I've been deep in thought for the last few days. The main question on my mind: The right method of homeschooling for my family.
As most of the readers of my blog know, my favorite methods of homeschooling are:
Unschooling
Charlotte Mason
Montessori
Starting as soon as possible immediately, there will be a change in our homeschooling method. I will be focusing more on the Charlotte Mason method, as this method has been nagging at me from the beginning! It just feels right for me, and I believe God has been pushing me into that direction for my family.
Ms. Mason taught that formal studies were not to begin until the age of 6 or 7. Before then, a child's learning is play.
I have written up an idea of curriculum we will follow:
Bible:
Read Bible stories
Verse Memorization
Habit training:
Chores (putting toys in toy box, putting his shoes away)
Family Rules (which i have not gotten around to making yet!)
This book: Child's Book of Character Building: Growing Up in God's World
Read Aloud Literature:
Classics
These websites: Here, Here, Here, and Here
Then, when we begin reading lessons i will pick up:
Little Bear series
Frog and Toad series
Little Jewel series
Billy and Blaze series
Math:
Calendar (laminate blank calendar, and fill in the month and days)
Days of the week
Counting to 30
Using counters to teach basic addition and subtraction
Language Arts:
Review one letter and introduce its sounds weekly. Vowels say their own name and also have a short sound.
Copywork – One letter of the alphabet on unlined paper per week. Draw in sand, then on paper. Large is okay. Memory verse of the week.
Letter recognition
Make homemade books together by copying simple books read and just changing them a little.
Journal-Lei will dictates to me important events, places visited, etc... in heis life on Fridays. I'll write it down on our dry erase board first, then i'll write it in his journal, leaving a word or two blank for him to fill in.
(Do not focus on much writing at this age.)
History/Geography:
Holidays, Traditions, Various countries and cultures
Nature Study:
Local birds, flowers/plants, insects
I have been giving Lei a bit of copywork *mainly bible verses & poem lines*, and we have been working on math with manipulative. We do a lot of nature walks. During our nature walks there is not much talking unless Lei has a question. I allow him to take it all in, and enjoy God's creation. Later on we discuss and look up things he inquired about.
We don't focus on Music Study yet, but we do listen to classical music & church hymns.
Ok, Who is Charlotte Mason, you may ask?
Ms. Mason taught that formal studies were not to begin until the age of 6 or 7. Before then, a child's learning is play.
I have written up an idea of curriculum we will follow:
Bible:
Read Bible stories
Verse Memorization
Habit training:
Chores (putting toys in toy box, putting his shoes away)
Family Rules (which i have not gotten around to making yet!)
This book: Child's Book of Character Building: Growing Up in God's World
Read Aloud Literature:
Classics
These websites: Here, Here, Here, and Here
Then, when we begin reading lessons i will pick up:
Little Bear series
Frog and Toad series
Little Jewel series
Billy and Blaze series
Math:
Calendar (laminate blank calendar, and fill in the month and days)
Days of the week
Counting to 30
Using counters to teach basic addition and subtraction
Language Arts:
Review one letter and introduce its sounds weekly. Vowels say their own name and also have a short sound.
Copywork – One letter of the alphabet on unlined paper per week. Draw in sand, then on paper. Large is okay. Memory verse of the week.
Letter recognition
Make homemade books together by copying simple books read and just changing them a little.
Journal-Lei will dictates to me important events, places visited, etc... in heis life on Fridays. I'll write it down on our dry erase board first, then i'll write it in his journal, leaving a word or two blank for him to fill in.
(Do not focus on much writing at this age.)
History/Geography:
Holidays, Traditions, Various countries and cultures
Nature Study:
Local birds, flowers/plants, insects
I have been giving Lei a bit of copywork *mainly bible verses & poem lines*, and we have been working on math with manipulative. We do a lot of nature walks. During our nature walks there is not much talking unless Lei has a question. I allow him to take it all in, and enjoy God's creation. Later on we discuss and look up things he inquired about.
We don't focus on Music Study yet, but we do listen to classical music & church hymns.
Ok, Who is Charlotte Mason, you may ask?
You can read all about her, and her teachings here!
These little snack bags come in so handy, and i really like that they are washable...no plastic baggies to throw away, and therefore, much better for the earth!
They are really easy to make, and i will have to do a proper tutorial on it when i get a chance...and some pretty fabric :)
We use these for snacks like pretzels, carrot sticks, crackers (any hard snack). The larger ones can even be used for sandwiches. This one is not waterproof, but they can be made waterproof if you like.
I really need some prettier fabric! This is cotton in a khaki color, not exciting at all.
The letter bags are the snack packs used for each letter of the alphabet. This one shown is for the Letter D. It consists of 2 letter tiles, upper case and lower case, and a few pictures of things that begin with d and the "duh" sound.. I'll be adding more 3d objects to the bag when i find them, to make it more interesting for Lei. The main objective of this project is to reinforce the sound D makes.
I'll be doing them for all 26 letter!
This week we'll be focusing on:
Letter D
Number 5
Square
Sight word-MY
Bible Verse: Depart from evil, and do good. Psalm 34:14
Bible Verse: Depart from evil, and do good. Psalm 34:14
Break it down:
Monday
Alpha Buddy D and Number Buddy 5 (dltk-kids.com)
Square tracing.
Find the shape. (Hunt around the house for squares in different sizes)
Read "Hot Dog"
Tuesday:
Review flash card of sight word (my)
Read "Hot Dog" & "Go Away Dog"
Letter D painting
number 5 play dough mat
Itsy Bitsy Square Book
Wednesday:
Read Hot Dog & Go Away Dog
Circle the D's in this poem
What begins with D
Counting out 5 objects
Number 5 cookie (cookie dough shaped into the #5)
Square worksheet
Thursday:
Letter D letter bag
Words that end with D
Counting with 5 (using colored sticks)
Square building (using colored sticks)
Read Hot Dog and Go Away Dog
Friday:
Read Hot Dog and Go Away Dog
Letter D letter bag
Read David and the Giant
Sing songs with "5". (5 little ducks, 5 little monkeys)
Review Squares.
Other stuff:
Starfall
Any other books and crafts the boys feel like doing!
This isn't written in stone, thank goodness, and will probably change a bit during the week :)
Wednesday:
Read Hot Dog & Go Away Dog
Circle the D's in this poem
What begins with D
Counting out 5 objects
Number 5 cookie (cookie dough shaped into the #5)
Square worksheet
Thursday:
Letter D letter bag
Words that end with D
Counting with 5 (using colored sticks)
Square building (using colored sticks)
Read Hot Dog and Go Away Dog
Friday:
Read Hot Dog and Go Away Dog
Letter D letter bag
Read David and the Giant
Sing songs with "5". (5 little ducks, 5 little monkeys)
Review Squares.
Other stuff:
Starfall
Any other books and crafts the boys feel like doing!
This isn't written in stone, thank goodness, and will probably change a bit during the week :)
A couple of homeschooling families got together last week for our first field trip! It was so much FUN, and Lei had a blast! Not only that, but it was so amazing to see other families and teenagers! I NEVER knew of any homeschooling teenagers around here. That was really nice :)
It also got me thinking. I wonder how many other homeschoolers are out here that I just don't know? Are they just outside of everyone's network and nobody knows them? Are they intentionally staying under the radar? And, if so, why? It's actually kind of funny, because now every time i see a mom (or dad) out with their school aged kids during school hours (which is not an everyday sight) I just want to go up to them and ask "are you homeschooler?" Just this past Tuesday while on a quick run to the food store, I saw a lady with her two kids who looked to be about 4 and 7. She was walking with her bags heading home, and dh and i sat in the car wondering if she was a homeschooler, and how i could ask her!
Well, we cam up with the perfect plan. Why not ask her for a ride home! (I'm still chuckling to myself thinking about it!)
Anyways, to make a long story short. She kindly declined our ride and i never did get to ask her about the homeschooling. If i see her out again i'm asking her, right then and there!
Anyways, to make a long story short. She kindly declined our ride and i never did get to ask her about the homeschooling. If i see her out again i'm asking her, right then and there!
So, back to the dolphins!
That had to be one of the best field trips ever! Lei learned so much also. He knew a bit about dolphins before, but he learned some things he (and I) never knew before, like:
*Dolphins are born with a little blonde mustache, that falls off a few hours after birth.
*The can swim up to 35 mph
*Their little flippers have bones
*Dolphins are born tail first
Our little entertainer for the day was named Coral, and she had a baby named Reef. They were both so cute, and so smart, and i totally fell even more in love with Dolphins that day :)
Of course you all know we are definitely going to Dolphin Tale this week!
I didn't take much pics since i was carrying Little Brother, and i thought dh would be my photographer...but he was having way too much fun to worry about pics! These pics were taken by Alicia, (another homeschooling mom) and she did an awesome job!
{Doing a little trick}
{Our guide, Tristan, telling us a bit about dolphins}
{Getting wet}
{Lei getting kisses}
{Lei really enjoyed himself}
{Getting sprayed by Coral}
{Coral showing off high high she can jump}
Beans & Rice with Veggie Chunks.
Easy Peasy 10 minute dinner! I had the leftover rice from lunch, and opened a can of black beans...2 second black beans and rice! Boiled the veggie chunks in salted water with onion, garlic and a bit of soy sauce. That cooks in about 5 minutes. Put it on a plate and dinner is ready!
What are veggie chunks you ask? They don't look like veggies do they! Well, veggie chunks are tvp:
(source:wikipedia)
Textured or texturized vegetable protein (TVP), also known as textured soy protein (TSP),soy meat, or soya meat is a meat analogue or nutritious meat extender made from defatted soy flour, a by-product of extracting soybean oil. It is quick to cook, with a protein content equal to that of meat, and contains no fat.
It is really good, depending on how you cook it, and can be used in anything. Especially for dishes calling for ground beef...tacos, pasta sauces, pizza, etc.
