First Week of School 2015: School Room set-up and what we use for Bible, Math and Science

Here is short video of our homeschool room set -up and what we are using for Bible, Math and Science.

Video of Homeschool Room set-up and what we use...

  We started school today after a 2 month break that went by super fast!  The kids were all begging to start school...yes, begging.   So, I decided, yeah---we can start slowly and just do 3 or 4 subjects and then add in the rest the following week.

Bible Study Guide for All Ages - Beginners

BSGFAA - intermediate

Filling out calendars for Math

We are using Bible Study Guide for All Ages http://biblestudyguide.com/families.php  This is new for us.  I chose NOT to print it out on my own.  Instead, I bought them printed and bound and ready to go.  It really is an open and go type of Bible Study and I like that.  The only thing it does not have are memory verses to go with the lessons.  So I'm continuing to use Hubbard Cupboard's Character Trait Tune Charts: http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/character_activities.html#CharacterTraitTuneCharts


We are continuing with CLE (Christian Light) for Math.  It is a favorite for it's ease of teaching, instruction, approach and scope/sequence.  The entire first light unit is review of the previous grade.  It helps highlight an area if they need to practice or have it re-explained before proceeding with new concepts.  https://www.clp.org/store/by_subject/4

We are also trying something new for Science this year: Lifepac https://www.aop.com/lifepac_overview  I like that it is low prep for me and they all have a Science that is on their own grade levels.

Lastly, we try to prepare for Presentations each day before Friday.  Classical Conversations ensures that each student has 2-3 minutes to give a Presentation to their class.  This is such a great opportunity to work on Public Speaking skills.  We take the inch by inch approach---a little practice or prep each day before Presentation.

Next week, I will share what we are using for Phonics, Handwriting, Spelling, Writing, Literature, History and Memory Work.

Blessings!
K

6 Step History and People/Places History Sheets

So this year we will begin our 5th year at Classical Conversations.  It will also be our eldest son's 2nd time through Cycle 1.  He'll have one more pass through this Cycle before he goes to Challenge.  I love that he's getting layer upon layer of learning this History.

I love when my kiddos make connections with their History sentences, literature, the Bible, etc.

However, my eldest son, (let's just call him A) is not so much into arts-y/craft-y stuff.  He has always been a 'spewing out what he knows' kind of guy or 'reading all he can get his hands on a topic' kind of dude.

So I put together this to help him (and me) track his History learning.  We do not have a History Curriculum per se.  We use CC Cycle 1 History sentences as our 'spine'.  I then have a gazillion lot of supporting books like 'Story of the World', 'Pages of History', Usborne Encycolpedia's and a great many other non-fiction books.  On top of that, I have selected a picture book and chapter book/read aloud for my children to go along with each History sentence.  I love to read, A loves to read, my two littles love to be read to....this works for us.  See our History Picture books and Read Alouds here.

Without further ado here is 6 Step History and the 'People/Places' sheets.  A will fill these out each week.  And, he'll have fun or else....kidding on that one...hahhaha.  I think he'll like having it spiral bound and not fishing for Notebook pages or Narration sheets.  At the end of the year he'll have a great record of what he has learned in History --History---History--History:)

6 Step History

People-Places History Pages

CC Cycle 3 Reading List

I've been working on our History reading selections for the next Classical Conversations Cycle.  Cycle 3 is probably my favorite Cycle.  Now that I have children in both Upper and Lower Elementary, I thought I'd schedule out a picture book and read aloud option.

***I've recently updated up to Week 12: CC-Cycle-3-Reading-List-Weeks-1-12

If you'd like to download from Scribd directly go to:  CC-Cycle-3-Reading-List-Weeks-1-6

CC Cycle 3 Reading List - Weeks 1-6

Classical Conversations Week 9 - At Home

School Week 13 CC Week 9

 We are reading and learning a little more about China this week. The History sentence and Geography locations centered around China so that is what we are focusing on. Here is a little of what we're reading and also a great unit study found on Homeschool Share.

We read 'Daisy Comes Home' last week and this week we read (re-read for Bud) 'The Story About Ping'

Sis and Lil Bear got to work on Tangrams as a part of Saxon K.  Bud wanted in on this, too.

Covering the shapes

I'm so proud of her! 

.....and so proud of this little guy!

more tangram shapes

I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a bird or what??

Working on calendar and also showing his 'gospel beads'.  These are kind of like 'gospel fuzzies' for those that have heard of those.

Sis showing her bead wristband and working on calendar with some incentives (Tic Tacs) in the mix.

The trio busy learning and having fun!

Bud got a chance to copy and learn some Chinese words/characters. 

Chinese calligraphy printable found here: http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/chinese_character_cards.htm

He loved trying to copy these. 

We got a chance to discuss how these characters only used straight, angled or curved lines.   So, that was a nice OILS tie in.

Chinese calligraphy by Bud

Before lunch, Bud found some Space books from last year.  So of course, he pulled them out and wanted to read them.  Little Bear, of course, wanted to be just like big brother.

We are back to using A Reason for Handwriting.  For Bud, the best part about this is picking out a border page and getting to choose who to give it to.  When it comes to handwriting, I'll go with whatever motivates him.

Everyone getting ready for Daddy to get home.  We heard this quote over the summer, "You get what you INSPECT, not what you EXPECT."  Sooo, he started inspecting a few areas when he gets home.  Two of those being school areas and school work.

Linked up to:
http://www.halfahundredacrewood.com/2012/07/classical-conversations-cycle-1-week-9.html

Curriculum Plans 2012 - 2013

Our new school year starts on Monday. (Hip hip hooray!)  The following lists our carefully thought out, over researched, and much discussed curriculum plans for the new year:

Together

Circle Time
Family Time Fitness (Dad)
Classical Conversations

 

Toddler

Together:

• CircleTime activities with resources from: Recitations: MFW K WTR, Nursery Rhyme, Calendar from 1+1=1 (toddler and other calendar pages)
• Family Time Fitness

With Mom:

• Abeka Preschool 3: Letters and Numbers
•  NurseryRhymes Activities that match-up with MFW K letters
•  Book Basket: Learning books and fun to read books

With Pre-K’er: (He won’t HAVE to do these activities, but he will be included according to his attention span.)

• SaxonMath K
•  My Father's WorldK
• OrdinaryParents Guide to Teaching Reading  

o 

Pre-Kindergarten

o   

•  CircleTime activities
•  Math: Saxon K
•  Phonics: OPGTR and MFW K
•  My Father's World Kindergarten (Bible, Science, Literature)
•  Classical Conversations Cycle 1

          Other:

•  MPact girls: Daisies
• Hands On Learning Co-op class
• Draw Write Now Class
• Family Time Fitness 

First Grade

• CircleTime activities
• Math: Christian Light EducationMath 1 (finish), begin Saxon2 after completion of CLE Math 1
•   Language Arts:

-        Reading: Memoria Press Storytime Treasures and More Storytime Treasures

-        Spelling: All About Spelling

o   Complete level 1 and begin on level 2

-        Handwriting: Memoria Press New American Cursive

-        Grammar, Poetry, Narration: First Language Lessons

-        Literature: Memoria Press

-        Book Basket: Our Classical Conversations Cycle 1 inspired list

-        Copywork: Memoria Press

• ClassicalConverations: Weekly Presentations, Science Experiments, Fine Arts, Memory Work: Timeline, History, English Grammar, Latin, Math, Scienc, Geography

-        CC online for review

-        Wisdomand Righteousness lapbooks

o   History: using History Highlights from c3, hands on history group with friends, and book basket list

• Science: Christian Kids Explore Biology (non Anatomy portions) and Earth/Space (non Space portions) to match-up with CC Cycle 1
•    FamilyTime Fitness

Other:

-         Ranger Kids

-        Co-op activities

-        Draw Write Now class

-        T-Ball (Fall)

-        Hands on History class

-        Junior Bible Quiz

-        Piano 

Linking up to: Preschool Corner and 

Curriculum Choices: Kindergarten 2011-2012

 Well, I have been very busy all summer reading and researching our options for Bud's Kindergarten year.  We have two main choices that are, I guess you can say, our 'core' elements to this year.  Those two are: Classical Conversations and Five in a Row.  I'll be posting more how I'll use FIAR with an American History focus soon.  Check back if you are interested in that.

*If you are looking for what we are doing with our Preschooler and Toddler this year check out this post: 
2011 Preschool and Tot Activity Plans

Blessings,
Kathie

Curriculum Choices

Kindergarten 2011-2012

Bible

·         Bible Reading

Egermeier’s Story Bible

http://www.amazon.com/Egermeiers-Bible-Story-Elsie-Egermeier/dp/0871620065

365 Bible Stories for Young Hearts

http://www.amazon.com/365-Bible-Stories-Young-Hearts/dp/158134807X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311745878&sr=1-3

·         Memory Verse/ Character/ Praise and Worship Songs

Raising Rock Stars Pre-school

http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/RaisingRockStarsPreschoolSAMPLE.html

·         Bible Memory Work

Classical Conversations Cycle 3:

http://classicalconversations.com

·         Devotional

ABC Bible Verses by Susan Hunt

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1581340052/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0887241379&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=117CP3R55648KGKDS576

·         Faith Facts

Junior Bible Quiz

http://nationaljbq.org

·         Bible Supplements

Five in a Row Bible Supplement

http://fiarhq.com/fiveinarow.info/index.html

Doorposts Charts

http://www.doorposts.com

Hubbard’s Cupboard Character Trait Tune Charts

http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/character_activities.html#CharacterTraitTuneCharts

Math

·         Math

CLE Sunrise Math 1

http://www.clp.org/store/by_subject/4

·         Math Memory Work

Classical Conversations Cycle 3

http://classicalconversations.com

·         Applied Math

Five in a Row

http://fiarhq.com/fiveinarow.info/index.html

·         Early Engineering

Project ideas from Lego's Jr., Lego's manuals, Fisher Price Trio and Tinker-toys

Language Arts

·         Spelling

All About Spelling

http://www.all-about-spelling.com

·         Handwriting

A Reason for Handwriting A

http://www.areasonfor.com/article.php?id=19

·         Literature

Five in a Row – American History Focus (I’ll share more details on an upcoming post.)

http://fiarhq.com/fiveinarow.info/index.html

·         Grammar Memory Work

Classical Conversations Cycle 3

http://classicalconversations.com

·         Language Arts Supplement

Five in a Row

http://fiarhq.com/fiveinarow.info/index.html

History/Geography/Social Studies

·         History Book List, Activities, Focus

I have put together an extensive list of printables and activities based on our Classical Conversations Cycle 3 History Cycle.  These activities would be best for k-3^rd grade.  I’ll post details soon—please check back for that if you’re interested.

·         Timeline

Timeline Memory Work :

Classical Conversations Cycle 3

http://classicalconversations.com

·         Timeline (visual)

I’m not too sure if we’ll use a Book of Centuries or Wall Timeline.  Either way I think we’ll use one of the free resources listed at Half a Hundred Acre Woods.

http://halfahundredacrewood.blogspot.com/2011/05/classical-conversations-cycle-3.html

·         Geography Memory Work

Classical Conversations Cycle 3

http://classicalconversations.com

·          Map Skills

We will use the Kindergarten recommendations from Leigh Bortins, The Core.

http://www.classicalconversationsbooks.com/core.html

·         Social Studies

Five in a Row – American History Focus (I’ll share more details on an upcoming post.)

http://fiarhq.com/fiveinarow.info/index.html

Science

·         Science

We will use various books to go along with Classical Conversations Cycle 3. (too many to list)

·         Science Experiments/ Science Memory Work

http://classicalconversations.com

·         Science Supplement

Five in a Row

http://fiarhq.com/fiveinarow.info/index.html

Life Skills

·         Health

·         Safety

·         Manners/ Social/ Etiquette

·         Life skills

·         Chores

-          I am in the process of putting this together for our morning Circle Time.  I will use a mix of Abeka Health Safety and Manners and other fun supplements and articles.  I will post more details when they it’s finsished.

Foreign Language

·         Foreign Language

-          Right now I am wanting to teach Spanish after our 24 weeks of CC is finished and also during the summer.  I am not 100 % sure what we will use just yet.

·         Latin Memory Work

Classical Conversations Cycle 3

http://classicalconversations.com

Fine Arts

·         Music/Composer Study

·         Artist Study

·         Art

* We will be following the suggestions from CC for all of the above.

http://classicalconversations.com

·         Music Performance: still deciding on this…between piano and violin

Physical Education

·         Family Fitness

-  With Daddy leading before Dinner: Family Time Fitness
-  During outdoor time or playtime during the day: We will be following the schedule for Large Motor Skills/ Games that is outline in our Preschooler and Tot Plans. Here is the link: 
lhttp://greatday2learn.blogspot.com/2011/07/preschool-and-toddler-activity-plans.html

·         Lessons/ Team Sports

- We are in the process of determining between soccer, gymnastics, and swimming.

Extra Activities

·         Homeschool Support Group: field trips, park days, academic/ social events, Mom’s Night Out and more…

·         Field Trip/Activity Group: We will also participate with our friends on monthly field trips and get togethers.

·         Ranger Kids: http://royalrangers.com/aboutus  This will be his first year and he is so excited to start!

·         Junior Bible Quiz: http://nationaljbq.org  This another program we will start this year and are really looking forward to it.
·         Draw, Write, Now Class at our local library

·         Any P.E. or music instruction above

Linking up to:
Weekly Wrap-up @ Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers
Not Back To School Blog Hop @ Heart of the Matter