Homeschool Curriculum Picks 2020-21

We are two weeks into homeschool, and I’m finally finding the time to tell you about our curriculum picks for this year!! I was mildly overwhelmed by all the options and philosophies out there when I first started looking into things. Late spring/early Summer is when I felt God nudging us towards homeschool, so I am thankful that I was able to take my time to research and not feel rushed to make a decision.

The Good and The Beautiful is what I kept coming back to no matter what else I looked at. It was the only thing that didn’t feel overwhelming or confusing to me. I just felt like it was going to be the right thing for us. I know a lot of people pick and choose from different things or build their own curriculums, but for our first year in I was not ready to go that route.

I love how TGTB brings in art and good literature into all of their subjects, as well as including God in everything…but not in an over the top/legalistic way (I feel weird saying “over the top” about God, but hopefully you know what I mean haha). God is already a very big part of our day to day life and conversations, so I wanted that to flow naturally into our schoolwork and not feel forced or preachy.

The curriculum books are also very much open and go style, meaning I don’t need to have the knowledge up front about what is being taught (because two weeks in, I’m realizing I am going to be learning a lot this year too, ha! Remember “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?” Yeah, I’m definitely not).

Everything is also very hands-on, which I love. We aren’t staring at computer screens or stuck at a desk. Math has lots of games and manipulatives included. Language Arts has us getting up and moving to practice site words and writing on windows to practice spelling. It is so engaging, which makes it FUN to do school. My kids are not complaining, and even have asked to do more (WHAT).

The price point has also made it affordable for our family! They even offer Levels 1-5 of language arts for free as a download, which is incredible! They have a free science unit as well. Their customer service has been so great, especially through the huge influx of new homeschool families this year.

Another thing I love is getting to have my kids be at the level they need to be at and not follow a one-size-fits-all model. There are assessments to figure out which level you need for both language arts and math. Science and History are both taught family style and are adaptable for grades K-8th. The beauty of homeschool is that you get to do what works for your kids and for your family. There is so much freedom!

I also want add that we spend less than 2 hours on schoolwork each day. Sometimes that’s all in one swoop, sometimes it’s spaced throughout the day. And we have the freedom to change it day to day, or go have some nature exploration one day and not feel like we are behind or messing up a fixed schedule. Again…freedom!

Ok now let me give y’all a breakdown of what we are doing this year. Like I mentioned in my first homeschool post, my youngest will be going to PreK3 at our preschool 3 days a week, so my middle and oldest are the only ones schooling at home for now.

My middle would be going into 1st grade in public school. This year he is doing:
-Level K Language Arts - this is equivalent to regular/public school 1st grade. Art and Geography are also incorporated into Language Arts.
-Level K Math - this is more on par with regular/public school Kindergarten math, but there are some gaps we need to fill in and some confidence building that needs to happen, so even though some of it will be review, I think it’s a good fit for him for now. He’s solidifying what he knows and learning things he doesn’t.
-Handwriting - he is using the Level 1 book for handwriting, which covers basic number and letter formation. The workbook includes fun activities, which he loves.

My oldest would be going into 3rd grade in public school. This year he is doing:
-Level 3 Language Arts - equivalent of advanced 3rd or regular 4th grade. Again, I’m thankful for the assessments that help him be at the right level - he is a great reader and has always been ahead of the game when it comes to spelling and grammar (the kid knew the whole alphabet before he was 2…for which I can take zero credit #heissmarterthanme). Art and Geography are incorporated into Language Arts.
-Level 3 Math - equivalent to regular 3rd grade
-Handwriting - he is using the level 3 book, which means he is learning cursive. He LOVES this handwriting book and asks to do multiple pages everyday.
-Typing - we are on the 1st typing book.

As a family we are studying Science and History.
-The Good and The Beautiful Science curriculums are all unit studies. We are starting off with Geology, because the boys are both very into rocks and minerals right now, and my oldest asks me 234092384 questions a day about different rocks. So maybe I will finally be able to answer them with this study! It includes lots of hands on activities and experiments, as well as a rock kit and some fantastic read aloud books! We are planning to do Space Science when we finish this. And the boys are very interested in the Arthropods unit as well, so if we finish the other two this school year we may add that one in, too! If not, we will save it for next year.
-We are doing Year 1 of History this year. Each History course is a world history study, and it stops at different major points in the timeline this year. We have talked through the creation story, as well as the story of Noah through the Tower of Babel. And now we have moved on to Ancient Egyptian history, which we are excited about! It’s very engaging, and has recommended read aloud books to go along with what we are learning. I love that we are learning through literature and not just text books!

We have also been starting our mornings together reading from The Jesus Storybook Bible. They have really loved that, too. Lots of great discussion and just getting to start our day off being together and being encouraged has been so nice! I have pre-ordered the Tiny Truths Wonder & Wisdom, which covers Psalms and Proverbs, so I’m looking forward to incorporating that as well. I also like using the devotions Indescribable and How Great Thou Art. I have gone through and made notes of some of the devotions that coincide with what we are studying, so that’s been a bonus!

Homeschool has given us opportunities to play and incorporate learning into our whole day, not just leave it at the door when they get off the bus every afternoon. We have time to linger and wonder and discover without rush or rules. There is some structure but also so much flexibility. I never thought we would be here, but I am so incredibly grateful. Please let me know if you have any other questions for me about homeschool in general or specific questions about The Good and The Beautiful! I’ll do my best to answer and give you a newbie perspective. Make sure you’re following me over on instagram as well to see our day-to-day and a behind the scenes look!