A Stable Beginning: Home School Navigator: Home School Navigator Reading and Language Arts Curriculum ~ a TOS review

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Home School Navigator: Home School Navigator Reading and Language Arts Curriculum ~ a TOS review

A few weeks ago I needed to go a different direction with our language arts studies. Nothing drastic, but I needed a little break because I was getting overwhelmed with everything life was throwing at me. God is good when He sends a program that will help you get over a “slump”. For the past few weeks, Montana (5th grade) and McKenzie (2nd grade) have been using the Indigo and Yellow Levels of Home School Navigator Reading and Language Arts Curriculum from Home School Navigator.

We received access to Home School Navigator for one year and it filled the need I had when I was overwhelmed. This program takes the worry out of teaching reading, writing, and grammar for my elementary aged students. One of the best features of this program is that it doesn’t label students based off grade, because we all know that different students work at different abilities. Instead, they have labeled each of the six levels of their program by color. The levels include: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and indigo. Here is a reference guide to choosing a level:

• RED: Letter recognition and formation. (Approx. K)

• ORANGE Reading simple words and sentences and beginning to write. (Approx. 1st grade)

• YELLOW Reading simple stories and can write complete sentences. (Approx. 2nd grade)

• GREEN Can read short chapter books and is writing longer passages. (Approx. 3rd grade)

• BLUE Reading chapter books and is writing in paragraph form. (Approx. 4th grade)

• INDIGO Can read longer chapter books, critique ideas and write longer pieces of writing. (Approx. 5th grade)

You can take a look at the scope and sequence HERE.

Home School Navigator Reading and Language Arts Curriculum {Home School Navigator Reviews}

Each level of the Home School Navigator course includes:

~ 36 weeks of instruction

~ 60 instructional videos

~ Daily lesson plans that include reading, writing, poetry, and a word study program with a word wall ~ Engaging activities that cater to multiple learning styles

~ Portfolio

~ Interactive Notebooks

At the beginning of the program we had access to all levels for both of the girls. Choosing a level to start with was easy for McKenzie but a little more challenging for Montana. While Montana is an avid above level reader she still needs a little more work on the mechanics of language arts. I ended up starting and keeping both girls at their appropriate grade levels the program recommends. Logging them on and setting up their accounts was really simple. I just logged in myself and then set up a user name and password for their separate accounts.

Two days a week the girls would log into their account and complete a section of the work required for the day. Some days that included watching a video and other days it required Montana to do some reading. Everything you need for this comprehensive program is right at your fingertips! Well, actually you need to supply the literature but those can be found in your local library if not on your own bookshelf. We actually did not have the Holes book Montana was scheduled to read, but a quick trip to the library filled that need.

Overall, we have enjoyed using this language arts curriculum. It came at the right time when I needed a change of pace and still kept my girls learning at the level I strive to teach them at. Did it work perfectly for both of my girls? No, but it filled the need we had. Montana is not much of a computer learner, she does better with pencil and paper. On the other hand, McKenzie is an excellent computer learner so this program was a better fit for her. I plan to have McKenzie use the program throughout the summer.

Be sure to check out what my CrewMates thought of this program by clicking the banner below.