September 2011 Wrap-Up

 

It’s the beginning of October, we’ve actually been “back-to-school" since July 18th and this is my first wrap-up of the school year.  Needless to say, I’m not very good about getting wrap-ups done .  My goal is to do a monthly wrap-up ‘cause the weekly ones just come due too quickly!

So here’s the run-down of what we’ve accomplished since July…

Ds9 {4th Grade}

Math ~ He switched to Teaching Textbooks this year.  We loved our old math curriculum {Christian Light Math} and dd7 is still using it, but I wanted a math curriculum that ds9 could do independently since dd7 & ds4 need a lot of my time this year.  Ds9 is currently on lesson #29  of Teaching Textbooks Math 4…and he is loving it so far {well, at least as much as a 9-year old boy who’d rather be playing baseball could love math }.

Writing ~ We’ve also switched to a new writing curriculum this year.  Once again, we loved what we were using before but it was time to ramp it up a bit…so this year ds9 started using IEW Student Writing Intensive A.  I am not in a rush, so he is moving slowly through it.  He is currently on lesson #3 {each lesson takes 10 days to complete}. 

Ds9 was not excited when I told him it was time to add writing in to our homeschool day {we stagger subjects when we start back to school}…but he was pleasantly surprised at how much he enjoyed Mr. Pudewa’s DVD lessons .

Spelling ~ Ds9 is on Lesson #5 of Rod & Staff Spelling {no curriculum change for this subject}.  He is also completing dictation passages from our HOD curriculum about 3 days per week.

Grammar ~  Ds9 is using First Language Lessons 4 this year for grammar.  So far it’s been mostly review of information he learned in FLL3 last year.

Reading ~ I had a fourth grade reading list all planned out for ds9…but I switched our main history curriculum two weeks before we were supposed to begin so his reading list has changed {I’m coordinating reading with what we are studying in history this year}. 

So far he has read Pocahontas and the Strangers and Pedro’s Journal.  He is currently reading Almost Home.

Dd7 {2nd Grade}

Math ~  Dd7 is finishing up Christian Light Math Grade 1 and will be moving into either CLE Math Grade 2 or Singapore 2A when she’s done. 

I have to say that  I have been amazed at what the summer break has done for my little girl’s math skills.  I know they say that breaks often lead to forgotten information, but in dd7’s case, I think the break gave her time to mature a bit.

Writing ~ This kiddo loves to write.  She fills pages and pages of paper with stories and pictures and is always asking for the stapler or tape so she can keep her stories together. 

This past spring I came across a couple reviews for WriteShop Primary and it sounded like a fun writing program…one that would indulge my dd’s passion for writing.  So even though I don’t usually start a formal writing program this early in the game…I thought I’d give this creative curriculum a try.

We’re not in a rush to complete this curriculum so we’re taking it pretty slow…makin’ it fun for dd7 and I. 

Spelling ~ Dd7 is using Heart of Dakota’s spelling program which is included in our Bigger Heart’s guide. 

Grammar ~  Even though I love, love, love First Language Lessons {I have used the first 3 levels with ds9}, I decided to switch to Rod & Staff grammar this year.  It comes highly recommended by Heart of Dakota {our new history, science and more curriculum}. 

I really needed to free up some time so I could work more one-on-one with ds4 so I began looking for some subjects that dd7 could do at least partially independently.  We are almost finished with unit one and so far I have been very pleased with the switch.  Unlike FLL this is a grammar curriculum that dd7 can do semi-independently.  We do about 2/3 of each lesson orally {together} and then I choose a couple of problems for dd to complete independently.

Reading ~ This year I am using Heart of Dakota’s emerging reader plan from our Bigger Hearts for His Glory guide.  Dd7 is currently about 200 pages into The Beginner’s Bible .  Heart of Dakota’s plan has her reading about 2 short chapters every day {she reads them aloud to me}, and then orally answering a few questions to check for comprehension. 

Family Subjects

Our new Heart of Dakota curriculum Bigger Hearts for His Glory contains integrated lesson plans for History, Bible Study, Poetry, Read Alouds, Geography, Art, Vocabulary, Science and more.

Bible ~ This year we are learning about character qualities while studying the book of Proverbs.  So far the kiddos and I have spent time learning about persistence, humility, boldness and trustworthiness while memorizing five passages from Proverbs.

History ~ The kiddos and I are using a biographical approach to study American History this year using Heart of Dakota’s Bigger Hearts for His Glory.  So far we have been using A First Book in American History as our main history text and we have studied the lives of Columbus, John Smith, and Pocahontas.

One of our HOD geography activities was making a graham cracker map of the world .

Science ~ We’ve been learning about seashore life by reading through One Small Square: Seashore and doing experiments that go along with what we’re studying. 

One of our science experiments asked the kiddos to use different tools {representing different birds’ beaks} to pick up “food” from the seashore.

Read Alouds ~ We just finished up reading a biography about Phillis Wheatley, Phillis Wheatley: Young Revolutionary Poet.  Our next read-aloud is A Lion to Guard Us, which we plan to start this week.  We also just started a new missionary read-aloud: Spy for the Night Riders.

 

Wow…this turned into quite a long post.  Maybe next time I ought not wait so long to do a wrap-up post .  And I didn’t even mention what I’m doing with ds4!

Weekly Wrap-Up ~ Week 4

Ahhh…week 4 already! 

I didn’t get any pictures of the kiddos “doing school” but I did get some pictures of them having fun in a friend’s pool {we took a midweek break on Wednesday}.  I’ll share those just to make this post a bit more

visually pleasing .

I am still in the process of adding in subjects, this week I had planned to add spelling and Bible to the line-up…but only spelling made it {although we did continue with our morning devotions from our Keys for Kids devotional}. 

Both kiddos are moving right along in their math programs.  Ds9 heads to the basement each afternoon {without complaining,  mind you} to complete his Teaching Textbooks lesson, while dd7 works with me at the kitchen table on her CLE Math lesson.  Dd7 finished up another light unit this week and aced the end of unit test ! 

Both kiddos are also seeming to enjoy their new writing curriculums.  Ds9 is still working through lesson one in his IEW program; this week he wrote a paragraph from the key word outline they worked on during the video part of lesson one.  He also made his own key word outline from a paragraph about desert tarantulas and rewrote a paragraph from the outline. 

Dd7 and I have been having fun with her writing curriculum {Write Shop Primary Book A}.  Every day we have been writing about animals {her favorite topic}.

  

We also began a new chapter in our science curriculum.  I read aloud to the kiddos from our science text while we had an impromptu lunch on the back deck. 

Even though we haven’t added history into our school day yet, I did begin to whet their appetites for our upcoming history studies by beginning a new read-aloud ~ The Birchbark House.  This book is not one of our scheduled read-alouds from Sonlight, but it is one that I wanted to add in and it matches our upcoming history studies perfectly .

Once all of our subjects have been added into the line-up, we will return to our regular schedule of beginning our school day in the morning.  However, these past couple of weeks the kiddos have been doing their schoolwork in the afternoons…mornings have been spent on chores and lots of outside playtime {while the day is still cool}.

February Wrap-up

I’m doing the monthly wrap-up again…the weekly ones just seem to come due too quickly :)

In February…

ds9 {third grade}

 

• crossed two more books off of his third grade reading list {African Adventures and A Llama in the Family}
• began a new Latin curriculum {a review product} ~ he is really enjoying the cd that came along with this curriculum…it includes some very catchy chants :)
• learned about  prepositions, the object of the preposition, and prepositional phrases in First Language Lessons 3
• tracked the weather for the month of February on a weather chart…we had some crazy weather too :)
• transitioned to a new handwriting program
• spent a fun night at a local college basketball game
• set up a sweet valentine’s luncheon for his younger siblings

 dd6 {first grade}

• put stickers on steps 19, 20 & 21 of her All About Spelling chart…only three more steps to go ‘til she is finished with Level 1!
• has been practicing her reading skills by reading practically everything in sight ~ including signs, cereal boxes, book covers…which makes this mama’s heart so glad :)
• recited four poems from her FLL1 book {“The Caterpillar”, “Work”, “The Days of the Week”, and “The Months”}
• had a grand time with her daddy at the Daddy/Daughter dance
• spent hours on the internet with her daddy looking at pictures of adoptable doggies 

ds4 {busy preschooler}

• blew a bunch of bubbles and chased them around the front yard
• four days later made snowballs and a snow fort
• asked his mama if he could play a computer game about 1001 times 

as a family

• finished up a couple more read-alouds {Dr. Doolittle and The Apprentice}
• learned about explorers, the Renaissance, and the Elizabethan time period in our history studies {does anyone else’s kiddos giggle uncontrollably when every time they hear the word “tudor” as in the Tudor monarchs, or does that just happen in my house? :)}
• read two wonderful picture books in history including Michelangelo and Good Queen Bess, both by Diane Stanley
• took the 9yo and the 6yo to their first art class

Me

• made it halfway through the Bible in 90 Days challenge!
• rode my exercise bike 5 days/week for 30 minutes each day {6 miles/day}
• hosted my first ever giveaway on this blog :)

Here’s what we’re looking forward to in March…

• welcome spring {and spring weather!}
• continue tracking weather
• watch more Kinderbach online lessons {review to come in early April}
• continue with art class
• go on at least one fun field trip with friends
• make plans for spring break
• attend HSLDA symposium {covers early years and struggling learners…and Dianne Craft will be speaking :)}
• celebrate dd6’s 7th birthday

This post is being linked to Weekly Wrap-Up hosted by Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Weekly Wrap-Up ~ Sickness, Snow and All That Jazz

I have to admit, I am having a hard time keeping up with weekly wrap-ups…so this time I decided to take a lesson from a fellow blogger and just wrap up the whole month of January :)

January’s accomplishments:

Ds9 {3rd grade}

• finished up another math light unit
• over halfway through his 3rd grade reading list {crossed off Frindle and Medallion}
• blew out nine candles on his birthday cake :)
• had a blast practicing math facts with Math Rider {review coming in late February}
• learned about {and practiced diagramming} predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives in his FLL3 curriculum
• is more than halfway through his Writing With Ease and spelling books
• earned a bunch of money shoveling the driveway
• suffered through a cold

 

Dd6 {1st grade}

• finished her first All About Spelling reader {The Runt Pig} and began reading her second AAS Reader {Cobweb the Cat}
• memorized “Days of the Week” and “The Months” {poetry memorization from her First Language Lessons Level 1 Book
• had a couple of photo sessions, one with her American Girl doll {Emily} and another with her collection of horses
• discovered some books at the library that she can read all by herself ! {hooray for Biscuit books!}
• lost her 6th tooth!

 

Ds4 {Preschool}

• painted about 1001 pictures with his do-a-dot markers {well, that number may be a bit exaggerated, but boy does he love making pictures with those things :)}
• used a lot of paper for cutting, pasting, and paper airplane making {this boy LOVES paper, glue, tape and scissors}
• read lots of books with mommy  

Family

• finished reading The Door in the Wall
• began our new read-aloud The Tales of Robin Hood
• had a blast learning Spanish with Speekee
• had lots of fun on roller skates
• finally made it back to the library
• finished up our study of the Middle Ages…now we’re moving on to explorers
• learned about the moon in our science curriculum
• survived mom’s week with a strange-sounding voice
• dealt with unplanned sick days and snow days…

This post is being linked to Weekly Wrap-Up hosted by Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Weekly Wrap Up ~ December Edition {with snow}

We’ve skipped a couple of weeks ~we’ve been “doing school”, I just haven’t “wrapped it up” here on my blog :)

We did take a short break in honor of Thanksgiving.  Since then we’ve been keeping up with the three “r”s but science and history have been put on hold until next year.  Instead we’ve been doing some fun advent and Christmas stuff.

Ds8 {3rd grade} ~

Reading ~ Ds8 has completed three more books from his reading list.  He finally finished More Stories from Grandma’s Attic {this took him two weeks}, Children from the Noisy Village, and The Toothpaste Millionaire.

Ds8 loves to read, give him a book about baseball and he’d read it until he finished it…even if it had 200 pages!  But assign him a book to read {even one from Sonlight’s reading list} and his face drops.  But he does his daily assigned reading without complaining, and he usually rates his “school” books pretty highly {I have him rate each book from 1 – 5 stars} :).

Grammar & Writing ~ He’s working steadily through First Language Lessons Level 3, he just finished a review of proper nouns and helping verbs and he’s working on memorizing “A Tragic Story” {which is a very funny poem, btw}.  He just finished week 15 in his Writing With Ease program.  I love that this program is so easy to implement.

Math ~ He is almost finished with another light unit in his CLE Math curriculum.  I think we can finish this light unit up before our Christmas break {we have one week left!}. 

Dd6 {1st grade} ~

Reading ~ My dd6 is flying though her All About Spelling lessons.  She just completed lesson #16, and she is almost finished with her first AAS reader, Runt Pig.  I have the next AAS reader sitting on the shelf waiting for her.

I recently wrote about why I love AAS so much…check it out if you’re interested in reading more about our experience with this spelling {and reading} program.

Grammar & Writing ~ Dd6 is almost halfway though FLL1 {which is pretty much review for her since she listened in when dd8 did FLL1&2 last year}.  Since she is still a beginning reader, she hasn’t started WWE1 just yet.  I am debating easing her into it after our Christmas break.

I have been copying some pages from our Explode the Code workbooks for dd6 to complete.  These worksheets are a great way to give dd6 some independent work to do while I work with ds8.

Math ~ She just took quiz #1 in her current CLE Math light unit book, so that means she is almost halfway through this light unit.  She’s been working on skip counting by 5s and counting nickels.  Next up is skip counting by 2s.

Family Subjects

History & Science ~ As I said at the beginning of this post, we are taking a break from history and science for the month of December.  We’ll resume both subjects in January. 

Advent & Christmas Fun ~ For the month of December, we’ve replaced history and science with some Advent and Christmas fun.  We are reading Ann Voskamp’s Jesse Tree Devotional along with Geraldine McCaughrean’s The Jesse Tree.  Ann Voskamp provides scripture passages in her Jesse Tree Devotional and McCaughrean’s Jesse Tree book provides a wonderful narrative story. 

There are times when these two resources do not match up perfectly, but it has been pretty easy to accommodate this.  The other day I read one of the devotional passages and two of McCaughrean’s chapters so that we would end up on “the same page”.  The divisions in both of these resources are short enough that sometimes doubling up is not difficult.

We are also reading Bartholomew’s Passage in the evening when dh is home.  We are loving this book just as much as we loved Jotham’s Journey {our advent storybook from last year}.

I have also been finding a ton of fun Christmas printables on the internet to keep my kiddos’ fingers busy.  If you are looking for some Christmas fun for your preschooler, be sure to check out the printables at 1+1+1=1, Confessions of a Homeschooler, and Totally Tots. 

In between all of the school stuff going on around here, we have also found time to put up and decorate our tree {it took us three days to get it all done}, watch some fun Christmas movies, sing a bunch of Christmas songs, and enjoy a couple mugs of hot chocolate. 

And just today we got our first snow of the season.  We’ve been having flurries almost every day for the past week, but today the snow actually laid on the ground.  It is not measurable at all, but the white stuff is all over the ground and the kiddos worked very hard shoveling a bunch of it into a bucket this morning :)

One more week until our Christmas break…yeah! 

This post is being linked to Weekly Wrap-Up hosted by Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

{Bi}Weekly Wrap-Up

Yep, I decided the bi-weekly wrap-up works much better for us…the weeks go by so fast that I just can’t keep up with a weekly one :)

Here’s what we’ve been up to for the past two weeks…

Ds8 {3rd grade} has working on his three r’s very diligently.  The book he’s currently reading from his reading list is a longer one and he’s been working through it for the past two weeks.  He finished two more weeks in his Writing With Ease workbook, and six more lessons in First Language Lessons Level 3. 

He completed another light unit in his math curriculum today…and passed the unit test with flying colors! 

Dd6 {1st grade} has completed over half of All About Spelling Level One, and just this week we got to break out our new AAS reader, The Runt Pig.  She is loving this book {and I am loving how wonderfully this reader matches up with the reading and spelling skills she is learning in her daily AAS lessons!}.

She is also cruising through her math lessons {we do four lessons each week}.

 

Ds4 has been using scissors like crazy…every day he asks for a handful of “cutting”  papers from one of our Kumon books.  I’ve been finding paper scraps everywhere :)

Science ~ We have been studying the Earth in our astronomy text for the past two weeks.  It is truly amazing how God made this planet that we live on.  It has a perfect atmosphere, perfect tilt, perfect mass, perfect distance {from the sun}, perfect magnetosphere, perfect rotation, and perfect land…perfect for human life. 

History ~ We finished up our study of knights and castles this past week.   I hope to celebrate our completion of studying this time period by letting the kiddos make a castle out of Kix cereal {I saw this cool idea on the Live, Learn, and Love Together blog}. 

Read Aloud ~ We finished Castle Diary last week and we have moved on to reading B is for Betsy.  My dd6 is especially enjoying this read aloud because Betsy is just about her age :).

Other Stuff ~ Our weather in these parts has been beautiful, warm, perfect for outside fun…and we’ve been taking advantage of it :).  Last weekend we took a hike through history and we spent a day at a friend’s house having a whole lot of harvest time fun.

Next week we’ll be taking a bit of a break from our regular studies.  I plan to have the kiddos continue with math and reading, and we’ll continue our read-aloud…but we’ll take a break from science and history to spend time learning about the pilgrims and Thanksgiving :)

 

This post is being linked to Weekly Wrap-Up hosted by Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers