Starting the Journey

I am just beginning my homeschooling journey. Tornado Boy is 6.5 years old, in first grade, at a private school. The school is good, but the work is very easy for him, and I can see him heading into "coasting" through school. I want to prevent that. I want to develop a love for learning, helping him to achieve all that he is capable of.

The Brute is newly 4 years old. I have been doing a small amount of "formal" preschool type work with him, though it is done at a very age appropriate level - short lessons, not everyday, stop if he looks "done". He has done very well with this and has learned a ton the last several months.

Mischief is 18 months old. He is into everything right now and will certainly give us plenty of challenge while homeschooling. :) He also has mad fine motor skills, which makes me afraid that he'll end up an artist or something.

We will officially start homeschooling January 3, 2011. I have purchased all of the curriculum for the first grade year. Some of it will be relatively easy, so we can fly through it in a semester. Some of it will be stretched out over the 2nd grade year. Here is the lineup:

Math: Math Mammoth 1B (we afterschooled 1A), with a bit of Miquon, MEP, and RightStart games thrown in... will probably start Math Mammoth 2A before the end of the school year

Science: Elemental Science - Intro to Science

Reading: Christian Light Education Reading 100 - "I Wonder"

Grammar: Rod & Staff English 2, stretched out through the second grade year (probably doing some orally at first)

Composition: Writing With Ease 1

Handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears 1, Copywork

Spelling: Rod & Staff Spelling 2

Phonics: Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading

History/Bible: Biblioplan Ancients

Curriculum for the Brute:

Rod & Staff ABC Series preschool workbooks

Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading

RightStart A when he is ready for math