Here are our suggestions for math, science, and language arts for each grade. Feel free to mix and match between grades’ suggestions in order to best accommodate your individual child’s level in each subject.
Grade 1
- Math: Right Start, Level B OR Math-U-See Alpha
- Science: Nature study and living science books (We recommend Outdoor Secrets and The Outdoor Secrets Companion, which could be used for all students in grades 1–2 if desired.)
- Language Arts: Delightful Reading (for reading instruction; word-building activities gently introduce spelling)
First Steps, Days Go By, More Days Go By (for reading practice)
Delightful Handwriting (for writing instruction)
Oral narration
Grade 2
- Math: Right Start, Level C OR Math-U-See Beta
- Science: Nature study and living science books (We recommend 106 Days of Creation Studies, which could be used for all students in grades 1–6 if desired.)
- Language Arts: A Child’s Copybook Reader, Books 1–3 (for reading and handwriting practice; gently reinforces spelling)
(optional) Print to Cursive Proverbs
Busy Times, More Busy Times (for more reading practice)
Oral narration
Grade 3
- Math: Right Start, Level D OR Math-U-See Gamma
- Science: Nature study and living science books (You could also do a conversational science course like Astronomy or Zoology 1 by Jeannie Fulbright, which could be used for all students in grades 1–6 if desired.)
- Language Arts: Hymns in Prose for Children (for reading instruction or practice; word-building activities reinforce spelling)
New Friends, More New Friends (for more reading practice)
(optional) Print to Cursive Proverbs
Hymns in Prose copybook (handwriting practice: print or cursive; gently reinforces spelling)
Spelling Wisdom, Book 1, Exercises 1–70 (use as transcription; reinforces spelling and English usage)
Oral narration
Grade 4
- Math: Right Start, Level E OR Math-U-See Delta
- Science: Nature study and living science books (You could also do a conversational science course like Zoology 2 or Botany by Jeannie Fulbright, which could be used for all students in grades 1–6 if desired.)
- Language Arts: Spelling Wisdom, Book 1, Exercises 71–140 (with grammar reviews)
(optional) Junior Analytical Grammar
Book of Mottoes
Typing (introduce with a program of your choice)
Continue oral narrations; begin a gradual transition to some written narrations.
Grade 5
- Math: Math-U-See Epsilon
(optional) Your Business Math (store of your choice for variety) - Science: Nature study and living science books (We recommend Jack’s Insects and Jack’s Insects Narration & Nature Study Notebook.)
- Language Arts: Spelling Wisdom, Book 2, Exercises 1–70 (with grammar reviews)
(optional) Junior Analytical Grammar
Book of Mottoes
Typing (practice with a program of your choice)
Require oral and some written narrations; work on story form
Grade 6
- Math: Math-U-See Zeta
(optional) Your Business Math (store of your choice for variety) - Science: Nature study and living science books (You could also do a conversational science course like Zoology 3 or Human Anatomy & Physiology by Jeannie Fulbright.)
- Language Arts: Spelling Wisdom, Book 2, Exercises 71–140 (with grammar reviews)
Analytical Grammar, Units 1–10
Book of Mottoes
Typing (practice)
Require oral and written narrations; throughout the year work on expository style (informing or explaining how something works); include story, poetry, and letter forms
Grade 7
- Math: Math-U-See Pre-Algebra
- Science: Nature study and Apologia’s General Science (Some living science books would also add interest.)
- Language Arts: Spelling Wisdom, Book 3, Exercises 1–70 (with grammar reviews)
Analytical Grammar, Units 11–17
Book of Mottoes
Typing (practice)
Require oral and written narrations; throughout the year work on expository and descriptive styles; include story, poetry, and letter forms
Grade 8
- Math: Math-U-See Algebra I
- Science: Nature study and Apologia’s Physical Science (Some living science books would also add interest.)
- Language Arts: Spelling Wisdom, Book 3, Exercises 71–140 (with grammar reviews)
Analytical Grammar, Units 18–34
Book of Mottoes
Typing (practice)
Require oral and written narrations; throughout the year work on expository and descriptive styles; include story, poetry, letter, and script forms
Grade 9
- Math: Math-U-See Geometry
- Science: Nature study and Apologia’s Biology or Science Shepherd Biology (See a comparison.) (Some living science books would also add interest.)
- Language Arts: Spelling Wisdom, Book 4, Exercises 1–70 (with grammar reviews)
Analytical Grammar’s Research Paper Course
Book of Mottoes
Require oral and written narrations; throughout the year work on expository and descriptive styles; include story, poetry, letter, script forms, and drawing diagrams to support written work
Grade 10
- Math: Math-U-See Algebra II
- Science: Nature study and Apologia’s Chemistry (Some living science books would also add interest.)
- Language Arts: Spelling Wisdom, Book 4, Exercises 71–140 (with grammar reviews)
Analytical Grammar’s Literary Essay Course
Book of Mottoes
Require oral and written narrations; throughout the year work on expository, descriptive, and persuasive styles; include story, poetry, letter, script, and essay forms, and drawing diagrams to support written work
Grade 11
- Math: (elective) Math-U-See Stewardship OR Pre-Calculus with Trigonometry
- Science: (elective) Nature study and Apologia’s Physics or Advanced courses (Some living science books would also add interest.)
- Language Arts: Spelling Wisdom, Book 5, Exercises 1–70 (with grammar reviews)
Book of Mottoes
Require oral and written narrations; throughout the year work on expository, descriptive, and persuasive styles; include story, poetry, letter, script, essay, and dialogue forms, and drawing diagrams to support written work
Grade 12
- Math: (elective) Family bookkeeper OR Math-U-See Calculus (Pre-Calculus is prerequisite)
- Science: (elective) Nature study and Apologia’s Advanced courses (Some living science books would also add interest.)
- Language Arts: Spelling Wisdom, Book 5, Exercises 71–140 (with grammar reviews)
Book of Mottoes
Require oral and written narrations; throughout the year work on expository, descriptive, and persuasive styles; include story, poetry, letter, script, essay, and dialogue forms, and drawing diagrams to support written work
Notes on Math, Science, and Language Arts
Math
Charlotte Mason used manipulatives to teach math. She emphasized the importance of “things” before “symbols.” She also wanted the children to have a good understanding of why they would perform a certain math function, not just how to perform it.
So choose a math curriculum that uses manipulatives and includes the Why behind the How. Word problems are a great way to explore the Why. Keep lessons short; you can do two shorter lessons at separate times throughout the day if you need to.
Not all children need advanced mathematics, such as Calculus. If your child finds math fascinating and wants to pursue it, feel free to do the advanced math courses. If your child is not math-inclined and doesn’t need an advanced course for college requirements, do the Stewardship course and give him practical experience as the family bookkeeper.
Science
If your child is planning to take college courses, we recommend he or she complete the high school Apologia science courses listed.
Language Arts
Language Arts includes everything you do to help your student hear, speak, read, and write. Many educators break down those four areas into lots of individual skills; however, Charlotte Mason combined and integrated many of the skills in her wonderful, language-rich methods. For example, she did not teach vocabulary as a separate subject, but the children’s vocabulary was enlarged as they heard and read quality living books. Other components that are normally classified as Language Arts are included in the Family Enrichment studies and the History studies (poetry, literature, Shakespeare, narration/composition material).