2016/17 Curriculum Plan

Family Time

Song, prayer, scripture reader, scriptures

Recitations (pledge, Articles of Faith, Scripture Mastery, Latin vocab.)

1. History/geography, art appreciation, 2. Literature, poetry teatime, 3. History/geography, nature journal, 4. Literature, freewrite 5.History/Geography-Craft

7^th Grade: Savannah

Christian Light Education math 7

Bob Jones University Life Science online

Essentials in Writing 6
Liahona History - Government/civics

Liahona English - Genre studies

5^th Grade: Charlotte

CLE math 5

Apologia science-botany/notebook

Essentials in Writing 6

Famous Men of the Middle Ages-written narration.

Reading list

3^rd Grade: Madelynn

CLE math 3

Apologia science-astronomy/notebook

LoE Essentials
Reading list

1^st Grade: Zachary

CLE math 1

Logic of English-Foundations

Read aloud

Kindergarten: Caroline

Essential Math A&B

Logic of English - Foundations

Read aloud


The first day of school will be Aug. 29th!  

Simplifying Homeschool - notebooks and crates

So earlier this year I came across this article on spiral notebooks to simplify your homeschool.  I thought it was brilliant.  I modified it a bit, and have been using them for three weeks in our school, and it works wonders, so I thought I'd share.

My independent workers, Savannah (6th) and Charlotte (4th) use one notebook for all of their written work.  At the beginning of the week I hand write each day's assignments onto the first page available.

Monday:
CLE- ch 4
CC-day 4
ELTL
FMoRome - ch. 7, written narration
xtramath
Latin lesson 2

Tuesday:
LoF ch. 8
R&S 7, odds only
Apologia, day 1
Read 30 min.


...and so on for that week.


The girls mark it off as they complete the list.  They put their written work on the following blank pages in the notebook. So for instance, Monday's CC work will be written on the page after the assignment paper, then ELTL written exercises next, then the written narration from FMoRome, and then Latin work on the following page.
When I meet with them one on one every morning, I look at their assignment list, check their work right there on the next few pages, and write in additional notes on the assignment page if they need to correct something.  When the written work is correct, I put a big happy face at the top of the page so I know it is checked.  Then the next week, the new assignments go on the next blank page in the notebook.  So by the end of the year I will have a few notebooks with all of their work in one place, separated by weeks.
I think after their current spiral notebooks are filled I will switch to composition books to see which the girls prefer to work with.

I used to use a spread sheet of their week's assignments that I would print out and put in the clear front of a binder. Each subject would have its own section in the binder on loose-leaf paper, but I much prefer the spiral bound sheets.  I still use the spreadsheet, but I hand-write it into their notebooks once a week. I do feel like I am more aware of how much work I am giving them and it's easier to keep track of where they are at with their work on the following pages instead of in separate subject sections.


Another way I have simplified homeschool is by using crates for their books.  We homeschool all over the house, so keeping their books all on one shelf just wasn't practical.  I bought the sterilite large file crates that are at Walmart right now.  I have a crate for my teacher books, one each for my two oldest kids, and one for my three youngest.  I put three cheap plastic magazine holders (not the one in the link, but a cheaper version from walmart) in each box to keep the books upright, as well as a zipped pencil case.  That way we're not constantly looking for books and notebooks and pencils every time it is school time, and we're not confined to one spot.  I teach one on one in my bedroom and teach in a group in the office.  My girls then take their crates to their bedroom and do their work on their beds.  It works for us!

Curriculum 2015/16

After tweaking a bit after three weeks of school, here's this year's curriculum plan:

Savannah, 6th grade

Christian Light Education Math 6 
Life of Fred, Fractions - Pre-algebra
English Lessons through Literature 4 
R&S English 5 (grammar lessons, odds)
Classical Composition- Fable & Narrative 
First Form Latin
Apologia's Zoology 3 w/ notebook journal
Tiner's History of Medicine, then Planet Earth, written  oral narration
Story of the 13 Colonies and the Great Republic w/ workbook
Famous Men of Greece, written narration
The Trojan War, oral narration
30 min. reading literature
Old Testament seminary student guide (old version)
Scripture mastery copywork
Gospel Principles
German


Charlotte, 4th grade:

Christian Light Education Math 4
Life of Fred, intermediate series
 English Lessons Through Literature 3
R&S English 4 (grammar lessons, odds)
Classical Composition - Fable
First Form Latin
Apologia Astronomy w/ notebook journal
Tiner's Planet Earth, then History of Medicine, oral narration

 Famous Men of Rome, then Famous Men of Middle Ages, written narration
The Iliad for Boys and Girls

30 min. reading literature
Gospel Principles

German 

Madelynn, 2nd grade:

Christian Light Education 2
Life of Fred, elementary series
English Lessons Through Literature 2
Reading Lessons Through Literature 1-3
Read aloud McGuffey Readers
Gospel Principles
maybe German

Zachary, Kindergarten / Caroline, Pre-school:

Phonogram Workbook (reading & handwriting)

Counting on the abacus
Mom read-alouds
AoF and Scripture Stories

As a family: Prayer, scriptures, song, memorize a scripture and poem, geography, composers

As a family: LDS Family School (history, geography, science, music, art)

History, Math, and Language Arts

HISTORY:

I'm changing my history sequence to include more of the Middle Ages and Reformation than what Memoria Press schedules, and I really like Dorothy Mills' history books a lot.  In some history books, especially modern ones, religion is glossed over to keep it politically correct.  In Mills' books, religion is not glossed over, but treats it as one of the most influential aspects of historical events, which I think it is.  Additionally, throughout her books she provides original sources, which really makes the text come alive and supports it.  They are recommended for 6th grade and up, but I'm going to use them starting in 5th grade because I think my kids can handle it.  And I don't think I'll have my kids do the workbooks from MP, but I will use the teachers manual to go over the comprehension questions, and maybe require a written summary of each chapter.

Tentatively:
3rd: Greek Myths
4th: Famous Men of Rome, Famous Men of Middle Ages
5th: Ancient World (Mills), Greeks (Mills), The Trojan War
6th: Romans (Mills), Middle Ages (Mills), Iliad/Odyssey
7th: Reformation (Mills), 13 Colonies/Great Republic (Guerber)
8th: Aeneid, SOTW 4?, Horatius, maybe economics/government course



For Savannah, since she missed 5th grade and only did FMoR in 4th, she'll have a slightly modified schedule.


MATH:

I switched from MM to CLE in 4th-7th grade.  I've read reviews that the geometry instruction is confusing in MM and it seems to get to be too much around 4th grade and the learning is often lost in a mastery  program, which is why I switched.  CLE is traditional math and spiral review, which is opposite of MM which is cognitive math and mastery.  However, I needed something to supplement CLE math because it does lack the "why" and the deeper thinking skills that is in MM.  So I decided to use both CLE and MM, but not the full programs of either.

In CLE math we will skip the first LU and all of the quizzes and tests, doing one lesson a day for three days a week.

In MM we're skipping all of the built-in reviews at the end of each chapter and will not be doing the cumulative reviews or the chapter tests.  One lesson will be two pages, front and back, only half the problems, two days a week.

From 4th-7th grade they will work through CLE 4-7 and MM 4-6a, maybe 6b.  That should cover pre-Algebra very thoroughly and they should be ready for Algebra I by 8th grade.  We'll see how this year goes.  I think the variety will be nice.

LANGUAGE ARTS:

Some experts say doing both English grammar and Latin are redundant.  Latin does teach grammar, but it doesn't teach usage and punctuation.  I've learned that I can teach usage through editing my kids' work.  Which means I need to know it.  So back to my original plan of going through R&S English myself so my kids don't have to.

I still love English Lessons through Literature for grammar because it uses real sentences, labeling the parts of speech, and diagramming.  I think that is valuable.

Now for composition.  I re-read Brave Writer, my writing text, and I need the copy-work and dictation found in ELTL and the outlining, copia, amplifying, and rewriting found in Classical Composition.  I think I will drop the composition lessons in ELTL, which were small anyway.  So I think the two complement each other nicely.  Essays and formal papers will wait until high school.

So it will be: Latin, ELTL, and CC

Things to remember:

1. Read aloud more to your kids
2. Choose more classic books
3. Memorize poetry
4. Do fewer subjects
5. Plan a field trip
6. Be a life-long learner
7. Poetry tea-time
8. Be consistent
9. Plan a morning time
10. Replace a text book with a living book

Math & Science scope and sequence

Math Mammoth 1-3...........................................................Nature study
CLE math 4-5 ....................................................................Tiner Science/Apologia

6- CLE math 6 .................................................................. BJU Life Science online
7- Saxon 8/7 w/ Art Reed DVDs........................................BJU Earth & Space online
8- Saxon Algebra I w/ Art Reed DVDs............................. BJU Physical Science online

9- Saxon Algebra II w/ Art Reed DVDs............................ BJU Biology online
10- Saxon Advanced Math w/ Art Reed DVDs................. BJU Chemistry online
11- Saxon Advanced Math/Calculus w/ Art Reed DVDs.. BJU Physics online
12- Saxon Calculus w/ Art Reed DVDs

School year update

Well we completed 6 weeks of the school year 2014/15 and then I decided to put the three Bigs in German public school.  What a great time they've had!  They're not learning much of anything but German and getting a fun cultural experience, but it is so worth it.  Savannah and Charlotte are reviewing the math they did the previous year, Charlotte 3rd and Savannah 4th.  I'm supplementing Savannah's math so she can keep up with her true grade level of 5th grade.  I switched her from Math Mammoth to CLE 5 (Christian Light Education).  It is traditional, spiral math and it is great.  Charlotte was ahead in math, so she will now be in her age-grade of 3rd grade, and I don't supplement her learning.  Madelynn is probably getting the most out of the experience.  She brings home reading and writing homework every day.  They love art, sport, music, and religion class (Catholicism), the field trips, walks, and performances.

Now that Zach is about to be 5 years old, I am beginning school with him.  I'm using the Kumon books: numbers, handwriting capital letters, and mazes, and then we'll move on to HWT print series K-2.  He does not enjoy writing and coloring like his sisters so I think I will just teach him how to print instead of doing cursive.  He is learning to sound out three-letter words on the white board with the AAS letter tiles, and soon he will begin reading Bob Books.

Morning Time plan

Everyone:


Hymn
Prayer
Scriptures
Gospel Art
Phonogram Flashcards (From Reading Lessons through Literature)


(Zach and Caroline go play)


Gospel Principles
Read-Aloud (on a rotating schedule): The Children's Bible, Our Young Folks' Plutarch , Homer (Black Ships Before Troy & The Wanderings of Odysseus), Child's History of the World, Storybook of Science (not sure how read-alouds will go with so many little kids... we'll try though)
Poetry recitation (this year they will each pick their own poems to memorize, write them on a notecard, and rotate them as they are mastered)


(Maddy goes to play)


Grammar flashcards (From English Lessons through Literature)
Latin review

More random thoughts.

I updated "Morning Time" and "English Lessons through Literature" posts.  I'm dropping R&S English (though I love it) and putting all three girls in English Lessons through Literature.  I was hesitant because I wasn't sure the grammar would be as rigorous as R&S.  I asked the author about it and she said, between the lines, that is follows R&S's scope and sequence.  So that made me feel better.  That was my only hesitation.




Edited: I was wrong about Charlotte's comprehension level.  I just had her tested in reading and math.  She will do just fine in 4th grade material. 


For testing I used the DORA (reading) and ADAM (math) tests from www.letsgolearn.com.  Very worth it.  The test is online.  It is fun for the kids to complete.  The results are very detailed with suggestions on how to remediate if needed.  Across the board, Charlotte is only a few months behind Savannah in all skills. 

Morning Time

Every time I am thinking about curriculum choices and how I want the school year to go (like now), I have this nagging feeling that I'm missing the boat.  I'm missing the joy and beauty.  Where is it?  How can I capture it?


I occasionally get a glimpse of it during poetry teatime when we are having fun and reading beautiful words.  It is found on our nature walks.  It is found when I read aloud and the kids are captivated.  It is found during one-on-one discussions of a history chapter or a oral narration.  It is found during our current morning time when we sing a hymn, say a family prayer, and read scriptures.


I want more of this and less of "school work."  I want to plan a Morning Time.


So currently our Morning Time goes like this:


*Sing a hymn (same one until all verses memorized).
*Family Prayer
*Read scriptures (the ones made "For Latter-Day Saint Families" is divided up into short sections with definitions, quotes from General Authorities, and art work.  We read a section a day, everyone taking turns reading or repeating after me.)
*Gospel Principles (I just added this in a few weeks ago and it is going great.  We take turns reading a paragraph and discuss.  For school kids only)


I want to add in a poem a day, picture study, composer study, gospel for the preschool kids like maybe a picture from the gospel art box to read and discuss (I started doing this.  Zach and Caroline like it.  They listen.  It's short, then they go play.  I've caught Caroline coming back to look at the pictures again.  I'm going to hang them on the wall), memory work, Shakespeare/Plutarch, Homer, history, and literature.  My problem is the different ages.  Maybe I should save the older stuff for an Evening Time, that hour after the Littles are in bed, and save Morning Time for things the whole family can enjoy.  Gospel Principles, Shakespeare, Homer, Plutarch, history and literature would need to be moved to Evening Time.


That would leave for Morning Time:


Hymn
Prayer
Scriptures
Gospel Art
Poem
Art Study




***going to update my thoughts on this as I have time**


I've been reading For the Children's Sake again.  Here are some of my notes:


"We are limited to three educational instruments -- the atmosphere of environment, the discipline of habit, and the presentation of living ideas."


"A child's mind is a spiritual organism, with an appetite for all knowledge." --which includes physical exercise, nature, handicrafts, science, art, many living books.'


Have a daily routine.  Make time for the most important things: scriptures, family prayer, read-alouds, game night.


work on habits of character: attention, truthfulness, self-control, unselfishness, concentration.


"Life is sustained on ideas.  Ideas are spiritual.  Ideas are a soul's food."

English Lessons through Literature - update!

I don't know why I can't leave well enough alone.  I just need to stay off the Well-Trained Mind forums.  But if I did, I would have never found this:


English Lessons through Literature, as well as her other products (I think I'm using all of it).


This is a curriculum that combines literature, grammar, composition, copywork, memory work, poetry, narration (oral and written), dictation.  It is Charlotte Mason inspired, but with Classical components that include more grammar, and in level 3 and up (she has planned through level 6 at least) it includes copia exercises that are similar to Classical Writing and other writing curricula like it.  Here is a good review of it: http://www.barefootmeandering.com/eltl.html


I have already decided to start Madelynn in ELtL level 1.  I'm going to start her in ELtL 1 next year.  This year she will only be using Reading Lessons through Literature level 1 (which I only use as a spelling program since she is halfway through Phonics Pathways) as well as Handwriting Lessons through Literature using the Elson Readers as copywork.  I like RLtL because it uses the spelling method I love, and it comes in four different handwriting fonts.  No more HWT.


I'm going to use her free Pathways read-aloud schedule with Zach and Maddy (and Caroline if she wants to listen)
****
UPDATE:  I've decided to move Savannah and Charlotte to English Lessons through Literature as well.  Their least favorite part of school is R&S English.  ELTL teaches the same grammar in R&S, only it is not drill-and-kill and it uses real sentences.  PLUS it has the poetry, short stories, copywork, dictation, picture study, and literature reading all scheduled out for me.  And it includes writing instruction, so I don't need Classical Composition or Classical Writing either.  I love it.
****


 I just really like all of her products.  Check out her Lulu page to see everything she has for sale.  She has a lot of free products too.  Print versions are also on Amazon.  She has also offered to give free e-book versions of her curriculum to those who truly can't afford language arts, which I think is pretty cool. 

Thoughts on writing curriculum

This year I tried Classical Composition-Fable and didn't like the first lesson because it didn't have enough hand-holding.  So I moved on to Classical Writing-Aesop and loved it.


I looked at Classical Writing -Homer last week.  I read it, re-read it, took extensive notes to understand it better, finally got a clear picture of the how and what, and came to the conclusion that I'm not ever going to use CW-Homer.  It could be done, but I think Classical Composition does it better.  Classical Composition cuts right to the chase.  It does everything Homer does and more, yet less painfully and in less time.  After doing CW-Aesop, Classical Composition makes so much more sense.


So Savannah is going to do Classical Composition- Fable and Narrative for 5th grade and Charlotte is going to do another year of Classical Writing - Aesop for 4th grade since she will be a very young 4th grader anyway (her age-peers are going into 3rd grade). 


Charlotte is excellent at writing, btw.  Her written narrations are absolutely beautiful.  She takes her time and puts thought into it.  Savannah is good too, but she just does it to get it over with, so I know she isn't putting forth her best effort.  I want to split them up so they aren't doing the same assignment.  And besides, there's no need to rush through writing curriculum.




BTW- an even better writing curriculum than either of these is the new Writing and Rhetoric series by Classical Academic Press.  It is getting some amazing reviews!!!  I would highly recommend looking at it.  I'm not going to use it because I am stubborn and prideful, and I don't want to spend that much money on yet another writing curriculum.  I'm going to make do with what I already own. 

The plan

Gearing up for next school year.  Here's the plan so far:
5^th grade:

Life of Fred & xtramath
R&S English 5
First Form Latin
Famous Men of the Middle Ages w/ student guide +SOTW 2+ Adam of the Road + Door in the Wall+The Once and Future King
MP's Geography II
Classical Composition Fable & Narrative (+ notebook)
Apologia's Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures w/ notebook + Tiner's History of Medicine & Exploring Planet Earth

MP's Poetry for the Grammar Stage ??
Typing
Duolingo German
Kolbe's Literature guide: The Bronze Box, The Secret of Poduck Island, Where the Red Fern Grows.

4^th grade:

Life of Fred & xtramath

R&S English 4

First Form Latin

MP’s Famous Men of Rome

MP’s Geography I

Apologia's Astronomy w/ notebook + MP Astronomy ??
MP's Poetry for the Grammar Stage ??


Typing
Duolingo German

1^st grade:

Phonics Pathways / McGuffey Readers

Reading Lessons through Literature 1 (spelling)
English Lessons through Literature 1
Pathways literature list

Life of Fred or MM

Just stuff

So I've added more subjects to our day as we try to acclimate back into a regular school day.  It feels like too much, but I think we're just used to less for so long.  I'm not willing to drop any of these right now.  They complained for a few days that it took too long and they didn't have time to play outside.  I mentioned that they had control over how much free time they get and suggested that they start their school as soon as they wake up and not wait for me to tell them to do it.  Savannah led the way and has been waking up at 6 am or earlier, with Charlotte following her lead.  Many days they have most of the independent subjects finished before I even roll out of bed!  Nice.  Hope it continues like that.


Savannah & Charlotte both do:


Math Mammoth, 1 page front and back, daily
R&S English, odds or evens only, daily
Latin lesson & worksheet on Mondays, flashcards and copywork the rest of the week
30 minutes of reading scriptures daily
30 minutes of reading classic literature of their choice daily
History spread over two days: copywork, vocabulary, reading, and comprehension questions or written narration
Geography, one day a week
Computer programs daily:
xtramath, typing instructor, and Duolingo:German
Poetry copywork/memorization, once a week


Madelynn is starting to read the scriptures with us in the morning.  She is getting more confident.  She hates Phonics Pathways and enjoys McGuffey Readers, but PP is very effective, so we trudge along.  Doing the dictation with it helps tremendously.


Thinking about next school year and the value, if any, of doing the Memoria Press workbooks with the Classical Studies.  They don't like them and it would be better if we discussed their readings or something more organic, but at the same time I am a mother of 6 kids...  Is that realistic?  I don't know.  I'll have to think more about that one.  Otherwise, I think we'll just keep doing what we're doing for next year.  It is all working out well.


Still don't know when I'll be adding in Classical Writing again...  that's the last subject that is missing.


Speaking of writing instruction, I shouldn't have skipped the writing lessons in R&S 4.  I think they are valuable and on level with my 4th grader.  I'm going back and having her do a writing lesson or two each week.


And note to self:  don't go for two weeks without checking math and English work.  Both kids are re-doing almost a week of English, and we wasted a day in math correcting missed problems. 

Homeschooling in Deutschland!!

So I survived.  I moved overseas with 6 kids, including a newborn.  We homeschooled lite, only doing math and English on good days.  We're settled in our house, finally have internet since yesterday, and have started on our third full homeschool week since being here: week 21.  Not too bad for such a crazy, interrupted year.  We'll take a few more breaks to see Europe with Dad before he deploys, then we'll finish up the year, hopefully before August.


The two Bigs are working on Math Mammoth, R&S English, MP's Classical Studies, geography, reading, and poetry copywork and memorization.  I still haven't added Latin or Classical Writing back in yet... I might do that this week.


Madelynn is zooming through her phonics and handwriting book.  We're doing our Power Reading schedule, which is reading three lessons a day: one after breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  She'll be reading fluently soon.  She was sorely neglected through this huge transition. Trying to catch her up!  Then I will start on Zachary.

Dragging...

I had some inspiration... and then I lost it.  It was something about bringing joy back into our school, letting loose on science, reading aloud more, or something..  I'm too tired to think about it.  7 months pregnant and I'm dragging now.  The belly is heavy and it hurts.  I sleep a lot.  I took a 3 hour nap today.  Maybe that's why it is 1 am and I'm still not sleepy.  I dread sleep because it hurts.  Ahh.. the joys of pregnancy.

So my awesome homeschool schedule went out the window since our school break.  Since I took that break I haven't been waking up early with the kids.  Instead, like the awesome mom that I am, I put on a movie for the Littles and work with the Bigs for an hour.  This week we didn't do Classical Writing (but we did last week and will next week and I still LOVE it).  We haven't done memory work since the break.  I should really get on the ball with that.  I haven't been reading aloud to them at night (too tired).  Maybe I shouldn't take week-long breaks.  It is too difficult to get back in the game.

I kind of like letting the kids play outside until 9 am though.  I might do away with the early morning school, not that I have much choice being so tired now, even though I got so much accomplished.  If the Littles watch an hour of Magic School Bus, it isn't THAT bad, is it? 

Desperate times call for desperate measures.  However, I need to get with it already.  Monday starts a new week.  A full week.  WEEK 9.  A week where we do everything I have scheduled and not slack off.

I can do hard things.

Today is a great day

It is one of those days that I just love homeschooling.  I enjoy my children.  I enjoy watching them learn and learning with them.  I enjoy receiving inspiration concerning their education.  I don't have everything figured out yet, but I feel like my understanding is clearer today.  I'm going to be changing a few things around in our schedule and curriculum as I ponder further on the inspiration I've received.  Not much, just a few things.

On another note, today my math-hating daughter Savannah *enjoyed* Beast Academy's 3A placement test and the free puzzles on their website.  Enjoyed.  Math.
I don't know what to think about that.

Lastly, I hate online college.  What a waste of time.  I can't wait until I am through so I can get on to some real learning.

School Break!

School break this week!  I just decided.  It was actually scheduled for next week, but I am so stressed about a final paper I have to write this week for my current college class that I don't think I will be able to handle it all.  I'm beginning to not sleep at night as well because of this pregnancy.  Booo... not fun.  I'm tired.

Week 5 Review

Second week with Classical Writing - Aesop.  Love it. 

I also love doing R&S English 4 orally with both girls.  It takes some teacher-intensive time, but no more than doing oral reviews with two separate levels individually, and then explaining things they don't understand to each kid individually.

Love the Memoria Press products: Greek Myths, Famous Men of Rome, Latina Christiana 1, and Grammar Recitations (TM only, that we use for copywork).  Geography 1 is ok; nothing special.

Love the Christian Liberty Nature Reader, book 4, for Charlotte.  Perfect amount of reading and number of questions for her to answer.  Savannah is learning tons in her Apologia Zoology 1 book that she reads and writes a written/illustrated narration about once a week.

Let's see...

Waking up early (myself at 5:00 am to work on online college work) and waking up the kids at 6 am is tough and not fun, but we get SO much accomplished while the babies are still asleep.  Most of the teacher-intensive part of our day takes place from 6-715 am.  Then the babies wake and we eat breakfast.  After breakfast the two oldest do independent work while I play with the babies and clean up after breakfast.

On the days that I fail to get them out of bed at 6am I've had to put on a movie for the babies to entertain them for a hour and a half so that I can do the teacher-intensive schooling, while I'm still being interrupted by sad babies needing me for something.  It is frustrating and takes much longer.  So as much as I dislike waking up sleeping kids at 6 am, it really is worth it.

Maddy's Kindergarten is going well.  We stopped math for a while to focus on getting through HWT-K workbook.  I want her to know how to form all of her letters asap.  She is almost finished with the book.  She is doing great.  She is also learning phonograms.  That's all we do for K right now: handwriting and phonograms.  She writes words in her handwriting book, which I have her identify the two-letter phonograms, the sound each letter makes (whether it is the 1st, 2nd, 3rd sound, etc), have her sound out the word, and then she writes it.  When she finishes her handwriting book we will do this exercise with the spelling word lists in Spell to Write and Read Wise Guide.  At that point we will also pick up math again.

Pre-school is not going as planned.  We have managed to do the letter-of-the-week project every week, and I try to read aloud to them as much as I can manage, but I haven't followed my pre-school schedule at all.  Today was the letter D, which we painted with mud for "dirty."  Dirty D.  B-we painted fingerprint bees and bugs (ladybugs) all over the B.  C stands for "colorful," so we colored the C in many different colors.  They love it.  I'll have to post a picture soon.

Anyway, that's it for Week 5!  The weeks feel like they are just flying by. 

NOT-back to school!

Love these girls!