I am often asked what curriculum I use or what program we follow. I don’t follow any set program or boxed curriculum, but I put together our own program. This allows me the freedom to pick and choose curriculum that suits our family and each child. I am yet to find a set program where every component is suited to my child.
Not only is the learning style of the child important, but so is the teaching style of the parent. There is no use in purchasing curriculum that the mother really dislikes teaching. For instance, I love reading aloud. Not every mother does. On a normal school day (if there is such a thing as normal) I read aloud for two and a half hours, that’s 150 minutes. No it’s not all in one go, this is spread out over our day 🙂 Some mothers couldn’t think of anything worse!
While some mothers would rather a maths program where the child can learn independently, that style is not for me. I prefer a maths program, especially for the primary years, where mother teaches the concept first, before the child heads off to ‘do the work’. I have found that in the past, I am better able to help them when they are stuck on a problem, rather than having to take time to learn what the textbook is telling them. And I know what they know and don’t know. I know where we need to do review and where we need to slow down to grasp the concept. Also, in every day life, I know where they are in their maths learning. I can use everyday math to provide extra practise and I can praise their efforts. I know exactly where they are. This, I believe is one of the many wonderful benefits of homeschooling. While it isn’t always possible to choose a perfect curriculum or one that suits both the child’s learning style and mother’s teaching style, it is possible to take these into consideration when you do have a choice. I have also learned that just because the Bloggs family love this particular curriculum, doesn’t mean that we will. Your own homeschool will have it’s own flavour.
Here is what we used this year:
Sweet Pea – Grade 5
Maths:
Singapore Maths
Maths Plus
Xtramath for drills
English/Language Arts:
Essentials In Writing
All About Spelling
A Reason for Handwriting
Getting Started With Latin (grammar)
Aesop’s Fables Classic Copywork
Literature – apart from the literature listed in the history section below, Sweet Pea read most days, from a booklist I compiled or books she found at the library (her booklist will be a separate post)
Foreign Language:
French – Duolingo
Latin – Getting Started With Latin
Science:
Exploring Creation with Zoology 3, Land Animals
History:
Sonlight’s Core D
Our Sunburnt Country (first few chapters)
History of Australia (first few chapters)
Various literature pertaining to the early modern era including:
Walk the World’s Rim
The Sign of the Beaver
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Tom Appleby, Convict Boy
Margaret Catchpole
The Corn Grows Ripe
Vostaas: White Buffalo’s Story
A Lion to Guard Us
Pocahontas and the Strangers
Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims
The Thanksgiving Story
The Courage of Sarah Noble
The Bears on Hemlock Mountain
The Skippack School
The Matchlock Gun
Meet George Washington
Phoebe the Spy
The Cabin Faced West
Om-kas-toe
Meet Thomas Jeffersen
Sarah Whitcher’s Story
Naya Nuki
Robert Fulton, Boy Craftsman
The Story of Eli Whitney
Sarah, Plain and Tall
Sarah’s New World
Rebekah In Danger
Maggie’s Dare
Lizzie and the Redcoat
(Italicised are all readers, books she read on her own)
Note: I have only noted the subjects we included during her independent school time. So her personal Bible devotionals, piano, handicrafts, and all of our group items are not mentioned here. You can see our group items by reading our Morning Basket.
