[Minnesota!!]

South Central Minnesota - right on the MN/IA border

[What do you include in your teacher notebook?]

My Teacher Binder

 

 

The First Section Contains:

 

* Our school calendar

 

*The kids’ individual schedule

 

*A notebook page that contains a list of supplies we will need for the coming week(s) – I take this out and start a new one when I go shopping

 

*A notebook page that contains the library books we will need for the coming week(s) – When I go to the library, I take this page, and then I start a new one

 

*My kids each have their own individual Elan planner, but I make a copy of their current week’s assignments and put it in my binder.

 

 

The rest of the binder is divided by subjects. I have one tab for each subject. Behind each tab, I have a very loose breakdown of what I want to accomplish in the year. I also keep the answer keys, lesson plans, songs, and notes we will need for that week. I’ve cut the binders off any of my teacher’s guides that I could so that I can have everything I need for the week in one place.

 

In the language arts section I also keep a running list of all the books they have read for the year.

 

 

 

I have a separate binder that I keep for curriculum notes. Once again the binder is broken down by subject. Behind each subject are notes I might need to use in the future.

 

Things I have included in this binder:

Possible book selections

How to use a particular book,

Problems others have encountered using a particular text

[How often do you do grammar?]

We do grammar (Rod and Staff) and writing on a daily basis.

[Regarding Our Island Story by Marshall]

I've not purchased either of the CDs you have listed, but LibriVox has an audio version online for free.

 

http://librivox.org/newcatalog/search.php?title=Our+Island+Story&author=&status=all&action=Search

[Wordless Wednesday - post yours here]

Link posted in sig.

[Astronomy suggestions needed. 1st & 3rd graders, NOT "young earth"]

Since you already own the Apologia book, could you just use the table of contents to build your own study? You could find books at the library for each chapter/section that more closely fit your philosophy. Many of the experiments and notebooking assignments could still be used.

[Has anyone skipped the Odyssey for 1st grade?]

I think if you feel that the story would be too intense for your child, you should skip it. There will be plenty of time to cover this story :)

[Very little curriculum money, wwyd?]

I had a very similar experience. I had everything picked out for school that I wanted to order, but then there was no money for school things. That year, I had to try to make do with things I had on hand, the library, and the Internet. It was a lot of work, but it is possible to still have a great year.

 

History (ancient):

 

5th Grader:

On the Shores of the Great Sea (M. B. Synge)

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=synge&book=greatsea&story=_contents

 

The Baldwin Project ( http://www.mainlesson.com/main/displayarticle.php?article=feature ) has many other history books that you can substitute or add to this one. Guerber’s books “The Story of the Greeks†and the “Story of the Romans†come to mind. I would have your 5th grader write something every week for history. If your 5th grader wanted to dive deeper into a particular subject or person on any given week, I would suggest their writing be on that. Otherwise, assign a short topic to write about. For example, this week, my kids are learning about Ancient Egyptian writing. My 5th grader is to write about who was responsible for the writing in Ancient Egypt, what their training was like, and what kinds of things they might have written.

 

 

1st and 2nd Graders:

 

I would find library books to correspond with what your 5th grader is learning. We do history 3x a week, and my 5th grader works pretty independently the first two days. On the third day, we all get together and discuss the history topic they have been studying. Sometimes we all work on a project together, do mapwork together, or watch a movie.

 

 

 

Science

 

5th Grader:

 

I would go through some of Arabella Buckley’s Books - http://www.mainlesson.com/displayauthor.php?author=buckley

 

Birds of the Air

 

By Pond and River

 

Wild Life in Woods and Field

 

 

I would also add in a study of the human body using books from the library.

 

Once again, I would make sure that your 5th grader writes on one science topic every week.

 

1st and 2nd Grader:

 

The Burgess Animal Book for Children

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=burgess&book=animal&story=_contents

 

I would find a coloring page for the animal you are studying (there are tons of places online that offer wildlife coloring pages). I would also go to Jungle Walk ( http://www.junglewalk.com/ ) to find a picture of the animal being studied. They also have audio clips with animal sounds, and short videos for many of the animals.

 

 

Math:

 

Centre for Innovation for Mathematics Teaching

http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mepres/primary/default.htm

 

For Drill – The Math Worksheet Site

http://themathworksheetsite.com/

 

Bible:

 

Hulburt’s Story of the Bible

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=hurlbut&book=bible&story=_contents

 

An audio version of the books is also online at Librivox

http://librivox.org/newcatalog/search.php?title=&author=Hurlbut&status=all&action=Search

 

Spelling / Phonics:

 

There are a variety of resources online and you will have to pick the program/resource which will best fit your needs.

 

Don Potter’s website has links to many free online phonics/reading programs. He also has some spellers which would work for your 5th Grader.

 

http://donpotter.net/ed.htm

 

English / Grammar / Writing:

 

Both of these resources have materials for all three grade levels

 

Kiss Grammar – http://home.pct.edu/~evavra/kiss/wb/PBooks/index.htm

 

Scott Foresman Online Grammar and Writing Handbook – http://www.sfreading.com/resources/ghb.html

 

Art and Music:

 

You could use Ambleside Online’s selections for each term.

http://www.amblesideonline.org/

 

 

Logic and Critical Thinking:

 

5th Grader:

 

CR Puzzles

http://www.crpuzzles.com/

 

1st and 2nd Grader:

 

I would suggest signing up for Dover’s free weekly samples. They have two editions, one for regular subscribers and one for teachers. If you sign up for both, you should find a variety of materials to use.

 

http://www.doverpublications.com/sampler4/

[BJU Science /4th gr - is this a half-year course? TIA nt]

I think it would depend on how often you want to do lessons. The course has a total of 51 lessons. I think each lesson could easily be done in an hour, even if you wanted to expand on it.