I've been wanting to share what we're using for Levi's schooling this year, but didn't want to do it until I'd publicly outed him as being profoundly gifted. Naturally, his schoolwork doesn't look like a lot of seven-year-olds', and that's okay. He did, however, ask me yesterday, for the first time ever, what grade he was in, "if I'm in a grade at all," and I wasn't quite sure what to say. For now, we're sticking with, "we homeschool, and I'm seven." I'm hoping that'll be enough for a while.
Anyway, on to the good stuff. I love researching and picking out curriculum (even more than implementing it, sometimes!). I always thought I'd be the kind of parent who doesn't pay too much extra attention to learning styles; I figure some things, you just have to soldier through and learn and it doesn't really matter how. But then I ended up with this crazy asynchronous firstborn, and a second-born who is probably just as intelligent but in a completely different way, and next thing I knew I was buying all sorts of different things. And I love it this way, even if our homeschool budget doesn't!
Language Arts
Michael Clay Thompson. Isaac and I were lucky enough to hear MCT himself speak at the Cincinnati homeschool convention two years ago, and we were both hooked immediately. We bought the whole first level right there at the convention. Each level includes grammar, poetry, vocabulary, writing, practice books, and an optional literature add-on. Levi absolutely loved the first level, which is all taught through the eyes of a fish named Mud. Mud does not feature so prominently in level two (which we started last month), and Levi has complained more than once that he liked it better with Mud. Even so, he seems to like the mechanics of grammar, and he's learning concepts that I don't ever remember learning! Just last night, Levi was writing a thank-you note, and he glanced up halfway through and grinned, "I just wrote a verbal phrase!" I'm pretty sure that I could not have accurately defined a verbal phrase until we learned it last week. It's a little tricky to implement the various components, so if anyone jumps on the MCT band-wagon, feel free to contact me with any questions. We've settled into a rhythm now.
Math
Beast Academy. This is sort of the "it" math program to use with gifted elementary students. It's relatively new, and segues into an online math program that, to be honest, I don't know much about yet. Levi and I are both very linear, concrete thinkers; we don't do terribly well with geometry or any sort of abstract thinking. The first chapter of Beast Academy is notoriously difficult, and the switch from Saxon has not been an easy one. Now that we're past the first chapter, though, I think he's settling into the groove. The "guide" book (textbook) is written in cartoon-style, featuring a classroom of monsters (hence, "beast academy"). Again, it's not how I would prefer to learn, but it's been satisfactory to watch Levi break out of his black-and-white (figuratively and literally, given Saxon's dry approach) thinking and attempt more abstract problem solving.
Science
BJU Science 5. I chose this for one really fantastic reason: a friend is letting me use it for free. (That was sarcasm, by the way.) More specifically, I really didn't know which way to turn for science this year, and I didn't want to spend a fortune on a program we didn't like. We've been following the outline in the Well-Trained Mind for science -- biology first, then earth science and astronomy -- so this year should be chemistry and physics. But we already did chemistry two summers ago, when Levi was interested in the periodic table, and I'm horrendous at physics (and therefore would like to push it back as long as possible). Also weighing into my decision was the fact that Levi will be tested for official homeschooling purposes for the first time this year. Since I don't really know what Minnesota schools cover from grade to grade, I wanted to do a more traditional school-type curriculum that would expose him to various branches of science.
Unfortunately, Levi (and all the boys) is still completely obsessed with the solar system, and he has found the first two chapters on rocks and fossils to be incredibly boring. This has been the subject we've fought over most in the past two months. I finally figured out that he's happier if I let him read the material and fill out any study guides by himself, instead of insisting he answer discussion questions after every assigned reading. When the activities/experiments are convenient, we do them (which is not often right now, unfortunately). As long as he scores reasonably well on any quizzes or tests, I'm going to stay pretty hands-off. At least for now. We'll see how it goes.
Anyway, on to the good stuff. I love researching and picking out curriculum (even more than implementing it, sometimes!). I always thought I'd be the kind of parent who doesn't pay too much extra attention to learning styles; I figure some things, you just have to soldier through and learn and it doesn't really matter how. But then I ended up with this crazy asynchronous firstborn, and a second-born who is probably just as intelligent but in a completely different way, and next thing I knew I was buying all sorts of different things. And I love it this way, even if our homeschool budget doesn't!
Language Arts
Michael Clay Thompson. Isaac and I were lucky enough to hear MCT himself speak at the Cincinnati homeschool convention two years ago, and we were both hooked immediately. We bought the whole first level right there at the convention. Each level includes grammar, poetry, vocabulary, writing, practice books, and an optional literature add-on. Levi absolutely loved the first level, which is all taught through the eyes of a fish named Mud. Mud does not feature so prominently in level two (which we started last month), and Levi has complained more than once that he liked it better with Mud. Even so, he seems to like the mechanics of grammar, and he's learning concepts that I don't ever remember learning! Just last night, Levi was writing a thank-you note, and he glanced up halfway through and grinned, "I just wrote a verbal phrase!" I'm pretty sure that I could not have accurately defined a verbal phrase until we learned it last week. It's a little tricky to implement the various components, so if anyone jumps on the MCT band-wagon, feel free to contact me with any questions. We've settled into a rhythm now.
Two of the components: grammar and practice. The first level is "island," the second is "town."
Math
Beast Academy. This is sort of the "it" math program to use with gifted elementary students. It's relatively new, and segues into an online math program that, to be honest, I don't know much about yet. Levi and I are both very linear, concrete thinkers; we don't do terribly well with geometry or any sort of abstract thinking. The first chapter of Beast Academy is notoriously difficult, and the switch from Saxon has not been an easy one. Now that we're past the first chapter, though, I think he's settling into the groove. The "guide" book (textbook) is written in cartoon-style, featuring a classroom of monsters (hence, "beast academy"). Again, it's not how I would prefer to learn, but it's been satisfactory to watch Levi break out of his black-and-white (figuratively and literally, given Saxon's dry approach) thinking and attempt more abstract problem solving.
There are four levels for each grade, A-D. We're just finishing up 3A.
History
Mystery of History. Much to my surprise, Levi has started saying that history is his favorite subject since we began this a year or so ago. (For a long time it was always math, and then for a while it was grammar when he fell in love with Mud the Fish.) This is a traditionally classical approach to ancient history, a four-year cycle starting at creation. I can't imagine that we'll ever manage to finish a volume in one year, though; we're on track to complete volume one in about eighteen months. Each "week" (or 6-7 school days, in our case), we read three lessons, do activities for some or all of the lessons, take a quiz, put more figures on our giant wall timeline, and complete a mapping activity of some sort. Levi loves the mapping; we both love the timeline. I especially appreciate that this is not geared towards one age group, so each lesson has three options for activities, for "younger," "middle," or "older" students. Since he's so all-over-the-map in his interests and abilities, I can choose from any of the three for any given lesson. (Or, sometimes, we're busy or not interested and don't do any at all, and that's fine, too.) I love that Bible and secular history are woven together chronologically, so we're getting an overview of everything going on in the world at any given time.
These are pretty common to find at used curriculum sales, as you can see by the $25 sticker.
Timeline so far, from creation to Cyrus releasing the Jews back to Jerusalem.
One activity example: salt-dough relief map of Israel/Judah.
BJU Science 5. I chose this for one really fantastic reason: a friend is letting me use it for free. (That was sarcasm, by the way.) More specifically, I really didn't know which way to turn for science this year, and I didn't want to spend a fortune on a program we didn't like. We've been following the outline in the Well-Trained Mind for science -- biology first, then earth science and astronomy -- so this year should be chemistry and physics. But we already did chemistry two summers ago, when Levi was interested in the periodic table, and I'm horrendous at physics (and therefore would like to push it back as long as possible). Also weighing into my decision was the fact that Levi will be tested for official homeschooling purposes for the first time this year. Since I don't really know what Minnesota schools cover from grade to grade, I wanted to do a more traditional school-type curriculum that would expose him to various branches of science.
Unfortunately, Levi (and all the boys) is still completely obsessed with the solar system, and he has found the first two chapters on rocks and fossils to be incredibly boring. This has been the subject we've fought over most in the past two months. I finally figured out that he's happier if I let him read the material and fill out any study guides by himself, instead of insisting he answer discussion questions after every assigned reading. When the activities/experiments are convenient, we do them (which is not often right now, unfortunately). As long as he scores reasonably well on any quizzes or tests, I'm going to stay pretty hands-off. At least for now. We'll see how it goes.
Bible
Apologia's Who is God? This is an introduction to worldview, and I've been happy with it so far. The accompanying journal has a little bit of everything: defining terms, crossword puzzles and word searches, Scripture copywork, the occasional cut-and-paste lapbook activity, discussion questions. Levi's writing skills are not as far ahead as most other things, so I usually do any discussion questions with him and write down answers as he dictates. That gives me a chance to make sure he's understanding things, too. I'm looking forward to continuing on through the three-part series.
Typing
Typing.com. He's gone through the beginner level twice, working for speed and accuracy, and just moved on to intermediate this week. It's very simple, basic instruction. I heard about a program featuring cartoon goats and tried to get him to switch to something more "fun" last week, but he preferred to stick with what he knows. :)
Copywork
Once a week (or sometimes less, since I regularly forget about it), he copies out a question and answer from the Westminster Shorter Catechism. I got it free (in digital format to print myself, which I cannot find now) somewhere along the way, and it's as good as anything else for keeping up his cursive. (We used Logic of English just for cursive, when he asked to learn a year or so ago.)
And, that about covers it! I estimate we spend approximately three hours on school every day, Monday through Thursday, split up between the morning (Bible, math, sometimes science) and afternoon (history, grammar, whatever else needs to be caught up on). Add in piano lessons (which have been somewhat sporadic since we moved, but we're trying) and fall soccer; this month he took on the responsibility of washing kids' plates and cups after dinner, and last week he successfully tied his shoes for the first (and only) time. Thumbs up for eclectic homeschooling!
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