Curriculum 2016-2017

Here’s the plan for 2016-2017!

• This is the first year we’re using a detailed student planner with specific assignments to be completed for the week.  In the past, it’s been a bit more fluid.
• About 3 hours per day, 4 days per week is spent in structured time doing core subjects (math, language arts, literature, alternating some other subjects)
• The rest of the time is spent loosely pursuing everything else.  This varies but usually includes fine arts, history, science, co-ops, friend time, field trips, etc.

• Grammar and Writing: Essentials in Writing (both)
• Creative Writing (they chose these): NaNoWriMo Young Writer Program (5th), GamED Academy Creative Writing Class (5th), Blogging (7th)
• Penmanship:  Handwriting Without Tears Cursive (5th)
• Spelling (this is a constantly changing difficult one for us!):  Evan Moor Building Spelling Skills
• Typing:  Type to Learn (7th), Typing Pal (5th)
• Vocabulary & Reading Comprehension:  Both are integrated with literature this year

• Reading lists are developed collaboratively with the boys.  I pull a bunch of ideas (from Google searches, friends, etc.) and they select their top choices (I probably insist on a few!)
• 7th grader’s reading list:  Leviathan; Dragon’s Blood: The Pit Dragon Chronicles; The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm; The Giver (with lit guide); Jacob Have I Loved; From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiller; The Dark is Rising; Holes (lit guide); Sounder; Julie of the Wolves; The Book Thief; Inkheart; The Graveyard Book
• 5th grader’s reading list: My Side of the Mountain, On the Far Side of the Mountain, Nim’s Island, The Twenty-One Balloons (lit guide), The Indian in the Cupboard; Cricket in Times Square (lit guide); The Phantom Tollbooth; Kit’s Wilderness; Peak; Hatchet (lit guide); The Secret Garden; The Island of the Blue Dolphins; From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil; Time Stops for No Mouse; The Pepins and Their Problems; Ranger’s Apprentice
• For literature study:  Literature guides as noted from Progeny Press or Teachers Pay Teachers , keeping lists of words to be looked up, discussion, and/or BookAdventure.com quizzes.

• Both are doing Teaching Textbooks this year for the first time.  I have no plans to keep my 7th grader (doing Pre-Algebra currently) in it, but I’m keeping it as a holding pattern for one year until he’s in 8th grade for Algebra.  My 5th grader is a bit math phobic, so we’re trying it out to see what he thinks.
  
• Times Tales (5th)
• Monster Math Flash Cards App (5th)

• Story of the World Vol 2: The Middle Ages (we are in year 6 of an 8 year world history study)
• Co-op weekly class for history related group projects
• Corresponding readings from Kingfisher History Encyclopedia and Usborne Encyclopedia of World History
• Story of the World Maps from the Activity Guide
• Geography:  This is a tough one for us!  I’m currently trying Professor Noggin games, Dry Erase geography activities, and Horrible Geography books

• Private piano lessons with the Alfred Basic Piano Series (5th and 7th)
• Christian Youth Theater (5th)
• A variety of weekly enrichment co-op classes (both)
• Mark Kistler drawing (5th)
• Coder Dojo meetings (both)
• Youth Digital Programming Classes (both)
• Creating a YouTube series (5th grader with friends)
• We are in a homeschool field trip group