We've just embarked on a big adventure – moving to a brand-new home right at the beginning of the year. We've journeyed from the north of the country all the way to its hottest opposite end. While still at our settling stage, our previous school (the one we'd gotten used to and settled into) unfortunately waved goodbye to its homeschool program. (Cue the sad music.)
So, as you can imagine, our family is in the midst of a whirlwind of changes and adjustments. And right at the crossroads of a new academic year, we found ourselves pondering the fitting curriculum for our fourth-grader.
Between unpacking boxes and cozying up to our new surroundings, we're also diving headfirst into exploring options for a new school and getting everything lined up for the upcoming academic journey. Thankfully, we managed to find a new one we think is best fitting for our family.
As I've been crafting Miss Eager Beaver's fourth-grade curriculum, I try to keep a foundation of structured lessons while weaving in her unique interests. It's like assembling a vibrant mosaic of possibilities, where each piece plays a part in her journey of growth and exploration.
It took a bit more time to get everything done 🕒, but I learned the value of flexibility in key moments such as these 💪😊
Caution: Nothing is set in stone so our curriculum goes through changes as we go along.
LANGUAGE ARTS
- The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts Level Four
- Love that they have Spelling and Writing Workshops included at this level as well as Geography, Arts and World Biographies
ENGLISH LITERATURE (Oral Narration)
- Betsy Tacy & Tib by Maud Hart Lovelace (got this from Amazon)
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (Will use Under The Home Curriculum)
- Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
- The Railway Children by E.Nesbit
- King Arthur and his Knights by Radford (Will use Under the Home Curriculum)
So, here's how it shakes out: when we get down to those seriously massive storylines that stretch for miles, my daughter isn't exactly thrilled over the idea of oral storytelling. But guess what? We've come up with a clever little workaround.
Rather than diving headfirst into some of those weighty classic novels, we're taking a gentler approach. Picture it like a buddy giving a reassuring pat on the back, nudging her towards those epic reads, step by step. It's like planting the seeds of appreciation for those timeless tales, nurturing her interest at her own pace. 'Cause let's be real, sparking a genuine love for reading has always been the name of the game for me.
And am truly grateful that she’s slowly opening up to those heavy duty classics that we’re able to finish one or two of them.
ENGLISH LITERATURE ( Free Reading | No narration required)
This list usually expands depending on the number of books we get our hands on and books that caught her interest. Haha!
- Monday with a Mad Genius by Mary Osborne (story mapping)
- Magic Treehouse Camp Time in California
- Magic Treehouse Sunlight on the Snow leopard (got this from the Amazon)
- Around the World in 80 days (got this from a set that I bought)
- Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne (saw this available too)
- East of the Sun, West of the Moon (Got this from a set that I bought)
- A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (also from a set)
- Merlin Mission A crazy day with cobras (story mapping)
Just added this as of writing (on our cart! 😂):
MATH
- Simply Good and the Beautiful Math Level Four
- Continues to work just as fine. So why change what’s working right?
ISLAMIC VALUES EDUCATION
- Mini Tafseer Series
- Surah Recitation
- This works hand in hand with our mini tafseer series. Surah Recitation and memorization for the same surahs.
- Qur’an Stories
For other religions, you can use explanations of your holy texts, read important parts from your scriptures, and share stories/parables that teach good qualities and lessons. By putting these things together, you can make lessons that help kids become better people and understand what's right and wrong, using the wisdom from their faith.
WORLD HISTORY
- Story of the World Volume 2: The Middle Ages by Susan Wise Bauer (pdf file)
- Story of the World Activity Book Two by Susan Wise Bauer (pdf file)
WORLD BIOGRAPHIES
- The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts Level 4 (also covers this)
- Magic Tree House Fact Tracker: Leonardo da Vinci
- William Shakespeare
- Fifty Famous People by James Baldwin
PHILIPPINE HISTORY
- Prehistory of the Phils: A lolong Time Ago - we started this last homeschool year but haven't finished so we'll continue on (If sold out try here)
- Philippine History in Stories
PHILIPPINE BIOGRAPHIES
- Gabriela Silang (1731-1763) - Tahanan Great Lives series
- Jose Rizal (1861-1896) - Tahanan Great Lives series
- We already tackled Teodora Alonso last homeschool year so it's time to learn about his son.😃
- Rizal’s own story of his life (ebook)
PHILIPPINE LITERATURE (Oral/Written Narration/Comic Sketch depends on my daughter's choice for each)
- Sampu Pataas, Sampu Pababa
- Mga Lambing ni Lolo Ding
- Mahabang Mahabang Mahaba
- Isang Harding Papel
- Ang Pambihirang Buhok ni Lola
- Bugtong-Bugtong
- Si Segunda Noong Panahon ng mga Espanyol
- Ang Ambisyosong Istetoskop
*Open for negotiation.😂 Meaning, might still change or take out some of these.🤭
GEOGRAPHY
- The Good and The Beautiful Language Arts Level Four (it also covers this)
- Home Geography for Primary Grades by C.C. Long ( ebook pdf )
- Map drills
- Philippine Regions (will depend on the places we'll travel this year)
- Country Study (will depend on the places we'll travel this year)
- I always try to link experience to learning so it will be a more cherished one and kids get excited
SCIENCE
- Snakes and Other Reptiles
- The Shocking Story of Electricity
- The Burgess Animal Book for Children by Thornton Burgess ( pdf file ebook
- Nature Stories for Young Readers: Animal Life ( ebook )
POETRY
- We’ll use the curriculum from Under the Home
ARTS
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Art History: we’ll use Under the Home curriculum
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
- Taekwondo
MUSIC
- Opera & Ballet Music
- We’ll use the Under the Home curriculum - adding this as an option if we can still accommodate
Like as always, not everything work out as planned. Our curriculum changes along the way. We add on some more or change the others. Either way, it's always what works best for our family.
Happy 💗 homeschooling!
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