What, exactly, are you looking at? You are looking at my version of Well Trained Mind's year one combined with Veritas' and ToG book lists and bible supplementation. This is only for the first quarter, too! (GASP!) So what all is here?
Ancient History, Year 1: (Combined with Bible based on this schedule)
Geography:
We have a ton of Geography, because it is important to me that my children
Math:
We also did not use the math programs suggested in WTM or by CM fans. Saxon just didn't work for my daughter. We fell in love with Math in Focus and will be continuing with that. Also, tons of manipulatives that are NOT in this photo because they would never fit on the table. Just the two sets I found used at The Homeschool Store in Houston, TX! (Shout out, they are INCREDIBLE!) (Also where I purchased this "usedbutnot" set of MiF 2A, for $13!) She also has a Math Notebook purchased from TpT. It is the best purchase I have made, I promise. Check it out here:
Calendar Companion. *if you are a TpT person, she is someone to follow. I own many of her products!
Spelling:
Ahh. The incredibly challenging program of spelling. Seriously. For me, it was a nightmare. I needed a plan. I needed methodology. I NEEDED PHONICS. I tried stuff on TpT, I tried the local schools' leftovers. I needed the grammar and phonics tied in with spelling rules so it reinforced what she's learned. And then I won a contest and had a credit to spend at All About Spelling. I was leery of such a new program, but I am a believer! (*I BELIEVE!*) I will be using all of the levels with my kiddos. Amazing doesn't begin to describe the program.
Grammar:
First Language Lessons (of course) and Evan Moor's Grammar & Punctuation book. Both awesome Ebay deals. I happen to have the "old" version of FLL that is both levels 1 and 2, and I create supplements for FLL on MY TpT page as we go along in FLL. Be sure to check them out!
Writing:
Another product I fell in LOVE with and will shout praises for from the mountain tops! WRITE SHOP PRIMARY. The website states that it is very Charlotte Mason in flavor, but as Primary A is very narration focused, many WTM fans use the program. It is excellent, and we will be finishing A and beginning B this fall. You also see some extra primary pages and a handwriting book from a local school fair for practice. My son is using Hooked on Writing by HoP. (The yellow book that is wipe off.) He will probably be doing Explode the Code book A this year. Maybe B.
Reading:
The crème de la crème of my homeschooling is reading. We own hundreds, if not thousands, of books. My daughter learned to read when she was 3, and is reading on a very proficient level at 5. Her reading ability is actually what turned us off from box curriculum initially and got me reading about different homeschool styles. She/we will be reading a lot of mythology, fairy tales, folk tales, biographies, and poetry. Not to mention some non-twaddle books of her choosing for fun. I'm a big fan of reading comprehension, so my original plan was to purchase Veritas' go-alongs, but I may just print off a bunch of basic notebooking and report pages for her to use along with the books she reads. My son is already a ways into "Teach Your Child to read in 100 Easy Lessons". It's phonics based and children catch on fast. (He is 3. He asked to learn to read. TWO WEEKS AGO.) I'm a mom that refuses to push her kids unless they are ready and asking, so please do not criticize me for pulling the book out. I am a lover of Confessions of a Homeschooler's products. I have used her K4 program, Letter of the Week program, and will be supplementing my son's ELA with her products.
Fine Arts:
Did you see my mention of CoaH? I have both her composer and her artist study products and will be using those along with Harmony Fine Arts. (Also not in the picture.) I may try and use Easy Peasy and their Ancient Art individual program, too. I plan on using a lot of bandwidth on Youtube and other online sources for music. I do have a few books I'd like to buy for fun reading, but as much as I hate paying full price for things like that- I'll just be scouting my local garage sales and thrift stores!
Foreign Language:
Oh this is a toughy. I want to use Song School Latin and teach something I think should be taught as the building blocks of language. (like what phonics are to reading, addition and subtraction are to math, etc.) My husband feels I should continue teaching them Spanish. Either way, I will be using a Song School because I AM "The Singing Teacher". Have you not noticed the amount of sing-songy products in my curriculum? I have books, CDs, and Youtube. I sing songs for everything. Hell-ooo! :) For NOW, we are LOVING utilizing what is available on Easy Peasy. Their Spanish actually has some wonderful links to Song School creators' videos. Elementary friendly and my kids have both loved the stories about the Princess thus far.
Science:
A new favorite (I HOPE) is Apologia Zoology 1, Flying Creatures. I honestly wasn't a fan of Apologia until I learned their original author is actually an Old Earth Creationist, and he doesn't criticize people for disagreeing with him. I appreciate that he has an open mind, and also doesn't argue. Integrity enough to be honest, without being argumentative and demeaning, is enough for me to do a curriculum evaluation. I HATED LOATHED DETESTED the curriculum I put together last year for her. I had hoped it was in line with WTM and it certainly seemed to follow the same paths... but it was a pain in the tookus. Too much time preparing, not enough information for me to put an experiment together, lessons were too short. I'm excited to try this because it says it's Charlotte Mason-ish and seeing as I am easily overwhelmed in the science department- I'm excited to have a notebook (Jr.) already "put together". Ideally, we would follow the same WTM science suggestions, but I did not fall in love with any of the many classical science curriculums aligned with that book. Really hoping both of my kids love the projects and topics in this one. We already have studied butterflies, and they loved it. We'll have fun. I may have also purchased the entire lab kit (to save me TIME and ENERGY, remember-I cheat as much as I can!) and the lapbook available from CBD. (Again, all we have to do is put it together. It's completely printed. <<<Cheater) We will also be stopping to study the biography of one Audobon and utilizing our many nature books such as Fun with Nature. We will stretch it out for an entire year, especially seeing as my kids will be 4 and 6. We will have fun turning our CM science into a unit study with lots of investigating!
Part two will go into my planner and my ENTIRE educational philosophy. Be sure to stay tuned! I am a nut. Maybe I should add a soundtrack and music... and sing...
