It's been a year or maybe two since I've done a curriculum choice post since, honestly, our choices have remained relatively the same the last few years. This year, with Mouse entering high school (see blog post and curriculum choices for her HERE) and Thumper needing some changes, I figured now would be a good time to do an updated curriculum choice post. We have also added Bird to the mix more intentionally and formally this year, and her outlook on school looks different than it was for her sisters at this age.
Thumper is going into the 5th grade this year, and we had to change some things. A lot of our choices remain the same. We will continue using Sonlight History/Bible/Literature and following along with Level E: Intro to American History Year Two. This may be our last year with Sonlight, as we seem to be looking for a change of pace. So I have challenged us to stay up on our Sonlight level and made a goal to finish by the end of October. Because, in November I would like to try one of Campfire Curriculums Thanksgiving Units. Based off of how we like this unit will help determine where we go with school in 2026.
Thumper, my math loving kiddo,is also continuing with Math U See Epsilon that she started in July, when she finishes that level she will continue on to Zeta. She seems on pace for completing these, as we rarely have to stop and take time to practice a lesson beyond the six practice pages and tests.
She also started with IEW last year doing a themed book (Bible Heroes), this year she will is doing their Student Structure and Style Year 1 Level A. She is continuing on with their Fix It Grammar as well. We really do like the simplicity of this grammar program.
She is dabbling in Latin this year using Duolingo, where last year she was learning Swedish. I’m hoping at some point she will narrow down her focus and choose a language to pursue more formally in the years to come. But she has time still.
The biggest thing we changed is science. We had a bit of a struggle last year with completing assignments. So, after some discussion, we decided to switch from Apologia to Sonlight Science. Still, we are doing Anatomy and Physiology, which is a retired core that I was able to snag from Rainbow Resources. She will independently tackle the “read-aloud” and the daily questions/worksheets.
Thumper and Bird are working together on our Adoptive Cow Program. These are fun little learning activities sprinkled into our year, where we will mostly work on things on Saturdays together.
With Bird I have had to do a lot of thinking, reorganizing, and planning to decider how best she will learn. Right now my current plan is to begin All About Reading Pre-Reading with her, modifying it a little bit. We will follow the lessons in number order, completing two to three lessons a week. However, we will do activity sheets and crafts based on a letter a week (upper and lower case). She got some alphabet games for Christmas we will play as well to help increase letter recognition.
I’m also adding in Before Five in a Row, but I’m not sure how well this will go. So far it feels like a lot of prep and planning for very little activity. I’m going to give it a chance, but we may just read the books and I’ll come up with my own activities to accompany the books. My plan is to do two books a month, so we will see.
I’m not starting a formal math program with her, but she did surprise me over Christmas break, while playing UNO, of her number recognition. So we will just find some math games to play and go from there. If we go home at all this year, I may decide to pick up Math U See Primer for her and start that will her slowly.
So in a nutshell she’ll those are our curriculum choices for the 2025 school year for grades 5 and pre-school.
As always, keep following our journey on our Facebook Page or Instagram. If you want more in-depth conversations, check out our Facebook Parent Group. More importantly, if you’re finding yourself in a struggle season, reach out (email or messages).