Homeschool

Being a mom with a teaching background, I have always tried to tie in learning into our everyday activities. Our playroom has evolved into a mini classroom over the past few years. (poor kids! ha!) I am definitely not a “pro” at this homeschool thing yet, but I wanted a place to share our adventures together. Maybe I can help someone else by sharing my experiences and information!

Why I decided to homeschool? Read more here!

CO-OP

We will soon be starting our third year with the Knoxville Thursday Connection Christian Homeschool Cooperative . We go every Thursday (during the Knox County School year) for them to learn from other teachers in a classroom setting with other homeschooled children. I love the courses they have to choose from, and that they are multi-age learning classrooms (K-2 and 3-5).

TN Dept. of Education Curriculum Standards

I have the state’s learning standards printed off and organized in a binder by subject for all three of the kids’ age groups. It helps me to plan our learning activities and to make sure that each child is meeting age-appropriate learning goals. You can find the TN DOE Curriculum Standards here!

Local Learning Opportunities/”Field Trips”

OUR CURRICULUM

I am not a stickler when it comes to maintaining a rigid routine. With the ages of the kids, I have learned that being flexible is key, and every day is different! We do a good balance of seat work and hands-on activities. Even though I am in the early years of homeschooling, I have already tried a wide variety of curriculum. It has been interesting to try new things and see what works for us!

2014-2015 — We are enrolled to do Abeka’s Complete Virtual Homeschool Accredited Program (Our Umbrella School)

Reagan (2nd)

Emmy (K)

Max (PreK)

CO-OP Classes (for girls)- Art, PE, Music Explorers, Poetry (Emmy), Magic Treehouse Bookclub (Reagan), Pirates/Cowboys/Indians, All About Me (anatomy), Jr. Naturalists

2013-2014 — Core A from Sonlight; the girls shared the same literature/read alouds, Bible, history/geography, & science. Also, during the last part of the year, we used several random workbooks.

Reagan (1st) —

CO-OP Classes- Art, PE, Hands On Science, Early Modern World History, Critters, Great Starts in Art, All About Girls

Websites/Apps: Spellingcity.com

Reading – Sonlight, finished Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons by Siegfried Engelmann, Sonlight Readers, old set of Harcourt 1st grade Readers (purchased off ebay)

Spelling- Sonlight word lists and All About Spelling

Writing- Sonlight, A Reason for Handwriting A, Journaling

Math- Singapore Primary Mathematics 1A & 1B

Emmy PreK —

Websites/Apps: Readingeggs.com, starfall.com

Reading- Sonlight, started Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons by Siegfried Engelmann, started Lakeshore Learning emergent readers

Writing- Sonlight, A Reason for Handwriting K, Journaling

Math- Singapore’s Earlybird Kindergarten Mathematics A & B

2012-2013

Reagan (K) — my first year of official homeschooling. I used a wide variety of resources and curriculum materials. I’ll list the core items below.

CO-OP Classes- Art, Magic Schoolbus, Bookaroos, and Exploring Math

Websites/Apps: Readingeggs.com, starfall.com, time4learning.com

Reading/Phonics/Spelling – Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons by Siegfried Engelmann, Zaner-Bloser Spelling Connections, Scholastic’s Word Learning Word Making Word Sorting

I absolutely love these emergent and sight word readers from Lakeshore Learning.