July 20, 2009

Today we decided to use Karen Andreola's book "Story Starters" for writing. We made up the stories and I wrote it down and the boys copied it. We made some silly stories that had us all laughing. Then, the boys wouldn't stop being goofy and do their writing.

I made binders for them with divider tabs for writing, scripture pictures, art, music, spelling, book reports, science and music; and checklists at the front, one page containing all the checklists for the week so they can see what needs to be done (and me) and they have fun putting an "X" in the box when it's finished. Then we have everything in one binder and they'll have one for each year for us to look back on.

For science today we read "Discovering Nature's Alphabet" by Krystina Castella and then went on a walk to look for letters in nature. We found there are lots of "O's" and lower case "l's" and lots of "Y's".

Nathan's "O":

Alex's "P":

Katie Cutie:

library trips

Today we checked out 68 books from the library:
One of the best things I've done in homeschooling is to start going to the library! We had bad luck with the Spanish Fork library, so my brother let us have his library card to the Provo library. We go with the stroller (I put baby in a snuggli pack) and the boys choose readers for their reading time, picture books and nonfiction books; I choose read aloud books and books I want to use for their school. We can also get music cd's, books on cd, dvd's, etc. Provo has NO limit for books!

When we get home, I sort the books into piles and keep them in laundry baskets and cardboard boxes (Alex's readers, Nathan's readers, math books, storybooks, nonfiction books, etc.). When I notice they aren't using the books as much, I have them go through the books and put them in "keep" and "take back piles". I can renew them online.

art appreciation

For art appreciation yesterday, we decided to go to the BYU art museum. We walked around and I told the boys at the end to choose their favorite ones to draw sketches of. See pictures here: http://toddandkristiecarlson.blogspot.com/2009/07/art-appreciation.html

july 14, 2009

We are doing a new thing for scriptures: after we read, I have the boys draw a picture about what we read. Charlotte Mason says that to help the kids learn what you read, they should tell it back, or narrate what you read to them. One way of doing that is by drawing a picture of it. I've noticed that I remember it better doing it.

We did writing on paper with smaller lines- copywork; spelling list 2; math addition drill of 2's flashcards and computer games; read some more "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch"--kinda boring really but Alex wants me to keep reading it; and then we did reading with Daddy one on one.

I think for science I'm going to use the Kingfisher hands on science series of science experiment books with the Discovery Channel School Science series books. They're also free at the library. We got the Matter book and Matter and Materials Science experiment book to go along with it. I am also pretty excited about this: I found a website about nature education and on it, it had info about making a nature trail. So, I thought it would be fun to put signs up on the nature trail in our neighborhood as we learn about it. It would be a fun project, we'd learn stuff and then we'd have something to show for it in the end!

art and music appreciation

I never knew a good way to study art appreciation, but this is a very very good article on it, (written in 1901). I think I'll use this "method" along with the book: Discovering Great Artists. The article is 6 pages and well worth the read!http://amblesideonline.org/PR/PR12p501PictureTalks.shtml

Here is another book (free e-book you download) on music appreciation which is fantabulous, also found on the amblesideonline website: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14339

Tues. July 7

The boys are doing copywork. They drew "ink" spots and are pretending they are using quils and ink, and need to redip in their ink when it runs out:
Copywork is working really well right now-easier on me, and no backwards letters. Alex still sometimes forgets his spaces, so today I had him use a yellow highlighter to color in between the spaces he did right, and a pink highlighter (he told me it was RED, and not to ever call it pink) to color in the spots he should have used a space. I told him to try and get more yellow than "red" tomorrow.

I made addition flashcards on cardstock and we are working on memorizing the "2's". We started reading "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch." Nathan is not really interested, but Alex is.

Today Nathan said he liked reading to me. I was surprised. He wants to choose harder books above his level to be like Alex. I always worry about teaching reading to Nathan. I hope I'm doing it right. We are trying to balance sight reading books with decoding books.

In Grammar, we are memorizing a poem about a caterpillar:
Brown and furry,
caterpillar (pronounced "calapitter") in a hurry.
Take your walk
to a shady leaf or stalk.
Let no toad spy you
May the little birds pass by you
Spin and die
To live again a butterfly.

Notebooking

I decided I want to have a notebook/binder for each subject the kids do, so they can save their work. I like the idea here http://www.notebookingpages.com/index.php?page=Notebooking-Information
It will also help them do more writing to help their handwriting and remember what they've learned. They can write what they've learned, their thoughts, and then draw a picture if they want.
I'll have to go get some notebooks, a printer (arggggg), and figure out how to make this work with their manuscript paper.

This week

This week both boys did copywork
lessons 1 and 2 in their Grammar book
reading to me
I've been reading to them short picture books- I got "George Washington's Breakfast" by Jean Fritz and other stories about George Washington for the Fourth of July. We made George Washington's breakfast and it was gross.
Math games on the computer at http://www.fun4thebrain.com/
On Wed. we had Boy's club at my house and learned about the dairy group. We tasted cottage cheese, cheese, and made homemade ice cream in bags; we decorated cups and I read "The Milk Makers."
Nathan is still learning to ride a 2 wheeler- he's getting closer. Today Katherine took her first step at the homeschool group!
Today Todd has off from work but he is working on our million dollar website. I went to park day for 3 hours-- the kids have fun playing with the other kids and I have fun talking with the other moms.
We're reading in Alma and are reviewing the first 12 scripture masteries in the Book of Mormon before we go on to number 13.

Tues. June 30

Right now we are starting the grammar book by Jessie Wise "First Language Lessons". It has short, easy lessons.

For writing, I'm going to let the boys choose if they want to do copywork or original work. Yesterday Alex chose to copy and Nathan chose a journal. He wrote, "I love candy. Candy is nummy. Vegetables are dumb. I like birthday cake and ice cream the most." Then when he was done he put "fancy" dots all over his letters. Crazy kid! I'll start dictation a little later and start small.

For spelling, I'm still confused. Some say do dictation, some say create a list from their own writing, some say a workbook, some say a workbook is useless. I ordered a workbook to look at, that Susan Wise Bauer uses. If it's not worth the money (update-- it's not), I'll use the free spelling lists on the internet http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/spelling-levela.html, combined with dicatation and copywork, and their own writing. Todd and I decided that we both learned to spell with spelling lists, copying the words and other activities, and reading and writing and we can spell.

For math, we're going to try Singapore math (primarily) with K12 math. Singapore math has good reviews, has bright pictures, and moves fast. During the summer, I'm having the boys play add/subtracting games on the computer to drill the skill. Funner than flashcards and easier on me.

We're starting Rosetta Stone Spanish and German. We get this free from K12! I'm doing it, too. I don't know that it is great for kids as young as mine, especially Nathan, so I'm trying to think of ways I can do some supplemental teaching, and when I have the time to fit this in.

For reading, I have the boys read with me each 30 minutes a day. 30 mintues is sometimes long for Nathan, so I'm happy with 15 if we can't do 30. We get readers from the library, and Nathan also uses Bob books. I also read aloud to them every day. I read the books they choose at the library (nonfiction, fiction and historical novels) and what I find on great book lists (sonlight.com, Honey for a Child's Heart book, Provo library lists, and the list from amblesideonline.com). If we start it and the kids aren't in to it, we start another one. I want them to enjoy it.

We always start with scripture study. Right now we are reading the Book of Mormon. We have had success by starting with a prayer, and I'll read straight from the real Book of Mormon (no readers or anything). After I read a few verses, I paraphrase what is going on, and we talk about concepts and how to apply it, etc. I try to keep it short enough for them, so sometimes we only read a few verses and then talk about it. I try and end with a "cliff hanger" so it will get them excited for the next reading. Many times they beg us to read more (and we do:)). Then we memorize scripture verses. We are using the scripture mastery list. They use picture prompts that I made (see them here), and I tell them what the verse(s) mean, and we go over it a few times until they have it. We also review old ones. I have loved this a lot. I am learning to memorize along with them!

Alex started taking piano lessons, but we decided that I am teaching him starting this week. We're using Hal Leonard. I also decided to teach music appreciation on Sundays, listening to classical music and learning about composers. Last Sunday we listened to Carmen Suite No. 1: Les Toreadors, and the boys ran around wild and Nathan said, "run for your lives!!" They had a lot of fun. Then we listened to "Peter and the Wolf" downloaded from itunes, and it had a (child's version) biography of the composer beforehand. We liked that one, and I got out my flute after and played the bird part on my flute. We'll get more music from itunes, cd's from the library, and I want to buy the "Meet the Masters" CD collection and the "Classical Kids" collection, both with stories about the composers for kids. Update: and have these talks with the kids about music: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14339

Art- We are getting how to draw books at the library and the kids are loving it! Their drawing has greatly improved! This year I want to use the book "Discovering Great Artists", and maybe do art once a week as a "class"/art appreciation. Update: On Sundays we'll have art appreciation in this method: http://amblesideonline.org/PR/PR12p501PictureTalks.shtml

PE will be at the public school next year.

I want to get a typing program--Typing Instructor Deluxe the kids can do on the computer.

history- I think I've decided to go with the K12 history, which is the first part of world history, and add to it with Susan Bauer's "History of the World" and her activity books, and lots of activities and historical novels/picture books. We'll put up a timeline.

Science- I haven't decided between the Apologia series or the K12 science and adding activities and books to it, such as the Discovery Channel Science books series and lots of experiment books such as the "Hands on Science series" and "Science Activties" series.

Life skills- lessons I used as a counselor at Sage Creek, woodworking, cooking, typing, dressing, brushing teeth, cleaning

Daily: math, spelling, grammar, reading, writing, piano, scriptures
1-3 times a week: history, science, art, typing, music, spanish, pe, life skills

Our school time right now is a checklist instead of a schedule, but when public school starts, we'll have our school from 9-2. If we finish before 2, we can stop, but we won't go past 2. We'll have recess, snack and lunch breaks, and boys club and Friday Fun class breaks, and lots of field trips. And of course, lots of trips to the library!