tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52523889680807110252024-03-05T16:28:26.274-06:00Concordia Classical AcademyWe're classically educating our children- a ten daughter, Sweet Pea, a seven year old daughter, Little Bird, a five year old boy, Moose, and a two year old boy, Cuddlebug. We live in south east Wyoming.The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.comBlogger287125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-47157333902527176502015-03-23T12:36:00.000-05:002015-03-23T12:36:24.144-05:00Sixth Grade Literature<br />
<br />
Has anyone used this site? This looks really interesting how they've combined different books from different time periods.<br />
http://www.epicreads.com/blog/an-epic-chart-of-162-young-adult-retellings/The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-41670357068833537052015-03-16T11:42:00.001-05:002015-03-16T11:42:48.475-05:00It's spring again. This is traditionally when I've planned the following year and tradition holds firm here.<br />
<br />
It's been a while since I've included weekly wrap ups or anything but since my eldest is going into 6th grade I would like to again for posterity.<br />
<br />
I don't have a perfect plan, yet, but I think I have the basics set.<br />
<br />
My kids in the fall will be 11, 8, 5, 2 (turning 3 in October).<br />
<br />
<b>Math</b><br />
I have the younger kids doing CLE, Eldest is doing Khan Academy, second doing Khan and CLE.<br />
<br />
<b>Language Arts</b><br />
In order of youngest to eldest is probably easiest. #4 will do the Rod and Staff preschool books. This will be my fourth kid doing these! #3 will finish firming up phonics, handwriting, and grammar using a combo of Cursive First, Memoria Press, and some CLE. #2 will use CLE and Memoria Press. #1 is still somewhat up in the air. She has been using a combo of Memoria Press and CLE. I'm not sure if we will continue to use both together or use just Memoria Press, I need to really look at the samples and what is covered.<br />
<br />
<b>Foreign Language</b><br />
Kids are doing Spanish. Big two are using Duolingo. Continue on.<br />
<br />
<b>Science</b><br />
Still determining. Lots of nature study with field guides, more work on the Scientific Process.<br />
<br />
<b>History</b><br />
Memoria Press, Child's History of the World, historical fiction to match time periods at carious reading levels.<br />
<br />
<b>Religion</b><br />
I still really like Lutheranism 101 for kids, in a continual loop. Catechism. CPH's Story Bible. Hymn memorization.<br />
<br />
I have the content areas roughly grouped together so the kids can work in a group at their own levels. Skill areas separately since those are impossible to really group at the varied levels.<br />
<br />
And I think that's that.<br />
<br />
<br />
The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-43000031699352308412015-03-05T15:29:00.002-06:002015-03-05T15:29:42.989-06:00RefreshIt has been a long while since I posted here regularly. I am going to attempt to rectify this-- we are still happily homeschooling and as we approach middle school I want to have a record to look back on.<br />
<br />
<br />The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-77269735855420957012013-11-04T19:11:00.001-06:002013-11-04T19:11:46.498-06:00Time4Learning review in a month<div id="disclosureTop">
<ul id="disclosuretips" style="margin: 8px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 35px;">
<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Over the next 30 days, I will be reviewing Time4Learning. They offer an<a href="http://www.time4learning.com/elementary-games.shtml?ref=Review+Referring" style="outline-style: none;">elementary school curriculum</a>, <a href="http://www.time4learning.com/learning-middle-school.shtml?ref=Review+Referring" style="outline-style: none;">middle school curriculum</a>, <a href="http://www.time4learning.com/homeschool/high_school.html?ref=Review+Referring" style="outline-style: none;">high school curriculum</a>, and tools like the <a href="http://www.time4learning.com/homeschool/how-to-homeschool.shtml?ref=Review+Referring" style="outline-style: none;">Getting Started Homeschooling Guide</a>. Be sure to come back and read about my experience!</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
I will have my kids log on daily as time allows and I will be posting a detailed review in a month. Stay tuned!</div>
</div>
The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-2881441945123700442013-03-04T23:28:00.000-06:002013-03-04T23:28:20.727-06:00RefiningI will still be using my book lists I posted. My new plans should give us more time for good literature, not less. This was a driving factor in the switch, other then the cost issue.<br />
<br />
We've been so bogged down by historical fiction we've been losing the joy and flow of history, itself.<br />
<br />
This also reminds me of something important. There is no perfect curricula. There are things perfect or close for individuals in seasons, but no one program that meets all needs at all times. So when something isn't right, and you can't make it feel right, it's ok to let it go and search out a better fit.<br />
<br />
I have loved programs in the past and been devoted. Now, we don't use those things. And that ok.<br />
<br />
It's about the journey as much as the ending.The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-87413302842910434502013-03-02T16:09:00.000-06:002013-03-02T16:09:00.604-06:00Shopping the shelvesI know I posted plans for the upcoming year that were different. I reserve the right to tweak until I start buying.<br />
<br />
Inspired by the CiRCE info and some thrifty threads I have been trolling through my shelves.<br />
<br />
I have enough stuff already purchased to do Middle Ages history next year. Usually history is a big chunk of my budget since we do a lot of books along with it, so this is great.<br />
<br />
My oldest was hitting a wall of sorts with Saxon math. It wasn't too hard but it was becoming too time consuming. I switched her to CLE which is cheap, seems sound, and much less time intensive. If it keeps going well I will switch Little Bird once she finished Saxon 1.<br />
<br />
Sweet Pea is still using Writing Tales 1 and while I love the idea it's so unequal in work load. Some days it takes ten minutes and some days it's over an hour. This makes planning hard and frustrates her. I believe we may try CLE language arts, as well.<br />
<br />
Little Bird is working rapidly through Hooked on Phonics 2nd grade! She's making great progress and once she's done I will finish phonics out with the Ordinary Parent's Guide, which I already own. Handwriting is going great as well and she's almost ready to transition from handwriting to copy work.<br />
<br />
Once I comb my shelves more I hope to post with more updated plans!The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-80016787070986159982013-02-02T14:27:00.000-06:002013-02-02T14:27:29.506-06:00Lent and childrenLent begins February 13 this year. Less then two weeks! If you follow or want to follow the Liturgical calendar this means it's time to start getting ready.<br />
<br />
I have past posts on Lent <a href="http://concordiaclassicalacademy.blogspot.com/2010/02/lenten-planning.html?m=1">here</a> and <a href="http://concordiaclassicalacademy.blogspot.com/2010/02/lenten-beginnings.html?m=1">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Lent begins yearly with Ash Wednesday. Our church marks Ash Wednesday with a service and imposition of ashes- or placing ashes made from the Palm Sunday palms the year before on the forehead in the sign of the cross.<br />
<br />
Lent is not Pre-Easter. It is <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;">“<a href="http://witness.lcms.org/pages/wPage.asp?ContentID=246&IssueID=19">a holy season of prayerful and penitential reflection</a>". It also has many opportunities to deeply teach our children the faith. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;">I plan to use many of the past activities our family enjoys for Lent. I also will be using <a href="http://steadfastlutherans.org/?p=16835">Lutherans for Lent</a>- a free daily devotional. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;">Our church does midweek services through Lent and we will attend as many as possible. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;">I hope keeping time through Lent is a blessing to your family this year!</span>The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-54261750522362629602013-01-24T21:38:00.000-06:002013-01-24T22:21:25.181-06:00Fourth grade plans Wildly, wildly open to change at current date!<br />
<br />
Math: Saxon 7/6<br />
Life of Fred<br />
Time estimate: hour daily<br />
<br />
Reading: book list to be separate post<br />
Time estimate: hour to two hours daily<br />
<br />
Writing: Writing Tales 2<br />
Or<br />
Classical Writing<br />
Or??<br />
Time estimate: hour daily<br />
<br />
Science: Chemistry. I think.<br />
Time estimate: an hour twice a week<br />
<br />
History: Roughly thinking 1900- present. Focus on or tie in C.S. Lewis and Tolkien.<br />
Time estimate: an hour three times a week<br />
<br />
Foreign language: Latin and Spanish. Latina Christiana?<br />
Time estimate: half hour daily<br />
<br />
Art: art work of time period for history?<br />
Time estimate: half hour once a week<br />
<br />
Music: piano. Composer studies.<br />
Time estimate: half hour daily<br />
<br />
PE: daily workout with mom.<br />
Time estimate: half hour daily<br />
<br />
Religion: Bible, catechism, Lutheranism 101 for kids.<br />
Time estimate: half hour daily<br />
<br />
The "Gravy": mythology - Norse and Greek. Poetry. Shakespeare.<br />
Time estimate: an hour a week<br />
<br />
Weekly time total: 23 hours for the week or 5.3 hours a day. Yikes!The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-29775341967122533382013-01-23T22:10:00.000-06:002013-01-23T22:10:09.968-06:00First grade book listI reserve the right to revise and alter thioos as needed. I'm pulling from many sites and lists. <br />
<br />
<span class="subheader" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">Mr. Popper's Penguins</span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"> by Richard and Florence Atwater</span><br />
<a href="http://digital.library.upenn.edu/webbin/gutbook/lookup?num=16" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">Peter Pan</span></a><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"> (or, Peter Pan and Wendy) by James M. Barrie </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">Harp and Laurel Wreath by Laura Berquist</span><br />
<a href="http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/C_Collodi/The_Adventures_of_Pinocchio/" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">Pinocchio</span></a><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"> by Carlo</span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"> Collodi</span><br />
<br />
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Benjamin Franklin by Ingri D'Aulairie </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">George Washington by Ingri D'Aulaire </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">Buffalo Bill by Ingri D'Aulaire</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">Pocahontas by Ingri D'Aulaire</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="subheader" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">The Hundred Dresses</span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"> by Eleanor Estes</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: justify;">Language of Flowers by Kate Greenaway </span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: justify;"><a href="http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/gatty/parables/parables.html" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">Parables from Nature</span></a><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-align: -webkit-auto;"> by Margaret Gatty</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">St. George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.boop.org/jan/justso/" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">Just So Stories</span></a><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-align: -webkit-auto;"> by Rudyard Kipling</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: justify;">
</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang </div>
</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang </div>
</span><span style="text-align: justify;"><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: -webkit-auto;">
Yellow Fairy Book by Andrew Lang</div>
</span><span style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<div>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel</span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">Now We Are Six/When We Were Very Young</span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"> by A.A. Milne</span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><a href="http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=nesbit&book=shakespeare&story=_contents" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare</span></a><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"> by Edith Nesbit</span></span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-align: justify;">Complete Tales of Peter Rabbit </span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-align: justify;">by Beatrix Potter</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-align: justify;"><span class="subheader" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-align: -webkit-auto;">Margaret and Margarita: Margarita y Margaret</span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-align: -webkit-auto;"> by Lynn Reiser</span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=ruskin&book=king&story=_contents" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #444444;">King </span><span style="color: black;">of the Golden River</span></a><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-align: -webkit-auto;"> by</span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-align: -webkit-auto;"> John Ruskin</span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-align: justify;"><span class="subheader" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-align: -webkit-auto;">The Little Prince </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-align: -webkit-auto;">by Antoine de Saint-Exupery</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="subheader" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day</span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"> by Judith Viorst</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Charlotte's Web by E.B. White </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); color: black;"><a href="http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/williams/rabbit/rabbit.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">The</span> <span style="color: black;">Velveteen</span> <span style="color: black;">Rabbit</span></a> </span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">by</span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"> Margery Williams</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); color: black;">The Aesop for Children</span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"> by Milo Winter</span><br /> </span></div>
<div>
Anyone have any must have reads for first grade I'm missing?</div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
</span>The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-74730794995725732312013-01-23T17:46:00.000-06:002013-01-23T22:11:10.883-06:00First grade, second run throughI'm a planner. This lets me change my mind and tweak at will. It also means I start early.<br />
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In the fall Little Bird will be in first grade. I'm looking at what I already have and what I want to try.<br />
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Math: Saxon 1-2, depending on where she is<br />
Life of Fred<br />
Manipulatives to cement concepts<br />
The only thing I need to buy here are new workbooks for the Saxon.<br />
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Reading: We are making great progress through my Hooked on Phonics set. She has nine pages remaining in the 1st grade kit, and then we start the 2nd grade kit. After that I will switch to the Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading, with supplements from McGuffey's readers. All of this I already have.<br />
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Writing: We are currently using Cursive First. I had this already, as well. After she finishes that we will start copy work, but I'm not quite sure what to use yet.<br />
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Science- Sweet Pea wants to do chemistry next. Little Bird won't be ready for that, so we will probably do plants or something. I don't know. I have all the books I need here, though.<br />
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History: I think I'm doing European next year with my biggest. I will probably let her follow along.<br />
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Art: I already have everything I need for art appreciation.<br />
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Music: I'd really like her to try piano again. We will see if her fine motor is up to it.<br />
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PE: Comtinue Irish dance. Easy!<br />
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Foreign Language: switching to Spanish. Probably need to post about that.<br />
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Religion: The Story Bible, catechism, Lutheranism 101 for kids. I already have all of this.<br />
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I'm compiling a book list, but that will be a stand alone post.The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-41297533294412095362013-01-11T21:55:00.001-06:002013-01-11T21:55:35.093-06:00Deafening Echoes and thoughts on planningI promise I am still around. I am! My newest baby is now an ancient two months old and sanity is beginning to reign here once more.<br />
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I have been reading and digesting a lot of material from CiRCE. Good stuff. It's altering what I thought we were doing here and why.<br />
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And the number of students in my little homeschool! Moose is turning three in a matter of weeks. Three! How did we get here, so fast? This fall I will have Sweet Pea in fourth grade, Little Bird in first grade, and Moose in preschool, with my sweet baby boy along for the ride. Yikes!<br />
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I'm reading books for the hundredth time and scouring web sites and discussions. I'm trying to take an honest look at each child where they are right now and where I want them by the end of the year..l and where we want to go next year.<br />
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Anyone else having similar thoughts?The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-45450733128624249812012-09-26T11:34:00.001-05:002012-09-26T11:34:38.269-05:00Progress? What's that?Oh, wait, it's what seems to be happening here!<br />
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Sweet Pea finished her Classical Writing Primer and no longer turns every writing assignment into a battle. I ordered her Writing Tales 1 to work through next and I hope she loves it. I think we are finally about ready to move on from the constitution and the Revolutionary War. I'm glad that we have the time to linger and dig deeper. I'm just ready for a change.<br />
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Little Bird finished the K level of Hooked on Phonics! She's not about 10% through the 1st grade box. Once we get through that I will add in the Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading (OPG). I've just found the pacing and presentation of OPG seems to go better for us once we have a good handle on blending and sitting and tracking words across the page. She's also in love with Fred- as in Life of Fred math. We are doing Apples together and I think it is the perfect introduction to more formal math.<br />
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This year I finally feel like we have found of rhythm and the way I teach and the way the kids learn.The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-82228509873015205832012-08-23T14:47:00.002-05:002012-08-23T14:49:43.255-05:00Week 3If I can figure out how to post pictures from the iPad without them being huge and grainy, I'll start adding more pics again. If not, I will still add pics but less frequently because then I have to steal my husband's laptop to manage it.<br />
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This week Sweet Pea daily worked on math, writing, science, and we added the Sonlight Core E back in. She does this by herself with help as needed, then I correct with her and she fixes her mistakes.<br />
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Little Bird is working on handwriting with Cursive First. She is still perfecting her numbers, then we embark on the exciting world of cursive letters. Once she can easily make all the numbers, I plan to add math in daily. She's also doing phonics daily and has almost completed the kindy phonics program from Hooked on Phonics. After she does we will move sideways into the Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading. She's also having time with me daily for Sonlight Core A. We are currently using their Language Arts as well, but I will drop that once she can write well and then we will do copy work.<br />
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We start the school day together with religion, both girls and my little boy following along as they are able. Right now we start with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Egermeiers-Bible-Story-Elsie-Egermeier/dp/0871620065">Egermeier's Bible Storybook</a>. We then sing a hymn from LSB together a few times, working on the same one until we all know it. I then read any applicable Arch Books from Cph that go along with the Bible storybook reading, we recite the three chief parts of the Catechism, I read a section from My First Catechism from Cph, and then we sing the hymn again. We close with Luther's morning prayer.<br />
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After this my two year old is ready to wander away to play with blocks, color, or do playdoh.<br />
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Both girls stay at the table so I can work closely with Little Bird and help Sweet Pea as needed.<br />
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So far, this has worked really well! I'm hoping it continues.The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-4603780371763305132012-08-16T12:58:00.000-05:002012-08-16T12:58:34.895-05:00Week 2Sweet Pea is now daily doing math- Saxon, and writing- Classical Writing. She enjoys the writing and tolerates the math. She's also reading through, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Were-There-When-Signed-Constitution/dp/0590451596">"...if you were there when they signed the constitution". </a><br />
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Little Bird has been working on phonics- HOP K, and coloring to increase her fine motor control and hand strength. I think we are going to try handwriting again next week. Every day she has me read her a book about being a big sister since we are having another baby soon.<br />
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My little Moose at two can count to twenty. He's also perfecting his coloring skills.The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-15192653336735508392012-08-08T12:50:00.000-05:002012-08-08T12:50:44.193-05:00New school yearThis is my first school year with two official students. I have a big kindergartener and a third grader! My, how time flies. It really seems like very recent history when Sweet Pea was starting kindergarten.<br />
My philosophy at heart hasn't really changed, but how it plays out has. Some of it has just been the learning process of me learning about my children. Some of it is the wildly different learning styles of my two girls. Some of it is natural changes with time.<br />
For my oldest the bulk of the plan to to continue on with what we started last year. We are about half way through American history with Sonlight so it's natural to continue on to the second half and finish the story. Alongside US history we will keep studying Greek and Norse mythology. Math is another logical progression for now. Continue with Saxon. We're still chugging with Latin and French, although with less intensity then I pictured when we started. Science is earth/space, although she has recently expressed some interest in chemistry and we may explore that as well. I am still looking for a religion curricula that requires less of me putting it together, but I don't think it's out there right now.<br />
Little Bird has done really well with beginning phonics. I'm loosely hoping to be done with the bulk of phonics instruction by the end of the year. We will see! She hasn't done a lot of handwriting yet formally. I have tried a few times to introduce cursive and she hasn't been ready. She prints on her own and writes little words. I'd like to see some more progress on that this year. She also hasn't done written math yet because Saxon K is mostly manipulative based. By the end of the year I'd like to have made that switch. We will read through the Sonlight Core A books for general social studies and literature and she's welcome to listen in on her big sister's mythology. Latin and French together, religion, too.<br />
Ok, now how this is playing out in practicality vs. my repetitive planning posts (hey, you can repeat things sporadically!) is a lot of time reading together, math and writing as seat work, and goals of consistently cheerfully accomplished work.<br />
Since we are just starting for the year I'm having each of them daily work on a single subject until that is going smoothly. I'm hoping next week to add another subject. For Sweet Pea that's daily math and for Little Bird it's reading and phonics.The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-59020855258026922562012-03-08T23:16:00.002-06:002012-03-08T23:18:38.761-06:00MathinessOnly a few weeks into our math book, and I think Sweet Pea is nearly finished. While I'm proud of her I wasn't planning on shopping for the next level yet!The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-43547945245915138542012-02-28T17:12:00.003-06:002012-03-14T21:13:36.254-05:00Hello!Change is in the air. <div><br /></div><div>We are expecting another baby! This is very exciting for all of us.</div><div><br /></div><div>My three kids all have birthdays rapidly approaching and will soon be 2, 5, and 8. Where does time GO?</div><div><br /></div><div>I have my fall lineup set, mostly purchased, and I am beginning to put it all together in neatly ordered rows. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm still amazed that soon I'll be teaching kindergarten again. And third grade. Yikes!</div><div><br /></div><div>And in a short year my toddler will be preschool aged. It'll be my first time teaching preschool to a little boy and I am so excited to see how that works. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Mostly, I'm happy. And excited all around. </div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-51726350706545645432012-01-22T22:49:00.002-06:002012-01-22T22:53:23.272-06:00Kindergarten reduxI've gotten some emails wondering what I will be doing for Little Bird for kindergarten. I finally have it nailed down and en route.<div><br /></div><div>My sweet girl will be done Sonlight Core A. Along with that she'll continue French, piano, and Latin. For math she'll be doing Saxon 1 and Life of Fred elementary books. For handwriting we will use Cursive First again.</div><div><br /></div><div>And there is kindy. </div>The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-27771957572582428802011-12-11T22:33:00.002-06:002011-12-11T22:41:13.447-06:00Must keep tryingOK, the formatting on those pictures is wacky, but I can't figure out how to fix it. Apple- I love your computer, why doesn't it love me back?<div><br /></div><div>Anyway.</div><div><br /></div><div>This last week we headed down to Denver as a small field trip. Denver is the "big city" for my kids and it's fun to watch them experience it. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm also getting really exicted about Christmas. The kids will have some really cool gifts. They also (well, the girls) are in the children's Christmas pageant at our church and they are really excited about learning their parts and the songs. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sweet Pea doesn't know it yet, but she's learning Chess this spring. I can't wait!</div><div><br /></div><div>This is one of those seasons where homeschooling just going going really well. Things WORK. Things are getting done. We're happy and productive and it's just... just what I wanted. Directly related to that is our large absence from the internet because I'm busy and doing this kinda all the time. So bear with me through this season. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll be back with more scintilating blogging. I will. Promise!</div>The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-59866958534035688122011-12-08T23:44:00.006-06:002011-12-08T23:53:11.864-06:00Revolutionary war<div><br /></div><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v613/madelymommy/?action=view&current=db3f4691.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/madelymommy/db3f4691.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>I'm trying this from my new iPad, so you'll have to forgive me if the images aren't the best. It's gonna be a learning process, but I'm in love!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v613/madelymommy/?action=view&current=3a5bf061.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/madelymommy/3a5bf061.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We're at the Revolutionary War and we're doing it with quite a few books. Quite a few are Sonlight and some we added in ourselves.</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v613/madelymommy/?action=view&current=01c1f956.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/madelymommy/01c1f956.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's been great!</div>The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-32271115745321992662011-11-21T15:06:00.003-06:002011-11-21T15:18:03.430-06:00Advent plansEvery year I post about this. I've posted pics of the stuff before, so I don't know if I will this year.<br /><br />We use an Advent wreath, calendar, and a nativity. We use this book: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Celebrate-Jesus-Christmas-Through-Epiphany/dp/0570071275">Celebrate Jesus! At Christmas. </a><br /><br />We also read a lot of books on St. Nicolas and on Dec 6th the children leave a shoe out.<br /><br />On top of this, we'll continue regular school. We'll also have all the Advent activities at church as well as preparation for the girls who will be in the children's Christmas program.<br /><br />Busy!The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-75242539670474293282011-11-16T21:08:00.002-06:002011-11-16T21:21:06.027-06:00Two small bragsIf I can't brag on here, where can I?<br /><br />First, I had a lady approach me and tell me she's really amazed by how well we homeschool- that she can tell we're doing a great job and Sweet Pea is an incredible little girl.<br /><br />She has grandkids Sweet Pea's age and older that she spends a lot of time with, so I take this as a massive compliment.<br /><br />Brag number two- Little Bird is almost through her kindergarten reading book. She's four. :)The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-6437377179803882352011-11-10T11:36:00.001-06:002011-11-10T11:38:03.607-06:00Wherein preplanning comes in handySweet Pea finished one math book and I had another one ready right away to give her, much to her joy. Strike when the iron is hot, and all.<br /><br />Well done, Sweet Pea!The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-47472219160983402372011-11-07T14:55:00.003-06:002011-11-07T15:32:44.438-06:00How a day looksFor quick reference, I have a 7.5 year old girl, a 4.5 year old girl, and a 20 month old son.<br /><br />My oldest is doing a sweep through American history this year. She's also studying Norse mythology. We're doing this with a lot of living books and reading time together.<br /><br />My middle child is diligently working on reading and developing patience and listening skills.<br /><br />My toddler is working on how many things he can possibly destroy in each moment.<br /><br />Morning begins with breakfast and then free play time for the kids. I drink coffee and relax for a little while, then everyone gets dressed/teeth brushed, ect.<br /><br />Then we sit together and I read to them. Sweet Pea needs to listen closely, the toddler doesn't listen at all unless it's a picture book, and Little Bird wavers between the two. Right now we are reading the<a href="http://www.sonlight.com/DA03.html"> Witch of Blackbird Pond</a>. This book is about Puritans and has been a good look at the different way of life the Puritans followed. We've marked the time in Sweet Pea's timeline book. Today the places in the book that came up were Boston, and the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island. We brought out the map and found and marked the places.<br /><br />After we did our reading together I made a snack for the kids. My kids love to snack. Sweet Pea took her snack and her reader- <a href="http://www.sonlight.com/DR02.html">the Matchlock Gun</a>- and went and read it by herself. Well, not totally alone- she snuggled with the cat who is always happy to keep her company.<br /><br />While she was doing that the two littles and I read picture books while they ate. Once their food was gone Moose played with playdoh, then colored with crayons. Little Bird read me a short book. She colored me a picture then, too.<br /><br />By the time they were done with that Sweet Pea was ready to come down and tell me about what she read. This is called <a href="http://www.amblesideonline.org/Narration.shtml">narration</a> when done a specific way and is part of our language arts approach. We alternate this with<a href="http://www.welltrainedmind.com/why-do-copywork-and-dictation/"> dictation</a>. The dictation and copywork we do comes straight from the books Sweet Pea is reading. After she does her writing we dissect the sentences for their parts of speech and how they are put together. This is how we are doing grammar right now.<br /><br />After that today Sweet Pea pulled out her math workbook and did four lessons.<br /><br />I think she would have done more, but her father came home for lunch then and math can't compete with that!<br /><br />After we have lunch together as a family, the girls went upstairs to play. They are making a play together and enjoy putting on costumes and coming up with songs.<br /><br />The toddler practiced throwing a ball with my husband and I cleaned up lunch. We chatted about our mornings, and enjoyed coffee. Then he had to go back to work.<br /><br />After lunch every day we have quiet time. The toddler usually sleeps for two hours. I will make a confession here- he often sleeps in my arms as I rock him. My 4 year old usually sleeps for 30 minutes or so and then she plays with her baby dolls or builds with her legos. I expect her to be quiet for 2 hours but I am pretty open to how she spends that time at this point. My 7 year old reads during this time. Sometimes she also works on a puzzle, does legos, or draws. She also uses this time sometimes to knit or make pot holders with a small loom.<br /><br />When nap time is done I am planning on science. We are reading books about our planet and our solar system. We are also making a scale model of the solar system out of clay. So far we have made Mercury and Venus, so this afternoon we will be making Earth.<br /><br />After that, it's more snack. During afternoon snack we do Bible and Catechism. The girls have piano practice to do, too, and then the rest of the afternoon is theirs to do whatever they want. At this time, too, we work on Latin and French.<br /><br />And that's how our days go.The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252388968080711025.post-75837962122588035992011-11-06T19:16:00.002-06:002011-11-06T19:18:56.048-06:00Speeding alongI can't tell you how shocked I was yesterday when my sweet 4 year old brought me a drawing. It was a lizard. And next to it she wrote, "LIZARD".<br /><br />Guess it's time to start being more intentional with handwriting practice! Yikes!<br /><br />Also, Sweet Pea has been cruising along rapidly in math. I think we may level up soon.<br /><br />Always exciting.<br /><br />And so he's not left out my darling toddler now yells, "BOOM!" constantly. He loves to knock things over or fall on purpose so he can yell it.<br /><br />Boys.The Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882606767242552071noreply@blogger.com1