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mymomtime

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Everything posted by mymomtime

  1. My son is 7 and he uses his fingers like a ten frame. He will use a long ten frame but when it's not available he will use his hands. It is faster then setting up the ten frame. We play the games in addition Facts that Stick and he is getting better with seeing the ten frame in his head.
  2. A good book for resources of books for multiple age levels is "Give Your Child the World; Raising Globally Minded Children One Book at a Time" by Jamie Martin I have enjoyed the selection of books from her lists.
  3. I am using it with my strong reader and speller. We do a lesson every 2-4 days. It is very open and go and requires no prep for me. We also don't use the tiles. I tried them, he found them tedious, but he was able to write or "see" it in his head faster. We use a small white board for the lesson either at a table or sitting on the couch. My son learned to read with phonics (OPGTR) and AAS is reinforcing his phonetic skills and he is applying the rules he has learned to sounding out words and we have discussions on how words are pronounced. He enjoys how quick it can get done and is learning at the same time. We will see if that continues if it becomes challenging, which it hasn't been up to this point. BUT I'm still using it because he is learning those rules and I see them making a difference.
  4. This is what we've been doing...I don't know if it is high interest enough for your child. I am using the book "Give Your Child the World" by Jamie C. Martin as a reference to find books about the different areas of the world. We are just about done with Africa, but we did one or 2 countries a day and read a little bit about the country (looked at the map, read about major features of the land, maybe a famous person, looked at the flag) very generally and then colored the country on the map. He also traced the continent of Africa daily. I have not expected him to draw it free hand at all. I'm going for the basics and general knowledge at 6/7 years old. Then we read from the books suggested in the book or I find others at the library. One was an anthology and we just read one short story a day. We also read from the Usborne World Geography book on Africa, one double page spread until the section was finished. I did have him tell me one or two things he remembered after I read it to him and I wrote it down. I am only homeschooling one, so we do lots of teacher intensive stuff because I can. I think he has enjoyed it. He can locate countries on Africa or at least knows their general area. He really enjoys the picture books and stories we have read from around Africa. He then likes to find the country on the map. So connections are being made. Next up is Europe. My plan is to do one continent every 6-8 weeks until we've hit all 7 (Antarctica will not be 6-7 weeks, and I will probably do United States and Canada separate) Planning is still being figured out.
  5. My 1st grader is currently flying through AAS level 2. He is about 4 lessons from the end. About 3 lessons ago, I randomly had him spell various words from lessons 20-25 and he got them all right. I am planning on finishing the level at his pace which is about 4 days per lesson. He has his phonograms and rules down and he is able to apply what he has learned in both reading and in writing. He is currently reading on somewhere between a 4th and 6th grade level. We just read everything! He loves to read and listen to books (both audio books and me reading). He does a good job with the dictation sentences. Suggestions for my next step? Continue on to Level 3 when he finishes? I really like AAS because it teaches rules and even I'm learning. Switch programs? to what? Continue to Level 3 in the fall and do higher level phonics the rest of the year? I'm thinking Elizabeth B's "A Crash Course in Polysyllables".
  6. My preschooler liked Scholastic's Branches Series. Larger type, lots of pictures, and chapters. They were a great bridge for my kid to a typical chapter book. He was ready to read chapter books, but still wanted pictures. But he also didn't want to read picture books, preferring those for evening read aloud time. I still struggle to find books for him to read, the good reads list above will help me I'm sure. My 1st grader is now reading on a 4th-5th level.
  7. I review about 5 cards from each section each day. After reviewing, I put them in the "mastered" section. When I run out, I move the "mastered" back up to review. For the "green" word cards I review 5 each day. I do not add the cards from the current step to the review section until after I finish that step. So we just started Step 12 today in book 2. We reviewed 5 phonogram sounds, wrote 5 phonograms (different ones), reviewed 5 rules, and orally spelled 5 word cards. I put the 5 phonogram sound cards behind the mastered card if they were right, if they were wrong, I put them randomly back in the review stack. Same with the written phonograms. When all the cards are behind the mastered tab, I move them back to the review tab and we begin again. If there is a new phonogram, I will not put it in mastered until we've reviewed it a few times. The rules get reviewed more often because there are less of them. I just tend to put not even put those in mastered, we just keep reviewing 5 a day. Every week or so I'll mix up the order. The word cards get reviewed either orally or written-just depends on the day. I try to shuffle these cards at least once a week. I only put new words into the review stack after we have finished a step. If they get a review word wrong, it gets put randomly back in the review stack. Otherwise it gets put in the mastered tab to be moved up periodically. I did spend quite a bit of time working just drilling the phonogram sounds. And we are still reviewing all the sounds even though we are in level 2 now. Maybe review 10 of the sounds both written and oral daily until he has all but 10 mastered? And keep reviewing the words and rules up to step 7. Once he has the sounds down, I think moving on will go easier. I don't know, I seem to have a natural speller. Good luck.
  8. Benedryl was suggested for my daughter.
  9. I'm doing Song School Latin alternating with Spanish learning songs I find on YouTube. I'm just looking for exposure for both languages and I think it is working. My son is now answering math facts in Spanish numbers just because he wants too. We spend anywhere from 10-30 minutes daily on one or the other. It just depends on interest and what we are doing. He looks forward to both Spanish and Latin daily.
  10. I assessed my 6 year old (he will be 7 end of Dec) using 40Ls Quick Screen Grade Level test from the Phonics Page. He scored 4th grade. I'm going to see how he does with the nonsense words tomorrow. We are currently at the beginning of All About Spelling 2. If I were to continue phonic instruction, what could I use? We finished OPGTR. I like scripted, because I feel like I need the direction. And I want it to be engaging for an active boy. Or should we just keep reading. I do lots of read alouds, have him read to me a few times a week, and he does a fair amount of silent reading (around level & below). Glad I've got him at home and can teach him where he is at.
  11. I'm a newbie too, who is also planning on using Wayfarer's next year. Although right now I'm not using ELTL. I am thinking about using the history and geography in a loop schedule with Mr. Q science. I am thinking about looping Language Arts subjects in their own loop. I plan on using the bible reading, math, Wayfarer's literature readings (both the ELTL and what is scheduled as Literature in Wayfarer's) and handwriting daily. I have no idea if it will actually work. I am thinking that each loop will be 45 minutes to an hour. But I really have no idea. I am not going to use her art stuff because it isn't my forte and he will be doing art at co-op. We will do the music appreciation. I have included on my loop schedule the Activities section of the Wayfarer's plan on my history/geography/science loop. I also have an active 6 year old boy. BUT he loves to listen to stories about history, science, and a wide variety of fiction.
  12. I'm listening in...I have drooled over Teaching the Classics, but Deconstructing Penguins is much cheaper.
  13. Hi! I'm a baby, infant homeschooler. I'm probably bringing my kindergartner home next year, and I feel like I've got my ducks in a row with him. My now 7th grader, public schooled his whole little life, is seriously thinking about home schooling 8th grade. (insert deep breathing) I’m a little freaked out. I have told him we would figure it out if it was what he felt he needed or wanted. Sometimes I think he gets pushed to the side and I want to show him I support him. (Older sister involved in a lot of things and has a chronic condition; little brother is very bright and the baby of the family) We talked about how it wasn't going to be easy to come home. It was still going to be school work, and there would still be things he didn't like and things that would be hard. We talked about how he would have to get some school work done independently and not just play all day. He mostly doesn't like school. He doesn't find any relevance to any of the work they are doing. He is bored, not turning in some work because he finds it stupid. He hates math, yet could probably be good at it. He was placed in a horrible "gifted" class in 4th and 5th grades and I feel he missed some pretty basic foundational math skills, he agrees with this. And he is struggling in math. He LOVES science and video games! He is horrible at spelling and his writing could use definite improvement. He reads very well, but doesn’t like to read, unless it is about video games, non-fiction science, or other non-fiction subjects he is interested in. There wouldn’t be a lot in our budget for expensive out-sourced classes or curriculum. And having never done homeschooling, and with high school right around the corner, I don’t know what the plan for high school would be; I’d like to just take it year by year. My son and I also talked about taking 2 years to do 8th grade. He is on the young side in his grade (Summer Birthday), so it wouldn’t be that big of a deal except for his friends who are all in his current grade. Our high school does have a pretty good STEM program from what I hear. BUT he needs to get his math foundation a little stronger, in my opinion. After-schooling isn’t an option with this kid. He needs that down-time after school to recharge. He has really resisted it in the past. I don’t even know where to begin with him, if the decision is made for him to stay home next year. The only subject I have figured out would be history; he would join his brother in Ancients doing Wayfarers. Any suggestions on where to begin? Things for me to read (I skimmed WTM logic stage last night.)? Things for him to read and consider? Help?
  14. I have planned like I WILL get to homeschool next year for 1st grade. If it turns out I don't, I'm thinking of doing just history/science afterschool/bedtime literature. WWE /FLL AAS Zaner Bloser 2C (begin cursive by end of the year) Use ELTL literature list for read alouds Singapore, Mammoth Math, or MEP (I can't decide) Wayfarers Ancient Mr. Q Life Science SSL and watch Salsa videos for Spanish Music I will probably follow Wayfarers schedule with read alouds as available and listening to music. I may start him with piano lessons. Art I plan on using Arttango, we will see how that works, art is not a strong suit of mine.
  15. I agree with those who say don't make too many plans until you see the kids you have in front of you. I started researching homeschooling when my middle child was crying about going to school some time in 4th and 5th grade. As I looked into it, I found I really liked the idea of it and suggested to my son that he could come home and we would figure it out. He chose not to come home. I would have had to convince my husband if he had said he did. In my research, I saw that it might be an option for my littlest who at the time was still a toddler, BUT already knew all his letter sounds and could count some. I stumbled on the WTM book and eventually bought it and read it. By this time, my youngest was sounding out words and attending a play based preschool. Every year, I still ask my middle child if he would like to come home. He doesn't want too, even though there are somethings he struggles with at public school. I've also offered it to my eldest, but she also said no. She is very musical, and I could never provide the excellent music education she receives at our public school in our home environment. My youngest is currently in 1/2 day kindergarten, public school. He spends 1/2 that time in the 1st grade classroom for reading instruction. Well, it is actually mostly spelling and written expression instruction. He is reading on about a 3rd grade level, but his other "language arts skills" are closer to the 1st/2nd grade standards. The other 1/2 of 1/2 day kindergarten is spent doing math and some science/social studies. Math is easy for him, but it isn't as easy as reading. He is solidifying his teen numbers in kindergarten. I am currently still in talks with my husband about homeschooling for 1st grade. He has many reasons (see list above) that he wants to stay in public school. One of his reasons is he is an "in the box" kind of person and he doesn't like to go outside the box, to him homeschooling is just too far outside the box for him. BUT he also hasn't said "NO, give up your dream." (I asked him this directly.) He wants me to keep talking to him about why I want to bring my youngest home. I was expecting kindergarten to be a nightmare for my youngest due to boredom. The school and teacher have accommodated for him and that has made a huge difference. I think if my son was having lots of issues, my husband would be more agreeable to bring him home. I am afterschooling my kindergartner. It is easy since he is home half day. We spend less than 2 hours and most of that is read alouds. I do 1st grade math with him, and we are working our way through WWE1 & FLL1. He enjoys receiving the challenging work at home. He flies through his kindergarten math homework and his 1st grade reading homework. Next year afterschooling will look different if he attends school. He won't get home until after 4 and that is when my older kids have a lot of their activities that I like to attend, along with dinner, homework for school, and downtime. I won't be able to do it like I'm doing it this year. I think you should keep the communication open. Wait and see how your kids are. Wait and see how the schools are where ever you land when your kids are school aged. You've got time on your side.
  16. My five (almost 6) prefers writing words, short sentences instead of a line of letters. Especially if they are silly. I also sit next to him to make sure letter formation is correct. And I do erase for sloppiness and incorrect formation. We do white board work too. If I feel he needs extra practice on a letter, I just have him write 5 letters after his sentence/copy work. He is slowly making improvements.
  17. My son was moved out of kindergarten reading. His school levels reading/language arts school wide after kindergarten. He is reading on approximately a 2.5 grade level. His school placed him in the first level of first grade. The reason they put him in that class instead of his reading ability is because the rest of his Language Arts skills are not on a second grade level. I was also told he reads circles around the other kids in his class. His handwriting, spelling, and written expression are more in line with first grade in our public school. He is a little bit bored, but not to the point of me getting notes home. The "stories" he brings home are extremely simple for him to read. They spend 3 days on one story and we are suppose to read it every day (and I think they expect it to take 20 minutes to read). I have been told, he only has to read it the first day it comes home and the other days he can read something else. The classroom is reinforcing some phonics and is teaching him spelling using phonics. The "other" language arts" skills he is working on in the 1st grade classroom seem to give him enough challenge that he isn't getting into enough trouble for the teacher to write home about. My son probably is also very active and can act out when bored. One of the teachers even told me, "We don't want him getting bored, please read other books at home." This was over a concern because his class was repeating 3 stories. He did fine. We didn't re-read any of the stories and he amazingly did fine. Kindergarten for him is a social event as well. I am keeping him challenged at home with lots of read-alouds, and some more challenging math and language arts skills at home. Good luck OP!
  18. My public school kids use it. It isn't my favorite, but I can't really tell you why as I don't have much experience and I haven't used much homeschool curriculum . It is colorful. The kindergarten pages my son brings home bug me because the directions are at the bottom of the worksheet. I haven't really looked too much at my big kids workbooks. ETA: Here is a website that has links to the online versions of the books (K-5), both the in-class book, and the practice (homework) book. Plus the enrichment and reteach books. Most school systems do not put all this out on their public pages. Mine has given a log-in to the students to think central, at least they have in years past, I haven't seen one for this year for my kindergartner or my big kids. http://www.dist228.org/index-new.php?page=southwest/parentresourcesmath2.html
  19. I sent my K'er this year. I wish I hadn't. I am struggling more than he is because I don't want him there, my husband does. He isn't learning anything new at all, not academically or socially. All has been review, so there are things that are sticking a bit better now. He is having fun, though.
  20. My son is a kindergartner too and is above grade level as well. His homework is review and it can be a struggle to get it done because he either does it too fast and is a sloppy mess, or he just wants to play and not do the work. The way reading is done in my school district is a school-wide leveling program (called Success for All). Kindergarten is typically its own level, 1st to 2nd another level (Roots) and 3rd and up another (Wings). Every morning the entire school switches classes for 90 min. Students attend a reading class that is on their level. For example, a 3rd grader could be in a 4.5 level class with 3rd, 4th, & even 5th graders. I advocated for my son to get out of the reading class in Kindergarten because he didn't need to be learning his letters, initial sounds, and sight words. He is reading on at least a mid second grade level. They moved him to the 1st level of 1st grade. His reading is above where most of the kids are, but his spelling and especially his handwriting are at the same or just a bit lower where the other kids are. His reading teacher did tell me he isn't bored, but he isn't really challenged either. BUT I do see learning in the form of reinforcement of phonics. This teacher is good and she is supplementing the scripted program with more phonics. I hate the program. My son spends 1/2 his kindergarten day (he is in 1/2 day because I don't want to afford the $400/month for full day) in the 1st grade reading group, and then returns for Math and what ever else the teacher does for the last part of the day. Math is easy for him. BUT I am not pushing moving forward in math because I want him to have a good strong foundation and his K teacher is able to give more differentiation in Math in class. I challenge my son at home. We read aloud books that are more challenging. I'm doing AAS with him to improve his spelling and phonetics. I'm doing MEP and Mammoth Math to give him the challenge he needs. We are also doing lots of read alouds on lots of different non-fiction topics. I wouldn't bring up the topic of doing different homework. I would just see it as review and find other ways to challenge at home. Hopefully the teacher already knows your child is ahead of the game. Maybe ask the teacher if she is able to differentiate any instruction for your child. The kindergarten reading program doesn't allow for much differentiation in my school, but the math does. My son surpassed the benchmarks for the end of year on the AIMS WEB (assessment public schools often use) in reading. That is why they did more assessment and moved him out of Kindergarten for reading. Good luck.
  21. I've been following this thread because I'm wondering how my son's public school is going to accommodate him and WHAT accommodations will make me happy or if I'm ok with him not learning anything this year. Right now, he is in Kindergarten but is reading fluently. They sent home today a "concepts of print" book that I'm supposed to read to him. He read it to me, then said it was stupid. He is also supposed to be practicing sight words. He is enjoying Kindergarten, I think he thinks it is fun and easy. He hasn't hit boredom yet. It has only been 5 days of school! Math wise he is probably meeting about 80% of the standards for Kindergarten. He hates doing his homework because they already did the same thing in class and it is too easy right now. I've already talked to his teacher and she said she'd like to see him moved to the first grade for reading, but nothing as far as I can tell has been done. BUT it is only 5 days into the school year! I'm trying to be patient. I don't even know if any assessment has been done. My boy isn't a talker about what he does. Good luck OP. Not an easy road. I can't convince my husband to homeschool without sending him Public School first. (secretly I'm hoping it doesn't work for my son).
  22. My daughter had bifocals for about a year at 3 (I think) She had trouble with stairs and playgrounds. But was fine everywhere else. She still has a lingering fear of heights.
  23. I incorporate handwriting into copy work by sitting next to him and making sure he forms each letter as it should be formed. That means erasing when it is formed incorrectly. It also means very dependent on you. We are still working on individual letters. He has worked his way through all lower case letters and now will work on fluency with writing the alphabet daily. I hate working on handwriting, but after paying attention to how my big kids write, I'm not letting him get away with out direct instruction. I'm thinking about ELtL for my Kindergartner next year too. I can't decide. I think it looks awesome though.
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