Happy 6th Birthday, Moriah!

Six years ago today, God blessed us with our first baby girl. Happy Birthday, my little sweetheart!

Airplane Trip Back to the USA and toddler wallet

I haven't been blogging much lately because I was trying to get the kids' homeschool finished up for the year and because we're preparing to go back to America (for a 3-month visit--we are coming back to England). It's been a year and a half since we've been home, so we are EXCITED!!! And so is all the family, of course. As excited as I am about going home, I always dread the getting there part. I'm not worried about flying--I actually enjoy it. But the packing, getting the house clean, getting to the airport on time, going through security and customs, managing all the luggage...it's quite a hassle! And then there's keeping our kids entertained on the flight, especially my very wiggly, active 2-year-old. The problem is that we're flying on a plane that has one screen per cabin as opposed to one screen for each seat, and the movies they're going to be showing are rubbish! So I need something else. We can't afford to buy portable DVD players. For the older two, it's not much trouble. It's the youngest I'm worried about. If you have any ideas, please pass them my way!

I did do some internet research for ideas, and this is what I've come up with so far: one sticker-storybook per child (Sleeping Beauty for Moriah, Winnie-the-Pooh for Gabriela, and Dinosaurs for Isaac), a small drawing pad and mechanical pencils for each child, and candy. The sticker storybooks for the girls have special scene pages designed for stickers. Isaac's includes 3D glasses. Also for Isaac, I put some audio books on his MP3 player, and he's taking a few Enid Blyton mystery stories he hasn't read yet. We also have a travel hangman game I found at a charity shop.

I still need a few things for Moriah, and I'm hoping I can find our small magnadoodle for Gabriela. Also for Gabriela, I bought a colorful velcro/zipper wallet at a charity shop. I found some old cards and train tickets to put inside, and I also printed and laminated wallet-size photos of family members. Since she was only 1 the last time she saw her family in the US, I thought it would be neat to go through the pictures on our flight home so she'll be familiar with them. When I have more time (meaning after the trip), I'd like to make some felt money to put inside.


If you have any other ideas for this wallet, please do share! We'll be doing a lot of car trips, too, the next few months. Well, back to packing. I hope to catch up on all my posts once we get back to Missouri (next week)!

2010-2011 School Year: New Plans

I’ve just posted my curriculum plans for Isaac and Moriah.  I may do a separate post on Gabriela later!  She’ll still be doing Tot School, so I have no real plans right now.  Hopefully I can find the time to come with some fun theme units to try with her.  Also, we’ll be using the Letter of the Week preschool curriculum I won in a give-away contest in May.

Here are a few new things I want to do this coming school year.  I want to open our school day with the following group time schedule:

Group Time before workboxes:

Monday: Devotion Time (Memory verses, Bible story/verse, prayer)

Tuesdays: Calendar Time (Calendar, weather, math board, map)

Wednesday: Character Building (character trait of the week)

Thursday: Calendar Time (Calendar, weather, math board, map)

Friday: Singing Made Easy and/or Toddler song (Singing together)

Moriah was in kindergarten this past year, and I FAILED to do ANYTHING relating to a calendar/weather chart time.  I’m horrified at myself.  Also I really want to work on character building with all 3 kids.  I’m probably going to use Kids of Integrity.  Thanks to Stacey at I’m a Lazy Mom… for posting about it!  Finally, I think it would be really lovely to have some singing together time.

One more thing I’m considering buying (and I’d like to hear from anyone who has used it) is Accountable Kids.

4th Grade Curriculum, Revised

I forgot that I had written a post way back in January about 4th grade curriculum!  Click here for that post if you care to.  I’ve come to some decisions, and I’ve made some changes to my earlier plans!

Again, I’ll list Isaac’s curriculum by workbox number.

Box 1:  Math—I’ve decided on Teaching Textbooks!  Isaac dislikes math and is a sort of behind the level he should be at, and the reviews I’ve read on this program sound like exactly what he needs.  He not only needs to catch up on his math skills, but he also needs to build up his confidence.  He really thinks he’s horrible at math, and I really think this program will help him.  Only downside is the price!!!  IF I can’t come up with the money (I need to get both 4th and 5th grade levels), then I still may switch to Singapore Math in the end.  But I’m really hoping to be able to get Teaching Textbooks.

Box 2:  Reading—This year we’ll be leaving readers behind.  Isaac will be using Heart of Dakota’s Drawn Into the Heart of Reading program.  I’ll be choosing books from 9 genres of literature:  biography, adventure, historical fiction, fantasy, mystery, nonfiction, humor, and folktales.  I haven’t finalized my list yet, because I’m currently in England.  When we go back to the US later this month, I’ll be able to look through my book collection and visit my favorite used-book store and make my choices from there.  When I decide, I’ll write another post and link it to this one!  Also, I’m going to be making an independent reading list for Isaac.  I’ll select a certain number of books for him to read, but I’ll let him choose the majority of them!  I’m so happy that he loves to read!

Box 3:  Vocabulary—Word Roots A1

Box 4:  Language/Writing—We didn’t quite finish Language Lessons for the Elementary Child 1 this year, so our plans are to finish that and then begin on Language Lessons for the Elementary Child 2!  We’re also going to use Daily 6-Trait Writing, Grade 4 because he really needs to work on writing skills.

Box 5:  Spelling—I decided against Sequential Spelling 2.  We tried the first book this year (we won’t quite finish it, but that’s okay).  It worked as far as spelling goes—he is doing very well in spelling; however, he dreads doing a 25-word test EVERY day.  It’s drudgery, and there are other things I don’t like about it (like words I’ve never even heard of—I have to look them up in the dictionary so I can make a sentence for him).  Soooo, based on several reviews I’ve read, we’re going to go with All About Spelling (I’m going to buy levels 1 and 2).

Box 6:  Bible--Discover 4 Yourself series. I'll start with the book on how to read the Bible and then follow it with a study of the life of Jesus (book study on John).  Titles are Discover 4 Yourself, Children’s Bible Study Series: How to Study Your Bible, for Kids; Discover 4 Yourself, Children’s Bible Study Series: Jesus in the Spotlight (John 1-10); Discover 4 Yourself, Jesus: Awesome Power, Awesome Love (John 11-16); and Discover 4 Yourself, Jesus: To Eternity and Beyond (John 17-21).

Box 7:  Science—I’ve already purchased two Apologia books (right here in England).  For those of you who have used this series, I don’t know what you’ll think about this, but I’m going to attempt to do TWO books in one year.  This past year, we did science lessons everyday, so I think we can get through it all.  Besides, I won’t need quite as much time for experiments.  I’ll do as many as I can, but I just don’t have the money to get some of the supplies needed.  I’ll focus more on the notebook.  For 4th grade, we’re going to do Exploring  Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day AND Exploring Creation with Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day.  Actually, I’m going to divide it up just a wee bit.  When we get to the section on flying insects, I’m going to switch to book 2.  When that’s finished I’ll go back to flying insects so that we can study them during the late spring/summer months.  Isaac has been looking through these books, and he is VERY excited!  If this works out for us, then we’ll do two books in 5th grade (Zoology 3 and Human Anatomy) and two in 6th (Botany and then Physics & Chemistry, which is due out in 2011).  Because we did Christian Kids Explore Earth and Space this year, I’ll skip the one on Astronomy.

Box 8:  History—While we’re still in the US, I’m going to do 3 weeks of state history.  We’re going to study Missouri because it’s the only state Isaac has ever lived in, and that’s where we’ll be while we’re studying it.  I believe we’ll use the Missouri Project Pack (In the Hands of a Child) and make a lapbook.  We’ll follow that with American History.  This is a break in our chronological studies (Ancient History in 2nd grade and Medieval History in 3rd), but what can I say?  I think he needs a year on American History, and I already have the books for it.  We’ll be using the Light and Glory for Children series.  I’ll supplement with children’s literature, timeline, and projects.  I also have activity books for the series, and I just purchased American History Through Art by Rich and Sharon Jeffus.

Box 9:  Geography—I’ll start with Missouri geography of course.  Then, I’ll probably do state unit studies along with general geography skills and of course US map skills and learning states/capitals.  I’m not sure which states we’ll study.  Would it be best to choose states Isaac has visited, a few states from each region, or states he’s interested in?  Or a good combination of those?  I’m not going to try all 50!  I do know one thing…Alaska and Hawaii are definitely going to be included!  Using the same pattern as my world geography studies this past year, I’m planning to use literature, projects, maps, art, flags, recipes, and music for our unit studies.  I’m hoping to find some cheap Holling C. Holling books somewhere.  For general geography, I plan to use Daily Geography Practice.

Box 10:  Literature—I’m going to read aloud classics to Isaac this year.  I don’t have a plan, so I don’t know how long each book will take or how many we’ll manage to finish, but here’s my list as of today:

Black Beauty
Treasure Island
Swiss Family Robinson
Little Lord Fauntleroy
The Hobbit
A Christmas Carol
Heidi
Around the World in 80 Days
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Just-So Stories

Box 11:  Thinking Skills—Building Thinking Skills 2 and various thinking skills games

Box 12:  Rotation—Art, Music, P.E., Technology, Spanish (I may trade Spanish for Life Skills and Contenders for the Faith program).

Art—Finish Joseph the Canada Goose (we started this in 2nd grade), do drawing with Drawing Textbook, and I’ll probably fit in some American history art study.

Music—Singing Made Easy 1 and 2 (we need to finish 1), a bit of piano, drums, and recorder lessons, and a program on composers.  I’m trying to decide between Meet the Great Composers OR A Young Scholar’s Guide to Composers.  Any recommendations???

P.E.—Continue working on various skills with Dad.  We’d love to get him back into swimming lessons if possible.

Technology/Typing—We use Typing Instructor Deluxe, and I’m hoping to do some stuff online with Technology.

Spanish—We’re still trying to finish Teach Them Spanish! Grade 2.

Contenders for the Faith—We’ve been slow about working on Isaac’s pins, so we continue…..

That's it for now. I hope I don't change my mind again!

I'm linking this to Weekly Wrap-Up at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. The theme is curriculum sharing, so click on the link if you'd like to see what other homeschool moms are doing this year!

1st Grade Curriculum

Disclaimer:  At this time, I do not write official reviews for any company.  I do not get compensation or free materials from any of the companies I write about.  They don’t even know I write about their products.  I simply write about what we use and enjoy in our homeschool program, and I give my opinions, good and bad, and I recommend what I like.  There, that’s said!

Moriah’s curriculum is fairly easy to plan, because she’s doing the same program that Isaac did in 1st grade…with just a few changes.

For 1st grade, we use the program Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory, by Heart of Dakota.  I highly recommend Heart of Dakota—it’s easy to use and enjoyable for teacher and student.  A lot of Charlotte Mason ideas are used, which is one thing I love about the program.  We also love using Sue Patrick’s Workbox System, which we’ve had for 1 year now.  So…I'll list Moriah’s curriculum by box number.

Box 1:  History—Moriah is studying American History this year, using American Pioneers and Patriots, Stories of the Pilgrims, and Boys and Girls of Colonial Days.

Box 2:  Rotation—Geography, Science (2x), History Activity, Art.  The activities for these subjects are related to the history lesson.  Science uses God’s Wonderful Works.  History Activity includes timeline entries, as well as other projects.

Box 3:  Poetry—Poems are included in the program manual.  My plans are to include a copy of the poem and a copywork sample in the box.

Box 4:  Bible—I veer away from the manual at this point.  Instead of focusing on a verse and devotional, I use Grapevine Studies’ Stick-Figuring Through the Bible Old Testament Overview (Beginners level).  I used this program with Isaac already, and we loved it!  Not only did it help Isaac to remember the stories well, but it also improved his stick-figure drawing.  Just a note here:  if you want to save money on this program, purchase the ebook teacher guide and just leave it on your computer (or print it if you don’t mind using loads of printer ink and paper).  Buy a cheap spiral unlined notebook for the drawings.  You can add your own lines and captions.  It’s so much cheaper than purchasing the student book—you don’t really miss much.  The student book just provides the lines, lesson #s, and captions.  Other than that, it’s just drawing space—a lot of money for so much white space!

Box 5:  Memory Verse song—I don’t really like the memory verse choices in the Grapevine book, so we still do the memory verses in Beyond Little Hearts.  The verses match the songs on the CD Hide ‘em in Your Heart, Volume 2 (Steve Green), which really aids in memorization.

Box 6:  Spelling and Language—With Isaac I used the spelling lists in Beyond Little Hearts.  However, I’m planning to use All About Spelling this year for both kids.  I’ve read such good reviews about this program, but I haven’t ordered it yet, so I can’t really say much about it.  The language lessons are on Fridays, and they’re included in the manual.

Box 7:  Storytime—I choose a book to read aloud for each of the following genres: Biography, Adventure, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, Nonfiction, Humor, Realistic Fiction, and Folktales.  Beyond Little Hearts gives activities to go along with any book I choose.  Activities include character sketches, story webs, character traits, and activities relating to other story elements.  This list is the same as Isaac’s (except the biography selection); the Amazon carousel below shows which books I have chosen for Moriah.

Box 8:  Reading—We use I Wonder (Christian Light Publications—Reading to Learn Series, Grade 1) for 1st grade reading, but we’ll also be using a variety of children’s literature before and after using I Wonder.

Box 9:  Phonics—Beyond Little Hearts does not specifically have a section for phonics.  With Isaac I used Phonics Pathways, but he hated it.  Maybe I didn’t go about teaching it correctly, but we found it to be very dull and tedious.  Moriah did very well with the Explode the Code series in Kindergarten, so I have decided to continue with this program for 1st grade.

However, I will keep Phonics Pathways to use as a guide when we come across a new word pattern.

Box 10:  Math—Beyond Little Hearts recommends Singapore Math, which Moriah also did in Kindergarten.  With Isaac, I switched to Miquon Math.  Because I had already purchased the program (1st-3rd grades) I was determined to use it.  Halfway through 3rd grade, we gave up.  I know many people love Miquon, but we hated it.  It just didn’t work for us.  It’s difficult to teach, difficult for the student to learn, and it goes too quickly.  If your student is exceptionally good at math and picks up concepts very quickly, maybe Miquon would be good.  However, Isaac needed a lot more time to learn concepts, and Miquon did not provide for that.  I decided it would be best for Moriah to continue with Singapore Math instead of switching.  Singapore is also an advanced program, but it seems easier to teach and does a far better job of explaining concepts.  Since she’s just finished the lowest level of Singapore, moving on to the next level should be natural.

The last 2 boxes are not associated with Beyond Little Hearts.  I added in our own electives.

Box 11:  Rotation—Spanish, Keepers of the Faith, Music, P.E., Computer.  For Spanish, we use Teach Them Spanish! Grade 1.  Keepers of the Faith is a program where children learn specific life skills, and they can earn pins or bracelet charms.  Moriah will be using the Little Keepers at Home handbook.  For Music, we primarily use Singing Made Easy; however, I also intend to teach a little piano, general music knowledge (notes and symbols, instruments, etc.), and music appreciation.  My husband usually does the P.E. program, which can include things easily done in our small backyard, such as jump rope and trampoline, but sometimes we go down to the park and do running or ball skills.  I would love to get the kids back into swimming lessons, but we’ll see…  For Computer, I’ll probably teach basic skills and let her play with Kidoz.

Box 12:  Rotation—Thinking Skills (2x), Notebooking, Art Study, Nature Study.  I’ve not fully decided what I’m doing on this rotation.  I need to look for a good 1st grade Thinking Skills book.  For Notebooking, I let Moriah pick a topic she’s interested in, and she can work on a notebook for that topic.  When Isaac was in 1st grade, he made notebooks on cowboys and trains (later became transportation).

Well, anyway, that's the plan for next year. If anything changes, I'll update!

I'm linking this to Weekly Wrap-Up at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. The theme is curriculum sharing, so click on the link if you'd like to see what other homeschool moms are doing this year!