Why can't I do it all? There is so much GREAT curriculum out there -- I just want to use it all! Some mom's buy shoes, purses (I used to have a major "bag" issue myself), jewelry, ect. -- Me, I have a problem with buying too much curriculum! I just LOVE it!

This years picks were hard, it was a hard choice & I'm sure I picked too much -- which just adds to my "planning issue" that goes hand in hand with my book/curriculum issue!

Well, here it is:

Math: This was easy -- Math-U-See. This is all I have ever used & both my children have done fabulous with it. Taylor will be doing the 5th grade level & Tyler will probably start 3rd grade by December, if not in September when we start school.

Reading: I LOVE Drawn Into The Heart of Reading. This was an easy pick too. Tyler may do some of the 2/3 level later in the year. Taylor will do the 4/5 level. LOVE IT!

Phonics: This has been an experiment with me. When we started phonics in Kindergarten with Tyler, he just wasn't ready or should I say "interested"? I struggled to find something that would hold his interest. Honestly, I backed off. My main desire during K was for him to love reading & books, not necessarily for him "to read." Through our journey of learning to read this year I have found that he wants to read by sight; however, I still want him to have phonic's skills. So, I have decided that on Mondays he will read a Pathway Reader (which he LOVES) Tue/Wed/Thur we will do a lesson from The Ordinary Parents Guide for Teaching Reading by Jessie WIse (Peace Hill Press) and/or lessons from Hooked on Phonics Levels 4 & 5.   In addition to these programs he will use the Explode the Code Series, books 4 & 5.

Language: I am ABSOLUTELY thrilled with The First Language Lessons (Peace Hill Press) BUT have been tempted tremendously by Queen Homeschool's Language Lessons. So I am doing both! Taylor will just do Language Lessons for the Elementary Child Vol 2. Tyler will do 2nd grade First Language Lessons & Language Lessons for Little Ones. Tucker will do Language Lessons for the Very Young. The pictures in the Queen Homeschool books is BEAUTIFUL.

Grammar: Easy Grammar! Taylor loves it. It is "EASY" to teach for me & "EASY" for her to understand & it is successful! Taylor will do Easy Grammar 5 & Tyler may do Easy Grammar 2 -- maybe.

Writing: They will all start with Writing Strands. I honestly don't know how serious we will be about it -- I have read that it isn't good to teach writing before 6th grade. I really have liked The Write Shop ideas, but it is only recommended for 6th grade and above. Write Source has GREAT ideas for free/creative writing topics -- I do plan on using frequently. We are going to try Writing Strands this year - using it b/t biography reports.

Spelling: I have struggled finding a spelling curriculum that isn't a waste of time & just "busy" work. So, this year I am using the Natural Speller, along with bits and pieces I liked from several other curriculums to customize Spelling for Taylor. Tyler is going to use Queen Homeschool's Learn to Spell Through Copywork Book A. I am going to supplement it to some of the activities I am using with Taylor. *See Future Post for these activities.

Handwriting/Copywork: Both kids are going to use Queen Homeschools Pictures in Cursive (BEAUTIFUL) for Handwriting. Tyler will use Copywork for Little Boys & Taylor will use Copywork for Girls. In addition to this we copy text out of books we read, scriptures (see Bible for more on this), & are going to use Queen Homeschools, "Our Beautiful America," copybook & "Nature Lessons for Copywork."

Bible: I haven't purchased it yet, but I am leaning toward Veritas Press, The Gospels. I'm still undecided -- I may use "Boy, Have I got Problems" & study the book of James. I do know that for scriptures the kids are going to have their own ring of index cards that they are going to copy each scripture they memorize to & decorate it if they want. -- creating, "Scripture Cards" OH OH OH, I also came across a steal of a deal on Little Bear Wheeler's Historical Devotionals. I haven't had time to preview them, but this is also a MAJOR possibility for Bible.

Character Building: Beautiful Feet's Primary & Intermediate Literature Guide for Building Character

Poetry: I am going to use several books I have with children’s poems (I will list in a later post). Also, both of the Language curriculums have Poetry for memorization throughout them.

Art Appreciation: I was leaning toward just doing the basic Charlotte Mason approach to this -- Until I was introduced to Child-Size Masterpieces. So, we are still going to study 6 artist this year in addition to using Child-Size Masterpieces. (I will list artist in another post on Lesson Plans)

Art/Drawing: This will be a "center" or quiet time activity more than a "subject" but I will use our How To Draw Books & Drawing With Children.

Music Appreciation: We are going to study 6 composers (I will list these in another post on Lesson Plans) & Hymns -- using Then Sings My Soul. For the study of the composers we will listen to their "Greatest Hit's CD's" & will use the Wheeler & Deucher composers` series from the mid-20th century books & study guide (along with a few other books on some of the composers). Oh, I almost forgot, I will also use the DVD series, "Meet the Musician."

Latin: Prima Latina -- never used it before -- didn't want to spend the money on Rosetta Stone, a friend recommended it = we shall see!

History: Ha! Ha! Ha! This has been so hard for me & I am still apt to change my mind. Originally, I was going to do My Father's World Countries & Cultures, then Tim said he thought it was more important for the kids to know more about their own country before learning about other countries. Right or Wrong I got on this American History Mission. OMGoodness!! So, I am totally in love with Tapestry of Grace. I'm not sure what is holding me back from using it alone or at all, but I am just afraid. (I still may order it) I really liked Beautiful Feet, but was afraid it "skipped" too much, I really like The Story of the World, but it is just that "the story of the WORLD (it is fantastic, but not enough for a year of just American History). Then I discovered Truthquest History. Right now the plan is to use Truthquest History (which refers to The Story of the World when available) & supplement it with Beautiful Feet Primary for Tyler & Intermediate for Taylor. TQ recommends some of the Genevieve Foster books (I LOVE THEM), but it does not indicate page numbers or chapters (as it does for most of the books recommended). However, Beautiful Feet's Jr. High guide DOES! Am I difficult or what?! When I have made up my mind completely, I will post the complete lesson plan.

History Supplements: Beautiful Feet Literature Guides as mentioned above, Some of the Mantle Ministries books on audio, His-Story DVD series, Drive Thru History America, & several other books on audio.

Geography: Not going to be a HUGE goal (as the Beautiful Feet & Story of the World guides include mapping & geography activities), but if time allows we will use The Trail Guide to US Geography from Geography Matters. OR the Beautiful Feet Geography Through Literature.

Science: I thought this was going to be easy . . . I should have known better! I am going to use Apologia Botany and supplement it with The World of Plants by Master Books

Nature Study: I am soooo excited! We are going to start with My Nature Journal (available at Queen Homeschool) & The Handbook of Nature Study. In addition to these we will use several of the Nature books from Queen Homeschool, along with several field guides.

For my Pre-K & Pre-PK I am going to use Before Five in a Row & Little Hands to Heaven. I will also use several of the little workbooks & readers from Rod & Staff. I love their stuff for this age. AND A LOT of "Center" Time. See post on Centers soon!

I will post soon on all the "extra stuff" I got as well!