Preschool 2009-2010

Since I already had Big A's Curriculum planned and ordered early this year, I had some much needed time to just rest and get through the first trimester of my pregnancy. I didn't realize how much better pre-planning is before, but definitely see the benefits to starting your research for the next year, starting in October. LOL. One thing that has been lacking in the planning dept has been our preschoolers plan for next year. I already knew I would be doing Heart of Dakota's Little Hands to Heaven with my soon to be 2 yr old and 4.5 yr old...but didnt realize at the time that my 4.5 yr old would be farther along than some of the activities and had to come up with something to add for her level of where she is at now.

So this is what our year is looking like for next year (or at least what I am thinking so far...I haven't done a ton of research, and preschool in my opinion should be all about building relationships with my babies and having fun!):

Little Hands to Heaven:
We'll be doing all of the activities that are planned in the book, however I will be just reviewing the letter and math activities for the first month (of the entire guide) with my 4.5. We'll choose one letter activity (or two) per day, and do the one math activity adding in some math activities from various google books I have found and using math manips like cusinaire rods.
I won't be doing much of the letter activities or math with my 2 yr old either...he's just riding along and learning as a 2 yr old learns, by exploring and getting into things ;) The Bible stories and activities that go along with LHTH really appeal to me still, and they both will enjoy the time together, so I plan to stick to those all year with each child.

I also found this awesome book at a used curriculum sale for FREE! Its called An Activities Handbook for Teachers of Young Children. Apparently, its an expensive book!! I didn't realize it until I did the search for this post! LOL There are some really cool ideas for math, science, beginning language and arts and crafts and will be using quite a few ideas from here, weekly, to supplement our activities in LHTH.

Beginning reading/phonics: I am hoping to teach Middle A how to read this year and have heard nothing but great things about First Reader! She really wants to learn and it'll be exciting to see how she progresses throughout this year! Our goal is to have her reading before she starts K next year...we'll see how it goes :)

Everything else:

I am also going to be following the 4 yr old Schedule here from Simply Charlotte Mason for Read Alouds, habit training, life skills, and memory verses. I will also be combining the little ones in on some of big brothers art projects etc.

Oh! Workboxes (will share these on a future post)! My little ones will be sharing workboxes for the fall and in them we will have a lot of different things including those things above! I am currently coordinating a Preschool Activity Bag swap using the book I won on the Spring Blog Giveaway carnival and putting together some other things to go in there to occupy their time while I am working with Big A. I've even thought about throwing in a few unit studies here and there :)

We are just so excited this school year and can't wait to get started! I am still working on our yearly schedule and will share that as soon as I am finished :D

Our Curriculum for 2009/2010 School Year

What else would I blog about after the last school year is behind us? LOL Really, I have known what we were going to use for a while, but actually placed orders last night, so I am confident in sharing our plans now :) We are still going a Charlotte Mason'ish route with our school, but also have some textbooky things added in (as usual).

Big A - 5th grade year! (wow....we started when he was in 2nd grade..time flies!)

First, the one I am most excited about:


This program (for those of you who don't know) is called Hearts for Him Through Time- Creation to Christ. It covers a multitude of our subjects this year and is all wrapped up in one nicely planned out teachers manual complete with a Biblical Worldview. History, Science, Poetry, Spelling using dictation, Narration, Music, art and Bible Study (you can find it here ) are all covered and I am sure I am missing more. Check out the site, you'll see a complete explanation of the program as well as what books are used. As you know, we are expecting our fourth baby in Dec, and while I love to tweak things and add to our studies, this is a no-brainer for me...all of the work has been planned out for me. Done deal. We can't wait to start this in Aug!!

We are also using a program by the same publisher for our reading/literature study:
Drawn into the Heart of Reading is a literature study that covers 9 different genre's of books while introducing Godly character lessons throughout. My plan is to cover all of the genres in one year, but instead using the student workbook for only half so we can get more use out it. (that is used for grades 4/5). On the weeks we are not using DITHOR, I will have Big A read a different genre than was covered, but we won't do anything other than oral/written narration with it. You can find out more info about this program here.

For our Grammar this year we are using:



We loved QLL last year, but our HOD Ancients program covers many of the things that QLL covers. I've heard a lot of great things about this program, so I am hoping it works out well for Big A this year. It is done mainly independently, and that will definitely be a blessing. Of course, I will always be right there to help if he needs it :)

To round out Language Arts we will be using Writing Stands level 3 for writing.
Again..this is a new program to us, but when you find it at a used book sale for $5.00, you make it work ;) I wasn't set on what writing program we would use, and the one that is suggested for HOD was too expensive for me. So as always, God provides, and we are looking forward to using this program!


And finally for Math we are going to be using Teaching Textbooks Math 5 !!

I have been wanting to use this program ever since I heard of it and am just excited to be finally starting with it. It's a computer based, fully interactive math curriculum. I thought it would be a great way to mix up Big A's School day and give Mom as chance to work with the little ones in our school.

Speaking of the little ones in our school, I'll share what I am going to be using with them on a separate post.

Are you all reading for this next year!! I am really ready for a break but am excited about what we are going to be using at the same time :)