A new year begins...

Last year I read When You Rise Up by RC Sproul Jr.  One of the things I picked up from it was to think about which subjects God has called us to teach...not which subjects they say we should teach.  This took much consideration and prayer and I'm sure I'll have to continue this as long as we are homeschooling.  After all my children, my husband and I, and our circumstances and needs are constantly changing.   What I finally decided was to use the Charlotte Mason methods.

We've used many of her methods over the years, but I'm currently reading through her Homeschooling Series and changing quite a bit about our schooling.  I've especially enjoyed the schedules and curriculum recommended through Simply Charlotte Mason.  It seems a bit more laid back then other CM programs.  I've found if we have less curriculum, we can enjoy more real life learning.  One of my goals for this year is to make school fun again!  Last year we used a planned out curriculum and I felt like too much of our time was spent on science and history.  The 3Rs were getting pushed aside and we didn't have time for all those wonderful homeschool projects that every family seems to be doing.   Without further ado, here are the plans:

Math:
MUS Gamma with skip counting CD for 4th grader
Singapore 2a/2b for 2nd grader...also work on multiplication facts
Funtastic Frogs and Miquon for K'er

Science:
Apologia--Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures
nature walks
science kits (snap circuits, grow carnivorous plants, set up aquarium, etc.)

Language Arts:
Read good literature
narration (written, oral, dramatic, building models, drawing pictures, etc.)--I really want this to be fun!
McGuffey Readers for copywork, dictation, grammar
Intermediate and Primary Language Lessons by Emma Serl
poetry memorization--both classic poems and silly poems
ETC for 2nd grader, ETC primers for K'er
Reading Rods for K'er

Spanish:
CDs and workbooks we bought awhile back...I can't remember the name of the program
Spanish flashcards

History:
Read all the HOD Bigger books we didn't get to last year
Fun projects as they come up--I want to have the children come up with these so they are excited about them
Narration and Notebooking
Map Drills

Bible:
120 Bible Stories from CPH, 3 days/week
My First Catechism from CPH 2 days/week
Memory verses taken from 120 Bible Stories, using SCM Scripture Memory System
Hymns for a Child's Heart from Focus on the Family

Literature:
Still working on the books, but right now I'm planning:
The Indian and the Cupboard (already start this on Friday)
Charlotte's Web
Farmer Boy
Pinocchio
Winnie the Pooh
Plus lots of books to go along with our history readings!

Art:
SCM picture studies--beginning with Monet
Brush Painting
Mark Kistler's Draw Squad

Poetry:
various sources

Music:
SCM music studies--beginning with Bach
Piano lessons

Character Study:
The Children's Book of Virtues
Lessons from the Farmyard
Missionary Stories with the Millers

Handicrafts (picked out by the DC and me):
dog walking, swimming lessons, gymnastics (physical education)
laundry, setting the table, yardwork (my choices)
gardening, robotics, woodworking, sculpturing, sewing/quilting (the DC's choices)

My K'er and preschooler will also be using FIAR and BFIAR...I'm hoping the older DC will listen in on the books as well.  ;)

Stay tuned for scheduling...I'm still working on this!

And I have to share this pretty bunting I sewed for our schoolroom...The fabrics are from an I-spy quilt swap and are so bright and cheery!  The DC are working on some canvas paintings for the room as well.  I'm hoping to add a few more inexpensive decorations.  Pinterest here I come!