Homeschool Plan - 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th

My sister, if everything works out, is going to be my assistant in the fall. She has 4 children - a 10 year old boy, an 8 year old boy, a 5 year old girl, and a 1 year old girl. She is planning on sending her 5 year old to public school for Kindergarten, but she is hoping to homeschool the boys. I have 3 children - a 9 year old girl, a 7 year old girl, and a 4 year old boy. Flower is the 9 year old girl, and she was homeschooled last year. I am planning on also homeschooling Jelly Bean, who is the 7 year old girl. Super is the 4 year old boy, and he attends preschool here in the morning, and Pre-K at the local elementary in the afternoon. So for elementary, we are planning on homeschooling 4 children from 2nd grade through 5th grade.

After much looking at a variety of different curriculums, we are going with primarily a classical curriculum from The Well-Trained Mind. I am also filling in with books listed in the Core Knowledge book Books To Build On, and other books that I like, and as always, lots of library books. I've got many of the books so far.

Here is a list of the main books that we will be using:

2nd Grade

Spelling: Spell and Write Grade 3
(Will purchase at the local school shop - $8)
Grammar: Rod and Staff Beginning Wisely
(Haven't purchased yet)
Writing: Writing Strands 2
(Lent to me for free)
Poetry: R is for Rhyme
(Bought last year for Flower)
Literature: Books from Literature Book List for Core Knowledge Grade 2 & Books about Ancients (Library)
Math: Saxon Math 2
(Bought at Curriculum Sale for $2.50)
History: Story of the World 1
(Lent to me for free)
Geography: Blackline Maps of World History: The Ancients
(Need to purchase)
Study of Africa, Europe, Asia
(Montessori For Everyone downloads, wooden puzzle maps, toothpick flags)
(Need to purchase - approximately $250. May not be able to afford any, or perhaps just enough for one country.)
Science: Usborne First Encyclopedia of Our World
(Need to purchase)
Apologia Botany
(Lent to me for free)
Music: M is for Melody
(purchased last year for Flower)
Story of the Orchestra
(Purchased at the Curriculum Sale for $5)
Art: M is for Masterpiece
(Purchased last year for Flower)
Picture/Artist Study (Library/Internet, etc.)

3rd Grade
Spelling: Spelling Grade 3
(Will purchase at a local teacher supply store - $8)
Grammar: Rod and Staff Beginning Wisely
Writing: Writing Strands 2
Poetry: R is for Rhyme
Literature: Books from Literature Book List from Core Knowledge Grade 3 & Books about the Ancients (Library)
Math: Math-U-See Beta
(Need to buy Student Book and Test booklet)
History: Story of the World 1
Geography: Blackline Maps of World History: The Ancients
Study of Africa, Europe, Asia
(Montessori For Everyone downloads, wooden puzzle maps, toothpick flags)
Science: Usborne First Encyclopedia of Our World
Apologia Botany
Music: M is for Melody
Story of the Orchestra
Art: M is for Masterpiece
Picture/Artist Study

4th Grade
Spelling: Spell and Write Grade 6
Grammar: Abeka God’s Gift of Language A
(Bought Book, Teacher's Book and Tests for $15 at Curriculum Sale.)
Writing: Writing Strands 3
(Bought at Curriculum Sale for $3.)
Poetry: Poem/Poet Study
(Purchased Set of 6 books through Scholastic for $20.)
Literature: Books from Literature Book List from Core Knowledge Grade 4 & Books about the Ancients (Library)
Math: Everyday Math 4
(Lent to me for free)
History: Kingfisher History Encyclopedia
(Need to purchase)
Geography: Blackline Maps of World History: The Ancients
Study of Africa, Europe, Asia
(Montessori For Everyone downloads, wooden puzzle maps, toothpick flags)
Science: Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of Science
(Need to purchase)
Apologia Astronomy
(Lent to me for free)
Music: Music Lessons
Story of the Orchestra
Art: Art Lessons
Picture/Artist Study

5th Grade
Logic: Mind Benders
(Need to purchase)
Spelling: Spell and Write Grade 6
(Need to purchase)
Grammar: Abeka God’s Gift of Language A
Writing: Writing Strands 3
Poetry: Poem/Poet Study
Literature: Books from Literature Book List from Core Knowledge Grade 5 & Books about Ancients (Library)
Math: Saxon Math 6/5
(Purchased at Curriculum Sale for $35)
History: Kingfisher History Encyclopedia
Geography: Blackline Maps of World History: The Ancients
Study of Africa, Europe, Asia
(Montessori For Everyone downloads, wooden puzzle maps, toothpick flags)
Science: Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of Science
Apologia Astronomy
Music: Music Lessons
Story of the Orchestra
Art: Art Lessons
Picture/Artist Study

We will also be using Workboxes for supplemental learning in each subject. Each student will have a Language binder with dividers for Journal, Reading Log, Grammar, Writing and Copywork/Dictation, and a Main Lesson Book for Literature, Poetry, History, Science, Nature Study, Art, Art History and Music History.

I use mostly a montessori-curriculum but

there are many things that I love about other methods - I love the nature study from Charlotte Mason, the history studies from Classical, the natural, wood, and rhythm of Waldorf, and the art and projects from Reggio Emilia. I recently devoted a whole bookshelf to art supplies in the classroom, and the children are free to pick from it during work time. We also have an easel for painting, and a chalkboard.

One of the ideas in the Reggio Emilia philosophy is that children have one hundred languages, most of them that are not written and spoken in the traditional way, but in more of an artistic way, that they use to express themselves and to learn things. Here is part of a poem by Loris Malaguzzi, one of the main proponents of the Reggio Emilia philosophy in the 20th century.

The child is made of one hundred.
The child has
a hundred languages
a hundred hands
a hundred thoughts
a hundred ways of thinking
of playing, of speaking.
A hundred
always a hundred
ways of listening
of marveling
of loving
a hundred joys
or singing and understanding
a hundred worlds
to discover
a hundred worlds
to invent
a hundred worlds
to dream.

— Loris Malaguzzi

The Hundred Languages of Children Exhibit

I know that sometimes it may seem like the children are bringing home endless amounts of art. But it isn't just bits of paper and glue. It is also a record of how they are learning and acquiring knowledge.
-Mrs. F