At Home with the Editors: 4th Grade and 1st Grade Curriculum

This year, my eldest son enters 4th grade, and my younger son enters 1st grade. Here’s a snapshot of the curriculum resources I’m using with them this year.

Language Arts

• My main goal has always been to read good literature to my boys, which I do regularly, so we’re continuing with that. At the moment, I’m reading The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich to them.

• My 4th grader is dusting off an old, unused Star Wars Brainquest workbook to practice handwriting and spelling. It may say that it’s a 2nd grade workbook, but it’s basically just creative writing prompts, which I am adapting for our needs. 

• I am also making him learn how to type this year, and I’m using this free online program. You can also pay a little to have the ads removed, if you prefer.

• My 1st grader is learning how to read. I have used Starfall.com, Star Wars workbooks, and now I’m beginning again in Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. (I tried it last year, but he wasn’t quite ready for it yet.)

• My 1st grader is almost finished with his Handwriting Without Tears workbook too.

Math

• My 4th grader refuses to use anything other than the Life of Fred books, which is okay with me. We’ll work through Honey, Ice Cream and Jelly Beans this year, and then I’ll decide if we need to do more.

• For my 1st grader (who likes math!) I use Singapore and the Star Wars workbooks.

• I am also working with both boys on memorizing the times tables.

Science

• This is the first year I began a science curriculum with my ten-year-old. He always loved science, and we learned plenty about science through child-led activities in the early years. But I thought it would be a good idea to round that out, so I am using Biology for the Logic Stage by Elemental Science. (This is a secular program.) I’m adapting it for his needs too. 

This is the core of our homeschool lessons, i.e. those formal lessons that I plan for my boys. However, our day doesn’t end there. My eldest son is studying classical piano, theory and music history because this is his major interest right now. My younger son is learning about birds. As a family, we watch documentaries everyday, and sometimes I throw in lessons on art and civics too. Learning never really ends in this house! The curriculum is just a supplement. ☺

What are your favorite curriculum resources? 

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