What we have used for Homeschool Curricula – We are Happily Home Schooling in Iowa

With so many people considering homeschooling this fall I thought I might put a list together of what curricula I have used for our school years. I thought it might help some families decide what might be good for their home.

One change I would have made as picks for our earlier years would have been instead of using secular science books I would have used the Well Trained Mind Grammar Stage Science books. To be honest, I just didn’t know they existed. If your child has already been in public school the secular science books might be an easier transition. Although we used public school science books, I did not come across any material that questioned our faith. I did buy used older books, so I am not sure if current material plants any kind of seed.

Kindergarten
Reading: Bob Books, along with our morning routine.
Math: Saxon Math 1
Spelling: Sight word flashcards from Bob Books
Writing: Practice letters in both uppercase and lowercase along with spelling words
Science: Random Nature Crafts found on- line
Homemade nature journal and daily nature walks, weather permitting
(JV would draw pictures of what nature we saw when we were out). Morning weather routine.
Art: Lots and lots of self directed drawing, coloring painting and creating.

In kindergarten we had a schoolroom in our house. This only lasted the one year. I did not like being trapped in one room. I know that a lot of moms like the use of a schoolroom. It does help with containing the homeschool mess.

We had a morning routine that included discussing the day’s weather, the time, along with some counting. You can read more about our Kindergarten routine in my post Homeschooling Kindergarten. You can do this!

Activities
JV participated in:
Our Homeschool Assistance Program (Enrichment Class)
Odyssey of the Mind Problem Solving Challenge
Our local library story times
German Club
Clover Kids
The County Youth Fair

First Grade
Reading: Pathway Readers with workbook
Math: Saxon Math 2
Language Arts: All about Homophones
Science: This year we expanded our nature journal to include writing and copy work. JV would draw pictures and write a little about what nature we saw when we were out, sometimes we would do copy work. I would write what he said on the dry erase board and he would copy in his journal with his drawing.
Art: Lots and lots of self directed drawing, coloring painting and creating.

This year I moved JV’s desk to the kitchen. I did not work on spelling this year. The pathway readers had many new words and we used these for our practice writing and spelling words. Looking back I wish I would have implemented a bit more for spelling here.

Activities
JV participated in:
Our Homeschool Assistance Program (Enrichment Class)
Odyssey of the Mind Problem Solving Challenge
Our local library story times
Started Cub Scouts
Clover Kids

Second Grade
Reading: Pathway Readers with workbook, Free Reading List (A list that I put together)
Math: Saxon Math 3 (1/2 the book)
Spelling workbook ( I don’t remember which one)
Science: Secular Science Book -McGraw Hill 2nd Grade Science
Thinking Tree Nature Journal (We used parts of this book, might have been better for 1st grade)
Geography and History: Ancient Egypt Pocket Book
Geography Workbook ( I don’t remember which one)
Maps and Globes by Jack Knowlton
Junior Genius Guide Maps and Geography by Ken Jennings
At this time I started using TruthQuest History to pick out books for JV to read.
Art: Lots and lots of self directed drawing, coloring painting and creating.

Activities
JV participated in:
Our Homeschool Assistance Program (Enrichment Classes and Field Trips)
Odyssey of the Mind Problem Solving Challenge
Our local library story times
Cub Scouts
Clover Kids
Baseball
Youth County Fair Poster Communication Contest
The County Youth Fair

Third Grade
Reading/History/Geogrpahy/Writing: Story of the World Vol 1 with workbook, Free Reading List (A list that I put together)
Math: Saxon Math 3 (1/2 the book)
Spelling: workbook
Science: Secular Science Book- McGraw Hill 3rd Grade Science
Handwriting: Grade 3 Rod and Staff Penmanship for Christian writing.
Art: Lots and lots of self directed drawing, coloring painting and creating.

This year JV out grew his desk and began working at the kitchen table.

Although, the story of the world text book is written as a read a loud, JV read it as his reading book. The workbook has reading comprehension questions, mapping and copy work and narration. JV read a chapter a day. We completed the narration, review questions and map daily. Depending on the other activities we might do one or two through out the week. We did not mummify the chicken. Instead of using the maps as they were, I had JV trace and label each map each day and complete the map activity. Some weeks it was the same map traced and labeled every day. He may not have been able to tell you where Minnesota is on the US map but he could point out areas of the middle east without much hesitation.

Activities
JV participated in:
Our Homeschool Assistance Program (Enrichment Classes and Field Trips)
Odyssey of the Mind Problem Solving Challenge
Our local library story times
Cub Scouts
Clover Kids
Baseball
County Fair Communication Contest (Three entries)
The County Youth Fair

Fourth Grade
Reading/History/Geogrpahy/Writing: Story of the World Vol 2 with workbook, Free Reading List (A list that I put together)
Math: Saxon Math 5/4
Spelling: National Spelling Bee List
K12 Grade Level Spelling List ( https://www.k12reader.com/)
Grammar: Grammar Made Easy 4
Writing: Let’s write a story: See my post Some ideas to keep your children learning while schools are closed.
Vocabulary: Part of Word Wise Book 5
Science: McGraw Hill 4th Grade Science
Handwriting: Continued Grade 3 Rod and Staff Penmanship for Christian writing.
Worked on Parts of the Young Peacemaker
Art: Lots and lots of self directed drawing, coloring painting and creating.

Basically, this year JV work any where in the house he wished. I would also, like to point out that fifth grade was the first year JV was able to work more independently. He is the only child being homeschooled in our home and I am sure that contributed to some of the need to have me close by working through each assignment with him.

Activities
JV joined the Library Jr Advisory Committee
JV participated in:
Our Homeschool Assistance Program (Enrichment Classes and Field Trips)
Cub Scouts
4H
Baseball
Youth County Communication Contest (three entries)
The County Youth Fair

Fifth Grade
See curricula post here: Fifth Grade Curriculum
Reading List here: Fifth Grade Reading List

Sixth Grade
See Curricula post here: Sixth Grade Curricula and Schedule
Sixth Grade Reading List

A few last words.

I have always been a bit worried to share how we homeschool. Worried about raised eyebrows and criticism. I have gone through bouts of self doubt and fear and had some negative self talk about making JV different than his peers. Myself doubt caused me to worry whether we are covering enough, whether I am teaching the right material and if he is learning what I have taught him. I no longer have those doubts.

JV is different. He is not culturally accustomed to somethings. For example: We do not watch movies before reading the book it is based on. We did not start reading Harry Potter until 5th grade. JV has only read the first three. He has only seen the first three movies. Harry Potter is pop culture to grammar school kids. Terms were used, spells were cast and wands were made…JV followed along but really didn’t understand the references. THIS DID NOT MAKE HIM FEEL BAD. But once he began reading the books…his eyes were opened to a whole new world, not just the wizard world, but the pop culture world. He realized that the boy that came up with silver unicorn blood at cub scouts had read Harry Potter and hadn’t thought of it himself, and may have lost a little respect for him :).

Although, I don’t give much weight to standardized testing , I do appreciate how a series of the tests can show areas where work is needed and where improvement has occurred. I also like to use it as a baseline. Although, some may criticize homeschooling, or curriculum or my methods and lack of education in liberal studies, I no longer worry. Assessments are a base line of where the public school system has set a standard for all students to meet. His scores show he is doing just fine, really, out of the ball field, fine… based on the standards of the State, not the love of learning.

If you are interested in why we homeschool you can find that post here.