I love the rhythm and groove that we've fallen into this year. School fits perfectly into our daily routine and we all look forward to learning together. I love the idea of year-round school (maybe more lax in the summertime). I think it keeps us engaged, focused, and it models what life will be like after formal education. With baby coming in July, we've decided to keep plugging away with school until the end of summer when we will slow things down to accommodate the ample time we will all need to love on a new member of the family. That means that very soon we will be jumping right into our next "school year".
On the agenda for this coming year (insert squeal here):
Main Curriculum - DIRT and HOLES
This is the essence of why we homeschool. The majority of our day is spent getting lots of dirt under our nails and we wouldn't be succeeding if there weren't holes in our jeans to show for it.
Blane - (5 1/2 yrs) My Father's World First Grade, Math Lessons For a Living Education
I am so blessed to have other homeschool mammas to mentor me. Over this past year they have challenged me to think outside of the box and to be confident in paving the way that fits my family best. I'm becoming more comfortable with the idea that grade levels are man made, artificial, and varies greatly between curriculums. So I am more prone to group by interest and more importantly by ability/understanding/mastery of subject matter. Once they have mastered one skill level then they will be ready to move onto the next thing. This means that one child might fly through skills and then reach a point where they need to slow down to master a more advanced concept, another child might learn more slowly to begin with. I am excited to identify and meet each need as they arise, to keep my kids challenged, engaged, and excited about learning. All that being said - we are sticking with MFW this next year. It's a perfect fit for Blane who loves worksheets but also adores hands on artsy things. I love the way the Gospel is infused into every aspect of our school day; and I am impressed with how much freedom and ease there is in a boxed curriculum. Gavin will also participate in art, science, and social studies aspect of MFW as well!
Gavin - (4 years) All About Reading Pre-Reading, Explode the Code Get Ready For the Code
Gavin has so easily kept up with almost all of our kindergarten work with the exception of the advanced phonics and reading. So he will have his very own curriculum this year. I am so excited because it's designed to be super fun and includes the cutest little zebra puppet you've ever seen while still reviewing the basic phonics skills. I am excited to build on the confidence he has gained already this year, and to solidify what he has already learned. We will supplement AAR with the ETC books which will allow him to put his phonics knowledge into practice! He will also utilize the handwriting worksheets, math, and sound discrimination sheets from MFW K. All of this sounds like quite a bit, but really he will be "doing school" 30-45 minutes at the most. I want this little guy playing and getting dirty most of the day : )
Literature - Read Alouds
I am pretty passionate about reading. The statistics are astounding, crediting reading aloud to literacy achievement. Not only does reading AT LEAST 20 minutes per day have an incredible correlation to overall student success, but it is an enjoyable activity that all family members can participate in. Reading expands imagination and it opens eyes to worlds and cultures and ideas that they wouldn't normally relate to on a daily basis. Reading brings the breadth of the world into our home in a very real and relatable way. I've noticed too that my kids' imaginative play is being defined by the literature that we read, which has led to much more creative play verses television reenactment. My kids love to pretend to be Jack and Annie from Magic Tree House, Anthony from Strega Nona, Grandma Georgina from Charlie and the Choc. Factory who loses all of her fake teeth, they love to turn each other into stone like the white witch from Lion, Witch, Wardrobe, and they'll practice running in order to "win the free for all like Henry from Boxcar Children". Most recently they claimed to an innocent sales clerk that they were proud to be orphans (just like the Boxcar Children). For more information on reading check out The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease, a gem of a book handed down to me that I will never let go of!!!
Literature - Read Alouds
I am pretty passionate about reading. The statistics are astounding, crediting reading aloud to literacy achievement. Not only does reading AT LEAST 20 minutes per day have an incredible correlation to overall student success, but it is an enjoyable activity that all family members can participate in. Reading expands imagination and it opens eyes to worlds and cultures and ideas that they wouldn't normally relate to on a daily basis. Reading brings the breadth of the world into our home in a very real and relatable way. I've noticed too that my kids' imaginative play is being defined by the literature that we read, which has led to much more creative play verses television reenactment. My kids love to pretend to be Jack and Annie from Magic Tree House, Anthony from Strega Nona, Grandma Georgina from Charlie and the Choc. Factory who loses all of her fake teeth, they love to turn each other into stone like the white witch from Lion, Witch, Wardrobe, and they'll practice running in order to "win the free for all like Henry from Boxcar Children". Most recently they claimed to an innocent sales clerk that they were proud to be orphans (just like the Boxcar Children). For more information on reading check out The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease, a gem of a book handed down to me that I will never let go of!!!
I am super excited, and truly grateful for all that lays ahead for my family this year!
Several books I've picked up here and there for us to read this year!
