First Grade

So we're back to homeschooling this Fall (summer). Celia had a great experience at Lansdowne for her couple of months stay, but we ultimately after tremendous consideration brought her back home this year.

I still don't always answer well when asked "how is your week been? are you so glad that school has started?" I feel sometimes like I need to apologize for our decision...that I might offend a parent of a Lansdowne Lion but recently I've felt grace in how to answer...thankful for that.

I absolutely love the planning of a curriculum. Its so exciting (for me!) to research all the possibilities of what we might study! The possibilities seem endless so its tricky to narrow it down. We definitely are ecclectic in our homeschooling choices but I'd say we sit closer to a Classical/Charlotte Mason combo than anything.....what does that even mean? Pioneer Woman had a great article on homeschooling 101 if you're interested.....

What does our year look like this time? I've layered in our subjects rather than having one difficult slap in the face of a start day- so this is what we have ahead of us.....(this is long but I wanted it all down for our sake at least and for the 2 of you who actually might be interested!)

Read-aloud books- Sonlight Core K
This is our History (World Cultures), and just great literature.
I'm doing these with Bennett and Celia. Originally I was thinking I could spread them over 2 years but they are so good and the girls love them. So we'll see if I can stretch them that long! So far we've read the Boxcar Children and My Father's Dragon. Next up is 100 Dresses.

Readers- again they are in from Sonlight but the Readers 1 group. Celia isn't the best reader but we're getting there.

Math- Singapore Math. We are doing primary 1. We have NOT started this yet. probably will once the littles go preschool after labor day.

Phonics/Reading- Sing Spell Read and Write. We basically finished all of this last year but there is still some more we can cover. I'd purchased the K/1 combo kit. We made it through half of first grade last year. My focus to help her read well this year- we're not doing a ton of grammar just yet.....

Language Lessons for the Very Young- this will be our language curriculum once I finish SSRW. I love this. I'm very excited about it, but not doing it just yet- once we finish the first.

Bible/Handwriting- Seeds Woship CDs have great, NOT ANNOYING christian scripture memory songs. I've made these verses into copywork sheets for her. She does one verse a week. They are great.

Lastly the BIGGEST COMMITMENT we've added this year is joining Classical Conversations. This is a once a week program. Thursdays we (Celia and I) attend this program from 9-12. It is mostly memory work at Celia's age. It covers memory work in these areas: History, Grammer, Latin, Math facts, Scripture memory, Geography, Fine Arts. Also the kids memorize all of the Veritas Press History Timeline Cards. This program is 12 weeks in the fall (with a fall break week) and 12 weeks in the winter/spring with another break in there. It finishes April 7th.

Writing it all down it seems like a ton but its a good flow for us. It probably takes maybe 2 hours a day. We probably get in 4 days a week or so. But I love the flexibility. I love being back in this. It fits our family well and we'll keep at it until we feel led elsewhere!