Everyone is chatting about curriculum choices for their new year so I thought I’d add my post about what we are currently doing here.
Brendan (mid 3rd grade):
Math – MUS – Delta- AKA “A Breeze” after the huge multiplication problems from Gamma. LOL!
Writing/Grammar- Daily 6-Trait Writing gr 3, Sch Success With 3rd Grade, free journal writing/ typing
World History- SOTW 1, heavily supplemented, so it’s the scenic longer route 😉
geography/maps- Sch Success With 3rd Grade, a game called Clue Finders
US History- completing a book on the individual states with maps that I made and bound, Postcards From Buster series
Handwriting- Contemporary Cursive
Reading- Mostly books more or less his independent reading level chosen to captivate his interest (currently “How to Train Your Dragon”) and Reading Blaster computer game. I’m reading the Laura Ingalls series aloud to them at bedtime.
Spelling – my own “Spelling Challenge” method
Science- Daily Science, heavily supplemented again along the topics. We just finished animal and plant adaptations.
Typing- He finished Dance Mat Typing and is now starting Typing Instructor Platinum
Art – my own, often projects along history topics. We just did a Crayola boxed set called Model Magic Presto Dots which was so much fun. :wub: Andy and I made a rabbit and Brendan made his own hedgehog.
Andy (mid Kindergarten):
weekly PE class (Bren graduated when he turned 8)
art- same as Bren and also 2 different scissors and glue e-books I downloaded
Math- MUS Primer
Writing- free writing (I’ve learned my lesson- make it only fun and easy for awhile!)
Handwriting-learning letter formation from Comprehensive Curriculum K
Spelling/phonics- Hooked on Phonics Yellow level (almost done) & Click N Kids
read aloud books- often the easier ones from Bren’s history library selection but sometimes his own units. We just finished a Seuss unit a few weeks ago.
JumpStart Kindergarten game & about to start Reader Rabbit First Grade game
World History- sometimes his reading units are history based (we are now finishing a China unit- both LOVED learning Chinese jump rope!)
US History- Postcards From Buster series
Science- Allan Fowler books and others. 😀
You know… I was thinking I was doing things too simply but I feel better now having typed all that out! I have purchased them grade level appropriate computer games to help fill in gaps. I can’t be with all 3 kids at once and Kayley is really needy of my attention these days. Some days when I’ve reached my breaking point I’ll alternate working with one while another does independent computer work/ educational play. Helps a lot! They watch a Postcards From Buster episode during lunch. It’s the perfect length for me to feed them and put Kayley down for her nap! We “do school” from noon to somewhere between 4 and 5:30 M-F. If we are driving anywhere for any real length of time then independent reading or audiobooks is done in the car,
I wonder all the time how Brendan compares to another mid- 3rd grader (I really don’t remember what went on in 3rd grade besides learning multiplication and cursive!!). Then I mentally smack myself and tell myself it doesn’t matter- he’s moving at his own individual pace. He’ll get to where ever he needs to be in due time. Then I go back to wondering…. Ugh. LOL. It’s a blessing and a curse.