Curriculum loves

  Homeschooling has crossed the precipice from chaos into a pretty predictable schedule.  Well, order for me.  As an incredibly abstract-random learner and processor, I need lists and order.  I don't like them, I need them.  My personality is too easily distracted by new curriculums.  So-and-so introduces something at the homeschool share and I have to try it.   If I don't, we are missing out.  They will not develop appropriately!   Yes, this phase passed quickly with a little thing called an overwhelmed and burnt out mind.  So, the things that have stuck:

  All About Spelling
     For my special needs, dyslexic child.  I was convinced this child just would have to rely on autocorrect for the entirety of his life, and honestly- may never write at all.  Still,  dyslexia does keep a constant obstacle (while finally reading with somewhat ease, he will come up with random backwards spellings.  This program does wonders.   For Charlotte Mason homeschoolers, it is so much more gentle than Rod and Staff spelling and includes your dictation for the day.  (I am not faulting Rod and Staff- I love those Mennonites and will join them as soon as the husband is de-teched. I don't think that is a word)
  This method breaks down everything into phonograms and diphthongs.  The letter tiles are great. I cannot recommend this enough.  Last year was the first year I had a decent homeschool budget. I think I spent about 75 for this program. Worth every penny. I use this for all my kids and see the benefit. 

Having said that, our board is always a mess.  They offer the app now. Nope, I will always stick with the letter tiles. 

 Math-U-See


   The blocks helped my dyslexic child finally understand place value.  We use the blocks for Multiplication all the time.  Still using them.  I love Math U See because it explains the why of Math.  I never fully understood borrowing  (It was that bad.) Now I do! I was never confident converting fractions.  I love you, Steve Demme!  We will do Math u See until graduation and with every child. If you have a genius math family, you may look for a more challenging program. But, oh, Math u see, I love you.  I guess by now it is obvious we thrive with kinesthetic learning.

 I never knew higher concepts could still be illustrated using manipulatives. 

Sonlight 
 It's not you, it's me, and I need to use Sonlight.  In a house where electronics were unfortunately welcomed-and with boys- I need to use a literature based program to help with my mental health. My boys have been doing it for so long they have just accepted that read alouds will always be part of the daily (and nightly) routine.  However,  I will always add caution- If your books have to compete with electronics with young brains- Electronics will always win.  If you get a the final say in your marriage and family in regard to electronics, I am struggling with my envy.

 ANY AND EVERY BOOK BY RICHARD MAYBURY
   Recommended by Sonlight. If you get nothing else, make your kids read, "Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?"

Lastly, I adore Story of the World's approach to history, Draw Write Now, and a bit of Rod n Staff for Bible readers and Grammar. 

Sonlight Books I would have skipped

I realize this is incredibly subjective and when it comes to books, I am picky.  I just wish my boys, particularly the one that struggles with reading could have been spared a couple of these reads.

Samuel B. Morris: I would have enjoyed a summary of his life, rather than a biography.  We found it very dry.  It does give kids a wonderful look at perseverance in the face of constant failure and setback.

The Journeyman: I so wanted to love this book.  Since Elizabeth Yates is such a prolific, wonderful writer- I'll have to chalk this one up to taste. Amos Fortune should be on every reading list, so I should have stopped there.

Mr. Popper's Penguins- Not just Sonlight, this book seems to be everywhere.  I just hated it. I wanted to find it charming, like Five Little Peppers, or No Children, No Pets. I just COULDN'T. I actually found the story very unimaginative.  I mean, it is creative to think of a man keeping penguins in his basement, but it's like that was the only idea and an entire book had to be drawn out from exactly one idea.  We couldn't wait to finish and almost quit.

 Slopes of War:  This one isn't Sonlight's fault.  After all, it's discontinued.  I should have gone with Shades of Grey for Civil War History but NO- It just had to be on that Goodwill shelf for half off just at the right time.  As much as I love a story about falling in love with your first cousin as much as the next gal.... I ......Just.....can't.  My boys are still over American History because I ended on this note.

  And here it comes: The book that will get me kicked out of the Sonlight club: Carry On Mr. Bowditch.  So dry...So long...so much ship talk... you're becalmed again, we get it.  I just so wish I was the kind of person that liked Carry on, but alas- I'll choose that bratty Johnny Tremain anyday just so I don't have to experience another becalmed ship.


   I will be adding to this list..