Homeschool 4th Grade Curriculum Questions...

[cookderosa]

Looking for more ideas, too, if anyone has additional suggestions. Until we get our feet wet, and get him transitioned and a bit more open to flipping the script from formal and traditional learning, something LIKE A Beka but with less brain-screeching scripture tossing is ideal (with curriculum lesson plans available for Mama and Papa until we get more cozy with putting together our own).

Building Thinking Skills through Critical Thinking Press is fun and engaging and we've used it will all of our kinds. They only have 4 levels, so it's not a 1 book = 1 school year type. More like an enrichment activity to do a couple pages per week. They have many good books in other subjects too. Been a fan for about 15 years.

Saxon math for lower grades (under 4th/5th) is very parent-dependent, however, it would likely be perfect because you probably have no idea how your child learns and what he knows. They give you a verbal script to follow, you go through the lesson with your child each day and the child completes the work. Used with all my kids. I'd suggest using SAXON 3 even though he's entering 4th grade. 4th grade with them is like an entirely different company, and totally book/copy/work which is contrary to the point of why I suggest Saxon 3 for your transition. This is for YOU as much as it is for him.

Writing- where is he? Does he need any penmanship work still? If so, try Draw Write Now which is just so fun. It uses story paper (drawing/picture on the top, writing on the bottom) to practice penmanship. When my kids were older 3-4 grade, I had them start back at book 1 but putting the story in cursive. Can count this as art too if you follow the art part of it instead of letting the picture just be busy work. They have excellent art instruction in it.

Reading- again, where is he? Reading is (in my opinion) the number one thing you need to work carefully, deliberately, slowly, and should expect achievement in. Everything else is frosting. I like Reading A-Z (online) up through their "level Z" and Guteberg dot org for freebie good hard reading for young people. I print and bind my own, but the library and used book stores are a good bet. Computer screen reading can be hard and not ideal.
The first time my kids read alone (for school) is using Arthur Scott Bailey books. Jolly Robin is always the first book, and it is read out loud so I can hear it. If you want to see a book list of real literature that will make your child a good reader, google Robinson Curriculum reading list or A2 reading list. Long sentences, complected style and SAT vocab. Kids using reading lists like those will never need to study vocab or spelling, they'll get it in their literature. Also, pick a harder book to read to him each night. A chapter or two. Try Tom Swift by Appleton. (not Tom Swift Jr.) These are fantastic and are about adventure, invention, and excitement. There are maybe 30 in the series.

Fitness/P.E. - find something structured. I've always liked Martial Arts and swimming lessons (I'm a practical person lol).