Second Thoughts or A New Plan for 2011 - 2012

It was only a few weeks ago that I felt certain about my curriculum choices for this fall.  Since then, doubts have set in and I've done some reconsideration.  I've also had the opportunity to purchase a few other items that I'm really excited about.  Here is the new plan, that I'm still a bit uncertain of.

Anneliese, age 8, 3rd grade

    Language Arts:

        Spelling - All About Spelling Level 3 continued from last year and Level 4.

        Grammar - Grammar Island and Practice Island by Michael Clay Thompson

        Vocabulary - Building Language by Michael Clay Thompson.  I took out English from the Roots Up, Vol. 1.

        Writing - Sentence Island by Michael Clay Thompson.  I won't be adding Institute for Excellence in Writing or Classical Writing.

    Math:

        Teaching Textbooks 4 has been ordered, but I've been having lots of second thoughts.  I'm still considering going back to Singapore Math or trying MEP.

    Social Studies:

        We will not be doing Trail Guide To Us Geography.  Instead Anneliese will do Daily Geography Practice Grade 3 by Evan-Moor in addition to the geography we will cover in our history studies.

    Foreign Language:

        Latin - Getting Started with Latin

Trevor, age 6, grade 1

    Language Arts:

        Spelling -  All About Spelling Level 2

        Handwriting - Handwriting Without Tears Printing Power

        Reading -  Complete The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Reading

    Math:

        Teaching Textbooks 3 is ordered.  I still may go back to Singapore Math or MEP.

    Social Studies:

        Geography - Daily Geography Practice Grade 1 by Evan Moor

    Foreign Language:

        Latin - Song School Latin

Together they will both do:

    Language Arts:

        Literature - Classical House of Learning Literature: Ancient Times (Grammar Stage)

                            I purchased Michael Clay Thompson's new literature program Alice, Peter and Mole. It's only three books, so I think we can squeeze this in.

    Science:

        R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey Chemistry Level 1  and/or Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding .  I think it will be too much to do both, but I want to do both.

    Social Studies:

        History - History Odyssey Ancients Level 1

    Memory Work:

        We will be doing memorization similar to Classical Conversations, which uses Veritas Press History flashcards.  I am making my own flashcards which will cover history, science, grammar, poetry and literature.  I would join Classical Conversations if there was a secular option.

    Fine Arts:

        Art - Artistic Pursuits K-3 Book 1

        Music - We will continue playing the recorder, autoharp and listening to classical music regularly.

     Critical/Creative Thinking:

        I picked up Suppose the Wolf were an Octopus, both the K-2 and the 3-4 volumes.  We will do the K-2 volume this year.  I've picked 35 books to cover, 1 a week, skipping the first week of school.  Bloom's Taxonomy has me intrigued and I'm interested to see it work.

So, I took out some geography and added in a bunch more read-alouds and some extra science.  I uploaded a crude daily schedule to Google docs if you want to see what our day might look like.