M is for Moon/ Goodnight Moon

We worked on the M is for Moon lessons from MFW K the last two weeks and also went through 'Goodnight Moon' BFIAR

We enjoyed the weather outside a lot the last few weeks...Bud picking up acorns.

They were having a blast just filling up buckets with acorns.

My baby gave this to me...so sweet--Little Bear loves his Mama!

Bud

Little Bear taking a milk break

Sissy 'painting' the house with water

She loved this....and I loved that it was not real paint--at least not until later;)

Little Bear with one of his favorite toys---a football!!!

The solar system by Bud

Bud also put the planets in order and wanted to make a 'banner'--hmmm, I wonder where he got that idea of a banner?

Sis' dot to dot 'E' and Bud's astronaut

Goodnight Moon resources and Moon printables from:  homeschool share

School Update

School is going really well so far! I realized I haven't updated how the first week went--or the first month or so for that matter.

We have settled into a groove for the most part.

To recap:

Bud (Pre-K 4)is using My Father's World K for Bible/Character, Science and supplementing Math. He is using Queen's English Language Lessons for Little One's v.3 for Phonics, Narration and Picture Study. We are also going to start Abeka K Math (since we were given this workbook for free). Math is his favorite subject so if we breeze through it we will start MEP year 1. We have also started going to a once a week homeschool Co-op where Bud is taking a Moods/Manners class, Fine Arts class, and a Spanish class.

MFW K
LLFLO
MEP Math 

MFW K suggest a 6 day schedule per theme....and to be honest, I try to just stay on one theme for a week.
However, I love the flexibility of the program and there have been times we have stayed two weeks on one theme and that is just fine.

I am also using this year to do 'delight directed' and topical unit studies with the kids.  We start the second unit study next week...so we'll delay our MFW K theme for the following week.

So far we have covered the Community Helpers/Safety (unit study) Days of Creation, The Sun,  and the Moon.  We will take a detour this week and study Astronauts/Solar System a little more in depth.

I am loving MFW K...the themes, Bible and Science activities is really top notch!

For Sissy, I am using Before Five in a Row.  Thanks to Amber at Refined Metals Academy, I am using her list for matching up themes/titles for BFIAR and MFW K.   Sissy is also part of the preschool class at Co-op.  They focus on a different alphabet each week and have fun activities centered around that letter/theme---she loooooves it!

Little Bear is joining us when he wants.  I set up a few weekly activity boxes for him.   He is on the brink of a language explosion here...any day now, any day now:)

First Day of School Pics

So I am finally getting to posting pics of the first day of school---here we go!

These are Bud's work folders

Activity Boxes: Top row is for Bud, 2nd row is Sissy's and bottom row is for Little Bear, my supply box on bottom right

 Close up view of Sissy's boxes...she has the most 'stuff' in activity boxes for her "Tot School" time

First Day of School photo with Dad

Bud...Pre-K 4

 Morning Calendar Time

 Even Little Bear is joining in

 Sissy has her Tot School Folder

 Bud's Math time (sorting)

 White board with our schedule

Bud's desk: You can see what he has already done for the day on his chart on the wall.

This is where he puts the completed folders/work.

Sis working on a puzzle from her Tot Box

In action

Sis was very proud that when she finished this alphabet puzzle!

2010 Kindergarten Goals

 I have the link below to the goals and plan we have for the year.  It really helps me to have it all out on paper--if you're interested click on the link to check it out.

2010 Kindergarten Homeschool Goals and Study Plan

Here is the link to the the Resources/Curriculum choices document for 2010 for Kindergarten

2010 Kindergarten Curriculum Choices and Resources

Kindergarten Resources: 2010

Main Resource:  My Father's World Kindergarten 

Bible/ Character:

·         Integrated in MFW K

·         NIV Bible

·         Beginner’s Bible

http://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Bible-Timeless-Childrens-Stories/dp/0310709628/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282340193&sr=1-1

·         Everything a Child Should Know About God by Kenneth Taylor

http://www.amazon.com/Everything-Child-Should-Know-about/dp/0842300074/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1283540101&sr=8-1

·         Hubbard’s Cupboard Joyful Learning Memory Verses

http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/bible_memorization.html

·         Raising Rock Stars Notebook

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

·         Rainbows (Noah’s Zoo Club)

http://mgc.ag.org/rainbows

·         ABC’s of Character by Tony Salerno

·         http://www.characterbuildingstore.com/home.htm

·         My ABC Bible Verses

·         http://www.amazon.com/My-ABC-Bible-Verses-Hiding/dp/1581340052

Math:

·         Integrated in MFW K

·         Hubbard’s Cupboard Calendar Binder:

·         http://hubbardscupboard.org/character_activities.html#CalendarandMath

·         Math Journal and Math Tubs

·         http://hubbardscupboard.org/math.html

·         Math concepts review sheets that correspond with MFW K  (download)

·         Living Math Books

http://livingmathbooklist.blogspot.com

·         *Possibly Math Mastermind

http://www.amazon.com/Mastermind-Kindergarten-Editors-Studio-Publishing/dp/1592233155/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1283541477&sr=8-1

Science:

Integrated in MFW K

Nature Journal (download available soon)

Language Arts:

·         Phonic: Queens Language Lessons for Little Ones volume 3

·         http://www.queenhomeschool.com/productpages/Language%20Lessons/Language%20Lessons.html

·         Readers: Abeka Reading for Fun Enrichment Library

·         http://www.amazon.com/Reading-Enrichment-Library-Complete-Kindergarden/dp/B001RL8U7G

·         Handwriting: Donna Young.org and MFW K

·         http://donnayoung.org/penmanship/k_1.htm

·         Read Alouds: MFW K, Simply Charlotte Mason List, Classical Homeschooling lists (download)

Fine Arts:

·         Integrated in MFW K

·         Integrated in Queens LLFLO

·         Hubbard’s Cupboard Imagination Station

http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/bible_and_rhyme_activities.html

·         Intro to Classical Music

Social Studies:

U.S. States Notebook based on The Train of States by Peter Sis and pages from Enchanted Learning

Various Unit Studies on holidays, communities, history, etc:

-          Community and Safety (download) 

-          The 1^st Thanksgiving

-          Christmas

-          New Years

-          Mail, Maps and Me

-              

Life Skills:

Life Skills activities (download available soon)

P.E. and Games

P.E. and Games activities (download available soon)

Next up planning forms and such...

Curriculum Update

The last few months I have been busy with planning and gathering materials for our after Labor Day start of school.  In the process, I found myself adding, supplementing, and searching for activities to 'beef up' what I had planned.  So I stopped and thought, well maybe I should NOT be using this for my oldest.  I was drained from all of the research--so I turned it over to my DH...and dear he is.  He really came to my rescue--our rescue.

I wrote an overview of each curricula I was looking into and the pro's and con's of each.  Sonlight and My Father's World were the finalists.  And I'm happy to say that we have chosen My Father's World Kindergarten for Bud's Kindergarten year.  Now that's another dilemma...should I call it Pre-K 4, Kindergarten or K4?? 

I am thrilled with our choice for Bud's K year!  Sissy is also getting in on the act..well sort of...she will also have 1:1 time with Mom each day for Tot School.  (More on that later)  I have also come up with some activities, songs, and other ideas for Little Bear that I will rotate through on a monthly basis.  I'll post more details on Tot School for Sissy and Lil Bear soon.

In gearing up for our first day, I really felt the need to do a unit study with the kids.  I was originally planning on doing this next summer, but thought I should do it now.  It is on Community Helpers and Safety.  I hope to post the Unit Study as soon as we are done.

Our School Room

Our School Room

Last week, I participated in the Not Back to School Blog Hop Curriculum Week.  This week is school room week and I have a few photos to share.   Our 'school room' also doubles as a playroom and it used to be our formal dining room.

As you can see our house has a pretty open concept plan and while we love that, it does have it's challenges.    It is the first room you see when you walk in, all the rooms blend together....so while I don't mind having a fun and inviting learning/playing environment---I didn't want it to be overly 'packed' with 'stuff'.  So, I utilize our garage and a coat closet to store most of books, toys, etc that we are not currently using.  Also, the nursery houses a lot of toddler toys for Little Bear.

This is the view as I walk out of the Master Bedroom.  You can see the living room and school/playroom all blend together.

We recently moved my computer desk from our room to the living room.

My desk

Our US map---we love it!

A view of Bud's desk, bookcase, whiteboard and Sissy's desk.  I keep one canvas tote/box to hold their materials. 

A closer look at our whiteboard and bookshelf.  I write our daily schedule on the whiteboard, as well as, a week at a glance schedule.  Our library basket sits on top of the bookshelf.  The other basket is for completed work and whiteboard supplies.

A view of the entry and other side of the playroom

The boys playing with the train table.  This rolling trundle table is used for the train or cars or working on a lapbook, etc...

One of the columns in the room is where the clock and our house rules are displayed.

The other column is where we display the kids artwork---it's the first column you see upon entering. 

Our front door also doubles as a magnet board;)

Of course we 'do' school all over the house---Here is DH with the Bud and Sissy.

Well that's about it....I forgot to take pics of where we house our supplies--but I suppose that's for another day.   Thanks for stopping by!!

Fall 2010 Pre-K

* Click Here to read our curriculum update*

 * To read more about our goals and plan for Kindergarten and resources we will use ---click here.*



It looks like we may have everything hammered down as far as curriculum for the Fall.

This is what we will be doing three days a week before nap times:


I am going to be using the 3's Curriculum which is suggested for 3-5 year olds on this Hubbard's Cupboard site.  I decided on doing the 3's curriculum so that Sissy can join in on the fun:

http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/bible_and_rhyme.html



I am going to supplement with these:

Music: Music for little Mozarts (for before taking piano lessons..a good prep)
http://www.amazon.com/Music-Little-Mozarts-Deluxe-Starter/dp/0739007963

Helping and Personal Care Monthly Themes: DH and I compiled these
http://www.scribd.com/doc/34622480

Outdoor and Indoor Games: DH and I  compiled these
See above link

Phonics: Alphaphonics (for Bud)
http://www.alphaphonics.com/

Handwriting: Reason for Handwriting K (for Bud)
http://www.areasonfor.com/article.php?id=19

Character: Choosing God's Way
In addition to the Bible Lessons on Hubbard's Cupboard, I am going to use 'Choosing God's Way' with Bud/Sissy.  I printed out the sample lesson for Bud and tried it with him...and he really liked the questions and format.
Sample Page:  http://loveteachingx2.com/Store/CGW.pdf
order info: http://loveteachingx2.com/Store/

Book lists: Hubbard's Cupboard has book suggestions but I will also working my way through a book list for us to read through next year

Activity bags: I hope to make activity bags/boxes for the Little Bear and Sissy only to be played with while working with Bud on 'school'. Likewise, DH is going to create fun 'math' type activities to use throughout the year....since that is his bent.

Nature Journal: I have nature journal pages I made for Bud ...when we come in from playing outside he fills out one of these.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/34622546  Front
http://www.scribd.com/doc/34622599 Back


We will be starting in late August and I hope to post on my blog...more details and links to everything.