Curriculum for Homeschooling

Today is a momentous occasion for the Harris Family.  We have decided to make some serious changes in our homeschooling curriculum, and it was not without a lot of thought and research.  I have been wanting to utilize some programs I’ve been looking into for about two years, but was too afraid to completely sever the ties to the public school system.  Evidently, I am a woman who requires small step by step movement.

I am thrilled to be utilizing the Susan Wise Bauer history curriculum.  I have read rave reviews on this text and could not be more excited to watch my littlest one begin to learn history in chronological order.  I know this sounds like a concept to most of us, but that is the way kiddos learn the best.  Provide the full story, start to finish, and they are most likely to remember and make connections that are applicable in everyday life.  I could not possibly be more excited for this program.

We are also completely overjoyed to begin using Saxon math.  This is a time tested approach to learning and mastering mathematical concepts.  I have been watching the math in American public schools evolve over the last couple of years, and I am not seeing positive statistical growth in the development and learning in the arithmetic arena.  This program slowly builds one concept upon the next with tests and assignments that provide an enormous amount of practice material in each lesson.  I am so excited for this portion of our program that I can’t wait until fall.  We are starting math in two weeks.  My kids are actually excited too…  CRAZY!

The rest of our homeschooling curriculum is an eclectic mix of what fits the tastes of our kids.  This year, for the boys, art will be stop animation.  We purchased the Stopmotion Explosion animation kit, complete with camera, animation software, and a 290 page book on story boarding, script writing, and basic how to advice.  I am so excited to see what they create.

Art for my youngest will be a combination of art history and drawing classes.  She is the resident illustrator in this family.  She writes her own stories and then illustrates the text with beautiful artwork that compliments her natural writing abilities.  I am amazed at the talent inside this little seven-year-old child.

English is the Bob Jones homeschooling curriculum.  This is a new series for me, and I am excited to see how it goes.  Reading, writing, grammar, spelling and vocabulary are all pulled from slightly different programs.  It is hard for me to stick with just one homeschooling curriculum, because there are so many out there and so many different learning styles within my own household.

My oldest is somehow at the age where he will be starting high school.  I sincerely have no idea how this happened.  It feels like he was just born, and yet here we are starting ninth grade.  He will be attending the online homeschooling program BYU has created.  While BYU is a Mormon university, the homeschooling curriculum for high school  is secular and available to anyone interested in applying.  I am excited to have him fill out the application this week and submit it to the university.  He will be capable of applying for university programs after completion of this application process.  It comes complete with a student written essay on their academic goals and plans.  I love it.

This is all so exciting, and I am getting started on all the lesson plans next week.  I have to stay focused on this year’s school work and finish up the last couple of chapters in our current program.  But I am so excited for this next year’s homeschooling curriculum.