Details, Details

Okay, so I know you want all the details as to what we're going to attempt to cover this year.

Well, we've got the basics: Bible, language arts (Explode the Code, Primary Language Lessons, Sequential Spellling, Winterpromise LA/PreK-K), math (living math, Miquon, Ray's Arithmetic, MathTacular!). We are also incorporating a science curriculum this year. I had previously attempted to incorporate my own, but it just wasn't happening, so I decided to go with Sonlight's Science K program. We are also covering Korean (Rosetta Stone) and introductory French (Flip-Flop). Why French? Well, I have a free introductory curriculum that I thought we'd try. :)

In addition, we have a short period of physical education EVERY day! That's right. We are getting really ambitious this year! It's high time. We're in our fourth year of homeschooling, can you believe it?

Okay, we've also got history (both U.S. and world), geography, literature, and poetry. Most of the previous subjects are a mixture of the unofficial Ambleside Online Year 0.5 created by moms who live in states that require Kindergarten and Sonlight's Core K. We've incorporated a regular schedule for folksongs, picture study, composer study, handicrafts, computer time, creative arts, AND piano! Whew! Piano instruction is actually taking place on a keyboard. We are using the Phonics 4 Piano books (also known as Pianimals). So far the kids love it!

We will also have weekly nature walks with brief nature studies on the other four days of the week. We will also spend time once per week (on a different day than the nature walks) working on our nature notebooks.

I am combining the kids for all subjects except for language arts and math, although there is overlap there as well (the Transformer participates in some of his sister's work as reinforcement--mostly in math). The Transformer gets to narrate most of the readings, while his sister has that as an option (I just ask her to tell me one thing about whatever I read just to check whether she was actually listening or not).

The Kitty Cat is not doing the Rosetta Stone (too advanced for her) and has free time when her brother is working on subjects that she is not included on. The Transformer is also having minor supplementation to his science studies. He also gets a little bit more computer time, but more by default since the topics are too advanced for his sister.

We are covering a LOT of ground in just over 4 hours of school. However, I think the pace is just right to keep the kids from groaning about getting bored. I am also an overachiever so things may fall by the wayside as the year goes on. I hope not entire subjects, however. Just random books and other resources.

Well, there you have it. The details.

Above is a picture of our schoolroom, aka the Discovery Schoolhouse. It would have been great to get a picture with the kids, but my hands are usually full during school hours. I will try, however, to get another picture at some point of an active schoolroom.