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1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade
6th Grade 7th Grade Extracurricular Activities
1st Grade
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Tapestry of Grace
When our kids were in grades 1, 4, and 7 we began using a
curriculum called Tapestry of Grace. This is a 4-year rotational
classical style curriculum covering Ancients, Middle Ages, Early Modern
and Modern. Based on a Christian worldview, this is the BEST curriculum I
have ever used with something for everybody. Having all 3 girls using the
same curriculum means that they all cover the same topics and subjects,
but each grade level has different reading material and obviously age
appropriate expectations for written work and discussions. You purchase
the lesson plans for Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4 and then use them
over and over again as you go through the rotation. If you began this
curriculum with your oldest child in 1st grade you would go through the 4
year cycle 3 times before he graduates. The reading books and reference
materials will change with each grade level as you go through the
curriculum in future rotations. We only had to add math and science and
the Tapestry lesson plans provided instructions for everything
else...including hands on projects!
At first glance, it can be
intimidating. But perseverance pays off in the end! Seriously, having
used this curriculum for Year 1 Ancients, we are solid in our decision to
use this curriculum until our last child graduates from high school. You
even have access to online help including other users and the authors
through the Tapestry forum on their website. Check it out by clicking
here...
 
My quick overview of the FIAR program:
Each week you read a different children’s book. Using the content of the book
as your weekly themes, the “manual” provides you with various activities
for art, music, language, cooking, etc. This is called a “unit
study” - you use the weekly literature themes to coordinate your art,
music, cooking, math, and whatever other subject you choose to cover.
My thoughts on how it worked for us:
Although I loved the unit study approach (everything from crafts to math
coordinating with the themes), it lacked the historical aspect that I
felt my family needed. We were wanting something based on literature and
history that followed along in chronological order. I wanted a curriculum
that would teach my children about the world around them while teaching
them biblical history at the same time.
My quick overview of the MUS program:
Lessons are presented for the parent on video (may be DVD by nowJ). You
watch the creator of MUS explaining each math concept to a room of
students and teachers. We used the older version (Introduction,
Foundations, and then it went on to Intermediate) so I cannot comment on
any revisions made after that point. Parents used the Instructor’s Manual
along with the video and students had both manipulative blocks and a
workbook.
My thoughts on how it worked for us:
My daughter loved MUS. She watched the video with me, then we “played”
with the blocks demonstrating the concept described on the video, and
then she did the workbook pages. She had a great understanding of basic
math concepts because of the way the MUS presents them. Everything is
based on 10’s (up to 9 can live in the unit’s house because the 10th
resident exceeds the unit’s house and has to move up to the 10’s. The
10’s house can hold 9 tens and then moves up to the 100’s). Learning to
tell time was presented in the same easy to follow way. I used the
program again with my middle daughter for kindergarten and she too did
very well with the hands on approach to math.
- Phonics
Pathways by Doris Hiskes (learning to read)
available where books are sold
My quick overview of the Phonics Pathways book:
Step-by-step instructions and rules for reading and spelling.
My
thoughts on how it worked for us:
Quite a thick book, we began going through it in kindergarten and
then finished it in first grade with both of my older children. The older
child finished it and was reading quite well by the end of 1st
grade. We did supplement with Hooked on Phonics (http://secure.hop.com/), but
this was mostly so that the child learning to read would have something
she could do independently while I worked with another child on something
else.
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