10th grade curriculum choices for 2013-14 school year

HISTORY/ BIBLE
He will be using Notgrass curriculum: (http://www.notgrass.com/notgrass/home.php).
 (sorry picture quality isn't good)
He will be participating in a once-a-week class where they will discuss the reading AND take and grade the quizzes that go along with the curriculum (in the quiz and exam pack). He will complete the Bible study questions posted each day for a full credit of Bible as well. 

LITERATURE/ WRITING
Luckily, the Notgrass curriculum also includes writing assignments and novels to coincide with the lessons! A goal of mine is to be diligent with grading the writing assignments each week and providing immediate feedback. I can address any issues I see in private lessons with him. He has a lot of novels to read!


Here's a link to all the titles: http://www.notgrass.com/notgrass/Exploring-World-History-Literature-Package.html

VOCABULARY
Vocabulary Cartoons: SAT Word Power (finish volume 1 and then move to volume 2)


MATH
Teaching Textbooks~ since we started Geometry half-way through last year, he will  have to finish that up before moving into Algebra 2. I have done a lot of research on this curriculum, and I know there is a lot of criticism of the high-school levels. I just can't switch from this because it solved our number one problem in homeschooling: math. I was still undecided about this when I went to a homeschool convention in May. Somehow, I ended up in conversation with a lady on a bench beside me, and she happened to mention how her now-in-college son had used TT all through homeschooling and was doing great in college. It was a random comment and I chose to see that as a sign. When my son reaches his senior year (if TT doesn't come out with another year), I will make sure he takes a class (either at a local college or through a homeschool high school program right near us) to better prepare him for college.


PE
Family Time Fitness High School Fitness Foundational Strength
http://www.familytimefitness.com/fitness4homeschool/Fitness4HomeSchoolHighSchool.php
They frequently offer $15 off or other sales. He will combine this with treadmill a few times a week. This has him keep a training record, etc. and teaches basic strength training.

SCIENCE
Apologia Exploring Creation with Chemistry


SPANISH
Rosetta Stone Spanish Homeschool Edition (continuing from last two years)


He will continue with learning computer programming, etc. on his own time. For now, I don't have other electives planned.  I hope some others share their high school curriculum; this is scary because it's so important! 

6th Grade Curriculum choices for 2013-14 school year

HISTORY:
Mystery of History Volume 2 and Story of the World Vol. 1 (a few chapters) and then Vol. 2

 

LITERATURE:
Books to correspond with history. Titles include The Door in the Wall, Pompeii, Augustine came to Kent, Castle, King Arthur, Beowulf, Arabian Nights, The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow, Greenland Mummies, Eric the Red, Queen Eleanor, Robin Hood, Trumpeter of Krakow, a few Canterbury Tales, and the biographies from What Really Happened During the Middle Ages. I purchased all new or used from Amazon, with the exception of the last book (see link below the picture below).
http://www.knowledgequestmaps.com/What-Really-Happened-During-the-Middle-Ages.html

WRITING
http://www.essentialsinwriting.com/
Essentials in Writing/ Grade 6. I am very excited about this curriculum. It is only $40, and includes a video teaching session for each lesson (similar to Math-U-See). It also came with a 200 page book of handouts (I printed it out, but I think it's only $20 to get a copy sent to you). Looking through the handouts, it is very similar to the way I taught my 6th graders to write back in the day when I taught in public school. 

SPELLING
Spelling Workout- he will need to finish level E. For 5th grade, we did several weeks of All About Spelling, and then moved to this book. After he finishes E, I will probably use some spelling curriculum I already have from when I taught. 



MATH
Teaching Textbooks. Math has always been the most challenging subject for us. It has caused more tears and doubts than any other thing about homeschooling. I had a break-down half-way through last year, let them quit their then-curriculum, and bought Teaching Textbooks. Things have been much, much better. Unfortunately, they are behind because both boys will have to finish last year's curriculum before moving on, but I think we stand a chance due to the shorter length of this curriculum. 


SCIENCE
Apologia Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology

Both boys love Apologia. We will also use the notebook they publish in conjunction with this. My son is not looking forward to this year, and is calling it the year of "Butts and guts, tongues and lungs." Spoken in true 11-year-old boy fashion. 

VOCABULARY
When Scholastic holds their $1 e-book sale, I purchase vocabulary curriculum! This year, he will complete both of these books: (website: http://shop.scholastic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreView?storeId=10751&catalogId=10051&langId=-1)


 

PE
He will be going through the Couch to 5K plan again in co-op this year. He will need to do a workout on the treadmill twice a week. 

SCRIPTURE/ BIBLE/ CURSIVE
In addition to our morning work, he will also be doing a personal Bible study called The Dig. He'll go through the book of Luke through two volumes of this study. Here is the website:
http://thedigforkids.com/

He will also do scripture copywork to continue improving his cursive. I am using the advanced cursive version of this book in the Handwriting without Tears format: (website: http://characterwritingworksheets.com/)


We also plan to add some typing and some electives as the year goes on. Here's praying for a great 6th grade year!!

Our 5th Grade Curriculum 2012-13

We are using Winter Promise this year! Here are the main books used (copied from the Winter Promise website winterpromise.com)

A Full WinterPromise Exclusive Resources Set:

Ancient 4/8 Guide for Middlers
"Make-Your-Own" Ancient History 4/8
Setting Out on Ancient Adventure Quests

Plus These Print Books:

The Mystery of History - 2nd edition
Encyclopedia of the Ancient World
Great Ancient China Projects
Lamps, Scrolls & Goatskin Bottles
Story of the World, Vol. 1
Ancient Egypt Projects
Pharaohs & Foot Soldiers
Kings & Carpenters
Explore Ancient Greece
Explore Ancient Rome

Plus these novels:

Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt
The Golden Goblet
Victory on the Walls
The Iliad
Bronze Bow
Gladiator
Hittite Warrior
God King
Adara
The Odyssey

And these novels for Language Arts:

Tirzah
Beauty in the Fields
Bible Wars & Weapons
Rise of the Golden Cobra
Aesop's Fables
Theras & His Town
Detectives in Togas
Polycarp: Crown of Fire

Here are the boxes he will have:


BIBLE~ we've actually been doing this together during our group morning work.  I am using the reading recommended in Winter Promise that coincides with Mystery of History.

LANGUAGE ARTS~ We are using the Winter Promise La. Arts; he had to do some worksheets related to grammar and writing. We are also going to finish up the second half of First Language Lessons Level 4.


MATH~ We are using a new curriculum this year, Math Mammoth. I loved Math-U-See but after nearly daily tears and frustration, I had to at least try something new even though I do feel it is the subject more than the curriculum causing the issues. Now, I have to teach Math each day and am spending far more time with my 5th grader than I ever did when he was a 4th grader. Can't decide if this feels like a step backwards or not. This curriculum seems hard but  teaches you ways to do things in your head. While that idea stresses me out, it is right up my 5th grader's alley so maybe it will click. This box has not gone smoothly but it is only day 3. And it is still math.

http://www.mathmammoth.com/complete/grade_5.php

SPELLING~ After reading rave reviews about All About Spelling, I am using it! I have to start basically from the beginning but we are moving quickly and so far I think it is teaching wonderful things and there has been no frustration. Again, math and spelling were on his own last year so this is adding to the "Work with Mom" list. 

http://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/

Music~ Using Erica's curriculum from Confessions of a Homeschooler: (I idolize her more than any celebrity I can think of!)

http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2012/01/worlds-greatest-composers-vol-1.html
It starts with the 4 main periods of classical music, and will take a closer look at a few composers from each. It has wonderful lapbooks and tells us what songs to listen to on naxos.com or itunes. 

Science~ Apologia Land Animals of the 6th day textbook and notebook:


Vocabulary~  I printed out a vocabulary study from Scholastic called "Vocabulary: No Boring Practice Please" by Harold Jarnocki. He learns a word a day, which he records in a notebook, and he has a brief activity from the book to complete using that word. It's an ebook that I got during one of their $1 download sales (more expensive now!!)
http://teacherexpress.scholastic.com/no-boring-practice-please-vocabulary


HISTORY~ This is the box for his independent history work. (Winter Promise includes things for us to read aloud together, which so far has been a lesson from Mystery of History Vol. 1 and a chapter from the novel The Golden Goblet, along with pages from Archaeology for Kids which is more for my 9th grader). He has to complete "Adventure Quest" pages and read from Story of the World Part I. He has also started a Nature Notebook which I have always wanted to do. 

READING~ For his Language Arts novels (different from the one we read together!) Currently he is reading Tirzah. 

HANDWRITING~ Finishing up Can-Do Cursive from Handwriting Without Tears (http://shopping.hwtears.com/category/HWT):

He is almost finished as he started this last year; we will be using one of their blank books and doing basic copywork when he finishes this. I also purchased some of their stickers that show the proper way to write each letter and stuck it to the outside of his box so he always has it for reference.






So, he has 10 boxes this year! He does on his own: history, science, vocabulary, and handwriting. The others will be a mixture of work w/ me and independent.