Hello fellow homeschoolers! Or may-homeschoolers! And non-homeschoolers, too! After that greeting, I feel like this: {I need you to refresh the video below if it’s not loading and there’s a big blank space. We’ll wait. Thhhaaaaannnkkkkssss.}
This is basically how my kids look at me when I get really excited about teaching them something new.
Also, I need to figure out how to put this on my ringtone. Also also, I need to get out more.
This was our first year to piece together our own curriculum. So while it was also wonderful to have a little hand holding those first few years, once we fell into our groove, we were all, yeah… it’s time to mix it up a bit. Changing our curriculum and tailoring it to what we needed, has been the most freeing thing we’ve done.
You guys have been incredibly helpful. It’s been totally enlightening to have real live people to bounce ideas off of. We had some good friends do some hand holding this time around with curriculum, and in retrospect, though homeschooling can be a totally isolating choice, there is nothing more helpful than this little community of people who are in the same boat. You really have been amazing. We’ve had some great resources in some good friends, and it’s nice to feel like we’re not alone in this.
So today we thought we’d cover a few of this year’s choices, and talk about why they’re working. And what’s not.
Just a few things:
• This is one of those posts that can get a little long. If you’re anything like us, aintnobodygottimeforthat. So to make it easy, and to help you, we’re keeping it in as simple as possible.
• This list in no way covers the scope of my children’s full on education, but it is a glimpse into the daily curriculum that we do work with.
• Take us with a grain of salt. Something we may not have liked, may be absolutely wonderful for someone else. It’s different for everyone, and this is just our assessment. {People love their curriculum, so please no angry mob torches, yo!}
• Where we’re coming from: Just a little backstory – We both work full time from home. Owning your own business can be a leeeeeettle bit of a time suck. So can homeschooling. Both obviously in a good way. It’s a fun little mix since our kids definitely come first. But we also have to feed them. Wheeee! Just remember our situation may be totally different from yours, and a con for us, may be a pro for you.
• Our history of curriculum: We switched from Sonlight {which was absolutely great in the beginning after two years of using it} to something with a little more meat on its bones in the areas we really wanted to concentrate on. With three kids, we felt the need to streamline a few things, and Sonlight had a lot of heavy stuff that felt a little unnecessary. We STILL love their literature sections and love that we were able to build up a good base for our home library that way. But the actual reading and grammar section {for instance} just wasn’t working with our kids’ learning style. So we decided to reel it in and mix it up for things that we thought were important. It’s different for everyone – We are so happy that we decided to do that.
So instead, we decided to focus on what we wanted to focus on, building confidence where it mattered, and challenging them where they struggled. With that in mind, here we go on what we chose this year and how it’s working and what’s not: A curriculum review.
For spelling: All About Spelling
Summary:
• It’s more of a methodology approach than rote memorization.
• Appeals to all learning styles – especially helpful for those with learning disabilities or dyslexia
• We call it physical therapy for spelling.
• Heavy on the phonics.
Our experience:
We had one child in particular who was really struggling last year with the other curriculum. Tears all around. Constantly. We were ready to give up. Once we switched, it was a total game changer. I could cry {for the good reasons now} we’re so excited.
This is an approach that teaches them problem solving and building block techniques and something clicked for them. Step by step, you build on those lesson by lesson. This was how I was taught, and it has helped putting the tools in their hands to learn.
It comes with things like magnets, and spelling and phonics flash cards. And an app to reinforce pronunciation and review.
We put our younger two {18 months apart} on the same lesson book, {our oldest on another lesson book} but adjusted according to their levels. For instance, our kindergartener {who is actually on a first grade level} practiced fine motor skills and phonics and the basic lesson, while our second grader wrote her own sentences with each word. We’re already finished with their first book, and are moving on to the second this week. It’s helped build confidence where we needed it, and challenged them, too.
Pros: {Other than what’s listed above}
• Hands on activities. Varied, day to day to keep them interested
• Confidence builder
• Great building block program {IF you start from the beginning – more on that in the cons}
• Great with review systems and activities.
• This isn’t a typical list on monday, test on friday approach. We find this very refreshing.
Cons: {Not really cons, just things to be aware of}
• LOTS of prep at the very beginning before you ever start, but from there, not much. Just be ready. It’s worth it, but I wish I’d known… We hated it at first an then gradually fell into our groove ;}
• I don’t feel like it was very clear with the extra stuff we would need, and I’m not sure if we even ordered correctly but make sure you have a dry erase magnet board, and a box for storing your notecards to stay organized. – This is probably on us, since we could have done more homework in this area.
• The lessons, once prepared, require minimal prep work, but the actual teaching in the beginning, can feel overwhelming. It just takes some acclimating so I’m pretty sure this isn’t even a con because that’s the nature of the beast.
• This is a building block program, so be choosy with older children. Our 4th grader has picked it up quickly, but I wish we’d used this from the beginning. Because if you pick it up at their level, you’ll find there’s a lot of catching up to do with the techniques, rules, and sounds. Again, still worth it because he has also vastly improved.
For Reading: All About Reading {Younger two – ages 6 +7}
Summary:
• Just like the spelling curriculum, it’s more of a methodology approach than rote memorization.
• Appeals to all learning styles.
• We call it physical therapy for reading.
• Heavy on the phonics.
Our experience:
This is my blanket statement, because something has clicked and this program helped us: Again, we had one child in particular who was really struggling last year with the other curriculum. Tears all around. Once we switched, it was a total game changer. I could cry {for the good reasons now} we’re so excited.
This is an approach that teaches them problem solving and building block techniques and something clicked for them. Step by step, you build on those lesson by lesson. This was how I was taught, and it has helped putting the tools in their hands to learn.
It comes with things like magnets, and spelling and phonics flash cards. Pretty much goes hand in hand with All About Spelling. And an app to reinforce pronunciation and review.
We put our younger two {18 months apart} on the same starter lesson book, but adjusted according to their levels. For instance, our kindergartener {who is actually on a first grade level} practiced the readers, while our second grader reads from her own chapter books. We practice fluency and worksheets together. Our approach is to build confidence in the older, and challenge the younger. Then this will flip flop as we keep going through the lesson books. We’re almost finished with their first book, and will be moving on to the second, soon. This will mix it up a little. Everyone’s situation will be totally different. This is what has worked for us.
Pros: {Other than what’s listed above}
• Hands on activities.
• Varied, day to day to keep them interesting.
• Confidence builder.
• Great with review systems and activities.
Cons: {Not really cons, just things to be aware of}
• LOTS of prep at the very beginning before you ever start, but from there, not much. Just be ready. It’s worth it, but I wish I’d known… We hated it at first an then gradually fell into our groove ;} I think this is also because we weren’t sure we’d be homeschooling this year, and maybe we were just resentful in general. So there’s always that.
• The lessons, with two kiddos, can take a lot of prepwork. But that’s only about every other lesson. Totally doable if you’re ready for it.
Our kids are amazing us on this program. Really. You can read more about all of that on their website here.
Supplemental reading
We also supplement with readers. We love the idea of having an at home library to choose from and they read as they go. Our oldest {4th grade} picks his own books {with our guidance for age level appropriateness or subject matter} right now for his reading.
• Sometimes he reads aloud to us just to keep in check with fluency, but right now he has become a bookworm, and we are loving it. See: disappears for hours on end just to finish up a book. Pretty much my ultimate goal in life so I feel pretty amazing as a mom right now, and FYI that doesn’t happen often. ;}
• We recap with journal topics for exercises with writing prompts to tie it all together.
Language Arts:
In addition to All About Spelling + Reading, we use Explode the Code {6 + 7 year olds}
They’re on their second books now and the two programs actually reinforce each other. They enjoy the silly drawings, and we do at least three pages each day after our spelling lesson for supplement work. It helps them with words, spelling and correct terminology. It also has a lot of repetition which is what we really needed right now to build that confidence. Something we were previously struggling with.
We’re keeping it simple for now on the language arts department and it’s working.
For our 4th grader: Spectrum Writing
• This is something he really needed to work on, and it provides critical thinking, writing elements, and just the entire process with a lot of reinforcement over and over again. It exposes him to different topics that really stretches him beyond his comfort zones, which is just what he needed. I told him today he has come light years, from struggling with stringing sentences together, to full on paragraphs documenting various topics.
• We’re very happy with this little supplemental book and have really enjoyed the process. He actually has, too.
For Math: Horizons Math {All three, ages 10, 7, and 6}
Summary:
• Great little straightforward math program.
• We’ve always used it because this was an option that came with Sonlight, And once we started, we haven’t stopped. It works for us, and the kids respond well to the worksheets.
• It’s a simple workbook program, but with something teacher intensive like the all about spelling/reading program, we like the balance this provides for self-guided work. {Keepin it real…We can all use a little self-guided work.}
• We simply step in to teach new topics, or reinforce old ones, as they move along.
Our experience:
Very happy with all of it. Colorful pages for the global learner, and we supplemented with manipulatives like Judy Clocks, groupings of straws or a play cash register when needed. Very straight forward and easy to use.
Pros: {Other than what’s listed above}
• Very repetitive.
• Always good for practice until mastered. Even sometimes to a fault, so be willing to skip if you have a student that masters quickly
• Contains a built in test if you like to test your kids. {Sometimes we totally skip or just use for review because we can}
• It’s not common core, so there’s always that. Yes, I am afraid.
Cons:
• Lacks instruction in the student book, beyond basic words, so sometimes it can be confusing if you don’t also purchase the teacher’s manual. We were feeling lazy this year since we’ve got the hang of it, and didn’t purchase said teacher’s manual so that’s probably on us. They suggest full on lessons in the manual, but our kids have been fine with just our explanations and the workbooks, along with our process of review or reinforcement when needed. It’s a very self-sufficient program so we’ve been happy with it
• Not always enough space to work out problems, so you’ll need an extra sheet of paper. We’re not even sure this is a con. ;}
For History: Adventures in US History {All three, ages 10, 7, and 6}
Summary:
We’ve used one for all three, and have adjusted accordingly.
Our experience:
• This is probably the one curriculum we haven’t been too dazzled by, so take us with a grain of salt, because this is just our personal take. We know there are a lot of you fab people out there who love it, so I’m hiding behind the keyboard right now. We just already felt the need to supplement with other books and perspectives, because the books while on one hand told some good stories, they also skipped over what we felt were important time frames or other perspectives. We prefer the whole picture approach, as is appropriate for their ages. This is a little touch and go right now.
• Some of this is just the process of homeschooling, and if you’re doing it right, you’re going to always supplement to keep it well rounded and interesting. So there’s that. We’re just not sure it’s a good fit for us.
• We’re still on a bit of a block schedule with these lessons right now, so it’s helped in streamlining the process with not doing the History lessons every day.
• The kids however, really like the stories, so there’s the giant pro for ya. We’re supplementing in our own ways with things we want them to learn, along with books and field trips. Like all curriculums, you have to pick and choose what works or you. We’re just not in love with it.
So here we are, and we’ll probably be focusing on geography soon.
For Science: {All ages – class at a local Nature Center}
We have taken a class with other homeschoolers this semester- a hands-on class on wildlife- and absolutely loved it. We are looking into winter course availability, but if that is not possible, we’ll be working with these books, science experiments and field trips.
The bottom line with History and Science: We like to keep the Science and History classes as fun and interesting as possible, and exploratory based on the subjects they like to learn. All too soon these topics will become rigorous, so we’re keeping a lot of it child-led on the topics, along with trips for the kids, because it’s something we really believe we should take advantage of while we can. We want them to have a desire to learn more, and if we can light that fire day after day, our job is done.
Last week, for instance, we went to DeSoto Caverns, a natural cave in Alabama for the day. We had a happy homeschool moment when we basically got to tour the entire thing, alone. In that one day, they learned more History and Science than I ever dreamed, between cave facts, geology, historical use of the cave, and beyond. They were fascinated and are still talking about it, daily. Trips like this are priceless, and we’re striving to do those often this year. We already have the next one lined up.
Independent work:
Every afternoon when they have finished with their main curriculum for the day, we have independent assignments for each kiddo to complete. We think this is great, because it helps them take initiative for their own work.
Handwriting: {all kids on their own levels}
• We’ve also worked on their handwriting again this year. This is a shot of their old books, and we’ve moved on to the next. Our fourth grader just finished up cursive, so we’re ready to move on to typing. We figured this is a skill they are better off learning sooner than later, and plan to use typing without tears for his typing lessons. Apparently they have a program which we plan to check out soon.
Journals {all ages – varying materials}
This is something we will continue to do, from assigned topics that reflect on their assignments, to free creative writing. One of our favorites. It just reinforces everything and helps them with their process. It’s also assigned as independent work, so they take the initiative themselves to finish every day.
Apps: Our kiddos spend time on educational apps each day with their iPads for some required technology time. This varies child to child, day to day. But we’re really enjoying things like sight word apps and multiplication apps right now, to help reinforce their lessons.
Sports and other activities – keep us all quite involved and they’re enjoying learning about what they’re in right now. We think this is important to mention here, too.
This is just a little of our own perspective this year, and we have loved bringing it all together in their studies. We’re feeling more comfortable in our own skin, building a well rounded little group of students. Our curriculum choices this year have been as well received as ever, and they have grown in leaps and bounds with their education already. We hope this helps with any questions you may have had if you’re looking into the homeschooling option, or just curious about our curriculum and what we do.
As always, we’d love to hear from you. What has worked for you this year, that you absolutely love? Any recommendations on things you adore for your kiddos that others should hear about? Let us know!
Pssst. Having a planner has been a game changer too, in figuring out our system with lesson plans and just the every day of running a business from home.
So we’ve created this customizable {FREE!} planner for you guys, if it helps. Sharing it here again, just in case. {get the rest of 2015 here}
Have an inspired day!
Heather says
This is a lot of great information. Than you! We have used the Typing Without Tears program. My seven year old loved it at first. However, he became bored after a week when the assignments were a repeat of the prior week. Maybe I set it up incorrectly but wanted to let you know.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Yes! Well, we’re starting to wonder if there’s a Downloading Without Tears, because it took us two days just to set it up. And we kind of do technology for a living. Kind of. {Cue hysterical laughing face Emoji} Is Mavis Beacon still around? Because that’s how I learned.
Danielle says
Hey Ashley, thanks for your reviews! I love reading about what others are doing and getting new ideas! One thing that ALL of us LOVE this year is our Bible curriculum. I blogged about it here https://thelittlebrickschoolhouse.wordpress.com/2015/10/14/picture-smart-bible/
And really, I can’t say enough about it. My girls (aged 10 and almost 8) say it’s the best part if their day.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Interesting! We will have to check that one out. Thank you!
Elizabeth Byler Youn says
I’m so glad that AAS & AAR are working for your kids. We have also been pleased.
As for history…we are using Early America from Beautiful Feet this yr. LOVE it!!!!
If you haven’t yet started listening to The Read Aloud Revival with Sarah Mackenzie…you should do that today!!!! Since you love literature & want a strong family culture…you’ll love this podcast…& Sarah’s book Teaching from Rest. You’re welcome…….
ashley @ the handmade home says
Okay. You’re the second person who recommended Teaching from Rest. Just ordered it. And the Read Aloud Revival is next on my list. Thank you. ;}
Erin @ THH says
I JUST read this book today! I LOVED IT.
Teri says
I am excited for you in this adventure. I homeschooled mine through high school, and I have a much closer and open relationship with my adult children than my friends seem to, or so they tell me.
I used Sonlight for one year and was pretty unhappy with the historical inaccuracies I found in the program. History was our favorite, so I found it easier to just write my own curriculum.
Jodie says
My kids have listened to Story of the World by Susan Wise Bauer and have retained a lot of info. My mom even enjoyed it. It really helped that the curriculum has cds when I had to take my oldest to doctor and physical therapy appointments.
Lisa says
Thanks for this Ashley! We are in our first year homeschooling our 7 and 5 year old. And somewhat the 3 year old. And eventually the 1 year old. 😉 We chose Bookshark (secular Sonlight) and love having it all planned out. But I can already see where we will want to branch out so your experience here is helpful. I hate to admit I somewhat dropped history and science. I was having a hard time getting through everything. :/ We focus on spelling, reading, math and language arts. I also try to throw in some crafts and we discuss current holidays, seasons, etc. It’s a massive learning curve for all of us but it’s nice to hear from others with similar experiences.
ashley @ the handmade home says
I am going to have to check out Bookshark. You are not alone in the dropping thing – I think that’s where the hands on trips come in handy for us, too. It’s easy to go through phases, and I think that’s totally okay – especially at their ages! Jamin and I were just discussing what we really remember about those subjects anyway and it was the hands on – the experiments + the trips. So Even if you take a few small trips and work it in, you are FINE!
Melinda says
We LOVE All About Spelling and have been using it with our dyslexic daughter for 3 years. We dropped the All About Reading after level 2 because she didn’t enjoy the stories and the lessons felt redundant. We’ve been using Saxon math from the very beginning and this year my oldest (13 yo) started Saxon algebra 1 so we’re seeing the fruits of sticking with the same math program for all these years. I saw your typing question, and, yes, Mavis Beacon is still around 😉 my siblings all used it so I bought the updated version for my 13 yo for this year and she loves it! We also do classical conversations for the rest of our curriculum. Sounds like you guys are doing a great job with your own kiddos!
Heidi says
I’ve homeschooled a few times with my 4-with no serious plans to go back to it 😉 but I always love reading about how other people do it. I just thought I’d chime in with “yay-no common core”. My public school educated kids are suffering through it right now-and it’s one of the few times I’m actually tempted to go back to homeschooling!
ashley @ the handmade home says
HAHA! The common core stuff with math freaks me out! We actually toured a few schools last year in Nashville {though we haven’t relocated {STILL} because we were curious about our options} and I had a heart to heart with the principal in one of the schools. I am concerned about my kids re-learning everything with this process when/if they do go back. The fear is real.