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Our Favorite Curriculums: Apologia

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Our Favorite Curriculums: Apologia

This is the last blog post in the blog post series Our Favorite Curriculum (Find the other four post HERE).  Apologia is a curriculum I wish we would have used sooner in our homeschooling journey.  Not that I didn’t like our science choice before, but this one has been even easier to use and has allowed me to make science an independent subject for our older girls to work on, leaving me free to take care of a baby and now toddler as well.

Here are the top five reasons we will continue to use Apologia in our homeschool journey.

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Our Favorite Curriculums: Institute of Excellence in Writing

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Our Favorite Curriculums: Institute of Excellence in Writing

This curriculum was a no-brainer when I found it. I would have taught writing very similar to IEW's approach to writing had I remained in the classroom teaching. Writing is a simple process, but I know it can be overwhelming to some. IEW takes away that overwhelm with clear and simple steps that build off each other and can help the most reluctant writer.

 

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Our Favorite Curriculums: Sonlight

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Our Favorite Curriculums: Sonlight

I settled on choosing our curriculum for reading and math fairly quickly (See the posts on our other favorites, AALP and MUS). The rest of our subjects took some trial and error on my part and time to figure out what worked best for us and fit into my vision for our homeschool.

I began trying to write my curriculum, using a concept similar to Sonlight of teaching history through literature and not a dry textbook. I kept referencing Sonlights books lists and would also pour other online lists. So approximately three years into our homeschooling journey, I bit the bullet. I purchased a Core B (Introduction to World History) from a Facebook group and pieced together the missing parts. It took us a year and a half to use that first core, then I switched to year-round homeschooling, and Sonlight fell right into place with our homeschooling journey.

Once we settled with Sonlight, here are the top five reasons we will continue to use Sonlight.

Our Favorite Curriculums: Math U See

Our Favorite Curriculums: Math U See

Like our story with All About Learning Press, I stumbled upon our math curriculum and began using Math U See. I was very leary of teaching math because it was not my chosen field, and I struggled with it in school. I somehow managed to make it through high school and college, but it was a struggle. I knew I needed something that would help guide me along the way and be very user-friendly in the long run.

In came Math U See, another curriculum we have used since our homeschooling journey began. Mouse, our oldest, has just started Zeta (Decimals and Percents), and Thumper has started Delta (Single and Multiple DigitDivision). I do not see us switching math curriculums, and here are the top five reasons we have chosen and continue to stick with Math U See.

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Our Favorite Curriculums: All About Learning Press

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Our Favorite Curriculums: All About Learning Press

When we started homeschooling, I was unsure of my ability to teach my child how to read. I was "trained/educated" to help students interpret and analyze what they read, but not how to read. So I searched the internet, found homeschool blogs, and trolled Facebook groups. All About Reading kept coming up. So I dove in and made our first homeschooling purchase, and we haven't turned back.

Beyond Literature Unit 3: Setting

Beyond Literature Unit 3: Setting

As with the other two lessons already in this more significant unit, there are teacher and student notes and a PowerPoint Presentation to help teach the concept. There are also two activities to enhance your student's understanding of the concept. The activity Same Picture-Four Settings has your students redraw the same picture in ways based on setting choices that they get to either choose from or pick from a bowl/hat. The second activity, Describe the Setting, allows your student to practice their writing skills and how they would describe the setting of the picture if they were an author. I've included several photos to choose from or offer variety within your home/school.

7th Grade Readers

7th Grade Readers

Seventh grade is a tough year.  We are getting out of the magical and cutesy young adult literature and into a more mature subject.  The difficulty in this shift is finding literature that is age appropriate.  I tried to find a balance at this level without exposing her to teen subjects we didn’t feel she was ready for.  Hopefully, I have done that well.  I am taking the time to read most of these titles while she reads them, but I also try to read some ahead of her.  I know some books on the list will be a challenge for her or make her think deeper, as with all the book lists I am creating, there are newer books, favorites, and classics from my childhood (and maybe yours too).

Am I Qualified to Homeschool?

Am I Qualified to Homeschool?

Before beginning their homeschooling journey, many homeschool parents worry about homeschooling for several reasons. They weren't good in school, didn't go to college, are not trained as a teacher, or can't currently help with homework. There are many more reasons beyond these. Still, these are several reasons I have seen in observing various homeschool groups of parents starting.

Beyond Literature: Introduction to the Elements of Literature

Beyond Literature: Introduction to the Elements of Literature

The Introduction to the Elements is the second unit in our Beyond Literature Series I introduced last month. This lesson helps set up the following seven lessons.  The format is similar to the first and the rest of the units in this study series.  It is also identical to what is included in each lesson her after.  A PowerPoint presentation, a set of Teachers, and a set of Student notes accompany the presentation.  I have identified five essential elements of literature for this Beyond Series Unit of study.  They include Setting, Characters, Dialogue, Conflict, and Plot.