Schedule Spring 2014

I'm loving our schedule for this semester so far.  It is more of a guideline than a schedule, but it helps me see what needs to get done each day, and leaves plenty of wiggle room in case we are having an awful day.  It leaves room for an "outing" each day, but more often, we will use that outing time to catch up or play outside.  I quickly learned last semester that an outing everyday leads to more stress than it's worth!  We also may change things around depending on if an afternoon activity is available to us instead of a morning one.

I also am using a new scheduler/lesson planner this year that I love!  The problem with most schedulers are that they don't have enough subject spaces for a CM'er to use.  This one is absolutely perfect and fits a whole week on one page w/ a little bit of room to write lesson numbers in.  Go to the Thiel Academy to get your own copy!  She offers it in both a pdf and a word format so it is super easy to customize for your own needs!

Christmas Coloring Page Thank You Notes

I am ridiculously late in having the children send out thank you notes for Christmas this year!  I thought I might share the notes we use in case anyone else is in a similar situation!  Just print out, have the kids color, and write a note on the back!  The link is below the picture.  I'm not sure why it has the funny coloring here, but it is just black and white when you pull up the pdf.  Thanks for reading!

Christmas Coloring Page Thank You Notes

Spring Curriculum 2014

We've had a few changes this past semester in our curriculum as I have read more of Charlotte Mason's original writings and adjusted to what actually works for our family.  It is amazing how SURE I was of our curriculum choices at the beginning of the year and how quickly we outgrew them!  After our first semester of homeschooling, I am more aware of my children's learning styles, my own teaching style, and the unpredictable nature of homeschooling in general - but especially with a feisty toddler around!  Based on this understanding, here is the curriculum that I've chosen for the rest of our 1st year.

The beautiful thing about homeschooling is that I can move the children ahead or spend a bit more time in a particular area based on how they are doing in each subject.  Michaela is more than ready for 1st grade material in many areas, but is still deficient in others.  Rafael, because of his late birthday, wouldn't be starting Kindergarten for another two years.  He wants SO MUCH to do school with his sister, and it is amazing what he has learned just by sitting in on Michaela's lessons.  We have decided to start him in Kindergarten in July (at 4 3/4y) instead of waiting another year.  So basically, for both children, we are using this semester as a transition to the bigger work load they will each begin in July.

Michaela - almost 6 - Kindergarten/1st Grade

Handwriting - Catholic Handwriting Skills - K
We've decided to start Michaela on cursive for many reasons, including it being very helpful for lefties.  This wonderful article was our inspiration.

Phonics - Rx for Reading: Teach them Phonics
Michaela is reading well for her age thanks to our 1st semester curriculum.  We will be reviewing basic rules first and then moving on to more complicated phonics rules that will last into 1st grade.

Grammar - 1st Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind

Math - MEP Year 1
We switched to this from Right Start Math a couple of months ago and are enjoying it.  I've looked ahead at future years and am satisfied with where the curriculum is leading.  The goal is logical progression through and mastery of ideas and mathematical concepts, not simply teaching kids tricks so that they test well.

History - Living books from American History

Geography -  Living Books from each major continent

Literature - Mater Amabilis
Winnie the Pooh
Happy Times in Noisy Village
My Naughty Little Sister
The Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook
My Father's Dragon

Rafael - 4 - Pre-K

Literacy & Handwriting - Language Lessons for Little Ones

Math - MEP Reception

Literature - Mater Amabilis
Angus Lost
Blueberries for Sal
Make Way for Ducklings
Brambly Hedge Books
Caps for Sale
Dandelion
"Harry" the dog books
James Herriot Treasury
Katy and the Big Snow
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
The Little House
Little Bear books
Millions of Cats
Petunia books
Stone Soup
Swimmy
The Story of Ferdinand
The Velveteen Rabbit
Wheel on the Chimney
Thomas the Tank Engine Collection

Family Subjects

Science - Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding

Nature Studies - Handbook of Nature Studies
This text will be our spine, but we will be following along with lessons on the Handbook of Nature Studies blog, continuing our nature outings with our Charlotte Mason group, and new this semester - working through the activities on Outdoor Nature Challenge with another co-op.

Religion
Bible - Catholic Bible Stories for Children
Catechism - Little Acts of Grace 2
Pro-Life Curriculum - The Huntsville Respect Life Curriculum (Pre-K/K)
Liturgical Year/Saint Study - Catholic Mosaic, My First Book of Saints
Saint Study - 115 Saintly Fun Facts
Virtue Study - Virtues in Practice

Art - Drawing with Children

Music - Classic Tunes and Tales

PE - Homeschool Family Fitness

Spanish -Usborne First Thousand Words in Spanish

Habit Training - Laying Down the Rails

Handicrafts - Misc.

I'm excited about our curriculum for this year!  My next post will be on our new schedule!

Epiphany Countdown

I made this quick little Epiphany Countdown this morning for my kids using clipart and Microsoft Publisher.  I love it because it is portable - perfect for our trip to Grandma's this week!  I will add the link below for anyone who would like to print it for themselves.  It is plain black and white and I just printed it on colored paper.  Enjoy!

Epiphany Countdown

Updated 11/12/2014 -
Epiphany Countdown 2014

I've also made a smaller, consumable coloring page version.
Epiphany Countdown Coloring Page 2014

December School

December was a light month in our little homeschool.  We made sure to do math, phonics, and writing every day, but other than that we took advantage of a lighter schedule to focus on our Advent work.  We also did a lot of Christmas related work such as learning about Christmas traditions around the world for geography and history.   It is nice schooling year round - it gives us plenty of opportunity to rest when we are feeling a bit burnt out! I am working on putting together our new curriculum for next semester and will get a post about that put together soon.  Thanks for reading!

Service Advent Chain

I put together a little Advent chain project for my daughter's American Heritage Girls meeting.  We have been learning about the first part of the AHG oath: I Promise to Love God.  We read about and discussed Jesus' telling of the greatest commandment - to love God above all else and to love our neighbors as ourselves.  We pledged to work throughout Advent at loving God and loving our neighbors through acts of service.  I had printed out 25 ideas on mailing labels for each girl.  They simply stuck the labels on each strip of paper and created an Advent chain with those strips.  I'm so excited for this fun little chain and am looking forward to doing something similar each year!

Our 25 Acts of Service

• Do someone else's chore for them.
• Read or tell a story to a younger sibling or pet.
• Ask mom if she needs any help in the kitchen today, either with making a meal or cleaning up.
• Tell each family member how much you love them.
• Pray for each person in your family.
• Hug someone in your family.
• Draw a picture or write a note that you can send to your grandparents to let them know how much you love them.
• Pick out a toy that you no longer play with that can be donated to a family in need.
• Ask your mom if you can purchase an extra can or two of food this week at the grocery store to donate to charity.
• Make an effort to smile at people all day.
• Do extra chores this week to earn money that can be dropped in a Salvation Army Bucket or in the collection basket on Sunday.
• Secretly perform a kind act for someone today.
• Obey your parents, teachers, and others in charge of you today.
• Be patient today and do what you can to please your parents and family without complaining.
• Say a Hail Mary for someone who is sick.
• Offer to say Grace at mealtime.
• Say a prayer for all the world's hungry people.
• Find a quiet place and sit for a few minutes, letting God love you.
• Do not lose your temper when angry or frustrated today.  Think of something else you can do to radiate God's love and forgiveness instead.
• Talk to your parents and check if there is a service project your family can do this season such as buying a gift for a giving tree, sending a care package to a soldier, etc.
• Draw a picture of the Nativity today and think about how much God loves you.
• Take care of God's creation by cleaning up a piece of litter or putting out some food or water for your friendly back yard animals.
• Ask Mama Mary to prepare your heart for Jesus' coming.
• Be nice to someone who is hard to get along with.
• Jesus is born!  Think of God's love for you, and offer him all the prayers you have seen and kind deeds you have done this Advent.

I tried to stick to ideas that wouldn't involve a ton of parental involvement just in case the parents were a bit overwhelmed with their own holiday preparations.  Also there does not have to be any particular order other than the Jesus is born one being on Christmas day.

Thanks for reading!

Advent Countdown

This is what we are using again this year for our Advent Countdown.

The left panel has Mary and Joseph traveling closer to Bethlehem each day.  The middle panel is our Jesse Tree using ornaments that I created several years ago.  We also put up an Advent candle on each Sunday since a wreath is out of the question with a rambunctious toddler in the house!  The right panel is our secular panel where I write something fun for us to do each day leading up to Christmas.  Thanks for reading!