The Plan

Curriculum. I love it. I'm addicted to it. I buy too much of it. I hoard it. I need help. (Seriously.) Do I USE it? No, not really. Not the way I'd like to. Not the way a classroom teacher GETS to. (I know--I WAS one.) A homeschooling mom of four just doesn't get to be the classroom teacher who's buried down inside of her, itching to get out. She has far too many things going on to allow her escape. Things like making more diaper-wipe solution for the 1000th time (because the 3-year-old keeps stealthily squirting it all out) and moving the laundry basket of "things that don't belong in this room" to the room in which they belong...over and over and over again.

So. When someone asks me about curriculum, I falter a bit. In fact, I avoid the question whenever possible. But today? Watch out, world...I'm bravely facing my fears head on!! Perhaps pitifully, I'm using a blog hop to help me solidify the pseudo-plan I've come up with. You know. The one that works for today. The one that will inevitably be turned completely on its end in...oh, say...five weeks, give or take. But the bravery is very real TODAY. And so...I'm taking advantage of it. Sorry if it bores most of you to tears, but it simply must. be. done.

The Plan for Noah (Third Grade):

• Sonlight Curriculum--This will include reading, some spelling and vocabulary, some grammar, Bible, and history.
• Shurley English--The best way to learn grammar in my ever-so-humble opinion.
• SRA Spelling--SRA really knows how to do things.
• Math Solutions--Games, literature-connections, etc. (I heart Marilyn Burns.)
• Investigations in Number, Data, and Space--More math, inspired by Math Solutions (What did I tell ya?)
• Occasional piano lessons (by Mommy) and weekly guitar lessons (not by Mommy)
• Draw, Write, Now--Handwriting and drawing lessons

The Plan for Saylor (Kindergarten):

• Bright Beginnings--Finish up (...for goodness' sake)
• Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons--(Lessons 41-100) This is the way I taught children to read from my first year of teaching until now! It works.
• THEN Sonlight Curriculum--same as above
• Investigations Math--same as above
• Occasional piano lessons (by Mommy) and weekly ballet lessons (not by Mommy)

The Plan for Gabriel (age three):

• Speech Therapy (all on our own most likely)
• What Your Preschooler Needs to Know, Book 1

The Plan for Atticus (age 21-months):

• Somehow keep him occupied with whatever works while we're doing all-of-the-above.

*taking deeeeeeep breath*

Of course, I will also attempt library story times, trips to the zoo, trips to area museums (when they're free or close to it), the occasional field trip to farms, post offices, and the like. I say "attempt," because...ahem...that's all I can promise. What I DO know is that there will be all kinds of game playing...

...interesting discoveries...

...adventure...

...experiments...

 ...manual labor...

Oops! How did THAT get in there?! ...ummm...



...and imaginative play...

Yeah, that's more like it...

And maybe, if I'm lucky (though I don't believe in luck), 

I'll have some moments like this:

The End.