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.
Teaching My Kids to Read
The little pleasures are the ones that can easily be overlooked until they are long gone, then we look back and wonder why we didn't spend more time enjoying them. One of my simple pleasures (now and for the last couple years) has been teaching my boys to read. Oh, yes sometimes it is aggravating, especially when they don't even try to pay attention and are pretending to read while looking out the window, but more days than not it is a delight to watch while they learn.
That may not sound very exciting, and I will acknowledge that sometimes I myself read posts like this by moms who talk about silly little things that they "say" they enjoy doing with their kids and because I don't get it, I just don't get it...this may be that type of post to you. If so know that it is really one of those things that you can't see the miracle in until you watch it happen, until you watch a child learn to read right before your eyes you don't realise the simple pleasure that comes from teaching. I feel so privileged to not be missing this, staying home, training and educating my kids is what I most want to be doing with my time right now.
I never thought I'd be homeschooling since I myself didn't enjoy being homeschooled. In highschool (even through parts of college) I wanted nothing more to be in the Army and then later a police officer, but the strangest part of it all to me is that I could have missed this blessing if I had been allowed to choose for myself. Still today there are days when I wish I could get all camoed up and run through the forest (and away from my kids), but over all I have found joy in the most simple of things right where I am, because all I know is that today this is exactly where God wants me to be. No worries about tomorrow, just right now, just today.
Think of some simple pleasures in your life which could easily be overlooked. Do you have one to share??
Our Painted Lady Butterfly Release Party
A little while back I told you how it was like to do the raising of these Painted Ladies, but now I will show you their release party. It was an occasion that we really did have to hype because the littlest of our family was not super thrilled about letting his little four winged friends fly off. We let them fly away in full splendor and then I followed around trying not to step on them to get some shots for the boys to remember the event by.
But, they really didn't need any of our hype, as you can see, they could leave a person speechless as they posed opening and closing their wings. They were hand painted by the Creator, now grown, transformed and ready for lift-off when the breeze hit them just so. I can't say it didn't make me sad to let them go. I am glad to say though that at least I didn't see a chicken get one, but there were some very close calls.
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!?!?
Homeschooling: Animal Reality TV, AKA. Animal Stalking
We have discovered a love for real reality TV. Yes, not staged, not programed for commercials, set up or scripted. Real time, real life, real animals are way more fun to watch anyway!! Someone just shared this link with me and the boys and I just can't get over it, so I figured I just had to share. The kids are no begging for pet owls and hawks.
A website, Sportman's Paradise has many live web cams for your viewing pleasure. Some are in a nest box, others are in the natural habitat of deer, wild boars and underwater viewings of fish in Florida as well as many other fun creatures to watch.
Barn Owl Nest Box Cam (this is one of our favourites!! the babies are bigger now and very strange looking, the boys just can't get enough of them) We have read up on Barn Owls on Wikipedia now as well, and even went to an uncle's barn where we could maybe get a real life glimpse of one- no luck, but we did end up with beautiful owl feathers! We are now slightly owl obsessed.
The other live web cams we enjoy are:
Red Tailed Hawk Nest Cam in Philadelphia
Bald Eagle Nest In New Jersey
Deer Trail in Minnesota Live Webcam
Northern European Wild Boar Webcam (this one takes a little longer to upload, but when they are there it is sooo cool!)
Go ahead! Try to look at the live cams and not become addicted to watching the animals! It is so fun.
What are some different kinds of non-traditional education methods do you like to implement into your homeschooling? When you were a kid is there a specific learning experience that you enjoyed and remember learning a lot from that you could share with me? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Homeschooling In Our One Room Schoolhouse: Educational Games that are Actually Fun to Play (PreSchool and Kindergarten)
Don't you like it when you can do activities and games that are educational as well as something fun enough that your kids would ask to play?
We have some that we enjoy that I thought I'd share- also I am hoping that you'll give me some more ideas on others we've been missing out on!
In these pictures the boys are both enjoying the Melissa & Doug Pattern Blocks and Boards
Some others that we love are, for electronics the LeapFrog® Leapster® Learning Game System 
As far as multiple player games go we LOVE Brain Quest Game - Preschool & Kindergarten Edition
We are really into floor puzzles as well here are several that we put together all the time:Charley Harper Flash Cards and Floor Puzzles
What are your favourtie educational toys???
The Latest Posts:
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