The Great 2019-2020 School Year Curriculum Plan

After quite literally months of planning, here is the plan.

Christian Studies

We're going to read through the gospel of Mark this year.  We're also using the 'Ten Boys' and 'Ten Girls' series by Irene Howat to read biographical sketches of great Christians through the ages.  The 9yo and the 7yo will both be reading the stories and talking about the questions at the end of the chapters.  The 5yo will maybe tag along or maybe not I'm not sure.  Certainly not in any formal capacity.

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For memory work this year all three children are going to memorize the Lord's Prayer, (the 9yo has this somewhat memorized already, but I would like fluency), and the 9yo will also memorize the names of the books of the Bible.  If the 7yo finishes the Lord's prayer I will start her on the books of the Bible as well.

History

We will be reading through Story of the World Volume 2 together, which focuses on Medieval history.  We have multiple extra books to look through on different Medieval topics.  It's possible we will try things like Medieval cooking, attempting an illuminated letter, discussing the monastic movement, etc.  With SOTW2 as the spine, we'll see where our history studies take us.

Geography

We're going to take a world focus this year with Rod and Staff's curriculum Homelands Around The World.  We'll supplement with studies on real life missionaries we know and love and pray for.

Art and Music

The two oldest will be working with piano.  The 9yo will progress from Miss Judy teaching at the church to an instructor at the conservatory of music.  The 7yo is still with Miss Judy.  For Art we will be using this book:

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Science and Nature Study

The 9yo will be studying astronomy this year.  We'll use Exploring the Night Sky as our spine.

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We have a Celestron Telescope for observation and will likely supplement with several other books on stars, space and astronomy in our library.  We'll also be reading D'Aulaire's Greek Myths at the same time, tying in the stories that named our constellations.

The 7yo and 5yo will be using Rod and Staff's Patterns of Nature as their guided nature study.  This is technically a Grade 2 level book, which will make it right on the ball for the 7yo and probably too much for the 5yo, so I'll be adjusting expectations.

Mathematics

The 9yo will get Gr. 4 Rod and Staff math, the 7yo will get Grade 2 Rod and Staff math, and the 5yo will slowly finish the first book in Gr. 1 Rod and Staff math.  This will be supplemented with math games, and the I Hate Mathematics Book and whatever else we feel like doing.

Language Arts - Copywork and Recitation

The 9yo and 7yo will be copying from A Child's Garden of Verses this year and will choose poems from there to memorize.  Undoubtedly my children will be forced to listen to me recite The Swing over and over again.

Language Arts - Oral and Written Narration and Dictation

We're starting with Volume One of English For The Thoughtful Child.  Realistically this is only for the oldest two but the 5yo will tag along.  I have some nerves about this program being 'enough'.  So we'll see.  I may (probably will) supplement somehow.

Language Arts - Grammar

The 9yo will work on Rod and Staff's Grade 3 Building English.  By far this will be our hardest subject.  The 7yo and 5yo will not have anything in this subject area.

Literature

We'll stick with our 30 minutes of independent silent reading a day, because that works out well.  The 9yo and 7yo will also have assigned reading, although I don't have the list of books ready yet.  There may be literature guides, although I haven't actually purchased any so, sigh, who knows.  It's possible.

Reading

The 5yo is finishing up Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons.  She'll practice her reading with Bob books and early readers as she progresses this year.


And that's sort of where we are with the planning now.  I have photocopying and laminating to get done, and one large purchase still to make, but I think....dare I say it?  I think I may be almost ready.