HSers: Curriculum for Next Fall

[Cait]

Anyone started ordering? Thinking about what you'll use? Is it different that what you're using now?

After going around and around and around about switching to Sonlight I've decided not to and to stick w/what we're doing (a mishmash of curriculum from different publishers). I really, really hope I don't end up regretting that decision when I've got a brand new baby and a 3yo that I have to get to preschool and a 4th grader and a 1st/2nd grader.

I did order some stuff today. I ordered some spelling materials from Rod & Staff publishers today. Their materials are so reasonable that even if I end up hating it it's not a huge outlay. I really don't love lists of words, but their words are very orderly in that they're grouped phonically and there's more actual workbooky work to do than what we've been doing (a GREAT thing for DD2; she doesn't mind doing it and the repetition is good for her). Plus I like that they throw in a couple books of the bible on every list, so pretty soon the kids will be spelling Colossians more confidently than I am. :lol: I'll probably start to use them this year. I ordered DS a second grade WB which I think will suit his needs better that what we're doing now, which is just way too easy for him.

I also JUST ordered a bunch of stuff from Peace Hill Press (http://www.peacehillpress.com/) (I will save that stuff for next year). I ordered their entire year 3 history set (includes the paperback book, the activity book, an extra set of student pages and tests) and I also ordered an extra set of student pages. My kids really enjoy the student pages and coloring someone in the lesson they're learning about so they've worked well for us. I also ordered grammar materials for DD1 next year and the teacher's edition of Bauer's new writing program. I don't know if we'll end up using that, but I want to have a chance to read through the book throughly before making a decision.

I haven't done it yet, but I am considering ordering the entire reading portion of Sonlight's curriculum for the kids (i.e. just the books). We do use the library a ton, but I'm wondering if it might be worth the expense just to HAVE all the books the kids could possibly want to read w/out having to cart four (gulp! :eek: ) kids to the library.

I will order Sonlight's packaged Singapore math curriculum at some point, though I haven't yet. I've been very happy w/Singapore math and I just love-- LOVE-- the instructor's guides that Sonlight put together; they're so much easier to use than the instructor guides Singapore math sells. I also love all the manipulatives Sonlight includes in their math packages.

That's all I have so far. I will probably try to figure out what to do for any other remaining subjects before the school year ends so I can review things, set some target dates, etc. over the summer (i.e. before the baby arrives :lol: ).

What about you all? When do you start thinking about the next year? When do you order? What are you considering at this point in time?

[miche]

What about you all? When do you start thinking about the next year? When do you order? What are you considering at this point in time?

I think about the next year through the entire year I'm doing as I see what materials are working well and which aren't.

I tend to order anywhere from late spring to late summer.

Right now I'm in search of a new grammar series. I like the series we're using in the early grades, but 4th is just a bit strange and Tommy isn't really getting it. In the past grammar has been easy and fun for him! I'm considering just having him diagram sentences all year for grammar. He knows nouns, verbs, etc, but has problems finding them in sentences. I remember my writing improved after I started diagramming sentences in 6th grade. It helped me form better sentences. And Sean just needs a lot more repetition than he is getting from this grammar series.

[Cait]

I know Peace Hill Press' grammar curriculum is really diagramming intensive (I know this b/c we've been doing a ton :lol: ) but it's also based on a classical format so there's a lot of poem memorization, narration and dictation work as well. Though I do think you could easily skip over the lessons you weren't interested in.

I've also heard excellent things about Rod and Staff's language arts curriculum, but I don't know how into diagramming it is. Their official website (http://www.rodandstaffbooks.com/) is nice, though, and you can view samples there. Their materials are also all SO inexpensive (comparatively speaking) which is nice too, obviously. :)

[miche]

I know Peace Hill Press' grammar curriculum is really diagramming intensive (I know this b/c we've been doing a ton :lol: ) but it's also based on a classical format so there's a lot of poem memorization, narration and dictation work as well. Though I do think you could easily skip over the lessons you weren't interested in.

I've also heard excellent things about Rod and Staff's language arts curriculum, but I don't know how into diagramming it is. Their official website (http://www.rodandstaffbooks.com/) is nice, though, and you can view samples there. Their materials are also all SO inexpensive (comparatively speaking) which is nice too, obviously. :)

I bought a book on diagramming at our local Teacher supply store. I really liked the set-up and did some with Tommy. I'm thinking of just using that next year until he finishes it then maybe doing a formal grammar book again.

I just found out there is a some kind of convention in Loveland this weekend. Someone on our church's homeschool list mentioned she was going and that Rod and Staff would be there. Someone else was looking for 3/8" lined handwriting paper and she said Rod and Staff had some and she would pick it up. Instead I'm picking up a ream at the teacher supply store (only 2 miles from my house) and bringing it to church. Our church is on the other side of Denver and we're one of the few families up here. I might end up doing a lot of school supply favors for families since I've now offered once!

Anyway I can't go to the convention. Tommy has AMND performances Friday night and Saturday matinee. Tom is taking Tommy and watching Sat and I have to take Sean to baseball practice.

[ebmomma]

I know I'll use Sonlight. I haven't ordered yet but likely will soon. DD will be ready for LA 2 and I'll probably order their Core 2 (or whatever they are calling it this year) also.

I have too much on my plate right now to try to put my own stuff together!

[KD]

We will be doing mostly the same, just MORE of it :)

We've just been doing pre- k. They'll start kindy in the fall, we'll continue with Right Start math, we are loving it - I'm hoping to start Level B in the fall, we are working through Level A.

Science, I was planning on using Noeo Science, but am going to wait til 1st grade to start that, and next year we will just continue with Janice VanCleaves Big Book of Play and Find out Science, and other books like Rainbows, Bubbles and worms. They love science so we try to add that in whenever we can.

History we are going to do more with holidays and our state.
We'll do some more FIAR (they'll be taking a local FIAR class too, along with music/art)

Reading we are using ClickNKids and have just started to complement it with the Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading. I was thinking of adding First Language Lessons whenever we reach the point in the the reading book that it says to start FLL's.(anybody used that?)

We'll continue with HWOT, starting the kindy stuff.

Kinda sounds like alot now that I type it out ;)