Summer Vacation, Blogging, Kindergarten Curriculum

I have had a few people ask me, if the new logo, means I do not blog through the summer. The answer is no. We will be on Summer Vacation, from lessons, but I still blog all summer long. I do some paid posts, and may explore other topics to discuss.

DJ is not feeling well today, so he is just going to read his Harry Potter book. We need to finish it up by the end of the year. He will make up todays work tomorrow, which is test day.

This time of the year, is when I start doing my curriculum for next year, and finding the info to cover the lesson plans. I am posting Caitlin's kindergarten curriculum, with DJ's to follow soon. Because I do my own, I add or remove things I do not want in there. Some of the kindergarten stuff was kind of dumb, and I took it out. If you are looking for a free curriculum for your kindergarten child, please feel free to use it.

Kindergarten Mathematics:

Simple counting to 20
One to one relationships
Concepts of less, and more
Sequence of events
Recognition of basic sets
Simple addition, and subtraction
Introduction to a number line'
Shapes- elementary geometry
Introduction to a calendar, and clock
Basic money skills
Basic problem solving strategies

Kindergarten Health:

Personal hygiene
Good eating habits
Care of teeth
Major body parts
Physical fitness
Safety

Kindergarten Science:

Observation of everyday, familiar things
Common animals, and plants
Classification of living/nonliving things
Farm Animals
Care of Pets
The sun, our principal source of energy
Weather, and seasons
Temperature
Light
Colors
Senses
Same/different
Simple measurement

Kindergarten Social Studies:

Meanings of Holidays, traditions, and customs
Understanding and appreciating other cultures
Individuals role in family, community, and church
Work and jobs
Safety rules, and symbols
Basic human needs
Self respect, and self awareness
Location of home

Kindergarten Language Arts:

Phonics
Sight words
Listening to music, literature, and poetry
Nursery rhymes, fables
Social listening
Constructing visual images while listening
Oral communication skills
Role play
Following and giving directions
Organizing ideas
Relating events, and experiences using complete sentences
Beginning handwriting

I also add Music, Art, and Spanish. These are add ons, and we try to do them at least one day a week.

Shifting Focus

Well it is almost the end of third grade, already. Now my focus, and attention shifts to making my 4th grade curriculum, and kindergarten curriculum. Kindergarten is pretty easy, Caitlin will be mostly focusing on learning to read, following directions, and math. She has pretty much covered most of the other things in preschool. As for DJ 4th grade is a big step for him. It is a time to wrap up everything he has learned, and expand on them. He has improved so much in his writing, I am impressed. He asked me the other day, when he could start a blog of his own. At first I was like hmm I don't think for a while. Then it occurred to me that he could use a blog, as an everyday writing assignment. Because he will pick the topic, and will have to stay on the topic, using proper writing, and grammar rules, it will actually be a good assignment for him. So for 4th grade his year long writing assignment will be his own personal blog. Of course he will need assistance for searching out topics, ideas, pictures, and other information he will need. I think this will be an interesting assignment for him, and I will not have to scramble to come up with writing ideas. I spend a good part of the summer making lesson plans, and researching information. I have really enjoyed this school year, and look forward to the next. We have started our own playgroup for children who both homeschool, and do not. So far we have 4 moms, and 15 children. I did this because I am not patient at waiting for other groups to decide whether we can join or not, are not active enough, or live way too far away from us. So far it is going well, and we are planning a pool party at the end of May.

Lesson plans for 5/04/09:

Science: Planets
Math: Factor turn arounds, graphs, division
Writing: You found a magic lamp, what three wishes will you make
Language Arts: Irregular verbs, mystery map
Spelling: Lesson 30 write each spelling word two times each
Vocabulary: Look up the definition for each vocabulary word
PE: 30 minutes