This year we are branching out in our homeschooling curriculum.  For the past two years (my first two as a homeschooling Mom!) we have used My Father's World K and 1st grade.  I've enjoyed the curriculum but I felt that this year it would serve our family better to piece together our own curriculum.  Here is a run down of my plans (as always, they might change... even half way through the year! Ha)

Reading/Phonics

Rocket Phonics
I attended a conference and curriculum fair in May and picked up this curriculum.  I am very excited about using it.  J & A will both be using it at different levels.  One of the things that I most love about the curriculum is that it's a continuous approach.  There is no "1st grade, 2nd grade" segregation.  It is made to pick up where you need it and work from there.  It's packed with games and designed for the active child.   I was able to meet and speak to the couple who wrote the curriculum and have already been receiving weekly emails from them with additional ideas to include in our learning! 

Abeka Readers
Jocelyn will be using these along with library books in her appropriate reading level

Explode the Code
These books have been highly recommended to me.  I plan to add them in here and there to give us some variation from what we are doing. 

Daily Read Aloud
I pick some quality books that are above my children's reading level.  They lay on their beds while I read.  It's that simple.  It's fun and we all love it! 

Handwriting

Weekly letter writing
We live far away from family and my kids love to make stuff for them.  I'm *hoping* to use this time to teach them better handwriting.  (maybe at the end of the year I can ask their grandmothers if they improve!)

Creative Writing
We will use some composition books that I got.  They are made with half of the page for a picture and the other half lined for writing.  I plan to have the kids begin to write some (very short) stories! 

Math

Miquon
I have chosen to use Miquon math for both J&A this year.  They worked together on math for most of last year so I anticipate that they will be working at a similar level again.  Miquon is a very hands on approach.  They use cuisenaire rods for visual understanding of the facts.  I want to give the kids a solid understanding of exactly what the math problems mean so that they are equipped to solve them.  We will also be adding in games to drill math facts.

Bible
Family bible time
We will use children's Bibles for reading time.  Each of the children have their own journal for writing/drawing pictures of what we talked about.  We will also add in scripture memorization throughout the year. 

History
Beautiful Feet Early American History
I'm excited about this curriculum!  I love reading and I love history.  This brings the two together.  We will be doing the "primary" curriculum but I plan to add in some read aloud from the "secondary" list as well. 

Science
Abeka Science grade 1&2
We will read these text books.  I will also add in some drawing/writing about what we are learning about.  My kids are also VERY good about getting interested in science topics and checking out every book in the library on the topic!  I am very open to following their science interest throughout the year.  I usually cover "health" topics in with science too. 


That pretty much sums up our curriculum.  Arts and crafts will be added with things that are appropriate to the time of year/what we are learning about.  PE in the fall will be soccer for A, Dance for J. 

I'm excited about starting the school year.  I love the routine that it adds to our days and I love learning with my children! 

Today was "Thanksgiving" for our family.  Ryan is working six days a week currently, so we decided to celebrate on a day that he would be able to relax and enjoy it!  It was a fun day overall.  I kicked it off by making stuffing first thing this morning.  (don't worry- I made coffee first!)  Since our guest list had grown drastically in the last few days, I had purchased a 7 lb. turkey breast in addition to our 14 lb. turkey.  Stuffing both of these meant that I needed to have turkey in the oven ALL day long! 

We enjoyed family time during the day while the turkeys were cooking.  We played a game, we picked up together, we cooked together and talked about things that we are thankful for! 

Around 5 our guests started to arrive.  New friends pitched in with finishing dinner and entertaining the baby.  The finishing touches are the hardest part of a turkey dinner in my opinion.  Potatoes need to be mashed at the same time as turkey needs to be carved at the same time that gravy needs to be made!  It's a little nutty, but it went better this time than it has before! 

In all, we had 16 people here for dinner (4 were my children!).  Those 16 sure were hungry, though.  The leftovers are just enough for a meal for our family.  We also have more than enough pie.  One of our guests brought two extra pies!  Guess what I'm eating for breakfast! 

I am so thankful for the chance to share our celebration this year! 

I have had a few requests recently for recipes.  Here are a few of my favorite crock -pot recipes. 

 

Rotisserie Chicken

 

The credit for this recipe doesn’t go to me.  I copied it down from someone’s blog. (Rochelle, was it you?)  It is GREAT!  My family loves it! 

 

 

1 whole chicken, (4-5 pounds)

2 tsp salt

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp black pepper

4 whole garlic cloves

1 yellow onion, quartered

Olive or coconut oil

In a bowl, combine all of the dried spices. Rub oil on the bird to coat it then the spice mixture all over, inside and out. Put the bird breast-side down into the crock pot. Put 4 whole garlic cloves and a quartered onion inside the bird. Do not add water. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 8. The meat is done when it is fully cooked and has reached desired tenderness. The longer you cook it, the more tender the meat.

 

Sloppy Joe

 

This is an easy and popular crowd pleaser! 

 

16 oz. ground beef or turkey

½ c. chopped onion

8 oz. can tomato sauce

½ c. salsa (I like Medium chunky salsa)

1 T. brown sugar

 

In a skillet brown meat and onion.  Add tomato sauce, salsa and brown sugar.  Simmer at least 20 minutes.  Serve on hamburger buns.

 

*alternate method*  Brown meat and onion.  Transfer to a crock pot.  Add tomato sauce, salsa and brown sugar.  Cook on low for several hours.  Serve on hamburger buns. 

Meatball Stew

 

This is a recipe that my Mom made frequently in the fall and winter months.  It makes me think of family togetherness.

 

4 c. diced potatoes

2 c. chopped celery

1 c. chopped onion

2 c. chopped carrots

1 ½ lbs ground beef

1 c. mushrooms (I omit this!)

1 tsp salt

1 T. flour

1 T. tomato soup

 

Mix ground meat and salt, flour and soup.  Shape into meat balls.  Brown in skillet.  Place meat balls and veggies in crock pot.  Pour remaining tomato soup and 1 c. water over everything.  Season with salt and pepper and cook on low 6-8 hours. 

 

 

Chile

 

This recipe comes from my mother in law.  It’s a great crowd pleaser.  The spice level seems to be good for most people.  I enjoy it hotter, but my kids like it this way! 

 

2 lbs ground beef

½ bag frozen chopped onion (about 1 medium)

2 cloves garlic

¼ c. chile powder

½ tsp cumin

2 tsp. salt

2 lg. cans petite diced tomatoes

1 lg. can tomato sauce

4 small cans kidney beans

 

Brown beef in a skillet with onion and garlic.  Sprinkle chile powder on meat while it is cooking.  Add remaining ingredients Fill empty Tomato sauce can with water and add to pot.  Simmer at least 20 minutes.

 

Alternate method*  After browning beef, onion and garlic, transfer to a crock pot.  Add remaining ingredients and heat on low. 

 

Pizza Beans

 

This is another classic from my Mom.  It’s yummy, healthy and very inexpensive to make!

1 lb. dried pinto beans

6 c. water (enough to cover beans)

1 lg. can diced tomatoes

1 chopped onion

1 chopped green pepper

2 cloves garlic minced

2 tsp. salt

½ tsp. oregano

¼ tsp. rosemary

1 c. mozzarella cheese

¼ c. parmesan cheese

 

Soak beans in 6 c. water overnight in a large pot.  Bring to a boil for 2 minutes.  Let stand an hour.  Drain.  Mix everything BUT the cheese in a crock pot.  Add 2 c. water.  Cook 8-10 hours in crock pot.  Add cheeses and cook uncovered on high for an additional 20 minutes.