We're halfway through our fifth week over here, since we started quite early! We have taken a couple of weeks off for family visits and for another unexpected week with a couple of extra munchkins in the house. So, you may be wondering how things are going? Well, I do believe I'll need to adjust some times posted on our third grade page - and it's a good thing!!!! We're starting to find a bit of a groove with two students in this academy, as this mama learns to balance independent work with the older and the more intensive attention (albeit for a short time) with the younger. The independent updates: Dude has suddenly "clicked on" with schooling here recently, and I do hope I'm not too soon in posting this, as I am still in disbelief at his change in attitude and work ethic from our fights last year to our lack of them this year! The first week or so we had a few go-rounds, as I was determined to let him know then and there that the boundaries still stood firm, and I wasn't going to put up with the antics we've had to deal with in the past. We had a pretty good time even then, believe it or not, as he was pretty excited to get into his new history, science, and reading books! By about week 3, we seemed to have found a reasonable rhythm, and I was relieved to see how easily Dude was beginning to step into multiplication (my biggest teaching fear of this year!). He actually GIGGLED his way through multiplying by 1's and 0's! By week 4, he was suddenly not only happily doing school lessons, but eagerly doing them, and we had 3 out of 4 days at 3 and a half hours or less. I was surprised, to say the least! We had a week off last week, and now 2 more days have been completed. Yesterday was a reasonable day, but today was once again 3 and a half hours! This time I didn't even get a bit of complaint over his reading workbook - and he was done ahead of his allotted time! In the midst of all of this shift, he is now fully a week ahead in his scheduled math lessons. I believe I may go into full shock. Last year, we had quite the battle over doing a page or two of math lessons. During the first few weeks, he accumulated a couple of days of being ahead in his math studies from what I had planned, wanting to move on. Yesterday he decided he didn't want to wait to complete this entire lesson on multiplying by tens, and instead of only completing the 48 problems I assigned, he continued to work even into the evening off and on, finishing off 140 problems!!!! He took his test today so that he can go on to the next lesson tomorrow. Forgive me if I pass out in amazement. Needless to say, I'm gaining much higher hopes for this year than I started out with! I'll also need the next math level if this keeps up! What's Monkey up to? Well, she's catching on to her letters, one by one! This week is our first review week, as we have now covered A, B, and C. It's now sticking with those three, and she is beginning to listen for the beginning sounds in words to see if they "match" any of those three - all on her own! We're also still working on her numbers, as most past 5 still are not quite steady for her. They will be worked on through the year. I'm being challenged to come up with new worksheets and illustrations for her, as I've decided to put together a Kindergarten curriculum to use after her as well that will match the letter review at the beginning of the first grade curriculum I've started building. She is enjoying her personalized dot-to-dots and activities! We are also still working through "Little Lads and Ladies of Virtue" that I have reviewed, and I am finding it helpful to reference those concepts when working with her on attitudes and kindness towards others! We are also enjoying Five in a Row, particularly the reading of the books. Even Dude tries to finish in time to catch the book we're reading! I do believe we have finally found a balance (for now) that keeps both of us happy - just enough lesson time for her, without being too much for me right now. It tends to even out to around 20 minutes. What's Scoot up to in all of this? She's hilarious to watch, following Monkey into the schoolroom to "do Kindergarten" alongside her big sister. She was introduced to the scissors today... and what they can do to your fingers if not careful. Ouch! Thankfully, no actual cuts, but it was unpleasant enough that I think she'll be a bit more careful from now on! I will be interested to see just how much she catches onto, as she sits (for now) at Monkey's desk, coloring the same pages, and learning to cut and paste. She very much so enjoys naming the pictures on the pages! She will be quite ready to step into "pretty school" next year and reinforce her colors, as well as learning her numbers and the rest of her shapes. By then, she'll have her own desk in the schoolroom. =) What about the teacher? Well, I'm trying to keep up!! The schoolroom still is not finished, although tiny steps are being taken to get it done. Little by little, I'm getting down my organization of what has been moved. And boy am I glad to have the desks in place this year! Last year it was lugging the books in and out of the laundry room to the breakfast table to do lessons, and packing everything up by the end of the day so that we could use the table. This year, everything is still cleaned up, but it is as simple as putting books back on the shelf after each subject's lesson, and putting away pencils and crayons in their place on the desk at day's end. What a relief! I'm also getting used to having 3 of my manuals on my tablet. That is becoming more second-nature to use. I may still sometime in the future print them out and put them in a binder for my use, but for now, it works just fine! So, now it's your share time! Have you started back yet? How are things going if you have? When are you planning to start if you haven't?
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I was pretty excited - and just as nervous - to have the chance to review a product for the first time for someone else that I had not previously picked out and used! I wasn't entirely sure what it was all about, but after reading a short description, I did know exactly which child might benefit most from it! Yes, my little Monkey is a stubborn, hard-headed one. She has her sweet side, but she needs some help to bring it out a bit more and to begin controlling that temper (and yes, selfishness) of hers! Kathie Morrissey of The Character Corner was kind enough to send me the program of Little Lads and Ladies of Virtue for review. I was quite nervous, beginning to look through it. Would my little Monkey really understand things such as "Attentiveness" and "Contentment?" She's only four right now! Would this hold her attention, even for a few minutes? She is my high-strung child... We have now completed a week and a half of the program, and I can say that I'm confident in it!! The lessons are quite short, so they are perfect for little attention spans. The words are defined in a way that little ones can grasp the concept. Ms. Morrissey gives ways to apply the concept that a little one can remember and hold on to. My little Monkey has even been reminding Dude of what attentiveness is! =) It's so funny to listen to my 4 year old discuss attentiveness at the dinner table. It's adorable to hear the Bible verses coming out of her mouth, whether she fully understands those or not. She's learning them, and will have them to go back to! The simple activities that go with the lessons later in the week even had my Dude begging to join in and giggling alongside his sister! As an added bonus, there is a coloring page for each concept. Few little ones can resist a good coloring page!! At the end of each week, the child earns a reward sticker to put on a reward chart provided to showcase what they have learned. The suggestion is to have them put it on their page, display it, and then replace it with the next week's when it is earned. Little Monkey loves to glue, so I have not only let her color and personalize her reward chart, but I am going to let her glue each badge to the page as she earns them, including on the back as she fills the front! My verdict? It's a winner!!!!! I will most certainly be re-using this program as Scoot comes up, and the new baby behind her! The ease of teaching, the fun of the activities that really help get them involved in the lesson, and the simplicity so that a young mind can understand all come together, and I can see good results already that will only grow as more concepts are introduced! Now, is this only for very small ones? NO! I could easily use this program for my 7 year old alone. Even he would benefit from its lessons, and he obviously likes the activities! He's also trying to say the definitions alongside Monkey, even though he isn't always around when we are doing the lessons. =) In addition to the basic program, there are also copywork sheets that can be added in. This is a good extra for one that is at least 5-6 years old. Dude, at 7, can make use of these when he joins in! *** Please note: I was NOT paid for this review! I was provided the materials, free of charge, in return for an honest review, with no guarantee of which way that review would go! ;)
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7/9/2014 0 Comments
Counting down
The final days of our summer have come! Yes, you read that right - we're about to begin school once again. July 15th we start our lessons. Why so early? Well, for one, I've been moving to more of a year-round schedule to fit our lifestyle and cycles a bit better. To add to that need, we have a little one due at the end of October, so there will be a couple of months off in the fall! Really, around here, the fall is the better time for getting out and playing than July and August anyway, so it's a win-win situation! =)
We have been doing some reviewing, courtesy of 3 Dinosaurs and Royal Baloo's Buildup to Summer series they've put out. I hope it helps to smoothly kick off the new year, without much need of review. Dude and Monkey have enjoyed the different themes quite a bit!
So what have we been doing these past few weeks in preparation? Well, unlike usual, it's actually only been this week that I've been laying out lesson plans. I think part of that is more familiarity with the programs we are using - I'm definitely not so anxious as to how to tackle this year with Dude!!! However, I have done a couple of spreadsheets this year, as opposed to fully by hand writing out how I will divide up the lessons for grammar and reading.
If you've checked out the third grade page, you'll know we're going with First Language Lessons from Peace Hill Press mixed with Primary Language Lessons for grammar. They are not necessary to use together, however, I do like to have daily grammar lessons, and the change in style seems to help keep interest up! I decided that, since this year has its own workbook for First Language Lessons, I would use a folder, possibly switching to a 3 ring binder, to keep the worksheets in. Because I'll be tearing them out of the workbook and mixing in another book's lessons, I had to change up the recommended schedule for completing the lessons. I opted for choice "C" given in the teacher's manual, mixing the optional lessons in throughout the year, to complete the entire book.
Want to take a peek? Here's the first half of our year:
We have been doing some reviewing, courtesy of 3 Dinosaurs and Royal Baloo's Buildup to Summer series they've put out. I hope it helps to smoothly kick off the new year, without much need of review. Dude and Monkey have enjoyed the different themes quite a bit!
So what have we been doing these past few weeks in preparation? Well, unlike usual, it's actually only been this week that I've been laying out lesson plans. I think part of that is more familiarity with the programs we are using - I'm definitely not so anxious as to how to tackle this year with Dude!!! However, I have done a couple of spreadsheets this year, as opposed to fully by hand writing out how I will divide up the lessons for grammar and reading.
If you've checked out the third grade page, you'll know we're going with First Language Lessons from Peace Hill Press mixed with Primary Language Lessons for grammar. They are not necessary to use together, however, I do like to have daily grammar lessons, and the change in style seems to help keep interest up! I decided that, since this year has its own workbook for First Language Lessons, I would use a folder, possibly switching to a 3 ring binder, to keep the worksheets in. Because I'll be tearing them out of the workbook and mixing in another book's lessons, I had to change up the recommended schedule for completing the lessons. I opted for choice "C" given in the teacher's manual, mixing the optional lessons in throughout the year, to complete the entire book.
Want to take a peek? Here's the first half of our year:
For a quick breakdown of my shorthand, "F" is for First Language Lessons, and the number is the lesson number. The "DS" following the F stands for Dictionary Skills - one of the optional groups of lessons, also followed by its corresponding lesson number. "PLL" would be Primary Language lessons, followed by the lesson number. We completed through lesson 48 last year.
For reading, I laid out a very similar spreadsheet. We are continuing the Pathways series. Dude says he can't wait to start his new reading program!
I had actually wavered on continuing a reading program. He has become so fluent, that I was thinking that reading time and discussion alongside his writing and grammar would fulfill his needs. I may be right in that context, but given his excitement over his new program, I think I'm glad we continued this series. And it certainly won't hurt to get some extra reinforcement in there! =)
Here's another peek at our scheduling in this set:
(the page numbers are the workbook pages we'll be covering that day)
I had actually wavered on continuing a reading program. He has become so fluent, that I was thinking that reading time and discussion alongside his writing and grammar would fulfill his needs. I may be right in that context, but given his excitement over his new program, I think I'm glad we continued this series. And it certainly won't hurt to get some extra reinforcement in there! =)
Here's another peek at our scheduling in this set:
(the page numbers are the workbook pages we'll be covering that day)
So far, those are the only two with schedules written down. We'll also be continuing in Latina Christiana I, alongside Famous Men of Rome, which we started at the end of second grade. That pattern for teaching has already been established, so I"ll get out last year's planner and continue on from where we left off.
Math is always harder to plan out long-term. I never know which chapters Dude will fly through that I thought may present a challenge, or which chapters he may have a harder time with that I thought he'd catch on to with no problem! So, we'll be somewhat playing it by ear with that one. I'll have a rough outline for at least the first few weeks. This is the only subject I'm somewhat anxious about this year - we jump in with both feet to learn multiplication! I know that Math-U-See has provided a wonderful foundation for him, and that he really does know the basics and, without knowing it, he's already been doing some simple multiplication. However, the mental shift into really teaching it has me a good bit nervous. I'll let you know how it goes!! =)
Dude picked his Bible curriculum this year. It's the first one that he's picked. He says he likes the others that I've chosen! This year, he liked the looks of Memoria Press' Christian Studies I, and I think he made a good choice! He likes to study more in-depth than just the surface of Bible stories, and this should fulfill that desire, complete with maps, which he loves!
Writing with Ease definitely fulfills on the Ease part for this mama! The lessons come pre-planned out for a 36 week school year, 4 days a week. So, no worries there - it's all ready by the time I get it! =)
This year in science we dive into Zoology I: Flying Creatures from Apologia. Dude just wants to get to the bats! It is pretty easy to lay out those lessons, so I'm not worried about that. Maybe tonight I"ll sit down and at least get the first few weeks lined up! =)
I have already begun to line up history. At least, I have chosen what chapters I will teach each week. Story of the World, Volume 3 holds exciting things for Dude - he already loves the Revolutionary War, and, being a Texan, the Alamo. Both are covered by the end of this year!!!! I foresee many battle scenes reenacted before the year is out. =)
Music will now be taught through piano lessons. So, no real curriculum or lining up of lessons there, although I already do have blocked out a bit of each school day to make sure practice happens!
Math is always harder to plan out long-term. I never know which chapters Dude will fly through that I thought may present a challenge, or which chapters he may have a harder time with that I thought he'd catch on to with no problem! So, we'll be somewhat playing it by ear with that one. I'll have a rough outline for at least the first few weeks. This is the only subject I'm somewhat anxious about this year - we jump in with both feet to learn multiplication! I know that Math-U-See has provided a wonderful foundation for him, and that he really does know the basics and, without knowing it, he's already been doing some simple multiplication. However, the mental shift into really teaching it has me a good bit nervous. I'll let you know how it goes!! =)
Dude picked his Bible curriculum this year. It's the first one that he's picked. He says he likes the others that I've chosen! This year, he liked the looks of Memoria Press' Christian Studies I, and I think he made a good choice! He likes to study more in-depth than just the surface of Bible stories, and this should fulfill that desire, complete with maps, which he loves!
Writing with Ease definitely fulfills on the Ease part for this mama! The lessons come pre-planned out for a 36 week school year, 4 days a week. So, no worries there - it's all ready by the time I get it! =)
This year in science we dive into Zoology I: Flying Creatures from Apologia. Dude just wants to get to the bats! It is pretty easy to lay out those lessons, so I'm not worried about that. Maybe tonight I"ll sit down and at least get the first few weeks lined up! =)
I have already begun to line up history. At least, I have chosen what chapters I will teach each week. Story of the World, Volume 3 holds exciting things for Dude - he already loves the Revolutionary War, and, being a Texan, the Alamo. Both are covered by the end of this year!!!! I foresee many battle scenes reenacted before the year is out. =)
Music will now be taught through piano lessons. So, no real curriculum or lining up of lessons there, although I already do have blocked out a bit of each school day to make sure practice happens!
That all covered the teaching, but if you've been reading the blog, you'll know that I've been preparing for the big move of switching the study with the nursery. The nursery was located in the biggest extra room of the house, and now it's time to make use of that room, and add in some desks for the munchkins, making it not only our study/office, but a schoolroom as well!
So far, progress has been delayed with preparations for and a trip to Florida to attend a very close friend's wedding. Now that we are back and settled, I've begun to tackle the major move. We'll see if we're in our schoolroom by next Tuesday to begin our school year! What's been done, you ask? Well, for starters, there is a loveseat located in the nursery. Odd, I know, but it's where I lie down with a nursing baby in the middle of the night, or just cuddle with a little one as needed. I'm quite attached to that little loveseat! So, it had to go into the big-kid room for the time being, to give space for the other moving around that is going to happen!
So far, progress has been delayed with preparations for and a trip to Florida to attend a very close friend's wedding. Now that we are back and settled, I've begun to tackle the major move. We'll see if we're in our schoolroom by next Tuesday to begin our school year! What's been done, you ask? Well, for starters, there is a loveseat located in the nursery. Odd, I know, but it's where I lie down with a nursing baby in the middle of the night, or just cuddle with a little one as needed. I'm quite attached to that little loveseat! So, it had to go into the big-kid room for the time being, to give space for the other moving around that is going to happen!
Once that was out and situated in the kids' room, complete with moving Scoot out of the portacrib and onto a little cot I had bought for the trip at Wal-mart, the Principal was ready to get in on the action, and his desk went into place the very same day! That all occurred on Monday.
Tuesday brought the crib being taken apart for the first time in 7 years. It's just too wide to fit through the door assembled!
Tuesday brought the crib being taken apart for the first time in 7 years. It's just too wide to fit through the door assembled!
I also unloaded, moved, anchored, and reloaded one set of bookshelves. That was quite a process while also attending to 3 little ones! Today (Wednesday) hopefully brings the start to building the bookshelves that will serve double-duty as desks. A big thank-you to my friend for sending me the idea! I'll post pictures as I go so that you can see what I'm talking about.
What about you? Are you about to start schooling again? Are you still carrying over from last year? Or are you just enjoying the summer and will hold off until fall for lessons? Do you have any major changes you're making for this school year?
What about you? Are you about to start schooling again? Are you still carrying over from last year? Or are you just enjoying the summer and will hold off until fall for lessons? Do you have any major changes you're making for this school year?
6/11/2014 0 Comments
Making progress...
Well, at least in some areas over here!
This morning brought the completion of the rough outline of the first grade curriculum I'm making for my upcoming little ones. If you look at the first grade page here, you'll see that I used My Father's World for my son during first grade. I loved the principles of it! I wanted a reading program that was Bible-integrated, and this sure was! However, I did feel that the pace moved a little faster than I would have liked for starting my son out. He did well with it, and now he's an excellent reader, devouring books just for fun! As my girls are coming up (and baby coming soon will also come behind them), though, I wanted to revamp the curriculum and put my own spin on it. I want to keep the Bible as a major focus, but I also want to slow the pace down a bit, especially at the beginning of the program, and set a bit more of a foundation off of which to build. I want to add in an extra early-reader that goes with the lessons, to prepare for the Bible reader that will come soon enough in the lessons! In talking with my mom, a teacher of first graders, I have also decided to add in more phonemic awareness activities (syllables, rhyming, etc.).
My Father's World first grade also stops their formal phonics/reading lessons after the first 100 days of instruction (they have 4 formal days a week, and one "science day" that doesn't count towards the instruction days, so that's 25 weeks of formal instruction). I didn't like that so very much, as it went to just reading the Bible reader, without any review or new concepts introduced for the last 6 weeks. I would like to have at least some extra review and activities for the remainder of the year. The length is also another change. After first grade, we go to 36 weeks of instruction. I will be stretching out the first grade year to 36 weeks to be compatible with a typical school year with the older children. This way, the younger ones will be able to do their lessons alongside the older ones, for the same amount of weeks.
Now that I have a rough skeleton/outline, I will soon move on to laying it all out and playing around with the order of introduction to reading concepts, as well as looking to add in fun activities that go along with it. I hope to rope the Principal into this as well! He's the artist of the family, so he will likely be the designer of all pictures in the workbook and readers! =)
So, what does it look like when I began to plan one of my hare-brained ideas (Principal calls it "baking gourds." That story can be found here.)? Here's a look at what the Principal has tolerated on our couch off and on:
This morning brought the completion of the rough outline of the first grade curriculum I'm making for my upcoming little ones. If you look at the first grade page here, you'll see that I used My Father's World for my son during first grade. I loved the principles of it! I wanted a reading program that was Bible-integrated, and this sure was! However, I did feel that the pace moved a little faster than I would have liked for starting my son out. He did well with it, and now he's an excellent reader, devouring books just for fun! As my girls are coming up (and baby coming soon will also come behind them), though, I wanted to revamp the curriculum and put my own spin on it. I want to keep the Bible as a major focus, but I also want to slow the pace down a bit, especially at the beginning of the program, and set a bit more of a foundation off of which to build. I want to add in an extra early-reader that goes with the lessons, to prepare for the Bible reader that will come soon enough in the lessons! In talking with my mom, a teacher of first graders, I have also decided to add in more phonemic awareness activities (syllables, rhyming, etc.).
My Father's World first grade also stops their formal phonics/reading lessons after the first 100 days of instruction (they have 4 formal days a week, and one "science day" that doesn't count towards the instruction days, so that's 25 weeks of formal instruction). I didn't like that so very much, as it went to just reading the Bible reader, without any review or new concepts introduced for the last 6 weeks. I would like to have at least some extra review and activities for the remainder of the year. The length is also another change. After first grade, we go to 36 weeks of instruction. I will be stretching out the first grade year to 36 weeks to be compatible with a typical school year with the older children. This way, the younger ones will be able to do their lessons alongside the older ones, for the same amount of weeks.
Now that I have a rough skeleton/outline, I will soon move on to laying it all out and playing around with the order of introduction to reading concepts, as well as looking to add in fun activities that go along with it. I hope to rope the Principal into this as well! He's the artist of the family, so he will likely be the designer of all pictures in the workbook and readers! =)
So, what does it look like when I began to plan one of my hare-brained ideas (Principal calls it "baking gourds." That story can be found here.)? Here's a look at what the Principal has tolerated on our couch off and on:
Yep, there's the stack of materials that were cross-referenced (and will be many times more, I'm sure), and the notebook that's now been used as my initial layout planner. Time to dive in even deeper, and see where I'd like to tweak here and there... and where I need activity sheets or booklets or other goodies!
Now question time: What do you like to see in curriculum at the first grade level? Are there any particular activities that engage your child more than others? What would make life easier for you in teaching a little one learning to read? Please let me know your ideas! =)
Now question time: What do you like to see in curriculum at the first grade level? Are there any particular activities that engage your child more than others? What would make life easier for you in teaching a little one learning to read? Please let me know your ideas! =)
6/5/2014 0 Comments
New Books!!!
Is anyone else going on a curriculum-buying binge, or is it just me? I guess it's just that time of the year, with all of the sales going on!
I had actually bought almost all of Dude's third grade curriculum between Thanksgiving and the first part of the new year. Only reading and math had been left, in hopes of getting a sale from Math-U-See (apparently their only deal is free shipping at a convention...) and needing to make a trip to the northwest side of town to the homeschool store to get his reading curriculum for the coming year. He was quite excited when I bought that just yesterday!
Today I found a great deal on Dude's instruction pack, used, for his next level (Gamma) in Math-U-See. That helped on the cost a good bit! =)
If you don't follow them on Facebook or through their blog, I would recommend checking out the online curriculum sale that Hip Homeschool Moms has going on right now - so many great finds!!
One new addition to the next year's schooling lineup was a surprise find at a local homeschool used book sale - Five in a Row by Jane C. Lambert. I have been looking at this for quite some time, as it was highly recommended to me by more than one person. However, I had not had a chance to actually look through the book, so I was quite hesitant to spend the money on a new book ($35 through Rainbow Resource). However, $18 was doable, and I was able to glance through the book before purchasing. I very much like the idea of focusing on one book in a week, looking at it through different "lenses" (art, social studies, language arts, etc.) each day. Great concept! As I was going through the book and looking at the suggestions. I liked it more and more. I have now purchased 18 of the 19 titles in Volume 1. I already had the last one. =)
My plan is to use this for Monkey's kindergarten year. Our main learning focus will be on the alphabet, as well as continuing with numbers, as originally planned. However, this will add a great extra dimension to her learning, with a good number of books to learn from! I'm quite excited over this new addition, and already mulling over the purchase of Volume 2, as the first will only get us about halfway through the year. We'll see how things are going once we start with it and take stock closer to halfway through the book. =)
Meanwhile, what are you all up to in planning for the next year? Have you bought everything, or are you still looking around, weighing your options? Have you changed direction from last year and decided to go off on a different course? I would be interested to know what everyone else is planning! =)
I had actually bought almost all of Dude's third grade curriculum between Thanksgiving and the first part of the new year. Only reading and math had been left, in hopes of getting a sale from Math-U-See (apparently their only deal is free shipping at a convention...) and needing to make a trip to the northwest side of town to the homeschool store to get his reading curriculum for the coming year. He was quite excited when I bought that just yesterday!
Today I found a great deal on Dude's instruction pack, used, for his next level (Gamma) in Math-U-See. That helped on the cost a good bit! =)
If you don't follow them on Facebook or through their blog, I would recommend checking out the online curriculum sale that Hip Homeschool Moms has going on right now - so many great finds!!
One new addition to the next year's schooling lineup was a surprise find at a local homeschool used book sale - Five in a Row by Jane C. Lambert. I have been looking at this for quite some time, as it was highly recommended to me by more than one person. However, I had not had a chance to actually look through the book, so I was quite hesitant to spend the money on a new book ($35 through Rainbow Resource). However, $18 was doable, and I was able to glance through the book before purchasing. I very much like the idea of focusing on one book in a week, looking at it through different "lenses" (art, social studies, language arts, etc.) each day. Great concept! As I was going through the book and looking at the suggestions. I liked it more and more. I have now purchased 18 of the 19 titles in Volume 1. I already had the last one. =)
My plan is to use this for Monkey's kindergarten year. Our main learning focus will be on the alphabet, as well as continuing with numbers, as originally planned. However, this will add a great extra dimension to her learning, with a good number of books to learn from! I'm quite excited over this new addition, and already mulling over the purchase of Volume 2, as the first will only get us about halfway through the year. We'll see how things are going once we start with it and take stock closer to halfway through the book. =)
Meanwhile, what are you all up to in planning for the next year? Have you bought everything, or are you still looking around, weighing your options? Have you changed direction from last year and decided to go off on a different course? I would be interested to know what everyone else is planning! =)
Today was our first official day off of school. Mondays are always off, so that wasn't anything new. Today brought the first taste of real freedom. My kiddos were quite happy with a walk to the park and playing with cousins! I was quite happy with naptime following this adventure!!! =) We are still continuing writing, as Dude seems to be having a bit of trouble with his dictation, and that needs to be remedied before we try to move on to the next level in that subject. Thankfully, that means less than 20 minutes a day!
Am I the only crazy one that goes a little nuts when summer comes around? All of the sudden, I've jumped on about 5 projects that I've been plotting to do. Quilting has suddenly come alive again in my household, after a roughly 8 month dormancy. Yesterday brought new bookshelves and storage boxes to the kids' room to replace the small set of shelves that was in there. The shelves were bought, assembled, and filled all within the span of the afternoon and evening! Today I started filling a couple of those boxes to help clear out their closet. This summer brings lots of changes in preparation for next school year as well as a new baby! Here's a couple of shots of the project - one showing the old and new bookshelves side-by-side, and the other showing the bookshelves all nicely filled and organized!
Am I the only crazy one that goes a little nuts when summer comes around? All of the sudden, I've jumped on about 5 projects that I've been plotting to do. Quilting has suddenly come alive again in my household, after a roughly 8 month dormancy. Yesterday brought new bookshelves and storage boxes to the kids' room to replace the small set of shelves that was in there. The shelves were bought, assembled, and filled all within the span of the afternoon and evening! Today I started filling a couple of those boxes to help clear out their closet. This summer brings lots of changes in preparation for next school year as well as a new baby! Here's a couple of shots of the project - one showing the old and new bookshelves side-by-side, and the other showing the bookshelves all nicely filled and organized!
This change in furniture is only the bare beginning of the preparatory work for moving around the other two extra rooms of the house - the study and nursery, soon to swap places. First up, the kids' room had to be cleaned up and organized, and I needed to see how much was moving out of the current study and how much will move into the new study. I also have to prepare their closet for a third child's clothes to be stored in there. Scoot's already been sleeping in the big kids' room, but I haven't yet moved her clothes out of the nursery.
It's time!
Ironically, the quilting is also part of the moving process!!! I've had projects piling up that I want to do, with fabric that I want to use for them... and I'm about to have a good bit less space. Time to use it up! Monkey is getting a "big girl bed" quilt that I should have made a couple of years ago. The last of that fabric got cut this evening. I"m also working on a surprise for a friend, which will alleviate an entire large bin's worth when done. Along with this is also a project started last summer, with the intent of a Christmas present for Monkey. Time to finish that up and get it out! Or put away for this coming Christmas or birthday. =) I also have a few quilts for our bed that have been waiting in the wings, so they've come up front and center. Even the Principal has a surprise buried in this mountain of stuff... keep an eye on my other blog for updates on my projects! =) Here's a sneak peak at one of my projects going on:
It's time!
Ironically, the quilting is also part of the moving process!!! I've had projects piling up that I want to do, with fabric that I want to use for them... and I'm about to have a good bit less space. Time to use it up! Monkey is getting a "big girl bed" quilt that I should have made a couple of years ago. The last of that fabric got cut this evening. I"m also working on a surprise for a friend, which will alleviate an entire large bin's worth when done. Along with this is also a project started last summer, with the intent of a Christmas present for Monkey. Time to finish that up and get it out! Or put away for this coming Christmas or birthday. =) I also have a few quilts for our bed that have been waiting in the wings, so they've come up front and center. Even the Principal has a surprise buried in this mountain of stuff... keep an eye on my other blog for updates on my projects! =) Here's a sneak peak at one of my projects going on:
Besides all of this, I finally feel like I'm beginning to get a bit of a handle on the kitchen and laundry, too! Maybe by the time we start back up in July I'll have a good system down, and a much better organization system in place along with that new schoolroom/study!
So, tell me, am I the only one that goes a bit crazy when school is out and lessons no longer are taking up many of the hours of the day? What do you do when school comes to a close?
So, tell me, am I the only one that goes a bit crazy when school is out and lessons no longer are taking up many of the hours of the day? What do you do when school comes to a close?
5/12/2014 0 Comments
Last week of homeschooling one.
While finishing up our last week this week, the tension and excitement are mounting as I look ahead to our next year of homeschooling.... this time with TWO in formal lessons! Granted, one will be in kindergarten. This will still be a mostly easy-going year for her. We'll be headed into third grade with my oldest. How are we already at third grade!? It doesn't seem possible that my baby boy will be heading into the third year of formal lessons. Yes, you read that right - with him, we never really did a formal kindergarten. With Monkey, she's wanting more school to be like big brother, so I'm actually having to gather things together and piecemeal a kindergarten curriculum to guide our year coming up.
I'm not a big believer in pushing (or even encouraging) children to do too much too early. We did "pretty school" with Monkey this year at her request - she wanted school, too! Dude learned what he needed for a first grade level just by asking questions and haphazardly working through simple workbooks to learn his letters and numbers. Really, there was no planning in it! It was fully by his request. It wasn't until I started looking into Kindergarten curriculum for him at 5 that I realized I'd "accidentally" already prepared him for a first grade level! With Monkey, I've tried to divert her a little. She's followed and listened, and likely could have done a kindergarten level this year, but this mama wasn't on board with a first grader at 4, so I tried to focus on letters and shapes and patterns and colors instead this year, leaving the letters and beginning of reading for next year. =)
With our school year wrapping up, the Principal is on pins and needles, just chomping at the bit as he awaits my signals that I'm ready for our big change-around of rooms. He's ready for the new study and school room to be in place! I, on the other hand, am just not ready yet! I have had to request peace in the moving and changing department until AFTER the end of the school year, for my sanity. The countdown has begun! =)
What about you? Are you already done for the year, or drawing things to a close? Or are you still a good bit off from the end?
I'm not a big believer in pushing (or even encouraging) children to do too much too early. We did "pretty school" with Monkey this year at her request - she wanted school, too! Dude learned what he needed for a first grade level just by asking questions and haphazardly working through simple workbooks to learn his letters and numbers. Really, there was no planning in it! It was fully by his request. It wasn't until I started looking into Kindergarten curriculum for him at 5 that I realized I'd "accidentally" already prepared him for a first grade level! With Monkey, I've tried to divert her a little. She's followed and listened, and likely could have done a kindergarten level this year, but this mama wasn't on board with a first grader at 4, so I tried to focus on letters and shapes and patterns and colors instead this year, leaving the letters and beginning of reading for next year. =)
With our school year wrapping up, the Principal is on pins and needles, just chomping at the bit as he awaits my signals that I'm ready for our big change-around of rooms. He's ready for the new study and school room to be in place! I, on the other hand, am just not ready yet! I have had to request peace in the moving and changing department until AFTER the end of the school year, for my sanity. The countdown has begun! =)
What about you? Are you already done for the year, or drawing things to a close? Or are you still a good bit off from the end?
Mother of Dude, Monkey, and Scoot... and a new one on the way!
I think that about sums it up! :)
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