Sunday, September 9, 2012

Teachers Notes-Curriculum choices 2012/13

As we are getting back into our school routine around here, I thought I would post about the curriculum we are using this year.
To start with, our oldest is just finishing up her grade 3 work as we planned, due to moving and having a new baby all last fall, we extended her school work into the summer and early fall. However I do have most of her new curriculum purchased.
So for 4th grade
LA-Bob Jones English and Grammar (this is new-I wanted to try it and see-looks good so far!)
Reading-Christian Light Publications (I used their reading, English, social and bible last year, I LOVE their readers!!!! But their English although on target academically, was a little dry for her)
Math-Purposeful Design ( We have used their math since 1st grade-still really happy with it, however this year she moves from a work text style to a hard cover text book)
Bible-Christian Light Publications
Social Studies-Christian Light
Science-Bob Jones (Love their science,would like to try Exploring creation, but for now gonna stick with Bob!
A reason for handwriting (cursive, book E)

Now we also do piano/violin and we are starting voice this year as well. In the past we have done ballet-this year we are looking into something a little closer to home-a local dance studio offers Cape Breton Step, which would be really neat as their new violin teacher was trained in Ireland, and plays lots of Celtic music, so that's a thought, as well we do a round of home school swimming lessons over the winter and we try to get to some of the home school swims as well. The three kids will also be in AWANA this year again, Julianna in Truth and Training, Hailey in Sparkies and Benjamin in Cubbies, this is an excellent program and we love going. Julianna took a few knitting lessons last year and I would like her to do a few more, and she would like to do some sewing lessons so I am looking into that as well.

Now on to my kindergartner
I had purchased the Horizons kindergarten program, and after looking through it, realized that their readers are at a grade 2 level after the first book! So the very next day, my friend whom had borrowed my Sing, Spell, Read, and Write program returned it! So we will be using that for learning to read, and we will use the Horizons kindergarten math this year.

I thought I would give you an overview of our days.

We get up and everyone gets dressed and we have breakfast together and do our family devotions and prayer time. Then brush hair and teeth and we go about getting our morning chores done (clearing table, washing dishes, making beds, feeding/watering the chickens etc.) Then we do a calender time, where we add the day of the month, talk about the days of the week, the season, the weather etc...
Then we branch off into each grades work. Julianna usually starts with Math, LA and reading, then has a little break by doing her handwriting (cursive) and heads over to moms to practice piano/violin. She continues with bible, and does social or science on rotating days. She is USUALLY done by lunch or just after. Then she continues on with her chore list ( wipe down bathroom, put away her clothes, sweep or tidy)
I get out Hailey's books and kind of get her started while I also get out some preschool like stuff for Benjamin, the baby is usually happy playing with her toys (getting into mischief!) Then I return to Hailey and we listen to the Cd that came with SSRW.  She does some work book pages and some math, we also play alphabet bingo with her and Benjamin and then she heads over to grandmas to practice piano and he heads outside to play for awhile. After lunch, the baby naps, I do a tidy of the kitchen and make sure supper is thawing and organized, I may also do some baking, depending on the day (I usually do the bulk of my cleaning and laundry on Mondays, Tuesdays are violin/preschool for Ben days, Wed I try to do all my baking and AWANA that evening, Thursdays we school in the morning and then the afternoon the new piano/voice teacher will be coming for lessons, and Fridays I try to get to a bigger center for groceries etc.)

Also in the afternoons I think we are going to be practicing voice together and I do some read alouds. After that comes the free time and then the start of  "happy hour"-getting supper ready and eating, bath time/stories/jammies and waa hoo bedtime at 7:30!! After which I do the necessary dish washing, sweeping, tidying etc... then try to squeeze in some me time for knitting, or sewing lol! Anyway that is how things are going for our little family this year. I would like to keep you posted on our progress, so stay tuned for more "teachers notes!"

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