This is the verse that I use as our reason for homeschooling:

1"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice."   John 10:1-5

This week we are sharing our homeschool agendas for the year.  Here at Cdnkids Homeschool we have a 4th grader (Boo -9) and a 7th grader (Bug-11).  Technically Bug would be in 6th grade in public school, but I couldn’t find any 6th grade curriculum that she hadn’t already covered and since she is about to finish 7th grade math, we decided to skip 6th grade.

I’ve covered what we are using here.  So I’ll fill you in on our schedule and why we are using what I’ve chosen.

Our schedule looks like this:

We are using CQLA (Character Quality Language Arts) for language arts.  It is an all-in-one spelling/grammar/writing program that is centered around godly character qualities.  The author specifically stated that she wanted to combine elements from other excellent programs like Easy Grammar and IEW, and I love the result.  Both girls are using Red level A (I love anything we can do all together!).  A week’s worth of work generally includes a passage to read for comprehension and vocabulary words as well as copywork an dictation, a spelling list, 2-3 grammar lessons, key word outline – rough draft- final draft writing project, a proofreading exercise, and a spelling test and dictation quiz.  The program is also split up within the level into basic, extension, and further extension assignments.  The basic level will use perhaps 1 paragraph of the passage and only 10 spelling words, etc.  The extension and further extension assignments will build upon the basic assignments for older students.

We are doing American history this year.  There is a local man who does wonderful history workshops that are very hands-on and highly recommended so we will be attending his class on Tuesday mornings.  We will be using All American History Vol. 1 as our text.  It has brief but interesting reading assignments and the "paperwork" is rather like notebooking with a map assignment and a review for each Chapter.

For science we are using two different programs.  Bug is using Rainbow Science very independently so far, and she loves it.  I love it because there is very little work for me!  It is a good Middle/Junior High text and comes with ALL of the materials needed for the experiments and excellent instructions geared for the child to use independently.  It is a bit pricey, but I think it is going to be worth it.  I really wanted to use their new upper elementary program called The Colors for Boo, but due to publishing problems it won’t be ready until at least January.  So, we are using Zoology 3: Land Animals of the Sixth Day from Apologia’s elementary series.  The free notebooking pages for this book are awesome and I think Boo will really enjoy it since she is a big animal lover.

For math, Bug is finishing up Teaching Textbooks 7th grade math (she has about 5 weeks left) and then we will order their Pre-Algebra.  I cannot say enough good things about Teaching Textbooks.  It is a computer-based program which gives detailed explanations for every single problem assigned.  For a non-math-minded mom (say that five times fast) and a math whiz kid it is IMO the best thing around.  I think it will work well for Boo when she gets there as well, because each and every problem is explained and if past experience is any indication Boo will need it explained a few times.  Boo is a bit behind in math.  She has unfortunately inherited her mom’s innate dislike for all things numerical.  We are stuck on our multiplication tables, and I have recently discovered that we don’t really have the concept of borrowing in subtraction down pat.  So we are using the Math Mammoth workbooks and going back over some fundamentals and taking our time. 

We are also using Polished Cornerstones this year.  We are using the Bible verses for copywork and the discussion questions for journaling.

On Friday mornings we have our co-op.  This year we are doing a music history/appreciation class (taught by me), classes on different countries, art, and some other various fun things.

So that is our formal agenda.  We may do some Latin’s Not So Tough later, and we always read tons of books.  I also have a sewing book that I would like to go through with the girls at some point this year.  Maybe in December and we can make Christmas presents!

I was asked for suggestions on what to use with a 4-year-old.  I had two very different 4-year-olds – one who could read after going over the alphabet/phonics not more than twice, and one who understood and could answer her 6-year-old sister’s social study and science questions, but didn’t read for 2 more years.  There are a couple of things that worked really well for us, and I highly recommend checking them out.

Before I give you the links, let me offer one bit of "been there done that" wisdom.  (Or perhaps its more like "do as I say not as I did!")  It doesn’t matter how highly recommended a curriculum is, how many people say it did or didn’t work for their child, or even if they say it did or didn’t work for hundreds of children that are somehow "just like" yours.  If it doesn’t work for YOU, it isn’t going to work for your child.  Like everything else in parenting it is a balancing act to find what works for both your teaching/personality style and your child’s learning/personality style.  With a 4-year-old you may have no idea what their learning style is.  I would suggest that you research learning styles – there is plenty of information to be had, and see if you can identify your child’s style.

A good starting point for PreK is an Enchanting Learning subscription.  We had one for years and I was able to find something there on pretty much any subject I needed.  We used a lot of their little printable books.  They have a huge variety for PreK through 3rd from phonics and math to holidays, states, music, and foreign language.

My favorite formal curriculum for the early years is ABEKA, especially ABC-123 and their phonics and math for K-2.  Of course I also really like Phonics Pathways: Clear Steps to Easy Reading and Perfect Spelling and Earlybird Kindergarten Mathematics Complete Set 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B (Singapore Math).  I am also extremely fond of Handwriting Without Tears and wish I had found it sooner.

If I had it to do all over again, I would start out by simply making "school" part of the routine and not worrying about what "school" actually consisted of.  Seven years of homeschooling later, I think I would not have so many teeth-gritting moments when I question my sanity for ever taken on the education of my precious darlings if I had just been better about establishing that routine!

We are gearing up to start school next week.  We always start slowly with a week of just math and something not-too-taxing like handwriting.  Then the next week we add in another subject (probably English), and another the next week, and so on until we are at full schedule.  This year we will have an outside U.S. history class on Tuesday mornings as well as our Friday morning co-op which includes music and art.

Our subjects and resources for the year are:

Math – Teaching Textbooks 7/8 and 5

English – CQLA Red level A

History – All American History Vol.1

Science – Rainbow Science and The Colors, and Apologia’s Zoology 3: Land Animals of the Sixth Day

Latin – Latin’s Not So Tough Level 3 and Level 4

I am also using Doorpost’s Polished Cornerstones to put together a bible study for the girls and I to do.

Our goal for the year is to get the girls working independently.  Ideally they would be self-motivated enough to initiate their work without being prodded, but that is just a dream at this point!  (If you have any ideas on the subject, let me know!)