This will be our second year homeschooling with Ocean Grove. I will have a Kindergarten and TK students this year. While Ocean Grove has specific requirements for eligible curriculum, I don't let that inhibit me from choosing core curriculum of my choosing. I simply use their resources to fill in the gaps, gather school supplies, and register for outside classes.
This this blog you will find:
- Our Homeschool Style
- Our Homeschool Rhythm
- My 2026 Elementary Homeschool Curriculum Choices
Our Homeschool Style
While being homeschooled myself, I was unaware of the wide variety of teaching methods. Teaching at Calvary Christian Academy SJ, I experienced the classical method mingled with Charlotte Mason. Often the curriculum we used was designed for homeschoolers. As I navigated my choices, The Call of the Wild and Free beautifully summarized the mission, myths, manner and methods of creating a culture of learning in your home. I really resonated with the simplicity and literate-based method of Charlotte Mason. Starting with nature studies, I watched my girls come alive with simple nature walks, book reads, and creative crafts. I walk you through all the options we've tried in "Back to School Curriculum Choices."
Related: Charlotte Mason Method 101
Our Homeschool Rhythm
In the past, I have found that I can capture the girls' attention best when they are eating – usually breakfast, snacks, and post-nap tea parties. I have a basket of books that I keep near by and will try to read 1 chapter/section from each before moving on to one of the plethora of picture books in our home.
Related: Homeschool Organization
Our Rhythm
8:00 - 8:30am - Breakfast
8:30-10am - Free Play (or a trip to the park, playdate or outside time)
10:00-10:30am - Snack and crafts
10:30am-12:00pm - Free Play (or a trip to the park, playdate, or outside time)
12:30-1pm - Lunch
1pm-1:30pm - Individual Lessons/Nap for the Little
1:30pm-3pm - Quiet time
Related: All Things Yoto, Homemade Yoto Cards, Audio Books for Kids
3pm - Tea Party/Popsicles and Snacks
3:30-5:30pm - Free Play (usually the girls will seek out their neighbor friends)
5:30-6pm - Dinner Routine
6-6:30pm - Dinner
6:30-7:30pm - Free Time
7:30pm - Bedtime Routine
8:00pm - Lights Out
Related: Read Alouds for the Whole Family, Daily Rhythm 2025/2026
My 2026 Elementary Homeschool Curriculum Choices
These are our curriculum choices for my family, the curriculum we are using for family-style learning and each child’s individual lessons.
Our core curriculum this year will be The Peaceful Press - Playful Pioneer (this is not covered by Ocean Grove). This Charlotte Mason themed curriculum will take us through the Little House on The Prairie series covering American History topics such as:
- Identify U.S. states and landmarks
- Learn about immigration in America
- Enjoy weekly nature study, science experiments, and cooking projects
- Discover beautiful poetry, art, and hymns... and much more
Joining Other Families
We will be teaming up with two other families each week for a co-op day. This will be the first time we intentionally meet and prepare activities related to school. Although we will not all be studying the same things, we have some overlapping curriculum – including the Playful Pioneer. Each week we will conduct small rotating stations for six kids: three older and three younger... plus entertaining three babies. Each mom will help prepare and instruct a station: cooking, art/crafts, science and PE. I am sure we will have several kinks to work out, but I am very excited to get started.
As our sphere of community grows, I will arrange monthly field trips, weekly park days, and celebrating special occasions with more families.
Related: Peruse some of our favorite special occasions: Harvest Night, Alphabet Party, First Day of School, Last Day of School
Math
- The Good and the Beautiful - My oldest thoroughly enjoyed working through level K last year so we will continue with Level 1 next year. She will be 6 years old in October. (This is not covered by Ocean Grove)
- Dimensions Math - My second born enjoys colorful workbooks so I chose Grade PK Set to help ease her into math.
ELA - English Language Arts
- Logic of English (LOE) - Last year my 5 year old and I really enjoyed these simple, fun, and interactive lessons. We will be trying Foundation B Cursive this year for my oldest, and Foundations A Cursive for my 4 year old – taking it slow with one lesson per week, instead of per day.
- SWR (Spell to Write and Read) - As a teacher, I was trained in this curriculum and thoroughly enjoy the simple, straightforward, no "fluff" approach it takes in spelling, writing, and reading. I will be using this to teach phonogram sounds, spelling rules, and spelling words while utilizing LOE's games and activities.
- Handwriting Without Tears: Cursive - Over the summer I started teaching my 5 year old cursive. We will continue working through this.
Foreign Language
- Homeschool Languages: Spanish - We are trying a new thing! This step-by-step language curriculum is designed for homeschool families. It is a complete, scripted, home-use system that teaches a new language and builds real spoken language habits inside your family!
Extras
- Ivy Kids Kit - This is a monthly educational subscription box is the perfect age range for my kids to share. It uses literature as the central component for teaching across various subjects. Each kit is packed with games, materials, and projects that are uniquely based on the featured book's story and characters, covering foundational skills in math, science, and literacy through play, exploration, and experimentation.
Extra Curricular Actives
- Ballet Class - my oldest daughter thoroughly enjoyed her classes with two other homeschool children. Scheduled for the middle of the day, this ballet class was planned with homeschoolers in mind, ending each lesson with reading a short section from a ballet story and dancing like the ballerinas.
- Gymnastics, soccer classes, Taekwondo...
While there are a plethora of extra curricular activities for the girls to join, I want to ensure we don't get carried away. Fortunately since they are close in age, they can often be apart of the same class. At this age - the girls being 4 and 5 years old - I'd love to introduce them to sports, but without the pressure or "running around like a chicken with its head cut off" feeling.
The Strategy - Both girls choose the same activity for 8 weeks. Then switch to something new before coming back to option 1.
I am excited to bring some new curriculum and activities into the mix while leaving space for play, community, and outings. As recommend by Sarah Mackenzie in her book, Teaching from Rest, I will reevaluate our routine, rhythm, and calendar every 6 weeks. The plan is to still have nightly dinners together, have quiet points in our day, and lots of outdoor fun. With that in mind... Happy Planning!
