I think that when one looks at curriculum posts, it’s great to know the reasoning behind why people make the choices they do with their curriculum. As I introduce you to what we use, I hope to tell you why we use it.
The reasons we choose our curriculum varies, sometimes it is chosen for us by the Homeschool Review Crew, using a math they need tested, or books they need read. Sometimes my lad lets me know what he wants to learn so I look for something to fulfill that need. At other times I have a skill set I want sharpened, or a mindset I want developed, and so more curriculum is discovered.
Not our choice:
Some of our curriculum is determined by the reviews that we do. It’s part of reviewing homeschool curriculum right? Trying to find something that will fit but also needing to meet the needs of the current crop of companies and what they want reviewed. I will only mentioned that which we are currently using.
Unlock math: independent, incremental learning. Sometimes goes too slow my lad says so I give him permission to skip ahead as needed.
Innovator’s Tribe – Engineering Course: My son loves this course. It is so much fun to see him enjoying this course, recently he had to make a fidget spinner. This boy who NEVER schools any longer than he has to, worked on it again after supper, wanting to get the bearing in the middle done. “I wish I had a 3 D printer mom, then I could make my own spinner”.
Digital Savvy: When I told my lad he only had the course until the end of February he was less than impressed. “I’m sorry mom, I forgot about it for a while. I’m not going to get done!!! How much does it cost to get it again?” I told him just to work on what he most wants to learn and let the rest go.
Chosen out of a specified request:
Good and beautiful: MOM! Can I learn how to spell better? He’s not keen on looking at the art pictures, but he loves the spelling lists and their approach to learning the spelling rules. You can learn more about them here. His enjoyment and the fact we can work through it as fast or as slow as we want makes it a keeper, I am considering buying the already bound set for next year instead of using the free one.
Once a month country study: “Mom, can we continue learning about a different country every month? I like trying new foods and seeing new things from around the world”. We’ve done Korea, Azerbaijan, Finland, Sweden, Georgia, Russia, Australia and Iceland. We’ll be doing Spain soon. For a while we used a simple geography program for ideas, but then just started picking countries. We’ve missed a lot of months, but it’s easy enough to pick up again eh? 🙂
From Sea to Sea: “Can we finish off that book we did last year? I want to keep learning about Canada.” He is even wanting to do the tests and quizzes this year. That’s a nice thing eh? It’s such a “boring” curriculum in a lot of ways, but we are both learning a lot and we can supplement however we want.
Material I chose:
God’s design – an overarching science that would cover the various topics depending on what the lad was interested in at the time. Independence with supplementation. Covers all grades through highschool, so he can easily work at the level that he is at. You can find parts of this series on Amazon.
Holy Land on SchoolhouseTeachers.com. – his pick of the 8 or 9 options that we had. He likes the video and the simple question and answer worksheet. He’s learning some history and some geography. This MIGHT (if we get selected) be replaced by the Adventures Series being looked at by the Review Crew.
Research projects – gave the lad a list of different types of ways to present research, every week he needs to do a project and meet a new project type. Some of these projects have been natural extensions of his interests in life (mice, ants, engineering, STEM projects) some have been the result of his studies (like making a poem of vertebrates).
Studying the Heidelberg Catechism using the book Comforting Hearts. Good to know the doctrines of the church. I have a friend who had her children memorize the confessions of the church starting at an early age. I don’t need my lad to memorize them, but having him very familiar with them is a good thing. Good talking points to be made through this book.
We read a longer chapter book together almost every day, one chapter at a time. Right now we are reading the book Freckles by Gene Stratton-Porter. We are enjoying this book, it frequently has us looking up different birds and flowers. Some favourites: Nest for Celeste, Irish Chain, and others that are just slipping my mind at the moment.
The lad is also doing a book called “Who is God” by Apologia. I’ve looked at it off and on for a couple of years, the lad thought it doable so we got it. It’s giving him a good grounding in aspects of God he doesn’t always think about. He tells me “it’s good”.
I would be remiss in my duties if I didn’t remind you that SchoolhouseTeachers.com is on sale until the end of January. Don’t delay eh? It’s a great deal. Here’s my affiliate link. Use the codes to get the deal. SchoolhouseTeachers constantly adds new classes, many of them with videos. It’s an excellent “backup” for me when I’m looking for something quick to fill an interest the lad has, or to continue giving him options for things like geography, art, and science. I like giving him some independence in what he wants to learn.
The virtual homeschool fair is hosted by Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds.
Looking for more curriculum ideas? Visit my fellow homeschool bloggers!
Note: all posts will be live after 8 am EST on Monday, Jan. 22nd.
Our Homeschool Plan for 3rd, 6th, 8th, & 12th Grades by Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds
Our 10th Grade Plans by Christy @ Unexpected Homeschool
Planning Out Our Unschooling Studies by Jen @ A Helping Hand Homeschool
The Details of Curriculum by Michele @ Family, Faith and Fridays
Reflections of a Curriculum Junkie by Brittney @ Mom’s Heart
Freedom through nature journaling. by Kim @ Good Sweet Love
How I pull together a homeschool curriculum without packaged curriculum by Dana @ Life Led Homeschool
Our Favorite Curriculum and Resources – An Annotated Bibliography by Sabrina @ Kids, Crunch, and Christ
Our 2018 Homeschool Curriculum Choices by Amanda @ Hopkins Homeschool
Top Home Educating Resources by Sarah @ DeliveringGrace
Homeschooling Curriculum We Are Using This Year by Laura O @ Day by Day in Our World
Use the Force and Complete the Course by Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break
Choices, choices – how to choose your curriculum wisely by Lizzy @ Peaches@Home
Our Curriculum Needs – grade seven by Annette @ A Net in Time
The Heart of Our School by Laura @ Four Little Penguins
What I Use with 7th and 9th Grader – Virtual Homeschool Fair -Week 3 by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
How to Avoid Gaps in Education by Kristen H. @ Sunrise to Sunset
Tricky Subjects and Starting the Decision Making Process by Lori H @ At Home: where life happens
High School Syllabus by TrueNorthHomeschoolAcademy @ GoldenGrasses
Kym Thorpe says
Such a great mix of curriculum and resources!! I love the once a month country study! We took a similar approach when my daughter was younger. We spent a lot of time on Cultural geography, so we could bake bread and try other foods from every country we studied.
ANetInTime says
I like that idea….to make different breads from all over the world. Wouldn’t that be a neat study?
Lori H @ At Home says
Great ideas here for including options that don’t need to be done every day. Love his interest and the ways you foster and encourage and grow that.
ANetInTime says
we certainly don’t do things everyday. 🙂 I should have mentioned how we do things differently on Fridays…
Brittney Mom's Heart says
I love how you offer such a wide variety of “extra” subjects, and the engineering course sounds fun!
ANetInTime says
The engineering course is wonderful… if you have a student interested in engineering at all you might want to check it out.
Michele Pleasants says
Love seeing your choices and that Crew runs are well represented! Such a blessing, right?!
ANetInTime says
Thank you Michele, it is a blessing.