future

Ok, so I have future curricula on my mind.  I know, I know, we just started this year!  But I want to get my ideas down because I really think it'll help me get it out of my head to focus on what we're doing now.  Then I can look at it later when we need to make decisions.  So here goes:

Language Arts

Learning Language Arts Through Literature looks really good to me.  I like Ruth Beechick principles of learning language naturally.  It looks gentle and like it will fit into short lessons.  I'm thinking of starting Z on the yellow level, which is approx. third grade, because the second grade includes a lot of phonics, which I don't think she'll need, and is more expensive.  I think her reading level will be fine for yellow.  There are criticisms that this program isn't very rigorous, but I'm not really looking for rigorous, just something a bit more structured than Ambleside Online alone.

Explode the Code workbooks, as long as we like the ones we're doing this year.  Just a little extra phonics practice.  These types of things tend to be fun and easy for Z.

Christian Liberty Nature Reader 2.  I really like level 1 that we're doing now.  It's pretty advanced for first grade, and it keeps Z challenged.  Plus it's really good information.  I'm getting tired of early readers that have awkward sentences like, "Dad did help him."  I understand the need for them early on, but I like that these readers have a more natural flow, even if they're difficult.

Sing, Spell, Read & Write for L.  I may include some Explode the Code workbooks for him, especially if he goes quickly through level K like Z did.  But I don't want to overdo workbooks, so we'll see.

Handwriting Without Tears for both kids.  Skip SSRW handwriting.  Also copywork, especially using Bible verses.

History

A Child's History of the World, Hillyer- This is an Ambleside recommended book (as well as Sonlight) and it looks like a good narrative of history to use for the next few years.

Peace and Peril and Monks and Mystics, Withrow.  These would be for church history. They are mostly short biographies I think.  We're starting P and P at the end of this year.

Our Island Story, Marshall- Another Ambleside book about history of Great Britain.

Fifty Famous Stories Retold, Baldwin- Ambleside book.

Viking Tales, Jennie Hall- Ambleside book.

This Country of Ours,  Marshall- Ambleside book. 

In the third year I'd plan to start American history alongside world history.  I like the look of Beautiful Feet Early American History, and also Time Travelers cds from Homeschool in the Woods (for fun activities).  I may start out the Explorers Time Travelers at the end of year 2 if we get to that point and see what I think. BF includes a lot of the D'Aulaire books that Ambleside recommends.  I think, in general, I like the idea of doing American History chronologically along with world history, unlike how Ambleside does it, because I think it will make more sense.  It'll make more sense to me, for sure, so I'd rather do it the way I feel most comfortable.  

Math

Singapore Math 2

Miquon Math Level 2

Earlybird Math for L

Science

Noeo Science looks good to me.  Perhaps the Physics 1?  I may do another year of Life Science though.  Animals and such would be fun for L, I think, so we'll have to think about this.

Literature, Artist, Composer

Continue Ambleside Online selections.  

Ok, enough of my crazy ramblings.