{learning} Our Homeschool Curriculum Choices for 2015-2016

Today is our first day of school!  

Last year, I went with a boxed curriculum, but ended up tweaking it to fit our needs.  For this year, I pieced together a curriculum and I’m really excited about my choices.  Buying curriculum is a tricky thing, at least for me.  There are so many wonderful books and for as many people who love a product, there are just as many who hate it.  My method is to research as much as I can, then trust my gut and make a decision based on that particular child.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.  


Here are our choices and goals for this year:

3rd Grade

My third grader is a strong reader and average mathematician.  This year, we are focusing on improving his spelling skills, writing more clearly and sharpening those math facts.

• Math // Horizons 3
• Reading & Writing // a mishmash of books: I took some ideas from Lesson Pathways and made a few myself
• Homer Price
• Pippi Longstocking
• The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog
• Little House on the Prairie
• The Hobbit
• The Mouse and the Motorcycle
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
• The Borrowers
• The Wizard of Oz
• A Biography of his Choice
• Grammar // First Language Lessons Level 2
• Spelling // All About Spelling Level 2 (and we’ll probably get a good start on Level 3 too)
• Handwriting // Handwriting Without Tears: Cursive
• Extras // we may add or delete from this list as necessary:
• The Science Chef
• Maps & the Activity Book

1st Grade 
We believe my first grader may have symptoms for dyslexia, but it’s not going to hold him back!  His learning has been slower and more deliberate and I am so thankful for the opportunity to homeschool him.  This year, we are focusing on reading fluently and helping him find his confidence in learning.  

• Math // Horizons 1
• Reading // All About Reading Level 1 
• Handwriting // Handwriting Without Tears: My Printing Book

Pre-Kindergarten
I am dedicating Tuesday and Thursday afternoons as special time for the little kids.  While I generally would keep things really light and easy at this age, these two are just dying to be like the big boys, which makes things tricky.  This year, we are going to focus on our letters, numbers and lots of read-alouds.  

• Pinterest, Pinterest, Pinterest!  
• Kumon Uppercase Letters
• Kumon Lowercase Letters
• a few random math workbooks from the store

All Together
This year, we’re going to do a few subjects together as a family.  It helps lessen my work load a bit and I like that we can adapt the work to each person’s level and pace.

Linking up with Micaela – be sure to check out the link-up if you need homeschool inspiration!


Some links are affiliate – thank you for supporting the Big White Farmhouse!