I was asked for an update on my curriculum for this year.  I haven't blogged here in a while now - I moved my blog to Blogger.  I will respond to this question; however, for more details & my "REAL" blog check out www.teaching2manydiligently.blogspot.com 

This year I decided to go with Tapestry of Grace.  I really tried NOT too (out of fear), but it just kept coming up & I decided to take the plung.  YES, after ALL my Truthquest planning & supplementing I changed it all!  Originally, I was only planning on doing American history, but with TOG that would pass up the explorers & after I bought the entire year 2 I decided to do the first 2 units in a FAST FORWARD pace.  We did some Middle Ages last year, but it was actually a "Dark Time" for us as well b/c my husbands sweet momma passed away.  Anyway, we are about to finish our first unit (week 1-9) in a couple weeks & we are LOVING it.  I am so glad I decided to go with it.  TQ has a fabulous book list, but my kids love the crafts, projects & geography TOG has to offer & much of the books (core, in-depth & literature) are very similar to TQ & other popular curriculums.  I am so glad I decided to go with TOG. 

My day begins b/t 5:30-7:30 depending on how motivated I feel.  The kids are up no later than 7-8ish depending on how early I am ready for them & what their day was like before.  My daughter tends to be a little moody, so I prefer her getting her beauty sleep.  Our school day ends around 3-3:30 Mon-Thur.  Fridays we have our Enrichment Classes from 9-1:30pm during the Fall & Spring for 10-11 weeks.  For more details on our schedule check out my other blog.  *Note:  When my dh is home during the week -- Our schedule is out the window!

So what are we really using?

Math:  Math U See

Grammar:  Easy Grammar 2 & 5

Language:  1st Language Lessons *Grade 2, Language books from Queen Homeschool *2-3 days a week (less with my 2nd grader sometimes, as we are really focusing on Phonics)

Copywork/dictation: 1-2x a week -- THEY WANT TO DO THIS

Cursive:  Queen Homeschool "Pictures in Cursive"

Logic:  Mind Benders 1x a week

Explode the Code: 3-4x a week, 2-3 pg's a day

Spelling:  Natural Speller (10-15 words per week on average)

Science:  We will start this in a few weeks (on hold due to fast pace of TOG)

Nature:  1x per week at this point (TOG) -- various nature books

Phonic's:  UGGG . . . I am really struggling with this & am still trying a little of everything to see if ANYTHING will motivate my resistent reader.  He is just to busy to possibly take reading seriously.  -- I am trying to change this attitude!  Lately we have just been reading & reviewing phonics w/ Color Phonics. (4x a day for 1 hour)

Reading:  My daughter is using TOG literature suggestions, with literature activity pages.  I haven't added anything to this from Drawn into the Heart of Reading; however, I would still like to use some of it & the workbook at some point.  She reads on her own for 1 hour, 4x a week & I listen to her 1x a week.

Writing:  We are using TOG Writing Aids, FANTASTIC (3x a week - possibly 4 soon)

Art/Music:  Just doing picture study at snack time & lunch w/ a composer

Latin:  This is taught at our Enrichment class by another mom.  I just review new words during dinner.

Poetry & Character Building:  Haven't started this yet!

Bible:  Right now we are using a Character building curriculum at breakfast 4x a week usually (Obedience)

Geography:  TOG offers excellent geography work

History & all the subjects that tie into it:  We are using TOG Year 2.  I did add some of the Beautiful Feet activities into our studies; however, I really wasn't impressed & was rather disappointed (making me even more reassured that I did the right thing using TOG).  I haven't used any of the TQ supplements (movies, etc.) b/c most of that is geared to American History.  I am still planning on adding it to our studies.

PRE-K:  This is my grade!  I love love love Pre-K & K.  I have had a blast w/ my boys.  We have a busy day as the big kids do their independent work; if you are interested in this you should really see my other blog for MUCH MORE detail.  I am using Little Hands & BFIAR.  We do LH 4x a week & BFIAR 1-2x a week.  I did add Handwriting Without Tears & it is FANTASTIC!! -- Much more than just "handwriting."  I am so pleased with it & it is perfect for my boys.  We use HWOT almost daily.  My Pre-school day begins at 8:30am *usually & ends around lunch time (noonish).  They have 2 hour break/playtime with Sissy, then Bubba & a 20 minute snack time in-between.  Nap/quiet time from 1ish-2ish.

I hope this answers your questions.  Please feel free to ask away!  I will say that I devote most of my day to homeschooling my children.  We have clean up times & I get a few breaks of my own, but I decided that if I "worked" I would devote an entire day to a company or other peoples kids if I decided to teach, so I might as well be willing to devote that time to my own children/family.  I will add that I have 2 good kids (& 2 Wild Mustangs that 2 & just turned 4).  My 2 big kids are a HUGE help to me & definitely carry their weight with Chores & helping me out.  They rarely complain about having to do chores & are pretty willing to pitch-in when they see I'm becoming overwhelmed with disaster!  lol  I rarely have to ask for help when it gets to that point & yes, it does get to that point - but my time with them (for all of us) is so worth every minute of mess, laundry & so on.  I truly love teaching my kids & they truly enjoy the "work" I have planned for them (minus writing for Taylor & reading for Tyler - "It's too hard." aka:  "CHALLENGING to them.)

God Bless,

Tiff