Saturday, June 9, 2012

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.

8 comments:

Sam said...

You are going to love it!

Brandi said...

Thanks! Your blog is what led me to it : )

Amy said...

We are not starting any overall new curriculun, we actually use Ambleside Online for our core; however, we will be adding some new things like the "Who is God?" book during Bible and I am excited about it!

Enjoy your TGtL! I will look forward to hearing if you like it!

Amy @ Missional Mama
http://missionalmamassoul.blogspot.com/

Kimberly said...

My good friend is using that one this year, too!

Brandi said...

Amy - You will really like "Who is God?" : D

Kim - it looks like a great curriculum, I bet they love it!

Homeschooling6 said...

Oh how fun. I love box day. I did take a peek at this program and am sometimes tempted ;)

Amy said...

We just started with POE today with my two daughters!! I am so excited about it!! Considering it was our first day (haven't gotten into a flow, yet) and my younger kids were very disruptive, I would say that it went rather well!! I was originally going to have my 5 year old join in, but it seemed to work better having her entertain the two youngest while I worked with the two oldest. I think I'll do something a little different with her & her younger brother instead.

Brandi said...

Hi Amy - It always seems to take a bit to fall into a new routine, at least for us.

I read on the TGTL yahoo group about using Galloping the Globe or Cantering the Country with the younger guys. I am considering this myself.

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