First week of school

This week we are easing back into a school routine. We got a brand new family journal. I've done some post-nesting and rearranging. We are waiting on curriculum to arrive & starting on what we have already. I'm cleaning up my online activities (not what you are thinking). I'm changing my email and my blog addresses. I'm getting rid of old blogs, unnecessary posts, and old email. I'm going to update the plans for this year. I'll be editing all the old stuff and thoughts from those posts, too. Clean, clean, and clean!!! Our latest addition has been amazing. She is a blessing to all the boys. She sleeps well, too!

The Warrior Grade 1

Along with the following plans, he will be very active and do lots of art projects. We plan on joining the YMCA. He might take art lessons from his Aunt.

Read Alouds

I'll probably pull read alouds from the booklist for Ambleside Online 1.
The Little House in the Big Woods

Holling C. Holling Books
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
King of the Golden River by John Ruskin
Peter Pan (or, Peter Pan and Wendy) by James M. Barrie (parents may want to read this one aloud to edit, see below)
Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
The Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang
St. George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
Pocahontas by Ingri D'Aulaire

English/Language Arts

We are following this scope and sequence from Ambleside Online
He will continue to work on phonics till he can read. We are using Explode the Code and ProgressivePhonics.com.
Oral narrations
Italics Book A
First Language Lessons 1.

Math
Math U See Primer

History

Story of the World 3

Science

Science probably won't be a huge point this year. Reading is that most important point. I know little boys love Science though. His brothers are doing Real Science 4 Kids Biology. My plan is to just order library books on the same subjects & have him do a notebook page for each subject.

The Peacemaker Grade 4

He is doing quite well this year. He needs to work on his confidence a bit. He is finally reading chapter books and I think that will help a lot with his upcoming work. I really need him to be more independent.

History

He will be working through Story of the World 3 (1600-1850). He will do written narrations, mapwork, and notebook pages for each chapter.

He will keep track of important dates and people in his Book of Centuries.

Supplemental library materials (i.e. books and DVDs) will be available. He will keep track of these in our family journal, Goodreads, or Bookadventure.org.

Suggested memory work for the period are Declaration of Independence, First 12 Presidents of the United States, and Major Wars for the time period.

Lots of reading from the library. I promised Hands on activities to him this year. So, I did get the SOTW activity guide.

Science

Real Science-4-kids Biology

Language Arts

I like the methods outlined in The Well Trained Mind, but they seem to work at a slower Charlotte Mason approach with my boys. I'm using the the scope and sequence at Ambleside Online for most of our Language Arts planning. As budget permits, I will add in suggestions from The Well Trained Mind, although at lower grade levels.

He will continue with Italics Handwriting. I would like to see him to start some cursive this year. I'm waiting on purchasing writing curriculum or making further plans. I want to see hwo much work First Language Lessons 3 is for him first. I will keep a collection of good literature, as well as History books on the current topics we are covering. He has just started The Magic Treehouse Series. He will probably have some type of memory work for each month. Poetry or speeches from the time period are suggested in TWTM. He will do a short period of oral reading for a parent. We need to keep up with him and make sure he is doing well. We are going to start using Spelling Power this year, as well.

Math

Math U See Gamma

Optional Resources

Field Trips
YMCA
Critical thinking press Mind Benders: Warm Ups A1, A2, A3, A4
Typing Program

The Prophet Grade 7

I cannot believe he is going to be in Grade 7 this year. He has been doing so well this year. I'm very proud of the changes he has made. We are trying to follow The Well Trained Mind approach. But, he hasn't quite made it to Logic stage in many areas. Alas, Susan Wise Bauer does talk about this which is a confirmation of how I have felt all along. Some children won't make it past logic stage. But, they will still get an excellent education. I believe they can still be ready for college if they desire that path. There is nothing wrong with starting college and having to do Pre-Algebra or Algebra. Sure it's nice to skip ahead or not have to even take Math classes. Oh, wait I'm getting ahead of myself. Grade 7 it is.

History

He will be working through Story of the World 3 (1600-1850). He will do written narrations, mapwork, and notebook pages for each chapter.

He may do outlining of some topics from Usborne Encyclopedia.

He will keep track of important dates and people in his Timeline.

Supplemental library materials (i.e. books and DVDs) will be available. He will keep track of books read through our family journal, Goodreads, and/or Bookadventure.org.

Science

Real Science 4 Kids Biology 1

Language Arts

I like the methods outlined in The Well Trained Mind, but they seem to work at a slower Charlotte Mason approach with my boys. I'm using the the scope and sequence at Ambleside Online for most of our Language Arts planning. As budget permits, I will add in suggestions from The Well Trained Mind, although at lower grade levels.
Writing
We are going to try Writing Strands 3, again. I've whittled down and re-worded the assignments. He should be able to start Writing Strands 4 by October.
Literature

He will read from a reading list, as well as books of his own choosing. I've gathered up books from various sources online. I'll have a few shelves set up from those sources, as well as suggestions from The Story of the World Activity Guide.

Grammar Winston Grammar

Spelling Spelling Power

Math Math U See Epsilon & Zeta

Optional Resources
Field Trips
YMCA
Critical thinking press Mind Benders: Warm Ups A1, A2, A3, A4
Typing Program