Homeschooling in the military: Curriculum Picks 2019-2020 for 11th, 8th, 6th, and 1st grade

I love getting ideas from other homeschool mamas; cheering each other on as we teach our children at home! And since it's been a few years since I've shared our curriculum choices, here they are for the 2019-2020 school year. First though, please check out my top book picks to prepare my heart for this homeschool year and a small tour of our new homeschool room!

Homeschooling as a military family looks different. Often times we find a co-op we love and then move a year later to a location with very little homeschool fellowship. Sometimes we find that settling into our new home takes much longer than planned and homeschool plans fall through for weeks at a time. With 13 moves under my belt, I can tell you that as in all things, God's grace is always sufficient. He has planned every move and every homeschool year. Each year is as unique as the snowflakes falling on my windows in our old German house. Each brilliant student as diverse as the seashells on the ocean floor near our newest home. Every year I need to remember to release control of my expectations; to plan, prepare, and work as though our homeschool success depends on me, but pray as though everything depends completely on my Heavenly Father. Truly it does. Faith without works is dead and applies to homeschooling, too!

Savannah - 11th Grade:

1. Core Curriculum My Father's World 11th Grade (Bible, US History, Government, & Literature)
2. Science - Apologia Advanced Biology
3. Math - Geometry Teaching Textbooks
4. Music - Piano Lessons
5. C.A.S.T. - Show Choir & Stagecraft

Extras: Worship Leader and small group leader for our church, Elementary homeschool gym teacher,  Referee for youth sports, learning to drive, babysitting and dog-walking jobs, and as much as she can fit into her full days!!

Alisa - 8th Grade:

1. Bible - LIFEPAC
2. English & Writing - Language Lessons for the Secondary Child V.2
3. Spelling - Spelling You See Level G
4. Reading - Christian Liberty Press 8th Grade & Sonlight 8th Grade American History Readers
5. Math - Pre-Algebra Teaching Textbooks
6. History - Uncle Sam & You
7. Science - LIFEPAC Family and Consumer Science
8. Music - Guitar lessons
9. Sports - Ballet lessons and homeschool gym class

Extras: Helps lead worship and small groups at church, babysitting and dog-walking jobs, and aspiring chef (she makes the best shrimp pasta)!

Levi - 6th Grade:

1. Bible - LIFEPAC
2. English & Writing - Language Lessons for the Elementary Child V. 2
3. Spelling - Spelling You See Level E
4. Math - Math U See Level Gamma
5. Science - Apologia Swimming Creatures of the 5th Day Zoology
6. History - Florida History with mom and Historical Fiction books I choose. Veritas Press self-paced 6th grade History. Great addition to our homeschool. He loves the "I Survived Books."
7. Reading - Christian Liberty Press 6th & 7th Grade
9. Art - Levi loves to draw and make comic books, so we print off a variety of drawing projects online and he has a spiral joural to doodle in.
8. Music - Leading worship songs for k-5th Graders at our church.
9. Sports - Flag-football, soccer, baseball and homeschool gym class

Extras: At Levi's age we do a lot of habit training, cooking, cleaning, etc. and he is learning to tie fishing knots and fish in the ocean with our Hero. He's also leading a small group at church and spends a lot of time playing outside!

Joshua - 1st Grade

Bible - The Jesus Storybook Bible, scripture memory, and memorizing the books of the Bible.
Reading & Phonics - Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons & Clever Critters Books
Math - Math Lessons For A Living Educations Grade 1
Science & History - Joshua's science and history I customize to the season (summer, winter, etc.) or holiday (Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, etc.) that we are in or celebrating. Everything is very hands on. Growing a butterfly, searching for crabs on the beach, reading living books about Florida history, and making pumpkin crafts. He also spends A LOT of time outside playing in the dirt, play games with our neighborhood friends, and going on grand adventures with a Nerf gun and safari map at his side.
Music - Family worship
Sports - Flag-football, baseball, soccer, and homeschool gym class

I provide my students with a syllabus in 3rd grade (more on that in another post), but Joshua's 1st grade reward system has been very helpful in keeping him motivated and excited about school this semester!

I went to the Dollar Tree and found a bunch of nifty toys and treats. He gets to pick one out about every 4 days, depending on our school schedule and if his chores are completed. He LOVES it!

Family Basket - typically during lunch time, these are things we read and learn as a family. I love, love, love this time! With our big age gap (and a toddler), I switch things up often.

* Bible
* Memory Verses
* Florida History (science and geography)
* Read Aloud (typically relating to the season we are in, like fall or Christmas)
* A children's story book
* Current Events
* Prayer requests
* Habits
* Journals

What is a favorite curriculum choice in your homeschool this year? I'd love to hear!