Wrapping Up the School Year

Lauren, an amazing friend and homeschooling mom, introduced me to a Homeschool Bookstore today!  I got a few great deals for next year in the used book room and picked up a bit of excitement along the way.  So, as I dream about what the next year will bring, I want to share the resources we used (and recommend) from this year:

"Spread knowledge out before them and let them feast."

~Well-Trained Mind

2011-2012 Kindergarten Curriculum-
Math: Saxon Math 1
Phonics and Writing: Abeka K; Spelling Workout A
Literature: Five in a Row Volume 2; five of the Great Illustrated Classics from the library
Science: We didn't use a set science curriculum, but used all of these resources......Everybody Has a Body (activity book), Usborne First Encyclopedia of the Human Body, Human Body velcro set, First Animal Encyclopedia, Zoo Membership, borrowed an animal video series from Nonny and Papa
History: Story of the World 1: Ancient Times, Hands and Hearts History kits (Ancient Egypt; Ancient Greece and Rome)
Bible: Voice of the Martyrs VBS curriculum, excerpts from Here Comes Heaven!
Music: Story of the Orchestra

Most surprising curriculum:

Saxon Math.  I had actually heard negative things about Saxon Math and yet that is what I received as a hand-me-down, so that's what we did.  I was surprised to find we really liked it!  Maybe because it fits Emily's learning style or maybe because I lightened up and stopped trying to cram five lessons into every week, but in the end we finished the book still enjoying math and are starting Saxon Math 2 this summer so we can have the same slower pace next school year, too.

Greatest disappointment:
How much time it takes to homeschool.

Favorite Resource:

The Library!  We read five of the Great Illustrated Classics series, which I love for this age and many more books of their choosing.  Every week we look forward to Storytime.  God bless Mrs. Beth, the Children's Librarian.

Frugal Homeschooling:

We couldn't do this without my own family's willingness buy gifts for the children off my homeschool wish list (to supplement the hand-me-down curriculum we are given).  For example, this Christmas, my kids received the Hands and Hearts Ancient Greece and Rome activity kit, a Zoo membership, the Story of the Orchestra book, an educational grammar game, and Classics to Read Aloud to Your Children.  This is typical....other years the gifts have been wall maps, Five in a Row curriculum, encyclopedias, a butterfly kit.  I used to be afraid the kids would be disappointed with such gifts, but they love it!  They don't know anything different.  Emily received a Children's Encyclopedia for Christmas when she was 4 and she slept with it that night.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Freedom in Homeschooling:

I would normally elevate frugality above these purchases (since they could be created at home much cheaper), but with the great transition of adoption this homeschooling year I cut myself some slack and was so thankful for these ready-made projects:

Hands and Hearts Ancient Greece History Kit
Human Body Banner (THE KIDS LOVE THIS!)

Best homeschooling day:
Field trip in Paris!

Best idea yet:

We finished up all our book work so that we could spend the month of May doing "May we learn...."  The kids get to finish the phrases "May we learn about....?" and "May we learn how to....?"  As we learn about things I NEVER would have thought to study, it is affirming their curiosity and teaching them HOW to learn.  The first items to study: pirate ships and Indian tee pees and a whole host of experiments from the library's Green Eggs and Ham cookbook