It’s that time of year again for us… time to get the next school year planned out. We finished up our 2022-2023 school year back in April and I’ve been busy gathering supplies and making schedules as I coordinate with everyone for vacations, holidays, and special trips that we have planned.

Last year was a bit of a whirlwind as everyone got readjusted to life at home. We also had another little one join us mid-year and that made things very interesting and kept me on my toes… he will be with us again this year so we can’t wait to see what the year will hold for everyone.

It is SO TEMPTING to take a few months off to just focus on this house but I know from past experience that this doesn’t go well and that it takes FOREVER to get a couple of the kids back into the school routine. You can read more about last year’s curriculum and routines HERE.

We had switched to Living Education Books from Master Books for our Language Arts and Math and we absolutely loved them but I decided to go back to some of our oldies but goodies books that we already had on hand for this year. We still have the Living Books and I may decide to switch back but I really wanted to try to simplify things just a bit. I also found some great workbooks to go along with these older books so I’m curious to see how they work out. If you want to see how we liked our curriculum from last year then check out this post HERE.

One of the biggest changes will be that little Ma’am will be joining us at the table for some of the lessons that she can participate in… she loves school and we try to include her as much as we can. I also have another post with activities that we use for little miss last year.

I’m also super excited to be using more of a Charlotte Mason-style approach this year. It’ll be interesting to see how everything plays out and how the kids react to this new method of learning. You can look up Simply Charlotte Mason on YouTube for lots of helpful information or check out their site for TONS of FREE resources and helpful tips! I’ve recently some more wonderful FREE resources at DonPotter.net.

Note: I’ve had to recently update this post to include this wonderful FREE site of Charlotte Mason-style curriculum lesson plans for grades K-5… go check it out HERE!

We have a wonderful all-in-one printer that we use to make copies of the work so that we can use/reuse the books/materials multiple times which helps to cut down on the cost of books every year. Our old one lasted for several years so we just bought an updated one to replace it. We also try to stock up on school supplies when they go on sale and/or on school tax holidays to help save money. Check out this post for essential supplies.

Please note that it is not necessary to purchase any of these materials to give your child/children a good education. We happen to have a lot of them on hand already and many of these we have been able to find for FREE or discounted prices online or on our local FB groups. You can also find lots of used books on eBay, thrift books, and Amazon. Your local library often has many books on various subjects that you can use for lessons too!

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Here is a rough schedule of the books/materials that we have chosen for this year:

Girls are in 8th Grade. Boys are 4rd/6th/ESE.

**We will also be using this FREE Book of Centuries to record different events from our various studies. Here is a cover that we made for ours if you’d like to print it out.

7:30-8:30: Morning Chores, Breakfast, and Cleanup

Normally I wouldn’t have this on my school schedule but I wanted to put everything on my daily schedule to help me remember what needs to get completed

Each kiddo is responsible for helping out in a designated area for the week and they will check their areas to make sure they have been tidied up.

• The kitchen person and their helper will get breakfast ready on most mornings
• Our Morning Routine helps keep us on track.
• The bathroom helper is responsible to help get the toothbrushes ready after breakfast for everyone who needs help.

8:30 Morning Circle 

Time to put on my ‘teacher hat’ and get started

• Pledge of Allegiance
• Morning Prayer
• Memory Work
  • We will be using the Scripture Cards and box system found for FREE on the Simply Charlotte Mason site.
• ASL
  • We love using Signing Times DVDs for ASL and there are numerous FREE videos on YouTube.
• Preschool: trying to fill her little ‘Mommy Time cup’ first thing in the morning
  • Little Hands to Heaven

Fine Art Studies**

• Mondays: Picture Study
  • we will use these Fine Art pages we found many years ago. You can find some HERE and HERE.
• Tuesdays: Hymn Study
  • we will be using THIS, THIS, THIS, or maybe just something we find on YouTube… check HERE also.
  • we will work on one verse/stanza at a time until everyone has mastered it.
• Wednesdays: Music Study:
  • we will be using ideas from HERE, HERE, and HERE but we really enjoyed Color the Classics from last year.
  • we will also alternate some music lessons with these Recorder lessons on YouTube. I found some cheap ones HERE and some for Shyanne HERE.
  • I would love to incorporate some Musical Bell lessons as well as we already have a set of bells.
  • We may also include a Spanish Music Study.
• Thursdays: Patriotic Hymn Study or FLEX LESSON
  • We plan to use Wee Sing America as a guide but there are also many songs on YouTube.
  • we will work on one verse/stanza at a time until everyone has mastered it.
  • Basically, a bit of ‘Free Time’ is scheduled into our day to use for whatever we need to work on ex: Lessons that haven’t been finished, projects that need a little more time, or other household duties.
• Fridays: Folk Songs or FLEX LESSON
  • We will be using many songs from this list HERE or HERE.
  • we will work on one verse/stanza at a time until everyone has mastered it.

Shyanne will have the opportunity to join us or go to her area for some FREE PLAY.

History/Geography/Bible Studies**

• Mondays: History
  • The Story of Our World 2 combines a little Geography with it. We use the Workbook and Famous Figures of the Middle Ages & Renaissance
  • An Illustrated Timeline of Inventions and Inventors
• Tuesdays: History
• Wednesdays: Geography, Map Drill, or FLEX LESSON
  • Mapping the World by Heart 
  • I really want to get the books mentioned HERE for future studies
• Thursdays: Bible
  • The Ten-Minute Bible Journey
  • The Biggest Story Bible Storybook
  • HERE are more tips for Bible lessons
• Fridays: Bible

Poetry/Shakespeare/Foreign Language**

• Mondays: Poetry
  • We have several poetry books so I haven’t quite decided which ones I’ll be using but we will focus on one poet every 6-12 weeks. I really like Vintage Poetry for Kids though.
  • 100 Best Loved Poems
  • More resources and information HERE and HERE.
• Tuesdays: Spanish
  • I have a program on an old computer that we will be using.
• Wednesdays: Poetry recitation
  • the kids will choose one of the current poems to work on – the goal is to be able to recite 3-4 poems for the year
  • we will work on one verse/stanza at a time until everyone has mastered it.
• Thursdays: Spanish
• Fridays: Shakespeare
  • How to teach Shakespeare to kids
  • Playing with Plays books
  • more resources and tips HERE, HERE, and HERE.

Shyanne will have the opportunity to join us or go to her area for some FREE PLAY.

Home Economics/Character & Skill Training

• Mondays: FLEX LESSON
• Tuesdays: Character & Skill Training
  • Laying Down The Rails you can also find package deals HERE or Skill Trek
• Wednesdays: Home Ec
  • Kids Cook Real Foods Lesson or Christian Light Home Ec
  • sometimes our Home Ec lessons will be incorporated into our daily activities like meal prep
• Thursdays: Character & Skill Training
• Fridays: Home Ec

Shyanne will have the opportunity to join us or go to her area for some FREE PLAY.

10:30ish Snack/Quick Break

I will have to spend a few minutes of one on one time with the kiddos for their independent studies so I may have one person playing with Shyanne while I am working with another person. I will also have them rotating between computer work and other areas, as needed.

Language Arts: (Independent Study)

We will be incorporating Narration, Dictation, Copy Work, Grammar, and Spelling into our lessons. All of this will be pulled from their current lessons with the exception of the grammar. The girls’ grammar will be included in the unit studies and I will be using Long’s Language with the younger kids. I may even try some of the FREE grammar lessons HERE.

• Mondays: McGuffey Reader Lesson + Grammar Lesson or Unit Study Lesson. FREE McGuffey Reader PDFs HERE.
• Tuesdays: McGuffey Reader Lesson + Grammar Lesson or Unit Study Lesson
• Wednesdays: McGuffey Reader Lesson + Grammar Lesson or Unit Study Lesson
• Thursdays: McGuffey Reader Lesson + Grammar Lesson or Unit Study Lesson
• Fridays: McGuffey Reader Lesson + Grammar Lesson or Unit Study Lesson & Folk Tales

Resources:

• We are reading various books and using unit studies to go along with them for reading, comprehension, and grammar. I did buy Christian Reading Companion for 50 Classics as I thought it was a full curriculum but it is more of a guide with some discussion questions.
• You can also download an easier-to-follow FREE grammar program from Mom Delights Blog!
• The girls may end up doing some Language Art lessons on Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool.
• Folk Tales Resources:
  • Animal Folk Tales of America plus study guide
  • American Tall Tales and Legends Set
  • Free Folk Tale lessons HERE.

Spelling words will come from their reading selections and this is the schedule we use for studying them:

• Mondays: Write them 3x each
• Tuesdays: Write them in ABC order
• Wednesdays: Look up the definitions
• Thursdays: Write them in sentences
• Fridays: Spelling Test

I also ordered the Splendid Spelling book to use with the younger ones because I couldn’t get the FREE version to download but you may be able to get it to work for you.

You can also check out this Spelling Book Method of Teaching Reading Reference Page for more FREE resources.

For Handwriting Practice, we have been using this wooden board but there are more resources available HERE.

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Here are some of the books we are hoping to get read this year:

• The Hiding Place
• Jane Eyre
• Little Women
• The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood
• Moby Dick
• Oliver Twist
• White Fang
• The Red Badge Of Courage
• A Christmas Carol
• Charlotte’s Web
• Stone Fox
• Hatchet
• Esperanza Rising
• The Story of the Treasure Seekers: Complete and Unabridged (see this post for a free printable quiz)

We may not get to all of them and we may find others along the way but these are the ones that I have found or prepared Unit Studies for. We usually try to watch the movie, if there is one available, as well.

Each child will need to read 3-4 books a month on their own as well.

See our Grade by Grade Reading List for more book ideas!

Math: (Independent Study)

• Mondays: Math Lessons
• Tuesdays: Math Lessons
• Wednesdays: Math Lessons
• Thursdays: Math Lessons
• Fridays: Math Lessons

Resources:

• Ray’s Arithmetic or you could use this FREE resource HERE. You can find FREE lessons HERE!
• I had planned to use the Classic Curriculum Arithmetic (based on Ray’s) –– I tried to get the whole set but had difficulty finding them at a reasonable price so I’m going on without them and will make up extra work as we need it.
• First Lessons in Arithmetic (FREE)
• The girls may end up doing some Math lessons on Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool.
• You can also download FREE versions of Wentworth’s Arithmetic Books.

Shyanne uses the Spielgaben set as part of her ‘math’– well worth the initial investment that I put into it!

PE/Health, Safety, & MANners/SCIENCE/Nature study

We may try out some Swedish Drills/Yoga daily to help improve focus as well.

• Mondays: SQUARE DANCE or LINE DANCE if no dance that night
• Tuesdays: HEALTH, SAFETY & MANNERS 3 lesson (the older girls may use another program but I will link it if they do)
• Wednesdays: Science/STEM
  • Science in the Beginning World Set with the Lab Kit
  • we also like using Mystery Science for easy lessons
  • we have received a ton of STEM kits for Christmas over the past few years so we will work on using some of them.
  • check out the Nature Studies for more ideas
  • The World Wildlife Federation also has tons of great resources available HERE.
• Thursdays: SCIENCE/STEM
• Fridays: Nature Study & Journaling plus SQUARE DANCE or LINE DANCE if no dance that night
• We will be using some ideas from the Simply Charlotte Mason site and The Nature Connection book.
• I may also use ideas from HERE, HERE, or HERE.
• My kids have also been dying to check out these BOOKS.
• These ideas could also work with SCIENCE!

We do have these books that we may also incorporate into our science lessons:

• The Chemistry of Cola
• The Biology of Bananas
• The Physics of Popcorn
• The Math of Milkshakes
• The Mystery of the Periodic Table

Shyanne will have the opportunity to join us or go to her area for some FREE PLAY. She loves going to the Square Dances!!

Handicrafts, Art, Games, Free Time

• Mondays: FREE TIME/GAMES
• Tuesdays: FLEX LESSON
• Wednesdays: HANDICRAFT or Art
  • YouTube videos
  • God & The History of Art or other activity
• Thursdays: HANDICRAFT or Art
• Fridays: FREE TIME/GAMES

Shyanne will have the opportunity to join us or go to her area for some FREE PLAY.

We may read this during lunch or at bedtime if we don’t get to it during the school day.

Family Read Aloud

• Sometimes we read books from the girl’s LA studies as a family but other times we just read a book we may have found interesting.
• You can find our great list of books HERE.

Shyanne will have the opportunity to join us or go to her area for some FREE PLAY.

12:00 Lunch/Quick Clean Up

Each kiddo is responsible for helping out in a designated area for the week and they will check their areas to make sure they have been tidied up.

• The kitchen person and their helper will get lunch ready on most days

On Mondays, we finish school at Lunch Time and then use the remainder of the day for our ‘Home Blessing’ and Free Time. With this new schedule, we are hoping to be finished up before lunch every day.

– YAY! I get to take off my ‘teacher hat’ for the day and just be Momma!

1:00 – 2:30ish Naps/Quiet time/study time

• William and Shyanne usually go down for naps/quiet time right after lunch. I plan to start playing some classical music during this time or playing some pieces from our current composer studies.
• This is when the kids can use the computers for school assignments. My kiddos don’t have FREE ACCESS to electronics and they must ‘earn’ electronic privileges through good behavior/chores. They do not have INTERNET ACCESS unless supervised… there are too many predators out there looking to steal away the innocence of our children and I try my best to protect them.
• We can also use this time to complete any activities that we couldn’t do while little ma’am was awake.

2:30 – 5:00 Snack/Afternoon Chores/Free Time/Dinner Prep

• Free Time when schoolwork and chores are completed
• They can play, read, go outside, or do whatever they want to do during this period.
• Whichever kiddo is helping out in the kitchen will come to help with dinner between 4:00-4:30.
• The Kitchen Helper will also come help get out plates and such before dinner is ready.

5:00ish Dinner/Cleanup

• Each kiddo is responsible for helping out in a designated area for the week and they will check their areas to make sure they have been tidied up.

6:00 – 8:30ish Family Time/Baths

• Everyone will get their baths/showers, finish cleaning up, and then we can watch a movie, read a story, or play a game before bedtime.
• The bathroom helper is responsible to help get the toothbrushes ready before bed for everyone who needs help.

8:00 – 9:00 Bedtimes

Remember that there are numerous FREE Homeschool Resources available and we have some listed under the Homeschool Tab at the top of this blog! If you need a way to keep track of your homeschool schedules and grades check out this post HERE for the app that we use and love! We hope you all have a wonderful summer and that maybe you find this list helpful when selecting your new curriculum.