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Momof3

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Everything posted by Momof3

  1. My fourth 2nd grader 😮 Amazing how each child is so different... This kid is something else. Accelerated learner, only one of mine that taught himself to read. First to cry thru assessment testing bc it was too easy. 🤔 Keeping him challenged without threatening my rising 3rd grader is the continual challenge. Bible: several books as a family, read and discuss... probably Acts and Revelation. Math: Math Mammoth 2 (he's already started) and 3 (when we finish 2). He goes on math binges where he wants to do a ton of extra pages...and since I'm not eager for him to pass his older brother (DS8) I don't push it at all when he doesn't feel like math. Reading: I have a list of Sonlight books we'll aim to read...but we'll see where we end up. This year he and DS8 and I read Farmer Boy together and they liked that. Grammar: Haven't done anything yet, but will use MCT Grammar Island, Sentence Island, and Practice Island with him and DS8 next year. No rush to finish, just a fun light intro to Grammar. Spelling: AAS level 2 (he's almost done with this) and 3 Writing: Nothing formal Science: Chemistry with the family. Will delve into other topics as interests arise. History: SOTW4 with the family, and continue our study of US presidents. Will be studying electoral system and political parties with older kids next year...expect DS6 will pick some up. Geography: probably Middle East and Africa P.E.: would like to organize physical activity with some other homeschool families, even if it's just playing catch. Have started preliminary conversations on that. Memory work, art, piano, Spanish vocab and convos, lots of snap circuits and Legos.
  2. We just finished school this week (testing next week) so naturally I started planning for next year already... 😏 Bible: several books as a family, read and discuss... probably Acts and Revelation... maybe Daniel while we're on prophecy. I might have the oldest two do Case for Christ for Kids or some other study, but not sure yet. Math: Algebra I, leaning towards Forester's with the Home Study videos. He loves math and does well working independently. Reading: Mix of books from a list I compile. He'll get to choose titles as long as he includes a variety of genres. And we need to work on literary elements (I'm eyeing Lori D's post on that). Grammar: Has been super-casual for us this far, but he has a fine foundation. Will probably do WTM with the two oldest this year. Spelling: AAS level 6 (we're almost finished with this) and level 7. He's on the same level as his sister (gr 6) to make things easier for me. Writing: Continue IEW. Not sure if I should get the next level or if we'll just keep writing and applying what we've learned... Lots and lots of writing on lots of topics. Science: Chemistry using Answers in Genesis, encyclopedias, other books and various experiments. Also Chemistry 101 DVDs and read science articles online. Will delve into other topics as interests arise. This kid devours science. He'll be learning all kinds of stuff on the side in his own time. History: SOTW4 with the family, continue our study of US presidents, listen to current events, lots of history reading and biographies included in reading list. Will probably do a separate study of political parties and electoral system (did a similar study in economics this year). Geography: probably Middle East and Africa P.E.: would like to organize physical activity with some other homeschool families, even if it's just playing catch. Have started preliminary conversations on that. Logic books & games, coding, typing, formatting papers, memory work, art, piano, guitar, Latin (Memorial Press), Spanish vocab and convos, photography, cooking, and whatever else he's interested in for extras.
  3. So far looks like... Bible: we all read a passage and discuss together. This year we covered several epistles and Luke. Next year I'd like to do Acts and Revelation. Math: Math Mammoth 3... We need to shore up subtraction facts to 20 with flashcards this summer. And will continue a lot of skip counting to prep for multiplication. Reading: Mix of books I select for him based on interest. He's not my strongest reader. Goal is to enjoy some good books together and increase fluency. Grammar: MCT Grammar Island, Sentence Island, and Practice Island. Will be first introduction to grammar for him, and I don't feel the need to finish all of this. Keeping it light, fun, and interesting. Spelling: AAS level 3 (he's almost finished with this) and level 4 Writing: Pretty much just writing sentences by dictation for AAS Science: Chemistry with the rest of us using Answers in Genesis, encyclopedias, other books and various experiments. Will delve into other topics as interests arise. He's one of my science kids. History: SOTW4, continue our study of US presidents Geography: probably Middle East and Africa Logic books & games, memory work, art, piano, Spanish vocab and convos, coding, photography, and whatever else he's interested in for extras. Otherwise just Legos. 🙂
  4. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place is a fantastic series! A Little Princess All-of-a-Kind Family Pollyanna Black Beauty The Penderwicks D'Aulaires Greek Myths The Rescuers Tale of Despereaux Series of Unfortunate Events Percy Jackson
  5. Yes! I started alternating weeks between science and history because I found that we *always* did history, while science was hit-or-miss. For us, this was because I LOVE history, but have always felt inadequate to teach science. I had a curriculum. The problem was that I really wasn't motivated to "do science." When we started alternating, we ditched the curriculum and just read lots and lots of science books. This peaked our interest (mine included!) in a host of topics, and we started doing more digging. Life happens and we make connections. Now I am so looking forward to more science next year! I've gotten back to curriculum with the older ones, but we feel free to run away with topics that catch our interest.
  6. I read LOTR last year to bunch (ages 10, 9, 7, 5, and 3). The 3-year old was mostly asleep during our reads. Just feel your kids out. You know them better than anyone. I have a couple that are more sensitive and a couple that are more curious. There's one scene in the Return of the King that describes decapitated heads hurling over the walls of Minas Tirith... It's brief, but I skipped that sentence or modified. I had to condense some of the poems or risk revolt. They otherwise loved it.
  7. I agree. Math Mammoth is comprehensive. Often explores concepts from many angles. I end up skipping some lessons with certain kids that don't need the extra explanations or practice. I use the PDFs and there's more review material there than I print out. Also lots of links to games and sites for extra practice.
  8. Reactions sounds great. I will keep an eye out for that one. We have Theodore Gray's "The Elements" so I probably won't be getting the DK version (altho we do like DK and I like all the photos in their book).
  9. I'm looking for 3-5 nonfiction titles to add to our shelves this coming school year. Would appreciate recommendations for books you've found to be ***the very best*** for inspiring interest in topics, generating discussions, and making connections. Can be reference, biography, etc. If you could choose 3-5 nonfiction books off your shelf (or maybe something you really liked from the library, etc.)... what would you choose? Age range: 8-12 years Boys, girls, or both We're focusing on modern history and chemistry next year, but no need to stick to those areas.
  10. Oh okay. I haven't seen any specific instructions for homeschoolers. Just that the state waved testing for this year. I usually use the ITBS and will prob stick with that to best compare the results with previous years, but thanks!
  11. Does anyone have any thoughts about the validity of end-of-year testing this year? NY (my state) isn't requiring testing this year, everything is out the window right now. We're finishing our 180 days regardless and treating this as any other year academically. My inclination is to go ahead with testing per usual. I like getting some kind of read on where we're at, how the kids are progressing in challenge areas, etc. But...are there any thoughts about how the data might be skewed this year if there's a much smaller pool to measure against?
  12. Not a dumb question. :) My oldest just turned 7. He's in bed by 8 or 9 and still needs a nap 2-3 times a week. I feel it out. Sometimes I'll let him just read or write quietly on his bed while the little ones nap. Sometimes he has to sleep. And a couple days a week I might let him stay up with me. I think every kid is different as far as sleep needs go - and different family situations are different, too. As far as my planning... We get pretty much all school stuff done in the morning, so it doesn't really affect schedule that way. I like the idea of keeping a quiet rest time in the middle of the day - if anything, it gives them time to mull over the different things we learned that morning. And I need that down time, too! :)
  13. I just downloaded a social studies scope & sequence for my state, and I'll make sure we cover these topics (mostly so they're ready for the standardized test at the end of the year...and because some things in there are actually helpful to know :)). I plan to do this mostly by conversing during walks to/from the grocery store & library. :) Most of it is pretty basic. Otherwise we do SOTW and geography as the bulk of our "social studies/history." HTH!
  14. Planning juices flowing...popping in to update my previous post: Memory Work: Geography (countries of Africa & Europe), poems, probably something Shakespeare, Bible verses, Spanish stuff, whatever history/science/math/grammar stuff I think necessary... Bible: Bible Road Trip (mostly just using reading passages), we'll cover Job--Malachi Math: We'll finish MM3B...and then probably take the rest of 1st semester just in review & fun stuff...I'll probably move on with 4A second semester if we're broadening/strengthening the foundation stuff... Logic: Critical Thinking Co. books, logic-building games (stretching my budget here...we'll see how far it goes...) Reading: WTM 2nd grade list, books from my ever-growing book list... Grammar: R&S 3 Writing/Spelling: Modern Speller grade 3 Science: Earth & Space (God's Design for Heaven & Earth, First Encyclopedias, maybe an experiment kit or two, library books & resources) History: SOTW2, encyclopedias, library books Spanish: Speaking Spanish with Miss Mason, First Step Espanol, Little Pim, conversing with Spanish speaking friends Art: Home Art Studio grade 2, artist/picture studies Music: piano lessons, music listening, composer studies
  15. Planning juices have been really flowing lately...so I'm updating my previous post: Bible: Using some of Bible Road Trip (mostly the reading passages)... We'll cover Job to Malachi this year. Memory Work: poems, geography (probably do countries of Europe & Africa), Bible verses, Spanish stuff, maybe some grammar/history/science/math stuff as needed... Math: Feeling good about her foundation now. Plan is to finish MM1B (we've put everything but flashcards on hold for now), also complete 2A and at least some of 2B Language: R&S Grammar 2, The Modern Speller (Gr.2) (I'll use this for spelling lists and copywork/dictation), reading books from my ever-growing book list. :) Logic: Some books from Critical Thinking Company, logic-building games (I've got a list...trying to see how far I can stretch my budget here...) History: SOTW2 (this past year we did history on Friday which worked well...this year I'm morphing into doing the reading in the evenings when we're in the mood, and focusing on the Notebook, review, and extra reading on Fridays) Science: Earth & Space (God's Design for Heaven & Earth, First Encyclopedias, maybe an experiment kit or two, and library books) Music: piano lessons, music listening, studying great composers Art: Home Art Studio Grade 2, studying great artists & their works, etc. Spanish: Little Pim videos, Speaking Spanish with Miss Mason, First Step Espanol, conversations with the Spanish speakers all around us :), etc.
  16. Any opinions? I'm looking specifically at attribute blocks & interlocking cubes to go with Critical Thinking Co.'s Hands-On Thinking Skills (which I just found for super-cheap - yippee! :)) I was pricing manipulatives on eBay/amazon/etc., but am finding that some brands just have stinky reviews. Anyone want to vouch for a brand you've purchased? Thanks!
  17. Sandra Boynton books (We love Doggies, But Not the Hippopotamus, and Azul el Sombrero, Verde el Sombrero best ;)) Go Dogs, Go We're Going on a Bear Hunt Brown Bear, Brown Bear Very Hungry Caterpillar Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Five Little Monkeys Goodnight Moon Where's Spot? Haven't heard the podcast, but I totally agree with the bit you shared!
  18. Yeah, this was disappointing for me, too. I'm not on FB, and don't plan to join just for that perk. I emailed Miss Violin...oh, at least as far back as the fall...and I never heard anything. :( But we enjoy sending pix of our projects to grandparents. :)
  19. My 2nd time through first grade... We school through the year (probably will take June off, though). Math: Wherever we leave off...somewhere in MM1B? and maybe finish 2A...or maybe just take things nice & slow. Goal is to keep math fun. Dd5 isn't a mathy person, but she's loving math so far. :) Language: R&S Grammar 2, Alphaphonics Spelling Lists, reading lots of good books Piano lessons Joining big bro (2nd grade) for: Memory Work: too lazy to list it all right now :) Bible: Bible Road Trip, Yr2 (Job--Malachi) History: SOTW2 Science: Earth & Space (variety of resources) Art: Home Art Studio, Grade 2 Spanish: Little Pim, Salsa Spanish videos, grammar book, Speaking Spanish with Miss Mason, etc. Music listening, read alouds from good literature, etc.
  20. Loving it here, too. :) We're doing grade 1 this year w/ 6yo, 5yo, and almost 3yo (well, he & I do his together ;)).
  21. We school year round, too... We'll have a lighter schedule for June & July... By then, I hope to be doing: Memory Work: Geography (countries of Africa & Europe), Poetry, Kings of England, whatever English lists we don't get to this year, Planets in our solar system, Constellations, etc. Bible: Bible Road Trip Y2, Job--Malachi Math: MM3B... Not sure what we'll do after that, though. I'll be searching the Hive for ideas. :) Reading: WTM 2nd grade list, Sonlight Grade 4-5 readers, whatever else interests him... Grammar: R&S 3 Writing/Spelling: Modern Speller grade 4...or maybe just pulling sentences from literature books we read... Literature: WTM literature lists, Sonlight read-alouds, etc. Science: Earth & Space...variety of books, games, etc. History: SOTW2 Spanish: Speaking Spanish with Miss Mason, Reviewing vocabulary, Grammar workbook... Art: Home Art Studio grade 2 Music: Piano Adventures, music listening I plan to keep up our current schedule: Math/Language/Science 4 days/week, History/Art on Fridays.
  22. kwg, :grouphug: I've been thinking & praying for you throughout the day...
  23. Yes, you need to communicate what you're feeling - as best you can. It's easy to keep that sort of pain inside. It hurts so bad it can be hard to talk about - esp for someone (like me) who hates to cry in public. But you need time & space to heal. And those around you (immediate family) need to understand this - and give you the time & space. My dh was so sweet about this - ordering out so I didn't have to cook, being super-understanding when I didn't get any housework done all day, keeping the kids quiet... School... I would set the school aside for a time...a week, a couple weeks...whatever you think you need. And allow yourself to really grieve & process without feeling the guilt of what you're not getting done. Then, when the time's up, gently pick things up again...and move forward. Another thing that really helped me was being able to talk about my loved one with others who knew him well. Sharing stories was huge. I think remembering helps the healing process along. I went through every single memory I could think of...I wrote them down. One by one. And I cried all the way through them. We got together as a family, and told more stories... It's been a year for me now. I still have moments - waves of pain & grief from unexpected places. I miss him. so. much. But it is easier now.
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