Most of the curricula we chose worked well. We particularly liked First Language Lessons, the Math Mammoth (blue series) worktexts to supplement Math in Focus (which was okay but we're not moving on with it), Story of the World history, and Getting Started with Latin. Singapore Math worked so well for Em that I've ordered the next semester of El's math through Singapore instead of MiF. Discovering Great Artists has been a great art "spine," but lately our Friday art sessions have turned into architecture sessions.
Some of our choices didn't work as well as the others. Writing with Ease never really clicked for us. El preferred the cheapo Spectrum Writing workbook and I added daily copywork or dictation. Third grade "classical education" science is supposed to be chemistry only, but we decided to do chemistry on Thursday and a standards-oriented science program through Evan-Moor on Tuesdays. That seems to work better.
In the coming semester, I would like to begin an actual vocabulary program (likely to be Vocabulary in Action from Loyola Press but I haven't yet figured out what level to put El in.) We will do more literature and we will dial a lot of the other subjects back. December was kind of rough, with three flus and an ear infection. We spent several days doing math, then doing one or two other subjects, followed by reading to each other on the couch. It was very low-key and very inspiring. I want to have more days like that. This is still grammar stage, I continually remind myself. They have so many years of education ahead of them, learning at this age should not be stressful. Especially with a kid like El, who is certainly more and studious and eager to learn than I ever was.
In summary: Homeschooling is AWESOME. That is all.
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| Architectural sketching practice |
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| Friday's final sketch: Big Ben in London |
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