Here’s the first of several posts as I outline our whole life education plan for 2012-2013.

I love the term whole life education, because this is what we aim to do.  To build up our children in a variety of ways, not simply academically.  While it’s important they deepen knowledge and skills, life is much more than reading, writing and math (or science, or history).

Life is about relationships :: with God, with others, with ourselves.  And so, we move in this direction (more on this later)!

Right now, we have in our home:

• 3 yr old boy (36 months this week, preschool)
• 6.5 yr old boy (1st grade)
• 9.5 yr old girl (4th grade)
• 13 yr old girl (almost 14!, 9th grade)

I’ve decided each child will have their own curriculum plan, and also to group different ones up for combined learning.  Today, I’ll outline the combo plan for THE BOYS.

We’ve homeschooled for 10 years, but haven’t ever tried Five in a Row {FIAR} curriculum.  After seeing Michelle’s site of awesome ideas and plans, and then realizing we already school this way in the younger years (yes!), we’re adopting FIAR as the basis for the preschooler and 1st grader.

I am SO thrilled! {see all of my FIAR planning resources here}.

{photo credit}

Personally, I’m one who needs to narrow down ideas from the get-go, and that’s just what I did with FIAR.

I pulled from ALL books – Before FIAR (B4FIAR) and Volumes 1-3 and will tailor activities to the levels of the boys.  I organized according to seasonal themes and what might work for us when.

We’re rowing about two books per month since I’m making them fairly chock-full with extras and other books to go-along.

:: :: ::

Here’s Our Five in a Row Plan:

August 2012 – summer, bears, outdoors, fruit

Blueberries for Sal (B4FIAR)

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (B4FIAR)

September 2012 – where we live, city maps, police theme, monkeys, money/counting

The Red Carpet (B4FIAR)

Caps for Sale (B4FIAR)

October 2012 – apples (this is when we normally make applesauce), pies, fractions, colors, art

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World (Vol 1)

Harold and the Purple Crayon ((Vol 2)

November 2012 – thanksgiving, cranberries, owls, moon

Cranberry Thanksgiving (Vol 1)

Owl Moon (Vol 2) and Goodnight Moon (B4FIAR)

December 2012 – this month we’re not rowing any books (we’ll finish up Owl Moon/Goodnight Moon) and focus on Advent plans and Christmas celebrations!

 

 

 

Happy New Year!

January 2013 – snow, transportation, winter, city maps, community helpers

Katy and the Big Snow (Vol 1)

The Snowy Day (B4FIAR)

February 2013 – winter, sheep, wool, pioneers, carving, cabin life

Warm as Wool (Vol 3)

Daniel’s Duck (Vol 3)

March 2013 – passover.  we’ll only row one book to match our Passover celebration time, and then take a break for Holy Week/Spring break.

Mrs. Katz and Tush (Vol 2)

April 2013 – big machines!, gardening, rabbits, spring

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (Vol 1)

The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Vol 2) and The Carrot Seed (B4FIAR)

May 2013 – Asia, ducks, animal families, relationships.  this month we’re focusing on Asian studies as a whole group (all kiddos) as well as wrapping up any other academic work.  So, we’ll row books along that theme!

The Story About Ping (Vol 1)

A Pair of Red Clogs (Vol 1)

 

 

Again, I’m really excited about our plans and hope this will be a good fit for the boys.

Subscribe via email and follow along our book reading journey!  I’ll be updating after each book we row…don’t forget to check out my resource and planning page!

HAPPY READING!

 

This post linked up to iHomeschool Network Blog Hop,  Preschool Corner, and Big Family Friday.