Will we say “two thousand ten” or “twenty ten” after we ring in the new year? The jury is still out… but after emails from a few you pointing out that my 2009 – 2010 school year has started and I’ve yet published my plans. My brain is still on summer break; here they are:
Einstein, age 9
Math: Singapore 4a Intensive Practice, 4b Primary Math and Intensive Practice, Challenging Word Problems 3.
Picasso, age 7 – 8
Math: Singapore 2b Intensive Practice, Singapore 3a PM, Challenging Word Problems 2. (*Note, he finished 2b Primary Math already, but since he’s only 7 I’m pacing him developmentally by having him do 2b IP. That should put him at 3a around the holidays, and he’ll be 8.)
Together
Grammar: Growing with Grammar 3
Writing: Writing Tales 1
Spelling: Spelling Wisdom, Simply Charlotte Mason and Dolch Sight Words, levels A, B, C
Latin: English from the Roots Up cards
Logic: MindBenders A1, A2, A3, A4 and Building Thinking Skills by Critical Thinking
Geography: my own mix aided by Knowledge Quest Blackline Maps, The Geography Activity Book, Geography from A-Z: A Picture Glossary, Professor Noggins Earth Science, A Child’s Geography, and a 2 week road trip where the boys will see Great Plains, southwest desert, the Grand Canyon, buttes in Monument Valley, Rocky Mountains, amber waves of grain, and lots and lots of roads.
Missing this year:
History: We are skipping the next level, vol 4, in the SOTW series. I am not ready to explain World Wars, the Holocaust and the mess in the Middle East to a 7 year old. This year, we are focusing on Geography, and some basic US history. We will resume with ancients and hit modern history (oxymoron, no?) the next go around.
Science: I purchased Real Science 4 Kids Biology, Chemistry and Physics at the convention. I am waiting for some more releases of supplmentary “kog” books. I adored Dr. Keller. She is working on a science-integrated program than pulls in art, language, philosophy, technology, critical thinking, etc. It’s brilliant. You can read about Dr. Keller’s work at her site: Gravitas Publications. I am not sure when we’ll fold this in. Next year? Mid year?
For your convenience, I’ve linked to many of the products listed above at Amazon or the publisher.
- Spelling Wisdom, Simply Charlotte Mason: http://simplycharlottemason.com/books/spelling-wisdom/
- Writing Tales: http://www.writing-tales.com/
- Critical Thinking Co.: Logic Books
- Knowledge Quest Blackline Maps: http://www.knowledgequestmaps.com/maps.htm
- Real Science 4 Kids: http://www.gravitaspublications.com/products/index.htm
In full disclosure – those Amazon links help support our homeschool book fund. Thanks for clicking them to shop!
In another post, I will cover Trouble’s academic year. Here are his PreK learning tools.
Happy homeschooling to those of you who do – and if you got this far – I’m guessin’ you do.
Unless you’re my mom. Hi mom.
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Darcy-
Do a search on Amazon for “roadside geology” There is a series of books that you might find useful for the trips you have planned. I haven’t seen them in person but have been considering buying for our local area.
Best wishes for 09-10!
Darcy,
One of my favorite things is reading about how others are planning their school year and what curriculum they have selected. Someone should do a blog carnival or linky tour of that. And by someone, I obviously mean you because you have the “mad graphic skillz”
Don’t you just love me? I know you have so much extra time on your hands.
I look forward to hearing what you have planned for Trouble.
- Karin
Great! Let’s do it!
And of course I love ya’…
You’ve already started school? Fo’ realz? Like, every day school? Or are you just getting ready to start? I had plans. Big, big plans. I was going to start school the last week of July so we could make sure we got to take December off (our Decembers are CRAZY busy). Yeah. Then life happened and I’m nowhere near being ready. I don’t even know what curriculum I’m using for Kiddo’s reading this year. I usually mooch off my best friend, whose daughter is a grade ahead of Kiddo, but she didn’t use BJU Press Reading like she has for the past several years. And, dang, that stuff is expensive for just one use! I guess I could get it off of Ebay and sell it again later. Anyway, my hat’s off to you if you really have started back.
Fo’ reals. We’ve been back a week already. But we’ve got looooottssss of breaks planned. That road trip is still school – but no books – so we’ve got to get some of that out of the way so we can enjoy plains, mountains, valleys, canyons, rivers, etc. all in our own time.
For reading – how about looking over Sonlight’s, Ambleside’s, Simply Charlotte Mason’s, and Veritas Press’s reading lists at that grade and just pulling the books you need. I’ve never used BJU, so I’m not sure what all you’d be missing. Would one of the colors of LLATL work? Those seem less spendy???
I made it to the end. When is the road trip?
“Unless you’re my mom”–or Richella. Richella is not homeschooling these days, but she loves to see what Darcy’s doing, so she reads every word.
God bless you for your work with your boys! What a great year you have planned. You are so kind to share this.
i don’t know what some of that means, but it looks like a fun and challenging year! and those boys…man, are they handsome!
I hear you about STOW 4! I’m struggling with what to do for STOW 3. I’ve been pre-reading it this summer and think it might be a little difficult for my younger two. Did you boys enjoy volume 3?
We did like SOTW 3. We also added on This Country of Ours with it. It was a great start for American history, too… which fits in nicely for what I’d like to accomplish this year.
But looking over SOTW 4 – it’s much too much for a 7 yo, in my opinion. How do you explain things like Civil War, Trail of Tears, two World Wars, Pearl Harbor, nuclear bombing Japan, the Holocaust, the Titanic, the Middle East, anti-American sentiments, religious wars…? Those are topics that deserve more than I’m willing to dish to precious, young minds. I’d like to conquer them when they are able to be more judicious. 11 or 12 sounds better in my mind than 7 or 8. My kids think Narnia is scary. And that’s just pretend.
We’ll do SOTW 1 again next year as a launch and hit SOTW 4 (or at least that time period) in another 4 -5 years.
In all honesty I would wait to study all that till their older too. We just finished up an indepth study two year study of WW1 and WW2. My kids were either in jr. high or high school when we did it. We used Beautiful Feet study guides and added in a lot of our things including books, online projects, and dvds. It is an extremely important thing to study, but also can be very dark and depressing.
I am not planning anything right now.
Why?
Because we still have the second half of last year’s stuff that we are still working through!
I’m trying to be patient. *deep breath* Really, really patient!
I enjoy reading what others are doing for homeschooling. Thank you for taking the time to share and all your great links.
Darcy – What is Writing Tales??? Sounds fun.
We started school this week – not our first choice, but our travel to China here shortly will REALLY mess up a schoolyear!!!
Sqqquuueeeeee! but so so so worth it!
We started last week. But we’ve got lots of breaks planned. None quite as exciting as traveling to China to pick up our newest family member.
Have a fun year. Congrats!
Your curriculum choices look great! You will have tons of fun this year….
I actually miss schooling and my rut. Sad, but true. I hope to start full-swing by Labor Day!
We have been doing the basics all summer. It helps to keep the brain juices flowing!
Oooh, loved reading this. Having twin 7 yr old boys….and homeschooling them….well, this post really helped me
I think our plans are similar. Though, I keep changing mine 
Your year looks like it’s going to be a great one and love the photos. They are really growing up and so handsome.
I love reading what you’re doing and what you’re using. We’ll be starting last week of August and I got my supplies ordered last week. It really is like Christmas in July when they start arriving!
I look forward to reading what you’re planning for Trouble!
Oh, completely off topic but I have to say I tried illy coffee for the first time a week ago. My husband and I went away for the weekend. At home I use a keurig but for the trip I knew I needed coffee grounds for the maker at the cabin. I chose illy espresso that could also be used in a drip coffee maker. Probably not as great as you make it but I have to say I LOVED it!!
Thanks for hosting this-what fun! I enjoyed sitting down and organizing all the plans. I’m not ready to start school again but, I don’t think that’s required.
Love your photos of your boys
~Blessings
We ditched the 4th year as well, though we did talk about slavery and the civil war, and that went fine.
Thanks for hosting this!! I am looking forward to the whole month. You have a great year prepared it looks like. Your boys are quite handsome too!!!
Can I come along on the road trip? I could be a nanny.
Looks like a great plan, hope you have a successful year.
Some things I’ve heard of, others I haven’t. Might have to look into some of them!
You have such fun trips planned! I need to do some of that too! Thanks for sharing all you do.
Okay, so according to the date on the post, you’ve been homeschooling now for several weeks, correct? Can I say that I’m jealous? Can I say that I’m feelin’ lots of pressure? I hope so, ’cause I just did!
Looks like a great list of curriculum choices. I’d be very interested to know how the A Child’s Geography works out for you. I’ve been considering that one for a while now. Thanks for sharing and for hosting this wonderful event!
So, I came back to look at your history and science plans. I’m having a hard time deciding on those! When you say basic US history…..are you just reading some good books? Specific lesson plan? My boys are 7yr old. I was looking at Truthquest and Beautiful Feet….any thoughts?
I’m stalking your blog, hope that’s okay with you! The only curriculum store that I know of is almost two hours away, my homeschooling friends have all put their children in school, so…whether you know it or not, you are as close to a homeschooling B.F.F as I will get! hahaha (i’m harmless, I promise!)…But really, your blog has helped me tremendously as my son is between your two oldest in age. All of the links you’ve posted have been really helpful. Thanks for the blessings!
Have a great year!