Our curriculum 2011-2012

I think I am ready to rock and roll as far as curriculum is concerned. Here ya go, for those that are curious. (I LOVE knowing what my homeschooling buddies are using, so I figure they might be curious about what we use as well.......)

5th Grader Sasha:

Saxon Math 6\5
Math Wrap-ups or dice games for math facts
Rod and Staff Grammar 5th grade
Explode the Code 8 (this has been super helpful for my little sweetie who struggles with phonics a bit)
Spellwell
Wordly Wise
Journal or letter writing
Open Windows book 5 from the Reading to Learn Series. (Added this to the mix for the year. It is basically a book of short stories, poems etc and each one starts with a scripture that relates to the topic. It also has words highlighted in each section that you could use for vocabulary and spelling. I hope I like it! My other two will use books from the same series, according to their grade).
Art Class each Thursday taken from an awesome homeschooling momma who teaches out of her home. This will be Sasha's 2nd year with her. LOVE it!
Cursive Handwriting workbook (continuing from last year.....)
Reading: Books of her choice with a few thrown in I think she would enjoy. I have a few classics I would like her to read this year. She is working on reading Treasure Island right now.
Typing.....I am surprised kids her age are already typing, so I might get a program for her to start in the winter. I didn't take typing until 7th grade!!
4-H sewing group, twice a month
Swimming twice a month

2nd Grader- Seth
Saxon 2 and 3. He is about halfway done with Saxon 2. Math comes easy to him, the lucky little stinker!!
Math wrap-ups and dice games for math fact practice
Explode the Code 3 1\2, 4 (I have them do at least 4 pages a day, but they can do more. I give them $3 for completing a workbook, so if they want to do more each day, they can! I just see how far we get and order the next one as needed. Seth needed to do the "1\2" book they offer just to reinforce the concepts, but he may not need to do that each time.)
Beyond the Code, for extra reading comprehension
Journal or letter writing
All About Spelling for review as needed
Happy Phonics (a great collection of games and little books created by a veteran homeschooling momma from Utah! Her family has a great website http://www.lovetolearn.net/. I have her homeschooling handbook and that has been very helpful for making curriculum choices).
Happy Hearts Book 2 from the Reading to Learn Series
Handwriting Workbooks (Found some on Amazon, but I still am looking for something better.....we will get by with what I have for now)
Scouts in the fall!!! Yay, Seth
Swimming twice a month

1st Grader-Addie
Saxon 1
Math file folder games for math fact practice. Other games I make up as we go........
Explode the Code 1, 1 1\2, 2 or however far she gets.
I Wonder: Book 1 in the Reading to Learn Series
All About Spelling Level One
Happy Phonics
Journal or letter writing
Handwriting Workbook
Other File Folder games I have made up and are ready to go on various topics. These have been great to keep her busy while I help the older ones. I found them all for FREE on http://www.filefolderfun.com/ Great resource!
Swimming twice a month

All together:
Science--Apologia Zoology 1. This is our first try at this. I have just done science on my own but have felt I need more structure and less prep work. This program got great reviews, so I hope it works for us. I also bought the notebooking program to go along with it, as well.
We also belong to a science group and this will be our 2nd year with them. We have a topic a month and meet twice; one for a lesson and one is a field trip. We take turns teaching each month. It has been fun and something we look forward to.

History--US History Part 2. I used The Complete Book of United States History from American Education Publishing. Low cost. Short chapters. Fun to read. It is written for grades 3-5 but it still worked for the younger ones. We did up to the Civil War last year, so we will pick up where we left off. I use the library a lot for history and get books relating to our current chapter so all my kids can look at them. I need to include more notebooking, lapbooks etc this year to do more, I am thinking. We also sing songs from the cd Wee Sing American Songs and that has been fun.

Geography:
I bought some GeoPuzzles (world, Europe, and the US) and can't wait to use them! This year I plan on using them, but focusing on the US since we are studying US history again this year. We will pick a state a week or so. Can you say "Library Books rock"??!! What a blessing to have all those books right at our fingertips. My goal is to have them know the states by the end of the year. Sasha will know the capitols as well.

Latter-Day Prophets--I would like to get back on track with this and do two prophets a month. I got off track last year and stopped doing it. Being pregnant is not good for me and being on target with extra stuff like this.

I think that is it! I don't have a list for our read-alouds yet. I do have lots of books here to pick from so I will go with that for now. I am sure our year might get off to a rocky start with a newborn and a toddler along for the ride, but I am sure we will find our groove...........right????