Here it is, coming down to the wire with less than a week before the “official” start of school, our 2010-2011 Homeschool Curriculum. Over the next few months I will be discussing in greater detail, why we do what we do, and how it works for our family. This list is always changing and doesn’t include any of the supplemental reading books we will use over the next year. To keep updated on what we are reading check out the Amazon widget in the sidebar as it will change weekly with our current reading list. Almost every book is a link that you can click on and find out more about that curriculum, look inside the book, or even purchase. If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments or email me.
Our 2010-2011 Homeschool Curriculum
4 Year Old Girl
- Slow and Steady Get Me Ready
- Rod and Staff Preschool Workbooks
- Get Ready for the Code, Book A
- Get Set for the Code Book B ,
- Go for the Code, Book C
6 Year Old Girl
Bible
- The Original 21 Rules of This House
- Discovering Jesus in Genesis: Covenant Promises for Covenant Kids
- Training Hearts, Teaching Minds
Language
- Phonics Museum Combo Kit from Veritas Press
- Explode the Code, Book 2
- Handwriting Without Tears: My Printing Book
Math
History
- Pilgrims (co-op)
Science
- Great Science Adventures: Discovering the Ocean
Art
8 Year Old Boy (delayed reader)
Bible
- The Original 21 Rules of This House
- Discovering Jesus in Genesis: Covenant Promises for Covenant Kids
- Training Hearts, Teaching Minds
Language Arts
Explode the Code
Math
History
- Pilgrims (co-op)
Science
- Great Science Adventures: Discovering the Ocean
Art
10 Year Old Boy
Bible
- The Original 21 Rules of This House
- Discovering Jesus in Genesis: Covenant Promises for Covenant Kids
- Training Hearts, Teaching Minds
Language
- Caddie Woodlawn
- Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
- My Side of the Mountain
- From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Math
History
- Pilgrims (co-op)
Science
- Great Science Adventures: Discovering the Ocean
Art
- Co-op
Music
- Piano Lessons
9th Grade (Boy)
Bible
- Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World
- Dug Down Deep: Unearthing What I Believe and Why It Matters
- Ultimate Proof of Creation
- Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations
Language Arts
- Mythology/ Classic Literature Co-op (1/2 credit)
- Grammar/ Vocab/ Writing (1/2 credit)
- Advanced Winston Grammar Set
- Wordly Wise 3000, Grade 9, 2nd Edition
- Teaching Writing: Structure and Style–10 DVD’s and Workbook
Math
- Teaching Textbooks Algebra 2 Kit (1 credit)
Science
- Exploring Creation with Physical Science (1 credit)
History
- Abeka Geography (1/2 credit)
- Teen Pact (¼ credit)
Electives
- Foundations in Personal Finance (½ credit)
- PE (½ credit)
- Typing (½ credit)
Foreign Language
11th Grade Girl
Bible
- Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World
- Dug Down Deep: Unearthing What I Believe and Why It Matters
- According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible
- Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ
Language Arts
- Mythology / Classic Literature Co-op (1/2 credit)
Math
- Teaching Textbooks Pre-Calculus Kit (1 credit)
Science
History
- Abeka American History (1 credit)
- A Patriot’s History of the United States: From Columbus’s Great Discovery to the War on Terror
- Streams of Civilization Vol. 2: Cultures in Conflict Since the Reformation
- The Timetables of History: A Horizontal Linkage of People and Events
Foreign Language
- First Form Latin (1/2 credit)
Electives
- Piano (½ credit)
- Foundations in Personal Finance (½ credit)
- PE (½ credit)
- Teen Pact (¼ credit)
I am new to homeschooling. We have a 7 yr old girl, a 4 yr old girl, and a 2 yr old boy. I just found your blog and plan to follow you very closely so that I can try to learn something! Thanks for your list. While we purchased Alpha Omega LIFEPAC this year (just to be easy) I will probably supplement with some of the ones on your list! Great materials!
Thank you for always sharing your curriculum choices each year! I love to look at them and get ideas! I am so excited about the Dave Ramsey Foundations in Personal Finance class as well as the Teen Pact! I hadn’t seen either of those before! You are amazing!
Most of your curriculum looks similar to mine. You’ve got some really good books scheduled. Loved Do Hard Things. And my oldest son took the Dave Ramsey finance class at co-op. It was excellent and he enjoyed it too.
I am super excited about the Dave Ramsey class! I have been prepping for it and it looks like some great stuff!
Toni
REALLY REALLY – Not trying to open a can o’ worms, but..I’ve always been curious why some families choose to home school. Is it more for religious education purposes maybe it started with a child that needed more specialized education? It seems like home schooling is something I see larger families do more often. I have two boys and have no plans to home school – I am not a natural teacher and I also work full time outside of the home. We do happen to live about 4 miles from the elementary school and are zone for the best schools in our state.
There are lots of reasons why families choose to homeschool. Often it’s for excellence in education. We decided many years ago that homeschooling was the way to go for us. For our family, the primary reason we will homeschool is because of discipleship. The person who is with my child for most of the day will be discipling my child. I want that person to be me, since I have a heart for the Lord and a passion for holiness. I can’t guarantee that my children’s teachers can say the same. My goal is to educate my children well, but primarily I want their hearts to be inclined to the Lord, and I feel that the best way to reach this outcome (for our family) is by homeschooling. Additionally, I feel that as a parent, it’s my job to create a greenhouse within my home. I want to build firm roots in my children so that, when they do go out in the world, they will be solid in their faith and in their knowledge of the Word of God. I don’t want to put them out there when their roots are weak, but when they are strong and can handle the rough weather.
I don’t feel that homeschooling is for everyone, but we’ve prayed about it for years and know that it is for us, when the time comes.
So well put! Discipleship is the number 1 reason I will be homeschooling my child (and any future children I have!).
I could probably write for 3 straight days about the reasons we homeschool. It’s a long list! One is certainly because of our faith (and I would hazard a guess that the majority of homeschoolers are probably Christian). But aside from that, there is a lovely natural curiousity that can be nurtured at home, many argue, better than it can be in a classroom setting with 30 other kids. We learn from all ages, instead of those who were born between October and September. We do our math when the kids are most open to learning it, instead of when it’s convenient for the teacher. We learn more in a shorter period of time because of the one-on-one, which means more time to play and develop other interests. I often have one boy do his printing in his wagon while the other takes his spelling up a tree. We can gear the learning to the needs of the child, unlike a teacher that has no choice but to teach to the norm, when really most kids fall on either side of the norm. As an added bonus, we can travel any time of year and don’t have the issues of schoolyard bullies.
Fact is, learning is all around us, every day so we choose to leverage it and let it take us away. This way, the kids tend to retain more of what they are learning, because it’s something they were interested in, in the first place. Last year, they wanted to know more about Amelia Earhart, so as a result, we learned parts of a plane, geography, history, a bit on women’s rights, etc. They soaked it up.
I’ve been at it about 6 years now. The only negatives I can find are the ones that have to do with me. It’s more work for ME. I get less time for ME. But that is so worth it in our view for our kids will be out of the house before we know it. We are raising natural learners and critical thinkers who have a love of Christ and are able to interact well with pretty much anyone.
Of course, it’s not for everyone. But it sure has been fantastic for our family and for all the other homeschooling families I know. I hope this sheds some light for you.
Your comment “We are raising natural learners and critical thinkers who have a love for Christ and are able to interact well with pretty much anyone.” is spot on! That, in a nutshell, is what I am seeking. It has been on my heart for about 6 months. Thank you for your insight.
I kept waiting for your list to end. After the fourth child was listed, I knew it would end at some point, but it kept going and going! =) I didn’t realize you had 6 kids. Glad you guys are blessed with such a large family! I look forward to homeschooling my own one day, but we’re at the very beginning of family life, with one 19 month old and another baby on the way in 6 months.
Or is it 7?? Wow! Love that!
Oh the flood of memories that came when I read that Caddie Woodlawn is on your list. It was the first ‘big book’ I read as a kid and I LOVED it. I’ll have to pick it up at the library and reread it for fun, or better yet, read it to my daughters.
This is so good – thank you! I will be starting homeschooling this school year and reapply appreciate your list. Another book I’d like to recommend for middle school aged children is called, “Ben’s Big Bang Botheration,” by David Millette, who has just started a really good series called Today in Science Class. This book focuses on God as being the only creator of the universe. It’s a fiction read and so far my daughter is really loving it. For the first time she is interested in science and I like how this book does just a great job of presenting Biblical concepts.
Wow! That’s a lot of planning. I stress out over just 1 child! This year, for my 8 year old (3rd grade), dyslexic, delayed reader, ds, we will be using:
History Odyssey Middle Ages-level 1
REAL Science Odyssey Chemistry-level 1
Teaching Textbooks Math 3
First Language Lessons 3
Minimus Latin
Rosetta Stone German
Winter Promise Knights of the Square Table Chess
Violin lessons
We start next Monday!
We start on Monday too! I am impressed you are doing Latin and German! I have looked at the First Language Lessons, it looks like an excellent curriculum.
Toni
This line up looks great. Lots of learning planned. We just recently got the book worldliness and have been enjoying it tremendously.
It’s always fun and interesting to see the curriculum choices of other families. One of the things I love about homeschooling is being able to adjust our choices to suit interest, skill level and what our family schedule is for the year (some years/months are crazier than others with traveling). And you can never have too much together time as a family. Time is so fleeting!
I just had to say that your name “MarshaMarshaMarsha” really made me smile.
Wow! Bet you’re glad that’s done… What a great list! And always fun to see similar items that we have used/use/plan to use: Teaching Textbooks, Discovering Jesus in Genesis, Training Hearts Teaching Minds, Streams of Civilization, Sequential Spelling… Happy schooling!
I’m sitting down today and finishing up our class schedules, and lesson plan notebook. We gather our supplies and look through all our books together today (11th grade son) to start full steam ahead on Monday.
We won’t start up again until late Sept./ early Oct. but this week I’ve been spending some time on planning. I LOVE the planning part. I get all excited about the new things we’ll doing this year.
I know you use a lot of Abeka, but do you know anything about the Story of the World? It seems so great…
Have a great first week back!!
I understand wanting to have Bible classes, but I don’t agree with the creation science. I feel like those courses should stay purely scientific… but of course, everyone has their own opinion, and that’s just my own. Everyone has a right to homeschool their children the way they want.
Not to open a big debate here or anything, because you are right – everyone has their own opinion, but I personally will be teaching both creation science and evolution. Although I don’t believe in evolution, I think it will be important for my child to know what is taught in public schools – so they can have intelligent debate when they get to college! A question for you – have you ever read about creation science? I have found that many people who discredit it’s scientific merits have never actually read about it. I hope this doesn’t come across snotty, that’s totally not how I mean it! I’m just curious
Oh no, your comment is great! I’m the one who’s sorry to have started this debate, hehe. I have read about creation science, and unfortunately, that’s the reason why I decided not to go with that path. I guess it’s mostly because I view scripture as very symbolic and don’t feel like it should be mixed with science. Again, just my view on the subject.
First I have to say, I love my father but he is not the brightest man. I love him dearly though. That said, he DOES have his moments and THEY are the ones that always stick with me!!!
I asked him once, when I was probably far too little to be asking such things, if he believed in creation or evolution. He sat quietly for a few minutes, which usually meant he was going to ignore my question, and then he said to me…
“Well, who’s to say what a “day” is to God?”
Confused, I pressed him a little further and he said to me…
“Maybe to GOD, a single day stretches over a thousand years. Maybe a LOT happened to the world in those seven days. You know…outside the protection of the garden.”
I LOVED THAT ANSWER!!!!! It gave me everything I could ask for in an answer! I have never forgotten it…it’s still, thirty years later, the best conversation we’ve ever had. At least, in MY opinion…he probably doesn’t even remember it. lol
I love your book choices! We will be starting our first year of homeschooling with my 5 year old daughter and I love getting ideas from more experienced homeschool moms. Thanks.
Last year we tried a business math course for my (11th grade at the time) niece, and it was terrible. It didn’t do what I wanted at all, which was to prepare her to handle her finances in real life. Yesterday I ordered Dave Ramsey’s Personal Finance course for homeschoolers and I am super excited! I have high hopes for it. We would love to use Teaching Textbooks as I have heard great things about them, but they are so expensive! Maybe one day. It sounds like your kids are going to have an exciting year ahead of them.
I think I remember a post you did in the past about how to save money on homeschooling supplies, but I was wondering (if you don’t mind me asking) how much is your budget for homeschooling? I am planning on homeschooling my little guy when he reaches that age, but I have no idea how much I should realistically plan on saving for school supplies (i.e. the curriculum). Also, how much are you able to recycle and use with your younger children? Lastly, at what age do you start “teaching” your kids with some curriculum. I mean, I know I am technically “teaching” my almost 2 year old now – ABC’s, new words, how to hold a crayon, etc….but when do you recommend actually trying to teach them something school related?
If you have a post or two (or more) that already cover this, feel free to point me in the direction of those instead of having to repeat yourself
Love, love, LOVE From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler!!
I also read Snow Treasure to them which is fantastic and perfect for boys… lots of intrigue. Maybe I’ll dig it up and drop it in the mail for you.. but we both know how good I am about THAT! 
I read it to the kids last spring.
Typing this I am realizing it is time for me to let M do the reading to the others.
How on earth do you fit all of that in?? I have both of my children, 10 year old boy, 5th grade (delayed reader), and 13 year old girl, 8th grade doing Total Language Plus, one question… for now, anyway.
) Why do you incorporate Worldy Wise, and Winston Grammar, and Sequential Spelling. How do you arrange your schedule to get all that packed in? Isn’t pretty much the same? I though TLP was a lit. program in itself. I like your line up of things, just curious of how it all plays out. THANKS!!!
For Bible I notice that the subjects listed are “books”, do you just have them read the book and do a report? Do you read the book as well and discuss? Please fill me in, I am interested in all the books you listed for your 9th grade boy
)
For Bible for the littler ones, you list 3 studies for each child. Do you start with one and finish it in its entirety before moving on to the next? A little from each one on different days?
Do you do all subjects everyday? How do you break up your week? Do you have a weekly schedule on your website? If not, could you post one?
)
Just found your site through Confestions of a Homeschooler. I have enjoyed reading so far. I was wondering if you could share some thoughts on yoru science curriculum for this year. We have been hs for 10years and i am moving from traditional individual subject books to more of a group teaching approach for my younger two. I did check out cbd regarding the Discovery Series. I noticed that they have about 9 books total, are you using one per year? Also, the product slideshow mentions “Lots of Liberary Science Books”. Is this a series or is it something that comes with the program. Any insite you could give me on this series would be greatly appreciated. I do value the comments of others, espeically of those who have several children
Have a blessed day.
I’m new to your blog and I’m very impressed! How do you find time to home school 6 kids, with a toddler, and keep up this fantastic blog you have? I have six kids ages 2 to 15 and I submitted to my husband’s counsel to place our 2nd and 4th graders back in school. He wanted our 8th grader home schooled and our 10th grader was already going to be home schooled. I do pre-school with my 4 year old who is begging for it. But my 2 year old – phew! Busy, busy, busy! Anyway, I’d be curious how you manage everything.
How do you determine which specific curriculums to use? We are new to homeschooling. My daughter will be in 10th grade in the fall and I have planned on using the Abeka accredited DVD program, but it seems lots of homeschool families use a variety of curriculums for each subject. I don’t even know where to begin to research which ones to use! Do you have any advice for me? I don’t know anything about any of them, other than most people I have talked to have recommended Abeka.
I am looking to start homeschooling, I could start this year with a pre K or wait till next year and start with K. My problem is… I have NO idea where to start!! There are some many curriculums out there, and I don’t know how to choose, how do I know what is required and what is not? I was leaning more towards AOP or Abeka because I have heard such great things, but I know they are very different. How did you decide on what you were going to use and why??
I am not sure how to start this comment
I am a teacher. I have taught middle school the past 7 years and LOVE it. I have a 3 year old boy (all boy!) and a 3 month old little girl. Madison (the little one) was born with a severe congenital heart defect. Madison has already had one heart surgery and will have another open heart surgery within the next 3 months (we are expecting Oct.) . Due to how much time I would have to miss due to surgeries AND the critical need to keep her healthy, I am staying home this year. My son Jack was in an awesome in home daycare, but he cannot be around other kids then come home to Madison. Plus, there is no need with me home (we could not pay for it anyway 
). ANYWAY, I love to teach and am already in withdraws. However, I am NOT an early childhood teacher. I teach pre-teens and teenagers. I looked at your list for your 4 year old girl and have looked at those websites for 3 year old materials. I did not see where I could find your list from last year. Do you have any suggestions for 3 year olds? I would really like to do something with him, as we also had to pull him from speech. He called speech “school” and is constantly asking to go back to class 
Poor guy – the past 3 months have held many changes for him.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Hi. I just found your blog and was reading your entry about why you wouldn’t continue using TT. Out of curiosity as to what you ended up choosing, I looked at your curriculum choices for this upcoming year and ….you have chosen TT. Can you tell me why? I am so conflicted about TT right now and would like a follow up on your situation.
Thanks
Alexie- I haven’t posted my curriculum for this year. I’m hoping to get it up by the end of the week. I am only using TT with one child (4th grade). My older kids are using Chalk Dust. I’ll explain more in a post.
Happy,
Did you do a seperate post on your new curriculum for this year, yet?
Just wondering if i missed it.
Toni,
Have you posted your 2011-2012 Curriculum picks yet? I would love to see them. We’re just starting out with homeschooling our 3 year old and soon our 14 month old will want to learn the alphabet. I love to see what experienced folks are doing.
Hello Toni,
I was looking for your new curriculum for the 2011-2012 school year. Actually, I was originally looking for your reading list you posted a couple of years ago for your oldest daughter. Do you have it on the site somewhere and I am missing it? Thanks for your time…