OneLuckeyWife

In the realm of childhood keepsakes,  Me: A Compendium  stands as a remarkably sophisticated yet endearing artifact. This "all about me" journal is a delightful departure from the standard fill-in-the-blank fare, secured by a durable hardcover that ensures the contents—and the cover art—remain pristine regardless of how many times it is retrieved from the bookshelf. The introductory pages feature a dedication section that is simply enchanting; upon completion, your child can formally designate the book as a gift for a loved one. The prospect of having a finished volume dedicated to a parent is enough to make any homeschooling mother’s heart skip a beat. The pedagogical brilliance of this art book lies in its ability to camouflage foundational writing and artistic skills behind a veil of pure creativity. It navigates a vast terrain of personal preferences, ranging from favorite cuisines and holidays to more abstract concepts like feelings and weather. The prompts are ingenious...

We have remained steadfast in our commitment to  Building Block of Science  for our second-grade scientific explorations, and it continues to be a cornerstone of our academic year. One of the most compelling aspects of this curriculum is its sheer comprehensiveness; it arrives as a veritable arsenal of educational tools, including the primary textbook, a teacher’s manual, a student activity book, a specialized lab notebook, a comprehensive lab kit, and formal assessments. To maintain my professional organization and reduce physical clutter, I utilize a hybrid digital-physical approach. I selectively print the student activity pages and tests, while keeping the rest of the manuals sequestered on my iPad as PDFs—a "mom-hack" that ensures my lesson plans are always within arm's reach. The curriculum’s aesthetic is remarkably engaging, featuring vibrant, "cartoony" illustrations that consistently elicit giggles from my daughter. This levity is a strategic advantage,...

For 2nd grade I continued with Daily 6-Trait  for grammar lessons. I think it teaches things in an easy to understand way and to top it off our daughter has fun doing the work. There are 25 weeks of work in this curriculum with doing one page a day. So this curriculum is not overly intense and the work on each page is not a lot at all. An entire week will have work over the same concept that is apart about the main lesson for the unit. Each unit will be explained over 5 weeks. Before each week there is a parent/teacher 2 page spread. It will explain exactly how you should teach for that days page. The 5th day of each week if a writing prompt. It will tell you what prompt to have your child write about. One thing I wish was that it did better job at explaining how to expand your sentence. I did find a great picture online that helps with expanding your sentence and we use that during the writing prompts on day 5 of work.  The units you will go over are idea, organization, word ...

After navigating the labyrinth of mathematical curricula for several years, I can definitively assert that  Math-U-See  has been an extraordinary asset to our homeschool. The instructor’s manual is written with crystalline clarity, supplemented by a DVD for those moments when a visual demonstration is paramount. While many families find watching the videos with their children to be a vital component of the day, I find myself in a unique position; as a former chemistry major who conquered Calculus III, I generally have the conceptual "heavy lifting" under control. However, having a professional backup for those rare moments of pedagogical frustration is a luxury I truly appreciate. The curriculum is mastery-based, which aligns perfectly with my educational philosophy, and I am particularly enamored with the fact that it eschews "Common Core" (or "new math") entirely. Living in Texas, where such standards are effectively outlawed, I find the traditional ...