We are now only about 2 weeks away from the start of our new school year! I am actually starting to get really excited to have structure and routine back in our lives. While we've been mega-busy and will continue to be throughout the summer, I am beginning to desperately miss having a similar routine to each day! Other than the consistent structure of swim team practice, there is something different going on every day this summer. I am struggling to keep up with all of the variations in our daily lives!
Soon, though, we will be back to our regular school schedule and for that regular school schedule - we will be using our carefully chosen curriculum! I will be updating the Curriculum page over the next few weeks and I am posting separately about each of my children's curriculum for next year as well.
In looking at Duncan's 5th grade curriculum, you might notice a variety of grade levels in the curriculum materials that I'm using for him. With 8 full years of homeschooling tucked under my belt, grade levels mean very little to me at this point. I am using the materials that will work best for him in his various subjects.
After years of unit studies, much of Duncan's curriculum is quite traditional and textbook-based this year. I am also utilizing instructional DVDs for the first time in years to help with my teaching load. I have learned that using textbooks does not mean an end to hands-on activities. I have also learned that I can use textbooks in some classes and not in others. Overall, I'm incredibly happy with the materials that I've chosen for him and I'm excited to start our new school year!
After years of unit studies, much of Duncan's curriculum is quite traditional and textbook-based this year. I am also utilizing instructional DVDs for the first time in years to help with my teaching load. I have learned that using textbooks does not mean an end to hands-on activities. I have also learned that I can use textbooks in some classes and not in others. Overall, I'm incredibly happy with the materials that I've chosen for him and I'm excited to start our new school year!
Language Arts
Reading:
Bob Jones Reading Level 4
***I am only using some of the DVD material with this course. Duncan and I will watch the beginning of the video together for the introduction to the story and the creative ways in which the vocabulary is presented. Then, I will teach the rest of the lesson myself so that we can talk about what he is reading. On skill station days in which a story is not read and discussed, Duncan will watch those lessons independently.
***I am only using some of the DVD material with this course. Duncan and I will watch the beginning of the video together for the introduction to the story and the creative ways in which the vocabulary is presented. Then, I will teach the rest of the lesson myself so that we can talk about what he is reading. On skill station days in which a story is not read and discussed, Duncan will watch those lessons independently.
Reading Comprehension:
Spelling & Vocabulary
Handwriting
History
Sonlight History Core D with Regular Readers – Introduction to American History
· The Story of the USA, Book 1
· North American Indians
· Pedro’s Journal
· Incans, Aztecs, & Mayans
· The Landmark History of the American People Volume 1
· What’s the Big Idea, Ben Franklin?
· Can’t You Make Them Behave, King George?
· And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?
· The Winter at Valley Forge
· The Story of the USA, Book 2
· If You Were There When They Signed the Constitution
· American Adventures I
· The Story of Eli Whitney
· The Lewis and Clark Expedition
· Imprisoned in the Golden City
· The Erie Canal
· A Lion to Guard Us
· Pocahontas and the Strangers
· Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims
· The Thanksgiving Story
· The Courage of Sarah Noble
· The Matchlock Gun
· The Skippack School
· Meet George Washington
· Phoebe the Spy
· The Cabin Faced West
· The Bears on Hemlock Mountain
· Om-kas-toe
· Meet Thomas Jefferson
· Sarah Whitcher’s Story
· Robert Fulton, Boy Craftsman
· Sarah, Plain and Tall
R
R
Read Alouds
Walk the World's Rim
A Child's Introduction to Poetry
Secret of the Andes
Toliver's Secret
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
Paddle-to-the-Sea
Justin Morgan Had a Horse
Calico Bush
The Journeyman
Swift Rivers
Farmer Boy
***We will be watching Johnny Tremain and The Sign of the Beaver
rather than reading the books. I also removed The Witch of Blackbird Pond
from the read-aloud list for my boys and added it to my daughter's high school reading list for history.
Walk the World's Rim
A Child's Introduction to Poetry
Secret of the Andes
Toliver's Secret
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
Paddle-to-the-Sea
Justin Morgan Had a Horse
Calico Bush
The Journeyman
Swift Rivers
Farmer Boy
***We will be watching Johnny Tremain and The Sign of the Beaver
rather than reading the books. I also removed The Witch of Blackbird Pond from the read-aloud list for my boys and added it to my daughter's high school reading list for history.I am still working on choosing all of the videos I want my boys to watch as part of their History program. I know for sure that we'll be watching the following videos:
- Drive Thru American History Series
- Drive Thru History Discovering America's Founders
- National Geographic: Lewis and Clark: Great Journey West (IMAX film, 41 minutes)
- Indians of North America (Schlessinger Media); We will be watching selected DVDs from this series of 20 DVDs to acquaint my boys with the wide variety of cultures among Native Americans in different parts of North America.
- America The Story of US
- We will be watching the first 4 episodes of this series.
Science
Bob Jones Science Level 4 with DVDs
My plan is to watch the DVD lessons with Duncan so I am available to talk with him about the science lesson and complete the many, many hands-on activities included in this curriculum. Using the DVDs will allow me to cut down on my preparation time for this course immensely and enjoy it right alongside Duncan. The DVDs are wonderful and I'm really looking forward to watching them with him.
My plan is to watch the DVD lessons with Duncan so I am available to talk with him about the science lesson and complete the many, many hands-on activities included in this curriculum. Using the DVDs will allow me to cut down on my preparation time for this course immensely and enjoy it right alongside Duncan. The DVDs are wonderful and I'm really looking forward to watching them with him.
In addition, Duncan will participate in selected homeschool science/nature classes at local nature centers. As well, we will take field trips to science centers and zoos throughout the school year.
Physical Education
Swim team practice - After a wonderful experience with a recreational team over the summer, Duncan will be getting back to USA Swimming and joining the same team as Amber and Mason. We are not sure which group he will be placed in but we anticipate swim team practice for Duncan at least three times a week.
Fine Arts
Atelier Video-Based Art Lessons – Art Projects from Level 5 and Level 6 - My goal is to complete one art project per week but we will need to skip art some weeks for field trips.
***If you would like to read my detailed review of this curriculum, please visit my review at The Curriculum Choice.
***If you would like to read my detailed review of this curriculum, please visit my review at The Curriculum Choice.
Bible
Typing
Typing – Typing Instructor Platinum
- Duncan will be working through this wonderful program three times per week.
Books on Tape
In addition to the aforementioned curriculum, Duncan will be required to listen to a chapter each day of a book on tape. Duncan does not regularly choose to read in his spare time, therefore, by including a book listening time in his school day, I am increasing the amount of books to which he is exposed.
Ideally, I would like Duncan to read along with the book while it is being read to him but, so far, Duncan has not enjoyed doing that and has found it frustrating. Therefore, his only requirement will be to listen to the books on tape. I am still working on his reading list but I know he will be listening to the following books as part of his school work for the 2011-2012 school year.
I am linking this curriculum post up with the Not Back-to-School Blog Hop at Heart of the Matter. If you love to read about the curriculum choices of other homeschoolers (and what homeschool mom doesn't!), I encourage you to check out the other bloggers that linked up as well!
- Duncan will be working through this wonderful program three times per week. Books on Tape
In addition to the aforementioned curriculum, Duncan will be required to listen to a chapter each day of a book on tape. Duncan does not regularly choose to read in his spare time, therefore, by including a book listening time in his school day, I am increasing the amount of books to which he is exposed.
Ideally, I would like Duncan to read along with the book while it is being read to him but, so far, Duncan has not enjoyed doing that and has found it frustrating. Therefore, his only requirement will be to listen to the books on tape. I am still working on his reading list but I know he will be listening to the following books as part of his school work for the 2011-2012 school year.
- Mr. Popper's Penguins
- The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog
- The Indian in the Cupboard
- Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
- Frindle
- The Whipping Boy
- The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
I am linking this curriculum post up with the Not Back-to-School Blog Hop at Heart of the Matter. If you love to read about the curriculum choices of other homeschoolers (and what homeschool mom doesn't!), I encourage you to check out the other bloggers that linked up as well!
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