The 2010-2011 Homeschool Plan: Reading, Writing, Etc

It will probably come as no surprise to anyone that the first subjects I began researching and choosing for our school year were the ones I’m strongest in myself: reading, writing, spelling. I knew from very early on what I wanted these lessons to look like and what I hoped to accomplish, and right now I feel very confident in these particular choices.

Grammar: First Language Lessons, Levels One and Two 

This book is a complete grammar curriculum for grades one and two, and in reading through it it’s very similar to how Tony and I have been dealing with our kids since they first began talking.  Basically the theory is that you don’t ever allow kids to speak with improper grammar; if they say something wrong you correct them on the spot, because if they learn it now it’ll stick with them forever.  This book helps to incorporate actual grammatical rules (i.e. pronoun usage; nouns and verbs; distinguishing between full and incomplete sentences; etc) that are so essential (and so very lacking in so very many of the kids I know).

Writing:  Writing With Ease with accompanying workbook

I had the chance to flip through this book before purchasing it, and in the first chapter the theory behind teaching young children writing skills is spelled right out: first get them to think in words, and later to write them down – but not both together, because those are two different skill sets that can hinder each other’s development.  That philosophy really resounds with me, and I also love that the copywork is based off of classic works that have stood the test of time for being quality examples of “what right looks like”.   I hadn’t planned to purchase the workbook that can accompany this book, but after reading through it I’ve decided to do so, at least for this first year.  With getting my feet wet I’m going to want as much planned out for me as possible and that workbook will provide an entire year’s worth of activities that I’d otherwise have to plan out myself.  Actually, the textbook itself will provide me with the work for the first four years; I love that this relatively small investment will last me for eight solid years of teaching.

Although TWTM and Writing With Ease caution against mandating that children in these lower foundational grades do much free-form writing, Bear really enjoys composing stories and the actual process of writing.  I recently found this website that offers free downloadable PDF files for journaling pages.  I plan to have Bear keep a “Best Part” journal with this paper where she’ll write about the best part of her day, and then draw an accompanying picture.  She’s been doing exercises like this throughout the year for her kindergarten homework and loves it; I want to encourage her to continue with this.

Reading:  Various sources 

Because it resonates with me and my own style, I purchased The Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading which will teach me to teach Bear how to read with a phonics-based system.  The spelling program I’ve chosen (below) will be helping with this as well (it starts by teaching the phonograms), and I’ve also purchased the Bob Books, though she’s actually a bit beyond the first two sets already.  Mostly I plan to encourage her to read books at her level, and Tony and I will be reading to her from classic children’s novels (and letting her listen to others on tape).  My sister, Becca, sent me a link to a great website over a year ago that I never bothered looking at until last week, and which Bear and Bug both already love: starfall.com.  The free games and programs on that site will be a great reinforcement and learning tool for her, and will also help provide her with some technological skills.

Spelling: All About Spelling, Level 1

I chose this spelling program  after doing a lot of research. User comments about other programs that I considered paled in comparison to this one; I ended up going with it mostly because of all the positive feedback, both on the site itself (well, duh – what company is going to display all of its negative feedback?) and also on other websites that don’t have any kind of monetary interest or compensation in it.  What I also like is that this was a one-time purchase; when it’s Bug’s turn to go through this program I’ll already have everything we need, because there are no consumable workbooks or products.  Because it’s multi-sensory, I’m also pretty much guaranteed to have success with both Critters, no matter what their learning styles.

Handwriting:  Handwriting Without Tears

Bear’s already pretty strong in her handwriting skills.  She can write all the uppercase and lowercase letters with 90% accuracy and most of her numbers (though she still frequently reverses the number 9 to look like a ‘P’).  She’s dying to move onto writing in cursive, but she just hasn’t had enough practice with that yet, so we’re starting at the first grade level and can move up faster if she’s ready.

I didn’t really have a clue as to how to pick a handwriting program; I ultimately chose this one because my sister, Becca, said that’s the one her school district uses with their students.  If it works for them it’ll work for us, and it was very affordable.

*Disclaimer: Please note that every product I mention or link to is of my own volition.  I haven’t been asked to discuss or review any products, nor am I receiving any compensation for doing so. In fact, I’ve linked to all of these products’ main websites, but have made the majority of my purchases from other companies in order to make this more affordable for our family.  And now you know.