I have three kids to plan for this year: Zippy (girl, age 12), JD Boy (boy, age 9) and G’tums (boy, age 6). I have to plan for the two year old too, but that kind of planning changes from day to day. I’ve found it to be a challenge to figure which subjects can all be done together and which ones can’t. Here is the curriculum as it stands now, anyway.
History/Bible (combining) – Ancient History using Patriarchs and Prophets and Beginnings by Truth Quest History for the whole family
Composition/Grammar – Writing Strands
Math – Teaching Textbooks for Zippy and Math on the Level for the boys
Spelling – Spelling Power for Zippy and JD Boy
Phonics/Reading for G’tums – Three R’s by Ruth Beechick and Phonics Pathways by Delores Hiskes
Science – Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy & Physiology for Zippy and Exploring Creation with Creatures of the Fifth Day (Zoology 1) for the boys
Music – music lessons (violin and piano for Zippy and JD Boy), and Charlotte Mason style learning of hymns and composers (which hymns and composers still to be determined)
Art – See the Light Shine DVD’s and Charlotte Mason style artist appreciation (which artists still to be determined)
Nature Study – follow the Handbook of Nature Study blog
Sounds like a great plan! Enjoy this year!!!
Warmly, ~Melissa
I noticed you mentioned Charlotte Mason. I haven’t read any of her books (though I want to sometime), but I have read excerpts and heard a lot about her from various blogs I follow, and I have gotten the impression that if she and Ellen White had ever met, they would have had a lot in common in regard to education. I was reading Child Guidance this morning, and about things like spending time in nature, short lessons, etc, and it reminded me of what I’ve heard of Charlotte Mason.
I know I’m going to be doing school very differently from how I did it when I was growing up. We did A Beka pretty much all the way, with a little Rod & Staff mixed in early on. But I am under the impression that relying too much on curricula might not be the best method for homeschooling–especially for homeschooling that focuses more on character than academics. And I think I want to try different things. I’m so glad we get to start with one child at a time by starting early, instead of starting with 3 or 4 school-age kids who are used to a classroom and are all at different grade levels. It seems easier to add them in one by one as they reach the age where they are ready for school. :)