update for 2010-2011

This updates the post 2010 codeword: simplify

We be using the following materials for this year:

6y-son: My Father's World 1st Grade
4y-daughter: My Father's World Kindergarten

(We'll do the science from the K program together instead of doing 1st grade science.)

I decided not to purchase the Little Pim DVD's because I want the kids to learn Spanish verbally before trying to read the words. (Little Pim shows the word as it is being said.) I think that showing the kids the words can really throw a kink in their pronunciation. I found and like Professor Parrot. The kids just get to practice saying the words and singing in Spanish.

I also decided to wait on implementing the Five-in-a-Row program. If we see that we need something more, I will add it in later. Instead of buying the FIAR books, I will probably use the resources at Homeschool Share. I have already sketched out a few weeks of activities and I really like the free lapbook materials provided at HSS. I think this would be very helpful in teaching some history and geography.

I attended the local homeschool expo last weekend and it was VERY helpful to talk to the representatives from My Father's World and sit in on their classes. I'm excited about using their curriculum this year and for year's to come. So much of their philosophy of education completely meshes with mine. It's nice to find something already put together that is really something I want to use as-is. Just click the checkbox and a nice box of everything arrives at your door. Very cool indeed.

2010 codeword: simplify

Our education plan for the 2010-2011 is going to look much different than the 2009-2010 school year. Mama needs to simplify. I feel like I need more guidance and more of 'packaged' program instead of coming up with all the lesson plans myself. I still firmly hold to a Charlotte Mason philosophy and I "think" I've found something to fit my plans.

My Father's World
First Grade is affordable ($239 for deluxe set - cheaper than I can scrounge for the individual items), together (just buy the package and they send it to you - wow) and (time-will-tell) looks like a lot of fun. Once I got past the hokey graphics (though they are very age appropriate and will probably make my 6yoB feel more at home with his own drawings), it looks really good. Though he's already much past the reading level, I will use the phonics instruction as spelling practice instead. The math looks fun - hands-on, slow-paced - just like I like it. Subsequent years in MFW looks much light Sonlight but MUCH cheaper. I'm really excited about using this.


Little Pim
For a little treat and intro into foreign language, I'm planning to purchase the Little Pim DVD's for use during drive time (which there is not much of lately) and for a morning break. My 6yoB is very interested in learning Spanish and we have new neighbors across the road who are Hispanic - so gives us an opportunity to practice!


Five in a Row
Our little 4yoG is needing something extra and I'm thinking about Five in a Row. I hope to continue teaching her how to read, but I also want to have more mommy-time with her. I checked the FIAR book last night and it looks great. Basically, you take one children's book (like Madeline) per week and read it every day. The FIAR book contains different "projects" to go along with the children's book in the areas of Social Studies, Art, Applied Math, Language Arts and Science. The goal is to do one project per day for each content area. FIAR also has a cookbook providing recipes from different regions of the world to go along with the children's book of the week - french recipes for Madeline, s'il vous plait.

I've also considered the Language Arts section of Lesson Pathways to fill this need (and to supplement the First Grade curriculum as well), but I need to look into this more and make sure I'm not creating more work for myself.

Physical Education
My plan is to take the kids to fitness classes at our local athletic club beginning in October - when my then 1yoG can go to child care (and mama can go swimming!). We might also start ballet for the 4yoG and soccer or baseball for the 6yoB.

Sounds good to me! Any thoughts from anyone?

notebooking resources

Some very cool stuff available at NotebookingPages.com! I'm thinking about using their 50 States set when we study American History next year.

Handicrafts

From Ambleside Online:

The handicrafts Charlotte Mason wanted children to do were more than arts and crafts projects - she wanted children to put time into creating something of real use, and she expected them to care enough about the project to take pains to produce well-done work. Making (and mending) real things like rugs, baskets, ceramic pots, doll furniture, and sewing on lost buttons, hemming pillowcases, cooking, woodworking, cross stitching and fixing plumbing were what she had in mind rather than worthless busy art projects that end up thrown away. She saw this as a way to encourage a productive will and develop skills that can be carried into adulthood, and perhaps a way to reveal and exercise talents or callings. Afternoons were left free for children to work on such projects.

I'm starting to look at our 2010-2011 school year and putting together our education plan. One thing that I felt compelled to do this year was "Arts and Crafts" which generally took a lot of time to get together and then ended up in the trash - after a picture of our work, of course.

My children LOVE doing "crafts". My 5 year-old son has recently started using his own toolbox to build things out of wood, so we decided for the next year we'll concentrate on woodworking with him. For our 4 year-old daughter, I'm thinking about beading in addition to (for both) working with textiles - cutting and dying fabric as elementary sewing.