Giving Good Things

Quite often people ask me what curriculum I use for homeschooling. Each year has been different, since my children are young I have been making an effort to research and try different types in order to find the best fit for our family.

In the past I have used My Father's World http://www.mfwbooks.com/ and http://www.rodandstaffbooks.com/ . I love http://www.amblesideonline.com/ , it is free and is a very thorough resource, as is http://www.simplycharlottemason.com/ . Both follow the modern philosophy of the famous educator Charlotte Mason.

Currently I am teaching through Beautiful Feet Books http://www.bfbooks.com/ . And so far I am loving it!! We are studying Early American History, keeping a thorough notebook with their best work on all we learn, and I am able to teach all the oldest kids together.

For spelling and penmanship/copywork we went with http://www.queenhomeschool.com/ and the boys also have some fun Brainquest books, boggle spelling games, and flash cards.

For Grace who is in the 2nd grade we are using Emma Serl's Primary Language Lessons which was orginally printed in 1911 and reprinted by Lost Classics book company.

For geographyand science, we are mostly just incorporating that in our History studies, but I found this fund book A Child's Geography by Ann Voskamp http://www.achildsgeography.com/ based on Mark 16:15 "Go ye into all the world..." The book in it's own words says:

"Knowledge without love is an empty, heartbreaking gong. It would be a very sad state if our young geographers knew much of His world... but had hearts that were indifferent ...What are we without love?...We are called to be Christ's hands and heart to a hurting world."

For Math, I have not made my final selection. Grace is finishing some concepts from last year. We have had fun with the Cuisenaire Rods and Pattern Blocks with books through Learning Resources. These help with problem solving and logic, spatial relationships, counting, etc with a hands on approach.

We will be studying a famous composer, a famous artist, and a well known hymn, hopefully once per month. All of which can be derived from ambleside online or simply charlotte mason schedule on their websites.

With all that being said, I would like to emphasize;

1 Corinthians 13
The Greatest Gift

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

This is the greatest gift you can ever give to your children.