Back to School

We actually started back to school last week. Luke was chomping at the bit, and I saw no reason we should wait to start with the local public schools. So we jumped in. I was a little nervous about starting this year because most of our curriculum this year is new to us. I had bought it at a home school used book sale back in May. So far things are going great. The boys seem to really like the new stuff. Luke and Jacob have more notebooks for writing so we can save the text books to pass down. We are also doing Bible differently this year.

Before we have always had a Bible curriculum. In addition to that,last year, I would read the Proverbs chapter of the day out loud and then the older two would each choose one verse from that day's chapter and write it in a notebook. Then we would talk about their chosen verse. This year we are using the Bible Broadcasting Network's memory verse of the week. (Click on the BBN in the right side column of the blog) On day 1 the boys print the verse in their notebooks. Day 2,the copy it in cursive. Day 3, I have them draw a picture of what they see in their mind when they hear the verse. Days 4-5, we work on finish memorizing it.

Here is each boy's list of subjects.

Nathan,age 3: Jump Start Preschool cd on the computer, Little People workbook from Dollar Tree,doodling in HIS notebook while his brothers do their work. Nathan spends his free time running trains on the Thomas track,riding his bike,or just following his brothers around,copying their every move. What else are three big brother's for?

Caleb,age 5; grade 1: Writing part of the week's verse each day,Jump Start 1st Grade cd on the computer,finishing Phonics and Math from last year.Both from Christian Liberty Press.
Spelling: published by Association of Christian Schools International
Science: Our Father's World Published by Christian Liberty Press
History: History For Little Pilgrims Published by Christian Liberty Press
Readers:Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 1;Meeting New Friends;Noah Webster's Reading Handbook;Lessons From the Farmyard. all by Christian Liberty Press
Giant workbook: Comprehensive Curriculum of Basic Skills Grade 1 published by School Specialty Publishing
Comprehensive Quickies: 3 minute reading comprehension activities Published by Remedia Publications

Now he doesn't do ALL of that each day! The readers, we'll go through one at a time. Some books we'll get to later in the year. The others he just does a page or two each day. The rest of his day is spent outside dinking in the garden,riding his bike,building yet another sling shot or anything he can think of with the scrap wood out back.

Jacob,age 8; grade 4: Writing the Bible verse of the week,
Readers: all by Christian Liberty Press:Boys and Girls of Colonial Days,Children of the Covered Wagon,Christian Liberty Press Nature Reader Book 4,Stories of the Pilgrims
History: A Child's Story of America,published by Christian Liberty Press
English: English 4 for Christian Schools,published by BJU Press
Math:Saxon Math 5/4
Spelling: Spelling,Vocabulary,Poetry 4,published by A Beka Book
Science: Understanding God's World,published by A Beka Book

As with Caleb, we'll go through the readers one at a time. Each subject is about 2 pages a day. Jacob loves being outside working with wood,shooting his bow and arrows, shooting BB and pellet guns with his Dad,and knife/tomahawk throwing.

Luke,age 10;grade 6: Writing the Bible verse of the week,
Readers:Mountain Pathways,Voyage of Discovery,Of America II,all published by A Beka Book
Spelling: Spelling,Vocabulary,Poetry 6 published by A Beka Book
Language Arts 6 published by Christian Light Publications
Geography: World Map skills published by Frank Schaffer Publications
Science: Observing God's World by A Beka Book
Math: Math 6 For Christian Schools By BJU Press

Luke is my voracious reader. He read the first two of his school readers this summer while camping. Can't find him? Check his bedroom,there he'll be on his bed with his nose in a book. Usually with a biography from the library. He also loves working with wood,knife throwing,bike riding,and is an indispensable help with our family canoe and kayak business.

So there you have it. Our home school for the year.

Have a great day!
Leat