Archives for September 2008

Our 2008-2009 Curriculum

September 27, 2008 by 9 Comments

So, what have we been using this year for our homeschool journey?

Bible and Devotions (with the oldest 3 kids)

  1. Listening to the Bible on CD using the Word and Song Bible
  2. Worship songs – from Chris Tomlin CD’s to Cedermont Kids to breaking out in our own songs periodically
  3. AWANA Bible Memory – We currently have a Puggle, Cubbie, and a Spark!
  4. ABC Bible Memory Verses: Hiding God’s Word in Little Hearts by Susan Hunt – one a week, in ABC order
  5. Learning the Ten Commandments using the Bible and Hand Commands
  6. Learning the catechism and how to apply it using Susan and Richie Hunt’s book Big Truths for Little Kids: Teaching Your Children to Live for God

 

Reading and Language Arts

our first grader…

  1. Readers:  Sonlight Readers 1  (with additional leveled readers from Abeka which we are borrowing from a friend, Pathway readers which use a lot of sight words and have very sweet stories that my daughter enjoys, and any other readers we find that are appropriate for her =) )
  2. Explode the Code books 3 and 4 for phonics
  3. Spelling from Sonlight Language Arts 1
  4. Reading and spelling words from a high frequency word list
  5. Copywork – the ABC Bible memory verse for each week
  6. Draw Write Now book 1
  7. Handwriting Skills Simplified for Grade 1
  8. Grammar – Daily Language Review
  9. Writing Folder

our Pre Kindergartner…
I’m using parts of my 4’s curriculum with my 4 year old for LA.   She already knows all of her letters and sounds and has started reading some of the BOB books, predictable readers, and decodable words.  She is learning her sight words, word families, rhyme, letter formations, etc.  She can also work on activities in the literacy tubs. She also loves to write in her writing notebook and comes up with some cute 1-2 sentence stories!  (We will be staritng Explode the Code 1 and Horizons Math K with her in January.)

our toddler…
For my 2 1/2 year old, I am trying to set time aside to read aloud just to
him. I have Before Five in a Row for him, but so far I am just reading the
stories to him as he chooses them.   I also have a special  ‘school bin’
with hands on activities just for him during school time.  This poor little guy is missing out on most of the 2’s curriculum that his sisters used, but he is still getting some one on one with mommy and is learning God’s Word through his Joyful Heart Memory Verses!

 

Math

  1. Horizons 1 Math (We used BJU last year and she did well with it.  However, it didn’t focus as much on math facts and skip counting by 3’s. 4’s. etc. at the K level, so when we switched to Horizons, we were a little behind in those areas.  She is on par with everything else so far =) )
  2. Math flashcards and hands on activities for practicing addition facts.  Here is a link to several easy ideas we have been implementing.  (Counting and Simple Addition)
  3. BJU math workbook 1 (on her own for fun and to coordinate with the math homeschool class that she is taking)
  4. Calendar Binders (We’ve added tally marks and money for our first grader.)
  5. Mind Benders
  6. Math tubs

Science

Sonlight K Science (The kids LOVE the Discover and Do DVD!)

History and Read Alouds

  1. Sonlight Core K (ages 5-7)  We have been using the Core K history selections and read alouds.  The girls have loved the read aloud choices so far.  They have especially enjoyed The Boxcar Children and My Father’s Dragon.  We did a lapbook to coordinate with My Father’s Dragon and it went really well.  They liked it so much that we are going to try to do another one with our Johnny Appleseed book this week. www.homeschoolshare.com .has tons of free printable lapbooks which makes this so much easier to attempt!
  2. YWAM publications – The girls also enjoy listening to us read aloud the YWAM Christian Heroes Then and Now books and often listen on their own to the YWAM Heroes for Young Readers CD.

 

Art

  1. From time to time, painting just for fun!
  2. Crafts related to the seasons or holidays
  3. Art Appreciation – Come Look With Me series

 

Extracurricular Activities

  1. AWANA (oldest 3 kids)
  2. Gymnastics (oldest two girls)
  3. Homeschool group (one day a week for our first grader)  She has a full day of classes!  She is taking ballet, math, physical education, art, music, science, and storybook cooking!
Filed Under: Curriculum We Use, The Joy of Homeschool

Digging Up the Root of Bitterness

September 27, 2008 by Leave a Comment

In science, our girls recently learned that the roots of a tree intertwine and can actually spread out underground wider than its branches.  Though unseen from above, the roots are important and support the tree.  If for any reason tree roots are damaged, tree health can be put in jeopardy.

Bitterness is a root in our hearts that can grow unnoticed for quite some time.  Eventually, it causes damage to fellowship, grieves the Holy Spirit, and stagnates spiritual growth.

In Carolyn Mahaney’s book, Feminine Appeal, she writes,  “So how do we know if we have become bitter? If we habitually review the offender’s wrong, if we replay the episode over and over in our minds, if we wallow in self pity or withdraw our affection – chances are, we have succumbed to bitterness…”

Ephesians 4:29-32 exhorts us…
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,
but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs,
that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander,
along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Mahaney explains, “We deal with bitterness by cherishing the experience of being forgiven by God and by forgiving the wrongs committed against us… So instead of dwelling on how we’ve been wronged, let us entreat the Holy Spirit to help us look at the cross.”

Lord Jesus, please help me to show kindness and compassion, to be able to forgive, bearing with others in patience and in love as you have loved and forgiven me.  Turn my eyes upon you and off of myself, entrusting you to change my heart.  Dig up these roots of bitterness.

Filed Under: Mom's Heart, The Joy of God's Word

Multiple Choice Test

September 21, 2008 by Leave a Comment

Quick, a multiple choice test!

When things don’t go the way you want them to, do you…

a) throw up your hands and say, “I can’t do this!”?
b) keep moving forward, inch by inch, making modifications and adjustments as needed in order to reach your goal?
c) cry out to the Lord for help?
d) all of the above?

If you answered choice ‘d’, then maybe you can relate.

We are on day 31 of our first grade and preschool homeschool journey this year. (Well, actually day 42 now that I am getting around to posting this. LOL!) Yeah!  While it is exciting to think that we are this far into the school year already, I must admit that the beginning weeks of our school year have been very challenging for me.

I used to teach kindergarten in a public school.  There were fairly set times and a distinct order to our day. I could post a schedule on the board and kids would know what was coming next.  In general, kids thrive on routine -knowing what is coming next and what is expected.  I thrive in an environment like that as well.   So, here in our homeschool, I have organized a daily routine and order for what we are to do when, but  in a household of 4 precious children, ranging in age from 6 years to 7 months, we can’t always have a set routine.  There are some uncommon first grade ‘interruptions’ that my oldest has to deal with – such as stopping while mommy has to discipline a younger sibling or taking a break as mommy goes to change a diaper or calms her baby sister.   So, what if we take a quick break every now and then or I ask her to continue working by herself on something?  Or, what happens when it says in my plans that we are to do read aloud next, but the baby is crying and there is no reasonable way anyone can actually listen and comprehend what is happening in the story – let alone mommy be able to read?  Does it really matter if we switch the read aloud time with say, some phonics seatwork while I can comfort my baby girl?   It is these daily times of adjusting to the needs of each child and taking in consideration of what is best for all of us that are challenging for me.   I want to cherish the time with the youngest children AND do school well (and keep an orderly house, etc, etc.)    So, in order to do that, flexibility has had to become my new motto!

And, in all honesty, these challenging times are also the times when the enemy whispers thoughts of  ‘You can’t do this.  You’re just playing school.  When are you going to send her to a REAL school?’

I have to remember that, no matter how crazy some days feel, my first grader IS learning.   She is just learning in a different environment.  And that is OKAY!

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone. My hope comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation.  He is my fortress.
I will not be shaken.  My salvation and my honor depend on God.
He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people.
Pour out your hearts to Him.  For God is our refuge.
(Psalm 62:5-8)

My hope is in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  My strength comes from Him.

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Filed Under: Mom's Heart, The Joy of God's Word, The Joy of Homeschool