Reading, Writing & Arithmetic...Time for a new homeschool year.

I had planned on semi-homeschooling through the summer as usual, but this summer we ended up doing other things and at times (a lot of times) pretty much nothing. Somewhere in July I realized (actually just admitted to myself) that we are just going to take a traditional summer off. Apparently, I needed it.  Ahhh...the beauty of homeschooling, the freedom to do what you need when you need to do it. We will be starting back up the day after Labor Day. 

This year the Lord truly blessed us by allowing me to purchase all the curriculum I needed and even some of what I wanted. I feel so loved by my Savior, it's been a long time since I've been able to do that all at one time. Usually I'm getting what I need a little at a time. I am really excited about this year though, it is the first year I will be using Queen Homeschool as my core curriculum. The children really enjoy it as do I. 

So, here is our 2013-14 curriculum list:

Jacob: 

Math ~ Teaching Textbooks 6, supplement w/ Life of Fred math

Language Arts ~ Language Arts for the Secondary Child, Spelling copywork C, Pictures in Cursive, Reading/narrating/dictation

Science ~ A Nature Walk with Aunt Bessie (Discovering Nature Series)

History ~ A Living History of Our World Volume 4 "The Story of the Ancients" w/journal, Timeline, American History Graphic Novel supplement 

Bible Study ~ An Excellent Spirit

Luke:

Math ~ Math Lessons for a Living Education 4

Language Arts ~ Language Arts for the Elementary Child Volume 1, Spelling copywork A, Pictures in Cursive, Reading/Narrating

Science ~ Our Animal Friends (Discovering Nature Series)

History ~ A Living History of Our World Volume 4 "The Story of the Ancients" w/journal, Timeline, American History Graphic Novel supplement

Bible Study ~ Increasing in Wisdom

Laura:

Math ~ Math Lessons for a Living Education 3

Language Arts ~ Language Arts for the Elementary Child Volume 1, Spelling copywork A, Pictures in Cursive, Reading/Narrating

Science ~ Our Animal Friends (Discovering Nature Series)

History ~ A Living History of Our World Volume 4 "The Story of the Ancients" w/journal, Timeline, American History Graphic Novel supplement

Bible Study ~ A Virtuous Girl

Grace:

Math ~ Math Lessons for a Living Education 1

Phonics/Reading ~ Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, easy readers, sight word practice, Pictures with Printing

History ~ Listening along with sister/brothers, coloring pictures 

Science ~ Living books about bugs, plants, etc...

Bible ~ Various Bible Stories/dvd's, reading The Graphic Bible

We meet before school work begins to pray, go over Bible verses they are memorizing, and do Hymn Study. We all meet to do history together, I read aloud the lesson and they work on their journals, projects and timeline. 

Obviously this is just the basics, we don't do everything everyday, and their are things done throughout the year that aren't in the daily plan. I plan on going through the "Little Ladies" and "Little Leaders" series and the "God's Plan for Growing Up" series this year. I also plan on doing a study on Baptist History. I don't really have a scheduled time for these, they will just happen when they happen. There is a lot of reading scheduled throughout the year, classics, biographies, read aloud's, etc... Dvd's, nature walks, field trips and just everyday life will round out our school days. And as the children are getting older more service for our Savior is added also.

 More important than the three R's is learning to have a heart for the things of God. To put Him first, before self, before family, before friends. To accomplish this in my children's lives Mel and I must be living this in our own lives. It is a daily struggle, but one that is so totally worth it. Not only for our children but for us as well! I plan on spending the next couple of weeks praying for our school year, not only that much knowledge will be gained, but that true wisdom will be. That our family will grow closer to the Lord and to each other.