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krisandpaula

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Posts posted by krisandpaula

  1. I would like to add Online classes for Groovy Kids to the list. I previewed a class offered last fall based on the book Stowaway by Karen Hesse. I was highly impressed with the in depth, cross curricular nature of the content. I am planning for my two to take it when it is offered at a time that more closely correlates with our history study.

     

    http://www.onlineclassesforgroovykids.org

  2. We are currently enjoying this:

     

    http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Ingredients-Universe-Johnston-McHenry/dp/0982537719/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424020859&sr=8-1&keywords=the+elements+ingredients+of+the+universe

     

    My kids (3rd & 5th) are having fun with the activities that are included, and I am seriously enjoying the fact that it isn't dumbed down.  It's only 8 chapters, so easily done as a unit. We plan to do McHenry's Neurology unit as well as the Carbon Chemistry. 

  3. We loved Counting Bears here. You can google "counting bear printables" and find all sorts of pre-made sheets to use with the bucket-o-bears.

    Another favorite was plastic pattern blocks, also using pre-made printables that I found online.

    I'm not a big technology fan at that age, but the one exception I made was The Talking Letter Factory. My daughter taught herself to read at age 3 using this video and a set of BOB Books.

    Other favorites have been mentioned like play-doh, magnetic letters, Lego Duplo blocks, and turning them loose on the patio with a bucket of water and a paintbrush. :o)

  4. We have LOVED this book:

    http://www.amazon.com/Words-Wit-Wonder-Writing-Writers/dp/1404853456/ref=pd_sim_b_4

     

    We first discovered it at our local library. It is part of a series of writing books that are wonderfully kid friendly. It is also part of a compilation that combines several of the individual books into one, fabulously priced volume:

    http://www.amazon.com/Writers-Toolbox-WRITERS-TOOLBOX-Paperback/dp/B008LCR9US/ref=tmm_other_meta_binding_title_0

  5. My dd (6 next week) is in about the same spot. I've been putting together her reading list for her 1st grade year, starting June 4th, and so far this is what I have found:

     

    The Little House series

    101 Dalmations by Dodie Smith (her request)

    Mrs. Piggle Wiggle

    Anne of Green Gables

    Magic School Bus chapter books

    The Fairy Chronicles (for extra reading)

    Igraine the Brave

    Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

    and some Beverly Cleary.

    She read Socks and loved it, but wasn't thrilled with Ramona. Maybe the Mouse and the Motorcycle?

     

    I'm still looking so I'll be watching your thread. :001_smile:

  6. We use FLL 2 in conjunction with Growing With Grammar. If you only do one page of GWG per day, it is very minimal writing. My two kids (ages 8 & 5) have done very well with the combination of these two programs. On days when they are fidgety, or just plain distracted by their own thoughts and play, we just do the GWG. They enjoy the program, seem to be retaining more using both methods, and they know GWG only takes a couple of minutes each day.

  7. My 2nd grade ds has used Vocabulary Cartoon of the Day from Scholastic very successfully this year. I have already purchased the next book in the series. I cut them apart and he does 2 words a day, three times a week. He writes the words, definitions, synonyms, and a sentence in a vocabulary journal that I found from Lakeshore Learning. He loves the cartoons! It seems to keep it from feeling like work and has helped tremendously with retention. :001_smile: FYI, these books come up in the Scholastic eBook sale every year for $1.00.

  8. I would highly recommend the Vocabulary Cartoon of the Day book for 2nd-3rd grade. The book contains 180 words divided into 3 groups: nouns, verbs, and adjectives. At the beginning of the year, I divided them up and included 3 word cartoons per week into our weekly school folders. DS (age 8) has this vocabulary journal that I found at Lakeshore Learning. Each week he reads his cartoons and adds the words to his journal. The cartoons seem to be a very fun and effective tool for him. His retention has been excellent and he asks for his vocabulary words EVERY WEEK! I just put the Grade 4-6 version into my cart.

  9. I started out trying to plan everything on spreadsheets and make schedules and assign a time for each thing. I quickly found myself going mad. After reading the big filing thread linked above, I set up a modified version for our school. 36 weekly folders with a folder for each child inside. After I select our curric. for the year, I divide anything that is in workbook form into 36 parts and file it. There are a couple of workbooks that I don't take apart. For those, they have a red and green removable tabs that help us 'do the next thing' on the days those subjects are needed.

     

    Then, I simply have a list of all curric. that we want to complete during our year. I divide it out so that each subject is covered 2, 3 or 4 days a week, depending on the subject. I keep a Moleskine page-a-day calendar as a record book and each day I write down what we complete. I have found keeping a record of our accomplishments, as opposed to a schedule of what we 'should' be doing, is much more positive and encouraging for us. It allows us flexibility without guilt for Mamma!

     

    That is pretty much it. It has worked well for us and we even finished up this year 6 weeks early following this system.

     

    Good luck with your planning and organizing! :001_smile:

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