Our Curriculum for 2008-2009

Autumn-7 years old:

Reading Comprehension & Post-Phonics Oral Reading: Read books from Sonlight and Veritas Press reading lists, use reading cup questions. Reading Strands.

Spelling: Choose words from 1st grade spelling list and her weekly writing. Write three times by: three mediums, rainbow writing, and using in a sentence. Test weekly.

Language: Explode the Code Books 1 through 3 1/2

Writing: Writing Strands 2 and Evaluating Writing

Math: Saxon Math 1

German: Rosetta Stone

Heidi-5 years old:

Reading Comp.: Read with Mom daily and discuss our reading.

Reading & Phonics: 100 Easy Lessons

Spelling: Write three times by: three mediums, rainbow writing, and magazine clippings. Test weekly.

Penmanship: Zaner Bloser worksheets from first-school

Writing: Writing Strands 1

Math: Janice Van Cleave’s “Let’s Play and Find Out About Math” (From the library)

German: Muzzy (from the library as often as possible) & adult-assisted Rosetta Stone

Joint Lessons:

Scriptures: The Articles of Faith from ldsactivitydays, Book of Mormon Reader, and The Book of Mormon for Latter-day Saint Families

History: All Through the Ages: History through Literature Guide

Geography: The Ultimate Geography & Timeline Guide

Science: Noeo Biology I (using required books from the library and substituting experiment kits with Janice Van Cleave’s experiments)

Blastoff! Readers

Level 1 provides the most support through repetition of high-frequency words, light text, predictable sentence patterns, and strong visual support.

Level 2 offers early readers a bit more challenge through varied simple sentences, increased text load, and less repetition of high frequency words.

Level 3 advances early-fluent readers toward fluency through increased text and concept load, less reliance on visuals, longer sentences, and more literary language.

Level 4 builds reading stamina by providing more text per page, increased use of punctuation, greater variation in sentence patterns, and increasingly challenging vocabulary.

Level 5 encourages children to move from “learning to read” to “reading to learn” by providing even more text, varied writing styles, and less familiar topics.

People of Character (Level 4)

Abraham Lincoln: A Life of Honesty (Tonya Leslie) 630/3.9

George Washington: A Life of Self-discipline (Anne Todd) 630/3.8

Jackie Robinson: A Life of Determination (Colleen Sexton) 570.3.3

John F. Kennedy: A Life of Citizenship (Anne Todd) 660/3.9

Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Life of Fairness (Tonya Leslie)

Mother Teresa: A Life of Kindness (Ellen Weiss)

Rosa Parks: A Life of Courage (Tonya Leslie)

Thomas Jefferson: A Life of Patriotism (Tonya Leslie)

Oceans Alive (Level 2)

Clown Fish (Colleen Sexton) G/600/1.8

Corals (Ann Herriges) G/430/2.3

Crabs (Ann Herriges) G/410/2.1

Dolphins (Ann Herriges) G/320/1.8

Eels (Derek Zobel)

Jellyfish (Ann Herriges) G/420/2.2

Lobsters (Martha E. H. Rustad) 650/2.1

Manatees (Ann Herriges) G/420/1.8

Octopuses (Ann Herriges) F/440/1.8

Parrotfish (Martha E. H. Rustad) 540/2.2

Puffer Fish (Colleen Sexton)

Sea Anemones (Martha E. H. Rustad) 600/2.1

Sea Dragons (David Schach) G/520/2

Sea Horses (Ann Herriges) F/450/1.9

Sea Lions (Colleen Sexton)

Sea Stars (Ann Herriges) G/440/1.8

Sea Turtles (Ann Herriges) G/490/2.1

Sea Urchins (Martha E. H. Rustad) 660/2.1

Seals (Colleen Sexton) G/490/1.7

Seal Pups (Colleen Sexton)

Sharks (Colleen Sexton) 530/2.2

Squid (Colleen Sexton)

Stingrays (Martha E. H. Rustad) G/550/1.8

Walruses (Colleen Sexton) 530/1.9

Whales (Ann Herriges) G/340/1.8

The Senses (Level 4)

The Sense of Hearing 590/3.1

The Sense of Sight

The Sense of Smell

The Sense of Taste

The Sense of Touch

Mighty Machines (Level 1)

Airplanes (Mary Lindeen) F/440/1.4

Ambulances (Kay Manolis)

Backhoes (Ray McClellan) E/320/1.4

Big Rigs (Kay Manolis)

Bulldozers (M. T. Martin) D/230/1.5

Concrete Mixers (Ray McClellan) E/390/1.7

Cranes (M. T. Martin) D/350/1.6

Dump Trucks (Ray McClellan) D/330/1.3

Earth Movers (M. T. Martin) D/400/1.2

Fire Trucks (Mary Lindeen) E/450/1.2

Garbage Trucks (Mary Lindeen) 580/1.9

Graders (Mary Lindeen) 490/1.2

Monster Trucks (Kay Manolis) 49O/1.8

Police Cars (Kay Manolis)

Ships (Mary Lindeen) F/310/1.3

Snowplows (Mary Lindeen) 470/1.4

Tractors (Mary Lindeen) F/400/1.3

Trains (Mary Lindeen) F/310/1.1

Trucks (Mary Lindeen) E/520/1.4

World of Insects (Level 2)

Ants (Emily K. Green) 390/1.3

Beetles (Colleen Sexton)

Bumblebees (Emily K. Green)

Butterflies (Martha E. H. Rustad)

Cicadas (Collen Sexton)

Cockroaches (Emily K. Green)

Crickets (Emily K. Green)

Dragonflies (Emily K. Green)

Fireflies (Emily K. Green)

Grasshoppers (Emily K. Green)

Honey Bees (Colleen Sexton)

Ladybugs (Martha E. H. Rustad)

Mosquitoes (Martha E. H. Rustad)

Moths (Martha E. H. Rustad)

Praying Mantises (Colleen Sexton)

Termites (Martha E. H. Rustad)

Walkingsticks (Emily K. Green)

Wasps (Martha E. H. Rustad)

Watch Animals Grow (Level 1)

Bunnies (Colleen Sexton)

Ducklings (Colleen Sexton) 610/3.1

Kittens (Colleen Sexton)

Piglets (Colleen Sexton)

Puppies (Colleen Sexton)

Farm Animals (Level 1)

Cats (Hollie Endres) 610/1

Chickens (Emily K. Green)

Cows (Emily K. Green)

Dogs (Hollie Endres)

Ducks (Hollie Endres)

Geese (Hollie Endres)

Goats (Emily K. Green)

Horses (Emily K. Green)

Pigs (Emily K. Green)

Rabbits (Hollie Endres)

Sheep (Emily K. Green)

Turkeys (Hollie Endres)

Learning about the Earth (Level 3)

Caves (Emily K. Green) I/630/2.4

Deserts (Emily K. Green) H/540/2.1

Forests (Emily K. Green) H/710/2.4

Glaciers (Colleen Sexton) 610/2.6

Lakes (Emily K. Green) H/480/2.1

Mountains (Emily K. Green) H/480/2.1

Oceans (Emily K. Green) H/510/2.2

Prairies (Hollie Endres) 610/2.4

Rainforests (Colleen Sexton) 660/2.6

Rivers (Emily K. Green) I/510/2.1

Volcanoes (Emily K. Green) I/580/2.8

Wetlands (Hollie Endres) 670/2.7

Weather (Level 3)

Clouds (Ann Herriges) 550/2.2

Lightning (Ann Herriges)

Rain (Ann Herriges)

Snow (Ann Herriges)

Sunshine (Ann Herriges)

Wind (Ann Herriges)

First Science (Level 4)

Electricity (Mari Schuh)

Energy (Kay Manolis)

Light (Mari Schuh)

Magnetism (Mari Schuh)

Matter (Kay Manolis)

Sound (Kay Manolis)

Temperature (Kay Manolis)

Seasons (Level 3)

Fall (Ann Herriges) H/420/1.6

Spring (Ann Herriges) H/580/1.8

Summer (Ann Herriges) H/350/1.6

Winter (Ann Herriges) H/390/1.7

The New Food Guide Pyramid (Level 2)

Fruits (Emily K. Green) H/550/2.2

Grains (Emily K. Green)

Healthy Eating (Emily K. Green)

Keeping Fit (Emily K. Green)

Meat and Beans (Emily K. Green)

Milk, Yogurt and Cheese (Emily K. Green)

Oils (Emily K. Green)

Vegetables (Emily K. Green)

Margaret Hiller’s “Beginning-to-Read” Books

I discovered as I compiled this list that there are 13 new books this year which haven’t been given ARR Levels yet so I have not included them. On the publisher’s page they are marked with a “New” so they are easy to find.

Also, I am not sure what the BR stands for in the lexile rating (beginning reader?) since the lexile ratings I’ve seen consisted of only numbers. Maybe the BR ones without a number just haven’t been rated yet. I’ll have to do some more research on that but in any case, the ARR Level is still helpful. I’ve also included the ARR Quiz # not knowing what that is but thinking it could be helpful once I find out.

The Birthday Car

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9353
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: .5
Lexile Level: BRThe Funny Baby

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9364
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: .6
Lexile Level: BR

The Magic Beans

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9383
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: .6
Lexile Level: BR330

The Three Bears

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9391
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: .6
Lexile Level: BR300

The Three Goats

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9392
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: .6
Lexile Level: BR230

The Three Little Pigs

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9393
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: .6
Lexile Level: BR

Cinderella at the Ball

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9355
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: .7
Lexile Level: BR

Four Good Friends

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9361
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: .7
Lexile Level: BR

Not I, Not I

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9386
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: .7
Lexile Level: BR

The Little Cookie

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9378
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: .8
Lexile Level: BR310

Circus Fun

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9356
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 0.8
Lexile Level: BR260

It’s Halloween, Dear Dragon

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9375
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 0.8
Lexile Level: BR

Let’s Go, Dear Dragon

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9376
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 0.8
Lexile Level: BR270

Merry Christmas, Dear Dragon

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9385
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 0.8
Lexile Level: BR City Fun

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9357EN
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 0.8
Lexile Level: BR

A House for Little Red

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9370
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 0.8
Lexile Level: BR290

The Purple Pussycat

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9388
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 0.8
Lexile Level: BR

Tom Thumb

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9394
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: .8
Lexile Level: BR140

A Friend for Dear Dragon

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9362
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 0.8
Lexile Level: BR240

Happy Birthday, Dear Dragon

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9367
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 0.8
Lexile Level: BR

I Love You, Dear Dragon

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9372
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 0.8
Lexile Level: BR270

I Need You, Dear Dragon

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9373
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 0.8
Lexile Level: BR

It’s Circus Time, Dear Dragon

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9374
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 0.9
Lexile Level: BR

Happy Easter, Dear Dragon

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9368
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 0.9
Lexile Level: BR

Help for Dear Dragon

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9369
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 0.9
Lexile Level: BR140

Go to Sleep, Dear Dragon

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9365
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 0.9
Lexile Level: BR200

Let’s Have a Play

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9377EN
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 0.9
Lexile Level: BR

Fun Days

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9363EN
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 0.9
Lexile Level: BR

Who Goes to School?

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9397
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 0.9
Lexile Level: BR170

The Ball Book

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9352
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 1
Lexile Level: BR120

The Snow Baby

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9389
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 1
Lexile Level: BR

Come to School, Dear DragonAccelerated Reader Quiz #: 9359
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 1
Lexile Level: BR140

I Like Things

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9371 EN
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 1
Lexile Level: BR

The Boy and the Goats

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9354
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 1
Lexile Level: BR

Why We Have Thanksgiving

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9398
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 1
Lexile Level: BR

Little Red Riding Hood

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9381
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 1.1
Lexile Level: BR80

Come Play With Me

Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 9358EN
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 1.2
Lexile Level: BR

PinocchioAccelerated Reader Quiz #: 9387
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 1.2
Lexile Level: BR220

The Cookie HouseAccelerated Reader Quiz #: N/A
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 1.4
Lexile Level: BR

Early Readers

This week I found the series A Beginning-to-Read Book at the library and have fallen in love with them! They are simple enough for beginning readers but not trite. Autumn loves them and can read them easily. They are great for improving fluency and practicing common words. It seems that true “early” readers are hard to find so I’m excited about these.

Our library carries ALL of them too, so that’s an added bonus. The library editions also include a two-page spread in the back for “Reading Reinforcement” with word games based on the concepts in each book.This is the link for the publisher information on the books. I love how the information for each book also includes the accelerated reader reading level and the lexile rating. So useful!

I’m making a page for easy reference mainly for me, but anyone else is welcome to it if it helps them. I’m going to include the accelerated reader level and lexile rating for each book so that we can go in order when possible.

2008-2009 Shopping List

Games for Writing by Peggy Kaye

Games for Math by Peggy Kaye

Games with Books by Peggy Kaye

Games for Learning by Peggy Kaye

(already have Games for Reading)

Schoolhouse Rock 30th Anniversary DVD

Saxon Math 1 Workbooks & Fact Cards (22.50)

Noeo Biology I

All Through the Ages: History through Literature by Christine Miller (22.95)

The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide by Maggie Hogan and Cindy Wiggers (34.95)

Read-alouds we've enjoyed

The Spiderwick Chronicles

The BFG

The Mouse and the Motorcycle

The Cricket at Times Square

James and the Giant Peach

The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe

A Wrinkle in Time

Magic TreeHouse - Book 1

Time Warp Trio - Book 1

Outdoor Toys

We have a pretty good sized patio and I’m looking forward to stocking up with some outdoor toys to entertain the girls. So far, these are things I think would be really fun for them. Anyone else have any fun ideas for outdoor play with limited space? Obviously I have enough room for these but definitely not a swing set or baseball-type things.

Pogo Balls

Hop Balls

Skip Balls

Mini Trampoline

Jump-ropes (they already have these)

A couple of ride-on toys

Hopefully I can find them for cheap! Maybe even at yard sales?

1st Grade (A)

This summer:

• finish Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons just to make sure we’ve covered all it offers
• daily silent reading (10-15 minutes for now?)
• I read to her daily
• she reads to me daily

Reading Comprehension

Book-based study guides for kids in grades K-12 - www.learninglinks.com

Story S-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-r-s by Shirley C. Raines and Robert J. Canady (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

Writing

The Creative Journal for Children by Lucia Capacchione (NOT AT LIBRARY)

A is for Angry: An Animal and Adjective Alphabet by Sandra Boynton (NOT AT LIBRARY)

Kites Sail High: A Book About Verbs (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

Many Luscious Lollipops: A Book About Adjectives (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

Merry-Go-Round: A Book About Nouns by Ruth Heller (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

Slither, Swoop, Swing by Alex Ayliffe (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

Mrs. ABC Spelling and Phonics Curriculum - www.mrsabc.com

Exactly the Opposite by Tana Hoban

A High, Low, Near, Far, Loud, Quiet Story by Nina Crews (NOT AT LIBRARY)

The King Who Rained by Fred Gwynne (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

Wet Foot, Dry Foot, High Foot, Low Foot by Linda Hayward (NOT AT LIBRARY)

Listening and Speaking Skills

Kids on Stage - charades board game for kids ages 3-8 - www.universitygames.com

Study Skills

1. Know the uses of a dictionary, encyclopedia, and card catalog.
2. Be able to put words in alphabetical order according to first letter.

Mathematics

daily practice!

Number Theory

100 Days of School by Trudy Harris (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

From One to One Hundred by Teri Sloat (NOT AT LIBRARY)

One Potato: A Counting Book of Potato Prints by Diane Pomeroy (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

…98, 99, 100! Ready or Not, Here I Come! by Teddy Slater (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

The Crayon Counting Book by Pam Munoz Ryan and Jerry Pallotta (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

The King’s Commissioners by Aileen Friedman (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

Anno’s Math Games by Mitsumasa Anno (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

Eating Fractions by Bruce McMillan (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

Fraction Action by Loreen Leedy (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

The Best Vacation Ever by Stuart J. Murphy (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

Counting: Ourselves and Our Families by Antonia Stone and Susan Jo Russell (NOT AT LIBRARY)

Operations

www.sycamoretree.com (games using double-nine dominoes)

Money and Management

Alexander Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday by Judith Vorst (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

The Go-Around Dollar by Barbara Adams (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

One Hand at a Time by Patricia Smith (NOT AT THE LIBRARY)

www.delta-ed.com (small clocks)

How Big is a Foot? by Rolf Myller (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

Twelve Snails to One Lizard by Susan Hightower (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

Geometry

A Cloak for the Dreamer by Aileen Friedman (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

The Shapes Game by Paul Rogers (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

M is for Mirror by Ducan Birmingham (NOT AT LIBRARY)

Which Way, Ben Bunny? by Mavis Smith (NOT AT THE LIBRARY)

History and Geography

American History: General

The Hundred Penny Box by Sharon Bell Mathis

The Quilt Story by Tony Johnston

They Were Strong and Good by Robert Lawson

Lives of the Presidents: Fame, Shame (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull

My Fellow Americans: A Family Album by Alice Provensen

Happy Birthday, Grandma Moses! by Claire Bonfanti Braham and Maria Bonfanti Esche (a month-by-month list of over 100 “special days,” including national and multicultural holidays and birthdays of famous people, with accompanying activities, games, recipes, and reading lists.)

New True Books: American Symbols Series by Patricia Ryon Quiri (a series of simple large-print books on national symbols, illustrated with color photographs)

From Sea to Shining Sea: A Treasury of American Folklore and Folk Songs by Amy L. Cohn

John Henry: An American Legend by Ezra Jack Keats

Tall Tale Series by Steven Kellogg (includes Johnny Appleseed, Mike Fink, Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett)

Yankee Doodle: A Revolutionary War Tale by Gary Chalk

American History: Chronological Survey

If You…Series (If You Lived in the Day of the Wild Mammoth Hunters and If You Lived with the Sioux Indians)

Native American Legends Series by Terri Cohlene (includes Dancing Drum: A Cherokee Legend; Turquoise Boy: A Navajo Legend; and Little Firefly: An Algonquian Legend)

Wild and Woolly Mammoths by Aliki

New True Books: Ancient Civilizations by Patricia C. McKissack (includes The Maya, The Aztec, and The Inca)

Follow the Dream by Peter Sis

Colonial Kids: An Activity Guide to Life in the New World by Laurie Carlson

If You…Series (…Lived in Colonial Times, …Grew Up with George Washington)

On the Mayflower: Voyage of the Ship’s Apprentice and a Passenger Girl

Samuel Eaton’s Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy

Sarah Morton’s Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl

Tapenum’s Day: A Day in hte Life of a Wampanoag Boy (all by Kate Waters)

Ben and Me by Robert Lawson

The Fourth of July Story by Alice Dagliesh

Young John Quincy by Cheryl Harness

Art

Hailstones and Halibut Bones by Mary O’Neill (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

What Makes a Shadow? by Clyde Robert Bulla (NOT AT THE LIBRARY)

Getting to Know the World’s Greatest ARtists SEries by Mike Venezia (LIBRARY HAS THIS…52 BY HIM)
Move Over, Picasso! A Young Painter’s Primer by Ruth Aukerman (NOT AT THE LIBRARY)

Drawing with Children by Mona Brookes (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

Mudworks: Creative Clay, Dough, and Modeling Experiences (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

Music

Gonna Sing My Head Off! American Folk Songs for Children by Kathleen Krull (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Composers Series by Mike Venezia (LIBRARY HAS THIS…52 BOOKS BY HIM)

Music Maestro Parade - www.aristoplay.com

The Orchestra by Peter Ustinov (www.erc-inc.com) (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

Health and Physical Education

The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers (LIBRARY HAS THIS)

Physical Education Plans for Grades 1-2 by Bette J. Logsdon

Preschool Plan (H)

This is a working plan and by no means complete. For now, it is a place for me to write down everything I am looking into to create a plan for this coming fall.

Craft Box

Join A for Science and she’ll glean whatever she can. Maybe have her draw pictures when Autumn is writing about science things.

Alphabet Collage Book - one letter per page, glue pictures from magazines to correspond with each letter

Alphabet Sorting Carton - use egg carton and write lower case letters in each well, have her match uppercase fridge magnets to the lowercase letters.

GW School Supply Early Learning Catalog

NASCO HOMESCHOOL INTERNET CATALOG: EARLY CHILDHOOD

Magazines

Ladybug:

Your Big Backyard

Books & Resources for Kids

ABC Drive!: A Car Trip Alphabet

Alphabet ARt: With A to Z Animal Art and Fingerplays

Brain Quest Series

Enchanted Learning

Kids Net Games

Preschool

Specific Teaching Ideas

Times Tables

(From Beechick’s HOMESCHOOL Answer Book)

“I think it’s important to work by the principle of building understanding, rather than using rote memory only. Within this principle you can operate with any number of activities. Usually they will involve manipulatives, at least for a time.

To illustrate, I’ll tell about a class I taught. I gave them all counters, which in our case were colorful, coin-shaped game chips. Then I demonstrated how to figure problems with the counters. For instance, for 2 x 8 the children made two piles of eight and counted them all to obtain the answer 16. After a few such problems they could proceed on their own working problems from their books.

After a time I suggested that they could write some answers on a sheet and refer to the sheet instead of counting repeatedly. So they wrote, for instance 2 x 8 = 16, and looked at their paper each time they needed to answer. They were happy to “cheat” like this and do their problems faster, but of course the sheets soon became a cumbersome jumble. Also, of course, they were memorizing some facts and didn’t need either counters or sheets for those.

One day I showed a boy how he could make a row with all the answers for 2 times something. We numbered 1 to 10 across his paper, put 2 at the left below them and then put each answer under its number. He was excited at the great shortcut, so I said, “You could make a row for 3s under that, and then 4s, and keep going if you want.” He ran to his seat and filled out a whole chart of times tables, using his counters when he needed them. Then he bounced around the room excitedly showing other children how it worked.

Soon everyone had made a charty and were not using counters anymore. By then they also had memorized a lot of facts, and we could talk about how it was faster to do problems with the facts in their heads instead of referring to their charts. That’s when we began memorizing the facts they still needed to learn.

At this point the job is not overwhelming, because you can have flashcards or practice sheets with just the facts your child needs to learn. Even here, try to avoid simple rote memory. For instance, learn a new fact by relating it to a known fact. If the child knows what five 5s are, then figure from that what six 5s are, and so on. Work on a few facts at a time. Review and practice and review.

I hope this illustrates the principle of building meaning before working on memory. Children using this approach should understand when they are memorizing 6 x 7 = 42 that it would be six piles of 7.”

Words that inspire me

These quotes come from several different sources (or at least they will as I continue to add to this page). In order to give credit where credit is due, I will use an abbreviation after each quote which will match more specific book information at the bottom of the page.

Q. People ask me, “Aren’t your children missing out socially by not going to school?” I answer that they socialize when it really counts — after school. Are they missing out on something?

A. Your answer probably satisfies most of your questioners. And it’s like other answers I hear, where homeschoolers say that their children have church activities and team and club activities and so forth. And I think it’s fine to give these answers that your critics understand.

But I can’t help wondering if most homeschoolers don’t feel they’re playing a little game here with the larger society. To meet the question in this fashion is in a sense agreeing with the world that children need many hours of association with their age mates, and saying that homeschoolers provide those hours just as schoolers do. But do we agree? Is it natural to grow up spending many hours per waking day with thirty age-mates? Is this best? Is it Biblical? Or is this just an artificial child life that our part of the world has adopted in fairly recent history?

My opinion is that your children are only missing out on some things you should be happy they miss.

(Beechick HAB, 20-21)

You are in a better position to be a good teacher for your children than I was as a classroom teacher. When you begin teaching one-on-one, mind-to-mind as I like to say it, you very rapidly learn about teaching. I would say that most homeschool moms know more about teaching after a few weeks than I knew after two years of classroom teaching. I was managing a class, trying to keep everybody busy at something profitable hopefully, and only now and then did I have time to work individually with a child who was not getting it or who needed extra challenge or something. I made the greatest strides in understanding children’s learning when I worked in summer reading clinics where we solved reading problems with lots of one-on-one work. The fact that you know your children so well and you’re dedicated to the job makes you the best teacher your child could have.

(Beechick HAB, 25)

Q. What do you see as the greatest benefit to homeschooling? At times in the midst of seeing good kids in school, it’s hard to remember why we go through this.

A. Probably the greatest benefit is the character you can build into your children by spending so much time with them. You can instill your own values and worldview and spiritual outlook and so forth, without the intrusion of contrary teaching and unwholesome peer influence.

I can’t deny that some children manage to thrive spiritually in a school setting, and perhaps yours would, too. But benefits of homeschooling accrue to you, as well as to your children. You are bonding with them now as children, and they will become your best friends as adults. Also you have a chance to relearn the stuff you have forgotten from your own school days. When your children’s school years have passed, they will seem as a brief span of years. Live them well and fully.

(Beechick HAB, 187-18

Beechick HAB = Dr. Beechick’s HOMESCHOOL Answer Book Q & A by Ruth Beechick; Selected and Edited by Debbie Strayer

Getting started

Well, we’ve officially decided to homeschool and been knee-deep in homeschooling books, curriculum, and plans for the last few weeks. Thankfully we have till the fall to decide what we really want to use. It’s amazing how much is out there. I’m glad that I’m enjoying all the research. I now how a list of goals for Autumn for the year and am just deciding how best to meet them.

So far, I love things that use living books and discussion and narration. I’m steering as much away from textbooks as I can. These are my favorites right now:

Noeo Science Curriculum (a parent guide along with several living books and science experiments)

Saxon Math (yes, I know I just said I’m steering away from textbooks. I’m not sure if I’ll use this yet, but I am considering it.)

The Three R’s

Books with Science & Math Experiments

Janice VanCleave’s Solar System (J 523.2 VAN)

Janice VanCleave’s Play and Find Out About Bugs: Easy Experiments for Young Children (J 595.7 VAN)

Janice VanCleave’s Play and Find Out About the Human Body (J 612 VAN)

Janice VanCleave’s Play and Find Out About Math (J 372.7044 VAN)

Janice VanCleave’s Insects and Spiders (J 595.7 VAN)

Janice VanCleave’s Constellations for Every Kid (J 523.8022 VAN)

Janice VanCleave’s Plants (J 581 VAN)

Janice VanCleave’s The Human Body for Every Kid (J 612.078 VAN)

Janice VanCleave’s Math For Every Kid (J 510 VAN)

Janice VanCleave’s Physics for Every Kid (J 530.078 VAN)

Janice VanCleave’s Earth Science for Every Kid (J 55.78 VAN)

Janice VanCleave’s Astronomy for Every Kid (J 520 VAN)

Biology for Every Kid (J 574 VAN)

Chemistry for Every Kid (J 542 VAN)