We are beginning our 23rd year of home education. Wow! There is no way anyone could have convinced me that we still be on this homeschooling journey all these years later. This time of year always brings about reflection and memories for me, but also excitement and anticipation. I recently posted how I go about preparing for a new school year. Today I’ll share with you our curriculum choices for for this year.
Check out these resources – you’re gonna love ’em!
We will be using a few of my favorite things. The past couple of years I’ve been pulled away from our tried-and-true resources because Mom wanted to try something new, something different. She was tired of the same-ole-same-ole. It has dawned on me that what might be old and boring for me (remember I’ve been doing this gig for more than 2 decades) is still fresh and new and interesting to my younger children. I’ll do my best to see our school days through the eyes of my children who’ve never studied these same lessons before. My students are excited to be studying the same lessons their big brothers and sisters went through years ago.
And now, I introduce to you, Curriculum for Elkfork Academy’s 2013-2014 School Year. (Clicking on any image below will take you to the place where you can learn more information and/or purchase the resource. Some are my affiliate links, some are not. This does not commit you to purchase, but if you choose to do so, there is no extra charge to you and our family earns a small percentage. )
I’ve set up our Bible Memory System from Simply Charlotte Mason for the entire family to use together.
The whole family will be learning German using the Rocket German program. Our children have a lot of German heritage in their family tree, so we’ve chosen this over the more common choices of Spanish and French. Besides, it is soooo cool to have permission to make throaty, gutteral noises and spit at your sister without getting in trouble!
Visual Manna Art Curriculum is what I’ll be using once a week for art lessons. We dabbled in it just a bit last year, and I’m looking forward to experimenting with more art mediums this year, not just crafty-type art.
For 12 year old daughter: Learning Language Arts Through Literature (LLATL) – purple book, Easy Grammar Plus, Saxon Math 76.
For 11 year old son: LLATL – Orange Book, Easy Grammar – Purple Book, Saxon Math 7/6
For 9 year old son: LLATL yellow book, Easy Grammar, Saxon Math 54
For 7 year old daughter: Language Lessons for Little Ones and Language Lessons for the Very Young; AlphaPhonics for reading reinforcement; Beatrix Potter Series for reading with lapbooks we’ll make together; Math 2 from Bob Jones University Press.
We get absolutely giddy around here when we open the books on a new school year! Hmmm, wonder how long that will last? What resources are you using this school year? Using tried-and-true or something brand new?
Sharing this post at some of these wonderful places.
23 years – I can only imagine the wisdom you must have! Thank you for your comments on my curriculum posts today. I so appreciated what you said about it being difficult as your older children grow and you can’t really include them as much with the younger ones. That’s the trouble I’m having right now – it’s hard for me to adapt and change our homeschool from what it has looked like for the past four years.
I’m glad I met you and found your blog. I’ll be a frequent reader I am sure!
I have a Friday linkup (Collage Friday) if you’d ever like to join – it’s a fun community!
Thank you, Mary, for visiting and leaving your sweet comment 🙂
Not sure some days how much wisdom I have after all these years, but experience I do have and am happy to share! Just when I think I have things pretty well figured out, my children step up and teach me things I didn’t know I needed to learn.
I always am inspired by what you share on your blog – you’ll do great with this transition time, I’m sure.
I look forward to seeing you on Fridays throughout this school year!
Coming back to homeschooling after a 3 year break… and I have to admit, pulling out all my old Saxon books and my Charlotte Mason and Well Trained Mind was like greeting old friends that I hadn’t spent enough time with lately!
I’ve been meaning to look into AlphaPhonics… Patrick will be 4 in two weeks, so I think he’s probably a good age for it.
ah, yes, so nice to be back with old friends 🙂 Several of mine were ready for AlphaPhonics at age 4. It is very adaptable – easy to slow down or speed ahead.
Have a wonderful year, as you slip back into homeschooling again. Thank you for stopping by and commenting!
Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment; makes me smile every time someone does. I’m thinking about adding English from the Roots Up to our lineup this year because I’ve heard so many good things about it.
Comments always make my day brighter 🙂 I highly recomment English Roots – very easy to add into any curriculum or schedule. Thanks for your visit – have a wonderful weekend!
As we just enter our homeschooling years (my kids are 5, 11, 13, and 15) it’s comforting to know there are people who have as much experience as you do. I can only imagine you would want to shake things up a bit. 🙂
Hi Missy H 🙂 I’m looking forward to having things settle down a bit this year – I’ve had enough shaking up the last couple of years! I hope you have a fabulous school year and this new journey of homeschooling!
It looks like you’re going to have a wonderful year, Linda! Thank you so much for your sweet and encouraging comment on my blog. That made my day. Many blessings as you teach and disciple your children!
I’m really looking forward to this school year, Joy. This blog hopping has been wonderful meeting new friends and popping in on familiar faces. Have a wonderful weekend!
I didn’t realize we had so much in common- many years homeschooling, grown up kids and little ones, and grandchildren too. We have used English from the Roots up for many, many years and will again with Jeremiah this year. We’ve also used Saxon Math since the 90’s but I think we’re going to do online math this year. Thanks for sharing at Friendship Friday!
Hi Sylvia 🙂 I guess we do have a lot in common! I’m looking forward to our schooling this year. I hope you have a terrific start. I’ll be watching to see how the online math goes for you.
Wow! 23 years…Amazing!
🙂 oh, the stories I could tell! and the places I’ve been! It’s my life – a good life – and I just keep pluggin’ along.
Have a great weekend, Jessy!
I love reading what others are using. And wow! You’re a treasure with your experience. I used Konos for many years and loved it. We still do unit studies as well. Tanks for stopping by Psychowith6!
Hi Melanie 🙂 nice to meet another KONOS mom! We’re looking forward to a fun year. Enjoy your studies this year!
I’m so happy you linked this up to Fellowship Fridays. I love seeing what curriculum other homeschooling mamas are using!
Hi Nikki 🙂 Fellowship Fridays, and Christian Mommy Blogger has been a great blessing to me. Thank you for hosting every week!
I am enjoying have a look-see at everyone’s curriculum these days, too. have a wonderful week.
Specific question: Do you find that the teacher book for LLATL is very helpful (aka-makes your job easier and worth the money)? Thinking about this for my boys. Not loving what we are doing this year. This sounds right up their alley. They love most of these books already. Just in a quandary about placement, even with the tests. (Now my comment is in the right spot!)
confession time — I am using the LLTL books that were published 20 years ago. Everything was incorporated into one simple spiral bound book. They’ve revamped them. They are laid out a little differently with student worktexts, and with a teacher’s guide, which mine do not have. I have seen the student books – your boys would have no problem working through them. I have not seen the teachers book so I can’t comment. sorry! As far as level goes – my editions are very adaptable, and I often use them a grade level below or above with no problem.
sending an email to you!