[…] We used the Gentle + Classical Primer for nearly everything else: virtues, manners and hygiene, hymn study, Bible story, literature, nursery rhymes, poetry, art, and music. It sounds like a lot, but it was gentle and sweet and made for a lovely year. I did a full review of this program in another post. […]
[…] an ideal world, I would have saved Gentle + Classical Primer for this year, but I didn’t know better at the time. Oops. Then I started looking at other […]
Wow, this is a sobering and yet deeply encouraging word on remembering to keep learning for oneself’s sake, as well as for those for whom you are caring. Thank you for sharing these ponderings and delights you are discovering!
[…] of women pursuing creativity alongside motherhood, led by the writing team behind Coffee + Crumbs. Click here to view the next post in the series […]
Hello! I’ve gor four myself (18mo, 3, 5, 8) and we are aiming for a Classical Christian education as well. My 2nd grader does Math U See (plus the Xtra math app for practice), Spelling You See, Logos Cursive, First Language Lessons for grammar, and we do Story of the World all together for history. We also do a little Noeo Science with the Kindergartener every few weeks (I found that it worked much better for me to do a “super science week” with Noeo. A week out of the lesson plan could easily be done in a single morning, so one week a month we do a “week” of Noeo each day. It was pricey…I’m not sure if I’ll buy the next one)
My kindergartener does the Rod and Staff workbooks for Kindergarten and loves them. We also do Ordinary Parents Guide to Reading, and it’s what I used to teach my 2nd grader to read as well.
My 3yo does a lot of workbooks that teach cutting and pasting skills (his favorite things to do!) and we’ll be starting to use Letter Factory to teach him his letter sounds soon.
At the request of my children, I added an art class. I bought “Home Art Studio” and I let Mrs. Volin teach from the TV while I assist with supplies and messes. That’s once a week (when we can)
I also just bought Song School Latin 1 secondhand, and all the kids find it fun so far. Just the dvds and music so far.
My toddler either plays in the sunroom-converted-playroom with the 3yo, naps, or hangs out in his playpen while we do school. He’s still learning not to get into mischief as well!
As for books, we are frequent flyers at our library and read quite a bit from there. Our most recent favorites are “Richard Scarey’s Best Story Book Ever” and “Baby Island.” Bible is memorized and discussed all day, and read aloud with Dad in the evenings.
I’m looking at using First Language Lessons and Story of the World next year when my oldest is in 1st grade. I’d never heard of Noeo Science. I’ll have to look into that! My boys both love the Letter Factory. I think my oldest especially would like Song School Latin. He really enjoys music.
Thank you for this!!
I think I was starting to give in the the “peer pressure” too! I kept thinking that a good wife really ought to be gardening and canning and fermenting and kefir-ing and raising chickens and all of that! All my friends do! But I visited a farm recently and enjoyed the woman of the house very much. But I saw in her skills and loves that I simply don’t have. And I realized that God may have just made me a little more suburban than I thought I was, or thought I wanted to be. It’s sort of seen as a weakness these days, isn’t it? To be suburban? We do live in a smaller town, an hour away from the nearest city. But I have finally admitted to myself that I do NOT need to see bits of homesteading as my inevitable future and I do NOT need to spend money on equipment to do extra work I don’t want to do and that my husband isn’t asking me to do anyway!
I’m so glad it resonated with you! My neighborhood has a suburban feel as well. Blessedly, my husband isn’t interested in homesteading either, so at least we’re on the same page.
I would love for you to subscribe to my newsletter! It has exclusive content. You can subscribe by clicking on the newsletter tab at the top of the page.
[…] my oldest son’s pre-K year, which was also our first year of preschool at home. We used the Gentle + Classical Primer, which provided excellent scaffolding for me as I became more familiar with the philosophy […]
I’m very pleased to uncover this website. I wanted to thank you for ones time for this particularly fantastic read!! I definitely liked every bit of it and i also have you book marked to see new things in your website.
[…] adore composer study. We began doing it a couple years ago when my oldest was working through the Gentle + Classical Primer. Initially, I thought it would be too much for a 4 year old. My eyes were opened to the value of it […]
We love Story of the World! We are finishing up volume 1 with my 1st grader this year. It is actually my 3rd time through the series. Such a great resource. We haven’t used the activity book before though. Enjoy your year!
This is beautiful, Laura. What an experience for all of you! My grandmother used to run a nursing home. Every time we visited she would have my Dad and I sing for the residents. It was something I continued through adulthood with him at home. To this day the hymns still move me. ❤️
Got a little teary there… Just sang “In Christ Alone” this past Sunday and read your words today – truth will always touch home no matter what day it is, and touches differently, sometimes more deeply, on different days. Thank you for this reminder of how hymns aren’t just songs we sing, but often sources of strength and comfort we can draw on in hours of need.
[…] first foray into homeschooling my son happened in 2020, when I decided to keep him home for his K4 year. Now I’m preparing for my second son’s K4 […]
[…] fascination with plants this year. I am NOT naturally outdoorsy, and I even write blog posts about how I don’t want to homestead. However, it’s important to me to cultivate my children’s unique personalities and interests, […]
[…] first year of unofficial homeschooling was 2020-2021. My oldest was 4 years old. I had spent the previous two years teaching other people’s 4 year […]
[…] This post is part of a blog hop with Exhale—an online community of women pursuing creativity alongside motherhood, led by the writing team behind Coffee + Crumbs. Click here to view the next post in the series “Still Motherhood”. […]
[…] A great big thank you goes out to Megan from My Full Heart for doing all the behind-the-scenes work hosting this year’s Blogging Through the Alphabet series. So far for this week, Megan is sharing her daughter’s barrel racing story with A is for Arena, and Laura from LauraMckinneyAdams.com shares her ideas and tips on how to teach the alphabet. […]
I loved using Saxon Math when kids were in the elementary grades. Story of the World is another one that we enjoyed. These all look like great choices.
Hello! I am also using Claritas Cycle 1 this fall. There is not much online as far as guides or directions, you’re right! I appreciate your book list! I’m sure we will reference it this year!
This is definitely something I need to make time for myself. Teaching math is very intimidating to me but only in the middle school and high school years. We’re outsourcing for my son’s 7th grade year to Nicole the Math Lady and Saxon math!
[…] project kits for kids that teach science, technology, art, engineering, and math concepts. We are classical homeschoolers. While classical education is stereotypically heavy on the humanities, I also strive to make my […]
[…] been learning the Doxology and Come Thou Fount with our Claritas memory work. As my children learn the lyrics, I learn how to accompany them on the piano. I do not play hymns […]
[…] Jelly Belly Factory from Desiree at Our Homeschool NotebookJune and July from Megan at My Full HeartJ is for Joy from Laura McKinney AdamsJ is for Johnston from Kirsten at A Mom’s Quest to […]
[…] I think The Magic School Bus is best for ages 5 and up. My younger kids like it, but the educational content is lost on them. My oldest has learned a lot though. The episodes cover all sorts of science topics. I integrated pertinent episodes into our 1st grade science studies. […]
Thank you for taking the time to read and review my book, Blue Skies West. I am so happy that your son enjoyed it! Happy homeschooling! ~Mattie Richardson
[…] done for preschool with my 4 year olds. I realized that I wrote a blog post about what I did for my oldest child’s 4 year old preschool year, but not about what I did for my second […]
[…] My first foray into homeschooling my son happened in 2020, when I decided to keep him home for his K4 year. Now I’m preparing for my second son’s K4 year. […]
[…] Story of the World will be our spine. In addition, we will read other history books that correspond to our time period. You can view my full Middle Ages book list here. […]
We love studying history chronologically as well. It’s been so fun over the past 12+ years of homeschooling to revisit the same topics and the same books with my kids. And there are so many good read-alouds for the Middle Ages!
[…] read Blue Skies West aloud to my 6 year old son. He liked the adventure and action in the story, and especially the parts about animals. We learned […]
[…] a family membership, you can use the program with multiple students in your immediate family. Both of my boys tried out the program. They did their work on my […]
[…] chose to participate in the Art of the Ancients review because it corresponds to our history studies this year. There are 8 volumes in the K-3 series, with each focusing on a different time period or […]
[…] fondly remember using Reading Detective from The Critical Thinking Co. when I was in 3rd or 4th grade. When the Homeschool Review Crew announced the opportunity to do a Thinking Skills for Tests […]
[…] The year 2020 was the most bizarre news year of my life. Historical! Unprecedented! Are we getting a whole chapter on 2020 in history textbooks on the events of the 21st century? Time will tell, but it was a lot to live through. I knew that I needed to adapt my news consumption habits. […]
[…] alphabet. I taught preschool in a classroom setting for two years, and I’ve taught preschool in a homeschool setting for two years. One of my primary goals for any preschool student, be it my own child or someone […]
[…] been fun, since it’s the first year of “official school.” This year I’ll have a kindergartener, a preschooler, and a 1 year old. Yes, it is a party at my […]
[…] to homeschool. In fact, I already do homeschool, and I simply adore it. When it comes to discussing philosophies of education, selecting curriculum, or even just commiserating about the hard and good work we’re doing, I’m […]
[…] evaluation and critical thinking skills have never been more crucial than in our current era of social media. We are dealing with an onslaught of information 24/7, and not all of it is good […]
[…] so I listened to a slew of contenders during those early years of motherhood. As I’ve begun homeschooling my kindergartener “for real,” my podcast listening time has decreased, but these all still hold special places in […]
[…] we use this list, my children will be in 1st grade and pre-K. Accordingly, my selections are skewed towards a younger demographic. Claritas Cycle 1 […]
[…] divide my day into blocks. I have a block for homeschooling, a block for my toddler daughter’s traditional cranky hour, a block for cleaning, a block for rest time, a block for meal prep, […]
[…] By December 2022, it became apparent that he needed to move onto kindergarten work. I wrote about what we did to pivot here. I have left this post as it was because I want you to know that even bloggers and podcasters and […]
[…] Today I’m writing a Bible Blueprints review, courtesy of Teach Sunday School. Teach Sunday School offers a variety of printables to enhance your Bible study. Bible Blueprints offer an accessible introduction to each book of the Bible for personal or group study. In a homeschool setting, I think they would be a great resource for morning time. […]
[…] hallmark is studying history chronologically and in cycles. Susan Wise Bauer suggests a four year history cycle, to be repeated three times by the time the […]
[…] is discovering new characters and faraway places and tales from long ago. It’s delighting in the frog who lives behind the trash can. It’s math on an abacus. […]
[…] lifelong learning for moms.” I advocate for moms to stretch themselves intellectually and to learn new things. When we model an inquisitive spirit, we pass it onto our […]
[…] six year old son asks this question every day, sometimes multiple times a day. We have a flat, sizable backyard, perfect for frolicking. I water […]
[…] the owner of the name is valuable. In contrast, a person whose name is forgotten often feels as if they, themselves, are forgettable, left out, and […]
[…] we begin, let me be clear – I believe in lots of free play, especially for preschool children. However, I also believe there are scenarios where a preschool […]
[…] a baby, my oldest child was 4 years old. If we hadn’t gotten to everything I had planned for his K4 year, it would’ve been okay, because he would’ve had a lot of time to cover things again. If he had […]
[…] my mother, who heard about it from her homeschooling circles. This is one of the perks of being a 2nd generation homeschooler. Your mom knows about all the good stuff. You also get wonderful hand-me-down books, but I […]
[…] began a beginner morning time with my oldest when he was two. I wanted him to learn how to sit and listen to the Bible. We started with only five verses. I […]
[…] Hallelujah by Cindy Rollins this year. I purchased this book with my own money. My sons have grown old enough to enjoy holiday traditions and general merriment, and their involvement makes the season seem more […]
[…] My middle guy will be my second kindergartener. I’ve had too much fun selecting kindergarten homeschool curriculum for him. He really loves school and workbooks, and his curriculum reflects that. If you’re interested in what I did for kindergarten with my oldest, you can check that out here. […]
[…] I want him to learn at least some of the poems as well. I did not require as much memorization when I did this program in the past. However, my middle guy will be a good bit older when he begins (5.5 years old vs. just turned 4) […]
[…] expectations upside down, sorting through them, and then deciding which expectations you actually want to keep. That’s the secret: you don’t have to keep all of […]
[…] child is turning five later this spring, which means that I’m staring down the advent of the Big Kid Era. Furthermore, my middle child just recently potty trained, so he’s also starting to seem more […]
[…] Next, I move on to working with my kindergartener. Sometimes he has worked on his handwriting page while I read to my 3 year old, and sometimes he has not and we need to start with that. He uses Saxon 1 for math. He is about halfway through the book because we started it last year. […]
[…] We usually do history during naptime two afternoons per week, but sometimes we manage to get it in during the morning. I read 1-2 chapters of Story of the World Volume 2 per week. Before the school year began, I compiled a list of corresponding read alouds and we read a book or two from that selection each week. If things are chaotic, the extra history readings are the first thing to go, but we just pick up where we left off and enjoy ourselves. If you are interested in books for the Middle Ages, you can check out my book list post here. […]
[…] my daughter is my third child, her homeschool preschool differs from her brothers’ homeschool preschool. I have two elementary students who really have to be doing school work every day. It’s easy […]
[…] – My kids are all participating in paid classes for homeschoolers this year. My youngest is in a preschool class with a delightful teacher. We also go to our local […]
[…] you are trying to instruct an early elementary student and supervise an under 5 year old child, School Time Entertainment is a precious and valuable tool. […]
[…] are my 1st grade curriculum picks for my middle child. I have decided to leave off specific levels on my curriculum pick blog posts for my older boys […]
Thank you so much for this! I’m leading our co-op’s history class this year, and I was about to sit down and go through and make this exact list. You saved me so much time and over-thinking 🙂
Lydia McKinney
Love this blog post. Hope you write more soon.
Homeschool Curriculum Picks: Pre-K/Preschool (2020-2021) - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] We used the Gentle + Classical Primer for nearly everything else: virtues, manners and hygiene, hymn study, Bible story, literature, nursery rhymes, poetry, art, and music. It sounds like a lot, but it was gentle and sweet and made for a lovely year. I did a full review of this program in another post. […]
Our Curriculum Selections for Kindergarten and Preschool (2021-2022) - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] an ideal world, I would have saved Gentle + Classical Primer for this year, but I didn’t know better at the time. Oops. Then I started looking at other […]
Lydia McKinney
Great choices Laura!
Kristin
Wow, this is a sobering and yet deeply encouraging word on remembering to keep learning for oneself’s sake, as well as for those for whom you are caring. Thank you for sharing these ponderings and delights you are discovering!
Being Your Authentic Self and Resisting Definitions | Lindsay Crandall
[…] of women pursuing creativity alongside motherhood, led by the writing team behind Coffee + Crumbs. Click here to view the next post in the series […]
Danielle
Hello! I’ve gor four myself (18mo, 3, 5, 8) and we are aiming for a Classical Christian education as well. My 2nd grader does Math U See (plus the Xtra math app for practice), Spelling You See, Logos Cursive, First Language Lessons for grammar, and we do Story of the World all together for history. We also do a little Noeo Science with the Kindergartener every few weeks (I found that it worked much better for me to do a “super science week” with Noeo. A week out of the lesson plan could easily be done in a single morning, so one week a month we do a “week” of Noeo each day. It was pricey…I’m not sure if I’ll buy the next one)
My kindergartener does the Rod and Staff workbooks for Kindergarten and loves them. We also do Ordinary Parents Guide to Reading, and it’s what I used to teach my 2nd grader to read as well.
My 3yo does a lot of workbooks that teach cutting and pasting skills (his favorite things to do!) and we’ll be starting to use Letter Factory to teach him his letter sounds soon.
At the request of my children, I added an art class. I bought “Home Art Studio” and I let Mrs. Volin teach from the TV while I assist with supplies and messes. That’s once a week (when we can)
I also just bought Song School Latin 1 secondhand, and all the kids find it fun so far. Just the dvds and music so far.
My toddler either plays in the sunroom-converted-playroom with the 3yo, naps, or hangs out in his playpen while we do school. He’s still learning not to get into mischief as well!
As for books, we are frequent flyers at our library and read quite a bit from there. Our most recent favorites are “Richard Scarey’s Best Story Book Ever” and “Baby Island.” Bible is memorized and discussed all day, and read aloud with Dad in the evenings.
Thanks for sharing your curriculum and thoughts!
Laura Adams
I’m looking at using First Language Lessons and Story of the World next year when my oldest is in 1st grade. I’d never heard of Noeo Science. I’ll have to look into that! My boys both love the Letter Factory. I think my oldest especially would like Song School Latin. He really enjoys music.
Danielle
Thank you for this!!
I think I was starting to give in the the “peer pressure” too! I kept thinking that a good wife really ought to be gardening and canning and fermenting and kefir-ing and raising chickens and all of that! All my friends do! But I visited a farm recently and enjoyed the woman of the house very much. But I saw in her skills and loves that I simply don’t have. And I realized that God may have just made me a little more suburban than I thought I was, or thought I wanted to be. It’s sort of seen as a weakness these days, isn’t it? To be suburban? We do live in a smaller town, an hour away from the nearest city. But I have finally admitted to myself that I do NOT need to see bits of homesteading as my inevitable future and I do NOT need to spend money on equipment to do extra work I don’t want to do and that my husband isn’t asking me to do anyway!
Laura Adams
I’m so glad it resonated with you! My neighborhood has a suburban feel as well. Blessedly, my husband isn’t interested in homesteading either, so at least we’re on the same page.
I would love for you to subscribe to my newsletter! It has exclusive content. You can subscribe by clicking on the newsletter tab at the top of the page.
Review: Hallelujah by Cindy Rollins - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] my oldest son’s pre-K year, which was also our first year of preschool at home. We used the Gentle + Classical Primer, which provided excellent scaffolding for me as I became more familiar with the philosophy […]
Megan H
I have never really thought about the difference between naming and labeling! Interesting. Also, Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorites, too 🙂
Jewel Deeter
I’m very pleased to uncover this website. I wanted to thank you for ones time for this particularly fantastic read!! I definitely liked every bit of it and i also have you book marked to see new things in your website.
Laura Adams
I’m glad to have you here! 🙂
Our Curriculum Selections for 1st Grade - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] adore composer study. We began doing it a couple years ago when my oldest was working through the Gentle + Classical Primer. Initially, I thought it would be too much for a 4 year old. My eyes were opened to the value of it […]
Heather
We love Story of the World! We are finishing up volume 1 with my 1st grader this year. It is actually my 3rd time through the series. Such a great resource. We haven’t used the activity book before though. Enjoy your year!
Jessica Moran
This is beautiful, Laura. What an experience for all of you! My grandmother used to run a nursing home. Every time we visited she would have my Dad and I sing for the residents. It was something I continued through adulthood with him at home. To this day the hymns still move me. ❤️
Laura Adams
Thank you, Jessica! <3
Kristin
Got a little teary there… Just sang “In Christ Alone” this past Sunday and read your words today – truth will always touch home no matter what day it is, and touches differently, sometimes more deeply, on different days. Thank you for this reminder of how hymns aren’t just songs we sing, but often sources of strength and comfort we can draw on in hours of need.
Homeschool Planning for Your First Child vs. Homeschool Planning for Your Second Child - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] first foray into homeschooling my son happened in 2020, when I decided to keep him home for his K4 year. Now I’m preparing for my second son’s K4 […]
Homeschool Planning for Your First Child vs. Homeschool Planning for Your Second Child - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] Tag along with big brother as desired […]
os homens mentem
You have a great site and content, I’m glad you liked it here. 71746674
The 6 Most Helpful Things to Do During Your First Year of Homeschooling - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] fascination with plants this year. I am NOT naturally outdoorsy, and I even write blog posts about how I don’t want to homestead. However, it’s important to me to cultivate my children’s unique personalities and interests, […]
The 6 Most Helpful Things to Do During Your First Year of Homeschooling - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] first year of unofficial homeschooling was 2020-2021. My oldest was 4 years old. I had spent the previous two years teaching other people’s 4 year […]
Local Boy Discovers a Passion for Plants - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] His mother is okay with that. […]
Kristin
Wishing the real-world news was more like this.
Lydia McKinney
That’s my wonderful, intelligent, amazing, enthusiastic nephew right there! Living the proud aunt life 🙂
What Happens When Mom Takes a Step Back - Storyteller Farm
[…] This post is part of a blog hop with Exhale—an online community of women pursuing creativity alongside motherhood, led by the writing team behind Coffee + Crumbs. Click here to view the next post in the series “Still Motherhood”. […]
ashley
this is such a sweet way to remember and wrap up the school year! it’s so fun the pics kids take on their own, and the toy story sandals! precious.
Jessica
Such a fun age! You’ve captured it really well!
Te’Essence
This is so sweet. Love it!
Laura Adams
Thank you, Te’Essence!
Ellen
These are some great ideas. I love the x-ray bones for x, and the zebra stripes for z. Very creative!
Homeschooling Advantages - Homeschooling Highway
[…] A great big thank you goes out to Megan from My Full Heart for doing all the behind-the-scenes work hosting this year’s Blogging Through the Alphabet series. So far for this week, Megan is sharing her daughter’s barrel racing story with A is for Arena, and Laura from LauraMckinneyAdams.com shares her ideas and tips on how to teach the alphabet. […]
Kristen
The z for zebra is so cute!
Kristi@BaileysHomeschoolAdventure
I LOVE these ideas! I’m going to pass along to my niece who directs a pre-school program! Thanks for sharing!
Lydia
Great review Laura!!!
Ellen
I loved using Saxon Math when kids were in the elementary grades. Story of the World is another one that we enjoyed. These all look like great choices.
Charlotte
Oh my goodness, I loved using The Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading and Story of the World!! Such good memories of when my kids were little!
Lara
Hello! I am also using Claritas Cycle 1 this fall. There is not much online as far as guides or directions, you’re right! I appreciate your book list! I’m sure we will reference it this year!
Laura Adams
I’m glad I could help! 🙂
Kristen
We loved using the hymns from Claritas Publishing. Our daughter in particular really enjoys singing them.
Ellen
Beautiful words, Laura. They are very true. Thank you for the reminder.
Kristi
Love, love love the 8 Great Smarts! Such a great book!
Ellen
These look like good books. I agree it’s good to set an example of continual learning for your kids. We never stop learning.
megan
This is definitely something I need to make time for myself. Teaching math is very intimidating to me but only in the middle school and high school years. We’re outsourcing for my son’s 7th grade year to Nicole the Math Lady and Saxon math!
Laura Adams
We’re really liking the CTC Math that we just started using for the Homeschool Review Crew. I’m glad there are so many options these days.
Kristen
My husband just finished reading 8 Great Smarts and used the online material to evaluate our children. The book is next on my to-read list.
Kristen
I’ve always wondered about crayon rocks. They look so cool but my children are older now.
Lydia
Great, informative post!
Ellen
Thank you for this great list of resources. I’ll refer to it as my little granddaughter gets to the preschool age.
STEAM4KIDZ Review - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] project kits for kids that teach science, technology, art, engineering, and math concepts. We are classical homeschoolers. While classical education is stereotypically heavy on the humanities, I also strive to make my […]
Joy - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] been learning the Doxology and Come Thou Fount with our Claritas memory work. As my children learn the lyrics, I learn how to accompany them on the piano. I do not play hymns […]
Kristen
I love that you are learning hymns together and playing them on the piano. What a beautiful time to spend together.
Ellen
Excellent thoughts! You’re absolutely right.
Homeschooling Tips from A to Z for 2022: The Letter K - Homeschooling Highway
[…] Jelly Belly Factory from Desiree at Our Homeschool NotebookJune and July from Megan at My Full HeartJ is for Joy from Laura McKinney AdamsJ is for Johnston from Kirsten at A Mom’s Quest to […]
6 Educational Videos for the Mom of Littles in Survival Mode - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] I think The Magic School Bus is best for ages 5 and up. My younger kids like it, but the educational content is lost on them. My oldest has learned a lot though. The episodes cover all sorts of science topics. I integrated pertinent episodes into our 1st grade science studies. […]
Kristen
Excellent points! Thank you so much for sharing.
Heather
Thank you for taking time to explore and review our site! We appreciate it!
Using the Imagination Station Series with Story of the World - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] If you are studying ancient history, you might also enjoy my full book list post. […]
Mattie Richardson
Thank you for taking the time to read and review my book, Blue Skies West. I am so happy that your son enjoyed it! Happy homeschooling! ~Mattie Richardson
Claritas Cycle 2 Book List - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] plan to begin Claritas Cycle 2 in fall 2023. We’ve been using Claritas Cycle 1 this school year with great […]
Homeschool Curriculum Picks: Pre-K/Preschool (2021-2022) - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] done for preschool with my 4 year olds. I realized that I wrote a blog post about what I did for my oldest child’s 4 year old preschool year, but not about what I did for my second […]
Our Homeschool Routine with a 1st Grader, a Preschooler, and a Toddler - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] Our Homeschool Routine with a Preschooler, a Toddler, and a Baby – ages 4, 2, and 7 months […]
Homeschool Planning for Your First Child vs. Homeschool Planning for Your Second Child - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] My first foray into homeschooling my son happened in 2020, when I decided to keep him home for his K4 year. Now I’m preparing for my second son’s K4 year. […]
2nd Grade Homeschool Curriculum Picks (2023-2024) - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] Story of the World will be our spine. In addition, we will read other history books that correspond to our time period. You can view my full Middle Ages book list here. […]
Katie Waalkes
What great choices! We love story of the world especially. Hope you have a fantastic year
Rebekah Ruth Berman
Looks like amazing choices! I love spiral learning. It’s helped my 4th grader a lot
Reading Eggs Review - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] have two beginning readers in my homeschool, so we were excited to do a Reading Eggs […]
The Ultimate Gift Guide for Classical Homeschool Moms - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] Christmas is coming, and sometimes husbands appreciate some gift ideas, so I developed the ultimate gift guide for classical moms! […]
Amy
We love studying history chronologically as well. It’s been so fun over the past 12+ years of homeschooling to revisit the same topics and the same books with my kids. And there are so many good read-alouds for the Middle Ages!
Blue Skies West Review - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] read Blue Skies West aloud to my 6 year old son. He liked the adventure and action in the story, and especially the parts about animals. We learned […]
Our Homeschool Routine with a 1st Grader, a Preschooler, and a Toddler - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] write homeschool routine posts about once a year. At the time of this writing, I have a 1st grade boy, a preschool boy, and a 2 […]
Using the Imagination Station Series with Story of the World - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] you are studying the middle ages, you might also enjoy my full book list post for that era as […]
Anna
I loved teaching SotW! What a great resource!
Laura Adams
Thank you!
Progeny Press Study Guides Review - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] I read the story with my 6 year old son, we paused and discussed the questions in the “Looking at the Story” section of the […]
CTC Math Review - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] a family membership, you can use the program with multiple students in your immediate family. Both of my boys tried out the program. They did their work on my […]
Art of the Ancients Review - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] chose to participate in the Art of the Ancients review because it corresponds to our history studies this year. There are 8 volumes in the K-3 series, with each focusing on a different time period or […]
Thinking Skills for Tests: Early Learning Review - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] fondly remember using Reading Detective from The Critical Thinking Co. when I was in 3rd or 4th grade. When the Homeschool Review Crew announced the opportunity to do a Thinking Skills for Tests […]
Decluttering Your Digital Life - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] The year 2020 was the most bizarre news year of my life. Historical! Unprecedented! Are we getting a whole chapter on 2020 in history textbooks on the events of the 21st century? Time will tell, but it was a lot to live through. I knew that I needed to adapt my news consumption habits. […]
How to Teach the Alphabet - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] alphabet. I taught preschool in a classroom setting for two years, and I’ve taught preschool in a homeschool setting for two years. One of my primary goals for any preschool student, be it my own child or someone […]
Our Curriculum Selections for Kindergarten and Preschool (2021-2022) - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] been fun, since it’s the first year of “official school.” This year I’ll have a kindergartener, a preschooler, and a 1 year old. Yes, it is a party at my […]
I Don't Want to Homestead - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] to homeschool. In fact, I already do homeschool, and I simply adore it. When it comes to discussing philosophies of education, selecting curriculum, or even just commiserating about the hard and good work we’re doing, I’m […]
How to Evaluate a Source (Or, Don't Believe Everything You Read on the Internet) - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] evaluation and critical thinking skills have never been more crucial than in our current era of social media. We are dealing with an onslaught of information 24/7, and not all of it is good […]
The Best Podcasts for Homeschooling and Parenting the Early Years - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] so I listened to a slew of contenders during those early years of motherhood. As I’ve begun homeschooling my kindergartener “for real,” my podcast listening time has decreased, but these all still hold special places in […]
The 10 Best Classic Picture Books for Preschoolers - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] read a lot of classic picture books in the past few years, and I’d like to share some of our favorites with you. Keep in mind that my […]
Claritas Cycle 1 Book List - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] we use this list, my children will be in 1st grade and pre-K. Accordingly, my selections are skewed towards a younger demographic. Claritas Cycle 1 […]
How to Fight Feeling Behind - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] divide my day into blocks. I have a block for homeschooling, a block for my toddler daughter’s traditional cranky hour, a block for cleaning, a block for rest time, a block for meal prep, […]
Hands-On History Lap Pak Review: Knights - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] son’s attention well. I also liked how a list of recommended books was included. We like to integrate books into our studies whenever […]
The Weeds are Easier - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] my 4 year old and I harvest lettuce, cilantro, and radishes. That bounty didn’t just happen. We researched, purchased […]
Preschool for the Child Who Has Exhausted Preschool - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] By December 2022, it became apparent that he needed to move onto kindergarten work. I wrote about what we did to pivot here. I have left this post as it was because I want you to know that even bloggers and podcasters and […]
Bible Blueprints Review - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] Today I’m writing a Bible Blueprints review, courtesy of Teach Sunday School. Teach Sunday School offers a variety of printables to enhance your Bible study. Bible Blueprints offer an accessible introduction to each book of the Bible for personal or group study. In a homeschool setting, I think they would be a great resource for morning time. […]
What is Classical Education, Anyway? - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] hallmark is studying history chronologically and in cycles. Susan Wise Bauer suggests a four year history cycle, to be repeated three times by […]
What is Classical Education, Anyway? - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] hallmark is studying history chronologically and in cycles. Susan Wise Bauer suggests a four year history cycle, to be repeated three times by the time the […]
This is Kindergarten - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] is discovering new characters and faraway places and tales from long ago. It’s delighting in the frog who lives behind the trash can. It’s math on an abacus. […]
Why Children Need Good Literature - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] read aloud is Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne. We read it before a couple years ago, but I can tell my boys are enjoying the humor more […]
Educating Our Children, Educating Ourselves - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] lifelong learning for moms.” I advocate for moms to stretch themselves intellectually and to learn new things. When we model an inquisitive spirit, we pass it onto our […]
Our Curriculum Selections for 1st Grade - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] Pre-K Curriculum Picks – 2020-2021 […]
Healthy Habit Trackers Review - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] six year old son asks this question every day, sometimes multiple times a day. We have a flat, sizable backyard, perfect for frolicking. I water […]
Gentle + Classical Preschool Review - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] preschooler just completed his year of using Gentle + Classical Preschool. He was 3 years old when we began the […]
How to Homeschool with a Kindergartener, a Preschooler, and a Toddler - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] How to Homeschool with a Baby and a Toddler – ages 4, 2, and baby […]
How to Homeschool with a Kindergartener, a Preschooler, and a Toddler - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] Our Homeschool Routine with a 1st Grader, a Preschooler, and a Toddler – ages 6, 4, and 2 […]
Small Blooms: Entering the Big Kid Era - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] oldest child recently turned five, which felt like the beginning of the big kid era. Frequently, I tell my husband that our oldest […]
What's in a Name? - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] the owner of the name is valuable. In contrast, a person whose name is forgotten often feels as if they, themselves, are forgettable, left out, and […]
Should You Buy a Preschool Curriculum? - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] we begin, let me be clear – I believe in lots of free play, especially for preschool children. However, I also believe there are scenarios where a preschool […]
The 4 Characteristics of a Successful Homeschooler - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] mother began homeschooling me in 1999. Though I graduated in 2012, she is still homeschooling my youngest sibling. Now I homeschool my […]
How to Homeschool with a Baby and Toddler - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] a baby, my oldest child was 4 years old. If we hadn’t gotten to everything I had planned for his K4 year, it would’ve been okay, because he would’ve had a lot of time to cover things again. If he had […]
A New Way to Schedule: Planning Your Homeschool Day with Young Children - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] “How do you homeschool with a baby?” […]
Gentle + Classical Primer Review - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] my mother, who heard about it from her homeschooling circles. This is one of the perks of being a 2nd generation homeschooler. Your mom knows about all the good stuff. You also get wonderful hand-me-down books, but I […]
The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Morning Time - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] began a beginner morning time with my oldest when he was two. I wanted him to learn how to sit and listen to the Bible. We started with only five verses. I […]
To the Overwhelmed Mom at Advent - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] This is the sixth Christmas since I became a mother. It is the first Christmas since I became a mother that I haven’t been in survival mode. […]
Our Homeschool Routine with a Preschooler, a Toddler, and a Baby - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] the time of this writing, my children are 4 years old, 2 years old, and 7 months old. The older two are boys and the youngest is a […]
Review: Hallelujah by Cindy Rollins - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] Hallelujah by Cindy Rollins this year. I purchased this book with my own money. My sons have grown old enough to enjoy holiday traditions and general merriment, and their involvement makes the season seem more […]
Our Top 10 Books for Homeschool Preschool - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] enjoyed many lovely books together this school year. Here are our top ten favorite books for homeschool […]
Reflections on Summer - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] do you think would be fun to do this summer?” I ask my three and five year old […]
The Little Kid Homeschool Routine Round Up - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] How to Homeschool with a Baby and a Toddler – ages 4, 2, and 3 months […]
Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum Picks (2023-2024) - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] My middle guy will be my second kindergartener. I’ve had too much fun selecting kindergarten homeschool curriculum for him. He really loves school and workbooks, and his curriculum reflects that. If you’re interested in what I did for kindergarten with my oldest, you can check that out here. […]
Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum Picks (2023-2024) - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] I want him to learn at least some of the poems as well. I did not require as much memorization when I did this program in the past. However, my middle guy will be a good bit older when he begins (5.5 years old vs. just turned 4) […]
What We Dropped This Year - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] three kids under the age of 7 and all of them needing me for everything, something needed to go on autopilot. That ended up being […]
Ela
Very well said! I like these reminders…and it’s good to have them written down to go back to them when the times get hard…
On Homeschooling, Childhood, and Passing it On - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] expectations upside down, sorting through them, and then deciding which expectations you actually want to keep. That’s the secret: you don’t have to keep all of […]
5 Investments Every New Mom Should Make - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] child is turning five later this spring, which means that I’m staring down the advent of the Big Kid Era. Furthermore, my middle child just recently potty trained, so he’s also starting to seem more […]
Jess H
Thank you for taking the time to compile a list for all 4 volumes. This is very helpful!
Laura Adams
You’re welcome!
Our Homeschool Routine with a 2nd Grader, a Kindergartener, and a Preschooler - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] Next, I move on to working with my kindergartener. Sometimes he has worked on his handwriting page while I read to my 3 year old, and sometimes he has not and we need to start with that. He uses Saxon 1 for math. He is about halfway through the book because we started it last year. […]
Our Homeschool Routine with a 2nd Grader, a Kindergartener, and a Preschooler - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] We usually do history during naptime two afternoons per week, but sometimes we manage to get it in during the morning. I read 1-2 chapters of Story of the World Volume 2 per week. Before the school year began, I compiled a list of corresponding read alouds and we read a book or two from that selection each week. If things are chaotic, the extra history readings are the first thing to go, but we just pick up where we left off and enjoy ourselves. If you are interested in books for the Middle Ages, you can check out my book list post here. […]
Our Homeschool Routine with a 2nd Grader, a Kindergartener, and a Preschooler - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] Our Homeschool Routine with a Preschooler, a Toddler, and a Baby – ages 4, 2, and 7 months […]
Our Homeschool Routine with a 2nd Grader, a Kindergartener, and a Preschooler - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] Our Homeschool Routine with a 1st Grader, a Preschooler, and a Toddler – ages 6, 4, and 2 […]
Our Homeschool Routine with a 2nd Grader, a Kindergartener, and a Preschooler - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] How to Homeschool with a Kindergartener, a Preschooler, and a Toddler – ages 5, 3, and 20 months […]
Our Homeschool Routine with a 2nd Grader, a Kindergartener, and a Preschooler - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] A New Way to Schedule: Planning Your Homeschool Day with Young Children – ages 5, 3, and 14 months […]
Our Homeschool Preschool Plan (for a 3 year old) - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] my daughter is my third child, her homeschool preschool differs from her brothers’ homeschool preschool. I have two elementary students who really have to be doing school work every day. It’s easy […]
Our Homeschool Preschool Plan (for a 3 year old) - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] – My kids are all participating in paid classes for homeschoolers this year. My youngest is in a preschool class with a delightful teacher. We also go to our local […]
Our Homeschool Preschool Plan (for a 3 year old) - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] I’m also teaching a 2nd grader and a kindergartener, I decided not to do a full blown preschool curriculum with her this year. […]
Gift Guide for Little Siblings - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] you are trying to instruct an early elementary student and supervise an under 5 year old child, School Time Entertainment is a precious and valuable tool. […]
Pre-K Curriculum Picks (2024-2025) - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] See my full review of Gentle + Classical Preschool here. […]
1st Grade Curriculum Picks (2024-2025) - Laura McKinney Adams
[…] are my 1st grade curriculum picks for my middle child. I have decided to leave off specific levels on my curriculum pick blog posts for my older boys […]
Katie
Thank you so much for this! I’m leading our co-op’s history class this year, and I was about to sit down and go through and make this exact list. You saved me so much time and over-thinking 🙂
Laura Adams
I’m glad it helped!
Chua Peng Hwa
I wish to purchase the old and new testament blue prints. How do I place an order
Laura Adams
Hi there! Here is the link to purchase: https://teachsundayschool.com/i/bibleblueprints/
David Atkinson
Our granddaughter will turn 3 in December, we are interested in home schooling for her.