The beginning of Charlotte's Kindergarten Year.....

Where oh where has the time gone? Little Charlotte --whose big claim to fame at the start of the little blog was that she had just moved from her crib---- is almost 5 and it is time for the schooling to begin.

She has been enjoying a long and wonderful Charlotte Mason Preschool but it is time to add in a little bit of schoolwork each day. We have added a little bit this past year as she desired but in no way have we've been consistent or required that she participate.......and most days she did not. However, she would often stand beside Sam as we worked through a concept and she has been able to pick up quite a bit in this manner.

Our Kindergarten philosophy is still the basic plan for this next year. We will still spend a great quantity of time outside exploring our world but we need to add something to start developing the habit of schooltime. The difference between Sam's Kindergarten year and Charlotte's Kindergarten year is that Charlotte will have a slightly older brother's studies to tag-a-long. She already participates in some of the science projects, craft projects and read alouds that are scheduled in MFW Adventures. There is little need to plan on scheduling extra stories----unless she requests a re-read of her particular favorites of the past few years. So the big additions will be handwriting, math and phonics.

We will use Handwriting without Tears and Math-U-See Primer just as we did with Sam.

The big questions is phonics. She has already picked up quite a bit of the phonics by listening to Sam's lessons. 100 Easy lessons is going to be a step back. Honestly, I just don't think I'm willing to work through 100 Easy lessons for a 4th time! Since I plan on using All About Spelling with her next year for spelling that is the first option. I hear rumors of people who are using this spelling program to teach their children to read. Phonics Pathways is the second option. For the next month we are going to experiment with these two resources and see which "clicks" with her and is easy enough for me to pull together with minimal effort.

So the plan for Charlotte's Kindergarten year.

---Daily use

MUS Primer,

HWOT,

and our phonics program to help develop the habit of schooltime.

---Encourage her to participate in Sam's studies with MFW Adventures.

---Continue to spending lots of time in play both indoors and out.

Let the Adventure begin!

Summer 2009

Wow! Where has the summer gone?

Big Sis graduated and starts college .....gulp.....tomorrow. Big Brother has moved out and is ready to join the Navy. We painted and re-arranged rooms so the Big Sis has her own study/sitting room adjacent to her bedroom. This means that we once again have a dedicated schoolroom/playroom. Since we didn't have enough going on this summer we also decided to rip up the old floor and lay down the new. I guess it is not a surprise that we only got about 6 weeks of school done this season!.

Our basic schedule hasn't changed much. Charlotte went through a phrase this summer where she did not want to participate in the morning activities so instead we did lots of informal activities throughout the day.

Starting around 9am with Sam we did MFW 1 , MUS, IEW Poetry, Nature Reader, Speech work, Song School Latin and our alternated readings

M- Geography ( Seabird)
T- History(D'Auliare Selection)
Th- Burgess( Birds)

Sam is reading his Bible reader. He has a selection of books that he can read all by himself and he spends about 30min each day reading all by himself. I have been so impressed with MFW 1 reading instructions. It is everything that I have been trying to put together on my own with our CM reading instructions. It is so awesome to just open the book and have the lesson planned out for us.....not too long....not too short...not too many manipulative......just perfect.

Sam has memorized 4 poems from IEW Poetry. The poems are interesting enough that he is motivated to learn them. He enjoys impressing friends and family with his poems and it is also good speech practice.

We've been doing SSL just for fun. If I find a Song School Spanish or its equivalent we are going to try it. We would have more use for Spanish but it never made it into our schedule this past year.

It's been an interesting summer but we are looking for a cooler, less hectic Autumn!

Spring Schedule

Our day has streamlined again!

Starting around 9am

Charlotte- We do the activities with Little Hands to Heaven, read a selection from AO Year 0 and start an activity.
M-Mighty Minds
T-Pattern Block
Th-Watercolors
F-Wedgits.

Sam joins us and participates with above activity as interested while we do

Poetry
Speechwork
Nature Science Reader
M-Geography , T- History , Th- Burgess , F-Fairy Tale

We do a quick tidy of our activity then:

MUS
MFW 1
reading
AAS
Read from our current Literature selection

Having their activities overlap a bit has helped our schoolday go faster and I have also noticed that Sam listens better when his hands are busy. By the time we finish all readings Charlotte is ready to play and Sam is excited that all he has left is math, writing and reading!

We listen to our composer while getting lunch ready.

After lunch we complete any projects/science experiments from MFW 1 then we head outside to play! I have been able to do a short focused nature study observation almost each afternoon. Weather permitting we go on a long hike at a local park at least weekly.

Winter Schedule

We no longer need to take a break mid morning! I have streamlined our day and Sam is able to stay on task better now that he has matured a bit.


~8:45am
Charlotte- Read AO year 0 selection, work on topic of the week, start activity
M-Playdough
T- Pattern Blocks
Th-Watercolors
F-Wedgits

While she continues on her own , I start working with Sam.

Reading-includes spelling
Math
Poetry ( Garden of Verses -1 poem per day)
Speech Therapy work
First Language Lessons
Writing With Ease
HWT on narrations days with WWE
Nature Science Reader
M- Geography, T&TH Story of the World, F- Fairy Tales
Review


Rest of morning with indoor freeplay while listening to composer of the quarter.

After lunch

~15 min with longer Literature selection (any other book on our list that is not scheduled in the morning)

M- Artistic Pursuits
T- Nature Study
Th- Handicrafts
F- Park day or science experiments depending on weather/expected turnout at park

Rest of afternoon spent outdoors playing.

Updated Year 1 Booklist

We started with a Year 1 list but have fine tuned it for a much better fit.

Language Arts
Handwriting without Tears -Printing practice
Our CM Reading Program
All About Spelling Book 1
First Language Lessons
Writing with Ease workbook 1
Explode the Code Online as wanted.

How I'm putting this all together....

-Oral narrations from various subjects.
-Daily reading instruction
-Daily copywork from HWT/ Writing with Ease 1
-Memory work from First Language Lessons.


Why I changed......
Sam wasn't challenged enough with the original plan.

Mathematics -Math-U-See Alpha

Foreign Language -Phrase-A-Day Spanish

Bible- Every Day with God

Poetry
A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson
Now We Are Six/When We Were Very Young by A.A. Milne

History
Story of the World Book 1 done at home.


Why I changed....

Co-op wasn't working out as well as I hoped. Sam gets so much more out of the reading when done at home and friends aren't competing for his attention. I restarted the series from the beginning because he is wanting to learn about Egyptians.

Fifty Famous Stories was so truncated that it was impossible for us to get a decent narration from this source.

American History Biography
Benjamin Franklin by Ingri D'Aulaire
George Washington by Ingri D'Aulaire
Buffalo Bill by Ingri D'Aulaire
Pocahontas by Ingri D'Aulaire


Geography
Paddle to the Sea by Holling C. Holling
Geography from A to Z by Jack Knowlton

Natural History/Science
Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock
James Herriot's Treasury for Children by James Herriot
The Burgess Bird Book for Children by Thornton Burgess
The Burgess Seashore Book for Children By Thornton Burgess
Christian Liberty Nature Reader book 1.
A Reason for Science A

We added Nature reader because he found it in our book closet and loves it. He gives great narrations from this book. We added A Reason for Science for the experiments which have been fun. It is a nice resource because everything is supplied.

Literature
The Aesop for Children by Milo Winter
The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang
Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling
Among the .....People by by Clara Dillingham Pierson

We dropped Tales from Shakespeare until a future year.

Bedtime Reading
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
King of the Golden River by John Ruskin
Peter Pan by James M. Barrie
Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
St. George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
Fairy Books by Andrew Lang

Also Weekly
Art- Artistic Pursuits Book 1
Music appreciation-one composer per quarter
Handicrafts - to be determined by interest
Nature Study- follow Outdoor Hour challenges.

Summer schedules.....

....are always a bit of a mess. Routines are chaotic at times....It is our indoor season due to heat and mosquitoes.

We stick indoors in the mornings unless we head to the pool. Our nature study is very, very lax due to Charlotte's lack of ability to tolerate the heat. The pool area that we visit does have wetlands visible and native plants so our nature study is done walking to each attraction. We are looking forward to cold-front day!

I have split our daily school schedule because it is easier to keep Sam engaged and participating with a short break. Charlotte is in the mix at all times so I had to get creative with keeping her engaged and happy while Sam works.

Our daily school schedule looks something like this...

Charlotte and I "work" for about 10-15 min. either coloring books, drawing, reading stories, etc. Each week I try to pick an area to focus on during this time such as colors, shapes, counting, etc.

While she continues, Sam joins us and we work through..

Math
Poetry
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 1* with narration
Copybook
Speech work
Bible with narration

30 min break for Sam while I get Charlotte working on something that will keep her busy while Sam finishes up....watercolor painting has been a favorite. This is the time we listen to our composer for this quarter.

Spelling* (a new spelling program)
AO readings with narration
Handwriting without tears
Reading
Artistic Pursuits Book 1*/ A Reason for Science Level A*


* Nature Reader Book 1 was a book Sam added and it is a favorite and will stay.
*We are giving All About Spelling book 1 a trial and I think it might answer my quest for a individualised spelling program that is easy to implement and not overwhelming.

*Artistic Pursuits has been a big hit. Sam absolutely LOVES picture study but I've had a hard time implementing it due to my own laziness in acquiring prints. This is a keeper.

*A Reason for Science was on sale. I like it because it is organized, the supplies are all available and it fits nicely with our nature study. We'll see how this works out this year.

We have not started Spanish.... holding off until our next break in August. Memoria Press Copybook Book 1 does not have writing for everyday so we have been doing handwriting practice with HWT. We were alternating Aesop and Bible readings but Sam disliked Aesop and would request to continue the Bible stories because they were the "best". I couldn't argue with that reasoning so Aesop is currently dropped from our schedule.

I want a 2ftX3ft magnetic whiteboard! I'd like to have it so I can write our verse from Memoria Press and keep our letter tiles on it for spelling and reading practice. I'm just not sure where I would put it though. Ideally upstairs in the room that functioned as the older kids' schoolroom but it is currently the domain of the teens. The younger kids have been doing schoolwork in the dining room but I'm not sure I want it as a permanent feature in that room.I have seen smaller table top versions that I could use for our verse and just find another solution for the letter tiles.It's a dilemma.

Spring Schedule

Our spring got off to a rocky start with an unplanned 2 1/2 week break due to illnesses. Our daily rhythm has not changed too much since winter but we have added a few things to our week.

We are still doing our schoolwork in the mornings starting around 9am.

We work through

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 have added to our weekly schedule-

1. Composer study done informally- This season Handel. I have a a CD that I play during the little kids morning indoor playtime.
2. Artist study done informally- This season Da Vinci. I have been using various Da Vinci works as the computer wallpaper and taking a good look at a particular work once a week usually Mondays.
3. History Co-op on Mondays- Sam started participating in a Story of the World co-op and loves it so we will do a Monday SOTW reading with this group. He really felt like a big kid in this group. I have to be honest and say that SOTW isn't a favorite but it an awesome group of families and the co-op is the resource that I'd be foolish not to participate in.
4. Started reading Burgess' Seashore Book. Doing 1 chapter a week usually on Tuesdays. When finish will start Burgess' Bird Book
5. Started reading Little House in the Big Woods. Doing 1 chapter a week spread over 2 days usually on Thursday and Friday. When finish will either read another free reading selection for AO year 1 or perhaps start a AO year 1 literature selection.
6. Participation in the Green Hour Challenge doing our planned activity on Friday afternoons.
7. Poetry- poem related to our nature study that I recite to the kids several times a day. I keep a copy on the fridge so I remember to do this! No one has memorized it yet but it keeps sounding better and better each time it is read.

Our Afternoons are spent -

Monday- History Co-op 1-2 hour. 1-2 hours outside time.
Tuesday- Speech Therapy alternating weeks and 2-4 hours outside time
Wed- the kids are at grandma's while I work
Thursday- exploring various parks in the area - 2-4 hours outside time
Friday- Planned nature study time- 2-4 hours outside time

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.