As of today, I can not tell you exactly which grade levels my two older children are in. Both are advanced in many subjects like Math, History, Spelling and Literature (Grade 6 to third year high school lessons), just at the right pace in Science, Biblical Worldview and Grammar (Grade 6 to 1st year high school); and need more work and focus on Writing and Composition (Grade 5 to 6). We are  including more Picture and Artist Study, Composer/Hymn Study and Poetry reading as we use more materials from Ambleside Online and adapt more CM methods in our daily life.

That is the beauty of homeschooling! Children may work at the pace they are comfortable with. With Charlotte Mason method,  we found that learning is an atmosphere, a discipline and a life.  We read together a healthy dose of living books, listen to classical music, watch some great films, listen to audiobooks of history and stories. We spend a lot of time outdoors to study and observe nature. We would like to do more drawings to journal our finds but the children love photography so that will do for now.  With Principled Approach, we believe that no subject is neutral and every subject must be taught in the light of God's Word.

We practically homeschool the year round with 1-2 week breaks in between when we go out of town or when the children attend some outside activities like Art Camps, DVBS, some rehearsals which often require several days to a week. We also have a month-long year end break when we go home to the Philippines.  So, we just pick up from what we have left off after a quick recap or revise.

So now, let me show you what our family and children are using and will be using until the next school year.

Bible

The Holy Bible - New King James version. I am on the look out for a Geneva Bible.

Biblical Worldview - for vibrant Bea and Fuzzy, the gentle zephyr. Our first time to use this curriculum this year.

Building on the Rock is the first fully integrated worldview and Bible survey course for elementary school students. This unique curriculum is designed to help younger students begin to formulate and relate learned Bible facts with a genuine Christian worldview, while laying the groundwork for later comparative worldview studies. Check it our at www.summit.org

Family Worship and Bible Study  - for the whole family

Right with God by John Blanchard

Science

We are still finishing a few last chapters of Jeannie Fulbright's Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day (Apologia Elementary Series)

Study of Human Anatomy using the following books from Sonlight.

Introduction to Chemistry from Answers in Genesis

History of Science and Medicine

Supplementary Materials

History 

We are almost done with Mystery of History 1 and we'll start MOH2  mid-September.

Supplements - History and Church History

Audio cds by Diana Waring

True Tales 1-6

Readings in Philippine History

Ambeth Ocampo's Books and Noli Me Tangere as translated by Ma. Soledad Lacson-Locsin

I am also making some lapbook kits on Filipiniana themes as I have mentioned in an earlier entry.

Mathematics - Singapore Math Grades 6  and New Syllabus Mathematic for First Year High School.

Living Math books Mathematicians are People, Too 1 and 2.

I am also keen on getting the ebook Beyond Numbers: A Practical Guide to Teaching Math Biblically by Katherine Loop.

Language Arts

Grammar - We are using Shurley Grammar 5.

Spelling - Spell to Write and Read - Level 11.

Read Alouds -  books we have left unread from Sonlight Core 5 and more from Ambleside Online.

Poetry - Ambleside Online Level 4-5

Writing and Composition -  for Vibrant Bea, it is Reach for the Stars Writing Workshop for Kids

and Fuzzy will continue the Institute for Excellence in Writing kit we got last year.

Book Reviews - they have started typing in book reviews for our bookshelf at goodreads.com.

Art and Picture Study

We will use Ambleside Online Level 5 for this study. We study one picture a week which we subscribe from an AO Picture Study yahoogroup.

We are also currently doing an Art Appreciation Lapbook from Hands of a Child.

Hymn and Composer Study 

We read this aloud and let them play a hymn on the piano after each composer/hymn study.

The children are also taking piano lessons and are almost finished with Level 5.

Health Education

Read- aloud and activities plus notebooking.

All of them including Lil Ruffin take swimming lessons twice a week. Lil Ruffin sits in many of our lessons while busy with scissors, crayons, blocks, playdoh, and her own books. We haven't started anything formal with her except for lots and lots of read-alouds, games and  songs. She is pretty much with us in everything we are doing.  I have an inkling she is learning a lot this way.

Added to these are lapbooks, notebooks, lots of nature walks and studies. And of course, what curriculum will be complete without a healthy dose of household chores.

I guess, that's it. I will just add in later anything I have missed.

Reach for the Stars! Writing Workshop for Kids