It has been a great quarter -everything has just falling into place.
Sam is doing very well with 100 EZ lessons. He has just completed lesson 22 and the blending is coming along nicely. He has started completing 3 lessons a week this week. He is excited about the stories and will probably start completing a lesson a day shortly.
MUS is working out well for him. He usually insist on doing math first. He has finished lesson 17 and we are doing 1 lesson a week. He is remembering the +1 and double math facts with just a little help. We just started learning counting by 2s this week.
Five in a Row has been a really enjoyable resource to use. I've read books that I would have never picked off the shelf and they have been a joy. The is a great resource for 5yos....it is helping Sam look at more in the story than just the entertainment value. I am hoping that this extra attention to specific aspects of each story will help him develop that habit of attention that Charlotte Mason encourages and thus will help him with the narration next year.
We have finally started lowercase letters with HWT. I want to work with encouraging him in doing copywork in his brand new Nature Book that he just started this day.
We have added a Nature study following the Green Hour challenge. Love, love ,love it! Sam started his Nature Notebook today. I didn't plan on starting a NN until age 6 but he really enjoyed doing it. He is usually reluctant to draw or write anything "special" that will be kept so this is a huge development!
He has been doing school at Grandma's on Wednesdays. Grandma picked up some items at a local teacher supply and they have been doing arts/crafts, practicing his letters, and playing educational games.
Speech is still ongoing - we attend biweekly. He is so very ready for ST to be done but we aren't quite there.
I started this blog. I've been concentrating on the little kids mainly to not mortify the older kids by blabbing about their ups and downs. I don't even think I mentioned the older kids names yet. This blog has helped me to "switch gears" with my thinkings and doings in regards to school and to actually see just how much I am actually doing with Sam.
Habits- Sam is now going to bed all by himself. Wow what a difference. Charlotte is now the trouble maker at bedtime since moving to her big girl bed. Sam has been such a helper with picking up. He has started picking up his toys without being asked.
Things I want to change next quarter.....absolutely nothing!
I want to encourage him to copy his words into his nature book.
I want to encourage more art/drawing....not only in his nature book but also start an art book. Perhaps I can ask Big Sis to draw with him. They spent an evening this week drawing together and he really enjoyed....I think she did as well. I think there is a copy of Draw Write Now up in Big Sis' stuff from years ago perhaps she'll be willing to devote a special time just the 2 of them. I'll suggest and see how this works out.
New Habits to work on....??? I need to think on this a bit. Perhaps limiting tv/computer time.....our tv/computer time increased substantially this winter due to poor weather so I would like to get it back under control. This should be relatively easily replaced with outside time. Sam has learned how to completely operate the computer and can find his games and I find him on the computer at all times of the day....so I need to either block his access or redirect him when he gets on. Computer time is going to be harder to control in the evenings because he likes to play games while Dad is online next to him. Perhaps this will be easily replace with activities outside when the time changes and it is light enough to go for a family outing when Dad gets home from work.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Green Hour #3
Assignment #3
"Why do pupils dislike writing English exercises? Simply because they are not interested in the subject they are asked to write about, and they know that the teacher is not interested in the information contained in the essay. But when they are interested in the subject and write about it to a person who is interested, the conditions are entirely changed." Handbook of Nature Study pg.16
May I always remember to help them find their interest before requiring them to write.
Sam's words for this week...
The specimens were the pine trees in our back yard. Sam has been collecting pine cones all week.
Sam hard at work on his first entry to his Nature Notebook. He did not want to copy his words but wanted me to write them for him.
He is quite proud of the results. I don't think his smile could be any bigger!
Sam's only complaint was that my camera could not take a picture of the red beetle that was climbing on his tree. I need to upgrade my camera!
"Why do pupils dislike writing English exercises? Simply because they are not interested in the subject they are asked to write about, and they know that the teacher is not interested in the information contained in the essay. But when they are interested in the subject and write about it to a person who is interested, the conditions are entirely changed." Handbook of Nature Study pg.16May I always remember to help them find their interest before requiring them to write.
Sam's words for this week...
Silence
Red Beetle
Rough Hard Bark
The specimens were the pine trees in our back yard. Sam has been collecting pine cones all week.
Sam hard at work on his first entry to his Nature Notebook. He did not want to copy his words but wanted me to write them for him.
He is quite proud of the results. I don't think his smile could be any bigger!
Sam's only complaint was that my camera could not take a picture of the red beetle that was climbing on his tree. I need to upgrade my camera!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Our Rules for a Happy Homeschool
aka. what I wished someone told me in 1995....
1. Outside Time -lots of it!
Outside time should be a priority for every child. Moms that have active children quickly realize that their children are happiest when they have the opportunity to play outside.
"The afternoon's games, after luncheon, are an important part of the day's doings for the elder children, though the younger have probably worn themselves out by this time with the ceaseless restlessness by means of which Nature provides for the due development of muscular tissue in them; let them sleep in the sweet air, and awake refreshed. Meanwhile, the elders play; the more they run, and shout, and toss their arms, the more healthful is the play. And this is one reason why mothers should carry their children off to lonely places, where they may use their lungs to their hearts' content without risk of annoying anybody. The muscular structure of the organs of voice is not enough considered; children love to indulge in cries and shouts and view-halloos, and this 'rude' and 'noisy' play, with which their elders have not much patience, is no more than Nature's way of providing for the due exercise of organs, upon whose working power the health and happiness of the child's future largely depend. " ( pg. 82)
Anna Botsford Comstock explains that nature study can be a help to the naughtiness in school that is due to a a child's lack of interest in his school work and his physical inactivity during the school hours.
"The best teachers try to obviate both of the causes of misbehavior rather than punish the naughtiness that results from them. Nature study is an aid in both respects, since it keeps the child interested and also gives them something to do." Handbook of Nature Study. pg. 4.
2. Limit TV/ Gaming systems / Computer time
Many of a family has wasted precious time with these offenders. Notice I said family......many mamas are as guilty as the children when it comes to spending too much time on the computer. Gaming systems are popular gifts but once introduced in the home there always seems to be a marked reduction of time spent in other pursuits and interest. If you want your children to pursue topics of interest in their free time, limit their time on the tv, gaming system, and computer.
3. Daily Rhythm
Having some sort of plan in place does help a homeschooling mom's day go smoothly. It doesn't not have to be micro-scheduled into 15 min increments to be successful. I'm amazed by moms that can pull off a micro-schedule and not lose their mind! I want my children to have a basic framework to work with but I still want some flexibility. If you say.....hey it's 9 o-clock and the kids automatically start grabbing their books because they know it's time for schoolwork, you are on the right track.
Our Daily Rhythm for Winter 2008
4. Just say NO
This should be a homeschooling moms most used phrased....not to her children but to all the outside activities that are currently offered. In 1995....we had weekly parkdays and monthly fieldtrips. Now in our area there are several co-ops, several options for paid homeschool classes, homeschool Tae Kwon Do, Homeschool sports, Homeschool bands, Homeschool boy/girl scouts, PE classes, Ballroom dance classes, etc. The list goes on and on and that doesn't even include the standard classes offered to all children. Easily, everyday of the week could be filled up with activities. I know moms who spend the day driving from one really great class to another attempting to get some schooling done in the car. Just say NO! If you must, pick one that all or most of your children can participate in and forget the rest . You can always try out something else next year.
5. Work with what you have and not what you wish you had
Have active children? Don't wish they were quieter ....work with that wiggle!
There is a Plan for those active kids and you are just the mama to help them fulfill it. Charlotte Mason’s philosophy of education is simple: Education an atmosphere, a discipline, a life. Your job as a homeschooling mama is to apply that to your family and your kids. Create an enviroment that your kids can be successful!
Have limited funds? Don't wish for more money.....choose and spend wisely! You can teach a child to read with a $20 resource or one that cost 10 x that amount. Your children aren't going to read 10x better with the more expensive option....there just will be more bells and whistles which means more pieces to lose.
We've tried just about everything to keep the school stuff organized. I get a box and everything gets that I think needs to be saved for the year is saved in that box. In our state, we are legally a private school so those saved items are for our own purposes. Ok...the highschool years we did get a bit more organized than that but that is whole topic in itself.
Donna Young Printables is a good place to start looking at options to keeping schedules, lessons plans and the like organized.
Fly Lady is a good place to start looking at ways to organize the housework.
9. Habit training
The rule of all rules.
"Habit is ten natures"
"The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days; while she who lets their habits take care of themselves has a weary life of endless friction with the children."- Charlotte Mason
The years go by way too fast- cherish every moment! If you aren't enjoying yourself go back to rule #1.
1. Outside Time -lots of it!
Outside time should be a priority for every child. Moms that have active children quickly realize that their children are happiest when they have the opportunity to play outside.
Charlotte Mason advocated spending hours.....upward to six hours outside everyday with the children.( Home Education pg.45 ) She didn't encourage us to send them out but to TAKE them out. ( pg. 44) She also suggested that they benefited from being able to be as loud and active as they can.
"The afternoon's games, after luncheon, are an important part of the day's doings for the elder children, though the younger have probably worn themselves out by this time with the ceaseless restlessness by means of which Nature provides for the due development of muscular tissue in them; let them sleep in the sweet air, and awake refreshed. Meanwhile, the elders play; the more they run, and shout, and toss their arms, the more healthful is the play. And this is one reason why mothers should carry their children off to lonely places, where they may use their lungs to their hearts' content without risk of annoying anybody. The muscular structure of the organs of voice is not enough considered; children love to indulge in cries and shouts and view-halloos, and this 'rude' and 'noisy' play, with which their elders have not much patience, is no more than Nature's way of providing for the due exercise of organs, upon whose working power the health and happiness of the child's future largely depend. " ( pg. 82)
Anna Botsford Comstock explains that nature study can be a help to the naughtiness in school that is due to a a child's lack of interest in his school work and his physical inactivity during the school hours.
"The best teachers try to obviate both of the causes of misbehavior rather than punish the naughtiness that results from them. Nature study is an aid in both respects, since it keeps the child interested and also gives them something to do." Handbook of Nature Study. pg. 4.
Wise words.
Outside time should be a priority for our children not used as a reward for good behavior but as a elixar to help prevent bad behavior. Cure for homeschool burnout.....more time outside for the whole family. Try it for a week and see if it helps your day......2. Limit TV/ Gaming systems / Computer time
Many of a family has wasted precious time with these offenders. Notice I said family......many mamas are as guilty as the children when it comes to spending too much time on the computer. Gaming systems are popular gifts but once introduced in the home there always seems to be a marked reduction of time spent in other pursuits and interest. If you want your children to pursue topics of interest in their free time, limit their time on the tv, gaming system, and computer.
3. Daily Rhythm
Having some sort of plan in place does help a homeschooling mom's day go smoothly. It doesn't not have to be micro-scheduled into 15 min increments to be successful. I'm amazed by moms that can pull off a micro-schedule and not lose their mind! I want my children to have a basic framework to work with but I still want some flexibility. If you say.....hey it's 9 o-clock and the kids automatically start grabbing their books because they know it's time for schoolwork, you are on the right track.
Our Daily Rhythm for Winter 2008
4. Just say NO
This should be a homeschooling moms most used phrased....not to her children but to all the outside activities that are currently offered. In 1995....we had weekly parkdays and monthly fieldtrips. Now in our area there are several co-ops, several options for paid homeschool classes, homeschool Tae Kwon Do, Homeschool sports, Homeschool bands, Homeschool boy/girl scouts, PE classes, Ballroom dance classes, etc. The list goes on and on and that doesn't even include the standard classes offered to all children. Easily, everyday of the week could be filled up with activities. I know moms who spend the day driving from one really great class to another attempting to get some schooling done in the car. Just say NO! If you must, pick one that all or most of your children can participate in and forget the rest . You can always try out something else next year.
5. Work with what you have and not what you wish you had
Have active children? Don't wish they were quieter ....work with that wiggle!
There is a Plan for those active kids and you are just the mama to help them fulfill it. Charlotte Mason’s philosophy of education is simple: Education an atmosphere, a discipline, a life. Your job as a homeschooling mama is to apply that to your family and your kids. Create an enviroment that your kids can be successful!
Have limited funds? Don't wish for more money.....choose and spend wisely! You can teach a child to read with a $20 resource or one that cost 10 x that amount. Your children aren't going to read 10x better with the more expensive option....there just will be more bells and whistles which means more pieces to lose.
No Jonesing with your homeschooling endeavor!
6. The perfect curriculum
There is no such thing so quit looking for it. The BEST curriculum for your family is one that...
Mom enjoys using - if mama ain't happy, nobody is happy!
keeps the kids learning- one of the reason we take on this endeavor.
keeps daddy happy- for obvious reasons!
7. Always be willing to change
Seasons change and so will our children and our lives. The schedule that is working so well for me today won't work this summer and it didn't work last fall. Many moms start planning their homeschool and will have a highschool plan in place when their children are still preschool age. Resist that urge.... I could never have planned the past 12 years when my oldest was just starting out. Resources are different, options are different .....we are different! I've homeschooled through a divorce, as a single working mom, through a major move, through a hurricane, difficult pregnancies, and months of bedrest. My early plans are a source of humility......Relax and take it a year at a time.
8. KISS Keep It Super Simple- organization tips
People are making money off of a homeschooling moms fears and disorganization. All you need to get your school and family organized is right in front of you-your computer and your family. Some of us need a complicated binder bursting full of forms but most of us can get by with a little less fluff. Do the minimal to keep your family happy.
Menus are a necessity at my house, otherwise we will eat junk daily. We have a weekly breakfast and lunch menu and a monthly dinner menu. Every 3-6 months we'll revamp it for a change. Took us 30 minutes to type it up and now it is posted on the fridge for all to see.
We've tried just about everything to keep the school stuff organized. I get a box and everything gets that I think needs to be saved for the year is saved in that box. In our state, we are legally a private school so those saved items are for our own purposes. Ok...the highschool years we did get a bit more organized than that but that is whole topic in itself.
Donna Young Printables is a good place to start looking at options to keeping schedules, lessons plans and the like organized.
Fly Lady is a good place to start looking at ways to organize the housework.
9. Habit training
The rule of all rules.
"Habit is ten natures"
"The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days; while she who lets their habits take care of themselves has a weary life of endless friction with the children."- Charlotte Mason
Charlotte Mason writes extensively about the development of habits and had quite a list of desirable habits that we should train our children to do.
Pick a undesirable trait in your family and work on creating a better habit. One at a time is the key.
10. Enjoy every moment
The years go by way too fast- cherish every moment! If you aren't enjoying yourself go back to rule #1.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Green Hour #2
"...although I have used these outlines once, I am sure I should never be able to use them again without making changes." Pg. 24 HNS
I love this. All to often homeschool moms use a curriculum and think they need to use it exactly as it was written or they will miss out on something. Anna Comstock is telling us the she wouldn't use her own volume in such a manner but would tweak it each time she did a lesson.
Sam's words...
Cooing
Gray Pigeon
Fresh warm wind
Charlotte's words...
Quack!
Duck-Duck
Flowers!
Mama's words...
Laughter
Happy children
Hugs, kisses, love.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Green Hour #1
I'm a total newbie to this blogging thing but I came across the Green Hour Challenge.
Very timely.....I have just recently started rereading my old beaten copy of Handbook of Nature Study. The kids and I have had a long standing habit of nature study although perhaps not as focused as Charlotte Mason intended, especially with my younger two.
This week we found out more about the Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret birds. We have been seeing these birds all over town this week. Next week I will remember to keep my camera handy because I've missed some great pictures!
Friday we will head off to a local lake and I hope to get some pictures of these birds at that time.
This week I started the Nature Study page element on my blog. Nature study is going to be SOOO much easier in 2008 then it was in 1994!
Diplomas
Diplomas....graduation.
When we started this adventure way back in 1995 or so I never thought it would get this far. If someone had told me in 1990 when this kiddo was born that I would've not only homeschooled him but homeschooled him through highschool graduation I would have laughed. No way was I going to homeschool my kids.....that is until we moved to a really bad school district the very week he would have started kindergarten. We knew of a family that homeschooled so we thought we could do it that year and send him to school the next.....after all it's only kindergarten....
So here we are in 2008 trying to figure out how to mark this occasion. My original thoughts were to participate in one of the local homeschool graduation ceremonies. There are several to choose from in our area and it would be an easy option but he rolled his eyes and stated that there was no possible way I could convince him to do that. No cap and gown. No speeches. What is the purpose of a traditional graduation for a non-traditional education?
Ok. That all makes perfect sense. We have friends that have moved into the world and have completed their homeschool journey without any of that nonsense. If they need a diploma for some odd reason then and only then does mama print one off. My son would be perfectly happy following suit.
The problem is the members of our family who would question this choice and complain at each family event for DECADES that this poor kid never graduated highschool. There was no diploma.....there were no announcements....how do we know that he did anything for the past 12 years???
So I did it. I ordered a diploma. I could have printed one off my computer for a heck of a lot less money. Since I did not want the kids to have grandma complain about this mama-printed-diploma at their wedding, I ordered a " real " diploma.
We had to name our homeschool which seemed a bit lame but after 12 years we became Mainland Highschool..... wait I think we became Mainland High School. I guess we'll find out when it comes in the mail. That name is now going to be foil embossed on a maroon cover and inside of this padded tome is hand calligraphy and an engraved seal. Fancy.
Being ever aware of the dynamics of our family, my dd stated that we should not stop at a diploma we should order announcements as well. Gramma will be disappointed and complain if she didn't get an announcement of some sort to frame. My son's comment.....save the trees! I thought of printing an announcement off the computer like I would for a baby shower....like I did for my wedding! But no, DD insisted on an announcement professionally done...nothing but the best for Gramma! We searched the site for an announcement that you could order with the fewest cards and lucky us it even matches his diploma......maroon and gold are his school colors.....if he cared about such things. I had to give it some thought on wording because we don't have a specific plan in place for this event. The card simply announces that his parents are pleased to announce his graduation....and a motto...
Do not follow where the path leads.
Rather, go where there is no path
and leave a trail
We have a date, May 3, 2008. We have a diploma and announcements. Now we just need to plan the event. More on that later.
When we started this adventure way back in 1995 or so I never thought it would get this far. If someone had told me in 1990 when this kiddo was born that I would've not only homeschooled him but homeschooled him through highschool graduation I would have laughed. No way was I going to homeschool my kids.....that is until we moved to a really bad school district the very week he would have started kindergarten. We knew of a family that homeschooled so we thought we could do it that year and send him to school the next.....after all it's only kindergarten....
So here we are in 2008 trying to figure out how to mark this occasion. My original thoughts were to participate in one of the local homeschool graduation ceremonies. There are several to choose from in our area and it would be an easy option but he rolled his eyes and stated that there was no possible way I could convince him to do that. No cap and gown. No speeches. What is the purpose of a traditional graduation for a non-traditional education?
Ok. That all makes perfect sense. We have friends that have moved into the world and have completed their homeschool journey without any of that nonsense. If they need a diploma for some odd reason then and only then does mama print one off. My son would be perfectly happy following suit.
The problem is the members of our family who would question this choice and complain at each family event for DECADES that this poor kid never graduated highschool. There was no diploma.....there were no announcements....how do we know that he did anything for the past 12 years???
So I did it. I ordered a diploma. I could have printed one off my computer for a heck of a lot less money. Since I did not want the kids to have grandma complain about this mama-printed-diploma at their wedding, I ordered a " real " diploma.
We had to name our homeschool which seemed a bit lame but after 12 years we became Mainland Highschool..... wait I think we became Mainland High School. I guess we'll find out when it comes in the mail. That name is now going to be foil embossed on a maroon cover and inside of this padded tome is hand calligraphy and an engraved seal. Fancy.
Being ever aware of the dynamics of our family, my dd stated that we should not stop at a diploma we should order announcements as well. Gramma will be disappointed and complain if she didn't get an announcement of some sort to frame. My son's comment.....save the trees! I thought of printing an announcement off the computer like I would for a baby shower....like I did for my wedding! But no, DD insisted on an announcement professionally done...nothing but the best for Gramma! We searched the site for an announcement that you could order with the fewest cards and lucky us it even matches his diploma......maroon and gold are his school colors.....if he cared about such things. I had to give it some thought on wording because we don't have a specific plan in place for this event. The card simply announces that his parents are pleased to announce his graduation....and a motto...
Do not follow where the path leads.
Rather, go where there is no path
and leave a trail
We have a date, May 3, 2008. We have a diploma and announcements. Now we just need to plan the event. More on that later.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Transitioning to AO Year 1
We've never followed a traditional school year so starting AO Year 1 in January is not something that will be awkward. It actually makes alot of sense for our family. For my younger kids the longest break of the year is Thanksgiving through New Years. The rest of the year we take shorter 1-3 breaks as needed for vacations, etc. With a little planning, we should be wrapping up AO Year 1 around the following Thanksgiving.
I also think having the AO years starting in January will be a huge benefit as the kids get older and the work load increases. Starting at age 9, our school day will lengthen a bit after their birthdays and then lengthen a bit more in January with the start of a new year of AO.
As we transition to AO Year 1 we will continue doing everything that we started at age 6 but add..
1. Copywork 2x per week
2. Structured reading for 20min/day and encourage free reading for 20 min per day.
3. Memory work substitutes speech therapy practice. We will continue our exercises that we have learned but now will memorize a poem every 2-4 weeks.
4.Oral Narrations now will become mandatory after each reading.
5. I will start a notebook with samples of his narrations that I have written, copies of the poems he has memorized, maps that followed our geography study, copywork pages, reading lists and anything thing else that seems to fit.
6. I also want to have samples of his narrations on video on this blog.
7. Complete by 7th birthday any that we have not done.
"A Formidable List of Attainments for a Child of Six", a reprint
of a curriculum outline from a CM school in the 1890's.
from Summer 93 Parents Review pub by Karen Andreola
Now we will address .....
1. To recite, beautifully, 6 easy poems and hymns
2. to recite, perfectly and beautifully, a parable and a psalm
9. to tell quite accurately 3 stories from Bible history, 3 from early English, and 3 from early Roman history
17. to sing one hymn, one French song, and one English song
I also think having the AO years starting in January will be a huge benefit as the kids get older and the work load increases. Starting at age 9, our school day will lengthen a bit after their birthdays and then lengthen a bit more in January with the start of a new year of AO.
As we transition to AO Year 1 we will continue doing everything that we started at age 6 but add..
1. Copywork 2x per week
2. Structured reading for 20min/day and encourage free reading for 20 min per day.
3. Memory work substitutes speech therapy practice. We will continue our exercises that we have learned but now will memorize a poem every 2-4 weeks.
4.Oral Narrations now will become mandatory after each reading.
5. I will start a notebook with samples of his narrations that I have written, copies of the poems he has memorized, maps that followed our geography study, copywork pages, reading lists and anything thing else that seems to fit.
6. I also want to have samples of his narrations on video on this blog.
7. Complete by 7th birthday any that we have not done.
"A Formidable List of Attainments for a Child of Six", a reprint
of a curriculum outline from a CM school in the 1890's.
from Summer 93 Parents Review pub by Karen Andreola
Now we will address .....
1. To recite, beautifully, 6 easy poems and hymns
2. to recite, perfectly and beautifully, a parable and a psalm
9. to tell quite accurately 3 stories from Bible history, 3 from early English, and 3 from early Roman history
17. to sing one hymn, one French song, and one English song
Tentative age 6 plan
I'm fairly committed to using Amblesideonline as a basic outline for the younger kids education. I read through their scope and sequence and it reflects what the older kids and I have done. There are a few substitutions of course and we worked through a few of these books during different years and at different pace at times but I think it is going to be useful for a jumping off point.
I've been thinking long and hard how to make the AO Year 1 work for a summer birthday, active boy who is still involved with biweekly speech therapy. I don't want narrations to be a burden and I don't want to be in a position that after each narration we have to correct his speech. I also want him to be mature enough to truly enjoy all those books!
We currently have such a nice rhythm to our day that I want to build on.
So this is what I have decided to do....
5/5/08
Changes to the original plan in blue
At age 6 we will
1. Continue with 100 EZ lessons It appears that we have dropped 100 EZ lessons and are back with LLATL -blue. Sam just prefers LLATL so I will deal with my problem with all the extras and just work with it. BUT if he gets bored I'm pulling out 100 EZ lessons again!
2. Progress to easy readers....I have a list started but will leave that for another post
3. HWT- 1st grade printing
4.MUS- Foundation slowly about 1 lesson every 2-3 weeks. I've decided to purchase the newer version of MUS so we'll work through the Alpha level this year......our copy of Foundation was musty and after looking at it I remembered why I didn't like the layout of the older version.
5. Work on "A Formidable List of Attainments for a Child of Six", a reprint
of a curriculum outline from a CM school in the 1890's.
from Summer 93 Parents Review pub by Karen Andreola
especially the following
11. to mount in a scrap book a dozen common wildflowers, with leaves (one every week); to name these, describe them in their own words, and say where they found them.
12. to do the same with leaves and flowers of 6 forest trees
13. to know 6 birds by song, colour and shape
16. to name 20 common objects in French, and say a dozen little sentences
17. to sing one hymn, one French song, and one English song
I want to start our formal nature notebook....Spend the summer term working on trees, winter term on birds and spring term on wildflowers.
We will substitute Spanish for French.
We already started our formal nature notebook and have already added 6 trees during our spring focus. Thank you - Barb-Harmony Art Mom and the Green Hour Challenges! We will work on flowers this summer and see where the Fall takes us.
We haven't started Spanish yet although I just got my hands on a copy of Phrase a Day Spanish AND French so perhaps we start working with these soon. Big Sis' commandeered the French copy .....perhaps she'll teach us all some French! She has already taught Sam a few greetings....
6. Start following the AO Art appreciation schedule.
7. Start following the AO Music appreciation schedule.
We've added Art & Music appreciation informally this Spring.....will continue with a composer and artist each season. I need to pick them soon for summer so I can get a cd and find prints.
8. Hopefully be finished with Speech Therapy work!
Just switched to monthly sessions! Way to go , Sam!
9. Start some lite history with ancients using Time Travelor Book by Usbourne.
10.Encourage oral narrations
11. Start the AO Year 1 Free reading list.
Instead we have just recently started reading different selections. Instead of TT book by Usbourne we will keep reading STOW with a local co-op. We are currently reading Burgess' Seashore book , Among the Meadow People and a Fairytale/ Literature selection weekly. We'll keep this pattern going through the summer.
At age 6 1/2 -which will be next January- we will transition to following the AO year 1 schedule.
I don't see us following the AO year 1 schedule- I'm not sure how I'll make it fit into our 4 day a week/ 4 quarter planner that I prefer to use. I'll be using the booklist and making substitutions for books and resources that we already own and creating a plan that works for us as we go along this next year. I suspect that we'll be adding AO year 1 books to our reading rotations during the Fall.
I've been thinking long and hard how to make the AO Year 1 work for a summer birthday, active boy who is still involved with biweekly speech therapy. I don't want narrations to be a burden and I don't want to be in a position that after each narration we have to correct his speech. I also want him to be mature enough to truly enjoy all those books!
We currently have such a nice rhythm to our day that I want to build on.
So this is what I have decided to do....
5/5/08
Changes to the original plan in blue
At age 6 we will
1. Continue with 100 EZ lessons It appears that we have dropped 100 EZ lessons and are back with LLATL -blue. Sam just prefers LLATL so I will deal with my problem with all the extras and just work with it. BUT if he gets bored I'm pulling out 100 EZ lessons again!
2. Progress to easy readers....I have a list started but will leave that for another post
3. HWT- 1st grade printing
4.MUS- Foundation slowly about 1 lesson every 2-3 weeks. I've decided to purchase the newer version of MUS so we'll work through the Alpha level this year......our copy of Foundation was musty and after looking at it I remembered why I didn't like the layout of the older version.
5. Work on "A Formidable List of Attainments for a Child of Six", a reprint
of a curriculum outline from a CM school in the 1890's.
from Summer 93 Parents Review pub by Karen Andreola
especially the following
11. to mount in a scrap book a dozen common wildflowers, with leaves (one every week); to name these, describe them in their own words, and say where they found them.
12. to do the same with leaves and flowers of 6 forest trees
13. to know 6 birds by song, colour and shape
16. to name 20 common objects in French, and say a dozen little sentences
17. to sing one hymn, one French song, and one English song
I want to start our formal nature notebook....Spend the summer term working on trees, winter term on birds and spring term on wildflowers.
We will substitute Spanish for French.
We already started our formal nature notebook and have already added 6 trees during our spring focus. Thank you - Barb-Harmony Art Mom and the Green Hour Challenges! We will work on flowers this summer and see where the Fall takes us.
We haven't started Spanish yet although I just got my hands on a copy of Phrase a Day Spanish AND French so perhaps we start working with these soon. Big Sis' commandeered the French copy .....perhaps she'll teach us all some French! She has already taught Sam a few greetings....
6. Start following the AO Art appreciation schedule.
7. Start following the AO Music appreciation schedule.
We've added Art & Music appreciation informally this Spring.....will continue with a composer and artist each season. I need to pick them soon for summer so I can get a cd and find prints.
8. Hopefully be finished with Speech Therapy work!
Just switched to monthly sessions! Way to go , Sam!
9. Start some lite history with ancients using Time Travelor Book by Usbourne.
10.Encourage oral narrations
11. Start the AO Year 1 Free reading list.
Instead we have just recently started reading different selections. Instead of TT book by Usbourne we will keep reading STOW with a local co-op. We are currently reading Burgess' Seashore book , Among the Meadow People and a Fairytale/ Literature selection weekly. We'll keep this pattern going through the summer.
At age 6 1/2 -which will be next January- we will transition to following the AO year 1 schedule.
I don't see us following the AO year 1 schedule- I'm not sure how I'll make it fit into our 4 day a week/ 4 quarter planner that I prefer to use. I'll be using the booklist and making substitutions for books and resources that we already own and creating a plan that works for us as we go along this next year. I suspect that we'll be adding AO year 1 books to our reading rotations during the Fall.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Our Daily Rhythm
Our day does follow a predictable pattern. It is very flexible .....it is not governed by time although I do use time as a benchmark. This is our our days look like this winter....
We wake , fix and eat breakfast. The little kids then get to play until about 9am. At 9 I bring out all the books that Sam and I are working on-
MUS, primer
HWT- Kindergarten
our story of the week-chosen from amblesideonline Year 0 and Five in a row
100 EZ lessons
Speech work.
We rotate through these until done for the day. Sometimes we will need to put one up when he loses interest and come back to it during are daily morning time. Everything will get done in this morning session but sometimes a lesson is done in 2 short segments instead of 1 longer segment depending on his attention. Charlotte comes and listens and colors with her books as she sees fit. This portion of our day can be shorter if Charlotte is content to play in another room and Sam is very eager or it can be longer when Charlotte joins us for most of the lessons. Either way is fine.
I am trying to implement a little yoga at the end of this time. This is something new and somedays it is a better experience than others. This is not a habit yet but a habit in progress. It usually works out better when older sis joins in.
The little kids then have the rest of the morning to play inside. I use this time to do chores and to work with my older daughter as needed. There are days that I spend most of this time helping the little kids entertain themselves. This is especially true when we haven't had a great deal of time outside during the week.
Lunch is next at 12pm followed by a rest time. Rest time is really hit and miss after lunch.
Around 1pm we either head out for errands, a local co-op, or a nature walk depending on the day of the week.
Around 2pm I hope to have the little kids outside to play and I hope to stay out there for about 2 hours.
Around 4pm we head indoors for a snack and a rest time. They are ready to lounge after being outside for 2 hours. They then play inside until dinner time. I use this time to check email, do a pick up and start dinner. My older kids are usually chatty at this time and I spend time listening and talking with them.
Dad is home at 6pm and we eat dinner followed by baths, more play time -usually on the computer next to dad. Next is a story and then bedtime.
We have been really lax about a bedtime for Sam which all started during the 9 weeks that I was on bedrest for Charlotte. This is the habit that we have been working on this month.
That's a really good day.
Tuesdays don't follow that pattern.
Tuesdays the teens have a class that meets at 9am.and Sam has speech at 10am. We drop teens at their class head over to Speech.On good weather days we play in a park until 10 am ....the past 2 weeks we did Sam's schoolwork in the car. This actually worked surprisingly well. We pick up teens at 11am , eat lunch and the teens have another class that day at 1:30. The little kids and I either head back to another park or to grandma's house depending on weather. We arrive back home at 3pm. If Sam and I did not do anywork in the morning we will try to finish it now. Thankfully, we only have about 10 more of these Tuesdays left this year.
We wake , fix and eat breakfast. The little kids then get to play until about 9am. At 9 I bring out all the books that Sam and I are working on-
MUS, primer
HWT- Kindergarten
our story of the week-chosen from amblesideonline Year 0 and Five in a row
100 EZ lessons
Speech work.
We rotate through these until done for the day. Sometimes we will need to put one up when he loses interest and come back to it during are daily morning time. Everything will get done in this morning session but sometimes a lesson is done in 2 short segments instead of 1 longer segment depending on his attention. Charlotte comes and listens and colors with her books as she sees fit. This portion of our day can be shorter if Charlotte is content to play in another room and Sam is very eager or it can be longer when Charlotte joins us for most of the lessons. Either way is fine.
I am trying to implement a little yoga at the end of this time. This is something new and somedays it is a better experience than others. This is not a habit yet but a habit in progress. It usually works out better when older sis joins in.
The little kids then have the rest of the morning to play inside. I use this time to do chores and to work with my older daughter as needed. There are days that I spend most of this time helping the little kids entertain themselves. This is especially true when we haven't had a great deal of time outside during the week.
Lunch is next at 12pm followed by a rest time. Rest time is really hit and miss after lunch.
Around 1pm we either head out for errands, a local co-op, or a nature walk depending on the day of the week.
Around 2pm I hope to have the little kids outside to play and I hope to stay out there for about 2 hours.
Around 4pm we head indoors for a snack and a rest time. They are ready to lounge after being outside for 2 hours. They then play inside until dinner time. I use this time to check email, do a pick up and start dinner. My older kids are usually chatty at this time and I spend time listening and talking with them.
Dad is home at 6pm and we eat dinner followed by baths, more play time -usually on the computer next to dad. Next is a story and then bedtime.
We have been really lax about a bedtime for Sam which all started during the 9 weeks that I was on bedrest for Charlotte. This is the habit that we have been working on this month.
That's a really good day.
Tuesdays don't follow that pattern.
Tuesdays the teens have a class that meets at 9am.and Sam has speech at 10am. We drop teens at their class head over to Speech.On good weather days we play in a park until 10 am ....the past 2 weeks we did Sam's schoolwork in the car. This actually worked surprisingly well. We pick up teens at 11am , eat lunch and the teens have another class that day at 1:30. The little kids and I either head back to another park or to grandma's house depending on weather. We arrive back home at 3pm. If Sam and I did not do anywork in the morning we will try to finish it now. Thankfully, we only have about 10 more of these Tuesdays left this year.
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