So why is it that I expect more from the children in my life? We are calling it summer break but in my eyes it does not resemble a break at all. In the eyes of the girls it is a huge relief to only do what I have shown them they will be expected to complete over the summer.
Just how is this a summer vacation? For one, it is our first year and although we did plenty during our schedule school year we did not do everything we had hoped to. No! No! That is not quiet right. We did what ever we planned to do but as I made it individual to each person's need it meant that G will have year round math and F will continue with her phonic/reading in hopes that she will be in the first grade reader next year. But if not, we will work on each child's level.
That makes the curriculum purchase a bit hard. We bought all of the second grade program and we purchased the consumables for the first grade. It is possible we will not be at that level for each child so the whole integrated curriculum will be less effective. WHICH is why I expect more from mine than others.
I expect them to learn year round even when we do not call it school We have always done this even before we officially home schooled. We find enjoyment in this process, they are eager to learn more and more.
Yes indeed, today will be our last official day but it will not be the end of out lessons plans and would have never been the end of learning for the year either way.
HAVE a SAFE SUMMER!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Friday will be our last official day
I am finding that it means very little on one hand as we have summer work that is going to be completed. On the other hand they seem to like the thought that we will not be engaging into routine class time.
I find that I am still planning lessons. G has accepted the fact that her math will not be completed and we are going to take is slow so she is successful in the process. I think she is even looking forward to the math summer program. I will bring home the whiteboard/chalkboard easel so we can work with it during lesson. Lessons will not be in their class room but at my house. Since I have the pool they will be here most days and we will do lesson before jumping in and then workbook during the after lunch wait period.
She took several test that I had not given in math and did very well. She even did it without the puffy cheeks and stiffened arms. She does so well on the test that I know we could move along faster if her emotions would just change about the word M-A-T-H.
G has only three stories left to read in her last reader for first grade and will have completed the Letter and Sounds book by Friday. She will not have all the Language book completed but most of the book at the end is about creating sentences and stories. I offered her to work more in that book which she really does not like the book much. She finds it repeating to the point of aggravation. The other day it had several pictures and wanted sentences that described the picture. She did o.k. but not great. Then the next page had a large blank wanting to tell a story about a subject. Instead I asked her to write about the zoo trip we made last week. She was so excited! AND she did a good job with it. So we will call it quits with Language book as well and she is eager to practice sentence structure with a journal/diary for the summer.
F has only a few pages left in her K math book. She has several in he phonics book and has more readers to get through. It does not seem to bother her at all. She is enjoying the book but does not find it as fun as the math book. Perhaps I was wrong to pace her differently in this book but I let her be the guide here as well. Some days she did not want to touch the book but would do several lessons in the math book. She is 4yr 7mo. now and I feel she is doing well with phonics and reading but we may very well be finishing this level by next October. We will see. When she does not have anything to do but phonics/reading she is likely to really take off this summer. WOW that sounds like she did not take off which is not what I mean to say about F. She is eager and bright but she is also a hot head and when she is tired her four year oldness shows. One cannot win a fight with a tired four year old.
We join the health/science/social studies/art all into one combined class. Which means F is doing first grade learning here. We finished the last of each book. F did read all the questions herself and answer them.
So what about my failure with spelling? Well I am heading to www.spellingcity.com/abeka and going to use it this summer and in the future as the current method does not even get the subject done. This will be a summer thing too for G to complete the first grade lessons that we stalled on.
I wonder if other parents/grandparents stall in spelling at home too or if it is just our own failure. No one seems to ever complain about spelling class on other blogs. A lot of math issues and some curriculum issues out there but no spelling issues. I guess our little Academy is unique in this.
I imagine that this summer I will blog maybe weekly or every other week. I will go online to see what is happening in the blogs I follow.
I find that I am still planning lessons. G has accepted the fact that her math will not be completed and we are going to take is slow so she is successful in the process. I think she is even looking forward to the math summer program. I will bring home the whiteboard/chalkboard easel so we can work with it during lesson. Lessons will not be in their class room but at my house. Since I have the pool they will be here most days and we will do lesson before jumping in and then workbook during the after lunch wait period.
She took several test that I had not given in math and did very well. She even did it without the puffy cheeks and stiffened arms. She does so well on the test that I know we could move along faster if her emotions would just change about the word M-A-T-H.
G has only three stories left to read in her last reader for first grade and will have completed the Letter and Sounds book by Friday. She will not have all the Language book completed but most of the book at the end is about creating sentences and stories. I offered her to work more in that book which she really does not like the book much. She finds it repeating to the point of aggravation. The other day it had several pictures and wanted sentences that described the picture. She did o.k. but not great. Then the next page had a large blank wanting to tell a story about a subject. Instead I asked her to write about the zoo trip we made last week. She was so excited! AND she did a good job with it. So we will call it quits with Language book as well and she is eager to practice sentence structure with a journal/diary for the summer.
F has only a few pages left in her K math book. She has several in he phonics book and has more readers to get through. It does not seem to bother her at all. She is enjoying the book but does not find it as fun as the math book. Perhaps I was wrong to pace her differently in this book but I let her be the guide here as well. Some days she did not want to touch the book but would do several lessons in the math book. She is 4yr 7mo. now and I feel she is doing well with phonics and reading but we may very well be finishing this level by next October. We will see. When she does not have anything to do but phonics/reading she is likely to really take off this summer. WOW that sounds like she did not take off which is not what I mean to say about F. She is eager and bright but she is also a hot head and when she is tired her four year oldness shows. One cannot win a fight with a tired four year old.
We join the health/science/social studies/art all into one combined class. Which means F is doing first grade learning here. We finished the last of each book. F did read all the questions herself and answer them.
So what about my failure with spelling? Well I am heading to www.spellingcity.com/abeka and going to use it this summer and in the future as the current method does not even get the subject done. This will be a summer thing too for G to complete the first grade lessons that we stalled on.
I wonder if other parents/grandparents stall in spelling at home too or if it is just our own failure. No one seems to ever complain about spelling class on other blogs. A lot of math issues and some curriculum issues out there but no spelling issues. I guess our little Academy is unique in this.
I imagine that this summer I will blog maybe weekly or every other week. I will go online to see what is happening in the blogs I follow.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Photos on Friday
We went to the zoo yesterday instead of the class so finished the plant book today. Here are photos which of course are nearly alike but I must show each child's book. Next week we will go back in the science book and do the insect section followed by another trip to the zoo at the insectarium and butterfly house. Then science book will be 100% completed.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Not sure if I am more excited or the girls
So in a simple plant lesson I expanded once again. I hate to call it a lapbook as it is very very simple. I will call it a folder lesson I guess.
I am on my way to their house to see the end results of our white flowers and food colored water. The lesson was indeed simple. Soil, water, water cycle, sun, seed, roots and they will cover so much or this over the next two years as it builds on that we discussed the job of the stem. I know, I know--simple indeed but for a 4 yr old and a 7 yr old it was exciting.
By the end of the day yesterday the rose and the carnation had begun to change color while the others had not. Last night I hear there were more changes happening.
Off I go to see how it all worked. I will post pics later
I am on my way to their house to see the end results of our white flowers and food colored water. The lesson was indeed simple. Soil, water, water cycle, sun, seed, roots and they will cover so much or this over the next two years as it builds on that we discussed the job of the stem. I know, I know--simple indeed but for a 4 yr old and a 7 yr old it was exciting.
By the end of the day yesterday the rose and the carnation had begun to change color while the others had not. Last night I hear there were more changes happening.
Off I go to see how it all worked. I will post pics later
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Comparison of our lesson time to public school
Recently I had read a blog that the person was questioning how there home lesson time compares to the public school. I have all ready done this comparison.
Here is a copy and past schedule from the web site for G's public school and grade.
Start time varies between 0945 -1030 but to show a schedule I will begin at 1000
remember this is for our first grader
1000-1005 Dress frog and weather observation combined lesson
1005-1010 Calendar and Pledge combined time
1010-1015 Responsibility of Class Rabbit Care combined time
1015-1045 Math lesson and workbook
1045-1100 Handwriting
1100-1145 Lunch
1145-1230 Phonics Awareness and workbook/Reading (after all this is foundational work and time should be spent)
1230-1250 Grammar/Language Skills--also reinforcement of handwriting skills
1250-1300 Spelling lesson is Monday then she must self study it and be ready for test Friday--I rearrange the room this time to combine lesson for G and F for the "specials" that take place one each day of the week
1300-1330 Science/Health/Social Studies/Art/Music/PE
We use to have recess between some of this but now unless they ask for a break they just keep working through. Rarely do they seek recess in the afternoon as they want to be finished.
So, when you compare our time to the public school and take in consideration the lack of distraction or the time wasted gathering supplies and books (as I always have the next item at reach), we seem to have more lesson time.
Here is a copy and past schedule from the web site for G's public school and grade.
8:05 - 8:30: MORNING WORK AND DEAR TIME
8:30 - 8:50: CALENDAR
8:50 - 9: PHONEMIC AWARENESS ACTIVITIES
9 - 9:20: SPELLING
9:20 - 9:50: JOURNALS / HANDWRITING / WORD FAMILIES
9:50 - 10:20: SPECIALS (PE or Music)
10:20 - 11:25: READING & GRAMMAR
8:30 - 8:50: CALENDAR
8:50 - 9: PHONEMIC AWARENESS ACTIVITIES
9 - 9:20: SPELLING
9:20 - 9:50: JOURNALS / HANDWRITING / WORD FAMILIES
9:50 - 10:20: SPECIALS (PE or Music)
10:20 - 11:25: READING & GRAMMAR
11:25 - 12:05: LUNCH / RECESS
12:10 - 12:45: MATH
12:45 - 1:15: SMALL GROUP TIME
1:15 - 1:50: CENTERS / SOCIAL STUDIES / SCIENCE
1:15 - 1:50: CENTERS / SOCIAL STUDIES / SCIENCE
1:50 - 2: PACK UP
2:00 - 2:20: RECESS
2:20 - 2:35: SNACK
WOW THEY SPEND 1HR AND 45 MINUTES AT THE END OF THE DAY DOING NOTHING---WE ARE DOING THIS SAME THING BY 1:15 EACH DAY AND SOMETIMES SOONER....TIME TO SPEND AS A FAMILY, TIME TO READ FOR ENJOYMENT, TO PLAY OUTSIDE, TO GET OUR SHOPPING DONE, TIME TO GET WITH FRIENDS AND HAVE REAL SOCIALIZATION
2:20 - 2:35: SNACK
WOW THEY SPEND 1HR AND 45 MINUTES AT THE END OF THE DAY DOING NOTHING---WE ARE DOING THIS SAME THING BY 1:15 EACH DAY AND SOMETIMES SOONER....TIME TO SPEND AS A FAMILY, TIME TO READ FOR ENJOYMENT, TO PLAY OUTSIDE, TO GET OUR SHOPPING DONE, TIME TO GET WITH FRIENDS AND HAVE REAL SOCIALIZATION
Morning is relaxed with no special wake up time, ensuring each child get the rest needed. With that said they are usually up and have eaten by 8:30. They have morning grooming time to promote healthy habits (pratice what is taught) Straighten room up and then play together. No TV
Start time varies between 0945 -1030 but to show a schedule I will begin at 1000
remember this is for our first grader
1000-1005 Dress frog and weather observation combined lesson
1005-1010 Calendar and Pledge combined time
1010-1015 Responsibility of Class Rabbit Care combined time
1015-1045 Math lesson and workbook
1045-1100 Handwriting
1100-1145 Lunch
1145-1230 Phonics Awareness and workbook/Reading (after all this is foundational work and time should be spent)
1230-1250 Grammar/Language Skills--also reinforcement of handwriting skills
1250-1300 Spelling lesson is Monday then she must self study it and be ready for test Friday--I rearrange the room this time to combine lesson for G and F for the "specials" that take place one each day of the week
1300-1330 Science/Health/Social Studies/Art/Music/PE
We use to have recess between some of this but now unless they ask for a break they just keep working through. Rarely do they seek recess in the afternoon as they want to be finished.
So, when you compare our time to the public school and take in consideration the lack of distraction or the time wasted gathering supplies and books (as I always have the next item at reach), we seem to have more lesson time.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Had A Great Day
It was a day without any tremendous achievements but a day full of all it was meant to be.
I returned to the classroom and handled a full day of lessons with each girl. At the end of the day our specials was to work on our small single folder plant book. I know that there are many lessons as I look forward to the plants in science so this is just a tiny introduction. They have a flowering plant that they cut out and the pot that I had found online. Today I drew the Water Cycle on the board and we talked about how old the water is that they drank at lunch. They were amazed. I had found an easy to color water cycle that we glued in the folder. This is a work in progress and I am not sure just what I will put into the next part of the folder. They enjoy making things and when it reinforces their lesson they feel very proud.
F has only 18 pages left in her math book but I must say that since I know the first 88 lessons will cover the same addition facts next year I have let her use the abacus often for the more complicated facts. G did well today with the new material but got all flustered with having to problem solve some counting by two problems such as the number before and after 104 when counting by twos. And suddenly, after all year know that the minute hands reads 30 when on the 6 she has become confused with the addition of 45 minutes. She is in her last reader in the curriculum and read 32 pages today independently and was able to tell me about what she read with great understanding.
G has about 30 pages in language and phonic but she is doing several each day. F will not be finished w/ the phonic or readers before summer so when G has lessons in math F will need lessons in phonics/reading. F is reading very well overall. She is excited but gets confused with special blending sounds. F is a lazy learner, if it comes with work she tries to avoid it and refuse it. I always seem to find a way to encourage her to give it one try. Today she did some difficult reading but recalled all that she read. I know she too will be a good reader but she works at it more just like G works at math more.
At least I know it is not my teaching techniques.
My health note is simple, I continue to get better again. I am blessed indeed.
I returned to the classroom and handled a full day of lessons with each girl. At the end of the day our specials was to work on our small single folder plant book. I know that there are many lessons as I look forward to the plants in science so this is just a tiny introduction. They have a flowering plant that they cut out and the pot that I had found online. Today I drew the Water Cycle on the board and we talked about how old the water is that they drank at lunch. They were amazed. I had found an easy to color water cycle that we glued in the folder. This is a work in progress and I am not sure just what I will put into the next part of the folder. They enjoy making things and when it reinforces their lesson they feel very proud.
F has only 18 pages left in her math book but I must say that since I know the first 88 lessons will cover the same addition facts next year I have let her use the abacus often for the more complicated facts. G did well today with the new material but got all flustered with having to problem solve some counting by two problems such as the number before and after 104 when counting by twos. And suddenly, after all year know that the minute hands reads 30 when on the 6 she has become confused with the addition of 45 minutes. She is in her last reader in the curriculum and read 32 pages today independently and was able to tell me about what she read with great understanding.
G has about 30 pages in language and phonic but she is doing several each day. F will not be finished w/ the phonic or readers before summer so when G has lessons in math F will need lessons in phonics/reading. F is reading very well overall. She is excited but gets confused with special blending sounds. F is a lazy learner, if it comes with work she tries to avoid it and refuse it. I always seem to find a way to encourage her to give it one try. Today she did some difficult reading but recalled all that she read. I know she too will be a good reader but she works at it more just like G works at math more.
At least I know it is not my teaching techniques.
My health note is simple, I continue to get better again. I am blessed indeed.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
I am having a bit of turmoil about the summer. I know many homeschooling families take several breaks each year and actually have school year round. Still, I believe that overall that most families attend school in a more traditional form.
With that said I feel bad that G is not going to get a summer break. So I was thinking that perhaps instead of no break at all I could create a summer math program that would be equivalent to a summer school. Only several weeks and only math but still a break that she can see an end point to. One thing that makes this hard for me personally is the fact that I am grandma. Mother wants the math book to be completed before she goes on to the next. She understands that the next book will have lots of review but would rather skip that review since she will be basically doing math all summer and begin at what ever level she will test at. As a teacher it makes sense but as a grandma I struggle. Either way it is not really my decision. My job as a grannyteacher (my new made up compound word) is to support my daughter and their decision to home school.
OK big sigh!! If you have any thoughts about it please feel free to post a comment. I am open to all comments.
It seems that I am on the mend from my recent flare and I intend to be in full grandma mode today. Girls are coming over for a play day here but unfortunately it has become cold and wet again. Crazy since it was 90 degrees last week.
Tomorrow I will work feverishly to push the girls to the end of the year. It is crazy, the books themselves do not have new info in them but more reinforcement work. I MUST GET DONE!!!
With that said I feel bad that G is not going to get a summer break. So I was thinking that perhaps instead of no break at all I could create a summer math program that would be equivalent to a summer school. Only several weeks and only math but still a break that she can see an end point to. One thing that makes this hard for me personally is the fact that I am grandma. Mother wants the math book to be completed before she goes on to the next. She understands that the next book will have lots of review but would rather skip that review since she will be basically doing math all summer and begin at what ever level she will test at. As a teacher it makes sense but as a grandma I struggle. Either way it is not really my decision. My job as a grannyteacher (my new made up compound word) is to support my daughter and their decision to home school.
OK big sigh!! If you have any thoughts about it please feel free to post a comment. I am open to all comments.
It seems that I am on the mend from my recent flare and I intend to be in full grandma mode today. Girls are coming over for a play day here but unfortunately it has become cold and wet again. Crazy since it was 90 degrees last week.
Tomorrow I will work feverishly to push the girls to the end of the year. It is crazy, the books themselves do not have new info in them but more reinforcement work. I MUST GET DONE!!!
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