Back to School! ... with a few changes

Back in August, I created a post detailing what we were going to be doing for Jacob's Kindergarten year. It has gone really well and we accomplished most everything we set out to do. But over Christmas, I sat down to reevaluate and consider whether everything we were doing was working and if there were any changes to be made. Ah, the beauty of homeschooling! We are not stuck with the plan just because it's the plan. We can change the schedule, the books, the approach if need be. I love that! Not that I want to change things willy nilly or always be changing - I don't. I like order. But I think as I learn to homeschool, this ability to change things is a blessing.


* I kept the Poetry portion of the syllabus from Laura Berquist, but was not so pleased with how some of the other portions were progressing. I dropped the two days of "Art" as the syllabus had it. I brought back an old favorite which the kids have been asking for. We will now have Tuesday Tea Time again with picture study during that time. The other day will be for an art project, preferably painting, drawing, pastels or clay. I kept the Bible reading and narration that she suggests (do like that), but switched to the New Catholic Picture Bible. Despite Jacob's GREAT ability for reading comprehension, I believe the Golden Children's Bible was just too much - detail, depth, etc. The other will be more to the point and understandable/readable. After much more thought, research and consideration, I have also decided that I prefer the Mater Amabilis curriculum (Catholic Charlotte Mason) in many ways. I think next year we will switch to that, but for now I am striving to incorporate some of their Kindergarten curriculum.

*Math: Horizons Math is working beautifully. I love it! Won't be changing that any time soon.

*Phonics/Reading: We finished Alphaphonics a month or so ago and have just been working through our phonics workbooks (MCP Plaid phonics and Explode the Code). We will continue these and I would like to work in a lot more reading practice. I have been tired in the afternoons and not usually up to lots of activity, so everyone has been resting. Hopefully I can spend a little more time with him before I rest.

*Handwriting: Still going through D'Nealian Manuscript. Still love it! I would like to work in a little more copywork.
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*Science: I wasn't sure what to do with science from the beginning. I didn't want to get too over our heads in curriculum, but I also felt like I couldn't count on myself to come up with occasional science lessons that were meaningful and fun. I bought the Kindergarten Sonlight Science Teacher Guide on ebay for cheap and we have been doing that for the most part. I think we all find it a little boring and uneventful though. I am switching to using some books by Evan Moor called the Scienceworks for Kids Series. We will begin with Learning About Weather and hopefully complete Learning About Plants. I know Michele has used these and recommended them. I would like to fit in nature walks too.

*Religion: As I said above, we are changing our Bible to read, but keeping the narration part. I would love to use Cay Gibson's book, Catholic Mosaic, a lot better. It is a lovely resource using picture books to celebrate feasts, etc. throughout the Church Year. As for the Who Am I? series, we are not really using this much at all. We may still pull it out occasionally, but I think I will postpone the Cathechism formally till next year when we will begin the Faith and Life series. We will also start memorizing, and for Jacob copying, a Scripture verse from the Liturgy for the Sunday to come. I think I can really see them growing in their knowledge of the faith with all we have been doing anyway.

*History and Geography: I am tacking on this subject. We have a map workbook, Map Skills, I picked up along the way and Jacob loves it. We will continue this and introduce a book for some additional regular history reading - short snippets. Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans by Eggleston. We will read it 3 times a week this second semester and also focus on a country study one day a week. I am looking forward to this part.

We will also tack on some new read alouds for bedtime instead of just storybooks. We will begin with Rebecca Caudill's Happy Little Family.

I am really excited about these changes and updates and hope Jacob, and Nicole, too, will enjoy them. Wish us luck on our first day back. And here also begins my resolution to turn off the computer after breakfast until much later.