Weekly Report: May 19-23, 2008

Weekly Report for Princess:

Phonics:
Family Readers - The Map (set 1, book 5)
Razz (set 1, book 6)
Kim (set 2, book 1)

Bible:
Bedtime Bible Story Book - Adam and Eve Leave the Garden (day 5)
Cain Murders His Brother (day 6)
Noah Builds the Ark (day 7)
Noah Lives in the Ark (day 8)

Literature:
picture books - Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, by William Steig
The Amazing Bone, by William Steig
Doctor De Soto, by William Steig
Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose, by Dr. Seuss
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst
Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday, by Judith Viorst
Alexander, Who's Not (Do you hear me? I mean it!) Going to Move, by J. Viorst

audiobook - Little House in the Big Woods, by Laura Ingalls Wilder (1st three CDs)

Memory Work:
our telephone number

Poetry:
My Very First Mother Goose -
Down at the station, early in the morning...
Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any wool...
Cackle, cackle, Mother Goose...
Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn...

Weekly Report: May 12-16, 2008

Weekly report for Princess:

Phonics: Family Readers - set 1, books 1-6

Bible: Bedtime Bible Story Book -
God Creates the Earth (day 1)
God Creates the Earth (day 2)
Adam Lives in the Garden (day 3)
Eve is Tricked by the Serpent (day 4)

Literature: picture books -
Animal Orchestra, by Ilo Orleans
The Lion's Paw, by Jane Werner Watson
Baby Animals, by Garth Williams
The Golden Egg Book, by Margaret Wise Brown

audio books - Chronicles of Narnia:
The Horse and His Boy
Prince Caspian

Memory Work: our phone number

Poetry: My Very First Mother Goose -
Jack and Jill went up the hill...
Shoo fly, don't bother me...
Boys and girls come out to play...
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall...

Wordless Wednesday

The Wonders of the Internet

It has only been recently (in the last year or so) that I have been consistently online, and I have found that it has been endlessly useful to me. I have been able to stay better connected to my family and friends than I probably would have otherwise. I have found a multitude of freebies for homeschooling (games, worksheet sites, lapbooks, multimedia, public domain books, etc.). I have found it to be a wonderful creative outlet. And the shopping possibilities are endless! It seems one can find a use for the net in almost every aspect of life. I know that I've certainly found many reasons to be thankful for it.

My Blogging Dreams...

As I sit here tonight working on my blog, I consider all the things I want it to become. I see in it an ongoing family letter, a photo album, a scholarship report, a lesson-plan book, a shopping list, a useful link collection, a sounding board, a networking tool, a writing class for myself. Essentially, I want a well-rounded portrait of all the thoughts and activities that make up our homeschool and our lives. And I want the commentary of my family and friends on all the pieces of that portrait. I want to look back years from now and revisit the love, the learning, and the growing that we shared down through the years and feel the thankful smile inside that I took the time to capture it all. If my blog can become all of these things, I will consider it a success indeed.

My Plans for ME in the Upcoming School Year

When I was on the WTM board today I happened upon a thread that really got me to thinking. It discussed the idea of the homeschooling parent making out an educational plan for themselves when they plan out the year's curriculum for their children. 'What a marvelous idea!', I thought. I had already been mulling on the idea of educating myself on some of the subjects I want to teach my children later on to make myself a better teacher for them. And these mullings had led to some rudimentary plans for self-education in some areas such as nature study and life skills. I am thinking now, though, that I will make myself a formal education plan each year along with the children. Lets call it Mommy University. Maybe I'll even start a separate blog on this eventually. I am going to start browsing around at some things and put down a plan on paper of what I want to learn this year. When I get it figured out (at least basically) I will come back and write it on the blog. Any comments and suggestions are welcome.

My Plans for the Fall (or maybe sooner if I can get it all together to start)

This is the plan that I have got worked out so far for my 3 dc that are still being homeschooled. This year has been kind of relaxed, but I would like to have a little more structure next year. Although, my dd is 4 (5 in June) and my dss13 and dss15 have special needs, so I don't want to be overly rigorous. I just need to find that sweet spot in the middle, KWIM? So anyway, here is my plan:

dss15: Oral reading: McGuffey's Reader (not sure what level yet)
Writing: Oral Narration (Andrew Lang's Fairy Books)
Spelling: Simply Spelling (not sure what level yet)
Grammar: Need help on this one.
Literature: 1000 Good Books List grades 4-6 selections; participate
in family read aloud.
Math: Right Start B (this was the level recommended by the
Right Start representative)
History: James Baldwin books (50 Famous People, 50 Famous
Stories Retold, Thirty More Famous Stories Retold)
Edward Eggleston book (Stories of Great Americans
for Little Americans)
American Experience Documentaries (one a week)
Science: Nature Study (Mostly I am just going to learn this
myself this year so I can teach them better
afterward and just kind of have them along for
the ride this year)
Bible: Ergemeier's Bible Story Book (and assign reading of
corresponding Bible passage in Bible)

ds13: Oral Reading: VDB or McGuffey Readers?
Writing: Oral Narration (From history readings)
Spelling: Simply Spelling (not sure what level yet)
Grammar: need help on this one.
Literature: 1000 Good Books List grades 1-3 advanced selections;
participate in the family read aloud.
Math, History, Science and Bible: same as ds15

dd4: Phonics: OPGTR, Family Readers
Writing: RFH K;
Oral Narration (Aesop's Fables)
Literature: 1000 Good Books List grades 1-3 Picture Books;
Andrew Lang's Fairy Books; participate in family
read aloud
Math: Right Start A
History and Science: Same as ds15 and ds13 except for the
documentaries (although she can watch
them if she wants to)
Bible: Ergemeier's Bible Story Book

I also want to add some daily poetry, but I am still trying to decide what to use for this. I want to do some memory work also, especially scripture and poetry memorization. I probably won't do fine arts or foreign language with the kids this year. I need a chance to get these things running smoothly and cemented in our routine before I add anything else. Also, getting a routine for home management down is a DESPERATE need for us this year. Once I am comfortable with doing this much, then I plan to start adding in some of the other things.