Hip, hip hooray, it's January and time to head back to school! I will say that only a few of my school age girlies are excited to hit the books again, but I know the rest will follow suit as soon as we get back into our groove. This year I am excited to be apart of the 2015 Virtual Curriculum fair hosted by Susan over at Homeschooling Hearts & Minds and co-hosted by Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses.
What's the Virtual Curriculum Fair? Well, it's a chance for you to take a glance at what others use within their homeschools all from the comfort of your home over the next few weeks in January. This week is all about Language Arts, so let's look into what we use at our house.
This year we have a Rhetoric (12th), Logic (8th), Upper Grammar (6th), Lower Grammar (2nd & JrK'er) and a tiny tot (7 months). Within the LA category we have five focus areas including phonics/reading, spelling, writing, grammar, and foreign language.
Phonics/Reading
For phonics this year with McKenzie, my JrK'er we are making our way back through the alphabet and solidifying the alphabet sounds with the help of "Let's Learn the Letters of the Alphabet" by Tweet Resources. Once we finish our alphabet round we will begin Ready2Read, level 1 for McKenzie. Montana, uses Explode the Code, books, 4-6 for 2nd grade. Once she finishes book 6 I do not have her finish out the last few books in the series.
For reading, all the girls use a different Sonlight Core. Currently, we are tackling Cores 500, 100, E, B, and PreK 4/5. I really enjoy all the quality literature that Sonlight offers for our family. Yes, five Cores is a lot and my voice does get rather sore from time to time from reading aloud, but it is so worth it! I should note that I am only reading Cores E, B & PreK 4/5 aloud as Marie and Madison read their books independently and we discuss accordingly.
Grammar & Spelling
We found Rod & Staff Grammar and Spelling in our second year of homeschooling and we have not looked back. I love this series for both Grammar and Spelling. Why? Because it is straight to the point without a lot of flashy pictures or distractions.
I start formal introduction of grammar in 2nd grade and we work on level through 10th grade. We normally start formal spelling in 1st grade and end the series in 7th grade because we work a level/grade ahead.
Foreign Language
As classical homeschoolers, we study Latin through 10th grade because I have seen the benefits of it in our other subjects and in our testing. For Latin we are currently using Song School Latin, the Latin for Children series, and the Latin Alive series from Classical Academic Press. I love CAP’s teaching style in learning Latin because my children are audio learners and having the vocabulary put to a chant/song makes it easier to remember and learn. In 9th grade we concurrently study Spanish for three consecutive years through Homeschool Spanish Academy.
I read an article in my Memoria Press magazine over Christmas break about why Latin is not an option. It spoke to me as a classical homeschooler and convicted me at the same time because I know that I have not put the best effort forward in seeing that our Latin studies for my younger girls gets done. Sigh! But, you know what? It’s a new year and today starts a new week of learning and making new habits!
Writing
I wish I could say that we have a writing program to use, but honestly we have been all over the place dabbling here and there with IEW, Write Shop, EIW and more. Several programs have met our needs at different times, however, I am looking to use a program from grammar through rhetoric stage. For now we will continue to dabble here and there and use what we have until next school year when we will settle on a program.
So, that’s it in a nutshell of our Language Arts endeavors. Please be sure to check out what the other participants of the Virtual Curriculum Fair are using by clicking through the links below.
Building a Foundation of Words by Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds
Language Arts for 2015 by Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses
Bible-Based Language Arts Resources by Tauna M @ Proverbial Homemaker
Relaxed Homeschooling: Language Arts in the Early Elementary Years by Brittney @ Mom's Heart
Loving Books and Words by Sarah@Delivering Grace
5 Language Arts Resources We Love by Becky @ Milo & Oats
Teaching Reading at Home: A Tale of 5 Readers by Kristen H. @ Sunrise to Sunset
A More Simplistic Approach to 7th Grade Language Arts by Christy @ Unexpected Homeschool
Language Arts Reading for Delight-Directed Learning by Susan @ The Every Day of Education
How To: Spelling Dictation by Heather @ Only Passionate Curiosity
The World of Words in our Homeschool by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
Unschooling and Words, Words, Words by Nicole @ Schooling in the Sun
Learning With Literature and Language Arts Resources by Leah @ As We Walk Along the Road
Words and More Words! by Michele @ FamilyFaithandFridays
Language Arts in Our Homeschool (2014 – 2015) by Laura O @ Day by Day in Our World
Our curriculum choices ~ Language Arts by Renata @ Sunnyside Farm Fun
The 2015 Virtual Curriculum Fair ~ Language Arts in Our Homeschool by Jennifer @ A Glimpse of Our Life
Loaded Pistols: Virtual Curriculum Fair Playing with Words by Lisa @ Golden Grasses
A Renewed Focus on Reading Aloud by Debra @Footprints in the Butter
Language Arts in our Classical / Charlotte Mason Homeschool by Sharra @ The Homeschool Marm
Logic of English Foundations: The Grand Prize Winner of Phonics by Chelli @ The Planted Trees
A Sentence a Day Teaches Grammar the Fun Way by Amy A @ One Blessed Mamma
Middle School Monday - Lightning Literature and Composition by Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break
The Great Grammar Discovery by Laura @ Four Little Penguins
Interested in joining the curriculum fair yourself? Click the linky below and sign up. I would love to read what you are using!
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