Homeschoolers: What do you do in the summer?

[JTsMom]

We're still finishing up our K work. We took a lot of time off during the typical school year, so we're "behind". I plan to be totally finished by the end of July, but we're wrapping up some things now. We're going to take a lot of time off in August, but as we free up time by finishing more, I'm going to fill in with some of the art and music appreciation we haven't gotten to, extra read alouds, and some stuff from What Your K'er Needs to Know.

I hate to take too much time off in one chunk b/c J does better if we maintain some type of routine, so traditional summer vacation isn't the best choice for us. We'll officially start 1st grade on 9/1.

[o_mom]

It is quite affordable. IME, you don't need the text book. We usually do fine w/ the workbook. I don't really buy the teacher's manuals or anything either as it is pretty easy to illustrate the concepts with manipulatives and so forth. I don't feel I need to be lead through that.

I think it runs about 8.50 for each level (2 "semesters" to the year. So first grade have a 1A book and a 1B book).

I usually buy through Rainbow Resource, which is an enormous HSing resource catalog.

Before ordering everything you may want to just order the workbook and see if you feel you can flesh it out on your own from there. I bought the text and workbook a few times and found it totally unnecessary.

We use just the textbook, no workbook here for supplementing. I have heard from many HSers that one or the other is fine, that you don't need both.

[brittone2]

We use just the textbook, no workbook here for supplementing. I have heard from many HSers that one or the other is fine, that you don't need both.

I just reread my post when you quoted and it looks like I shouldn't be homeschooling with all of my typos LOL

Sorry about that! Nak.

[Katigre]

I just keep going with what we're doing, but only twice a week or so. So DS is finishing up one handwriting book, starting a new math book, and we're still doing our regular read alouds (just finished Stewart Little and Stone Fox, and are starting The Chocolate Touch and Trumpet of the Swan). We also started grammar (First Language Lessons) and we do a lesson after handwriting.

[ThreeofUs]

So, do you all use a curriculum? Got any good recommendations for reading on curricula development?

[MommyAllison]

We finished a few weeks ago, and my *plan* was to just keep up with her phonics stuff (OPGTR) and some fun workbooks (Kumon cutting, etc), buuuuuut we've ended up just taking a break. I'm planning to start our new year sometime in July so we can take a break when the baby is born, and we'll be mostly following the K plan in The Well Trained Mind. Planning then to school year-round, with breaks throughout the year.

[JTsMom]

This year we used:

-RightStart math (requires a lot of parent involvement, but it's good)
-Handwriting Without Tears (LOVE this program)
-Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading (good and straightforward, but not very exciting)
-Explode the Code (DS enjoyed it at first, but it was overkill for him, so we dropped it)
-Bob books (meh)
-various easy readers (loves these)
-What Your K'er Needs to Know (can't beat it)
-a little Five In a Row (good for ideas, but I added/skipped a lot)
-a little Mudpies to Magnets (some good stuff)
-a little Science Play (liked it)
-lots of literature
-lots of library books (I especially like Robin Nelson's non-fiction books- very short, simple and to the point- perfect for introducing a concept)
-Lolipop Logic
-some cheapy workbooks that I had laying around
-stuff I made up
-I also purchased All About Spelling, but we never really got started with it. This is definitely in the plan for next year.

I based our science and social studies off of the GA state standards, WYKNTK, and a few other sources that I pulled from. I mapped out the things I wanted to cover, then found rec'd books to cover those areas).

I love The Well Trained mind- both the books and the forums.

[Katigre]

So, do you all use a curriculum? Got any good recommendations for reading on curricula development?

I like a lot of the philosophy in A Well Trained Mind by Bauer and their message boards are a great resource (www.welltrainedmind.com) for the classical model. Here is our current curriculum:

Kindergarten (spread over 18 months b/c we started when he was not-yet-5 - note that reading instruction is not included because he learned to read a year ago):
Spring/Summer:
Handwriting: HWOT K (orange book)
Reading: Misc. stories aloud and independently (see Sonlight's book list)
Art: Mary Ann F. Kohl's book "Preschool Art" (age 4-8), Art for the Very Young.
Bible: Memorize bible verses from here:http://www.centralpc.org/ministry/ch...emorybk.htm#a3
Math: Rightstart Abacus Activities/Workbook, Singapore Essentials B, Misc. math activities (printable math mazes - http://www.printactivities.com/Mazes.html)
Computer: Starfall/More Starfall, Sheppherd Softward, PBS Kids, Beginning Email
Unit Studies: Wee Folk Art Spring B's - http://weefolkart.com/content/spring...ten-curriculum
Science: Butterfly Garden, Nature Walks at Hawthorne
P.E.: Gymnastics (winter), Parks (spring/summer), Swimming Lessons (summer)

Fall Semester:
Music - Suzuki Piano lessons, ________________
Handwriting: HWOT 1st (Red book), Printable blank handwriting sheets - http://donnayoung.org/penmanship/han...g-paper-bw.htm
Unit Studies: Harvest Time - http://weefolkart.com/content/harves...ten-curriculum - Start early Sept. & Winter- http://weefolkart.com/content/winter...ten-curriculum - Start early Dec.
Math: Singapore Essentials B - http://www.singaporemath.com/Essenti...n_B_p/emkb.htm, Rightstart Abacus, Online Math Games/Teaching Tools - http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/maths.htm & Geoboard Activities - http://eclectichomeschool.org/articl...?articleid=236, Math Mammoth free printables
Language Arts: First Language Lessons 1 - http://www.welltrainedmind.com/store/
Writing: Write Source K - http://www.greatsource.com/store/Pro...E&division=G01 or Writing with Ease (Peace Hill Press)
Spanish:

Extracurriculars:
Library Storytime
Nature Center
Gymnastics
Music Lessons

Spring 2012:
Reading: Sonlight's Books, VP's books
Spring Art - see Veritas Press catalogue for books (alternate with Music Fall)
Unit Studies:
Language Arts: First Language Lessons 1 (Writing with Easy 1)
Geography: Leagues and Legends (?)
Math: Singapore 1A
Handwriting: HWOT or Getty-Dubay

DD: Before Five in a Row starting Summer/Fall 2010. BFIAR Resources - http://www.homeschoolshare.com/befor..._resources.php

World Book Study: http://www.worldbook.com/typical-course-of-study.html

[WatchingThemGrow]

Handwriting: HWOT 1st (Red book), Printable blank handwriting sheets - http://donnayoung.org/penmanship/han...g-paper-bw.htm

Is there a printable HWOT blank sheet? I couldn't find one on there. I'd love to have one.

[Katigre]

No, I haven't found one. I did make one in Word though very easily - just space the lines until it's the size you want and print .