Monday, April 20, 2009

planning for next year

It is that time again to start thing about my curriculum choices for next year. As of right now Max and Tallulah are signed up for preschool at a church down the road. Micah and Max both spent one year there and we all loved it. If we did public school, Max could start kindergarten this fall, but I don't think he is ready, so after a year at home with me, he will be doing pre-k at Churchland Baptist and Lulu will be in the 3 year old class (3! How did that happen?!)
So, that leaves Regan and Micah at home with me. I am a total believer in Konos and have loved the units that we have done this year and I think the kids have too. I love the unit approach and how character traits are integrated into the topics... school has really been fun this year. At the same time, it is April and I am exhausted. So this fall I am thinking about trying a new approach that will integrate the things that I love about all that we have done in the past 2 years. So, here is what I am thinking:

History
Sonlight History 1
*supplemented with activities from my Konos volumes for activities and my Konos timeline (love this so much more than Sonlights book of time!)

Bible
Sonlight Bible 1

Math
MathUSee Beta and Gamma

Language Arts
continuing with First Language Lessons
All About Spelling for phonics and spelling (has anyone used this program for both?)
The Complete Writer: Level 1 workbook for Writing with Ease (I just found this and would love any feedback, we have really liked First Language Lessons and this looks equally good)
A Reason for Handwriting Manuscript A and Transition (I am wondering if I need a handwriting curriculum if I use the Writing with Ease?)
Sonlight Readers 2 and 2 advanced + library for reading

Science
Konos science units and Lap books- We will definitely do a honey bee lap book and Maybe frogs too and I would like to do a study of the human body.
I also just got Sow and Grow: a Gardening Book for Children. It has monthly gardening activities (inside and out) that I plan to do throughout the year.

Art/Music
I have some art books here that we will start with and have not decided what to do for music yet.
Was looking at this: Story of the Orchestra : Listen While You Learn About the Instruments, the Music and the Composers Who Wrote the Music!, anyone used this? I would like to do something a bit more formal and regular for both of these. With Konos there were lots of arts and crafts (which we love) but they always gave me an excuse to put off a regular art lesson.

Foreign Language
Rosetta Stone- I am leaning towards French, but have not ordered yet.

Just for fun
Sonlight Read-alouds 1- These were a family favorite when we did Sonlight last year

I would love to hear any feedback or comments!

3 comments:

Jennifer said...

We used the Story of the Orchestra along with some other great resources this year. We'll chat...

Anonymous said...

We have the Orchestra book, but I don't remember it being more than a week-long thing. Could be you just have to slow down and add in your own activity to use it more fully.

We always take breaks between our KONOS units. Otherwise I end up burned out. Lol.

Marie Rippel said...

To answer your question: Yes, you can use All About Spelling for phonics as well as for spelling!

 

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