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This week, I’m sharing my curriculum and book choices for the upcoming year. Each day will focus on selections for one of my five homeschoolers. Today’s selections are for Simon, my rising 2nd grader. Simon turned 7 at the end of December. This will be his fourth year of Foundations; he came in on this cycle and it cemented his adoration for American history. I am truthfully so excited to watch him do this one again, simply because of how much he loves every bit of the history of this country— the good, the bad, he seems to have such a great handle on how God has used it all. Simon still needs support to read more difficult passages independently, so that will be the big focus for him this year.
Foundations—This is Simon’s second year as an Apprentice. His favorite part of the whole Community Day is presentation. He puts so much work into selecting a topic and researching it! I suspect it all comes out in something of a jumble once he’s actually in class, but hey that’s something to work on, right? At home, we will add my Morning Basket Plans to our New Grammar studies. Simon’s favorite part is the close listening to classical music and learning about composers.
Math— Simon did just fine with CTC Math last year, and I’m not inclined to make any changes there. He works his practice problems on a dry erase board with a marker, and I’m wondering where I can find one that is set in a 1″x1″ graph to help him line his numbers up a bit better. All the ones I’ve found are much smaller and not developmentally appropriate. I’ll probably end up having to washi tape a plain one. In addition to regular daily lessons, Simon will use his binder games for additional skills practice (see my IG for more on what’s in my kids’ binders). He’ll also explore math with Fun-Schooling Math Mysteries and he and I will read The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos (by Deborah Heiligman and LeUyen Pham) and Blockhead: The Life of Fibonacci (by Joseph D’Agnese) together for a living math perspective.
Science— As I’ve mentioned the past two days, we will be using Learning With Friends 20/21 Science School Year Pack as our science spine this year. Simon is still very much in that beautiful stage of learning about the natural world through his own wanderings and observations. Collecting and categorizing rocks, bringing home random insects, flowers, snake skins, leaves… it’s all part of his daily curiosity, learning, and research. We pick up a hundred books a year on various natural science topics in which he immerses himself, and he also has access to the amazing Childcraft library here at home. In addition, Simon will continue to journal his finds and use Nature Anatomy (by Julia Rothman).
History— As stated, Simon loves US history. He’s also fine tuning his independent reading abilities. So in addition to hearing readings from Genevieve Foster’s The World of Columbus and Sons, George Washington’s World, Abraham Lincoln’s World and The Landmark History of the American People (by Daniel J. Boorstin), I’m capitalizing on his interest with these readers:
The Story of Columbus (Anita Ganeri)
Aunt Clara Brown: Official Pioneer (Linda Lowery)
The Josefina Story Quilt (Eleanor Coerr)
The Trail of Tears (Joseph Bruchac)
Abe Lincoln’s Hat (Martha Brenner)
Willie McLean and the Civil War Surrender (Candice Ransom)
Civil War Sub The Mystery of the Huntley (Kate Boehm Jerome)
The Long Way Westward (Joan Sandin)
The Long Way to a New Land (Joan Sandin)
Pearl Harbor (Stephen Krensky)
Ruby Bridges Goes to School (Ruby Bridges)
Paul Bunyan Swings His Axe (Dell J. McCormick)
Pioneer Cat (William H. Hooks)
Geography— This year, we’ll be exploring the geography of America with Beautiful Feet’s Geography Through Literature. Simon, especially, will be so excited to use the beautifully illustrated Holling C. Holling books as a guide while we create our own maps and follow the main characters through their journeys and time. He’s especially fond of indigenous history and culture, and there’s a generous helping of both in several of these titles. I realized yesterday that I only bought one set of the beautiful, oversized maps that are used in this study, and I’ll have to order more. Since they are thick, cream-colored cardstock, they’re perfect for watercolors, which make a beautiful finished product that you just can’t get from plain printing paper!
Bible— It’s time for Simon to get his own “big boy Bible”! We don’t use children’s translations here, but we do save buying their own first Bible for the monumental occasion when a child can tackle the text on his or her own. We’re fans of giant text for little eyes, and prefer the NASB translation. This one has worked perfectly for every kiddo thus far. Simon will be able to use it as we read along during family worship and as I do our morning reading from our Basket time.
English— If you lean towards a Charlotte Mason approach, please, please don’t dismiss this recommendation just because it isn’t one of the newer, snazzier curricula on the market! Simon will be using Learning Language Arts Through Literature 2nd grade (Red) this year because frankly, I’ve used it with multiple children and know how solid it is! While I have used First Language Lessons with certain kids, I just prefer the beautiful literature and focus on lyrical language I feel comes through in LLATL. It also preserves those special, sweet read-aloud times that are just between a Momma and a growing boy… something that is so fleeting and so precious, I will do anything to preserve it!
Music— Simon will begin his third year of violin this fall! Hard to believe he’s progressed from Twinkle rhythms (all the Suzuki moms just nodded knowingly) to “America the Beautiful”! He’s stated that he’s not sure he wants to join the youth orchestra even if it’s an option this year, and I am pretty sure that it wouldn’t be a great first experience even if it is. So we’ll hold off there and see what direction he takes. His main interest is in composing, believe it or not. Simon writes new pieces each week, and has a little folder filled with his creations. He’s such a cool kid!
Tomorrow, I’ll share my curriculum plan for Phineas, a special learner whose skills place him between kindergarten and first grade.
A Sharpie dot grid on a regular dry erase board might work well? Good luck!