Posted by Cindy on April 9, 2008
This was a question asked recently at co-op. My friend’s question related more specifically to whether or not a child is ready to “move on” to the next grade level. Here’s the not-so-short answer I gave. I’m sure my friend would enjoy reading your comments, too.
1.) What grade you call a child is fairly meaningless as an overall rule.
-Most children I know are working either somewhat above or below that particular grade in at least one subject.
-If a child has struggled greatly in math, for instance, then go slower with math – starting now. Who cares if the workbook says 2nd grade when they are actually in 3rd grade? Who cares if they won’t finish every workbook page by the end of the year if you go slower?
-What’s more important – that they understand a process or get through the book? Also, is it more important to get multiplication eventually – at their own pace – or to become so frustrated with ”not getting it” before they’re ready that they feel like a failure and never choose to like math from that point on?
2.) All schools – whether public, private or homeschools - have different expectations for each grade level. In other words, what one school expects to be accomplished in 2nd grade might be an expectation for 4th graders in another school.
-If your child is greatly struggling with an entire 3rd grade curriculum, you might research a different curriculum rather than blaming your child for not being smart enough to keep up.
-Make sure the curriculum you’re using is meeting their learning styles and even their interests. I don’t mean to say that every assignment has to be pure joy, but if your child is motivated by bright colors vs. black and white pages, find a curriculum with bright colors. If they enjoy crafting over workbooks, look into hands-on curriculums.
3.) I would never harm a child’s self-esteem by telling them that they aren’t ready to advance to the next grade level, or that they will redo all the same curriculum again next year because they “didn’t get it” this year.
-Whatever changes you need to make – redoing a particular book, buying a grade level lower, implementing reteaching strategies, taking things slower – should be adult decisions. A child will be much more motivated to continuing trying and learning if they don’t feel like a failure.
4.) If you are drastically concerned:
-Talk to seasoned homeschoolers about the issues and get their advice.
-Look through books like What Your ___ Grader Needs To Know. Remember that this is one person’s opinion, though.
-Test the child to see what level they are actually working on. Remember that not every child tests well and the results may be a bit skewed.
-Research the particular concerns on the internet to see what steps you might take.
-Get a tutor.
Homeschooling is such an awesome opportunity for raising children who are bright, confident and allowed to blossom at their own pace. God created every one of us to be different, unique and special. Just because one of your children may struggle with a particular subject, or even all subjects, doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have great big plans for them anyway. Help them to the best of your ability, while giving them an abundance of encouragement and love, and God will take care of the rest! 
Posted by Cindy on June 21, 2007
A new baby has slowed me down in the planning department! I’ve been putting this post together for what seems like weeks, but I believe it’s finally ready. I’ll copy this to put into my planning binder as a record of our curriculum and goals for the 2007-2008 school year.
Subjects we do together:
Bible/Devotions
Read through the New Testament in The Child’s Story Bible
by Catherine Vos and complete our Bible timeline using the The Big Picture Bible Timeline Book
.
The Seven C’s of History
(this is our summer study)
Discovering Jesus in Genesis
by Susan Hunt
Missionaries Unit using Missionary Stories with the Millers as a “spine”
Bible Bowl
History
Ancient History Unit – Spine book: History Pockets: Ancient Civilizations, Grades 1-3
Middle Ages Unit – Spine book: Knights & Castles: 50 Hands-On Activities to Experience the Middle Ages
Kentucky History Unit – Spine book: Spectacular State Report Projects-For Any State
Science
Astronomy Unit – Spine books: Exploring Creation With Astronomy by Jeannie Fulbright and the Astronomy Lapbook from Knowledge Box Central
Earth Science Unit – Spine books: Primarily Earth, NaturExplorers Hard as a Rock, and Considering God’s Creation
Art, Music, Foreign Language
Various art studies, art lessons and art projects throughout the year, no specific resources
Various music composer studies, music classes and hymn memorization throughout the year, no specific resources
Prima Latina
5th Grade Math
Math 6 / 5: Homeschool Set
Bi-weekly problem solving and logic opportunities using a variety of resources. Below are a few sample books:
Mind Benders Grades 3-6+ Book A3: Deductive Thinking Skills
Thinking Skills, Grades 5-6
NC Math
5th Grade Language Arts
Daily silent reading
Daily read alouds with Mom
The following subjects will often be integrated into the current learning unit. Other times, activities will be chosen from various places including…
Spelling: Spelling Works!
Grammar: Great Grammar Lessons That Work
Writing: All sorts of sources including:
Typing: Nimble Fingers
2nd Grade Math
Horizons Math 2
Miquon Math
Mind Benders
NC Math
2nd Grade Language Arts
Reading: Still plugging along in Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
, and adding easy readers, Explode the Code, and fun games
Grammar: First Language Lessons
Spelling: Spelling Workout
Typing: Nimble Fingers
Extras
Co-op classes 1x/week
Piano Lessons
Horse Lessons
Just a reminder for some of you who will say, “She’s using ALL that THIS year?!!” I don’t use everything all the time. Nor do I use all of anything. I use only what I feel like my kiddos need at the time. I pull the best from several resources because no one resource ever seems to fit us perfectly! It doesn’t bother me to have undone pages in a workbook or undone lessons in lesson guide. I’m the teacher at my house and I get to choose what we do and don’t do. The list above is actually far from complete. I’m always on the lookout for new and exciting things to add to the mix. I guess I’m the ultimate eclectic, unit study, lapbooking, notebooking, workbooking, literature loving homeschooler! It all has it’s place you know!
Posted by Cindy on March 14, 2007
My goodness, there are so many curriculum choices! It can be very overwhelming to choose just the right thing sometimes. Even when I choose something that I think will be perfect, it isn’t always. Thank the Lord for places like Vegsource and Ebay! As the years have gone on, I’ve gotten much better at choosing things that I don’t have to turn around and sell almost as quickly as they come in the mail!
As I share some of my favorites, I’d love to think they might be your favorites, too, but your children and mine may not be alike. Your style and mine may not be alike. Either way, I hope this list encourages you to use curriculum that inspires your child. Yes, inspires!
Is it important to me that my children get a complete education? Yes.
Is it important to me that they learn certain things that they really couldn’t care less about? Sometimes.
Is it important for me to make sure they have a good foundation in the basics? Absolutely.
But, most important to me is that they are inspired. That they love to learn and know how to find answers to their questions. That they leave most (not all) lessons with a sense of purpose. That what they learn fits their learning style so well that it hasn’t been a source of complete frustration.
Figuring all this out hasn’t happened overnight. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, and will continue to. But, I have no problems chucking one not-so-good thing for another better thing when needed. I feel like it’s my responsibility to create an inspiring atmosphere over just a “here is your work for the day, get it done” atmosphere.
Some people ask, “How do you know you’re covering everything if you don’t follow one complete curriculum all the way from 1st grade through high school?” My answer: Who’s to say THEY are covering everything? Especially everything that MY children need to know. My children have special talents, skills, interests and desires that God gave them. I’m much more qualified to see those things and teach towards them than a pre-set curriculum, right? Also, if I’m using a variety of math curriculums, let’s say, I’m most likely going to cover just about “everything” at some point anyway. And even more importantly, if I “miss” something, they will have all the skills and resources necessary pick it up when needed. No one person or curriculum can possibly teach EVERYTHING anyway.
So for my favorites (so far):
PK
NOTHING formal
Lots of read alouds, crafts, easy experiments, easy cooking, letter and number games, songs, poems, free art time, dress up, dramatic play….
____________________
K-1st
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
Bob Books
Starfall.com & Workbooks that go along
Explode the Code 1
Reading to Learn Series (1st-3rd)
Spelling Workout (late 1st)
First Language Lessons (late 1st)
Five In A Row
Horizons Math
Miquon Math
Keyboard Capers
(music theory)
NaturExplorers
Still lots of the same informal learning as PK. My lessons were/are very short at this age.
____________________
2nd/3rd
Reading to Learn Series
First Language Lessons
Abeka Language
(3rd)
Spelling Workout
Mind Benders
Horizons Math
Miquon Math
Five In A Row
Apologia Elementary Science
Considering God’s Creation
NaturExplorers
Lapbooking Units from Hand of a Child, A Journey Through Learning and Knowledge Box Central
The Story of the World (I start this in 1st)
History Pockets
____________________
4th
Intermediate Language Lessons
Living Literature Grammar Packets
Spelling Power
Math 5 / 4
The Story of the World
Mystery of History
Apologia Elementary Science
NaturExplorers
Lapbooking Units from Hands of a Child, A Journey Through Learning and Knowledge Box Central
____________________
Bible and Character Training for PK-4th
The Child’s Story Bible
The Big Picture Bible Timeline Book
Miller Books
Discovering Jesus in Genesis
Jotham’s Journey: A Storybook for Advent
Bartholomew’s Passage: A Storybook for Advent
Tabitha’s Travels: A Storybook for Advent
Amon’s Adventure: A Storybook for Easter
Vinegar Boy: A Storybook for Easter
Adam and His Kin
The Seven C’s of History
For Instruction in Righteousness : A Topical Reference Guide for Biblical Child-Training
Jonathan Park CD Dramas
I’ve used many other things, but these are my favorites. I’m never using everything at once, just in case you think the lists look really long!
I would love to hear some of your favorites! Please add them to the comments.
Posted by Cindy on November 12, 2006
Caleb told me the other day that first grade sure is harder than Kindergarten! He’s right. I’m expecting a lot more from him this year, but nothing he can’t handle. He’s a very active child and would much prefer to climb a tree than do a phonics page. I make sure he has PLENTY of time to climb trees, jump on trampolines, work on the farm with Dad and anything else that gives his body the movement it needs.
But, he is expected to get school work done first. His typical day consists of Bible, math, reading, writing and doing some history and/or science with his big sister.
Bible, science and history are done together as a family. Sometimes I make simpler worksheets or ask him to keep notebooking pages. Other times, I just find a coloring sheet that goes along with the topic. Having nothing to do other than listen doesn’t keep his mind focused. Surprisingly, building with blocks while he listens is good enough to keep him focused, too!
They both have memory verses each week, too. Mahayla writes hers out in a notebook for handwriting practice, but I just copy Caleb’s onto card stock and let him tape them up in our school room for now. He’s made a memory verse cave under the table that we use for school and he loves to go in the cave to read his verses.
As for reading, we started with Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons and stopped about halfway through. We’ll probably pick it back up again soon, but have been using the Starfall materials, Bob Books, Set 1: Beginning Readers
, easy readers from the library and phonics worksheet books from the dollar store for now.
For math, we use Horizons Math 1, NC Math grade 1, Mind Benders Beginning Book 2 (Gr 1-2)
and some other logic/problem solving books that I have around the house. Remember, we don’t do everything in each of these curricula!
Fridays – we usually read a “character training” book rather than the Bible. Caleb’s favorites are the Wisdom and the Millers: Proverbs for Children (Miller Family Series)
books by Mildred Martin. Mahayla likes to read anything and everything! No matter what we’re reading, we all love to cuddle up on the couch for a good book. Needless to say, you can imagine that my bookshelves are full to overflowing! I think I’ll post soon on some of my favorite children’s books……
Posted by Cindy on November 11, 2006
What do we do at our house for school? Good question – it’s always changing. We are eclectic homeschoolers, using whatever materials and methods work best for the “season”.
I used to get frustrated with myself, wondering why I couldn’t just stick with one thing and be done with it. It takes A LOT more effort to think, plan and change courses. But then I started to see that my children were the same as me. We get bored doing the same things day in and day out. God has given us active minds, and not just “anything” can fill those minds and keep us content. Some may call that ADD , but I choose to call it a gift from God! You see, we are ready to take on new challenges, willing to try something new and never afraid to say something didn’t work. And we’ve never failed to learn new things, either academically or about ourselves, in the successes AND failures.
So, what does our homeschool look like right now? I would call my philosophy a mixture between Classical education and Charlotte Mason education. We spend most days sticking to a fairly regular schedule, using the materials below. But, we’re always ready and willing to ditch the schedule for a field trip!!
Mahayla’s day usually consists of Bible, math, language arts, independent reading, piano and history and/or science.
Like I said before, we get bored easily SO we spice up the week by using various curricula. NO, I don’t try to finish everything in every curriculum. I just try to make sure we have covered and mastered what’s necessary. My philosophy is: Why practice the same thing over and over if the skill has already been mastered?
Bible – The Child’s Story Bible, NIV Bible – we’ll often color a timeline picture from The Big Picture Bible Timeline Book to hang on the wall, or I’ll print a coloring page to go in the Bible notebook, or I’ll find a “review” activity from the internet to add to the notebook.
Math – Math 5 / 4: Homeschool Set
(only the mental math and about 1/2 of the daily problems), lessons from NC Math, logic and problem solving activities from sources like Mind Benders Book 3 A1 A2 Combined
and fun math activities that go along with units we’re studying.
Language Arts – We do at least one activity a day, sometimes more. I wrote my own Grammar Packets this year. She has to read a book and then do various grammar/writing/comprehension/spelling activities to go along with the book. We’ve also used Literature Pockets: Fiction, Grades 4-6+
, computer games, writing stories and poetry that go along with a unit, and grammar practice pages that come from various workbooks I find at dollar stores.
History – We’re currently taking a break from Mystery of History I. Why? Well, I’m trying to decide if it’s really enough world history. There’s plenty of Bible history (which is good), but I don’t feel like it’s tying the Bible into other world history like I had hoped. Since we’re in the middle of a large human body unit, I have a little time to make a decision.
Science – We follow the four-year-cycle of The Well-Trained Mind for science (and history). This year is a biology year. We just finished Exploring Creation With Botany
and LOVED it!! Now, we’re working on a human body unit that should last through Christmas. My main spines for this unit are Considering God’s Creation
and The Body Book.
Mahayla also does LOTS of extras – crochet, knitting, sewing, baking, art, crafts, and she loves to be outside helping Dad on the farm.
We love notebooking! We love books on tape! (The Trixie Belden series right now.) We love reading and going to the library! And we love our co-op that meets once a week! Oh yeah, we love our Keepers At Home group, too!
Caleb’s typical days…..that will have to wait for another post.
