My Home School Curriculum Picks

whenever i'm in the company of other homeschooling mums
the conversation inevitably meanders around to

curriculum

i get asked
a whole lot

what do you use for math?


what spelling curriculum to you use?


how do you teach reading to your kids?


and you can bet
i have asked those same questions
a fair few times myself

so even though
this school year is more than halfway finished

i thought i'd share with you
what curriculum we are currently using

our main unit curriculum
is My Father's World


this is our third year using MFW
and we absolutely love it

MFW incorporates
history
geography
bible
art
science
social studies
literature

into a flexible schedule

teaching everything from a historically accurate
and Christian worldview

they do all the work of lesson planning for you
but allow plenty of freedom in how you want to teach
(for instance
i don't use the Music stuff at all)

this year we are studying Rome to Reformation
(my very favorite historical time period so i'm loving it almost more than my children and they constantly roll their eyes at how excited i get reading aloud about the Black Death)

i cannot sing my praises loudly enough
to convey how much i adore MFW

if you want to know more click here

Math
my 3 younger kids
all use Developmental Mathematics


this is a mastery style of math
meaning
that each workbook teaches one concept
rather than the spiral method
which is constantly reviewing learned concepts
whilst introducing new ones

this math
fits my children's learning style
quite well

however
be warned

there is very little instruction
and no teacher's manual
so you must be comfortable
with explaining the assignments
all by your onsie

you can find out more here

in 7th grade
my kids switch to Teaching Textbooks

i don't like math

were i to try and teach them
much above basic fractions
we would all be in heaps 'o trouble

so Teaching Textbooks works for us
because it is a cd rom course
that includes a whiteboard lecture format

problems worked on the computer

and keeps track of all assignments
and test scores

which means
no correcting or grading for me

holla

TT has a good informational website here
that includes demos and placement tests
to determine which level your child needs

Vocabulary/Spelling
we have used
Wordly Wise

for several years now
and it has worked
for developing reading comprehension
spelling
and vocabulary

Reading
my youngest
has spent this year
learning to read
by using
Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons


i have used this
with all 4 of my kids
and have a love/hate relationship with it

it has done it's job
and is so simple to use

but just between you and me
and the fence post
i would re-title it

Teach Your Child To Read In About 47 Lessons
Since By Halfway Through This Book You Will Be
Sick To Death Of It


just saying

for further comprehension
and reading fluidity
Toot is also using Explode The Code books


Grammar
grammar is one of those subjects
that i do not teach  my kids until
they have achieved good reading and writing skills
(usually around 4th grade)

this year we have started using Winston Grammar


and it is a good
straightforward program
that the kids don't hate

Science
we do Science class at our home school co-op
and this year we are studying Physics

(more on the co-op later)

Art
i use a smattering of
God and the History of Art

which is used with MFW

i like it
but am just a little lazy
when it comes to teaching Art

Writing Composition
i enjoy teaching writing to my kids
and i don't use any formal curriculum for this

but rather
use subjects we are currently studying
to create writing assignments

occasionally i use writing prompts from
The Write Stuff


Bible/Memorization
MFW provides daily bible readings
which we use to begin class with prayer and devotions

additionally
we use their memory verses
(and sometimes add to them for longer passages)
for practicing memorization

Indepentant Reading
as soon as my kids are able
they being reading chapter books on their own
during quiet time after lunch

i help with choosing material
because i have good taste
and because i have a book list
that i have compiled
for them to use for reading ideas

we also read aloud
historical fiction books
that pertain to the periods we are studying

and let me take a moment to just say
that those times when my kids sit and listen
whilst i read aloud
form some of our most enjoyable moments
and favorite memories

if you don't already do this
you must start now

a great time for read-alouds
is lunch time
when the kids' mouths are full of food
and their attention is easy to keep

it also helps
if you do accents

lots and lots of accents

this year we have read

The Bronze Bow
Twice Freed
The Ravenmaster's Secret
and will soon start
The Door in the Wall

we round out our education
with subjects done with other families
at our home school co-op

every Monday
we meet to study a variety of subjects
always including Science

and others
such as

Creative Writing
Art
Art History
PE
Speech
Sign Language
Music/Drama
Sewing
Health/Safety

etc.

so there you have it

The Agnew Academy
curriculum list for the 2011-2012 school year

any questions?