Choosing Curriculum for active learners 3rd grade

I think this year is seeing the most changes in our curriculum for various reasons.  But, overall I’m very happy with where we ended up and our plans for the coming year.  So let,s talk through our plans.

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To help organize me and keep me honest, as well as give me 2 zillion ideas, yes you read right, 2 zillion ideas, I’m using Illuminations year 1 {affiliate link}.  It’s a big investment, so I figure I’ll explain why I went ahead and decided to use Illuminations.

• It has a great breakdown and list of supplemental ideas to use with Mystery of History {affiliate link, oh MOH how I love thee, let me count the ways}
• It has amazing literature studies, more than I can use in a year that work with MOH.
• The graphic organizers are sweet.
• It suggests curriculum I would never have thought of, and how to best use it.
• The lesson plans are editable, which is AWESOME, because I’m going to put my errands in.  {FYI: In a post coming up on Bright Ideas Press blog, I gush for 800 words about my love of it, so this is brief}

Because I’m using this, I’m planning on attempting to post weekly wrap-ups to keep myself honest and keep up with everything.  So, I’m thinking you guys can keep me accountable.

Math 3 Home Study Kit: Teachers Manual, Student Workbook, Fact Cards (Homeschool Math Grade 3)– We’re switching off of Math U See this year, while we really enjoyed it they’ve decided to align with CCS, and I don’t agree with them.  At all, it feels like a repeat of earlier education disasters where we put someone’s thesis statement into effect.

We will probably still use the blocks to help, but overall we’ll be using Saxon.  I used it when I was student teaching and very much enjoyed how thorough it is.

Princess will be moving up to 3rd grade math with her brothers, she’s going to complete 2nd and 3rd grade math at the same time.  She can do most of the Saxon math 3rd grade in the start, and will just need help with multiple digit addition and subtraction, which I’m sure she will catch on to quickly.

We will continue to use games to reinforce math skills on a regular basis.

 

All About Reading Level 2–  All 3 kids are starting the year on level 2.  Superman is essentially done, having 3 lessons left, Batman is about 2/3 done, and Princess just started.  The boys are doing fairly good considering we got the stuff November-ish.  I foresee the boys moving quickly to Level 3, probably right when it’s released.

 

Writing- I will be using off the cuff writing prompts from our other studies.  I considered getting a specific curriculum, but with all of the other things we are adding in this year, I really didn’t want to add YET ANOTHER thing.

 

Natural Speller– I have to admit I’m using this by default because it comes with Illuminations.  I’d supposedly been using All About Spelling, but if I’m honest, I really wasn’t.  They’ll get the solid phonics base from All About Reading, and we’ll use extra words from this.  Since it’s scheduled into Illuminations, I think I’m much more likely to use it.  Or so I tell myself, later I’ll write about how I’m going to make sure of it.

 

{yes the picture has nothing to do with the topic, but I like it}

Song School Latin– My local homeschooling buddy recommended this, and it’s been a great fit for us.  Princess loves the music in it, and to get the boys more interested I’ve been designing some simple games to play to review the vocabulary words.

Easy Grammar grade 2– We started this last year with the boys somewhat, and now all 3 kiddos will be doing this as part of calendar time.  It’s designed for you to write in the workbook, but I’m thinking the kids will do better not having to write.

English from the Roots Up– This one may be too advanced for the kiddos.  We’ll see.  Basically it’s a vocabulary program that helps the kids learn if our English word has roots in Latin or Greek.  If the kids aren’t interested, I certainly will be.  It fits the word nerd in me.  I already talk to them like they’re in high school, why not treat them like it?  {Yes I do know my kids are in grade school, and Princess is only 6 years old, but a year ago when she was taking speech, she tested as having the vocabulary of a 10 year old, go esoteric vocabulary of Mom!}

 

Exploration subjects to me are ones that may not have right answers, ones that may not be taught all that well in elementary school.  I also firmly believe these can be some of the most important ones to teach.

Mystery of History– Oh MOH how I love you, I love how you teach history, I love how you weave stories into ancient history.  I love how I can use you our entire homeschooling career…………  Okay, I will stop babbling now.  I’m just super excited because we’re finally cycling back to ancients.  Excited beyond words.

Ultimate Geography Guide– Again I love this one because I can use it for our entire homeschooling career, and it intimidated me at first, BUT Illuminations has a schedule for this too!  SCORE!  (Can you tell yet, I’m excited about using Illuminations?).  This will tie in nicely with our Around the World in 12 Dishes we’re doing.

SQUILT– because I want to bring some music into our homeschool, and Mary from Homegrown Learners made it easy for me.

Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy– Superman requested this one last year, and Batman has already reserved astronomy for next year.  We will be using the JUNIOR Notebooking Journal again (for full reasons why see our review of the Apologia Land Animals Junior notebooking journal).

Bible– we are going to continue our mostly 2 year journey through the Bible.  I’m slowly getting them out, and blogging about it forces me to get it done.  We’re in Exodus right now, and I figure by Christmas we’ll be through Ruth……  Probably.  We may take a detour or two.  We’ll see.

 

This is an incredibly long post, but I still fell like I’m missing something from this post.  I’m sure it’ll come to me tomorrow after everyone has read it and commented.

Previous curriculum posts (I am 0 for 3 on sticking to our picks)

2012-2013 (Kinder and 3rd)

2011-2012 (preK and 1st)

2010-2011 (preschool and Kinder)

Now come join up with 2 million homeschoolers and check out what they’re using over at iHomeschool Network Curriculum hop (live tonight at midnight).