American Sign Language

Though we have tried each year to incorporate ASL into our home learning, I've found it a challenge to teach it. Despite the fact that we have some really good books on the topic. Or maybe the challenge has been her retention of what signs she's learned. Probably, a little of both.

This year, we will be tackling it again, in a much more fun way.

A few months ago, I found a really awesome deal on Signing Time videos. I think they were half off, if memory serves. Whatever it was, it was a deep, deep discount. I know that my daughter LOVES Rachel & her songs, because we've seen her performing them on our favorite kids' channel. So after some discussion, we went ahead and jumped on it, purchasing both Series One and Series Two sets.

We haven't begun the year just yet, altho she's already begun watching these videos. Yep... what she's learned has stuck! She & I often sign (as much as we know so far) when the baby is sleeping :-) And she thinks it's the neatest thing, this new little 'code' of ours. So, we definitely think it's time to incorporate ASL back into our official home learning.

Social Studies

We worked ourselves halfway through our Beginner's Geography workbook last year, and we will be picking up where we left off this year. Along with that, we will be our ecclectic selves & also study how to make maps, and work regularly with our puzzle map of the United States. This is one subject I plan to play very much by ear. At some point in the school year, I may have her do reports on each state - but since I have some starter material for Social Studies, I am going to give this one some more thought. Of course, we'll also learn lots & lots with the Sonlight materials, as well.

Science - More Sonlight! & Our Amazing "Let's Read & Find Out" Library

We'll be really delving into the Science this year. In previous years, it was an 'as desired' focus, but this year, it will become a full fledged subject. To this end, we're keepin' it ecclectic... we'll be using Sonlight's Science, as well as our existing "Let's Read & Find Out" science books. We have most of them, already... plenty to keep us learning & loving Science!

Horizons Math 2

I considered Math-U-See, if I'm to be completely honest, but only because I've heard such raving reviews about the program.

Since we invested so much into the Sonlight, tho, we decided against it. Instead, we will continue on with Horizons Math. It has been good in my book, so far, even if a little bland. However, Sonlight offers Horizon Math as one of its choices, as well as an accompanying manipulative set. So I went ahead and purchased the manipulatives, as well. Michaela always seems to enjoy learning more whenever there is a 'hands-on' component to a lesson, so I anticipate Math becoming less tedious for her with the manipulatives, and hopefully, more fun to learn.

Sonlight Core B with 2nd grade Readers & Language Arts

We are beyond tickled that we'll be making some changes to our curriculum this year. Going into 2nd grade, we will be using Sonlight!

Having used Alpha Omega's Horizons curriculum for the previous two grades, we were finally in a position to switch to the curriculum we'd have chosen, had finances allowed. We've been pleased with all Michaela has learned by our using Horizons; we just love reading A LOT around here, and Sonlight is literature-based learning.

Sonlight's Core curricula come with a Language Arts portion, so we will be utilizing that; however, having heard some mixed reviews on it as a stand-alone in teaching LA, we chose to supplement it with both Wordly Wise & Explode the Code workbooks, as well. Later in the year, I am strongly considering adding Shurley English to the mix, but I want to get started in the new year and see how that goes first. This curriculum being new to us, I want to play it by ear before making further curriculum purchases.

Introduction

Looking forward to our third formal year of homeschooling, we are making many changes this year. From curriculum, to homeschooling our 2nd grader with a new baby in the family, our minds and hearts delight to think of all we will be learning this year!