2014-15 Curricula

Emme, fourth grade:

• Math: Christian Light Education 309-408
• Language Arts: 
• Christian Light Education 401-410
• Character ZB cursive copywork
• Treasure Chest of Literature Fourth Grade Reader
• various literature
• History: Galore Park Junior History book 1
• Science: Sassafras Science Zoology, Beginning Science Detective
• Art Lab for Kids
• Logic: Building Thinking Skills book 2

Eliot, sixth grade:

• Mathematical Reasoning, book G (6th grade)
• Language Arts:
• Digging into Diagramming
• Writing with Skill, level 1
• Copywork: U.S. Presidents
• Elson's Grammar School Reader Book Two (6th grade)
• Various literature
• Science: Elemental Science's "Biology for the Logic Stage"
• History: 
• Story of the World 4, book and audio
• Our homemade timeline
• "You Decide! Applying the Bill of Rights to Real Cases" by Critical Thinking Company
• Art Lab for Kids
• Extras/fun stuff: Architecture study, Rummy Roots & More Roots, "You've Been Sentenced" game

Both kids, co-op: 

• Art history
• Living math activities based on the book, "The Number Devil"
• Mythology 

One week at a time (Planning for two children)

I want to create a separate post dedicated to planning before I write our first week's wrap up. This was our first week of school and it helped to have our weekly plan written out so that the kids could see what was expected of them. I did this in a couple of different ways.

First of all, I found this awesome download of a weekly checklist on Pinterest. I taped a copy to the kids' weekly folders (I haven't perfected the folders. They each just have a file folder filled with things they need to work on that week, and as they finish them I put the finished items back into the folders. At the end of the week I will empty them out and put all the finished papers in the correct place. NOTE TO SELF: Week one just ended! Do that thing you just said you were going to do.)

Second, I cut pages out of a standard lesson plan book (here is a free 2-page download similar to the one I had) and pasted them to a large piece of construction paper. I made two double-sided pages like this, with one on each side so I could plan for one child and while looking at the previous week's plans. I then had both pages laminated. I can write on the pages with wet erase markers and they just wipe off with a damp cloth.

Sorry. I know this pic is horrible. The light was reflecting off of laminated pages.

I hung both pages up on a bulletin board and then (after this picture was taken :p) hung the board up next to where we do most of our school work. Each child can see his or her own plans for the week.

I also found this helpful webpage from Donna Young, which offers downloads of lesson planning pages to use with more than one child. I really like the 5X7 2-child planning pages which offer separate sections for each child and then a section for the subjects the children do together. I haven't used this yet, but it looks like it would be helpful if I need a planner page for just me.