But Angie "graduated" preschool last week, and summer is here, so I have no reason not homeschool full time, 5 days a week. But, in reality, we started homeschooling back in February on the days when she wasn't in school.
The mission of this blog is to keep a record of what the girls and I have been doing for "school" - perhaps this will be helpful in 2 years when Katie starts Kindergarten homeschool. As for now, here's my plan for the girls:
Angela, age 5 and a half:
- Reading: We started "Teach You Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" back in February - about 2 or 3 lessons per week. It was very slow going for the first few weeks, but now I am honestly amazed at her progress! We completed lesson 39 today, so we're almost half way through! I'd like to be finished with the book before the new baby arrives (end of Sept).
- Math: Back in February, I ordered the Math U See (Primer) and we excitedly flew through lesson after lesson. Then, at around lesson 8, Angie started to dread the repetition, even though I skipped a few pages in the workbook. Although Angie is crazy about doing workbook pages (much to my chagrin!), the MUS worksheets were bland and slow moving. So, last month, after a total of 11 lessons (half way through the program), we set MUS aside and I picked up the Horizons Kindergarten Math Workbook 1. It's colorful and much more appealing to her - she wouldn't STOP and wanted to finished 10 pages in one sitting! I think she was learning more new material with MUS, but I think Horizons will ease her into new territory without giving her a distaste for (my beloved subject!) math.
- Religion: One of the main reasons I am homeschooling is to include our faith into our education. So, each morning we start school with a prayer and a short reading from "The Biginner's Bible," which is great for this age - no violence, and difficult subjects are tactfully addressed. (Angela is a very sensitive child - even the story of Adam and Eve had her covering her eyes at one point! - so this version was a perfect fit for her.) We also do a corresponding coloring page from "Bible Story Coloring Pages #2."
- Memory: Currently, we go over the days of the week and months of the year each morning - Katie (age 2 and a half) has learned the days of the week in less than one week! Next, we will work on memorizing prayers and short poems.
- Handwriting: Last Fall I purchased Handwriting Without Tears Preschool set, and althought Angie loved it (and I made my own wood pieces using stiff felt to save money), I really don't know if she learned anything from this program. So, for now, we are doing copywork with a corresponding free-hand drawing on various subjects: sometimes it's a verse from scripture, sometimes a new fact she learned from a question she asked that day, sometimes a description of a book she is enjoying. The main focus is to make it relate to something she's facinated with at the moment, something short (just a sentence or two), and to focus on her handwritting as she completes it.
