Multi-Age Homeschool Curriculum Choices for Preschool, 2nd, and 3rd Grade

Today I'm sharing our curriculum choices.  Hopefully it will be helpful to some of you who have children the same age as mine!

I wanted to be able to combine the kids' schooling as much as I could.  I enjoy the “one room schoolhouse” style, but I do find it works better with certain curriculum than others.

I picked most of these in the spring, and we started using them in the summer so that I could make sure before the school year if it would work.

Here's what we chose:

Bible

Last year we used a video curriculum for all of our subjects, but the kids' favorite was by far their Bible class.  I enjoyed having their Bible class on video as well because it gave me an opportunity to straighten the house, put in a load of laundry, get the baby dressed, etc.  I didn't have to be around because I knew the kids were enjoying their class enough that they stayed tuned in and didn't get into any mischief!

This year we will be using BJU Bible Truths Online Learning.  I loved the fact that they offer their Bible class as a stand-alone option since that was all I wanted to use as far as video courses.  I know that their materials will be in line with what we believe Biblically, and the classes look like they'll be really interactive and enjoyable!

All kids will do Bible simultaneously.

Math

For math, we are using Khan Academy for my 3rd grader and miscellaneous worksheets for my 1st/2nd grader.

We've already been using Khan Academy, and it's been working very well for us!  My son is motivated to do his math because he can see the points he is racking up every time he answers a question correctly.  It also helps him focus because he only sees one question at a time and he doesn't get overwhelmed with looking at a whole paper that he has to complete.  Most days he asks if he can keep going on math because he doesn't want to stop yet!  That is a MAJOR change from last year! (Oh, and did I mention Khan Academy is FREE?!)

We also have the app on our iPad so they can use it on there if someone else is using the computer.

I am having my daughter work through 2nd grade worksheets that she didn't finish last year (I bought her a set last year when her brother was in 2nd grade because she liked to listen in to his classes.  She couldn't quite keep up with all the paperwork, though, so we are going through and finishing those and reviewing all of that.)

I am also having both of them do XtraMath every day for drilling their math facts.  I am very happy with this program too.  It's saving me lots of time drilling them myself, and it's actually doing a better job!  The program is intuitive – it can tell which facts need the most work, and it will make those problems show up more often until the student starts answering them quickly enough on a consistent basis.  The kids enjoy this program too, and it's good motivation for them to try their best.

The 2 older children work on math simultaneously – each on separate devices – while I work with my preschooler.  (I do not use a formal curriculum for preschool.)

Language/Spelling/Writing

For language, I am working with both kids together.  We are using Primary Language Lessons.  I have it downloaded on my phone in Google Play, so it always opens up to the last page I was on.

I really wanted to cut down on the amount of paperwork the kids had to do this year because it was really discouraging them (and me too!)  I started digging around to find something that would combine language, spelling, and writing so that it was all being practiced simultaneously, cutting down on time and busywork.

When I found Primary Language Lessons, I knew it would be perfect.  We have been using that through the summer just to make sure it would work for us, and it is working beautifully.  (And you can't beat free!)

Basically I just open it up and teach the lesson (only takes about 5 minutes), then they have to write sentences about the lesson.  Sometimes they are making up the sentences themselves, while practicing proper grammar and punctuation; sometimes they are filling in blanks with things like they're, their, there or is, are.

They have to use their neatest penmanship, and I make them practice any particular letters with which they are struggling.

I also check for misspelled words and add those to a list, which becomes their spelling list for the week.  They then copy their spelling list daily, and we practice spelling the words aloud together also.

I love how the process is so streamlined.  The kids are not feeling overwhelmed, which means they actually work faster.

I'm not sure if I would feel comfortable doing language this way if they did not have a very strong foundation from Kindergarten through 2nd grade, though.  We used A Beka curriculum for those grades, which has a very strong emphasis on phonics, and we have drilled and drilled the special sounds for 3 years.  When we are practicing spelling, we are reviewing the special sounds and why those words are spelled that way.

The two older children do language/spelling/writing simultaneously.  I work on letters and sounds with my preschooler at a separate time.

Reading

I had a “duh” moment.

My kids read every spare moment!  On their bed, in a tree, walking down the road (had to put a stop to that one!)…
Why should I make them sit down and read and prolong their school day?!  I just let them read whatever and whenever they want, and we don't use a reading curriculum.

I do like for them to read out loud to me while I'm cooking supper.  That way I can ask them comprehension and vocabulary questions just to be sure they're getting all they can out of their reading.

If my kids weren't good readers, I may have to consider a formal reading curriculum, but at the same time, I'm not so sure if that would be the case.  I sort of feel like taking this approach all along is part of what has made them love reading — it's always been something they get to do, for fun!

Reading happens organically throughout the day.  There is not a set time for this.

History

I really wanted to use a history curriculum that lines up Biblical history with world history so the kids (and myself!) could see where world events fit into the Bible as well get more insight into the cultures of Biblical times.  I ended up going with Diana Waring's Ancient Civilizations and the Bible.  It is really geared a little more for older students, but the beauty of this curriculum is that it is purposely designed for the student to explore his interests and to learn using the style that suits him best.

I've set aside 15 minutes of our school day simply to decide what we're going to do for history.  The book offers lots of suggestions for learning resources for the current topic (crafts, books, videos, etc.) so the kids and I decide together what will fun and feasible.

Once we've decided what we explore and what we'll do, we simply incorporate that into our day instead of making it a part of school.  There is some book learning to do as well as supplementary books that I read aloud, but there is also time to do lots of hands-on activities like making an Egyptian costume, cooking an ancient Egyptian recipe, or building pyramids in the sand!

There are also supplementary CDs that we listen to while I'm cooking supper.  The kids play with blocks at the table to keep their hands occupied while they listen.

All children do history together.

Science

We are using schoolhouse teachers for science.

All 3 children do science simultaneously.

Art

We will be using Baby Lamb's Book of Art.  It's for ages 3-5, but I don't think the older ones will care, and I needed something that they can all do together, including the 4 year old.

All children do art simultaneously.

Greek

Yes.  Yes I do plan to teach my children Biblical Greek.  I want them to know how to study God's Word in depth, and I think it will be better to get them started while their minds are young and sharp.  We'll be using Hey Andrew, Teach Me Some Greek! Level 1.

All children do Greek simultaneously, although the youngest will just be listening in and picking up whatever he can at this point.

Typing

I would like to get the kids typing a couple times a week.  Does anyone know of a good program?  This is the one thing I haven' figured out yet!