This Years Curriculum Choices!

So I went to my local homeschool conference with my list and came out victorious to the budget that I set forth before going. I can tell one of my favorite vendors this year was and usually is Rainbow Resource. They always have the best prices and whatever they don't bring with them if you order at the conference they offer free shipping. I still have some things that I am waiting to order because we have some used curriculum garage sales coming up soon but here is my list of what I plan on using for the 2010- 2011 school year.

You will notice there is no Bible subject this year. That is because my husband will be heading our Scripture study in the evenings  before bed. I think it is always a blessing and enriching experience when the dads get envolved.

2nd Grade Curriculum

Reading(Comprehension)

Pathway Readers Busy Times Grade 2-1
Literature Lapbooks
Moving Beyond the Page "Charlotte's Web"
Moving Beyond the Page "One Day in the Tropical Rainforest"
Public Library Leveled Readers

Spelling

Continue with Sequential Spelling level 1 moving into Sequential Spelling level 2
Spelling City for practice and fun review

Grammar(Writing and Grammar)

First Language Lessons level 1&2 by Susan Wise Bauer(we are on the 2nd part for this year)

Scott Foresman Grammar 2nd Grade

Math

Singapore Math 1B and 2A
Mega Fun with Card Games by Scholastic
Soroban Japanese Abacus Class

Science

Real Science Odyssey Life Science( using in COOP class)
Real Science Odyssey Earth and Sky(at home)
Nature Study

If for some reason I can't afford to order the Real Science Odyssey I can defintely go with the materials for year 1 and 2 science on Lesson Pathways.
History/ Geography

We have decided to do history by continent so this year we are starting in Africa. I hope to cover Ancient, Middle Ages, and some Early Modern.

Here is a starter list of the topics we are going to cover.

Ancient Egypt
Ancient Sudan
Ancient Kush(Ethiopia)
Kerma(Ancient Egyptian and Sudanese Kingdom)
Nok Sculpture( Nigeria)
Ife( Ancient Yourba City)
Meroe, Capitol of Kushite Empire
Axum
King Ezana
Kingdom of Ghana
Mali Kingdom
Sundiata Keita
Mansa Musa
Kente Cloth/ Mud Cloth
Kola nuts
Timbuktu
Indian Ocean Trade
Maasai(Kenya)
Dogon Tribe
Great Zimbabwe
Monomotapa Kingdom
Moors
Tariq
Leo Africanus
Queen Nzinga
Shaka Zulu
Hanibal
Songhay Empire

We plan to use library materials for text as well as these other items:

Lesson Pathways yr. 4 history
Evan- Moor Africa(geography)
Timeline Notebook Paper
Laminated Maps
Various Lapbook/ Notebook pages from the resources on the left side of the blog

Physical Education

Daily Walks
African Dance Class
Gymnastics
Possible Akido( martial arts class)
Park Day Playtime

Art
COOP Class(we might be using Discovering Great Artist by khol)

Handwriting

Handwriting Without Tears 3rd grade Cursive

Latin

Canon Press Latin Primer I with CD's and Flash Cards

Foreign Language(Spanish)

We will use all free materials from:

Public Library online web tutorials
Books
CD's
DVD's
Free Internet Printouts
Free online Games


Preschool Curriculum

Now I have to give a disclaimer from the beginning for those of you who are just starting out in homeschooling. Please do not feel pressured to purchase or do an entire formal curriculum for your young learner. Every young child is different and some are not ready for formal instruction till much later like between 5- 7. So these are just some of things I already had left over from my older child with a few new other things added in to give me more so than my child a sense of structure. At this age I kind of follow a Montessori/ Charlotte Mason approach. I keep the lessons short and simple and we do lots of exploration learning and independent learning. Children learn best at this age through exploring their environment not by sitting and running through workbooks. But some children see there older siblings doing "Seat Work" and it makes them want to have some also so I feel like we should give them what they ask for in that respect. This is where we are with my 3 1/2 year old. He is interested in learning how to write letters, reading, and wants to learn and participate in math. Remember to relax if they don't exactly get it they are still young you have lots of time. Make it Fun!

Reading(Phonics)

Hooked of Phonics left over from older sibling
Starfall free phonics online program and printouts
Letter Tiles
Public Library Leveled Readers

Handwriting

Dry Erase Printing Practice board left over from older sibling
Kumon Uppercase and lower case letters
Sand Tray(Montessori item that I will make myself)

Math

Mathematics with Unifix Cubes
Geometric Pattern Blocks


Science

Real Science Odyssey Life Science( COOP Class) he will participate in the hands on lab part not the notebook pages.

History/Geography

Same as my 2nd grader but modified to fit his ability
level

I might just do lots of Read Alouds of African Myths and Fables like Anansi the Spider and do coloring pages and art projects


Foreign Language(Spanish)

We will use all free materials from:

Public Library online web tutorials
Books
CD's
DVD's
Free internet Printouts
Free online Games

Art

COOP Class

Physical Education

Daily Walks
Park Days
Possible Akido(martial arts)

So here it is in a nutshell I think in all I will end up spending around $350.00 total for both children for the year. I have not added in the cost of the extra classes yet but if we take the sports and dance at the recreation center that gets things down a bit in price because we are residence. And that is also something I have asked the grandparents if they could pitch in on this years extracurriculars. Hopefully something comes through on that end. If not we can always get by on walking the trails at our parks and doing exercise OnDemand cable.