Homeschooling – Planning for next year – Subjects

Summer is just beginning and so has the work of planning next year’s studies for the children.  It isn’t really work – though it can be rather time consuming – it is fun.  There is something really exciting about going through all your supplies, perusing the web, reading through the catalogs and deciding on those things that you hope will spark your children’s excitement and wonder.    This is all restrained by the realities of budget and time, but the initial planning phase is such a hopeful time.

This year I am doing a bit more formal lesson planning.  I am breaking the year into three 12 week periods.  Our calendar runs Term 1:  September 7 – November 20 (one week off for Thanksgiving) then November 30 – December 4 then off for Christmas.    Term 2:  January 4 – March 22 one week then off for Easter. Term 3:  April 5 – June 25 then off again for summer.   I am working on creating the master “lesson plans” for the first term for each child.  I created planning pages using MS Publisher – I print them out blank and then use pencil and post-it notes to fill in the plans until they are were I like them.

Christopher will be starting his first year of  “middle school”  studies.  Approximately 6th grade work.  Hannah will be doing early elementary school work, about the third grade level and Josh will be starting with grammar stage- first grade work.   Sarah will begin some formal work,  mostly pre-kindergarten stuff.

Christopher’s subjects will be: Religion, Math (pre-algebra), English, Literature (classic literature, and an introduction to Shakespeare),  Writing (penmanship and composition), American History, World History,  Geography and Cultures, Science (physical science and nature journal)  Latin (beginning formal study),  Art and Music History, Art (drawing and watercolor), Music (piano) and German (informal introduction).

Hannah’s subjects will be: Religion,  Math,  English (grammar),  Reading,  Writing (penmanship and copy work),  American History,  Geography and Cultures,  Science (earth science and nature journal),  Latin (informal),  Art (drawing and watercolor), and  Music (piano)

Josh’s subjects will be: Religion,  Math,  Phonics,  Reading,  Writing (penmanship),  Geography and Cultures,  Science (earth science and nature journal),  Latin (informal),  Art (drawing and watercolor), and  Music (piano)

Sarah will have:  Religion,  pre-K Math, Letter Recognition,  Arts and Crafts,  World Cultures,  Nature Discoveries,  and Music (songs)