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Hi everyone,

It still a week later that our schooling year 2015-2016 is going to start. We start earlier this year since there will be another 2 weeks public holiday the next 2 weeks after the schooling starts. Kids would be pretty bored not sitting down learning if we just make the holiday longer. It is quite surprising for me. We have got a lot of things to do during this summer holiday and we are very excited to welcome the new homeschooling year next week.

Here are some special things about our 2015-2016 academic year:

1. My youngest son and 2 of my nieces finally join our homeschooling journey this year. Although I don't teach my niece, but I am happy to welcome them too.
2. This year is going to be challenging since I have another year level for my younger son. We will have an 8th grader, a 7th grader, and a 3rd grader
3. My two elder sons are in the middle school this year. Tom has just passed his national standardization exam.
4. There isn't any standardized exam we take this year after two years consecutively taking the exams. Therefore, we can be a bit relaxed and it should be a more exciting year than the last 2 years.

This year we still use or continue the curriculum series from last year for some subjects, but there are also some changes in curriculum series considering

1. The interest of children
2. The adjustment problem with the national curriculum
3. The need of children

Here are our homeschooling curriculum 2015-2016 and resources we have for each child:

Ken (8th Grader)

Maths:

New Syllabus Mathematics 2 – Singapore Mathematics

We are going to continue the next level of last year Maths curriculum. Ken asked to use this book by himself. He starts to know what he wants and needs. This series are challenging, I think.

Science:

Biology for The Logic Stage by Paige Hudson combined with the biology national curriculum

Last year Ken used Exploring Creation with Physical Science. Since we find it is a bit challenging to adapt the national curriculum, we mix the Biology for The Logic Stage by Paige Hudson with the biology national curriculum so that it is more matched. In addition, Both Ken and Tom are sharing the same curriculum. We love this one since it uses some reference as resources.

English – Writing and Grammar:

Progressing with Courage (Building Christian English Series, English 6), published by Rod and Staff Publishers, Inc
Building Securely English 7, published by Rod and Staff Publishers, Inc

Ken is going to continue the book from last year that he didn't finish. When it has finished, we just go on with the next level book.

Reading – Reading, Vocabulary, and Spelling:

A Time to Build: Sixth Reader, published by Rod and Staff Publishers, Inc

Last year Ken finished the Harry Potter book, but honestly I could not control well. This year, he will read some free resources, but the main resources will be this one so that I can help him controlling his reading.

World History:

Mystery of History Vol 2, published by Bright Ideas Press

World history is not compulsory here. Therefore, last year we just did it slowly. This year Ken is going to continue the rest of the curriculum.

Bahasa Indonesia:

Bahasaku Bahasa Indonesia 2 by Johan Wahyudi and Darmiyati Zuchdi, published by Platinum – Tiga Serangkai

Bahasa is a compulsory subject here since it is our mother tongue. Therefore, we have to take the lessons.

Civics

Pendidikan Kewarganegaraan untuk SMP Kelas VIII, published by Penerbit Erlangga

Social Studies:

• IPS Geography 2, untuk SMP Kelas VIII, by P. Ginting, Fathurrahman, and S. Pinem, published by Penerbit Erlangga
• Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial Ekonomi 2, untuk SMP Kelas VIII, by Y. Sri Pujiastuti, T. D. Haryo Tamtomo, N. Suparno, published by Penerbit Erlangga
• Sejarah 2, untuk SMP Kelas VIII, by Matroji, published by Penerbit Erlangga

It looks a lot, but we are not going to use all of them at the same time. They are used one after another in the Social Studies lessons. The first semester will be for geography and the next semester will be for Economic (first quarter) and Indonesian History (second quarter).

Tom (7th Grader)

Maths:

New Syllabus Mathematics 1, 7th edition – Singapore Mathematics

I was thinking to give him the national curriculum, but Tom refused and he wants to use the same curriculum like his elder brother. Actually I am not really sure that this is appropriate for him in level, but he just urges me for using this curriculum.

Science:

Biology for The Logic Stage by Paige Hudson combined with the biology national curriculum

Tom is going to share the same curriculum with Ken. They will have the same reference to use, we decide to get Tom and Ken learn together. Let's see how they will do it.

English – Writing and Grammar:

Building Christian English Following the Plan Grade 5 (The Building Christian English Series), published by Rod and Staff Publishers, Inc
Progressing with Courage (Building Christian English Series, English 6), published by Rod and Staff Publishers, Inc

Since Tom had to practice a lot in the national exam, he could not finish the fifth book of the seri. Therefore, he decides to finish the fifth book and he is going to continue with the next level as soon as the fifth level finishes.

Reading – Reading, Vocabulary, and Spelling:

A Time to Plant (Rod and Staff's fifth Reader), published by Rod and Staff Publishers, Inc

This is the first year we use this curriculum. It looks great and appropriate for children. I hope it will work well.

World History:

Mystery of History Vol 2, published by Bright Ideas Press

Same with his elder brother, Tom is also going to continue this curriculum since his lessons were cut by the exam preparation last year.

Bahasa Indonesia:

Bahasa Indonesia SMP Kelas VII, by Pardjimin, S.Pd, published by Yudhistira

Civics:

Pendidikan Kewarganegaraan untuk SMP Kelas VII, published by Penerbit Erlangga

Social Studies:

• IPS Geography 1, untuk SMP Kelas VII, by P. Ginting, Fathurrahman, and S. Pinem, published by Penerbit Erlangga
• Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial Ekonomi 1, untuk SMP Kelas VII, by Y. Sri Pujiastuti, T. D. Haryo Tamtomo, N. Suparno, published by Penerbit Erlangga
• Sejarah 1, untuk SMP Kelas VII, by Matroji, published by Penerbit Erlangga

Like what his elder brother is going to do, we are not going to use all of them at the same time. They are used one after another in the Social Studies lessons. The first semester will be for geography and the next semester will be for Economic (first quarter) and Indonesian History (second quarter).

Jim (3rd Grader)

Maths:

Math Mammoth – Blue Series:

• Place Value 2
• Add & Subtract 3
• Multiplication 2
• Division 2
• Clock
• Measurement
• Introduction to Fraction
• Geometry

The Blue Series don't have any grade level. I try to use this one as I don't really catch about Jim's maths level at school. His ability is mixed up here and there. Therefore, I try to look up the national Maths scope and sequence. We find that our national curriculum for Maths is not compatible with us in the logic explanation, so that we decided to use Math Mammoth Blue Series.

Science:

Biology for The Grammar Stage by Paige Hudson

Jim will have similar topics with his brothers, but he will use the easier reference. However, three of them might share the same resources at the same time. Therefore, there will be some times when the three boys are going to learn together. Isn't it exciting?

English – Grammar and Writing

Preparing to Build : English 2, published by Rod and Staff Publishers, Inc

I just feel that the classical approach works well for both of his elder brothers and I would like to try one for Jim.

Reading:

God Leads His People (Bible Nurture and Reader Series), published by Rod and Staff Publishers, Inc

This is the same series with Ken's and Tom's there is a workbook and a teacher guide to help.

Phonics and Spelling:

Phonics Grade 2 (Bible Nurture and Reader Series), published by Rod and Staff Publishers, Inc

Since the second grade of Rod and Staff English also has a phonic series, we would like to try how it works for Jim.

World History:

Story of the World Vol. 1 by Susan Wise Bauer

We purchase the spine book from Amazon, but we purchase the printable files in the publisher, Peace Hill Press.

Bahasa Indonesia:

Bahasa Indonesia untuk SD dan MI Kelas 3 by Christina Margiyati, Agatha SRiyati, and Y. Dwi Purwati, published by Grasindo

Civics:

Pendidikan Kewarganegaraan untuk Sekolah Dasar Kelas III, IV, V by Dyah Sriwilujeng, Penerbit Erlangga

We don't use certain class for Jim's Civics curriculum. It will be a blend, mix, and reorder of the standard Civics textbooks from grade 3 to 5

Social Studies:

IPS Terpadu 3, 4, 5 by Tim Bina Karya Guru, published by Penerbit Erlangga.

Geography from A to Z: A Picture Glossary (Trophy Picture Books)
Evan-Moor Beginning Geography Book

We don't use certain class for Jim's Social Studies curriculum. It will be a blend, mix, and reorder of the standard Social Studies textbooks from grade 3 to 5. In addition, we focus more to geography.

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