Help me plan Year 5!

[JusDelenH]

This is what I have planned for Year 5 so far. I am brand new to this but we come a semi classical school environment. Comments and suggestions will be helpful. 

 

Saxon 5 (classroom edition)

First Language Lessons, Level 4

SOTW 3 but only covering the "big" events and SOTW 4

Latin for Children, Primer A 

French 1

 

We have created our own biology and art curriculums.  We thought that many of the books we found just glazed over the concepts and wanted something harder. I am still trying to figure out how read aloud work in upper levels. I plan to do Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and The Hobbit, so far. Our literature titles for this year are: 

 

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliet

 

 

[SilverMoon]

This is what I have planned for Year 5 so far. I am brand new to this but we come a semi classical school environment. Comments and suggestions will be helpful. 

 

Saxon 5 (classroom edition)

First Language Lessons, Level 4

SOTW 3 but only covering the "big" events and SOTW 4

Latin for Children, Primer A 

French 1

 

We have created our own biology and art curriculums.  We thought that many of the books we found just glazed over the concepts and wanted something harder. I am still trying to figure out how read aloud work in upper levels. I plan to do Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and The Hobbit, so far. Our literature titles for this year are: 

 

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliet

 

I see math, history, science, grammar, literature, art, and two languages.

 

I would definitely NOT tackle two languages in your first year. Drop one and go with whichever one is most important to you.

 

I would add composition writing and spelling. Some writing ideas are Writing and Rhetoric from Classical Academic Press or Wordsmith Apprentice. For spelling all my kids used/use Spelling by Sound and Structure by Rod and Staff.

[Lori D.]

This is what I have planned for Year 5 so far...

 

Saxon 5 (classroom edition)

First Language Lessons, Level 4

SOTW 3 but only covering the "big" events and SOTW 4

Latin for Children, Primer A 

French 1

 

We have created our own biology and art curriculums...

 

In case it helps, here is a quick list of the academic subjects frequently covered in grade 5, and it looks like you've got most of your bases covered, with curricula and "DIY" (do it yourself) course of study:

 

Language Arts

Reading ---> DIY book list

Read Alouds ---> DIY book list

Writing 

Spelling

Grammar ---> FLL4

optional: Handwriting/Cursive (if still needed)

optional: Vocabulary (if desired)

 

Math

math instruction ---> Saxon 54

optional: math facts, if still needed

 

Science ---> DIY Biology

History ---> SOTW vol. 3 and vol. 4

 

optional subjects:

Art/Music  ---> DIY Art

Latin ---> Latin for Children

Foreign Language  ---> French 1

Critical Thinking/Logic

PE (i.e., some sort of regular physical activity)

Health/Safety

Typing

Computer

 

Agreeing with Silver Moon that studying Latin AND French is pretty stiff, unless you are living in a bilingual situation, or will be living in a French-speaking situation and need to learn that language. Either way, you can always add the second language a few years down the line. If French is not needed for daily living right now, I'd postpone that one, and work on Latin, which will give your student a terrific head start in French if you delay starting French for 2-3 years. Or, if you need/want the French now, you could delay the Latin and just do a root-word Vocabulary program to start getting a few Latin roots under your belt for future Latin study AND simultaneously get some Vocabulary scaffolding. :)

 

Something for Writing might be nice if FFL4 doesn't have as much Writing instruction in it as you'd like.

 

And you might want something for Spelling, unless your student is a natural speller and no longer needs spelling. If that is the case, you might try doing some sort of Vocabulary that also works as some Spelling support.

 

You might throw in a few resources from Critical Thinking Press and Tin Man Press for Critical Thinking/Logic that you could do a few mornings a week as a 15-minute "brain warm up". For example: Logic Countdown, Dr. Funster, Critical Thinking in Imagery Logic and Patterns, etc.

 

And 5th or 6th grade is a really good time to knock out Typing (learning to touch type). The student usually is solid with the foundational Math and Language Arts skills, and has not yet kicked up into the longer days and longer papers that are required to be typed in middle school and high school, so it's a perfect window of opportunity for Typing.

 

It's also nice along about 4th-6th grade when the student has the foundational skills under their belt to incorporate weekly time in the schedule for trying out personal interests with outside classes or kits or just personal exploration -- cake decorating, cooking, electronics, robotics, beginning computer programming, woodworking, Make It projects, hiking, sports, dance, martial arts, fencing, horseback riding...

 

 

...I am still trying to figure out how read aloud work in upper levels. I plan to do Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and The Hobbit, so far. Our literature titles for this year are: 

 

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliet

 

Read alouds in the upper elementary grades are still just that -- reading aloud and enjoying a book together, often a book that would still be a bit stiff for the child to plow through on their own, but often just a book you'd like to share together, even if it is at the child's reading level/interest level.

 

If scheduling the read aloud in the upper elementary grades is what is tricky, you might consider audio books, which allow you to "double dip" your time -- listen while having lunch, or while driving, or working on a chore together. Another thought is to schedule time a few nights a week for a family read aloud time all curled up together on the couch or in bed.

 

You've got a great list of books there! The only thing I'll toss out there is that two of the books might be very rough for a sensitive child or one who does not deal well with the death of a major character. In Where the Red Fern Grows BOTH of the boy's dogs die right towards the end of the book, and in Bridge to Terabithia, the girl who is the best friend of the protagonist and who creates the imaginary realm of Terabithia drowns in a freak accident about 3/4 of the way through the book, which makes the entire story and emotions take a major unexpected left turn. Just FYI. :)

 

 

Sounds like your student is learning, growing, and moving forward, and you have a solid academic plan! Perhaps this is the year to step out a little and have your student explore some personal interests and get involved in some extracurricular activities to expand your horizons a bit, and meet some other homeschoolers to make friends with and swap ideas… BEST of luck in your 5th grade adventures! Warmest regards, Lori D.

Edited July 25, 2016 by Lori D.

[Farrar]

Agreed with the above. Great book list. You might want to reconsider doing two languages to start off. You need something for writing.

 

We do read alouds before bed still. It doesn't have to be part of the school day. It can also be something to hand off to the non-homeschooling parent. Dh reads to the kids when he doesn't have a show going (he's an actor).

 

Have fun too. You can do this. Look for the openings for fun and rabbit trails and other positive things. Don't get too hung up on the schedule. And be willing to dump things that aren't working or add things that seem right.

[JusDelenH]

I forgot to add, I did not include logic because she does the puzzles for fun. She has been doing sudoku since she could count in order. We also play chess a lot as a family and she is beginning tournaments this year. She dances 4 days a week and takes a tumbling class. She also does TKD. We are adding music and voice this year as well. My fiance is an art teacher and formulated the curriculum around the types of work needed for a portfolio for the local arts middle school audition. She is doing an online typing "class" as well. I am doing writing with her literature. 

 

We decided to do French because she is a dancer and her studio teacher has already introduced them to terms. I was honestly doing Latin as a vocab builder. She actually wants to learn Greek. Mama does not know Greek but can read Latin.

 

I'm familiar with both texts. I used the "gifted" summer reading list from her old school and threw a couple extras in. We only do audiobooks in the car. I did not realize they counted.

[Lori D.]

… We only do audiobooks in the car. I did not realize they counted...

 

Yes, transitioning from a traditional school setting into homeschooling is a transition for mom/teacher, too, as you slowly begin to realize how flexible education REALLY is -- that education and learning do not just happen in the hours a child sits at a desk in a classroom or at home. ;)

 

 

… I did not include logic because she does the puzzles for fun...

...We also play chess a lot as a family and she is beginning tournaments...

… She dances 4 days a week and takes a tumbling class. She also does TKD...

… We are adding music and voice this year as well...

… My fiance is an art teacher and formulated the curriculum...

… She is doing an online typing "class"...

… I am doing writing with her literature...

 

Sounds like you're doing lots of terrific things with outside activities, the puzzles for fun, the typing, and tying your writing in with your literature… You're a natural at this! :)

 

I sure don't see any gaps here like what you were worried about in your other thread ("Help! I am thinking about delaying the Logic stage") -- and I SURE wouldn't hold back a student (as you suggested in that other thread), esp. your DD who is blossoming in every way! It sounds like you have a very solid academic plan, plus a good balance of extracurriculars and pursuing personal interests. Enjoy this "sweet spot" of homeschooling, in the years before high school when you have to stress about all the administrative aspects of transcripts, credits, college prep/college search…

 

 

...We decided to do French because she is a dancer and her studio teacher has already introduced them to terms. I was honestly doing Latin as a vocab builder. She actually wants to learn Greek. Mama does not know Greek but can read Latin...

 

Don't worry; you'll find your way through the foreign language thing -- which language to do, and when, and how. :)

 

 

Last year was your transition year. This year can be your FUN year! Explore! Enjoy! Try out new things! Even when you are following a classical educational model you can have loads of flexibility. :) Welcome to the wonderful world of homeschooling! Warmest regards, Lori D.

Edited July 25, 2016 by Lori D.

[JusDelenH]

Thank you all for your responses! Glad to know I am on the right track! The only changes we made were to drop formal French for Latin, we will still do it loosely for artsy stuff because she is always how to say something. She wants chemistry instead of biology this year, so now I'm hunting for a solid advanced curriculum. We will do the entire Harry Potter series since there is a nice smathering of Latin in there. Thanks for your input!