Wild Thing's Curriculum

Here's my new first grader!

And here's what he will be working on this year.

Phonics / Reading: Phonics Pathways, A Beka readers, Pathway Readers

Math: Saxon 2 followed by ????  This is a difficult one.  Wild Thing is a natural at all things math.  He can already add and subtract 4 digit numbers with carrying/borrowing.  The Saxon is only necessary for things like time, measuring, and money.  He's on Lesson 94 in Saxon 2, and we only do every third or fourth lesson.   I'm not sure what will be next.  He needs a workbook because writing is difficult for him.

Grammar: First Language Lessons Book 1

Handwriting: Italic Book B and copywork  Handwriting is another challenge.  Wild Thing struggles with writing.  He still has lots of reversals and many of his letters are not formed correctly.  He also writes very slowly.

Spelling: Spelling Workout A

Science: Continue study of human body followed by God’s Design for the Physical World

History / Literature / Writing / Art and Music Appreciation / Geography / Christian Worldview: Tapestry of Grace Year 3 Lower Grammar level

The Crafter's Curriculum

It's our first day of the 2010-2011 school year at Bradford Academy.  The Crafter is now a sixth grader.  Where does the time go?  It seems like yesterday she was throwing down her picture books in frustration because she didn't know the words.  Today she can whip through a 300+ page novel in a day--if she is interested.  Otherwise, it can take her an hour to read a 10 page chapter in a biography.


Here she is in the kitchen at Horne Creek Farm.  She's a junior volunteer this year.

So, without further ado, here's the Crafter's lineup of subjects and curricula.  Of course, we won't do every subject everyday, and I am still trying to wrap my brain around  Tapestry of Grace.

The Crafter--Grade 6

Math:  Singapore 5B and 6A

Grammar:  Rod and Staff 6

Handwriting:  Italic Book G

Spelling:  Spelling Workout F/Spelling Power

Science:  Continue study of human body followed by God's Design for the Physical World

Spanish:  Rosetta Stone

Typing:  Typing Instructor for Kids

History / Literature / Writing / Art and Music Appreciation / Geography / Christian Worldview:  Tapestry of Grace Year 3  Dialectic level

Fourth Grade Curriculum Choices

You've waited and now they're here! This is what I plan on using for the Crafter's fourth grade year.

Bible:  Explorers Bible Study-God's Perfect Plan

Reading:  Novels from Ambleside Online, Veritas Press, Sonlight, and other Great Books lists.  I want to add a few book reports this year. 

Grammar/Writing:  Rod and Staff Level 4 and Writing Tales 1

Spelling:  Spelling Power

Handwriting:  Italic E

Math:  Singapore Primary Math 4A/4B supplemented with Saxon 65 as needed

Science:  Real Science 4 Kids Chemistry Level 1, Exploring Creation with Botany

History:  The Story of the World 2 (finish up) and 3 with Activity Guides

Music:  Piano Lessons, Listen to classical music tapes

Art:  Drawing with Children and Visual Manna

Logic:  Reading Detective, Math Detective, puzzle books

Foreign Language:  Undecided here—maybe Latin with Children or Latina Christiana; maybe some sort of Spanish

Wow! That looks like a lot, but we don't do every subject every day. Now all I have to do is work out some kind of weekly schedule.

Time to Regroup

We will be doing "light school" for the rest of the year.  Basically that means doing only one or two subjects per day so the Crafter doesn't forget everything she knows and doing Christmas crafts and baking.   It's also time to regroup and see what we need to do to finish third grade. 

Bible: Explorers Bible Study  No changes.

Handwriting:   Italic D   She's almost finished with this.  I want to focus more on copywork.  I haven't been good about setting that up.

Grammar:  Rod and Staff 3  She's little over half way through the book.  We will start alternating with Writing Tales 1 to focus more on actual writing rather than just language mechanics.

Spelling: Spelling Power  No changes.

Reading:  Reading books listed in Sonlight and Veritas Press catalogues.  I plan to continue this approach, but do more narrations and short book reports.

History:  Story of the World 2  I need to be more diligent with history and do at least one lesson per week.

Science:  God's Design for Heaven and Earth-- Weather  I want to be more diligent with this too and do two lessons per week.

Math:  Singapore Primary Mathematics supplemented with Saxon 54.  We should be finishing up 3B soon and then we'll start Challenging Word Problems 3.  Saxon will be for drill only.

Spanish:  I really want to start some Spanish this year.  I have the stuff (Teach them Spanish).  I haven't had time to set up lessons.

Music: piano lessons  The Historian is in charge of this one as I am musically illiterate (ie. can't carry a tune in a bucket with help).

Art:  I really want to do some kind of art appreciation and drawing instruction.  Once again, I have the stuff (Visual Manna, Drawing with Children).  I just haven't taken the time to organize lessons.