Our Learning Adventure Plan: 5th, 3rd, 1st

Another year and I can’t help but think of it in an Anne of Green Gables kind of way…  We have a fresh start.  After a month and a half off, we dove back into our regular learning routine.  For some reason our new starts aren’t really ever easy, but I get excited each and every time anyways.  Why? Because we have a fresh plan for the upcoming “year” and I know that countless unexpected lessons and detours will delight {and challenge} us along the way!

The immediate future is teeming with opportunity; wonder and delight in the making.

So I thought I’d give you a peek at our “plans” for the next year and the curriculum or books we’ve gathered to aid us in this learning adventure at hand.

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My Approach for Active Kids

I was that active kid and now I’ve been blessed with 3 very active boys.  Because of this, our learning approach takes advantage of their need to move.  I’ve chosen a unit study approach that delves deeply into a topic and includes a lot of active hands-on, whole-body-moving kind of learning!

Independent Study or Multi-Level Learning

When I talk to families with multiple children, I usually tell them that there are two ways to accomplish this feat of teaching multiple ages.  You can get each child up and learning independently where you act more as facilitator or you do as much as you can together.  I’ve seen both methods work.

My preference is to do as much as we can together.  Aside from our math/grammar/spelling/phonics I try to incorporate our learning together.

KONOS – our Unit Study. This curriculum is multi-level and incredibly multi-sensory.  It is one of the few curricula that I’ve seen out there that truly contains a kinesthetic/movement rich element.  Plus we love how it ties everything back to character.  It’s not perfect by any means, but it works for us.  I talk more in depth about it here.  This year, we’ll be covering the character trait of Cooperation.

In the Fall – we’ll be covering human anatomy and learning about the intricate ways that God designed the body to work together to accomplish the task of living, moving, breathing, feeling, etc.  My degree is in biology and just thinking about this takes me right back to my college days.  I can’t wait to get our bodies involved in the process of learning about how our insides work!  My co-op partner and I are pulling out the tried and true Blood and Guts book to aid us in this adventure.  I’m hoping to get a hold of a cow heart, lungs and brain to dissect and setting up a field trip to see an electron microscope!  My microscope will get plenty of use this year!

In the Spring – we’ll be doing an in-depth study of the U.S. States and Regions.  I’m excited to delve deep into the geography, the history and culture that surrounds different parts of the good ol’ U.S.A.  I just picked up the laminated maps from Costco and can’t wait to replace our tattered world map and then put up a new map of the U.S.  We’ll round out the semester by spending a couple of weeks on the Civil War.

 

READ, READ, READ.  I’m always amazed at the benefits of reading aloud to our children.  My goal is to continue to cultivate read-aloud time in our home.  I’ve started putting together a list of classics that I want to read to them this semester in addition to our KONOS reading.  Swiss Family Robinson, Treasure Island, Farmer Boy and Of Courage Undaunted are on our short list of books to read in the next couple of weeks.

I always remind myself that it’s not only ok, but sometimes necessary for active kids to keep their hands busy while I’m reading.  Busy hands allow for focused minds.  I’ll either pull out blank paper and let them illustrate what I’m reading about, give them wiki sticks or turn them loose with play dough.  Other times, they’ll all just be hanging upside down from the couches and that is good too!  For my boys, legos are too much a part of their pretend play, so that does not work well while reading aloud.

ART

A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels: We’ve loved this resource. There is a big ebook of tutorials and several smaller specialized ones.  The directions are so simple and there are just enough pictures to guide us without limiting their creativity.  I love how the terms are explained and then used in the book, so the kids are learning technique as well as correct terminology.  I’m not an artist so I like how easy-to-use this is from a non-artist standpoint.  All we need is this ebook, drawing paper and a set of pastels!

They just released a new tutorial collection for drawing sharks with pastel’s.  The boys can’t wait to dive in to this one. {P.S. It just launched this week so they are having a sale!}

Drawing Textbook: I’m also hoping to do a few simple drawing directions from Drawing Textbook.  I have my mom’s copy that she used with me.  It’s another ridiculously simple way to teach perspective and basic drawing technique.  My “artist” sister, the engineer {who think in 3-d which makes drawing 3-d easier} and ME {the crazy, distracted biology nerd who can’t draw anything naturally}, all enjoyed these simple lessons once upon a time.  As a busy mom, it looks easy enough for me to include for my boys too.

Nature Walks: Usually I like to make up my own things here, but this year, I’m pulling ideas from Cindy West’s 100 Easy and Creative Nature Walk ideas.  No planning on my part.  Pick one and walk outside with the kids!  Getting outdoors is good for all of us.  It helps us release stress and as we take time to observe the natural world around us. Our good weather months can’t get here soon enough!

Brain Breaks:  With 3 active boys and a distracted mama, our BRAIN BREAKS are a must around here.  Ha!  There’s a reason why I wrote this book!  We desperately needed them and in a format that is simple to pull out and use at a moments notice. We use them when boys are getting antsy during a lesson, as a reward when finishing some of that necessary seat work and when emotions start to get the better of us.  They’ve proved invaluable these last couple of weeks as we’ve oiled the wheels and moved back on track to our normal routine.  Here’s my post that spawned the idea for my book and here is a more detailed look at how we use brain breaks in our home!

 

Here are some of our more age specific choices

5th Grade

 

Xander is bright, very relational and loves to read.  My loves the Lord and he loves people.  Language and communication, both written and verbal will be our primary focus.

 Spell to Write and Read.  I’ve really started to hit my stride with this which makes life so much easier.  I love this multi-sensory, comprehensive approach to spelling.  It provides such a great foundation.  My only problem last year was that “life” happened and we kept pushing this off which meant I didn’t get as far as I wanted to in the spelling lists.  This year, I’ve made mini-goals to help us keep on track.  I can’t wait to watch his spelling and reading comprehension continue to soar with this approach.

Spelling City – I used this last year to aid in reviewing spelling lists.  It allows me to set up specific spelling lists.  The boys have to do a spelling quiz from their most recent list first and then get to select a “game” to further reinforce the words.  I find that the games aren’t the most effective way to review spelling words, so they have to do the quiz first before getting to select a game or two.  Since they don’t play many computer games this is a huge treat for them.

McCall Crabbs Reading Comprehension Exercises.  This is a compilation of short stories followed by reading comprehension questions.  It lets me instantly determine his reading level.  Xander ADORES these assignments.  We are graphing his progress here too and watching his reading comprehension improve.  I’ve found it helpful to identify what he is having trouble comprehending from the text based on what questions he gets wrong.   This year, I created a form that I can print off, fold and tuck into his book, so he is ready to go.

Easy Grammar – I love this simple, yet highly effective approach to grammar. I might incorporate Daily Grams in the spring.  I haven’t decided yet.

Learn Math Fast.  This is a new one.  I haven’t tried it yet, but am intrigued by the concept.  It synthesizes 11 years of math instruction down into 6 textbooks, so you can learn math in a matter of months (depending on the age) instead of years.  I’ve been rethinking how I teach math.  It’s a little crazy and way out of the mainstream.  It involves delaying formal math workbook instruction.  Which of course, I haven’t done with Xander.  But he hit a major wall last year in Math-U-See and long division.  We decided to scrap it and try out Learn Math Fast this year.  I’ll let you know what I think after we try it out.

Typing – I told you about using Keyboard Classroom a couple of months ago.  We love it and Xander will be finishing up with it this semester.

Piano – I’m thrilled that we are adding formal, classic piano instruction.  Xander and Keegan are with the teacher I had for 10 years. I love the discipline that this is bringing to our home.

Awana – for Bible Memory

Local PE Co-op

Boys Adventure Book Club – meets once a month .  This will be our third year with this group and he loves it!

 

3rd Grade

Keegan turns 8 today.  He’s my driven, problem solver guy.  He is very internally motivated and I’m excited to solidify the basics with him this year!

Spell to Write and Read.  Keegan is thriving on this program.  He actually taught himself how to read, just by watching Xander and I play some of the games and listening in on the spelling lessons.  This year, they are both far enough along that I was able to have them build reference sheets together which really saved time in the first two weeks of our new season.  I’m excited to see where he will go this year.

Spelling City – Using it the same way we use it for our 5th grader.

McCall Crabbs Reading Comprehension Exercises.  He’s excited to start these later this fall since he’s seen his brother enjoy them so much.

Grammar Songs – I don’t start formal grammar until 3rd or 4th grade.  While I might start him in Easy Grammar 3 in the spring, I plan on continuing to incorporate grammar concepts into our writing and then have him listen to these catchy songs.  I think pairing Easy Grammar and Grammar Songs together is such a great mix.  I picked up a used copy last year and we give it two thumbs up!

MATH –  Like I mentioned with Xander, we are rethinking math.  For the fall, we are going to be playing games!  We fell in love with the math games from Triumphant Learning.  It was the only thing I managed to buy at the AFHE convention this year and we are already having fun exploring the Number Balance using the ideas she lays out in her book, Level Thinking.  I’ve been using the Number Balance with all three boys.  These games are designed to help our kids think mathematically without the drills or worksheets.   He hasn’t struggled with math yet, so I might start him in Learn Math Fast in the spring, if he is wanting more.

Typing – Keegan is anxious to start using Keyboard Classroom.  They didn’t have their great homeschool multi-user pricing when we first got it, so I’m waiting until Xander finishes before Keegan starts since we only have a single license user account.  I love this skill-focused rather than game-focused program.  They still have a lot of fun, but it is focused on building serious typing skills.

Piano –  Xander and Keegan are with the teacher I had for 10 years.  He’s one of the best in my part of town.  I love the discipline that this is bringing to our home.  We just started last week, but Mr. Bardin tells us that the boys should be ready to perform in the Christmas recital.

Awana – for Bible Memory

Local PE Co-op

Boys Adventure Book Club – He really wants me to start one.  Hopefully by spring…

 1st Grade

Ahhh, my Trey-Trey…  Since he is now six, we drove down and dropped off his affidavit this year.  In Arizona, we have the opportunity to mark a box that states we select to delay formal schooling until 8.  I never felt the need to mark that box with my other two, but Trey is a free-spirited, late bloomer like his mama.  I marked it because we are taking a more relaxed approach with him.  Isn’t that what is so wonderful about homeschooling?  We can tailor the education that each one of our children get.  So here is a glimpse at some of the resources that I’ve collected and that we are going with as he is ready for…

Cursive First – we learned cursive last year, but this delightful son of mine doesn’t care much for detail and doesn’t really have his fine-motor skills down yet, so we continue to review the concepts of letter formation.  I cannot say enough great things about this multi-sensory approach to learning cursive.  Last year we mustly stuck to the gross-motor style writing in the salt box, with ice cubes and fingers on the back!  We are still incorporating those elements this year!

Spell to Read and Write – I love how I can use this very same program with my 5th, 3rd and 1st grader.  For our tight budget, it is a blessing.  We’ve used it for phonics instruction as all of our kids have learned to read by learning how to spell.   He was not ready last year, so I didn’t push it.  But this year, conceptually anyways, everything is there.  I just have had to let go my expectations on the handwriting side of things.

Rough and Tumble Play – I never have to assign this, but I love to remind myself that this rough and tumble, active play is wiring his brain to learn.  He gets plenty of time for this while I’m working with his older brothers!

Unschooling Math – Like with Keegan, Trey is playing the games we bought from Triumphant Learning and the number balance.  I love how Math-U-See teaches telling time, so I’m going to incorporate that as well.  I’m hoping to write about my thoughts on math instruction next month…

Awana – for Bible Memory

Local PE Co-op

Toddler

Oh my sweet Greta.  She was such a quiet and independent girl last year.  With the approach of her third birthday, she is heading into a new season.  She wants to be with us and she wants to be the center of attention.  I’m revisiting all of the sage wisdom I doled out last time I was in this season on how to integrate little one’s into the homeschooling  and getting strategic about offering her things to do so she can feel a part.  Since she has given herself not one, not two, but THREE haircuts this last year, I can tell you that I won’t be turning her loose with scissors.  I’ll be consulting the Preschool Peace-of-Mind Checklist for other ideas from time to time and utilizing our finger play and preschool song cards during morning Circle Time.

A big thing that I’m focusing on with her is her verbal skills which means I want to read, read, read to her!  Of course, it doesn’t have to just be me reading to her.  Each of the boys is taking a turn “watching” her this year and that includes reading books to her.  She loves them read over and over again and now that I know WHY kids need the same book read over and over again, we are embracing that with gusto!

So there you have it – my plans.  Now we’ll just have to see how the Lord leads…

Our curriculum choices from last year.

 

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