As we begin our fall 2020 homeschooling routine I am so thankful that we have tried and tested so many different types of curriculum to see what fits for us and what doesn’t. Generally I prefer literature-based curriculum but with a five-year-old and two-year-old who no longer take naps, school looks a bit different this year. Different doesn’t mean bad, just, well, different. I begin the day by gathering all five kids together for Bible. This isn’t always easy. I only read a chapter a day. But sometimes those chapters can be long! It is an excellent opportunity to teach the younger ones to sit still, listen, and exhibit self-control. I then let the younger ones watch a twenty-minute educational video while I read a book aloud to my older ones. Right now we are reading Tom Swift. An excellent read for middle school and high school boys. My preteen daughter actually enjoys it too!
I then have my children break off and work on their independent work while I do “charts” with my kindergartener (the three-year-old listens in of course). He counts on the one hundred chart by ones and tens and we will gradually work our way to fives and twos throughout the year. We go over the months of the year, the days of the week, and the alphabet including the vowels. I then work with him on math, writing, and reading.
The first child done with their independent work gets to do their work with me first. This includes Spelling, help with math, help with English, and reading aloud to me. The subjects that they are required to do on their own include; Duolingo, online electives, reading alone, English, Bible study, and history. If they need help with any of these then I am there to help. English, history, and Bible are all Life Pacs so they are able do them on their own for the most part. My eighth grader needs help with his English once in a while but once I explain it to him he is able to do most of the work independently. Science this year is chemistry. I use Apologia chemistry for my 10-year-old and kindergartener. I use a high school level experiment-only, all lab, no lecture book for my high schooler and middle schooler and their friend down the road. They love it. The hands on approach is working for them. My ten-year-old and kindergartener are also using a hands-on approach for history with Golden Prairie Press which is very similar to Apologia.
I love having a variety of options for my kids. Some subjects are hands-on and some are independent. I would love it if they were all hands-on and some parents love a completely independent curriculum but sticking to one format alone doesn’t work for us. This does work and we are having a great fall so far! What have you been using?
