Curriculum Plan for 2014-2015

So Tristan on Our Busy Homeschool has made a linky for us to share our plans for the next school year, and I thought I'd go for it.  Some of the plans aren't totally figured out yet - but this may also help with that!

First off, we use AmblesideOnline (AO) for our base curriculum.  We do some Canadianizing by removing some of the US history and adding Canadian History and some Lit.  You can see those general changes elsewhere on the blog, so I won't go through them again.

Overall 

AO includes a lot of our topics like History, Science, Geography, etc - and then has items where you choose your own curriculum - like Math or Latin.

Delta (grade 6) - AO Year 4.  I don't think we will do all the new things added in Year 4 for the entire year - I expect to add them 1 or 2 items per term. 

Echo (grade 4) - AO Year 3.

Foxtrot (grade 1) - AO Year 1

Golf (grade K4) - AO Year 0

Penmanship/Copywork 

I am looking at the Getty-Dubay handwriting series.  It is pretty similar to the italic we are already doing, and I've heard really good things about it improving handwriting.  I'm just tired of making my own.  I will probably add some copywork from readings or other sources as well to get the benefits that good copywork selections provide. 

Delta - Level F?

Echo -  Level C or D?

Foxtrot -  Level B?

Golf  -  none

Reading

Delta - possibly Rewards Secondary? 

Echo -  McGuffey's 2nd Reader

Foxtrot -  McGuffey's 2nd Reader

Golf  -  Teach your child to read in 100 Easy Lessons

Math

We use RightStart

Delta - Finish Level D, Start E.  I am looking at 'Hands on Equations' to add some higher math concepts.

Echo -  Finish Level D, Start E

Foxtrot -  Level C

Golf  -  Level A (done as interested)

Spelling
 A non-CM part of our day.  I'm debating between continuing All About Spelling or switching to Sequential Spelling.     We made some really good progress in spelling with All About Spelling - especially with Delta where nothing else seemed to be working.... but it is getting a lot harder as we go along to remember everything.  It also takes me 15 to 20 minutes a day each with Delta and Echo.  With Sequential Spelling, it would be maybe 10 to 15 minutes, and I could do Delta, Echo, and possibly Foxtrot together.  And if I was fortunate enough to get the DVD's it would be a something they could do independently.  (And it is a LOT less expensive!)

Foreign Language

German:

Delta and Echo want to continue with German, even though we aren't getting anywhere.  I need a good program that we can use consistently.  Suggestions?

ASL:

Echo and Foxtrot want to continue with ASL.  Not sure about Delta.  We need to find something a bit more than Signing Time, but a bit less than ASLU.  Suggestions?

French:

Foxtrot has not been at all interested in German.  French would be more helpful here, and there are a lot more resources...  am I crazy enough to try yet another language?

Latin: AO starts Latin in Year 4, so that would include Delta.  I have heard a lot of benefits, and think we will give it a go.  I'm thinking 'Getting Started with Latin'

Musical Instruments

This is an area that really hasn't been going well.  And it is added into AO Year 4.  We have done violin but it just is NOT going well.  We own lots of instruments, but the kids just don't like to practice (common problem) and I just don't seem to have the energy to get them doing it.  But I do feel it is really important.  So do I try more on Violin?  Organ/Keyboard?  Recorder?  something else (we have a flute, guitars, harmonicas, etc.)

Art

We have been using Drawing Textbook... but it is a little.... boring.  We own a couple of Draw Write Now books as well. I do own "Drawing with Children", but find it so intimidating.... 

Grammar

Only Delta is at the age to start Grammar.  I'm going to try out KISSgrammar which is free online and that I've heard a lot about.

Science

We will be doing AO's science in the years - but I am considering doing a family science - 

either one of the Exploring Creation Series by Fulbright... 

 or one of the Science in the series by Wile.

Other

Everything else will be following AO rotations and years.