Curricula

I. Bible & History

• This year we are using Sonlight as the core of our home school studies. I am not 100% sold on the depth of what it teaches (I think Tapestry of Grace and Veritas explore and challenge on a deeper level), but I want, need, desire a plan spelled out for me with a what and when list. The Sonlight IG gives me exactly that and so far we are enjoying it more because I am less stressed. A less stressed mama teacher is a good thing. Actually, it is a must!
• In the past we have used Tapestry of Grace; it was the bulk of our curricula (or our core) as it includes History, Bible, Literature, Writing, Geography, Fine Arts. You can take or leave whatever parts you want making this curriculum your own. The first two years we used TOG I did not use the Writing Aids, but I started incorporating this into our plans the third year. Also some of the Bible lessons do not match up with our particular views (as we are more Reformed, not Fundamental) so we picked and chose and discussed the differences with our children. I think it is important that (the older) children learn of other views and beliefs, but we discuss the differences and why we believe the way we do. One could easily leave out all of the Bible, Writing, and Fine Arts aspects if they already had other curricula for these.
  Would you like to explore a free three-week sample of TOG Year 1 Curriculum or perhaps order a free disc? How about a TOG Year 2 free disc? Seriously. Who does not like free?
• Story of the World. Many of these are already included in Sonlight and TOG.
• Veritas Press – We use and love the History and Bible Cards.
• Knowledge Quest Maps – these are also the ones that TOG uses (and we were already using them).
• History Through the Ages by Homeschool in the Woods – Timeline books and figures. Absolutely beautiful work. Both Sonlight and TOG use these as the base for incorporating their geography and time line studies.

II. Math

• Math-U-See
• Wrap-Ups

III. Health & Science

• Apologia – Exploring Creation elementary series – some. Again, not everything lines up with our beliefs (again we are not fundamentalist in our views) but these are great for the younger crowd and we really like them.
• Apologia – Jr. High and High School

IV. Language Arts

• Spaulding Phonics / Spelling
• Handwriting (also known as modern manuscript)
• Handwriting Without Tears – especially for our child who has Cerebral Palsy. HWT is great for any child, but has proven to be the best handwriting teaching tool out there for any child with special needs, be they mental or physical.
• Easy Grammar – Grammar
• Writing Strands – Creative Writing
• Foreign Language – Latin for Children

Literature

• Literature – see below; both Sonlight and Tapestry of Grace incorporate good literature into their core programs, but there is a general list of basic literature we think all children need to read at age appropriate levels and so we add those in.

Preschool & Kindergarten

Grammar Stage

(the stage of fact absorption)
1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade

Logic Stage

(the stage of why)
5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade

Rhetoric Stage

(the stage of thought, speech, and speciality)
9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade