Tentative Plans for 2011/12

We are moving back to Ohio in a few months. We've been in TN for 4 years and I am really going to miss it. Not to mention all of the new friends and loved ones that we will miss dearly!

I've only ever blogged in TN. I know that seems silly, but it will be a different experience. =) In my very first post I discussed why I preferred to homeschool in TN, so I won't go there again.

One thing that I absolutely loathe is preparing a Letter of Intent and Curriculum Outline. I only had to do it once, and we moved to TN before it was time for evaluations. Anyway, I'm done with that now and would like to share the outline. If you homeschool in Ohio please comment. (As a side note, I copied and pasted all of the descriptive info.)

        I.                     I. My Father’s World: Exploration to 1850 (www.mfwbooks.com)

a.       BIBLE

                                                               i.      Study the book of James using Boy, Have I Got Problems! (Harvest House Publishers) and memorize verses from James.

                                                             ii.      Be inspired by the stories of Christians from the past using Trial and Triumph (Canon Press) and In God We Trust (Chariot Victor Publishing), which focuses on the godly faith and character of early Americans.

b.      HISTORY and GEOGRAPHY

                                                              i.      Study world and U.S. history from the early European explorers of North America through 1850.

1.      The Last 500 Years (Usborne Books)

2.      George Washington’s World (Beautiful Feet Books)

3.      The Story of the World, Vol. 3 (Peace Hill Press)

                                                            ii.      Learn about U.S. presidents and U.S. geography with a brief trip through all 50 states.

                                                          iii.      Enjoy simple hands-on projects, map work, and timeline.

                                                           iv.      Study your own state (the final 4-6 weeks of the year) as you learn how to write a research paper.

3. SCIENCE

                                                              i.      Explore the world of plants and animals from a Christian perspective. Includes an introduction to taxonomy.

1.      Exploring Creation with Botany (Apologia Educational Ministries)

2.      The World of Animals (Answers in Genesis)

3.      The World of Animals (Parragon Publishing)

                                                            ii.      Focus on nature journaling in your local area as you study state history at the end of the school year.

4. ART and MUSIC

                                                              i.      Enjoy hands-on projects related to history.

                                                            ii.      Sing the great hymns of our faith and learn their stories, coordinated with this year’s history study, using Then Sings My Soul (Thomas Nelson).

                                                          iii.      Music appreciation lessons review music history and focus on Schubert, Mendelssohn and Chopin.

2. PHYSICAL EDUCATION and HEALTH
1. Daily exercise routine
2. Outdoor play
3. Instruction on Health basics (including, but not limited to, hygiene, first aid, safety and fire prevention.
3. MATH
1. Saxon Math 6/5 (Saxon Publishing) - advanced divisibility concepts; multiplication; integers; prime and composite numbers; powers; roots; probability; statistics; patterns and sequences; geometry and measurements; and ratios
2. Primary Math 4A (Singaporemath.com Inc.) - whole numbers, numbers to 100,000; rounding off numbers, factors, multiples, multiplication and division with 2-digit numbers and by 10; adding, subtraction, mixed and improper fractions; graphs, angles, perpendicular and parallel lines, area and perimeter and more.
3. Primary Math 4B (Singaporemath.com Inc.) - decimals to the thousandths; four operations of decimals; measures; solid figures; volume and more.
4. Primary Math 2A (Singaporemath.com Inc.) - numbers, comparing, and place value to 100, addition and subtraction with/without renaming, measuring length in meters, centimeters, yards, feet and inches, measuring weight in kilograms, grams, pounds, ounces, multiplication and dividing by 2 and 3.
5. Primary Math 2B (Singaporemath.com Inc.) - mental addition and subtraction, multiplying and division by 4, 5, and 10, money (US currency), fractions, time, capacity, geometry and area.
4. LANGUAGE ARTS (Including: GRAMMAR, READING, SPELLING and WRITING)
1. Learning Language Arts Through Literature – Tan (Common Sense Press) – spelling, reading, grammar, composition, research and study skills, higher order thinking skills, creative expression and penmanship
2. Learning Language Arts Through Literature – Purple (Common Sense Press) – spelling, reading, grammar, composition, research and study skills, higher order thinking skills, creative expression/games, penmanship
3. Learning Language Arts Through Literature – Red (Common Sense Press) – phonics, spelling, reading, grammar, composition, research and study skills, higher order thinking skills, creative expression/games, penmanship

We will be using the internet and library books for all subjects.