Curriculum 2015

Hi everyone!

A new year snuck up on me... not impressed.

2014 was, shall we say, not the raging success I imagined.  Not a complete failure, but not quite up to my own imaginary-but-important standard.  So of course my solution is to imagine an even more rigorous and breathtakingly organised 2015.

Stop laughing!


It's OK, really.  I'm finally coming to terms with the novel idea that I'm teaching individuals, not a 'grade', not a subject, and not a book.  And these individuals are pretty darn cool!  Notice the missing grade numbers, yeah, they're becoming difficult to categorize!


This year we added another flower to our 'official school' garden.  Master 4.5, Winter Glow, is joining us.  He's a bright spark.  Stubborn as his father, creative, sensitive, impulsive, sweet...   but I did have a few teaching 3 kids with a toddler - how on earth is this possible? moments while planning over the summer!

Here's a rundown of some of the things I will be touching on this year.  As always, please take to heart the disclaimer that I DO NOT (can not!) do everything, in every book, everyday!  I'm not a box-ticker.  I can't help it, I like to be flexible.  Think of these lists as resources that inspire me, not as taskmasters that rule me.


I'll start with the newest.  He's really very adorable.  We missed the adorable toddler/threenager stage with him because we could hardly catch our breath (he wasn't the cruisiest child!).  He seems to have turned a corner and is just a little cutie in my eyes again!

WG - 2015

Learning Language Arts Through Literature (LLATL) - Blue book.  I really enjoyed doing this one with WS a couple of years ago.
MEP maths - Reception.
Stick Figure Through the Bible.
Art - we've been working through the book Get Into Art - Animals with our bestest friends who are this year also a homeschooling family!!!  And Baby Lamb's book of Art.

He also does some Montessori inspired activities with Spring Sage, Spielgaben with WR & WS, Five In A Row activities and Lego Club at the library, both with WS.  Tagging along with History and Science.

This year he also began Violin lessons like his older siblings.  Oh goodness, did I mention adorable yet?


WS - 2015

Ah my oldest son.  He has needed a little more deciphering.  He thinks very differently to me, but so much like his father - I often ask him to translate!  For this reason, we sort of meandered through last year, trying to see what fit with him.  It was actually really lovely and helpful to spend time thinking deeply about how to connect with my son.  He's an amazing kid, sooooooooo much potential.  I am humbled by his beautiful personality (most of it!) already and in quiet, hopeful awe about what God has planned for this one.

So, here's what I've settled on, for now!  These are the main spines.  He devours books, especially non fiction, and is constantly talking everyone's ears off about what he's learned.  My husband learns best the same way.  Currently he is adamant that he'll be a marine biologist (WS that is, not the husband)!

Stick Figuring Through the Bible.

LLATL Yellow, Writing With Ease, lots of assigned reading with a Mum-made book list.

MEP maths.

Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding, (BFSU) we're finishing up the last couple of lessons from book 1 before we go to book 2.  I'm excited!  It's a year of building simple machines - bring on the Lego Technic!

History - some tagging along with WR, some Story of the World (we're starting on Middle Ages this year), but mainly I'm going to do what works with this child, give him lots of books to read.  I'll use ideas from Ambleside Online, Sonlight, All Through the Ages, Classical House of Learning and whatever else I come across.

Art - Get into Art, Draw Write Now.

Song School Latin - sometimes WG gets in on this (he likes the dvd).

Mum-made Russian - based on the book 'Russian Made Simple' - add in some Mango Russian when we can for fun (THANK YOU LIBRARY!)

Continuing with Violin lessons, Lego Club, Youth group, homeschool group, bike rides, cooking... He is begging me to teach him to sew - he wants to sew his own library bag - you better believe I am going to make time to teach him this!



WR

My darling daughter.  She's growing up, trying on a little independence.  So much like I was at that age.  She is fun, sweet and sassy.  She's funky and is finding her tastes.  I can very clearly see that this is another stage in the separation from being a part-of-Mother to becoming her own woman.  I expect my cat+cradle in the mail any day.

Stick Figuring Through the Bible.

Finishing Town level of MCT language arts, Classical Writing, lots of reading.

Beast Academy and Singapore Maths, Khan Academy, Life of Fred... part of the growing up and flexing of independence muscles is wanting more choice.  So, she can choose to work from Beast Academy or Singapore maths - the exercises I assign - and if she works diligently she'll have time to do some of her choice of fun maths, Khan or Fred or something else (see my maths! post for more details).

BFSU

History - Diana Waring's Romans, Reformers, and Revolutionaries! we are so far loving the 4 phase component.  It is really filling a few needs she had for this year.

Art - Get into Art, Artistic Pursuits

Getting Started With Latin then Prima Latina.

Mum-made Russian, Mango Russian.

We also have Violin lessons, Writing Club - this is absolutely fantastic by the way, Youth group, homeschool group, bike rides, a bit of Piano lessons when we can, cooking... life, friends, family, swimming, TV, cafés, tea parties, pretty dresses, funky hairstyles, climbing trees, eye-rolls...



Already this year we have had a week of intensive swimming lessons and a visit to the aquarium.

We also have some awesome park days and excursions planned for this year with our Homeschool group!  Including a marine biology centre, water treatment plant, museum, zoo and more!


This is definitely the life...