It’s been awhile since I’ve done a “State of the Homeschool” update. Because I know you all are on the edge of your seats just waiting to find out, aren’t you? :P
- We have taken a break in Math-U-See (Alpha level) because of G hitting a road block in the subtraction department and have branched out to flashcards and to the Horizon Kindergarten level to reinforce/reintroduce the same concepts from a different direction. I really like the curriculum so far. I have started S at Lesson 1, in fact, since it is at her level currently and G really is closer to book 2 of that same level.
- I have introduced a more organized art curriculum called “Draw – Write – Now” that combines handwriting with drawing lessons. It either has students draw a farm animal (book 1) and then handwrite a few sentences about it, or uses a word or letter or number and build a picture around that word. For example, writing the number “2″ then using that as a basis for drawing a swan. I enjoyed working through all the drawing lessons myself last week as I watched a tv show, then this morning I did the first lesson with the kids (S just drew without doing the handwriting part) and they loved it! G got the hang of it right away and S enjoyed adding her personal unique touch to the rest of the picture.
- G started asking questions about how the human body works. ”Mommy, what happens when you breathe in? Mommy, then what? Mommy, then what?” At our local homeschool store, I was pointed to a cute little book called “My Body.” First, it has you trace your child’s body on a butcher paper, then each page has a “life size” cut-out and coloring page of each body part and organ and easy explanation for how it works. Once your child colors it, then you glue it or use a brad to tack it on to their own “body” you traced for them. At the end, they have a life-sized image of their own body with body parts. How cool is that?! I started this lesson today also. We traced their bodies and (somehow) found space on the wall to tack them up, then colored the picture of the brain (specific instructions provided), cut it out, and glued it to their “heads.” I read them the information about their brains, but also had G copy as a handwriting exercise some of the same information. At the end, he will have a booklet on the human body in his own handwriting.
- They have both started Upwards Basketball. This is a nationwide Christian sports organization. They do devotionals at each practice and game. Both S and G are playing and they had their first games this past Saturday. Very cute indeed. No refs needed as the art of dribbling and other fine details just haven’t happened yet. They have jerseys and everything. And both kids have the number 14!
- G is doing great in reading…loves, loves, loves to read! Anything and everything.
- I keep S busy with various puzzles, writing her name, coloring and she absorbs a lot from G’s lessons. More than realize actually. She has been accepted into the same preschool G was in and hopefully will have the same teacher that G did. She is very excited about that, as am I! Then, for the year after that, I look forward to homeschooling both kids. I love homeschooling more than I ever thought I would and cannot imagine doing anything else now. I absolutely love it!
