Friday, August 23, 2013

Six Months!




Thursday, August 15, 2013

History Plans, Term One

    I'm designing my own history plans this year, pulling from several different resources.  I'm trying an experiment this year of reading through all of world history during the first half of the year.  We are using A Child's History of the World for our overview, and reading a few short chapters every day (we started this last week). While we are doing that, we will do a narrower study of two specific times/places. I asked Clavier to choose, and he picked Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece.

    During the second half of the year we will read an overview of American History, and study Native Americans and New World Explorers.

    I use OneNote to plan, and here is what we're doing the first term of the school year for Ancient Egypt. Many of the activities come from History Odyssey: Ancients and History Pockets: Ancient Civilizations. Some of the reading choices are from Classical House of Learning, Veritas Press, and our own shelves.

    Read Aloud: History

    • Child's History of the World- Start 08/05/13

    Week 1: 9/3
    • Time Traveler: Pharaohs and Pyramids
    Week 2: 9/9
    • Story of the World, Vol. 1 Chap. 2-3
    • The 5,000-Year-Old Puzzle (library)
    Week 3: 9/16
    • Egyptian Cinderella
    • The Temple Cat
    • Seeker of Knowledge (library)
    Week 4: 9/23
    • Story of the World, Vol. 1 Chap. 4
    • You Wouldn't Want to Be Tutankhamen
    Week 5: 9/30
    • Story of the World, Vol. 1 Chap. 12-13
    • You Wouldn't Want to Be a Pyramid Builder
    Week 6: 10/7
    • Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt
    • Science in Ancient Egypt (library)
    Week 7: 10/14
    • Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt
    •  Ancient Science
    • You Wouldn't Want to Be Cleopatra
    Week 8: 10/21
    • Ancient Science
    • You Wouldn't Want to Be an Egyptian Mummy!
    • If I Were a Kid in Ancient Egypt: Children of the Ancient World (library)
    Week 9: 10/28
    • Tut's Mummy Lost and Found
    • Hieroglyphs

History: Assignments (I'm not sharing all the details, so as not to violate copyright.)

  • Week 1
    • Finish "What is History" Pocket (we started this at the end of last year)
    • Copy work/dictionary: papyrus

  • Week 2
    • Mapping
    • Start Pocket 3, “Ancient Egypt.” Complete the Pocket Label, Words to Know, and Student Booklet. 
  • Week 3
    • Copy work/dictionary "gods" and "pyramids."
    •  Pocket 3, Life Along the Nile.
  • Week 4
    • Continue Pocket 3, Postcard from Ancient Egypt and The Great Pyramid.
  • Week 5
    • Copy work/dictionary "temple."
    • Mapping
  • Week 6
    • Finish Pocket 3, if needed.
    • Timeline 
  • Week 7
    • Ancient Science project
    • Notebooking pages
  • Week 8
    • Ancient Science project
    • Notebooking pages
  • Week 9
    • Hieroglyphic Note

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Kindergarten 2013-2014

Here are most of Capricio's kindergarten plans for the year! I want to stress that K5 is completely optional in our house.  Capricio is chomping at the bit to improve his reading and work on writing, but he is free to come and go as he wishes.

Phonics/Reading

We started this toward the end of last school year at his request, and he's doing very well.  Clavier used OPGTR very successfully, but I wasn't sure it would suit Capricio. Clavier started reading at five and a half and we didn't do lessons daily until he was six. In contrast Capricio just turned five a week ago!

I'm adding some Explode the Code here and there too as he enjoys workbooks (unlike Clavier at that age!).

Handwriting

Capricio is in the middle of the kindergarten book, and I expect him to move on to the next soon.  Once he does I'll add in some other copywork.

Math
Math for Capricio has caused some debate.  I love RightStart Math, but Capricio has followed along with Clavier as he completed levels A & B. He is a very math inclined child, and is just about at the same level as his older brother.  We are going to buzz through RightStart anyway though, since he is so young.  If he balks, I'll bump him up as appropriate.

Geography

One of my favorite resources!

History and Science

Literature

  • Great books from our home collection and library. I'll share these as we go along!
Daily Learning Notebook
  • Details coming! I'm still finalizing plans.
Second grade plans here



Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Clavier's Spring Piano Recital

Clavier had his first year of formal piano lessons during the last school year.  He worked very hard, and has quite a love of music!



Second Grade 2013-2014

I sent my Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) off to the school district today! It isn't detailed, but provides a rough overview of the year to come. (Yes, all these subjects are required by the state.)


--------------------------------------------------------------------
Arithmetic

Cotter, Joan A. RightStart Mathematics Level C. Hazelton, ND:
     Activities for Learning, Inc., 2001. Print.
Singapore Math. Challenging Word Problems 1. Singapore:
     Marshall Cavendish Education, 2011. Print.

Reading
  
Holzmann, John & Sarita. Grade Three Readers Schedule and Study
     Guide. Littleton, CO: Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd., 2012. Print.
Norris, Jill. Read and Understand with Leveled Texts 2.
     Monterey, CA: Evan-Moor Educational Publishers, 2010. Print.

Spelling
  
Rippel, Marie. All About Spelling Level 2. Eagle River WI: All
     About Learning Press, 2012. Print.

Writing
  
Retzer, Carol Ann and Eva Hoshino. A Reason for Handwriting:
     Transition. Siloam Springs, AR: The Concerned Group, Inc.,
     2010. Print.
Verstegen, Lori. Bible Heroes: Writing Lessons in Structure and
     Style. Locust Grove, OK: Institute for Excellence in Writing,
     2013. Print.

English Language
  
Shurley, Brenda. Shurley English Level 1. Cabot AR: Shurley
     Instructional Materials, 2001. Print.

Geography
  
 Johnson, Sandi. Daily Geography Practice Grade 2. Monterey, CA:
     Evan-Moor Educational Publishers, 2013. Print.

United States History
  
Brooks, Kaeryn. The American Story 1. Grand Rapids, MI:
     WinterPromise Publishing, 2013. Print.
Hillyer, Virgil M. A Child’s First History of the World. Hunt Valley,
     MD: Calvert Educational Services, 1997. Print.
Miers, Earl Schenck. A Child’s First Book of American History. San
     Luis Obispo, CA: Beautiful Feet Books, 2013. Print.

Science
  
Brooks, Kaeryn. Animals and Their Worlds. Grand Rapids, MI:
     WinterPromise Publishing, 2012. Print.
Larson, Nancy. Science 1. Old Lyme, CT: Nancy Larson Publishers,
     Inc., 2007. Print.

Health Education
  
Bunting, Fleming, et al. Harcourt Health and Fitness 2. Orlando,
     FL: Harcourt School Publishers, 2007. Print.

Music
  
Clavier will participate in weekly piano lessons and regularly perform in concerts throughout the year.

Visual Arts
  
Clavier’s visual art instruction this year will come from projects related to topics studied in geography, history, and science. He will also participate in a twice monthly cooperative group for art instruction.

Physical Education
  
 Clavier will participate in weekly swim lessons, as well as other activities such as bike rides, hikes, sledding, and baseball with family and friends.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

I plan to share more details about how our day will break down soon. One important piece of our day that isn't listed here is our Daily Notebook.  Last year I created a daily calendar notebook, but this year I've expanded that for Clavier. Capricio has one as well.  Kindergarten plans here!

Monday, August 5, 2013

Meet the Family (Again)

Since I am recommitting to blogging this school year, it seems appropriate to reintroduce the clan.  We have changed a lot in the past year and a half!

First my husband, the best person I know! He works hard to support us all, and does so cheerfully. His passion is music and he is the music director and organist for a nearby church.

Our first born, "Clavier," is now seven! We've chosen that nickname for him because he is such a well-tempered boy. He takes after his dad in so many things, including his love and talent for music.

Our second son, "Capricio." He is a newly minted five year old with a love for music, art, and (in his words) building things. He is always creating a masterpiece!

Accelerando is our joyful two and a half year old son.  His nickname at church is "Smiley," and that describes his personality so well!

The baby is "Vivace." At the time of this writing, he is just over five months old. His real name means "happy," and he is well-suited to it!  A calm baby, adored by all his older brothers.

Not much as changed about me, perhaps a little older, and little more tired. I am still happily at home with my crew, maintaining order (most days), sneaking in a few pages of my book when I can, baking up a storm, and loving our homeschool journey!

Friday, August 2, 2013

Used Curriculum Sale Blog Hop!

Joining up with Jessica at Shower of Roses for this year's Used Curriculum Sale Blog Hop!

Shipping is $3.00 for 1-2 items in the same envelope and $6.00 for a box or three or more items. This covers media mail shipping with delivery confirmation in the Continental U.S.

I accept payments via PayPal. Please email me at zuzu 822 AT hotmail DOT com if you're interested in anything.


Making Music Praying Twice Children's Songbooks and CDs (Advent & Christmas, Lent, Easter, Ordinary Time: Fall, Ordinary Time: Winter - New $40 SOLD


Our Musical Year: Songs of Faith, Freedom and Fun Year 1- New $10 PENDING
Our Musical Year: Songs of Faith, Freedom and Fun Year 2- New $10 SOLD



Real Science 4 Kids Astronomy Pre-Level 1 Textbook- Excellent condition $8 SOLD

Seton Kindergarten Science- Good condition $2 SOLD
Seton First Grade American History- New SOLD



Get Ready for the Code A, B, C- New $2 each or all for $5 SOLD


Handwriting Without Tears Kindergarten Teacher's Guide- New $3 SOLD
Handwriting Without Tears Pre-K Readiness Guide- New $8


Singapore Earlybird Kindergarten Math Standards Edition B- Unused, some shelf wear $5


Miquon Math Lab Sheet Annotations & Orange Book- New $7 SOLD


The Art of Natural Family Planning 4th Edition- Very good condition FREE TAKEN

Thanks for looking!