It's spring again. This is traditionally when I've planned the following year and tradition holds firm here.
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.
I don't have a perfect plan, yet, but I think I have the basics set.
My kids in the fall will be 11, 8, 5, 2 (turning 3 in October).
Math
I have the younger kids doing CLE, Eldest is doing Khan Academy, second doing Khan and CLE.
Language Arts
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.
Foreign Language
Kids are doing Spanish. Big two are using Duolingo. Continue on.
Science
Still determining. Lots of nature study with field guides, more work on the Scientific Process.
History
Memoria Press, Child's History of the World, historical fiction to match time periods at carious reading levels.
Religion
I still really like Lutheranism 101 for kids, in a continual loop. Catechism. CPH's Story Bible. Hymn memorization.
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.
And I think that's that.
Showing posts with label phonics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label phonics. Show all posts
Monday, March 16, 2015
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Schooling in PICTURES returns!
'Cause I know you've all been dying to see. Right? Right?
Those ghosts are the pained footprints of each on my kids, filled in and decorated.
This week we covered more of the Puritans. We also went out of order and added Leif Ericson to our Book of Time. We read about him. I'm a little surprised he wasn't included in Sonlight's American history, but he was easy to include! Must not forget the vikings!!
Sweet Pea colors these, then we cut them out and write a sentence for her book to help us remember something about each person.
We're chugging along in math. We're almost 1/2 way through the book. The focus has been more on practical math then doing the workbook, though, which has slowed progress through the book but increased our enjoyment.
Here's a sample dictation from Sonlight's LA. We then go through it the next day and mark up all the parts of speech. The lengths of the dictations varies.
In science we are studying the planets. To go along with this we are building a scale model of our solar system. I'll put pictures up when we have more then itty bitty Mercury done. It's not too impressive on it's own!
The kids have been making various crafts and coloring. A lot.
Little Bird is working through a Handwriting without tears book when I am busy with her big sister.
Moose insists he has to color, too.
Sweet Pea's art is as sweet and quirky as ever.
The girls also practice piano daily. I shoot for 15-30 minutes from each of them per day.
Along with this we are doing Latin. Sweet Pea reads daily for school and pleasure. Little Bird is working through phonics. Moose is diligently babbling at us and practicing that toddler mind control that allows a nominally verbal little person to get what he wants and needs.
Things are good!
Those ghosts are the pained footprints of each on my kids, filled in and decorated. This week we covered more of the Puritans. We also went out of order and added Leif Ericson to our Book of Time. We read about him. I'm a little surprised he wasn't included in Sonlight's American history, but he was easy to include! Must not forget the vikings!!
Sweet Pea colors these, then we cut them out and write a sentence for her book to help us remember something about each person.
We're chugging along in math. We're almost 1/2 way through the book. The focus has been more on practical math then doing the workbook, though, which has slowed progress through the book but increased our enjoyment.
Here's a sample dictation from Sonlight's LA. We then go through it the next day and mark up all the parts of speech. The lengths of the dictations varies.
In science we are studying the planets. To go along with this we are building a scale model of our solar system. I'll put pictures up when we have more then itty bitty Mercury done. It's not too impressive on it's own!
The kids have been making various crafts and coloring. A lot.
Little Bird is working through a Handwriting without tears book when I am busy with her big sister.
Moose insists he has to color, too.
Sweet Pea's art is as sweet and quirky as ever.
The girls also practice piano daily. I shoot for 15-30 minutes from each of them per day.
Along with this we are doing Latin. Sweet Pea reads daily for school and pleasure. Little Bird is working through phonics. Moose is diligently babbling at us and practicing that toddler mind control that allows a nominally verbal little person to get what he wants and needs.
Things are good!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
How to teach reading
I'm on my second run through and it'd going quite well, if I say so myself. ;)
Neither child has intuitively picked it up without instruction. I am a firm believer in phonics, so that's how we are addressing it.
I like teaching reading. It's fun seeing it click and how much opens up to your children when they can read!
I take some of my cues from how I teach writing- divide the skills.
First, we work on letter recognition. Names of the letters, different ways they are written, the sounds they make. Both of my girls learned their ABCs far in advance of learning to read.
Next, we play blending games. There are a lot of suggestions online and it's good to find a lot since it can take a long time for kids to make the leap from knowing letters to blending sounds! I think that this is one of the most frustrating and confusing parts of the process. Kids know their letters, so they should be able to read, right?
No. Not really.
I think that decoding and blending are developmental, and kids need time for it to all sink in. It's so hard sometimes when it seems like they have the skills and information but can't put it together. I think every mom or dad during reading lessons has listened to a tiny person say, "CCC AAA TTT" and been surprised or baffled that they couldn't put it together to make CAT.
It's easy for us, as readers.
Don't be frustrated, though. It'll happen!
My favorite way to practice blending is to NOT use written words for it. Looking at writing requires them to remember the letter, the sound, the order, AND to try to blend it. It's a LOT!
Instead, when we are in the car or playing in the yard, I ask Little Bird (my current phonics pupil), "What does CCC AAA TTT say? Can you guess? Listen to the sounds! Now, CCC AAA NNN. What's that one?"
At first, it's hard. But once my daughters could connect the sounds just hearing it, and do it well, then I brought it back to books.
It seems to be working well. Little Bird can read short words. Lessons are short and fun and once anyone is antsy or frustrated, we are done.
She gets the benefit of experience, there. I used to get upset with Sweet Pea and push on, even when she wasn't ready. I've learned my lesson, and it's made the process much lower key.
Neither child has intuitively picked it up without instruction. I am a firm believer in phonics, so that's how we are addressing it.
I like teaching reading. It's fun seeing it click and how much opens up to your children when they can read!
I take some of my cues from how I teach writing- divide the skills.
First, we work on letter recognition. Names of the letters, different ways they are written, the sounds they make. Both of my girls learned their ABCs far in advance of learning to read.
Next, we play blending games. There are a lot of suggestions online and it's good to find a lot since it can take a long time for kids to make the leap from knowing letters to blending sounds! I think that this is one of the most frustrating and confusing parts of the process. Kids know their letters, so they should be able to read, right?
No. Not really.
I think that decoding and blending are developmental, and kids need time for it to all sink in. It's so hard sometimes when it seems like they have the skills and information but can't put it together. I think every mom or dad during reading lessons has listened to a tiny person say, "CCC AAA TTT" and been surprised or baffled that they couldn't put it together to make CAT.
It's easy for us, as readers.
Don't be frustrated, though. It'll happen!
My favorite way to practice blending is to NOT use written words for it. Looking at writing requires them to remember the letter, the sound, the order, AND to try to blend it. It's a LOT!
Instead, when we are in the car or playing in the yard, I ask Little Bird (my current phonics pupil), "What does CCC AAA TTT say? Can you guess? Listen to the sounds! Now, CCC AAA NNN. What's that one?"
At first, it's hard. But once my daughters could connect the sounds just hearing it, and do it well, then I brought it back to books.
It seems to be working well. Little Bird can read short words. Lessons are short and fun and once anyone is antsy or frustrated, we are done.
She gets the benefit of experience, there. I used to get upset with Sweet Pea and push on, even when she wasn't ready. I've learned my lesson, and it's made the process much lower key.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Guess who can read?
Little Bird! My not so little girl (4 next week!) read her first short story- a HOP book about a fat cat.
Yay, Little Bird! I'm so proud of her and it's amazing to see her grow and learn.
Yay, Little Bird! I'm so proud of her and it's amazing to see her grow and learn.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Well Trained Mind vs. the Latin Centered Curriculum
I'd like to compare and contrast the two, and then look at what I'm planning for next year. I'm planning 2nd grade and K4, for the record.
Also- a quick google search for Latin Centered Curriculum 2nd grade didn't really turn up any blogs with a detailed listing! I'm actually pretty surprised. All you LCC bloggers need to put more out there, OK?
2nd grade:
Well Trained Mind subject areas
Language- Spelling, cursive, reading/notebooking, grammar, memory work, fun reading
Writing- writing and dictation
Mathematics
History- medieval-early Renaissance
Science- earth science and astronomy
Religion- world religions and family faith
Art
Music
Latin Centered Curriculum Subject areas
English Studies- Phonics as needed, reading, copywork, recitation
Latin
Classical Studies- Norse myths
Christian Studies
Modern Studies- geography and biographies
Arithmetic
Nature Study/Science
Looking at it I see about 14 subject areas for the WTM plan and 10 for the LCC. That's really not as big of a difference as I thought it would be since the LCC is so often referred to as pared down.
Neither one includes foreign language (well, outside Latin) at this age, and that's something that we are already doing and won't be dropping that.
My 2nd grade plan falls somewhere in the middle of the two.
So far I have a rough line up ready.
Language Arts/English Studies- Writing Tales 1, Rod and Staff Spelling 3
Reading- Books tied to the history and science rotation
Mathematics- Saxon Math 2
History- Romans, Reformers, and Revolutionaries, Usborne Internet Linked Encyclopedia
Science- Earth/space science
Latin- Prima Latina
French- Le Francais Facile
Religion- New Testament and Catechism
Art- Artistic Pursuits
Music- piano lessons
I plan to do dictation and memory work from History and Religion. My time goal is about 2-3 hours a day, doing History and Science both twice a week and the rest of the subjects daily.
Kindergarten 4:
Well Trained Mind line up:
Reading
Writing
Mathematics
Latin Centered Curriculum subjects (It should be noted that there is no K4 line up, this is the general Kindy suggestions):
Latin Centered Curriculum Subject areas
English Studies- Intensive phonics,nursery rhymes, copywork, recitation
Latin
Classical Studies- Aesop's fables
Christian Studies
Modern Studies- geography and biographies
Nature Study/Science
Our actual plan:
Phonics- Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading, Hooked on Phonics
Writing: Cursive First, copywork as desired
Math- Saxon K
Latin- Prima Latina
French- Le Francais Facile
We'll also read through Aesop and she'll listen to as much science and history as she wants.
There's been quite a bit of waffling on my part on some of these, and there may be tweaking of some choices still to come, but I'm rather pleased at how it looks so far.
Also- a quick google search for Latin Centered Curriculum 2nd grade didn't really turn up any blogs with a detailed listing! I'm actually pretty surprised. All you LCC bloggers need to put more out there, OK?
2nd grade:
Well Trained Mind subject areas
Language- Spelling, cursive, reading/notebooking, grammar, memory work, fun reading
Writing- writing and dictation
Mathematics
History- medieval-early Renaissance
Science- earth science and astronomy
Religion- world religions and family faith
Art
Music
Latin Centered Curriculum Subject areas
English Studies- Phonics as needed, reading, copywork, recitation
Latin
Classical Studies- Norse myths
Christian Studies
Modern Studies- geography and biographies
Arithmetic
Nature Study/Science
Looking at it I see about 14 subject areas for the WTM plan and 10 for the LCC. That's really not as big of a difference as I thought it would be since the LCC is so often referred to as pared down.
Neither one includes foreign language (well, outside Latin) at this age, and that's something that we are already doing and won't be dropping that.
My 2nd grade plan falls somewhere in the middle of the two.
So far I have a rough line up ready.
Language Arts/English Studies- Writing Tales 1, Rod and Staff Spelling 3
Reading- Books tied to the history and science rotation
Mathematics- Saxon Math 2
History- Romans, Reformers, and Revolutionaries, Usborne Internet Linked Encyclopedia
Science- Earth/space science
Latin- Prima Latina
French- Le Francais Facile
Religion- New Testament and Catechism
Art- Artistic Pursuits
Music- piano lessons
I plan to do dictation and memory work from History and Religion. My time goal is about 2-3 hours a day, doing History and Science both twice a week and the rest of the subjects daily.
Kindergarten 4:
Well Trained Mind line up:
Reading
Writing
Mathematics
Latin Centered Curriculum subjects (It should be noted that there is no K4 line up, this is the general Kindy suggestions):
Latin Centered Curriculum Subject areas
English Studies- Intensive phonics,nursery rhymes, copywork, recitation
Latin
Classical Studies- Aesop's fables
Christian Studies
Modern Studies- geography and biographies
Nature Study/Science
Our actual plan:
Phonics- Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading, Hooked on Phonics
Writing: Cursive First, copywork as desired
Math- Saxon K
Latin- Prima Latina
French- Le Francais Facile
We'll also read through Aesop and she'll listen to as much science and history as she wants.
There's been quite a bit of waffling on my part on some of these, and there may be tweaking of some choices still to come, but I'm rather pleased at how it looks so far.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Baby!!!
No, this blog isn't defunct, despite that appearance. I just had a baby! Baby Moose (not his real name) was born Monday at home, weighing in at nine pounds, even. We're both doing well.
In the meantime my mother is here to help- and a huge help she's been! We've been doing what I'll call Grammy-school.
Sweet Pea has learned: how to wash dishes in the sink, how to load and unload a dishwasher, how to make coffee, how to make sandwiches, as well as doing some phonics.
Little Bird has learned: how to fold towels and wash clothes, put away cloth diapers, and had lots and lots of snuggle time with Grammy reading to her.
This upcoming week we'll reintroduce math- Sweet Pea has been asking for it. I think we'll also add some copywork because I don't want to let handwriting go too long. Sweet Pea has been keeping up on her reading, and is coming along really well with her stamina and is really starting to love curling up with a book.
In the meantime my mother is here to help- and a huge help she's been! We've been doing what I'll call Grammy-school.
Sweet Pea has learned: how to wash dishes in the sink, how to load and unload a dishwasher, how to make coffee, how to make sandwiches, as well as doing some phonics.
Little Bird has learned: how to fold towels and wash clothes, put away cloth diapers, and had lots and lots of snuggle time with Grammy reading to her.
This upcoming week we'll reintroduce math- Sweet Pea has been asking for it. I think we'll also add some copywork because I don't want to let handwriting go too long. Sweet Pea has been keeping up on her reading, and is coming along really well with her stamina and is really starting to love curling up with a book.
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