Here is what we are planning on using for our oldest son who will be a 5th grader next year:
Math: Teaching Textbooks Math 6
I am so glad I found this curriculum. This will be our second year using it. I love that he can do most of it independently (he does 4 days by himself, and the 5th day we go over things together) and he loves that it’s on the computer. I do agree with a lot of the reviews out there that say this math curriculum seems to be a little behind, but I just had him do the placement test and put him in the level according to that (which was one level ahead) and I think the level is appropriate for him.
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Spelling: Soaring With Spelling Level 5
This will be our 4th year using this spelling curriculum. He can do most of it independently. He needs my help to call out the words for the pretest (first day of the week) and the post test (last day of the week). In the past I have also recorded his spelling lists on the ipad so that he could do his lessons completely on his own, but I actually prefer saying the list for him and it takes less planning and time on my part overall. He will also be keeping a spelling notebook for words that give him trouble. This is also a vocabulary curriculum, but I think it’s too light and I just use it for spelling and use something else for vocabulary.
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Grammar: Growing With Grammar Level 5
This is our 3rd year using this curriculum. We used it for 2nd and 3rd grade and then I made the switch to First Language Lessons last year. My son begged me to let him use GWG again. FLL was a bit dry and it required me to do all the lessons with him. He likes working independently, so with GWG I just go over any issues or concepts with him that he is having trouble with.
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Composition: Winning With Writing Level 5
I have tried a couple different writing curriculums in the past with my son. We have used Just Write and Writing with Ease. Just Write was very simple and didn’t require a lot of parental involvement, but I just didn’t feel it was enough. That’s why I switched to WWE last year; I liked that it focused on writing from the ground up by using copy work and dictation. But, I didn’t like that it didn’t really teach much writing, as in composition. Since we have had such success with SWS and GWG, we decided to give WWW a try since it’s by the same author/publisher. I will also be incorporating copy work and dictation into our science, history and literature studies.
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Handwriting: Cursive Success by Handwriting without Tears
This will be our second year using HWT. We were happy with it’s simplicity and thoroughness last year, so we are continuing with it.
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Vocabulary: Vocabulary from Classical Roots
We have been using Wordly Wise 3000 for the past 3 years. For the most part I think it does a good job teaching vocabulary words, but over time, I got fed up with the worldly stories that they included in each lesson. It’s definitely not a Christian curriculum. I also thought it was lacking in teaching prefixes, suffixes, base words, and word origination. So, we are switching to Vocabulary from Classical Roots for next year.
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Reading: list of books that mom comes up with as well as history and science books related to our topic of study; a reading log that tracks books read and amount of time spent reading will be kept. You can check out our 5th grade reading list here.
Literature: Progeny Press guides for the following books – The Big Wave, Stone Fox, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, and The Whipping Boy
We have used several of these guides over the past few years. I really love their Christian perspective and scripture references. I think they do a very thorough job in covering many different aspects of literature study.
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Science: a homemade study on the human body and Apologia’s book on Botany
This will be our third year using Apologia for science! We love it! We hit the jackpot with this one! I love how the books are centered around God! We will be studying Botany this year. We won’t be starting the botany book until January because we are going to use one of the alternative schedules for colder climates. So in the meantime, we will study the human body using Usborne books, lapbooks, hands-on projects and other fun things I find.
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History: The Mystery of History Volume 1 – Creation to the Resurrection
I have struggled to find a history curriculum that I like ever since we started homeschooling 5 years ago. We have tried Story of the World, TruthQuest, WinterPromise, Christian Liberty Press, The Story of the USA and Beautiful Feet. We are still looking for “The One” when it comes to history. I’m really hoping we find that in MOH. I have had my eye on it for several years, but never decided to go with it until this year.
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Health: Health and Safety Curriculum – Primary level
Since our state requires that we teach health each year, I wanted to find a simple, easy curriculum. I have found this one to be just that. It has 3 different levels, and this year we will be using the middle level.
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Geography: Spectrum Geography – Grade 5 – United States of America
Each year I get the kids a simple workbook on geography that they can do independently. I mostly use these books to brush up on their map skills. We do a bulk of our geography during our history studies. This year I decided to try out the Spectrum geography books.
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Music: World’s Greatest Composers by Confessions of a Homeschooler
In the past, the kids have taken piano lessons. Next year, piano lessons just aren’t in the budget so we will be focusing on composers.
Art: How to Teach Art to Children
In the past, the kids have done their art class at our church’s co-op. This year we will not be participating in co-op, so I need to take on the task of teaching art. I wanted something that would cover a wide age-range since I will teach all the kids together, something that teaches the elements of art, and something easy to use.
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PE: Hockey, Lacrosse, and Gymnastics
Logic: Mind Benders Books 3 & 4 by The Critical Thinking Company
I like to have the kids do some logic/critical thinking exercises throughout the year. This year we will be using Mind Benders.
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Latin: Prima Latin
This will be our first year studying Latin. I’m hoping that the 5 years of Latin I took in high school will make teaching it a little less intimidating. I chose this curriculum based on reviews I read and I’m hoping it will help reinforce our vocabulary, grammar, and English language studies.
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Bible: Studying God’s Word E: Genesis – Ruth and Train Up a Child Bible studies
Luke will be using these for his independent Bible studies. We have used Studying God’s Word from the beginning and I stumbled upon the Train Up a Child series a few years ago and really liked. He is able to do both independently. We will have family Bible and devotional time before we start our school day.
I love looking at other people’s homeschool curriculum choices! I’m a junkie, lol. We’re doing Heart of Dakota this year (Preparing Hearts for His Glory and Little Hands to Heaven). I love Charlotte Mason but I just can’t pull it all together on my own – I need something structured with 2 homeschooling plus a new baby. We are adding in a few extra things – and Abby is going to be doing piano but at home. Have you heard of Mary Jo Moore Piano Courses? I’m sure its not the same as having an instructor, but I think it will do. We’re also doing composer study, hymn and folk songs, and some art stuff. I should just make up a post about all this too, lol. How do you like the spelling? We’re trying to find something easy and cheap for our oldest.
So do I Kelli! I love seeing what others are using! I have used HOD briefly; my favorite of theirs is the preschool one and I still use that here and there. I haven’t heard of those piano courses; so it’s not taught by an actual instructor? I’ve been looking into something different for the kids, like Piano Wizard (I think that’s what it’s called).
I like the spelling; it’s simple and after they can read, they can do it pretty much independently. Day 1 is going over the new words and doing a pretest; Day 2-4 is a worksheet with activities like fill-in the blanks, unscramble the words, word finds… If you go to their website there are sample lessons and the table of contents for each level. And as for price, I’d say it’s middle-of-the-road.
I recently found this blog you might like; it’s full of curriculum reviews:
http://thecurriculumchoice.com/
The Mary Jo Piano has a lesson book, and it comes with a cd that has all the instructions and the pieces being played, etc. We will see how it goes. I think it will be good for beginning since I can play basic and can help out with that. We will see as she gets into it if it will actually be practical though.
My 5th grade son will be doing Teaching Textbooks 6 as well. This will be our first year using this curriculum switching over from Saxon Math for my 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. We will stick with Saxon in the early years.
Fun to see all of your choices:)
He’ll be doing math right along with my 5th grader! 🙂
So far we like it; we switched from Horizons which just left us in tears (both of us) by the 3rd grade level.
I’m starting my Kinder this year with the Saxon Math. Hoping we like that better than Horizons.
Thanks for stopping by.
My little one is just 16 months, so we are not quite to this point yet! haha! Looks like a lot to keep up with, though! 🙂
MB
It’s not as intimidating as it seems. When you are ready to begin, there will be MANY more choices!! 😉
You inspired me, lol. And since I was pulling all of Abby’s stuff together today anyway, I made a blog post with our lists. =o)
Oh goodie; I’m going to go check it out!!
I’m going to do a post for 3rd grade, K, and preschool too. Hopefully I can get them done before we start school! 😉
When are you starting for the year? Before or after baby?
We’re going to start the last week of August. I usually start at the beginning because its just so hot, we might as well, but I need time to settle in with baby and finish prepping everything this year. Will is starting preschool this year, so its my first year with 2 homeschooling! Should be interesting, haha. Looks like we’re doing a few of the same or similar things with our oldest ones! I contemplated foreign language this year too, but decided we were already adding in quite a bit for her, so will probably put it off 1-2 years. But when we do start it will be Latin (I also took latin in school!) I don’t remember much now but am hoping it will kinda come back. Salve! Quid est tuum praenomen? Meum praenomen est Kelli. LOL! That’s about all I’ve got left in my brain.
Sounds like a good plan!!
I had to laugh at myself when I read your Latin sentences at the end because I don’t know what you said! I’m in trouble! Hello! How are you? My name is Kelli. Did I get that right?
Any ideas what you will be doing for preschool?
I always love seeing other people’s curriculum choices. Thanks for listing them so clearly!
Me too Blair!!!
I love your line up! We have many curriculum choices in common for this year 🙂
Heather @Cook Family Chronicles
Yes, we do have quite a bit in common. I’m going to enjoy following along with your school year!
Blessings,
Sarah
What a great list of books. I love Mr. Popper’s Penguins!! ;-D Thanks for linking this up with me this week. Seeing the curriculum of others is always so much fun!!
I agree Kate, it is fun!
Thanks for stopping by!
Just came across your blog via the link up.
We use MOH and quite like it. :o)
I’m Deborah, nice to meet you.
The Paper Maid
Nice to meet you too Deborah!
I’m hoping we like MOH as you do! History has been the hardest subject to find something I like. Hoping this is it!
Thanks for stopping by!
We’ve used HWT since the very beginning. And we are about to start our 3rd year of Teaching Textbooks, I wasn’t to thrilled with the lower levels- 3 and 4. But my oldest started with 6 and I have been very happy with it for him.
When it comes to math, my 2 oldest are so different. My oldest needs a bit more help from mom and my younger one doesn’t even need paper to do problems, he just does them in his head. So far we are really liking TT; it has made a big difference to our homeschool day.
We love Mr Popper!
Looks like you have a great plan for the year! I’d love to hear what else in on your reading list for 5th graders…
glad I found you on the link-up!Emily
http://www.weakandloved.com
Thanks for stopping by Emily!
I’m planning on posting about the reading lists once I get them finalized.
I just got your book from Amazon – can’t wait to read it!
Blessings!
You’ve got some great stuff there! I also have a 5th grader. I’ll have to try to remember Growing With…for next year if we need to change things up a little next year. We used Teach Art to Children last year and it was very workable for a 1st grader, 4th and 7th/8th. And it was great to have a variety of art lessons to go with each element! Mind Benders have been a hit in the past too! (I’ll have to remember those too, but we do have one critical thinking workbook to use.) And we’re doing Botany too!
I get so excited when I find a blogger that is using Botany too! I’m looking forward to following your science journey! And thanks for joining the link up!
I’m looking forward to art with all the kids; glad to hear it worked for you!
I have a 5th grader this year too and I love looking at what other people choose to do. I just love curriculum. I had actually purchased all of ours already through Timberdoodle and just decided yesterday to try Moving Beyond the Page instead with both of mine. I’m not sure how that will go since my daughter (5th) also likes to work independently. We’ll see. 🙂
I love your blog and am now following you! Have a great day!
Thanks for stopping and thanks for following Terri!
I too, love checking out curriculum! Blogs have been keeping me busy lately because so many people are posting their upcoming plans! So fun!!
Nice looking choices! My son plays hockey too.
Thanks! It’s a long season, but we just love watch the boys out on the ice!!
Thanks for stopping by!