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Today was our first day of the 2013/2014 Homeschool year. DJ is in the 8th grade and Caitlin is in the 4th grade. After much thought, soul searching, and searching for curriculum I finally decided on the lessons we would use. Because, last year I kind of was lazy, and used FLVS a lot for DJ, which he really did not enjoy at all, I wanted to make a change. I want my kids to enjoy learning and the way that they learn. That is one of the reasons I decided to homeschool. So, after an awesome day, with no complaints on lessons, I think I have found the right set of curriculum. We also made a schedule, for Mon-Thurs lessons. Now, this will change here and there, due to Run Club and Earth Kids, but hopefully we will be able to keep it on track. All chores will now be done on the weekend, as opposed to every Monday morning. I made each class 60 min in length, to make enough time for each lesson to be completed. Each lesson plan subject is meant to be covered in a week. For Caitlin some of these are only a day. She will be able to make up a lot of time in History and Language Arts this way. Because Caitlin's lesson in History, was on timelines, we made a homeschool day timeline, shown below. For Language Arts, Caitlin read a poem about dreams, then she drew a dream picture, also shown below.
DJ:
Science: CK 12 Earth Science 60 minutes
History: Lesson Pathways Medieval Times 60 minutes
Language Arts: Open High School of Utah Grade 9 reading The Outsiders 60 minutes
Math: CK 12 Arithmetic 60 minutes
Spelling/Vocab: AAA Spell 30 minutes
Spanish: 123 Teach Me 30 minutes
Caitlin:
Science: Lesson Pathways Beavers 60 Minutes
History: Lesson Pathways Timelines 60 minutes
Language Arts: Lesson Pathways 4th grade 60 minutes
Math: Saxon 3 and Daily Math Warm Up 60 minutes
Spelling/Vocab: AAA Spell 30 minutes
Spanish: 123 Teach Me 30 minutes
Well our first day of school started good and then got sour from there. A friend of our family, had her dad die unexpectedly yesterday, and I just found out this AM. Then my husband came home from work with some mystery illness that I didn't want anyone else to catch. Ugh, our first day is always filled with drama, it seems. Last year our male Lab mix, without warning or provocation, bit my son in the face and we had to put him down. I still miss him and think about him. Anyway once everything calmed down, we got on with lessons, and had a good day of learning. DJ's first chapter in his Science book was about Archeology. I found this cool website for kids and Archeology, be sure to check it out. We also did our first chapter in 4H Entomology, that was fun, each kid designed their own insect. I forgot to get wings so pics will be shared after I get wings, LOL!
Lesson Plans For 09/06/2011:
DJ: Math: Saxon 65 chapter 25 Science: Entomology, Archeology, animal classification from the National Zoo education site Handwriting Analogies 4H Photography book two
Caitlin: Head of the Class: Two cycles Science: Entomology Math: Addition, subtraction, calendar fill in, telling time, sequencing Language Arts: Spell long E and I words Fall Coloring page
Before I jump right into the lesson plans for tomorrow, I must first say we had an awesome summer. Our new playgroup of friends has kept us busy, and full of fun. Today the weather is not so grand, of course we are having people over to swim. Thank goodness for cable, and playstations just in case LOL. I read an excellent post this morning on foods that trigger migraines. I left a comment, but forgot to add something important that I learned during my own research. I suffer from migraines, for many years. They are hormone related, but have worsened, sending me to the Dr. Something interesting I learned from her, was that I should try to avoid MSG. Ok, so I thought what a loon, I don't even eat Chinese food hardly ever, though I love it. Then I did some research, MSG is actually a preservative, and used in many different foods. The one thing also, however is it is also in some medications, that are gel caps, or enteric coated. I was taking Excedrin Migraine for the headaches, but it was upsetting my stomach. So I switched to the coated ones to help with the stomach irritation. Little did I know I was actually making the migraines worse, because I obviously am sensitive to MSG. Since avoiding it, and stopping taking the coated tablets, my migraines have lessened in intensity. It has not taken them away, my hormones are still hormones after all, but I avoid the MSG which irritates it more. I have only had to take the prescribed migraine medicine once, since applying the no MSG to my diet. Read your labels it is also called monosodium glutomate. That's it, just thought I would share that will all my fellow migraine sufferers.
Lesson plans for 09/08/09:
Caitlin: Phonics: HOP pg 3 say the sound, listen to CD Beginning sounds: worksheet Land or sea cut and paste: animal classification Reading: Book one Cat HOP Site words: Hat, Cat, Dog, Sun, Mom, and Dad Alphabet book: Letter A Cutting practice: worksheet
The alphabet book you can start at the beginning of the year. We will put the book together once the whole alphabet has been completed. If you do not own a Hooked on Phonics program, I highly recommend it. I bought one used, but complete, for 9.99 on Ebay, it has already helped tremendously. I use TLS books, and DLTK websites for free kindergarten printables, they are excellent.
DJ: Language Arts: subject and predicate, prefixes, synonyms and antonyms Spelling: write each spelling word two times each Vocabulary: look up the definition for each vocabulary word. Writing: 10 things about me blog award, thanks Tes Math: Add, subtract, multiply, divide Science: Animal classifications, falling leaves project Reading Comp: worksheet
As you can see we jump right back in, and review old material to be sure it has been remembered, then add new stuff as we go on. I used Lesson Snips this year, for both Science, and Social Studies lessons, they are wonderful. I also have workbooks for each as well, for projects. Here is a cool, and easy Science project for your fourth grader.
Purpose to demonstrate that a leaf's death is not what causes it to fall from the stem. You will need: sprig with four or more green leaves attached, and a small vase. Procedure: 1 break a sprig with four or more leaves attached off a bush, or tree. 2 Stand the sprig in the vase. 3 Set the vase where the sprig can be observed, but not disturbed, for four weeks or more. 4 Observe the leaves as often as possible, but do not touch them.
We will post the results, and why, after the experiment is completed. If you do this with your kids, be sure to do the same.
This week we may need Friday, to play catch up, due to DJ needing a hand xray one morning this week, and playgroup fun on Thursday. Whew what a week it is going to be. Have fun, and happy schooling.
The first day of school is Sept 2nd. I am posting the first day of class activities.
Tues 09/02/08 Spelling List Lesson 1: fast, bird, nine, life, since, kill, cannnot, egg, water, mark, person, quite, beside, sister, forest. Write each spelling word two times each. Once in print, and once in cursive.
Vocabulary words Lesson 1: fast, bird, kill, cannot, egg, person, mark, quite, forest, beside. Use your dictionary to look up and write the definition for each word.
Math: Add and subtract 2 digit numbers, multiplication single digit numbers,
Read 1st chapter of Dinosaurs Before Dark
Writing assignment: Things I want to learn to do.
Language Arts: Phonics review, Nouns, Building Sentences.
Science: Plants and animals of the sea lesson 1 Crabs. This is a multi week lesson, with various activities for each topic. At the end of Sept a field trip to the Ocean at Shyree Island is planned.
PE: 30 minutes
Recess: 30 minutes
At the end of the day, if there is time left over one of several things can be done. Take a tour of the marine mammal center at http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/learning/education/mammalinfo/mammals.asp Secrets of the oceans realm learning page at http://www.pbs.org/oceanrealm/index.html play online educational games, arts and crafts, play educational games on leapster l-max, music, or spanish lessons. Any educational documentaries on TV are also allowed at the end of the day.
