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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. TOG follows the “classical
method” using a 4-year rotating cycle of Ancients, Middle
Ages/Reformation, Early Modern and Modern. Based on a Christian
worldview, this is the BEST curriculum I have ever used. Having all three
of my girls using the same curriculum means that they all cover the same
topics and subjects, but each grade level has age appropriate activities
and expectations. Each Year Plan can be purchased in digital format (DE)
as well as in print. You purchase the lesson plans (instructions) for
Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4 and then use them over again as you go
through each cycle. If you began this curriculum with your child in 1st
grade you would go through the 4 year cycle 3 times before he graduates
(going through Ancients in grades 1, 5, and 9). The reading books and reference
materials will change with each grade level as you go through the
curriculum, but you only have to purchase the lesson plans once. You can
purchase additional pieces to go along with the curriculum for subjects
like writing/grammar, map work, etc. We added our own math and science
for the older students and the Tapestry lesson plans provided
instructions for everything else...including hands on projects!
At first glance, it can be intimidating. I
honestly looked at it for 3 years and didn’t think I could do it, but I
eventually figured out that each Year Plan has everything in it for
grades 1-12 and I would never “do it all” in one year. We have now worked with Year Plans 1,
2, and 3 and I can honestly say that 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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