Folks sometimes ask me which curriculum I use. They assume I buy a package deal from one of the big book sellers. I prefer to pick and choose from many of those big book sellers, in addition to using some resources that might not be as well known. It is great to be able to tailor the curriculum to each child's specific strengths and needs. But, it does take a bit more effort in gathering all the materials together, especially in finding them at a good price.
I had quite a lot of things left over for fourth grade from my older son. So, this saved me quite a lot. I still did a lot of customizing though. My fourth-grade son is very strong in math, critical thinking, and reading. He has a lot of trouble with handwriting and dreads creative writing. Well, at least he hates creative writing when it's a school assignment. He will write lots of stories in his free time, so I went with that this year. In the vein of Charlotte Mason, it's fine to leave the things that cause tears until the child is a bit older. This is why we stopped cursive writing after a month. We'll pick that back up again next year.
I had quite a lot of things left over for fourth grade from my older son. So, this saved me quite a lot. I still did a lot of customizing though. My fourth-grade son is very strong in math, critical thinking, and reading. He has a lot of trouble with handwriting and dreads creative writing. Well, at least he hates creative writing when it's a school assignment. He will write lots of stories in his free time, so I went with that this year. In the vein of Charlotte Mason, it's fine to leave the things that cause tears until the child is a bit older. This is why we stopped cursive writing after a month. We'll pick that back up again next year.
Math
These were all great materials. DS got halfway through the next year of math with the TT Math 5, so he will finish that next year. He also completed Math Analogies II and Balance Benders Beginning. Those were consumables so were already recycled a couple months ago. When he finished those, I bought The Basics of Critical Thinking, which he will finish next year.
Science
These are all great materials as well. They will all be for sale in a week. Only parts of the first chapter in the notebooking journal were completed. DS did not enjoy the journal. We read the astronomy book together--Charlotte Mason style. He enjoyed that, and I learned a lot as well!
English
I had planned to use Intermediate Language Lessons, but DS hated it. So, I scrambled and ordered the A Beka Language A, which was also a hit with my older son. I had the readers left over from my older son. The bindings are getting pretty worn on them. He also read lots of books from the library, all three of the Warriors series, as well as the Dawn of the Clans books, and listened to many classics on audiobook, courtesy of Kitsap Regional Library.
Most of these books were consumables, so will be recycled. But, I will be selling all the A Beka readers (right side), the Intermediate Language Lessons, Editor in Chief, and Reading Detective.
Most of these books were consumables, so will be recycled. But, I will be selling all the A Beka readers (right side), the Intermediate Language Lessons, Editor in Chief, and Reading Detective.
History
History was great this year because DS is a wonderful reader. He made it through the first seven books of the History of US series. I love to have the boys read biographies as well. I had a fancy custom reading list of books from the library for my older son when he did fourth grade. But, this year was busy for me, so I was grateful to lean on the Benge's for biographies. And, we used good ole dependable A Beka for our history spine text and geography. I also had him do the Modern Curriculum Press Maps, Charts, and Graphs. I think it was Level C. The cover has since torn off and gotten lost.
We are keeping the History of US series to finish it later. But, the Benge biographies are for sale. See which titles are available below.
We are keeping the History of US series to finish it later. But, the Benge biographies are for sale. See which titles are available below.
I am also selling this set of GeoPuzzles. It turns out that DS is not a fan of puzzles, so he only did each one a couple of times. They are like new. Each state/country is its own puzzle piece.
Bible
We finished the first Apologia worldview book: Who is God? DS said he really liked that book and found it very helpful. I had read it to him, with Charlotte Mason-style narration. So, I bought the second in the series: Who am I? We will finish that one next year, and I expect I'll be buying the third volume mid-year. I really recommend this worldview series. I gave the first volume to a friend.
My son did not like the Memoria Press Christian Studies IV, so that is for sale. Only one lesson has been completed in it.
The Switched-On Schoolhouse Bible 3 is also for sale.
We are keeping the Egermeier's because that book is a gem. I hope to read that to grandchildren some day!
The Benge biographies are for sale. They are excellent. I read those to him so I could hear them too! See them below.
My son did not like the Memoria Press Christian Studies IV, so that is for sale. Only one lesson has been completed in it.
The Switched-On Schoolhouse Bible 3 is also for sale.
We are keeping the Egermeier's because that book is a gem. I hope to read that to grandchildren some day!
The Benge biographies are for sale. They are excellent. I read those to him so I could hear them too! See them below.
Electives
DS loved the A Beka music (which is a consumable) and has asked to continue with Theory II next year (do you have one to sell me?). I asked him if he wanted to start taking piano lessons with Debbie Valenta like his big brother, but he says he wants to concentrate on the flutaphone for another year. Yes, he was very serious about his flutaphone. God bless little boys who are content with staying little boys for a while.
The Rosetta Stone was not a hit. DS found it confusing. It is for sale and includes everything except the headphones and free 3-month online subscription.
Both the art and the health books are for sale. The health book is a consumable, but we did it orally. So, it is still like new.
The Rosetta Stone was not a hit. DS found it confusing. It is for sale and includes everything except the headphones and free 3-month online subscription.
Both the art and the health books are for sale. The health book is a consumable, but we did it orally. So, it is still like new.
Wow, is this year really almost over? This was an amazing year. I worked in the evenings as a copyeditor and was running outside on breaks to do farm chores during the day, so school had to run smoothly. And, it did!
We just did our annual academic testing that is required under law for the state of Washington. I chose the Terra Nova again this year. I haven't gotten the results back yet. But, I did snoop through the boys' answers. I got a good idea how they did by comparing what they wrote down to what I would have chosen as the answer. I actually had tears in my eyes when I saw that DS got 100% in language mechanics. Do you know what that means? Editor Melinda can someday become Editor Melinda and Son!
We just did our annual academic testing that is required under law for the state of Washington. I chose the Terra Nova again this year. I haven't gotten the results back yet. But, I did snoop through the boys' answers. I got a good idea how they did by comparing what they wrote down to what I would have chosen as the answer. I actually had tears in my eyes when I saw that DS got 100% in language mechanics. Do you know what that means? Editor Melinda can someday become Editor Melinda and Son!
Academic testing in a pleasant environment. NO Common Core SBAC tests at this home!
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