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 Math 7: A Teaching Textbook and Answer Key Student Workbook
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 Math 7: A Teaching Textbook and Answer Key Student Workbook
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 3000 Grade 3 Student Book - 2nd Edition
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 1
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 Basic Complete Set
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 & The History of Art Volumes I & II Set (includes 35 Paint Cards and 36 Postcards)
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 Adventure: Exploring the Art of Writing
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 (Freestyle Fiction 12 +)
The Ravenmaster's Secret: Escape From The Tower Of London
and will soon start
The Door in the Wall (Books for Young Readers)
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?
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
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 Math 7: A Teaching Textbook and Answer Key Student Workbook
were i to try and teach them
much above basic fractions
we would all be in heaps 'o trouble
so Math 7: A Teaching Textbook and Answer Key Student Workbook
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 3000 Grade 3 Student Book - 2nd Edition
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 1
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 Basic Complete Set
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 & The History of Art Volumes I & II Set (includes 35 Paint Cards and 36 Postcards)
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 Adventure: Exploring the Art of Writing
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 (Freestyle Fiction 12 +)
The Ravenmaster's Secret: Escape From The Tower Of London
and will soon start
The Door in the Wall (Books for Young Readers)
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?
