Choosing Curriculum

There are a few factors I considered when I chose our homeschool curriculum this year (bearing in mind that this is our first full year at this): 
1.  Time.  I don't have a ton of time to prep with both Brisbane, the twins, and being pregnant.  So I needed to pick things that could be engaging even if I didn't go to the effort of creating extension activities every week.
2.  Cost.  I'm a former teacher and used to create engaging enriching lessons from the most boring of textbooks.  So I wasn't going to buy the most expensive curriculums out there when I knew I could beef things up a bit at home.
3.  Quality.  I wanted materials that supported my general teaching philosophy and the needs of my children.  I've read so many stories of parents switching curriculums mid year because they didn't like what they got.  That sounds expensive and I really didn't want to do that.  We are sticking with what I picked and if we decide to change next year, we can.
So here is what I have planned, for better or for worse:

FIRST HOUR:
Scripture Study:  I am using the Discover the Scriptures printable workbook for the Book of Mormon for Reese.  This is a companion workbook to the children's illustrated scriptures published by the LDS church.  Reese did the New Testament last year and it was PERFECT.  He memorized a ton of scriptures and could do the whole thing pretty independently.  Jessenia can't read independently yet so I purchased the Scripture Notebooking set from the same company for her.  Reese will read the chapter out loud and then she will free write about the topic for that chapter while Reese is doing his workbook.  They will do this first thing of the day and I know that isn't a time that I will be available to help much, so I need it to be independent.  And I knew I wanted some scripture reading each day to start.

Journal Writing/Calendar:  Brisbane will be around most mornings and he will work on a calendar sheet from Confessions of a Homeschooler while Reese and Jessenia write in the journals.  Probably a writing prompt of some kind.

Lego Quest:  Google it.  It's a blog a lady created with Lego challenges.  We are going to do this every morning after they finish Scripture and Journal Writing.

SECOND HOUR:  (During this time the twins are going to be doing play time in their room for one hour to give me some time to work with the big kids.)
Math:  Singapore Math.  I don't need anything too commercial for math.  I can take the bare bones of a curriculum and create games and activities if I need to.  There is a super popular math program using all of these colored blocks and things but it seemed too expensive and not something that would transition well when the kids go back to public school.  I was torn between Singapore and Saxon but decided on Singapore because it is a bit more kid friendly for Reese to do independently.  With Reese last year I taught the instruction part using manipulatives and dry erase boards and then he did the workbook on his own. 

Reading:  Jessenia is not a strong reader coming out of Kindergarten so we are doing 2 programs.  All About Reading for her basic reading instruction.  I had another homeschooling mom recommend Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.  It is a fluency program and looks like just what J needs so we are going to do that too.
Reese is a strong reader and so last year we just read whatever we wanted.  We did a unit on Detectives and Mysteries and he was super into it.  This year I want him to have some comprehension instruction so I got a book Jacob's Ladder Reading Comprehension Program.  It is just short stories with comprehension activities at different levels of thinking.  It's right up Reese's alley so I'm stoked about that.

BREAK FOR LUNCH

THIRD HOUR: (Reading and Math are the only two subjects we are doing every day.  In the afternoon we will do one or two subjects while the twins are napping.)

MONDAY:  Grammar & Science
Grammar:  Growing with Grammar.  This is so bare bones and cheap.  It's just so that I have some order to follow when creating hands on grammar activities for the kids.  This plus pinterest was fun for Reese last year.  And if I didn't feel like jazzing it up one day, the workbook was just fine.

Science:  NOEO Science.  I studied science curriculums for HOURS,  reading reviews, stressing, praying.  It was a major challenge.  This was one of my favorite subjects to teach and I wanted something awesome.  All inclusive programs with the experiments and materials are SUPER expensive.  But I knew I wanted something that was more than just a textbook.  I also did not want a Christian based program.  I just feel like kids need to be exposed to all different opinions, particularly in science.  So we went with NOEO Science, which is actually a Christian company but they do not gear their science program away from evolution and other secular theories and ideas.  It was a nice compromise and one of the few reasonably priced programs I found that included living books and experiments.  Reese and Jessenia are sharing this program and will be on the same lessons each day.

TUESDAY:  Writing & Art
Writing:  Winning with Writing.  This is from the same company as the Grammar program and for the same reason.  It's just a starting point for whatever else I want to do.  Some days we will use it and some days we won't.

Art:  Home Art Studio.  This is a DVD based program and the teacher links you to an art supply store where you can buy a bundle of all the supplies you need for the whole year.  This is where my time became an influence in what I bought.  I just don't have it in me to be running to the store searching for water colors and tempera paint.  We will have all of the supplies we need so when we get to each project, we are set.  Reese and Jessenia are sharing this one too and I just bought double of the brushes and things they will need their own of.  I'm excited to do this one with them since a great artist, I am not. :)

THURSDAY:  Handwriting & P.E.
Handwriting:  Handwriting without Tears.  This is just a workbook.  Nothing fancy.  But Reese is a lefty and his letter formation makes me bananas in pajamas so I knew we needed something.  This program is HIGHLY recommended for lefties.  I've liked it so far but it really is nothing special necessarily.

P.E.  We are just winging it.  We do storytime yoga on YouTube, or take a hike, or go to the park, or play kickball in the backyard.  Whatever we want. :)

FRIDAY:  Social Studies
Social Studies:  Roadmap of the USA from Confessions of a Homeschooler
I haven't gotten into this one too much with Reese so he and Jessenia will be starting fresh.  It's just a fun US geography program that includes activities, recipes, coloring, writing, projects, and living books.  I'm excited for this one too.

FOURTH HOUR:  (We will do this at night after the twins and Brisbane are in bed.)
I will read to the kids for 30 minutes and then every other night Reese or Jessenia will read to me for 30 minutes.  I couldn't figure out how to eek in some more reading time with two kids.  If Mack is home in the evening they can each read to one of us.  But I have to be realistic and know that I will be home along a lot too.  So this seems ok for now.

What happened to Wednesday?  We are only doing school 4 days a week.  This will allow us to take field trips or clean house or just catch up on what we need to get done.  I don't feel any pressure to keep up with the public schools so this works for us.  I'm pretty laid back about it. If we get invited to a play date, we go.  If the weather is nice and we want to go to the zoo, we go.  If Mack is off work and we decide to take a day trip, we do it.  No sweat.

Brisbane will be in preschool all day on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  When he is home I am using the Letter of the Week program from Confessions of a Homeschooler to keep him busy.  I'm sure he will join in on science and things, but he needs to leave me alone for math and reading. :)

Of course we haven't started yet and this amazing plan I have might go to heck in a handbasket in the first week.  But based on my experience with Reese at the end of the last year, I'm feeling pretty good about this.  I'm just bummed that I am going to have to give up my afternoon nap...