Or at least the last part of it!
We had a lovely fall semester of 2013 then took a month off in December in which I planned and organized and scheduled and charted, and now we're off and running in January.
Because I've had a few people asking, this is The Plan.
Monday:
Family Work from 9 to 11. We try to cover the following:
Artist - finishing Van Gogh, then Monet
Composer - currently Rossini
Poetry - we're reading from Favorite Poems Old and New
Logic - currently using The Thinking Toolbox, then Fallacy Detective
Fairy Tales - reading our way through Andrew Lang's collection
Computer Coding - right now they play games on the iPad (Hopscotch, Daisy the Dino, and Kodables). Then we'll move on to some of these.
Geography - Visits to Europe and Around the World in 100 Years by Jean Fritz
Nature Study - working our way through the Pierson Among the _______ books and The Nature Connection
Then we head to co-op for the rest of the day.
Tuesday - Friday:
Family Work from 9 to 10:30
Scriptures/Devotional - this includes:
Reading the scriptures
Scripture memory work
The Friend and New Era magazines
a blurb from a manners book
vocab cartoons
an idiom from the Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms
History -
Middle Ages from Simply Charlotte Mason with additional reading for the older boys from Beautiful Feet Books
Latin and Greek roots (via flashcards)
alternating days of dictation and Shakespeare (we're right in the middle of A Midsummer Night's Dream)
Then the older boys (age 13) go off to do their independent work:
scriptures - a topic or section of their choice
Teaching Textbooks (LOVE!!!)
copywork - in both print and cursive
history reading (from SCM and BF guides)
science - currently Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics. One is using the notebook and loving it, the other hates it.
Lighting Lit
written narration - 1 per day
science biography or specific topic
While the older boys are off being older, independent boys I work with the two younger boys (ages 10 and 7). We do the following together:
Science - Exploring Creation, Land Animals of the Sixth Day. We've taken a few detours when they've requested (cells, decomposition, etc).
a story book - we're reading our way through all sorts of books. Some from this list and some from this. Or whatever I see on my shelves!
a history book (taken from the SCM suggestions for 1-3 grades)
then we alternate Life of Fred, Nature Study, Lightning Lit, and Winston Grammar
Then they both head off to do independent work. For now they both do Explode the Code (at their own level) and copy work.
Ten-year-old also does Teaching Textbooks and a history book from the 4-6 grade suggestions.
Seven-year-old meets with me after lunch to do:
Math - RightStart Level B
Reading - a mixture of several reading programs
Spelling - All About Spelling Level 1
We meet back together in the afternoon, around 3, to listen to a family read-aloud. Right now we're reading The Hobbit (for the 3rd or 4th time) and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
And that, my friends, is The Plan!!! For now. Until I change it. Again.
Showing posts with label homeschool. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homeschool. Show all posts
January 20, 2014
May 1, 2013
Grammar books for the younger years
I don't officially teach grammar until the kids reach 10 or so, but that doesn't mean we don't talk about words and parts of speech or punctuation until then. Over the years we've used a variety of picture books, games, Mad Libs, and Schoolhouse Rock.
I put together a list of books geared towards the younger grades (elementary to perhaps middle school). They are first broken down by category and, at the end, there is a master list of all the books. We have read some, but not all, so please know that I'm unsure of the content and/or quality of many of them. I've very excited though to have found some new gems and even my older boys (ages 13 and 12) will have some books to study!
I put together a list of books geared towards the younger grades (elementary to perhaps middle school). They are first broken down by category and, at the end, there is a master list of all the books. We have read some, but not all, so please know that I'm unsure of the content and/or quality of many of them. I've very excited though to have found some new gems and even my older boys (ages 13 and 12) will have some books to study!
Grammar Books for the Younger Years
Adjectives
Grammar Ray: A Graphic Guide
to Grammar - Adjectives – Andrew Carter
Hairy, Scary, Ordinary: What
is an Adjective? – Brian P. Cleary
If You Were an Adjective –
Michael Dahl
Many Luscious Lollipops: A Book About Adjectives – Ruth Heller
Quirky, Jerky, Extra Perky:
More About Adjectives – Brian P. Cleary
The Bug Book (Adjectives) –
Maria Fleming
Adverbs
Dearly, Nearly, Insincerely:
What is an Adverb? – Brian P. Cleary
Grammar Ray: A Graphic Guide
to Grammar - Adverbs – Andrew Carter
If You Were an Adverb –
Michael Dahl
Lazily, Crazily, Just a Bit
Nasally: More About Adverbs – Brian P. Cleary
Suddenly Alligator: Adventures in Adverbs – Rick Walton
Tillie’s Tuba (Adverbs) –
Maria Fleming
Up, Up and Away: A Book about
Adverbs – Ruth Heller
Alliteration
Dr. Suess’ ABCs
Four Famished Foxes and
Fosdyke – Pamela Duncan Edwards
If You Were Alliteration –
Trisha Speed Shaskan
Little Book of Alliterations
– Felix Archer
Some Smug Slug – Pamela
Duncan Edwards
Superhero ABC – Bob McLeod
The Big Book of Absolutely
Animalistic Alliterations – Anna Childs
Comparatives/Superlatives
Alphabest: The Zany, Zanier,
Zaniest Book About Comparatives and Superlatives – Helaine Becker
Breezier, Cheesier, Newest,
and Bluest: What are Comparatives and
Superlatives? – Brian P. Cleary
Pig, Pigger, Piggest: Adventures in Comparing – Rick Walton
Compound Words
If You Were a Compound Word –
Trisha Speed Shaskan
Once There Was a
Bull…(frog): Adventures in Compound
Words – Rick Walton
Thumbtacks, Earwax, Lipstick,
Dipstick: What is a Compound Word? – Brian P. Cleary
Conjunctions
But and For, Yet and Nor:
What is a Conjunction – Brian P. Cleary
Fantastic! Wow! And
Unreal!: A Book About Interjections and
Conjunctions – Ruth Heller
If You Were a Conjunction –
Nancy Loewen
Just Me and & 6,000 Rats:
A Tale of Conjunctions – Rick Walton
Contractions
I’m and Won’t, They’re and
Don’t: What’s a Contraction? – Brian P. Cleary
If You Were a Contraction –
Trisha Speed Shaskan
Karate Contractions (Grammar
All-Stars)– Gail Herman
Homophone/Homonym
Dear Deer: A Book of
Homophones – Gene Barretta
Eight Ate: A Feast of Homonym
Riddles – Marvin Terban
How Much Can a Bare Bear
Bear? What are Homonyms and Homophones? – Brian P. Cleary
If You Were a Homonym or a
Homophone – Nancy Loewen
Idioms
Even More Parts (Idioms) –
Tedd Arnold
In a Pickle: and Other Funny
Idioms – Marvin Terban
It Figure!: Fun Figures of
Speech – Marvin Terban
Mad as a Wet Hen: And Other
Funny Idioms – Marvin Terban
More Parts (Idioms) – Tedd
Arnold
Parts (Idioms) – Tedd Arnold
Punching the Clock: Funny
Action Idioms – Marvin Terban
Scholastic Dictionary of
Idioms – Marvin Terban
Interjections
Cool! Whoa!
Ah and Oh!: What is an Interjection? – Brian P. Cleary
Fantastic! Wow! And Unreal!: A Book About Interjections and Conjunctions –
Ruth Heller
If You Were an Interjection –
Nancy Loewen
Metaphor/Simile
Crazy Like a Fox: A Simile
Story – Loreen Leedy
It Figures!: Fun Figures of
Speech – Marvin Terban
Similes and Metaphors
(Language Rules!) – Ann Heinrichs
Skin Like Milk, Hair of Silk:
What are Similes and Metaphors? – Brian P. Cleary
Stubborn as a Mule and Other
Silly Similes – Nancy Jean Loewen
You’re Toast and Other
Metaphors We Adore – Nancy Jean Loewen
Nouns
A Cache of Jewels and other
Collective Nouns – Ruth Heller
A Lime, a Mime, a Pool of
Slime: More About Nouns – Brian P. Cleary
A Mink, a Fink, a Skating
Rink: What is a Noun? – Brian P. Cleary
A Zeal of Zebras: An Alphabet
of Collective Nouns – Woop Studios
Chicken in the City (Nouns) –
Liza Charlesworth
Grammar Ray: A Graphic Guide
to Grammar – Nouns & Pronouns – Andrew Carter
Herd of Cows, Flock of
Sheep: Adventures in Collective Nouns –
Rick Walton
If You Were a Noun – Micheal
Dahl
Merry-Go-Round: A Book About
Nouns – Ruth Heller
Nouns and Verbs Have a Field
Day – Robin Pulver
Onomatopoeia
If You Were Onomatopoeia –
Trisha Speed Shaskan
Palindrome
Go Hang a Salami! I’m a Lasagna Hog! And other Palindromes –
Jon Agee
Madam and Nun and 1001: What
is a Palindrome? – Brian P. Cleary
Plurals
Feet and Puppies, Thieves and
Guppies: What are Irregular Plurals? – Brian P. Cleary
If You Were a Plural Word –
Trisha Speed Shaskan
Prefix/Suffix
Happy Endings: A Story About
Suffixes – Robin Pulver
If You Were a Prefix – Marcie
Aboff
If You Were a Suffix – Marcie
Aboff
Pre- and Re-, and Mis- and
Dis: What is a Prefix? – Brian P. Cleary
Prepositions
Around the House the Fox
Chased the Mouse: Adventures in
Prepositions – Rick Walton
Behind the Mask: A Book About Prepositions – Ruth Heller
Grammar Ray: A Graphic Guide
to Grammar – Prepositions – Andrew Carter
If You Were a Prepostion –
Nancy Loewen
Under, Over, by the Clover:
What is a Preposition? – Brian P. Cleary
Pronouns
Grammar Ray: A Graphic Guide
to Grammar – Nouns & Pronouns – Andrew Carter
I and You and Don’t Forget
Who: What is a Pronoun? – Brian P. Cleary
If You Were a Pronoun- Nancy
Loewen
Mine, All Mine! A Book About
Pronouns – Ruth Heller
The Planet Without Pronouns –
Justin Martin
Punctuation
Alfie the Apostrophe – Moira
Rose Dononhue
Eats, Shoots & Leaves:
Why, Commas Really Do Matter – Lynne Truss
Grammar Ray: A Graphic Guide
to Grammar – Punctuation & Sentences – Andrew Carter
Greedy Apostrophe: A
Cautionary Tale – Jan Carr
If You Were a Comma – Molly
Blaisdell
If You Were a Period –
Nicholas Healy
If You Were a Question Mark –
Shelly Lyons
If You Were an Apostrophe –
Shelly Lyons
If You Were an Exclamation
Point – Shelly Lyons
If You Were Quotation Marks –
Molly Blaisdell
Punctuation Takes a Vacation
– Robin Pulver
The Girl’s Like Spaghetti:
Why, You Can’t Manage Without Apostrophes! – Lynne Truss
The Mystery of the Missing
Socks (quotation marks) – Justin McCory Martin
Twenty-Odd Ducks: Why, Every
Punctuation Mark Counts! – Lynne Truss
When Comma Came to Town – Samantha
Berger
Synonym/Antonym
If You Were a Synonym –
Michael Dahl
If You Were an Antonym –
Nancy Loewen
Pitch and Throw, Grasp and
Know: What is a Synonym? – Brian P. Cleary
Stop and Go, Yes and No: What
is an Antonym? – Brian P. Cleary
Straight and Curvy, Meek and
Nervy: More About Antonyms– Brian P. Cleary
Stroll and Walk, Babble and
Talk: More About Synonyms – Brian P. Cleary
Verbs
A Verb for Herb – Maria
Fleming
Bullfrog Pops!: Adventures in
Verbs and Direct Objects – Rick Walton
Grammar Ray: A Graphic Guide
to Grammar - Verbs – Andrew Carter
If You Were a Verb – Michael
Dahl
Kites Sail High: A Book About Verbs – Ruth Heller
Nouns and Verbs Have a Field
Day – Robin Pulver
Slide and Slurp, Scratch and
Burp: More About Verbs – Brian P. Cleary
To Root, to Toot, to
Parachute: What is a Verb? – Brian P. Cleary
Books Covering Multiple Parts of Speech
Basher Basics: Grammar –
Simon Basher and Mary Budzik
Grammar Made Fun: Learning
Parts of Speech with Silly Poems that Teacg – Ponn Sabra
Grammarland – M. L. Nesbitt
Mad Libs
Painless Grammar: Barron’s
Painless Junior – Marciann McClarnon
Schoolhouse Rock!
Super Grammar – Tony Preciado
and Rhode Montijo
Words are Fun – Michael Dahl
(noun, verb, adjective, adverb, pronoun, conjunction, interjection, preposition
– each is also available individually)
Misc
E-mergency – Tom Lichtenheld
Francine Fribble,
Proofreading Policewoman – Justin Martin
If You Were a Capital Letter
– Trisha Speed Shaskan
Silent Letters Loud and Clear
– Robin Pulver
The Mega-Deluxe Capitalization
Machine – Justin Martin
The No-Good, Rotten, Run-on
Sentence – Liza Charlesworth
All the books in alphabetical order:
A Zeal of Zebras: An Alphabet
of Collective Nouns – Woop Studios
Alfie the Apostrophe – Moira
Rose Dononhue
Alphabest: The Zany, Zanier,
Zaniest Book About Comparatives and Superlatives – Helaine Becker
Basher Basics: Grammar –
Simon Basher and Mary Budzik
Crazy Like a Fox: A Simile
Story – Loreen Leedy
Dear Deer: A Book of
Homophones – Gene Barretta
Dr. Suess’ ABCs
E-mergency – Tom Lichtenheld
Eats, Shoots & Leaves:
Why, Commas Really Do Matter – Lynne Truss
Eight Ate: A Feast of Homonym
Riddles – Marvin Terban
Even More Parts (Idioms) –
Tedd Arnold
Four Famished Foxes and
Fosdyke – Pamela Duncan Edwards
Go Hang a Salami! I’m a Lasagna Hog! And other Palindromes –
Jon Agee
Grammar Made Fun: Learning
Parts of Speech with Silly Poems that Teach – Ponn Sabra
Grammar Ray: A Graphic Guide
to Grammar series – Andrew Carter
Adverbs
Verbs
Adjectives
Nouns & Pronouns
Punctuation and Sentences
Prepositions
Grammar Tales series
The No-Good, Rotten, Run-on Sentence – Liza Charlesworth
When Comma Came to Town – Samantha Berger
The Mystery of the Missing Socks (quotation marks) –
Justin McCory Martin
Francine Fribble, Proofreading Policewoman – Justin
Martin
The Planet Without Pronouns – Justin Martin
Chicken in the City (Nouns) – Liza Charlesworth
The Bug Book (Adjectives) – Maria Fleming
A Verb for Herb – Maria Fleming
Tillie’s Tuba (Adverbs) – Maria Fleming
The Mega-Deluxe Capitalization Machine – Justin Martin
Grammarland – M. L. Nesbitt
Greedy Apostrophe: A
Cautionary Tale – Jan Carr
Happy Endings: A Story About
Suffixes – Robin Pulver
In a Pickle: and Other Funny
Idioms – Marvin Terban
It Figure!: Fun Figures of
Speech – Marvin Terban
Karate Contractions (Grammar
All-Stars)– Gail Herman
Language Adventure series –
Rick Walton
Bullfrog
Pops!: Adventures in Verbs and Direct Objects
Suddenly
Alligator: Adventures in Adverbs
Pig,
Pigger, Piggest: Adventures in Comparing
Around
the House the Fox Chased the Mouse:
Adventures in Prepositions
Just
Me and & 6,000 Rats: A Tale of Conjunctions
Herd
of Cows, Flock of Sheep: Adventures in
Collective Nouns
Once
There Was a Bull…(frog): Adventures in
Compound Words
Little Book of Alliterations
– Felix Archer
Mad as a Wet Hen: And Other
Funny Idioms – Marvin Terban
More Parts (Idioms) – Tedd
Arnold
Nouns and Verbs Have a Field
Day – Robin Pulver
Painless Grammar: Barron’s
Painless Junior – Marciann McClarnon
Parts (Idioms) – Tedd Arnold
Punching the Clock: Funny
Action Idioms – Marvin Terban
Punctuation Takes a Vacation
– Robin Pulver
Scholastic Dictionary of
Idioms – Marvin Terban
Schoolhouse Rock!
Silent Letters Loud and Clear
– Robin Pulver
Some Smug Slug – Pamela
Duncan Edwards
Stubborn as a Mule and Other
Silly Similes – Nancy Jean Loewen
Super Grammar – Tony Preciado
and Rhode Montijo
Superhero ABC – Bob McLeod
The Big Book of Absolutely
Animalistic Alliterations – Anna Childs
The Girl’s Like Spaghetti:
Why, You Can’t Manage Without Apostrophes! – Lynne Truss
Twenty-Odd Ducks: Why, Every
Punctuation Mark Counts! – Lynne Truss
You’re Toast and Other
Metaphors We Adore – Nancy Jean Loewen
Word Fun – Michael Dahl
Combined
book of noun, verb, adjective, adverb, pronoun, conjunction, interjection,
preposition
Other
books in series….If You Were A….prefix, suffix, synonym, homonym or homophone,
contraction, quotation marks, comma, compound word, antonym, period,
apostrophe, capital letter, plural word, question mark, exclamation point,
onomatepoeia
Words are Categorical series
– Brian P. Cleary
Dearly, Nearly, Insincerely: What is an Adverb?
Under, Over, by the Clover: What is a Preposition?
Hairy, Scary, Ordinary: What is an Adjective?
I’m and Won’t, They’re and Don’t: What’s a Contraction?
Skin Like Milk, Hair of Silk: What are Similes and
Metaphors?
To Root, to Toot, to Parachute: What is a Verb?
I and You and Don’t Forget Who: What is a Pronoun?
A Mink, a Fink, a Skating Rink: What is a Noun?
How Much Can a Bare Bear Bear? What are Homonyms and
Homophones?
Slide and Slurp, Scratch and Burp: More About Verbs
But and For, Yet and Nor: What is a Conjunction
Quirky, Jerky, Extra Perky: More About Adjectives
Lazily, Crazily, Just a Bit Nasally: More About Adverbs
Pitch and Throw, Grasp and Know: What is a Synonym?
Feet and Puppies, Thieves and Guppies: What are Irregular
Plurals?
Cool! Whoa! Ah and Oh!: What is an Interjection?
Stop and Go, Yes and No: What is an Antonym?
A Lime, a Mime, a Pool of Slime: More About Nouns
Stroll and Walk, Babble and Talk: More About Synonyms
Straight and Curvy, Meek and Nervy: More About Antonyms
Breezier,
Cheesier, Newest, and Bluest: What are
Comparatives and Superlatives?
Thumbtacks, Earwax, Lipstick, Dipstick: What is a
Compound Word?
Madam and Nun and 1001: What is a Palindrome?
Pre- and Re-, and Mis- and Dis: What is a Prefix?
World of Language series –
Ruth Heller
Behind the Mask: A
Book About Prepositions
Many Luscious Lollipops:
A Book About Adjectives
A Cache of Jewels and other Collective Nouns
Kites Sail High: A
Book About Verbs
Merry-Go-Round: A Book About Nouns
Fantastic! Wow! And Unreal!: A Book About Interjections and Conjunctions
Up, Up and Away: A Book about Adverbs
Mine, All Mine! A Book About Pronouns
September 3, 2011
Stories That Build Statesmen
I recently listened to a talk given by Marlene Peterson entitled "Stories That Build Statesmen". She shared some wonderful examples of the power of stories and the need to teach through stories. It truly inspired me to look at what I'm reading to the boys, and what they are reading in their spare time. And just when I thought I had all my plans finalized for the year!
I highly recommend you listen to it...and I found it free here. It's on the right-hand side, towards the bottom.
I'd love to know what your favorite stories are!
August 20, 2011
Help! I'm Married to a Homeschooling Mom
Help! I'm Married to a Homeschooling Mom: Showing Dads How to Meet the Needs of Their Homeschooling Wives by Todd WilsonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book helped me realize that I'm not crazy or weird. I'm just like most other homeschool moms - stressed out!
Seriously, I laughed a lot while reading this book. And nodded my head over and over in agreement. The author completely understands the heart and mind of homeschooling moms and offers valuable insight to the husbands. And great ways in which to support them as well.
Highly recommended for moms and dads. It is another part of my permanent homeschool shelf and I pull it down to read when things are getting hard. And for the record, I do NOT own a demin jumper.
View all my reviews
August 17, 2011
Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe
Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe by Todd WilsonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another great book by Todd Wilson. I really love his humor and his honesty.
In this book he looks at the common 'lies' we homeschoolers all seem to believe like "everyone has a clean house except me" and "everyone else's kids are really obedient, talented, smart, etc". He points out the lies and then shows WHY they are lies and how to feel differently about them.
I so identified with many of the points made here and it helped calm my fears and doubts. If you are at all worried you're not doing a good job homeschooling your kids or that you're the only one who doesn't have it together, this will help. This book will stay on my shelf forever, and I try to re-read it every year to not only remind myself that everything will be okay, but that I need to set an example of transparency for those around me, to show that I am human and not Super Homeschool Mom, because I'm not!
View all my reviews
August 14, 2011
more Starfall
Have you seen the more.Starfall.com site yet? It's lovely. Well, a better description would be cool, colorful, engaging, fun.
Fast forward to me agonizing over school plans for the upcoming year and wondering what to do with my 5-year-old who technically only has 30 minutes of "school" time, in addition to story time. He usually sits in with us but sometimes (okay, often) gets bored with us and starts to cause problems. I know MOST 5-year-olds would not do this...he's an unusual child.
So I sat down and gave the more.Starfall site another look. Hmm, early phonics and reading. Games. MATH! Colors. Nursery rhymes. I took the plunge and bought the subscription and that's when my jaw dropped.
I now have access to HUNDREDS of worksheets. Now, I'm not a worksheet mom but they do have their place for keeping little hands busy. These are fun worksheets, cool activities, puzzles, word family printables, handwriting, sorting, coloring and the list goes on.
AND THEN...I saw the lesson plans. They have 31 weeks worth of lesson plans (mostly geared to kindergarten) which blends phonics, science, math, reading and all sorts of fun things. It gives you the teacher prep involved plus lists what you’ll need each day then gives you step-by-step instructions on how to mesh everything together. I'm not sure this is something I'll use, but it's nice to know it's there!
My two little guys have loved using the full version. They can easily navigate without my help (the interface is just like regular Starfall). When I’m teaching the older boys their individual subjects (math, reading, spelling) I let the younger boys explore more.Starfall or work on some of the activities I’ve printed. I'm so pleased with the variety of tools it provides, not only for the kids, but for me as the teacher/parent.
August 3, 2011
Our LAST kindergarten year
Here is the NON-plan for my 5-year-old. He is just barely starting “school” as I wait until a child shows interest in reading and writing before beginning. He participates in all our family studies, at whatever level he feels comfortable with for that day. Sometimes he sits on my lap the whole time (with or without a back scratch), other days he plays (not so) quietly on the floor while I’m reading out loud and still other days he goes upstairs to play by himself, watch a “school” movie or use the iPod apps.
He gets about 20 to 30 minutes of individual teaching time a day where we work on handwriting and reading. We also have “circle time” with the 7-year-old where we sing songs and read picture books.
This is also his first year trying workboxes – at his request. His older brothers are moving out of their 6-drawer workboxes into milk crates so littlest brother wants both of theirs! I’m not sure we’ll use all 12 for him each day….we’ll tinker around with it the first few weeks. Every night I put in his handwriting book, a reading game and a worksheet or two. He helps me choose the remaining activities from his activity bag file folder box.
Handwriting
I use Handwriting Without Tears and have for years. All my boys have used it because it’s the easiest and best system out there! We work on one letter a day, although sometimes we spread a letter out over a few days. Since he knows the letter names and sounds already, we don’t need to spend extra time drilling those. It’s just the physical exercise of writing them.
I have also printed some “worksheets” from Confessions of a Homeschooler for him to use in his workboxes. He particularly enjoys the dot-a-dot and toothpick poke pages. We also use the “circle the correct letter” pages. He does activities from the Letter of the Week and kindergarten sections of her printables so make sure you check out both.
We just subscribed to the more.Starfall site and I was thrilled to see they have multiple (read many, many, many) printable sheets for reading and writing. I’ll be printing out some fun pages to keep him occupied.
Reading
I don’t follow a single reading program with my kids. I sort of mix-and-match the resources I already have.
I love Happy Phonics and use the games to practice and reinforce various sounds and concepts.
For beginning readers I prefer the Now I’m Reading series by Nora Gaydos. I pull out the book that corresponds with the lesson we’re learning in Happy Phonics….or vice versa.
We have used Starfall for years and he is now progressing past the letter sounds and moving into the early reading games. As I mentioned above, we just joined the more.Starfall section and it is AMAZING. There are so many wonderful activities for a beginning reader. I need to spend some time looking through it. I may create an “order” for him to do them (corresponding with the Happy Phonics and Now I’m Reading) or I may just let him play around with it. Okay - I did create one. And here it is! They even have lesson plans for each week, but I’m not sure if I’ll be using those or not.
In addition to the above, I also let him watch the LeapFrog videos, WordWorld and the Preschool Prep Company dvds. I love, love, love the Preschool Prep Company dvds. We have Meet the Sight Words 1, 2 and 3 as well as the new Meet the Phonics series (Meet the Blends and Meet the Digraphs). They have been great for the 5-year-old as well as the already reading 7-year-old. They’ve even been useful for my struggling 11-year-old reader.
Other activities
Over the past year or so I have created various “activity bags” to keep his little hands busy and his great brain engaged. He has been asking for more “school” stuff, meaning worksheets, so I’ll be perusing Confessions of a Homeschooler, more.Starfall, and Homeschool Creations Preschool Packs for printables. I pick and choose which ones I want – I never print the whole shebang.
The Reading Plan
I'm teaching my last child to read. It's a bittersweet thing. I've used this same general plan for all my kids....he just has a few resources that the older boys didn't have.
It's hard to show in a list like this, but once he starts reading the Now I'm Reading series, he will read one book a day AND play a game or watch a Starfall video. We spend between 10 and 20 minutes on 'reading instruction'. Some time in a book reading and some in a hands-on type activity. I usually have him watch the movies on his own, during a time I'm working with his older brothers. So, on any given day he reads a short book with me, we play a game, and he then watches a movie, plays around on Starfall, or does a worksheet.
I use a lot of games from Happy Phonics (HP). I'm only going to link to it once!
Leap Frog Videos
Starfall (basic ABCs)
Keep Away*
Letter Go-Fish
Alphabet Bingo
Muffin Match (upper/lower case letters) - from HP
Castle Game (short vowel sounds)
I Can Read Cards (HP) – CVC words -
Starfall Learn to Read games 1-5, Skills movies #1-3
more.Starfall – Word Machines
more.Starfall – Short Vowel Pals
Meet the Sight Words (dvd – watch one video every few days, do coloring pages)
Build a Sentence – some sight words, mostly CVC -
Scrambled Sentences - sight words, mostly CVC -
Meet the Blends (dvd)
Starfall Learn to Read, Skills movies #4-8
Meet the Digraphs (dvd)
Start Now I’m Reading series by Nora Gaydos
Animal Antics books 1-5, then Playful Pals 1-5….
then go back to Animal Antics books 6-10 and Playful Pals 6-10
Read one book a day, repeat the same book for 2 to 3 days….continue to move through the series (Clever Critters, Snack Attack, Amazing Animals, On the Go**)
Sight Word Bingo; Roll, Keep, Say or Keep Away*
Silent E game (HP)
Starfall Learn to Read games 6-10
Climb the E Tree (HP) – various sounds of “e”
Sight Word Bingo; Roll, Keep, Say or Keep Away
CH, SH, TH, WH Game (HP)
The E-A Game (HP) – watch Between the Lions EA video
Starfall Learn to Read game 11
Starfall Learn to Read, Skills movies 9-11
Climb the E Tree, gradually move up to level 4 (HP)
Sight Word Bingo; Roll, Keep, Say or Keep Away
First Nurse Game (HP) – er, ir, ur, wor, ear
Starfall Learn to Read games 12-14
Y Not? (HP) – y_____, _y, ___y, and __y__
Three in a Row (HP) – oi, oy
Sight Word Bingo; Roll, Keep, Say or Keep Away
Boat Launch (HP) – au, aw
Mountain Climber (HP) – oa, ow, oa
Silly Sentences word strip game
Space Race (HP) – gn, kn, wr, ____b
Climb the E Tree last level
Begin Dr. Seuss, Frog and Toad and other books
Begin All About Spelling Level 1 (unless his writing is good enough to start earlier) - I feel like this program fills in any holes I might have missed.
* Keep away is a game where I hold a stack of cards. I show him one card at a time and if he knows the letter sound, name or word he can keep the card. If he doesn't, then I keep it. Whoever has the most cards at the end, wins. I always lose.
**more.Starfall has many beginning reader books in the “More Phonics” and “Backpack Bear’s Books” sections if he needs more practice than the Now I’m Reading books.
Preschool/Kindergarten Activity Bags
Oh, how I wish I'd known about these when my oldest boys were little! These bags are a great way to keep little ones busy, but still learning.
To make activity bags I print, cut out, laminate, sort, etc and place everything into a gallon-size zipper plastic bag. Please use your best judgment with a child – my son does not place things in his mouth (never did) but if your child does, don’t include activities with small items. Also, gallon size baggies can fit over a child’s head so please teach them to keep it off their noggins.
I’ve found it helpful for many of these to have a small tray or cookie sheet available so that when something gets “dumped” it’s contained in a specific area instead of all over the table or floor.
How we use them: Last year we’d just grab out a handful of activity bags and use them while I read out loud to the older boys or at the school table upstairs. This year he’s using his own workboxes. He wants to do 12 a day – we’ll see how that goes. Every night he helps me choose 2 or 3 things he wants to include (one in each drawer – I choose the other activities). The next day he pulls out one activity from one drawer, plays with it/completes the worksheet, then returns the activity to the bag and to the drawer. I store most of them in a hanging file folder box, each activity in a separate, labeled folder. The bigger, bulkier items are in a dish pan in the school closet.
Here is a list of activities we’ve created with his reactions to them:
Paperclip color matching game – loves it
Color and shape matching wheels – loves it as do all our little visitors
Color matching with objects – loves it
I used foam sheets (you could use cardstock or felt) and collected a ton of small objects in various colors (between 5 to 10 per color). To play he lays out the color sheets and dumps the bag of objects on the floor. He then places each object on the corresponding color sheet. For example, the green frog would go on the green foam. The pink pig would go on the pink foam.
Clothespin Counting game – loves it
Hide and Seek – chooses this one a lot
Take pasta, dry beans or rice and put in a tupperware like container. Hide some small toys and have them search for it.
Mix and Match – uses it but gets frustrated sometimes
Have a bag full of different items, 2 of each. Have them find the matches. You can time it if you want - how many can you get in 1 minute? Or just let them make the matches. It can be whatever - milk jug caps, coins, small toys, stickers on small pieces of paper, paperclips, etc.
Alphabet train – doesn’t use this one very often
Print and color (there's a color version but would probably use a lot of ink) or print on colored paper.
Shades of color – he hated this and told me to get rid of it
Get some paint chip "ladders" (strips that are the different shades of same color). Make a master list with the color at the top and squares to put the other colors. Have them sort into the grid. Can use velcro, magnets or just have them lay it on the paper. If you use magnets they can be put on a cookie sheet or magnet board. I picked up some cards at Walmart but their selection was pretty stinky. I think Lowe's would have a much better, and larger, selection.
Measure it – only used a few times and said it was “boring”
Print this onto cardstock or laminate. Cut pieces from ribbon, yarn, pipe cleaners, etc. Have the child measure each thing to determine where it goes.
Spooning beads – does this one over and over again
Get 2 small bowls, and a spoon (check $ store). Put all beads in one bowl and have them spoon to the other bowl.
Counting frogs – loves it
Make a mat for each number, like 1, 2, 3, etc. Have them put right number of frogs on each mat. Or flowers or whatever small item you can find several of.
Patterning pom-poms – will do it if I set it out, but won’t choose it on his own
Make some pattern strips for using the colors of a bag of pom-poms. Cut some strips of paper about 8 1/2" by 3 or 4 inches and color circles to match the pom-poms. The child should place the pom-pom either on top of the matching color or underneath it. You can have a set pattern like ABAB, or ABCABC or just a random mixture of colors.
Double Trouble Shapes – new to try this year
Make some grids and laminate. Across the top row of each make some shape combinations (a circle on top of a heart, etc). Glue all together. Child needs to find both shapes needed to complete a square. Separate each grid's shapes in different bags.
Mini clothes line – thinks it’s hilarious
Cut small pieces of clothes from felt or other fabrics. String twine between 2 sticks and use mini clothes pins to secure them. For the base you could drill holes into a wooden plaque or glue it to the inside edges of a small box. We use this tied between two chairs. We have an alphabet set too – each clothespin has an upper or lowercase letter written on it and he pins the corresponding letter (written on paper) to the line. It could just be an index card with the letter on it or you could cut out “clothes” shapes. You can mix and match this as well – uppercase pins to lowercase, upper to upper, etc.
Stickers and paper – I have to regulate this and only do it once in a while because he goes through stickers so quickly. Include a variety of stickers and some paper (or cardstock) and let them go to town.
Pringles Can color sorting – loves it
I covered the can so he wouldn’t get all excited that he was getting a snack. I also used a few more colors than pictured, and made two with different colors on each one. All the kids that come to visit have loved this as well.
Pumpkin transfer – loves it
I picked up two small plastic pumpkins on clearance and filled one with small foam thingies (airplanes, frogs, bugs, shapes, etc). He loves to transfer it from one pumpkin to the other – he uses his fingers, kid-sized chopsticks or tweezers.
Cutting – loves it
In a bag include child safety scissors and cardstock, which is easier for them to cut. You can also include some patterns for them to cut if you want to teach more control.
Gluing – loves it
Include items for them to glue to cardstock/construction paper. Die cut pieces, shapes, letters, whatever. I patrol the craft stores for clearance items (think collage) and use what I can find.
Marble counting – loves it, but loses his marbles
We used foam sheets but you could also use plastic lids. Punch a hole in the foam sheet and write the corresponding number on it. For example, punch one hole and write “One 1”, punch two holes and write “Two 2”. The child then places the marble into each hole. I matched up a hole punch with the marbles at the store before buying to make sure the marble wouldn’t fall through the hole. I also made sure to get a hole punch with a longer reach so it could go in an inch or so from the edge.
Black Scratch paper – loves it
I only buy this when I see it on clearance. It’s one of his favorites but he’ll go through a whole package in one sitting so I only give in two sheets at a time.
Parmesan cheese can – loves it
When you empty a plastic Parmesan cheese container, clean it out and pull off the label. Fill it about ¾ full with small pom-poms, bells, coffee stir straws, anything that will fit through the hole. To play, unscrew the lid and dump it all out. Put the lid back on and open the side with the small holes. Have the child place each item in the hole….it takes a long time but they usually stick with it. 45 minutes of blessed silence.
Pipe cleaner beading – loves it
String beads onto pipe cleaners. As they get more agile you can use shoe laces or strings created especially for beading.
Maze book – loves it
I ripped a maze book apart and put each page in a protective sleeve. He uses a dry erase marker and then wipes it clean at the end.
Chalkboard – loves it
You can use a sponge to “draw” or include a small bag of chalk and a damp sponge for an eraser
Places to look for more ideas
http://www.filefolderfun.com/
http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/preschool_activities.htm
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