What To Teach When

It’s simple. Just focus on the basics until you get your feet wet. After you get a handle on the three R’s- Reading, wRiting and aRithmatic, then launch into other fun stuff and extra-curricular classes/courses.  Essentially, begin with the basics then add on electives from there. If ever the electives become too burdensome, go back to the basics. Scroll down to see what the basics are for each grade.

The Basics

For every year of a child’s education, there will be different basics. The basics for a high school student are different than the basics for an elementary student. In fact, the basics for a first grader and a fifth grader are different as well.  Electives are courses that come after the basics. They are courses that you would love to teach and would love your children to learn about, but they contain information that is not really needed at this point in their lives. Also remember that your measure of success as a homeschool mom is not how many presidents your children know or how much Latin they can recite, or if your seven year old is reading high school texts; your measure of success is your children’s heart for God, the confidence they have as a child of God, and their obedient hearts. This should be the focus of their early years. When their obedience and love for God is strong and secure, your children will have the maturity in junior high and high school to take responsibility for their academics and pursue their passions with purpose.

Let’s take a look at the basics for each age level.

Kindergarten Basics

Phonics – Learning to read is the only true requirement for this age. However, some children are not ready to learn to read in Kindergarten. Very bright children will read during this year.

Kindergarten Electives

Numbers and basic adding
Field trips
Art and Crafts (they love crafts at this age)
Exposure to history/science/geography

First Grade Basics

Phonics
Introductory Math
Handwriting

First Grade Electives

Art
History
Science
Foreign Language audios or videos

Second Grade Basics

Phonics
Reading (for some)
Math Facts
Math
Handwriting

Second Grade Electives

History
Science
Art
Foreign Language audios or videos

Third and Fourth Grade Basics

Grammar (phonics for late readers)

Spelling

Reading
Math Facts
Math
Handwriting

Third and Fourth Grade Electives

History

Science
Art
Geography
Foreign Language study

Fifth Grade Basics

Writing (after Grammar)
Spelling
Reading
Math Facts
Math

Fifth Grade Electives

History
Science
Art
Geography
Foreign Language study

Sixth Grade Basics

Writing
Spelling
Literature
Math Facts
Math

Sixth Grade Electives

History
Science
Art
Geography
Foreign Language

By Seventh Grade, the student’s basic work increases significantly, but your teaching time decreases. Your student is able to learn independently. You provide supervision over their completed assignments and progress. A seventh grader that is still struggling with reading has the option of many excellent programs produced in audio format.

Seventh Grade Basics

Writing
Grammar
Literature
Pre Algebra
Science
History

Seventh Grade Electives

Art
Geography
Foreign Language

Eigth Grade Basics

Writing
Grammar
Literature
Algebra
Science
History

Eigth Grade Electives

Art
Geography
Foreign Language

Ninth-Twelfth Grade Basics

English- 4 years (Literature and Writing with Grammar)
Math- 2 years + (Algebra, Geometry + higher level courses)
Science- 2 years + (Biology with lab, Chemistry with lab + higher level courses)
History -at least 2 years (American and World)
Government- 1 year
Foreign Language- 2 years

High School Electives

Fine Arts
PE
Economics
Computer
Speech/Debate
Business
Law