Tag Archives: homeschool

Homeschooling

Curriculum 2018-2019

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My 4yr old really wants to do “school” like the big kids so I have some time set aside to work with her every morning this year!

So this year I will be teaching two 7th graders, two 2nd graders, and one PreK.

We school year-round.

PREK

These are the workbooks I got for my PreK girl.

“My First School Book” is from Handwriting without Tears(which I have used for all of my kids).

The “Montessori Method” workbooks are from Target(online) but I have heard you can get them at Zulily sometimes also.

The “Geography” workbook I got because I was needing something easy to give me ideas on what to do for geography.

Most of these are to help me find a good jumping off place for our lesson that day.

With 5 kids I just feel like I go blank sometimes!

Typically with my 4yr old I do one subject a day.

Science, Social Studies, Handwriting, Reading, Math.

I then work with her for about 10-15mins with a workbook, lesson, or reading a book.

Next I set up some learning play activity, like sensory bins, puzzles, or playdough that goes with what we are learning. I have some other workbooks that she can do with her brothers also. I love these Montessori board books!

2nd grade

For my twins that are in 2nd grade I am using a lot of the same things from last year.

Spelling

We are about half-way through All About Spelling Level 1 so we will probably start Level 2 after Christmas.

I have used this program with 4 children now and I still really like it.

Spelling with the tiles seems to make it easier for the younger ones.

Instead of doing it all on paper.

I love that it teaches the rules for phonics and spelling also!

Grammar

I really liked “First Language Lessons” for my boys but have not liked it as much for my twins.

It is still a good program but since a lot of the teaching talks about kids having one mom and one dad and so forth, it does not pertain to our family anymore now that we have adopted.

I might be switching to something else after we finish this book.

Math

“RightStart Mathematics Level C“ it is a VERY hands on program so if you have one that is a kinesthetic learner this might work well for them.

Reading

I have found that most readers move up too quickly for my twins so I bought(I did not buy the bridge book that was one my used for us) several in the same grade and we switch between them.

From the left;

“The Good and the Beauitful Level One“

Abeka “Strong and True“

Abeka “Aesop’s Fables” (love the stories in this)

Abeka “The bridge book”

History & Science

We are starting our timeline study over at the beginning so creation!

If you want to know more about how I teach by timeline click here.

I will be using books we have, the bible, and books from the library for these subjects.

 

7th grade

Math

videotextonline.com(this is not hands on at all)

Grammar

Brave Writer(I buy the individual boomerangs)

Programming

Khan Acadamy(a free educational site)

Typing

typing.com

Spelling

All About Spelling Level 7(the last one, the boys will have done the whole program!)
Science

This is our first year using a science curriculum!

I needed something that would help me with testing and records so I am trying this series this year.

Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology Pack, 7th-8th Grade, 3 Volumes

History, Science, Literature

The boys will be studying Ancient History as well again with my girls.

They already have a science curriculum but I think I will still get them some books in what we are studying.

They will start out going through this book “The Genius of Ancient Man” as well as the study guides that go with it(bought seperately).

It covers ancient man from a creation standpoint and I am super excited that they are finally old enough to read it!

I tried to introduce it the last time(5yrs ago) we studied Ancient History but they were two young.

Literature

Books that go with the time period we are studying.

That was a long post!!!

If you got through all of that and have any questions let me know!

Homeschooling, My Family

What we did on our week off school

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We do year round school with a schedule of 5 weeks on 1 week off.

Our week off is always a challenge due to kids (and mom) being used to the same schedule.

I tend to do better if we stay somewhat busy during that week.

So, here are some of things we did that we don’t always have time for during our typical school day.

Zoo!

This feels like a field trip and the homeschool mom in me does not want to count it as a day off.

ha

We even got to see a turtle laying eggs at the zoo playground!

We don’t always get to do the fun extra things during a school day so I often do those on our week off.

Firework chalk art!

Trivial Pursuit using Professor Noggins cards.

I have had this on our homeschool to-do list for a while but it kept getting pushed to the back burner.

You can see my post on how we use the game to review what we have learned, here.

We got a new math game also!

I use our math games to review what the twins are learning.

The boys can do these games with them and they all benefit from the extra practice.

This break also included my husbands birthday and the 4th of July!

We hiked with friends one day also!

And got an impromptu lesson about Pigmy Rattlesnakes. Why are the dangerous ones so pretty?

Although I have seen many articles on the benefits of kids being bored, they have not been around some of my schedule needing children when they have nothing to do…

Homeschooling

Our Homeschool Day ~2018

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If you want to see how things have changed, check out previous posts.

Day in the Life 2017

Day in the Life 2015

My boys start school while my girls are eating and doing chores (the boys get up earlier and do some chores before breakfast and some after school).

That way I can help them more with their math and go over their grammar without too many distractions (in theory).

I was having too many kids asking for help with different things at once.

This staggers the questions a bit.

 

We are trying out the Brave Writer program so I was giving my second oldest dictation here.

And trying to keep my 3yr old from kicking the stack of papers off my desk…

The boys have to get Math done before anything else and then need to do Writing, Grammar, and Spelling before moving on to other subjects.

Otherwise, they put off the harder subjects and just read all day.

After chores, the girls start on their school.

Usually, they do their math first and if I am busy they will do their handwriting.

I do a lesson with one of the twins on one day and practice with the other that same day.

The next day we switch.

Practice includes a math card game, review of previous days lesson, math game, and a practice sheet.

I only work with one of the twins at a time even though they are in the same grade.

They just do best when they are separate.

I try to get the twins math done before lunch.

They think better in the mornings.

We eat lunch pretty early (11 am) and take turns eating.

Right after lunch is Read-aloud time and then quiet time.

This is when I read the girls their history and science.

All the kids listen while I read our current read-aloud book though, Little House on the Prairie (I forgot to get a picture).

After quiet time we usually go for a walk.

It helps to get all the wiggles out so they can finish up the rest of their school.

My oldest needed me to give him spelling words.

I feel like a lot of my day is trying to give things to my 3-year-old to keep her entertained.

She usually lasts 5 minutes on something she really likes…

We were not able to get all the math done in the morning so I worked on that right away with my twins.

I always wonder if my kids will even need to read an analog clock when they grow up.

Ha

Her faces while playing the math card game…

Ha

The boys do their independent work the rest of the day.

History, Science, Reading, Khan Math, Typing, and Programming.

The twins schedule is:

Mon-Wed-Thur

Math, Reading, Social Studies, and Handwriting.

Tues-Thurs

Math, Reading, Spelling, Grammar, and Handwriting.

I try to do something with my 3yr old a couple of times a week but try to encourage her to play more than anything.

My boys’ schedule:

Math, Grammar, Spelling, Writing.

History(except Wed and Fri), Science, Reading, Typing (twice a week), Programming (twice a week).

Project (once a week), 10min Khan Math, and Geography (not daily).

 

I took video also on this day!

So here is the video I made on the same day.