As I wrap up this school year, I am already thinking about what we are going to be doing next year. If you’d like to see what we did this year, you can check out our 2012-2013 curriculum
So far for next year, this is what I’m looking at:
Science:
- Answers in Genesis ~ God’s Design For Science
- Apologia ~ Astronomy or Astrology
Math:
We switched to Math U See the second half of this current school year, and LOVE it! I plan on continuing with Math U See. I do miss the familiarity of Horizon Math, which may lead me to use their workbooks as additional practice. BUT, I’m not sure yet.
Language Arts:
This has been such a hard subject to plan. Up until now I have used First Language Lessons For The Well Trained Mind, but they do not make any books above level 4. I split level four between 4th grade and 5th grade. If I can not settle on anything, I may end up going back to Switched On School House Language Arts. So far though, this is what I’m looking into and/or planning on:
- Vocabulary: I picked up Wordly Wise 3000 a few months ago, and so far so good.
- Spelling: I’m looking into Spelling Plus , Spelling Workout, and a few others.
- Reading: Looking into Memoria Press, but I’m also considering just planning it out myself. For my youngest I will use either All About Reading or The Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading
- Writing: We haven’t done much formal writing, but this year my daughter really showed an interested and natural talent in this area. I am first looking into the writing program by Peace Hill Press, and then also looking at one from Memoria Press.
- Grammar: Memoria Press has what looks to be an amazing curriculum, but I still have not decided. I am also looking into A Beka Books as well as Rod and Staff.
- Poetry: For now, it looks like Memoria Press Poetry is what we are going to use. (this could change, nothing is set in stone yet)
I purchased All About Spelling to use for my youngest, but I may use this idea and use it with my oldest too.
History/Geography:
We will continue with Story of the World. We love it! I just plain love everything from Peace Hill Press.
I think this year I will be adding in a bit of very basic US History – still looking into books for this. So far, I have looked into Notgrass Company. We have covered some American History, but it’s been purely an interest-lead study, nothing formal (and that may be how we continue to do it until High School).
For my youngest, we will do very basic Geography. I am still deciding on what to use, but I did order Maps, Charts, Graphs, A: The Places Around Me.
Health:
Will be using ChooseMyPlate.gov. We will also do a lot of digging in on taking care of our physical bodies with good exercise and good hygiene. I will add in a few more things I’d like to cover, but this is a subject that I’ll be setting up myself with resources I have found for free, or for super cheap online. I purchased a health curriculum for this year, and hated it. Five minutes into the first lesson, I knew it was not for us.
Bible:
We will be going through Luke, and we will be using The Dig. I will also be working on some copy work to help with memorization and retention. This is something that I will be creating myself ,(and of course, I’ll put it up here on the blog too).
Penmanship:
Spanish:
I have wanted to add a formal spanish curriculum since I started homeschooling. I am trying to get my hands on the books I used in school back in Puerto Rico. It’s been a bit hard to find them online, and I am still working on getting them. I have also looked into Rod and Staff for spanish, as well as All Bilingual Press
Art:
So many options. Two that I am looking into are:
I also may add in an artist study as well.
Music:
Piano, Composers, Instruments. For Piano lessons I will be teaching them, but everything else such as Composers and Instrumental studies. I will be using books that I purchase or get at the local library. Of course if I can find any free resources that cover topics I would like to teach this year, I’ll use those too.
Entrepreneurship:
This is something that I am still looking into a bit, but it is definitely something I would love to start this year with my oldest. Even if just on a very basic level.
Sewing:
Patterns, stitches, designing, sizing, different techniques. My oldest has been drawing clothing designs for about a year now, and she want’s to learn how to sew. I have taught her some very basic stuff, but this year I plan on teaching her a lot more. I’m also starting a new project with her that I think you will all love! 
(details to come)
Some other resources I’m looking into, or what I am considering including in our curriculum next year:
- Lapbooking
- Unit Studies
- Ambleside Online
- Currclick
- Student News Daily
- Notgrass Company
As you can see, I’m still in the beginning stages of planning for next year, but I’m making progress (you should see how many tabs are opened in my browser when I’m researching the different curriculums!!). Once we wrap up this school year I will begin to formalize our curriculum for next year. I still have a details to sort out for my 4 year old’s curriculum. There is a lot she knows that I did not even realize she knew, so I may not have to start her off where I had planned. We shall see. I will share our finalized curriculum with you guys once it is set More »
