Kindergarten Curriculum 2011-2012

Last week we officially started homeschooling!  I was actually a little nervous about it, but the first week really did go rather well.  I'll write about the first day festivities later when I get the pictures on the computer, but for now I wanted to post my final curriculum choices.  I have changed my mind quite a few times lately...just in a couple of subjects.  I wasn't sure K was ready for some of my choices, so I chose some lighter and probably more age appropriate curriculum for now and we will reevaluate in a couple of months.

For math we will be doing Abeka K and then Singapore 1A.  I was going to just jump in to Singapore, but I decided to finish Abeka K since we have been doing that for the last 6 months or so.  I know that I eventually want to just use Singapore, but I do really like the constant review that Abeka provides in the early grades.  I might integrate Abeka 1st grade math in as well.

For language arts we will be using a variety of things...
Grammar - First Language Lessons 1
Spelling - All About Spelling 1
Writing - Writing With Ease 1
Handwriting - Abeka Handwriting K
Phonics - Explode the Code 2

For Art we are using Artistic Pursuits and Abeka Art 2, and K will start a music class in September that I am super excited about.  The program is called Let's Play Music, and I really hope we like it.

Now History and Science are the subjects that I kept changing my mind about.  I was all ready to start the classical cycle, mostly because I was excited about it and I didn't want to wait anymore.  :)  The closer we got to starting school, the more I was starting to feel that K wasn't really ready for all of that yet.  Soooo...we will wait awhile longer.  I found some pre-classical curriculum that I am really excited about though!  We are using Elemental Science Intro to Science and Elemental History Adventures in America.  I will write about both of these once I have used them for more than one week.

I am also planning to start Spanish once we get into a routine and I figure out the best schedule for us.  K is also doing a few extra-curriculars:  swim lessons, ballet class and probably gymnastics starting in September or October.  There is the music class as well, so we will be plenty busy.