Several emails have recently been sent to me here at BellaOnline asking about the curriculum I will be using to homeschool my son next school year. I figured I would let everyone know, and maybe you can plan to follow along with me in the Fall. My son is ten, and he will be eleven mid August. I am doing a 5th/6th multi-age year for him, to be sure he is up to speed on everything. Here are the resources I plan to use for Language and Writing, along with some information you will find useful. Shoot me an email if you'd like to utilize these curriculum choices, too, or if you already are. If there is an interest I'd be happy to post my lesson plans online each week.

My Language Arts and Writing program will be based on the wonderful Writing Strands resources. I will be starting with Writing Strands Level Three, and moving on to Writing Strands Level Four. I will then move to Evaluating Writing, Essays in Writing, Understanding Fiction (Reading/Writing) and Communication and Interpersonal Relationships. The last resource is speech and writing based, and I may teach that within my son's co-op class. This program is not only comprehensive, but it is also awesome.

I plan to complement this great program with basic grammar review. Visit the McGraw Hill site at the end of this page to download free Language Arts and Grammar workbooks. I will be using grade level 6, On Level Practice Book O and
Grammar Practice Book. While I don't plan to utilize every page, these workbooks will be an excellent way for me to gauge my son's progress and prior knowledge of grammar.

Of course we will veer off on mini lessons and extension lessons as they arise, through reading or spelling work. I love using a "Whole Language" based curriculum, which incoporates all subjects for effective and meaningful learning.