Curriculum 2013

Today I am linking up to the Not Back to School Blog Hop, hosted by iHomeschool Network.

I use curriculum for inspiration and guidance.  I don't usually follow it step by step.  We do a lot of "pounce" learning,  a question, activity, or opportunity comes up and we pounce on it. We study place value while baking chocolate chip cookies, grammar at the grocery store,  science while driving to grandmas, learning opportunities pop up everywhere.  So this curriculum list is our jumping off point and big picture map.  I also printed off the curriculum targets for our local school district for 1st grade.  I use then as an rough checklist to keep us on track.

2013 - 2014

1st Grade - Holly

Math - Singapore, we are going to start by reviewing 1B.  Life of Fred, cuisenaire rods, baking, and whatever other fun stuff we decided to pounce on.

Phonics - Progressive Phonics, with Evan Moor Fundamentals 2 and MCP Plaid as supplements when we are in a worksheet mood.  Lots of reading.

Writing - WWE, other various copy work, narration etc.  Lots of reading.

History - Story of the World Volume 1.  Plan to read 1 or 2 chapters a week while coloring the coloring page.  May do activities from the activity guide when interested.  Other interest led subjects.

Science - Interest led, with a slight emphasis on biological sciences.  Books, internet videos, "pounce" lessons from Mom, especially since this is my area of expertise.  We also will be hosting a science club to do experiments a few time a month with some friends.


K4 - Heather

Math - Life of Fred.  Joining Holly for most math activities.
Reading - Same as first grade.  Heather reads at a beginning first grade level.

Writing - Handwriting Without Tears K, copy work. Heather already writes most upper and lowercase letters, but needs to work on form.  She will likely participate in some WWE lessons.

History & Science -  Join Holly for all her activities.  Heather has a particular interest in bugs and rocks, so I want to devote some time to those as well.

"School" is really optional for Heather. But she usually insists on participating.

Swimming Victory & Fair Fun - Collage Friday

We are celebrating at our house.  Holly finally put her head under the water!!!  The second to last day of 4 weeks  of swim lessons she finally bobbed.  The girls have had great fun in the last 4 weeks of lessons.  Heather especially is quite the little fish.  We're hoping to continue to work on swimming throughout the school year.

Heather wrote her teacher a thank you note on the last day. Holly decided to draw a picture of getting her head under the water to give to her teacher.  I have been so impressed with our local park district aquatics program.

Our other major activity this week is the county 4-H fair.

The girls are big enough now to help with fair set up.  They helped clean project displays on Saturdays.  On Wednesday their buddies came with them and we visited the livestock barns and had a blast playing and learning in the farm bureau education area.  

Check out what others are up to at Homegrown Learners.