Planning for next school year

Yes, I am already thinking about next year. I waited to purchase everything this year until right before school started and I don't want to do that again.

I want the summer to look over, plan and get a good idea of what I want to accomplish next year. I was thinking of doing a complete curriculum for each child to take some of the stress away of planning everything, but it just doesn't fit my kids. So I am piecing together a curriculum again. I have to say I am happier with my choices this year.

I desperately wanted to do a more Charlotte Mason approach but it just doesn't fit TT at all. So we will incorporate some of her ideas and such in our school but we will not me totally CM.

Anyway this is what I have decided for each child for next year thus far. Caution these selections can change at anytime based on my current whim, but these are selections I have researched and feel comfortable with.

For TT:

Reading-Bob Jones Grade 6

English-Easy Grammar & Editor in Chief

Spelling-Bob Jones Grade 6

Writing-Wordsmith Apprentice

Vocabulary-Word Wise 3000 Bk 6

Math-Math U See Epsilon

Geography-Christian Liberty Press Grade 6

Handwriting-Bob Jones

Soc. Studies-Prairie Primer or Bob Jones

Science- Bob Jones or Unit Studies


Poogie-

Reading-Bob Jones Grade 1

Language Arts-Bob Jones Grade 1

Spelling-Bob Jones Grade 1

Math- Math U See Alpha

Handwriting-Bob Jones Grade 1

Social Studies-Prairie Primer with TT or Bob Jones

Science-Unit studies and Lapbooks from Hands of a Child


Both-
Art Appreciation-Great Artists (This may be part of co-op)
Mango Languages for Foreign Language
Monthly composer study of Great Composers


So there it is. I am hopeful that I am able to purchase most of this before May ends and get to my planning stages. I have already picked out the first few science units, the human body and weather so I can purchase the lapbook kits and get my resources up for them.

I chose Prairie Primer for several reasons. First, my kids love the Little House books. Second, TT will be getting to the age where he won't be interested in reading these books, so I want to do them now. Finally, you can do so much with the whole Westward Expansion/Pioneer subject matter that we are sure to have a lot of fun.

But I am still thinking of using Bob Jones for science and history just for the ease of having everything I need right there. It is something I am still deliberating.

Finally, I chose the Bob Jones curriculum based on reviews I have read, personal recommendations, my opinion after viewing them at curriculum fairs and my comfort in teaching from books set up for the classroom. I like having all the various ideas of how to teach the lesson and the teacher's editions are said to offer a lot. Too much for some, but even in the classroom I had to pick and choose what to use and what to not. I want more structure for reading, writing (language arts) and math and I believe BJ will offer that.

Well, I must take a cat nap. My monthly mom's night out is tonight and I don't want to loose steam at 8 o'clock. TTFN