Big Curriculum Changes are Coming! {Trail Guide to Learning}

I am so excited!  We are going to be starting a new curriculum next year, mid July to be exact.

We are going to be using Trail Guide to Learning - Paths of Exploration {POE} by Debbie Strayer and Linda Fowler.  For times like this, I really wish there was a cute little abbreviation for a homeschool mom doing cartwheels in her front yard!

I knew that we were going to be studying American History this year and I had assumed that we would just continue with our regularly scheduled program {curriculum} but then I started peeking around to see what else was out there. 

Here was my criteria for potential new curriculum:

• Biblically sound - check!
• It had to be something everyone could do together {I am not about to embark on 3 different history books thank you very much} - check!
• Bible, History, Science  should flow together - check!
• I wanted to read REAL BOOKS - check, check and check!
• We do oral narration but I felt like I we needed a little more, like discussion questions - check!
• Charlotte Mason friendly - check!
• Notebooking and lapbooking - check!
• TM needs to be laid out in homeschool mom terms that my brain  could understand AND follow through with - double checkity check!!
• Interesting books and hands on activities - check!
• I would like to keep Fridays free or light - check!

When the UPS man delivered the box I tried to act like it was no big deal and sneek into the house.  ALONE.  But as you can see I ended up having help.  My little dude loved that everything was wrapped.  He helped unwrap everything while asking me if these were for his birthday {smile}.

Things that exceeded my expectations:

• Character Traits are something I am always trying to incorporate into our day but sometimes fail to do so.  I love that this is integrated into the Bible Portion of POE {Light for the Trail which is sold separately}
• We love Nature Studies but rarely fit in Nature Walks and never get around to using our Handbook of Nature Study book.  Would you believe that a main component of POE's Science is the Handbook of Nature Study!!!
• I really like that the TM is broken into 6 week unit increments.  I also like that week 6 is for review and catch up. 
• Language Arts in included in this curriculum.  From what I understand so far, it is taught through literature Ruth Beechick style. 
• Not only are there hands on activities there are GAMES!!  My kids are going to love playing Columbus Bingo and Charades!

 As you can see, this looks like a great curriculum!  I will update my thoughts on POE once we get started and as we move along. 

Anyone else starting something completely new this year?

Disclaimer: I received Trail Guide for Learning - Paths to Exploration, at no cost to me, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are mine.