story Of The World Vol. 2, along w/ coinciding activity book.

Geography - Blackline Maps (on CD), Wall maps, 50 U.S. States flash cards, National Geographic flash cards

Science - Handbook Of Nature Study, Biology For Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments That Really Work

Spanish - Currently using a random workbook purchased at Walmart...Kimball tutor's both boys 1-2 nights per week. I'm saving up in hopes to buy Rosetta Stone next year.

Literature - Some of the 'read alouds' this year are Pilgrim's Progress (about 3 pgs per day), The Trumpet of the Swan (finished last week), The Wind In The Willow's (currently reading about 10 pgs per day), Shakespeare, Joan of Arc. Kade's current 'free read' is Farmer Boy. He's also listening to The Merry Adventures Of Robin Hood (audio version, 30 min. per day).

My favorite books on homeschool are The Well Trained Mind, Charlotte Mason Companion, and Leadership Education.

Web-sites I recommend are Amblesideonline.org, SimplyCharlotteMason.com, WellTrainedMind.com , TJED.org

These are all great sources if you are looking to learn more about the classical method or if you're just looking for recommended book lists.