It must be August again, because it’s time to begin another (Not) Back-To-School Blog Hop!
This first week is Curriculum Week.
You get to see what I’m using with my kids… and I get to see what YOU are using! (That’s the way this works—I link up mine and you link up yours—You ARE linking up to the Hop, right?)
This year’s curriculum represents a major shift in the way we do things around here. For the past several years, my boys have skated by using a lot of computerized curriculum. Yes, we used it because we are dealing with some special needs that are made easier by using the computer. We also ended up with some side issues that I’m not too happy about.
My kids (most kids?) are easily distracted with presented with a screen. D2 (10) would get his work done, but wouldn’t tell me he was done (he would still have book work to do too) and would waste a lot of time playing on YouTube and Grooveshark. D1 (12) would NOT complete his work, but was also drawn to YouTube. And Minecraft.
Minecraft moms, say heyyy! You know who you are and you know we’re all in the same, digitally created block boat. Surrounded by Creepers.
So I changed it up. This year my boys are 8th (7th) and 6th. What do I mean by 8th (7th)? Well, D1 is an 8th grader, according to his age and the grades he’s been progressing through… but he is struggling with all of his developmental stuff and I decided to call him a 7th grader again this year.
Autism is a tricky thing, and although I love him and LOVE how unique he is, it does complicate things. We are working on building up his academics while his social/emotional self catches up to his age.
Now on to my list!
MATH
After two years with Teaching Textbooks, and being sadly disappointed by how much further behind D1 is now than before, we’re ditching it for Christian Light Education’s Mathematics. He tested into CLE Math 6, after completing Math 6 in TT with 92% overall. D2 tested into CLE Math 5, after completing Math 5 in TT with 98%.
Actually, disappointed doesn’t begin to describe it. I’m rather ticked. I have since read that TT runs about a year behind, and CLE about a year ahead… which means there is a TWO YEAR gap I get to fill in.
LANGUAGE ARTS
- Rod and Staff Spelling 6 & 7
- Christian Light Reading 6 & 7 This is the first time I’ve ever used a reading curriculum for ANY of my kids. After examining these, I am impressed and happy I decided to use them.
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WriteShop 1 We’ve never used a writing program with good results, but I am hopeful about WriteShop. I am planning on covering it over 2 years.
- A Reason for Handwriting (no changes here)
- Keyboarding TO BE DETERMINED
HISTORY & BIBLE
I announced my exciting news a couple of weeks ago, about my partnership with BiblioPlan! We are using Modern America and the World by BiblioPlan.
Wondermaps geography software. I love this!
Co-Op Classes and Extras
- Leadership & Public Speaking (both boys)
- Apologia General Science (D1)
- Apologia Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures (D2)
Homeschool Band (D1: Clarinet and D2: Alto Sax)
Karate Classes (continuing)
Civil Air Patrol is also a distinct possibility for D1. It will feed his need for technical science and build up some other valuable skills too.
