Homeschooling for the first time is a scary and daunting task. I wanted something easy for me to teach that didn't require lots of my time to prepare but still was content rich and engaging. I wanted something fun that would make my kids want to learn and inspire them to love learning again.
With one child who has multiple learning disabilities and the other who has school based Anxiety I knew my work would be cut out for me. I painstakingly searched the web for anything and everything I could think that might help. I reached out to friends and strangers who've done this before and knew the great tips and tricks. I left no stone unturned in my pursuit for the best curriculum for our family.
I finally made my decision. We went with the company Timberdoodle. They don't print their own curriculum which I actually really like because they carefully search out the best of the best that is out there and create amazing curriculum kits with everything you could think of and more for all grade levels. It was the only one I found that included games, Art, STEM/STEAM and Critical Thinking curriculum.
This year we decided to do a majority of their school work independently and come together for just a few subjects. Coming from the public school I wanted the chance to really get to work with them and find out where they are and how best to help them reach their potential. They both thrive with one to one interaction and with the games and other fun activities I can bounce back and forth seamlessly and we still get done faster than public school. We do come together for morning read aloud time and a few items here and there especially Science. Having two Science curriculums means a science project almost everyday.
While a schedule is our life's blood we try not to over schedule. We school the same hours Monday through Thursday 8-1 and leaving Friday's for fun and field trips. We rotate our subjects because sometimes your just not in the mood for something at the same time everyday. Letting them get to pick the next thing we do gets them excited to finish and be able to do the next thing sooner. We still have a set amount of things we must finish but it doesn't matter how we get it done just that we got it done.
Drum roll Please Time To Announce Our Curriculum Choices
Not all of these came from Timberdoodle but almost all did. Not all of these are used everyday. In addition to the below listed items we subscribe to Little Passports U.S. and World editions.
M~7th Grade
When he grows up he wants to be You-tuber
Language Arts:
He has a few extra LA materials to help with the dysgraphia and to try and catch up on some skills he needs as he gets closer to high school.
Math:
Dot to dot really helps with his spacial awareness and motor skills for his Dysgraphia. -
Critical Thinking:
History/Geography:
Items with an * are in his sisters curriculum that he enjoys joining her on the lesson.
Science:
STEM/STEAM:
Art:
Hey Clay Bugs
Learning Tools:
Mixed By Me Glow Thinking Putty - Review coming soon
A~4th Grade
When she grows up she wants to be a professional dancer and a dance teacher.
Language Arts:
Not all of these are done everyday.
Math:
Critical Thinking:
History:
Geography:
Science:
STEM/STEAM:
Art:
Learning Tools:
It seems a little much all written out like this, but we don't do it all in one day and most of the textbook/workbook lessons are only one or two pages. We have done reviews on a few items and have plans to have it all reviewed by the end of the year. So far we have liked everything we have done but there are some favorites already.