One Room Schoolhouse: Kindergarten and Second Grade Materials
I will do this again this year because I love looking over what other people are doing in their schoolrooms so that I can find new and exciting materials. I will tell you we've done some switching up this year, not a whole lot though. I wrote this type of post last year for the boys, if you are interested in first grade materials and more kindergarten stuff go there.
This year we are going on a new adventure, we have joined a local Classical Conversations chapter and I am excited to see if it is a good fit for us. They cover a wide range of information and are heavy on memorization through little songs and poems. This year I'll just go off of what they are doing in that for science and see if I like that any better. Apologia Science is just not a good fit for us at this point.
As before I recommend these books as a general guideline, I find them very helpful and hope you will too:
General Homeschooling books:
Bible:
We read this at the breakfast table, both boys understand it and are challenged by it- I am as well, this is the best children's bible for this age by far.
Math:
We'll be finishing 2nd Grade math with Jackson and then I think we are headed for a leap over to Singapore Math for both boys. I just ordered Kindergarten Mathematics It is still up for debate, but saxon however spectacular it is supposed to be- it moves too slowly for both of the boys.
History:
Kindergarten and 2nd Grade together. We're doing Story of the World Volume 2: Middle Ages . I am going to buy the Who in the World? 4 biographies as well, they look excellent.
Science:
We will be checking out books from the library, using encyclopedias, and pretty much doing our own thing. I'd love to do animal sciences mostly this year- since that is what the boys are around at our home and on the ranch. We'll see. If you have suggestions I'd love to hear them!
Language:
Kindergarten: Oliver learned to read last year, now we will just be reading books together to improve the skills he already has. I have some language arts workbooks for him as well. Mostly I care about him just reading this year and working on writing a little. Singapore also has readers, I bought them (8 total) after looking them over at a friends house. I know he will love them.
Second Grade:
More homeschooling links on DG blog:
Some of our favourite read alouds for Kindergarten and Pre-K
Best EVER Parenting Book, You have to read it!
Classical Style Home Education Important Links
Our Schoolhouse: Kindergarten and First Grade Classical Education Curricula
We've actually never stopped school for the summer. A day here a day there but I wanted to keep the boys moving along and mostly I didn't want them to forget what they had learned. My other reason for doing year round school is that then we aren't in as much of a rush. The system is: 3 weeks a month, 4 days a week- what can beat that!?! So here is what we're using this year for school, and by the way we are LOVING it.
The Classical Education general concept:
Great book on everything a la Classical Education- this is one amazing book! It is a wealth of information, if you want one book to help you get through your homeschooling journey- this is that book, love it.
I can't put the Charlotte Mason Companion down, there is so much good information on "The Gentle Art of Learning" also from the classical education approach. I like that it doesn't just talk about home education, but it speaks to character, and habits. I really connected with it.
Books that work for a variety of ages together (I am using them for both boys ages 4 and 6):
Amazing history for first graders, complete lessons with coloring sheets that are not tedious busy work. Each lesson is well written and the boys enjoy me reading it to them. They most of all love coloring while I read. My 4 year old will gladly do it with us though and he loves it. They can both answer the questions at the end of the lesson very well, so I know they are both understanding it. Great book!!
We've started our Apologia science curriculum this year as well. The boys love science! We will alternate between this science curricula and our history every other day. Both of these books work well to do them together. I like the layout of this, the artwork could be improved upon a little (as they use clip art) but I am not complaining so far at all because it is a great first science book for both 4 year olds and 6 year olds.
Filled with books to read aloud to kids- and have them love. There are so many good books out there, but which ones are good enough to spend the time on?? Check out this book.
What we are using for First Grade (or what my first grader does that my 4 year old isn't ready for yet):
Book containing first and second grade grammar. Memorization of poetry, copywork and learning the parts of speech-this is a very good book!
Last but not least- MATH! I decided to go with Saxon (instead of Math-U-See which I was also interested in) and it is jackson's favourite subject he says. We chose Math 1 and it seems a little too basic sometimes but I think we are quickly gaining a little speed. I do skip if I know he can do it easy and has mastered the concept. I think it is a good way to teach math, I like that it is no nonsense and straight math- we get it done quick that way!
Kindergarten/preschool books I recommend:
For teaching the boys to read I've used this both times, it works well. My 4 year old is half way through now and doing great!
And then head to this when the kid pretty much gets the concept- they just love saying "I've read a WHOLE book!" when dad comes home
For preschool and kindergarten history I enjoyed History for Little Pilgrims, it is history from creation to present in a chronological order and even the littlest ones get it. We enjoyed this book last with both boys, easy to finish in one school year. With a general approach to history that is good in that first year when they are just learning to sit well and listen.
The next homeschooling post cover what our school day looks like!
In the meantime go ahead and share some of your favourite schoolbooks with me and the reasons why you love them so.
Our One Room Schoolhouse: Raising Painted Lady Butterflies
Here are the stages of a Painted Lady Butterfly. Thanks to Jackson's Auntie Angel we got 5 little caterpillars in the mail and watched them eat and eat inside their little clear cup, each day doubling in size. About 8 days later they climb to the top of the container and attach themselves there upside down. Within hours they have morphed into Chrysalides, with a hardened outer protective layer that they build around themselves. During this period they have a definite iridescent shimmer to them-very pretty for sure.
After all five of the caterpillars have morphed to chrysalides and affixed themselves to the paper layer on the top of the cup, you are to remove the layer and pin it to the inside of a mesh cadge that comes with the butterfly kit. Just about 7 days later they begin to emerge from the skin-like shells. After that we release them to the wild, just in time too because our kitties were serious about hunting them and tried over and over to bite them through their mesh habitat indoors.
So those are the stages of the metamorphosis of a Painted Lady Butterfly- but do not fear, we did not release these without proper study of them which the boys loved every second of.
Just because now we know them, let me share some butterfly facts with you:
Did you know that they suck the nectar out of oranges?? That was fun to watch! Did you know that they taste with their feet? That they have 4 wings? 10,000 eyes?? That she breathes through her abdomen? That they only live for 2-4 weeks and that in that time a single butterfly could travel 1,000 miles??
For those of you not fluent in kidwrit the message above says "Ukweryoom" (Aquarium) with a line to "Kadupilrs" (caterpillars) and another to their trapped and on exhibit for a very limited time "Flise" (Flies). I noticed that there are fingerprints on my lens, but I just couldn't resist showing this pic- it was way too cute.
Then came time for release of these little new-found winged friends.
Look at those kids faces!! I can only say that if I were the butterflies, I would fly and fly away very fast for fear of my life!
They are beautiful, the Painted Ladies are so pretty. I have more pictures of post release, on flowers and flitering around the yard, but since this post is already very picture heavy I'll post those shots separately. I hope you enjoyed our butterfly metamorphosis journey- we sure did!!
Want to read our other recent homeschooling posts? Check out Our One Room Schoolhouse Homeschooling Journey !
Our One room Schoolhouse a la Classical Education
I will have a first grader this year!!!! EEEEEEeeeeeeeek!! Now homeschooling gets serious- or a little more serious for sure, we actually have to DO schoolwork!! Hehehe...but I'm not kidding.
There is a lot to learn, a lot to read, a lot to study. I am not bogged down, but I really want to educate myself and make the right choice. There is time though to tweak and switch things up. You too can do it. I am on a mission to get myself more organized, better prepared and really see what we are capable of!! From all my searching online I have come up with a good wealth of information to share on our selected approach of Classical Education.
Great Homeschooling websites:
Holy Experience- I stumbled upon this woman's website months ago when I was searching for something random and it is one of those I haven't been able to stop navigating to. She has a lot of good info, but I mostly like her personal posts actually.
A Well-Trained Mind Blog- If you are leaning toward Classical Education for your homeschooling, this is the place to go.
Ambelside Online Curriculum- a free online intense classical education course, great for readings lists for the kiddos (thanks P!)
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Curriculum Guide- Just a guide with how to select curriculum, how to get what you really need and other important and useful info.
There are also some women who seem to know what I want to read when it comes to home education- they just get me, what can I say? Pioneer Woman Homeschooling and the pretty lady at Passionate Homemaking as well.
Answers to my Classical Education questions, which may be yours too:
What is classical education in a nutshell?? The Joy of Classical Education by Susan Wise Bauer will answer that for sure!
Does Charlotte Mason's approach work with the Classical Education style from Well-Trained Mind AKA Susan Bauer?? Yes it does, they differ a tad and you be the judge of where you lean on the differences.
Why study Latin? Really, LATIN!? yes, classical educators include Latin in language studies. It is good for kids minds, and also for helping them understand their own language. Get a much better answer at An Apology for Latin and Math by Cheryl Lowe.
What on earth did I get myself into?? My kids fight, have bad attitudes and we spend tons of time working on discipline. I loved this post by the homeschooling guru Susan Wise Bauer- School at my House. I read all the ones she has, each time I feel like I am able to do it, her kids act up too!!! It is all part of the learning process really.
How can I get some feedback on the Classical Education style? Oh, well I have asked friends (more like bombarded them) with questions and have looked into The Well-Trained Mind forums as well. TONS of stuff there.
The books that I love (love, love, love) so far on Home Education
If you are interested in a classical approach I would steer you towards these rich materials. They are packed with so much good information that will help you in your selection of materials, state homeschooling laws, local homeschooling connections and much more. These are the two books that I go back to again and again- especially this first one. The second is more the practical application as well as information.
Great book on everything a la Classical Education- this is one amazing book!
I just got this one and can't put it down, there is so much good information on "The Gentle Art of Learning" also from the classical education approach
Within the next bit I will post up about what materials we have chosen to use for our first grader. This may help you learn something- but I am always happy to hear your comments on if you have used the materials and what you have to say as well (good or bad).
What other websites or books would you recommend?? I NEED information!! I just love doing all this. It so isn't a chore yet so I want to get as much info while I am still very excited about the process of home education. Give me tips, links, ideas or ask questions, pretty please!?!?
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