5th GRADE SECULAR HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM CHOICES

[@lizcalandrino3992]

I am really excited to hear how you like blending byl 5 and river of voices because I am already prepping to use them for American history with my three kids next year.

[@finnekm]

I’m also interested in how you fit all this in. I’m using BYL (level 7) and modifying it a bit for my gifted ADHD 5th grader. I watched your video on lightning lit and thought it’d be a good fit. How are you combing BYL and lightning lit? How much time does your 5th grader spend on school work each day?

[@ProjectHappyHome]

We’re just wrapping up week one, which is mainly a slow roll into core subjects of reading comprehension, writing/spelling/grammar, and arithmetic/logic, but we will fold in our history and literature next week. I’ll have a one month update in October. As for time, we school from 9-3 every day with an hour break for lunch. But that prob includes 2 hours of physical activity, board games, video enrichment, and art. And he does his LL reading at night.

[@JnM1206]

I’m also interested to see a video how you are combining BYL and Lightning Literature. We just started day 1 today with Lightning Literature. I’ve been eyeing BYL for a while but would love to learn how to combine the two. Thanks!

[@anicole42100]

Great info! I especially love the "Spirit Journal" idea. Thanks!

[@ProjectHappyHome]

Yes, I love have that separate as a journal of sorts for them to hold onto through the years. 💚

[@anicole42100]

@@ProjectHappyHome Yes, absolutely!

[@EducationalRoots]

Great choices! I also have a fifth grader this year. Hope your year goes great!

[@ProjectHappyHome]

Thanks, you too!

[@MyLittleDomesticChurch]

Great video! You’re so informative!!!

[@meghannferguson6783]

So I love your choices, but I would really love how you do all of this. I realize that you don’t do it everyday but what do you do regularly and then slide in here and there? I am having such a hard time feeling good about what we are doing and getting it all done, which is nothing like what you have (probably about a third of what you have there). Great video though!

[@juanitamayes6329]

I'm using several of the same things and I would also love to see how you structure everything and make it work .. especially the Geography and History. I'm currently still searching for the ROV spines so I haven't been able to work on it yet. Very helpful video :)

[@ProjectHappyHome]

We don’t do everything every day, and we don’t do every page. I do as much as possible orally, so the worksheets are mainly for discussion and comprehension. The kids will do the multiple choice bits and we discuss the free response questions orally. We don’t do anything fussy like rewriting sentences because if I can make it easier/quicker, I do. This way we cover quite a bit of info without taking all day. I reserve the bulk of their writing for actual composition assignments, creative writing, letter/card writing, and copywork.

[@jessicaTX964]

I'd like to see how you PLAN all of this.... with the two curriculums and the different supplemental workbooks. How do you remember what you wanted to do when? Or do you just take a look and see what pops out on any given day, because I know from your other videos you tend to write down in your planner what you did after the fact more than writing out ahead of time what you will do for the week. I'd love to see a "plan with me" video. For like one week of History or one unit or whatever that shows how you tie all the resources together. I'm kind of like you I think, that I pick up a lot of things, that would be great to use with.... xyz, but then I find that I don't remember to use a lot of it, or don't leave time for them.

[@mandifl]

Thanks for these recommendations! Are you able to do a flip through/review for grade 5 Lightning literature?

[@ProjectHappyHome]

Coming up next week!

[@dianachen4986]

Wow! Love it! Thank you! We are using iew now and so far love it. Would love to hear your thoughts. We are toggling between FLL and MCT for grammar though. What are your thoughts on the two?

[@hersevenpillars]

Thank you for showing the handwriting! I've never heard of Getty-Dubay before!

[@ProjectHappyHome]

I’m a big fan. We start with HWT, but then this makes for a nice transition into a grownup hand.

[@elenas9581]

Hi Tanya, thanks for this video! very informative. Can you please share details about D'Aaulaires Greek Myths Student Guide workbook? When was this published?

[@ProjectHappyHome]

I’m not sure off the top of my head, but it’s available from Memoria Press.

[@HomeschoolWherever]

Wow that book of handwriting jokes is kind of genius lol. My girls would love that as it makes a boring task much more fun!

[@ProjectHappyHome]

Yes! And my son gets to deliver the joke to the rest of us when he’s done. 😀

[@HomeschoolWherever]

Project Happy Home I love that! 😀

[@deborahsoderlund3079]

Can you elaborate on where you got the inspiration for the spirit journal? I’m super interested in that!

[@ProjectHappyHome]

I thought it would be nice to have a separate journal to record quotes and inspirational/ growth mindset activities - kind of like a commonplace book for kids.

[@chunkymonkey4life791]

So is a curriculum up for interpretation so long as it follows your states requirements? I’m in Texas and I plan on homeschooling my 5th grader who has dyslexia and was wondering if you have any suggestions or advice to get started.

[@ProjectHappyHome]

I started homeschooling in TX, and it's super easy to get started there! I'd look up TX requirements and start there. TX has very few constraints, so you should be able to chart your own path.

[@lightseeker7912]

The state by state… is there an option to buy the book or it’s only a pdf file u have to print yourself!??? I want it so bad but don’t have a printer

[@ProjectHappyHome]

It’s only a pdf file at the moment. Perhaps you could print it online or at a copy shop? Or just use it on an app/tablet. Notability and goodnotes are two options.

[@lkhawkins4482]

Do you have any recommendations for really good historical fiction? Or nonfiction (historical)?

[@ProjectHappyHome]

I love the booklists from Build Your Library. Emily Cook actually reads all the books that she includes, and the book lists are available without buying the curriculum, if you prefer creating your own schedule.

[@sandiemom8888]

What woukd u suggest for learning grammar. How to write, parts of speech. Basically the basics. For a grade 3. Thanks

[@ProjectHappyHome]

Evan-Moor, The Well-Trained Mind, and Michael Clay Thompson make great resources for this. I’ve also heard greasy things about Easy Grammar, IEW, and Brave Writer. I like how Hewitt Homeschooling’s Lightning Literature combines the grammar and writing with the reading selections, and if you want to see flipthroughs of their Level 3, I have that in my Grade 3 and language arts playlists.

[@sandiemom8888]

@@ProjectHappyHome Thank you so much for the wealth of information you gave me.

[@tiamomulder]

Are you still using Scientific Connections through inquiry? I’m really curious if you are and how you’re liking it. Thanks! ☺️

[@ProjectHappyHome]

Yes! Along with Bio 2 by Real Science Odyssey, but they were in a different room at the time I filmed this.

[@tiamomulder]

@@ProjectHappyHome Thanks for the reply. I'll look forward to a review. I'll totally admit I have SCI level 3 and Real Science Odyssey Life and it's been hard as a new homeschooler to incorporate it, but I will be doing it next week! It's just taken a month and a half to work up our "stamina" ;) We are getting more accomplished and I think my son is really getting into the swing of it all.

[@tiamomulder]

Your videos have been so helpful for me finding Secular Curriculum. Thanks for your thorough and thoughtful reviews.

[@filemanager83]

@@ProjectHappyHome We are loving the RSO books! My daughter has Level 1 chemistry, physics and astronomy.

[@juliejulz71ify]

Hi are you still using math mammoth ? Is that common core ?

[@ProjectHappyHome]

Yes, we're still using and enjoying it! Here is a link to how MM approaches Common Core: www.mathmammoth.com/common-core

[@sahabiamaqsoodullah6988]

Thumbs up

[@juliejulz71ify]

Hi is this common core ?

[@ProjectHappyHome]

Some of it aligns, but I don’t teach with common core in mind.