Our Plans
Keeping in mind that 'the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry,' (or, The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft a-gley. Robert Burns in "To a Mouse.") I have spent some time writing out our basic plans and resources for the next few years.
Following are plans for Levi's kindergarten this year. I will post a progress report in the middle of the year.
Kindergarten (Age 5, January-December 2007)
CORE SUBJECTS
Math: (continue with) RightStart Math (Text, Worksheets, Manipulatives, and Games)-- 2-3 lessons weekly (often taking 2 days to complete a lesson).
Writing: (continue with) Handwriting Without Tears (Teacher's Guide and Student Workbook)-- 4 lessons weekly. Use blank HWT lined paper for copywork when finished with all lessons.
Phonics: (continue with) The Ordinary Parents' Guide to Teaching Reading-- 2-3 lessons weekly. Supplement with Nora Gaydos readers and other first readers, sight-words flash cards, phonics games, Leap Frog Word Factory videos, Between the Lions (on PBS).
Memory Work: The Harp and the Laurel Wreath, days of the week, months of the year, seasons, address, phone number, parents' names, birthdate, (additional material in history, Bible, etc..)
Spanish: La Clase Divertida (Teacher's Guide, Student Workbook, Crafts, Activities, DVD, CD)--finish Level I by end of year
Bible: 5 Minute Devotions for Children, The Children's Illustrated Bible, Big Truths for Little Kids, (various picture books, Sunday school), Wee Sing Bible Songs, Sing the Word from A to Z (26 Bible verses in song...memorize all by end of year), memorize The Lord's Prayer and other children's prayers.
Literature: Read-aloud chapter books (Wind in the Willows, Pippi Longstocking, The Saturdays, The Cricket in Times Square, The Twenty-One Balloons, Ben and Me, The Borrowers, Winnie the Pooh, Little House in the Big Woods, The Moffats, Heidi, The Hundred Dresses, and more). Books and stories on CD (Jim Weiss story CDs, Classic Stories for Children, Narnia series, Just So Stories, Beatrix Potter stories...) and many picture books. (Make vocabulary lists with new words found in read-alouds.) (We have also read 3 children's versions of Shakespeare plays and then watched live performances of each this year.) Library visits.
SECONDARY SUBJECTS
History: Explore U. S. History using books, games, movies, and more. Read The American Story: 100 True Tales from American History. Read through A Pioneer Sampler: The Daily Life of a Pioneer Family in 1840. Complete included activities. (Read Little House in the Big Woods when finished.) Celebrate and learn about holidays such as Flag Day, Presidents Day, Thanksgiving, and Columbus Day. Start recognizing presidents. Memorize The Preamble to the Constitution, the Statue of Liberty poem, The Pledge of Allegiance, The Star Spangled Banner, God Bless America, America the Beautiful, and other patriotic songs, poems or quotes.
Geography: Start learning about the United States (locating individual states) using maps, games, books, puzzles, and other resources.
Science: Read Your Big Backyard magazine and picture books. Lots of gardening. Add in experiments from More Mudpies to Magnets. Watch The Magic School Bus show. Visit the zoo, the children's museum, Wildlife Safari, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the aquarium, and other 'field trips.'
ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS:
Art Appreciation: Read books about artists, games (from How to Use Child-Sized Masterpieces), visit art museum.
Music: Listen!! (Classical Kids series, The World's Very Best Opera for Kids, Jazz for Kids, Classic Songs for Kids, Dog Train (Rock-n-Roll), Peter and the Wolf, Beethoven's Wig, and other CDs. Ballet performances on DVD.) Watch The Little Einsteins (Disney Channel). Possibly add in piano lessons or music class at the music conservatory by fall. Attend concerts in the park during the summer.
P.E.: Large quantities of outside time, bike riding, and fresh air. Family swim nights at the pool. Swimming lessons. Possibly add in Tae Kwon Do.
Other: Children's Performing Arts series through Parks and Rec. Play dates with extended family and friends. Lots of...outside play, gardening, cooking and baking, increased chores and responsibilities, texture play (water, play dough, rice bin, sand), free play, celebrating holidays and seasons, camping, family outings, game nights.....
___________________________________________
I will post tentative plans for the rest of the 'grammar stage' in a future post.
You can find previous homeschooling posts here:
No comments:
Post a Comment