This is my life lately. Reading about education, researching different curriculum, talking to homeschoolers who have experience (Lisa) and those who are like me and taking the plunge this year for the first time (Whitney). I have attended two online conferences and have plans to attend a third. I have read about all the different styles, decided mine is eclectic (big surprise!), thought about Wyatt’s interests and learning style, then finally made my choices. Which was exciting but scary too! On some level I am like this is kindergarten, relax, but then I am also like, it’s kindergarten, the foundation of his whole education!
So after much deliberation, the materials have all been bought and printed. My husband brought it all home to me yesterday and I very nerdily enjoyed going through it all and placing it into different binders. It gave me that first day of school thrill that I always had when I would get all my new school supplies, all shiny and unused. Then I realized, Wyatt’s first day of kindergarten was going to be so very different than mine was. I was actually in the newspaper my first day of kindergarten – I had bad allergies and was holding a handkerchief, in my little smocked dress, holding my mom’s hand in the hallway, but I must have looked like a little bereft schoolgirl because that was how they captioned it, about being sad. Wyatt will have an entirely different experience. None of the first day nervous anticipation, no filling of the brand new backpack with shiny new supplies. I need to think about how to make that day special for him!
For math, I chose Math Lessons for a Living Education. I love that it has a central story read aloud for every lesson, and I know that Wyatt will enjoy that aspect as well. However, I bought the first textbook and it is a little low for Wyatt so we started it already, and I will buy the next level up around Christmas I think. He is enjoying it so far, so that is good! It is a Christian curriculum, which wasn’t my intention, but it works!
For Language Arts, History, Geography, Art, Music, and Nature Study, I chose Blossom and Root’s Kindergarten curriculum (which is 30% off right now). I am absolutely in love with it, and I am so excited to start it with Wyatt. There is a huge emphasis on reading and books and nature, which we love in this house. The history and geography section starts with the history of Wyatt, then his family, then begins to explore his place in the world, from our community to the wider world. I can’t wait to begin it with him. We also had to choose a few heroes to study, and Billy and I chose MLK Jr, Benjamin Franklin, and Jane Goodall. This program looks like it is all about joy and ease and beautiful art and language, all good things that I want to influence Wyatt’s learning. The art and music component is amazing as well. Wyatt is going to be studying some real masters this year, from Monet to Diego Rivera (I so hope that we can get in to the DIA safely to show Wyatt the enormous Rivera mural there) to Edward Hopper, and Bach and Joplin and Chopin. It sounds more intense than it really is, but how awesome that this is what he is being introduced to. I felt he needed a different math component though, which is why I went with Math for Living Education. Not because I felt the Blossom and Root was lacking, but because Wyatt needs a little structure in some areas.
I am also adding in the Chickie and Roo Kinder Nature Beginnings Language Arts program. If I knew what next year had in store for us, whether we are committing to homeschooling for elementary or not, then I might just stick to the Blossom and Root, but I wanted to add in just a touch more language arts as well. Wyatt I think needs just a little more reinforcement and structure, and he loves to do table work.
I will also be adding in some mini-science unit studies of my own as well throughout the year. Wyatt and I are going to be so busy – but in a really good way. I am super excited for this school year, and I hope that he will love it too!
Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs.. 
Everything sounds amazing! Can’t wait to see it in action. You are a fantastic mummy.
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Thank you so much lol! We will see how this goes!
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I admire all your effort. If all parents did this, the world would be a better place.
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Oh my goodness, what an amazing compliment! Thank you so much Ellen. 🙂
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I think it is great that Wyatt can begin his education in this way. Afterwards, I am pretty sure you will be grateful that you had this opportunity. Thanks for sharing.
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I am excited and nervous! Lol. I agree, I think no matter what we will building some good memories during this awful trying time.
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This looks like some good choices! I’m researching my options for kindergarten this week and I’ve added your picks to my list!
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I am pretty excited about them all. And nervous too. Lol. I am looking forward to hearing what you decide on!
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I get so nervous too but really it’s all going to be fine. We need to chill! We got this! Right? 🙁🙂
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We do!! We can definitely do this.
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You’ve done so much research on this, and your choices are inviting. Sending you good wishes for an adventure of a school year. Like marriage and having children and other worthwhile pursuits, I’m sure homeschooling will be filled with ups and downs, but it will be something you can tweak as you go along.
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Thank you so much Deb! And that is good advice, I will keep flexible and know that I can tweak things as I go along if needed. We will see what works and what doesn’t!
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This sounds great, Erin. I think you have prepped him well with your interactive activities in the past year on a theme. I know you’ll rock this.
Maybe for his first official day — leading up to it, a calendar countdown like an advent calendar but maybe he gets one school supply a day for however many days. An eraser, a set of new markers, a ruler or whatever might fit. And the last day a special school backpack or similar to put it in. And on the first day of “school,” a special breakfast. You could make a cute centerpiece out of a colorful gift back with his school books or whatever sticking out amidst some colorful tissue. It would feel special and anticipatory. I know you’ll have a zillion other fabulous ideas that will build up to it and you will make it very special.
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That is a great idea!! I love the idea of a countdown to the first day with little surprises. And I am ordering a million books and art supplies between now and then, I could probably use those for the centerpiece for the breakfast. Thanks Jeanie!!
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With hindsight (if you ended up using the curriculum you mentioned) did you become more or less enamored with your curriculum choices? Any of the conferences/parental resources you would highly recommend? (Apologies if you have other posts about this, just discovered your blog!)
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Well we are still homeschooling over here and loving it! I did end up switching our math curriculum to The Good and the Beautiful, and when he moved up in grades, I also switched his language arts/reading to The Good and the Beautiful as well. I also supplement with my own language arts, but we did like Chickie and Roo for kindergarten. For social studies we use The Waldock Way, which I highly recommend, and History Quest. We are still using Blossom and Root for science, I love their approach. And finally for art, I have made my own curriculum, and it is working out really well!
As for parental resources, I really liked the books The Read Aloud Family, The Creative Family Manifesto, and The Call of the Wild and Free. I have not attended any conferences lately, although there is one coming up in NC (I think?) that I would love to attend but I am unable to, darn it.
Feel free to reach out with any other questions! If I have the answer I will be more than happy to help!
I have a few other curriculum posts too
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