I have hesitated to post our curriculum choices for this school year until we had all of the kinks ironed out.
Are you ever guilty of planning TOO MUCH for your homeschooler?
(That's me.)
After four full weeks of school I believe we are in an excellent groove, so I am ready to share our official PLAN for Fifth Grade!
I'll be sharing this in collage format (since it IS Collage Friday here on the blog).
*The book, Teaching From Rest, has greatly influenced how I planned for and approached this school year. I think it is a MUST READ for all homeschool moms. I also am using a loop schedule this year - you can learn more about that by watching this FREE webinar: The Quickstart Guide to Loop Scheduling for Homeschoolers)
Our Homeschool "Spine" - Classical Conversations
We happily use Classical Conversations as the spine for our learning.
(If you are interested as to how we arrived at this decision, you can read about why we chose Classical Conversations.)
My fifth grader attends Foundations class each Tuesday morning from 9-12, and then attends Essentials class from 1-3 that afternoon.
Foundations consists of six areas of memory work (English Grammar, Latin, Geography, History, Science, Math, and Timeline). There is also a time for art and music instruction, as well as presentation skills and science experiments.
I believe the memory work is enough and rest in the fact that in these early years Grant is getting just what he needs.
Essentials consists of formal grammar instruction, and writing lessons (using IEW materials), followed by math games.
Each morning our family starts the day together at breakfast. I created a simple morning basket, which is working SO WELL! We have devotions, memory work review, a music or art lesson, and CNN Student News. It all takes about 30-45 minutes and is my favorite part of the day.
(In case you are wondering, I created the flipbook in the collage about using files on CC Connected from users melodystroud and TiernyTribe. The maps for tracing also come from TierneyTribe. To see more about our organizing for CC - check out my Cycle 1 Organization post.)
More Curriculum Choices
Grant was ready this year to branch out on his own a bit. He watches his sister (who is quite independent in Challenge I) and longs to do more himself this year.
The Veritas Self-Paced History Course - Old Testament and Ancient Egypt - has been a SUPERB addition to our homeschool!
It has lessons, quizzes, games, maps, a timeline, and suggested readings at different levels. I purchased the suggested chapter books, so Grant is getting a lot of great reading this year!
- Adam and His Kin
- The Great Pyramid
- Tales of Ancient Egypt
- The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone
- Mara, Daughter of the Nile
- Shadow Hawk
- Tirzah
- The Cat of Bubastes
- Golden Goblet
- God King
We are reading Pages of History, Volume 1 - Secrets of the Ancients (also from Veritas Press) together as a family this year. We had always been big Story of the World fans, but wanted a change this year.
D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Mythology
We are reading through this lovely book together, and also using the study guide from Memoria Press. Mythology is of great interest to Grant right now, hence this choice!
Grant also LOVES art, so we use a lot of the tutorials from Art for Kids Hub.
We have plans to also start the Art of Fall: Mixed Media Workshop for Kids (we used the winter mixed media last year and it was EXCELLENT!)
Also pictured in the collage above is Grant typing. I am a FIRM BELIEVER in teaching kids to type. We have used Dance Mat Typing and Typing Instructor for Kids along the way.
Saxon Math
Grant is finishing Saxon 6/5 and will be moving into 7/6 soon.
Math isn't anything fancy in our house. Grant completes a lesson each day and we occasionally will play a math game. I am lucky because he's a math kid and enjoys math!
We are a house divided in math this year. Saxon still works very well for Grant, but Anna is doing Algebra I with Mr. D Math online (and we couldn't be happier!).
Enrichment/Extras
I'm very happy with the Classical curriculum we have in place this year.
We've added in a couple of extracurriculars to round it all out.
My guy is a ball player - baseball in the fall and spring and basketball in the winter. I think EVERYONE needs a physical outlet, don't you?
Piano lessons are a big part of our homeschool, too. Grant's been playing for two years now.
I also try to leave ample down time so both of my children can read the books they love, play LEGOS, games, or craft. Part of the beauty of homeschool is that my children are learning to schedule their OWN time and if they use their time wisely they have more time to pursue FUN.
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