The Curricula We Use (January 2012)

After our oldest daughter, now 7, was ready to move on from Montessori as her core curriculum, we decided to try the classical model of education for her (we have a full Montessori preschool set up in our living room, and while we felt comfortable teaching those materials and extensions, we weren't prepared at that time to add elementary Montessori to the mix). We started when she entered first grade, and her younger sister, then 4, did everything right alongside her. We loosely based our curriculum on Susan Wise Bauer's The Well Trained Mind and supplemented with Singapore Math (Standards Edition) and some classes through a local homeschool co-op. This year, we added Classical Conversations to the mix (we do it at home because our local CC groups were full, but that arrangement has worked out well for us :).  We have continued to add bits and pieces, and this frankensteinian approach has produced good results, allowing us to tailor our teaching to each child's strengths and weaknesses.

Here's where we are today:

N, 7 y.o.:

• Classical Conversations memory work, science, art, and music (currently on Cycle 3) and Veritas Press history cards
• Singapore Math (currently on level 4A)
• Spelling Power (currently on level E)
• Zaner-Bloser Handwriting (currently on 2C)
• Writing With Ease (about to start level 2)
• Story of the World (about to start volume 4)
• Montessori (various practical life, sensorial, and grammar work, and lots of demonstrating for her younger sisters)
• Bible (currently reading the Bible in a year)
• Homeschool co-op (U.S. Geography and Bible classes 1 day each week)
• Piano lessons (1 day each week) and practice (5 times a week)
• Ballet (2 days a week)

S, 5 y.o.:

• Classical Conversations memory work, science, art, and music (currently on Cycle 3) and Veritas Press history cards
• Singapore Math (currently on level 2A)
• Spelling Workout (currently on level A)
• Zaner-Bloser Handwriting (currently on 2M)
• Writing With Ease (about to start level 2)
• Story of the World (about to start volume 4)
• Montessori (exception word drawers as well as various practical life, sensorial, and math work)
• Bible (currently reading the Bible in a year)
• Homeschool co-op (Bible class 1 day a week)
• Ballet (1 day a week)

G, 3-1/2 y.o.:

• Classical Conversations memory work, science, art, and music (currently on Cycle 3) and Veritas Press history cards
• Montessori (the full preschool curriculum)
• Public preschool (tailored for children with hearing impairments with a focus on precise speech and language development -- 1 day a week)
• Bible (currently reading the Bible in a year)
• Ballet (1 day week)

E, 1-1/2 y.o.:

• Montessori (getting started with basic preschool work :)

I'll post more about why we chose these particular curricula and our opinions of them later, but I wanted everyone to see where we are so our daily blog, which I'll link to soon, will make sense.