Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Let the Learning Continue!

     Does learning ever stop for winter, spring, summer breaks? In our house, no, but we do not do "school" all year, that's whats fun about tomorrow!

Our first day of ' not going to' school-sort of :)

This year I have simplified things a lot since I will be having a baby half way through the year, but in no way is this reduction lacking in the rich world of learning. 

Three days a week, three hours a day, Hayden will be going to a special speech school. I am hesitant to send him to 'school' but look forward to the help in his speech development. It also gives me 3 hours of uninterrupted time with Skylar, little sister allowing. :)

Those three days Hayden is at speech school will be Skylar's formal school days. The other two days will be  full of fun games and field trips ( related to what we are learning) , where Hayden will be included as well. Our first field trip will be in six days to SeaLife Aquarium with a lot of our home school friends! We cannot wait!!!

This year's curriculum is inspired by a book my wonderful sister in law, Cheryn, bought for me, called The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise. It is very full of helpful tips and resources for whatever aged homeschooler you have. I picked through the resources and their suggestions and put this together for this year:

Bible
-Studies on creation, Fruits of the spirit, memory verses, and Kids of Character by Marilyn Boyer

Reading/Phonics
-The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading by Jessie Wise and Sara Buffington
-Explode the Code book 1 by Nancy Hall and Rena Price
-Bob Books, set of 12 CVC books in progressing difficulty with increasing amounts of sight words by Bobby Lynn Maslen

Writing
-Hand Writing Without Tears, Letters and Numbers for Me

Math
-Pattern blocks with pattern cards, counting bead, strawberry counting game from http://www.firstpalette.com/tool_box/printables/strawberry.html

Science
-The Usborne Book of Science Activities Vol. II, Air, in the kitchen, and with plants 

Supplement Learning and Fun

Our reading list
-Bob Books

Junior Classics for Young Readers ( these may be too old for her, but I want to start a love of reading early)
-The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
-Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
-Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting
-The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
-The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
-Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll


Fast Fact books
-Declaration of Independence
-The Presidents of the United States
-50 Great States

Games and Flash Cards
-Alphabet and Math Bingo
-Alphabet flash cards
-Sigh word flash cards
-Math flash cards
-Math fishing
-Dry erase math workbook

Arts and Crafts
-Lots of painting, gluing, play dough, corn meal drawing, sewing, and other various crafts. 

We will also be doing "Unit studies" on the subject of the month. For example, August is Ocean since we are going to SeaLife, September will be on patriotism, October is Halloween( and why we have fun getting candy, but don't celebrate it), January will be about babies since I am due January 30th, etc, etc. 

Hayden will do basic color, shape, number, and alphabet recognition the 2 days he is home in the AM

I look forward to this year. I see lots of learning and fun, not only for them, but for me as well. I feel lead by God so I know he is with me through this. We may have some rough patches, especially in the beginning and when the baby arrives, but God will see us through with lots of lessons learned all around. I look forward to hearing about what others are doing this year for their students. God Bless this school year.


2 comments:

  1. Don't feel bad if you have to take off a few weeks here and there, especially when the new baby comes! I'm really thankful Hope will be three or so months old when we start our schooling for the year!

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    1. Oh no. We will be taking a late and long winter break at the end of January through February. :)

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