It’s almost the end of the school year and I realized I’ve hardly posted about our year in homeschool. It has been a busy year for us. We have traveled the world learning about each continent, studying a number of countries in detail, and learning about each ecosystem around the world, all with the travel guidance of our My Father’s World curriculum. Along the way, we read stories and biographies about missionaries who loved and served the lost around the world. We also studied different people groups and prayed for a people group each week. And we enjoyed food such as bratworst and sauerkraut, nutella crepes, fatoush and kabobs, chicken satay, an Indian mango drink, and Australian meat pie.
And that was just in geography and science!
We also joined our local co-op and did a science class using Exploring Creation with Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day (Young Explorer Series) (Young Explorer (Apologia Educational Ministries))
. This was our first year doing Apologia and we loved it! I learned as much as my son. Doing the accompanying lapbook made the learning even more fun and helped my son retain what he had learned.
Another new curriculum for us this year was A Reason for Spelling: Student Workbook Level C (Reason for Spelling: Level C)
. The spelling curriculum we used last year was unremarkable and disappointing. I have been so pleased with A Reason for Spelling! There is a story at the beginning of each lesson about a class of students. The stories incorporate a Biblical lesson, often a godly character trait or lesson in faith. The spelling words learned that week come from the story. The curriculum provides opportunity for kinesthetic learners as well (my son spelled his words with pipe cleaners, play dough, and even Scrabble Cheez-Itz).
Because we traveled with my husband a number of places this year, we were able to go on many field trips. We visited Washington, D.C. and toured monuments and the Smithsonian. We also went to children’s museums, science museums, aquariums, zoos, and more. If you want to know how we travel and do homeschool at the same time, read my post here.
We had a full year and I look forward to teaching two next year as my youngest will be starting kindergarten. What about you? How was your school year?
Wow! You have had a full year
Formal school days are a little ahead of us; we’re still in the days of dancing around the living room and going for explores. But we are starting to weigh options of how we’ll educate our children because I’m sure it will be here before we know it! Do you have any resources you recommend for someone who’s considering if homeschooling would be a good fit for her family? I’ve read a bit, but I’d love to hear where you’d suggest someone begin.
Melissa, I knew nothing about homeschooling so to start off, I read a ton on the benefits of homeschooling, the educational theories, as well as practical books. The two I like the most are Educating the Wholehearted Child and The Well Trained Mind. I also read about the Charlotte Mason method. Francis Shaeffer’s daughter has written a few books on it. The problem is, once you decide it’s something that works for your family, then you have to find curriculum-and there is so much to choose from! I’d love to talk more, message me if you want:)
I have a 3, 4 and 5 year old (all preschool) and we did Heart of Dakota’s “Little Hands to Heaven” this year. Well, half of it anyway-I’ve really struggled with consistency since Christmas! I have heard good things about “My Father’s World”-is that what you’ll be doing with your Kindergartener next year?
Yes, I will include my youngest in MFW. We have loved it and I don’t expect we’ll try anything else, at least for now:)
Thanks, Christina! It looks to be a little pricier than HOD, but still significantly less than many other curricula. Really appreciate your writing.
Thank you so much:)
We use both My Father’s World and Apologia materials and LOVE them both!!!
I can’t believe it-our oldest will be a sophomore next year. (I remember when we started Kindergarten! 
) I was nervous about doing high school, but My Father’s World has made it so “easy”! The freshman program we are using this year is excellent, as all their material has been.
So happy to hear that the high school curriculum is good! We have a few years yet but it’ll come before I know it!