2017-2018 Curriculum Choices

Ryder ~ 4th Grade

 

Reading:

For Reading I am going to be using a comprehension type workbook for him called Daily Reading Practice.

 

Science:

For science we are going to try Bob Jones out this year!

History:

We have always used My Father's World for history/geography, but this year I wanted to change it up and try something new. So I went with Notgrass Uncle Sam and You!

These are the literature selections that go along with Notgrass.

Geography:

For geography I really wanted a daily short-n-sweet review-type workbook, so I found this Evan-Moor Daily Geography Practice workbook that we are going to try out.

Writing:

Ryder is taking a writing class at our local homeschool co-op.

Grammar:

I am trying Fix It! Grammar this year! It is very short every day so I thought we could add this in. It also adds in vocabulary too.

Music:

We will be learning about the Orchestra and the different types of instruments that play in the Orchestra this year. I am going to use this book, "The Story of the Orchestra," as our guide.

Spelling:

We have always used Rod and Staff for spelling and his achievement test scores were excellent, but I didn't like the layout of the 4th grade book, so we are switching to Soaring with Spelling. This curriculum also has vocabulary included.

Math:

Ryder really enjoyed Teaching Textbooks this year, so we are going to continue on and move to TT5!

Critical Thinking:

This year I incorporated a thinking skills workbook, so I picked Building Thinking Skills Level 2 for Ryder for the fall. It's a 4th through 6th grade book and very thick, so he won't finish this in 4th grade. We will stretch it out over 2-3 years.

 Vocabulary:
This is a short and sweet workbook for vocabulary ~ Beginning Word Roots. I also got Marie's Words. I don't know how much we will use them, but I have them in case I want to use them :)

 

 

Mercer ~ 1st Grade

 

Reading:

He is about half way through All About Reading Level 2, so when we finish we will move right into All About Reading Level 3.

 

 I also got him Daily Reading Practice for reading comprehension.

And he loves Explode the Code and he can do these independently, so I got him Level 3 and 4.



 Science:
I am going to try Bob Jones with Mercer this year too.

History:

I am going to do Abeka's first grade history program with Mercer this year ~ My America and My World AND Community Helpers!

Geography:

I also got Mercer the Evan Moor Daily Geography Practice workbook.

Writing:

This program seemed fun and I thought Mercer would enjoy it so we are going to try it out! It is called WriteShop Primary Book A.

 

 

Music:

We will be learning about the Orchestra and the different types of instruments that play in the Orchestra this year. I am going to use this book, "My First Orchestra Book," as our guide.

Handwriting

:I am going to continue with A Reason for Handwriting A.

 Math:

I went overboard on buying Mercer math curriculums for 1st grade. I can't seem to figure out which one will best suite him... I had gotten Horizons 1, Singapore 1A and 1B, MathUSee Alpha, and even some Scholastic and Spectrum workbooks. None of these seem to be a good fit. SO, I am packing all those away and I am just going to use Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool online program for him. I ordered the Workbook, Printables, and Teacher's Guide. I feel this will be the best fit for him. Can't wait to see how it goes!

 Critical Thinking:
This year I incorporated a thinking skills workbook, so I picked Critical and Creative Book 1 for Mercer for the fall.

 

~Both~

 

Bible:

I am going to do Bible with both of them together. For the first semester we will use Character Trails and for the second semester we will use Character in Action.

 

Art:

Both boys are taking an art class at Community Co-op this next year.

Mercer's Kindergarten Graduation

We are members of MHEA which is Memphis Homeschool Education Association and they put on a Kindergarten graduation every year! This was Mercer's year to shine! He was so excited :)

 

 

He was very proud of his poster that I made of our year!

 

His friend Erica from our homeschool co-op group graduated too!

 

The graduation was really special! They played a slideshow with pictures of all the graduates, they had a skit to the book "Oh the Places You Will Go," they got a diploma, and cake and lemonade at a reception afterwards! So proud of my Mercer man and he learned so much this year! Now, onto 1st grade!



WEEK 34

BIBLE

We finished our Matthew study this week by reading all of chapter 14! I had planned to stretch this study out over 2 years, but I have decided to change up our Bible curriculum next year and we are going to try something different! Joys of homeschooling, right?!
 

LANGUAGE ARTS

Ryder did Spelling Lesson 34 and got a 25/25 on his spelling test. He also took his final end of the year spelling test and got a 25/25!

Mercer did Lesson 16 in All About Reading Level 2. We will continue this a few days a week over the summer.

Ryder had reading time every day. He finished the book "Black Beauty." Mercer is reading the Usborne "Hey Jack!" book series. He has finished over half the books already though!

For read aloud time we finished the book "New Toes for Tia."

MATH

Mercer did lessons 132-134 in Horizons Math. Ryder did lessons 93-95 in Teaching Textbooks. Both will continue their math program over the summer until it is finished. I purposefully stretch their math out so they are still doing math over the summer. I like them to retain information and get the practice in so when we start a new school year they just move right along without having to have much review.

 

GEOGRAPHY

This week we finished our study of France. We read more about France in "Children's Atlas of God's World." The geography-themed vocabulary words that Ryder learned about this week were river and rapids.

SCIENCE

We studied about balance of nature, Eugene Odom, and caves in Properties of Ecosystems. We also learned about how to describe living things in the Living World Encyclopedia.

 

MUSIC

We listened to the sons "All the Ducklings" and "Frere Jacques" on our Wee Sing CD.

 

ART

The boys learned about impressionism and they painted a landscape of water and trees with a bridge!

 

The girls got to color with colorwonder markers!

 

CO-OP
This was their last week at their Community classes at Highland. We have been so thankful for Ms. Heather and Ms. Suzanne this year! Such a great support system and I am so thankful they will have them as teachers next year! Here's a picture of their classes :)



Yesterday we had our end-of-the-year party with our Thursday group. We went to Get Air and the boys were just loving it! Definitely in their element!