1st Grade Homeschool (Roadschool) Curriculum 2015-2016

1st Grade Homeschool (Roadschool) Curriculum 2015-2016

One might assume that since I have already homeschooled one son for 5 years that I would have this homeschooling thing down pat.  Wrong!  I feel like a fish out of water when it comes to my 6-year-old who will be starting 1st grade.  It seems he came from a completely different mold than my first-born which includes him having a completely different learning style and a completely different personality.  For starters, I have to actually teach him.  Wait.  What?  A homeschooling mom who has to actually teach?  Oh, brother John.  ('Oh, Brother John' is my saying for when I feel exasperated).  My first-born, for some reason, was reading at the age of 3 all by himself.  No teaching required.  He was reading at a 3rd grade level at the age of 5.  Now at the age of 10, he's at a 10th grade level.  No wonder I thought, "Hey, I should homeschool him."  Because I knew it would be easy on my part!  Ha!  Now by no means, please do not read this as me saying that my 2nd born isn't a smart cookie because he absolutely is...he's actually too smart for his own good!  He is a very kinesthetic learner.  He does not enjoy 'doing school' or sitting or listening or following directions.  His math skills blow my mind because he somehow just 'knows' how to do math (like his brother just knew how to read).  He also loves, loves, loves to draw.  There are days he'll say, "Mommy, I feel like drawing" and he will churn out picture after picture after picture.  (My oldest HATED coloring/drawing).  Reading, though, does not come naturally for him which makes him not enjoy it.  He is just like his daddy in this aspect because his daddy does not like to read AT ALL.  SO...this year, we will be focusing on reading big time which will probably involve multiple sources to starve off his boredom.  

(He collects rocks and loves 'creekin').

Math = Mathseeds; Singapore Math Level 1 or Spectrum Math Grade 2

Reading / Phonics = Reading Eggs; Phonics Pathways; Reading Kingdom

Social Studies = Scholastic News 1

Art = Art for Kids Hub youtube channel; Home Art Studio

Handwriting = ???

PE = Riding bike/scooter, walking/hiking, swimming

Science = Science Spin K-1; he will join in his hubby's chemistry experiments

Geography = Scholastic Map Skills 1

Life Skills = Learn to tie shoes; memorize phone number; dishes; laundry; cooking; etc.

Required Reading = This is just the beginning of a list.  Our goal is to read a book a day or at least 10 minutes a day.  He will get to pick his own books for pleasure reading.  

Charlotte's Web

Frog & Toad Are Friends

Mr. Popper's Penguins

A Bear Called Paddington

The Ralph Mouse Collection

The House That Jack Built

Inch by Inch

5th Grade Homeschool Curriculum for 2015-2016

5th Grade Homeschool Curriculum for 2015-2016

Fifth grade sounds so...so...so GROWN.   One day you are giving birth.  The next day you are planning out your 10-year-old's 5th grade curriculum!  Last year, we didn't do 'enough' language arts so this year it will be a big focus for us.  (I do use the words 'we' and 'us' because this homeschooling thing is a team!)  I will be making a separate blog post about my 1st grader's curriculum because... well...I haven't a clue what we're doing yet!  

(On a bus at the Grand Canyon)

(For those wondering, YES we are still living and traveling in our RV for the next year!)

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL WILL BE AUGUST 24TH!!

MATH = Teaching Textbooks 5 and Life of Fred (Ice Cream, Jelly Beans, Kidney, Liver, & Mineshaft)

HISTORY = Story of the World Level 3 Early Modern Times Audio

TYPING = Typing Ace

LANGUAGE ARTS = Essentials in Writing (finish Level 4, start Level 5)

VOCABULARY = Spectrum 5 and Vocabulary Cartoons

COMPREHENSION = Spectrum 5

SPELLING =  All About Spelling (we quit this curriculum almost 2 years ago so we are going to pick back up in the Level 3 to start)

HEALTH = The Boy's Body Book

ART = Art for Kids Hub channel on youtube and Home Art Studio DVD

PE = General play like riding bikes/scooters, swimming, hiking, etc.

HOME EC:  Laundry, Dishes, Making a Menu, Grocery shopping for ingredients for the menu he creates, Cooking the menu he creates, Food label reading (he has severe food allergies so this is a VERY important life skill for him!), Helping his dad empty the RV tanks, finances (all about budgets)

SOCIAL STUDIES / CURRENT EVENTS = CNN Student News, Scholastic News, TED Talks

SCIENCE = Noeo Science: Chemistry 2

FIELD TRIPS = Since we live/travel in our RV, we do lots and lots of field trips that cover history, science, PE, health, social studies, sometimes art, life skills, etc.  

READING:  Lots of reading!  Here's a list that I started for required reading (he will get to do his own picking of books he wants to read too):

The Indian in the Cupboard (he's just about finish with this one)

Treasure Island

The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings

Charlie & The Chocolate Factory

Old Yeller

Where the Red Fern Grows

The Secret Garden

Charlotte's Web

The Adventures of Robin Hood