Homeschool curriculum picks 2020-2021

curriculum picks 2020-2021

Our Homeschool Curriculum Picks for 2020-2021

We actually started on this school year in the beginning of August (with a two-week break in September as we explored Custer, Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons)

Like I say every year, none of this is set in stone, but it is our plan for the year for now

We now have three readers in the house, which is super exciting.  And wow, does it make a difference!

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Curriculum Picks for 2020-2021

7th Grade:

Handwriting:

Getty Dubay Handwriting

Writing:

I’m kind of winging it for my daughter’s writing this year.  I’ve gone back and forth with the idea of unschooling writing for her, signing her up for a class, or doing a more rigorous curriculum.  The fact of the matter is she has high aptitude for writing and some of her best writing has come when she is not prompted.  With that being said, if I do feel we need to beef up her writing requirements, I will probably use Bravewriter Writing Projects.

Math:

Life of Fred – She’ll be finishing pre-algebra and moving into algebra this year.  Life of Fred continues to be an amazing fit for her.

Reading/LA:

Life of Fred Language Arts

Becuase Life of Fred Math has been such a great fit, we decided to try their lanugage arts books. They are technically for high schoolers but from the reviews I read, many said they used them successfully with their middle schoolers, so we thought we’d give them a try. So far so good! 

Independent reading – 1 book per month from a list I made for her on top of all the other reading she does (she’s a re-reader, so most often I’ll find her in a book she’s already read!) 

Other:

Spanish -using Duolingo 

GamED Academy 

Typing.com

Piano lessons

Sketching 

5th Grade:

Handwriting:

Getty Dubay Handwriting

Writing:

Journal Entries using writing prompts.

Writeshop – This writing curriculum is more structured than what we’re used to, but so far it has been a good fit for this particular kiddo. It’s gentle and not too intimidating, and covers many different genres.  And as a bonus – it includes a colorful “fold-n-go” grammar practice. 

Fold-n-go grammar packet for lesson 2
Language Arts/Reading:

Explode the Code – He’ll be finishing book 8 this year.

Independent reading on own – we decide books together.  

Math:

Masterbooks math – We needed a change for math this year, and heard a lot about Masterbooks, and so far it’s a great fit!  This kid needed more structure and review than Life of Fred offers. 

Math-It – Math facts practice

Extra workbooks for practice such as this one.  

1st Grade:

Handwriting:

Getty Dubay

Writing:

Journal entries (very basic and as he wants to – I don’t push it!)

Reading:

Read aloud with me (separate from the older kids as his books skew younger)

Independent Reading/Audiobooks (this kid listens to a  LOT of audiobooks!) Now that this kiddo has started reading, there’s no stopping him!

Reading while eating breakfast 🙂
Language Arts:

Explode the Code

Math:

Masterbooks

Math-It

Math Games

For Everyone:

Bible:

Rotating between:

A Child’s Story Bible by Catherine Vos

Picture-Smart Bible -An especially great choice for picture-smart kids!

Memorizing various passages of scripture (we’re working on 1 Corinthians 13 right now.)

Literature:

Lots of reading aloud

History:

Living Books exploring Renaissance to Early U.S. History. We will be plotting the major events on our timeline as we go.  

Some timeline highlights from the Middle Ages

A Child’s History of the World by Virgil M. Hillyer – Our history spine to read alongside the Living Books.

Chalk Pastel classes that go along with our history cycle

Viking Helmet lesson

**For a more comprehensive post on how we do history check out this post: Homeschooling History Without a Text Book!

Science

No Sweat Nature Study – This continues to be a favorite, especially for my younger two, and gives me a reprieve. 🙂

Weekly Science Co-op with friends

Language:

English from the Roots Up – I got a used copy of this book to save a few bucks!

Music:

S.Q.U.I.L.T. – I love how this curriculum is open and go.  And even though I have a music background it’s nice to have something that’s already prepared.

Other:

Kiwi Crates (we switch between Kiwi, Tinker, Atlas, Doodle and love them all!)

Kiwi Crate on the Human Body

These our our curriculum picks for 2020-2021.  They are bound to be tweaked at least a bit, but this is the plan for now!