I meant to put what we worked on today in my post about our 1st BPA lessons but I got so carried away with describing what we did I forgot.  So here it is.

Biblical Principle Lessons:

God's Principle of Individuality(see previous post)

Bible Study/History:

We reviewed what we read the last time about Joseph and how his whole family came to Egypt.  And how Pharaoh made Joseph ruler over the kingdom.  So I went to the library and got 2 books about Egypt and one about Mesopotamia-the 1st civilization(around the time of Abraham) We read and discussed and I showed them pictures from the book ANCIENT EGYPT by George Hart.  We read and discussed how Ancient Egypt was built along the Nile River.  We read the section on how Pharaoh was believed to be a god and how he was the ruler of Egypt.  We talked about how worshipping anything or anyone except the One True God is idolatry.  They knew that from their KID'S  TEN COMMANDMENT video with THE GOLDEN CALF.  We talked about how the Pharaoh went to war and looked at the different weapons they used to fight with. I showed them pictures of pyramids and how they were built to bury the Pharaoh when he died.  I skipped over the section on descriptions of Ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses, mythology, priests and temple rituals, religion and magic.  I don't want them confused at this early age nor do I feel they need to know what rituals were done in Egyptian temples.  I went on to the section on hieroglyphs and how the scribes were trained to copy manuscripts and write these Egyptian symbols. I briefly touched on how the scribes wrote on papyrus scrolls.  We talked about(and read some) the craftsman and artists that were in Egypt such as carpenters, stonemasons, jerwelers, bronzesmiths, and artists who decorated the temple.  We stopped there.  All of these topics I covered with very broad strokes and read only the interesting topics that would not be too hard for them to grasp.  The next section we'll cover is Life in The Home in Ancient Egypt.

Math:

Worked with quarters.  She did very well placing each coin next to it's name.  This is the first time she's been able to do this.  She also has memorized what each coin is worth.  So I put one nickel and one penny together and showed her how to determine how much money that is.  So I made up about 7-8 problems like that choosing different combinations of coins and putting them together.  She would write next to each coin what it was worth and form the equation to add the 2 numbers.  We even ventured into adding 4 coins together.  She got stuck so I showed her how to add 4 number along with reminding her about carrying.

Reading:

She read the scriptures from the bible during Principle Study practicing her posture and diction, and enunciation

Physical Activity:

I told them we were done with Table Time and it was time for Physical Activity time.  They went and got their jump ropes and jumped for about 15-20 minutes off and on.  They enjoyed it so my daughter asked me to jump with her in a jumping contest to see who could jump the longest.  God knows I needed the exercise but after jumping about 60 times(we counted) I wanted no more parts of that.  Maybe if I begin to make exercise a regular part of my day then it will flow even easier for them.

They went outside to play before dinner, around 5:30pm. After they ate ham sandwiches and played a little more we concluded our night with baths and they got on the dining room floor and put puzzles together.  We were supposed to read Heidi but they chose the puzzles instead.  They wanted both but I'm too tired for that.  I'll read to them right after table time tomorrow, Lord willing.

History/Geography and Science are deemed by me to be non-core subjects therefore they are covered when I can get to them and when I'm not worn out...

History:

For the month of July we are covering Ancient History-Creation. Our next topic is Mesopotamia but I need to do more research in locating books and other resources and I've not taken the time to do that.  I really enjoy it though...I'm tired right now  so we are doing the basics for this week, at least. .

Science:

So far we've studied and read books and entered into our science notebook info. on earth, our solar system, energy from the sun, and electricity including a biography on Thomas Edison....really enjoyable, lot of work for me, I know....no excuse!

Geography:

We've not covered geography yet.  I see that as maybe a 2 week unit in the fall/winter and again in the spring sometime.

My children spend time running, jumping, playing outside.  We play hopscotch and my daughter has taught herself to jump rope.  My 2 oldest love to roll the ball into the soda cans and knock them down and play basketball adn catch.   My 4yob can do the monkey bars while my 6yog still struggles with it. 

I am contemplating a more structured time for physical activity.  I do not plan to enroll them at this point in gymnastics or dance so whatever is done will be done here at home or a ball field somewhere....

Creative Arts include Music and Art.

Music:

Right now(at least this semester) we are studying classical composers and their music.  For the month of July we listened to Mozart compositions everyday at the end of Bible Study while they colored their bible coloring page.  Sometimes they would just color and color...I'd have to give them extra pages to color b/c they loved listening to the music.  I borrowed a Mozart Nature Symphony from the library and put that on while they colored.  They LOVED it.  I even read Mozart's biography to them.

This month we've moved on listening to Haydn.  We've not listened to his music in a few days, though.  Doesn't seem like they miss it either...maybe a music break is in order....ummm.  My routine/plan/schedule, whatever you want to call it, seems to still be in development even though I have it posted here at my desk!!

Art:

So far they color and draw pictures.  I have a folder of arts and crafts ideas when cabin fever strikes in the winter time.   I do not look forward to painting although I know I need to let them experiment and have fun with it.  The last time I let them paint I put them on the floor of the garage with their huge art pads and they had a blast...especially with the green hand prints on the garage door and floor....

Music and Art is done when we feel like it......

I'm following the lessons in  MAKING THE GRADE.....

Math is on the schedule for everyday but I find I'm more comfortable with a slower pace of 3 times a week(or whenever the Holy Spirit lays it on my heart).  This gives her time to absorb and digest any new concepts learned. The last thing I want to do is pressure her about math. 

She really enjoys when I explain a new concept(show her new things) to her but I just need to calm down and not feel pressured to complete things by a certain time.  I find that when I do feel pressured I get impatient with her and her little face and eyes drop and the excitement goes out of them....I hate that...so I've decided to slow math down, PRAY for direction and stay consistent. 

 I say PRAY b/c I was in a slight quandry as to how to explain place values to her.  The way the book said to explain it was confusing to ME so I could not give it to her with any clarity.  So we did not do math for a most of last week until I got some clarity.  I had an idea over the weekend of how to explain it to her and I did today.  I praise God for showing me how to introduce the concept of tens and ones to her.  I was also reminded that I'm not going for mastery here but just introduce her to the concept and move on...we will cover it in the later grades.....thank You Lord!!

I kind of do spelling and phonics together.  It is not formal instruction in any way, yet. 

Spelling:

If I come across any misspelled words in her writings(during school time or on her own) I'll make a note of the word and 2-3 times a week we'll have spelling drill on that/those words.  She'll write each word 10 times and then the next day I'll test her on it.

Phonics:

I'm following the phonics lessons in a book  got from the Teacher's store entitled Making the Grade: Everything Your 1st Grader Needs to Know.

Right now we are reviewing short/long vowel sounds.  Since she can read very well we are not doing extensive drill work...just review.

I am having Alexis read different stories in her readers and from the myriad of story books we have here in the house.  During Bible Study I"ll have her read part of the story and I always have her read any instructions on her worksheets or handouts that she does. 

I schedule her read aloud time everyday but it rarely happens that way.  It seems to happen 2-3 times a week.

Do I need to do more?  I don't know yet.  She is reading quite well for her age...she seems to have gotten lazy about it, though...wants me to read instead of her putting forth the effort. 

Any suggestions?

Taking my cue from Colloquium()....I'll post on what we do for Bible Study/Handwriting.

I do not use a curriculum per se.  I just read thru the bible everyday using a bible reading plan I got from Heart of Wisdom website.  I don't attempt to read thru the bible in a year with a 6yo, 4yo, and 1yo.  I take my time and sometimes we take 2 days to do a story...depending on what writing assignment I have for my daughter to do.  I also use the Old Testament worksheets that HOW website links to:  http://homeschoolunitstudies.com./Bible/Worksheets/OT.htm

These worksheets contain a bible coloring page, puzzles, and fill in the blank/circle the correct word- type questions.  I like them.  I find when I  take the time and let her read and answer all questions she retains a lot of the story.

First we pray.  I ask them who wants to pray and my 6yog will take turns praying over the lesson time with my 4 yob.  Then I read the passage containing the story.  If I'm energetic I'll have her do much narration to make sure she is listening AND understanding; I'll ask alot of questions and MY CHILDREN DO ALSO.   We'll discuss any topic/tangent that comes up in the reading as the Holy Spirit brings it to me as we/I read the story.

I combine handwriting(and even grammar) with bible study.  I have her write in a sentence what the day of the week is, the month, day, and year(this is everyday).  Then she'll write either a verse of scripture from what we have read or I'll have her make up a story about what we've read or just summarize in her words what we've read and write that.  Then she'll color the picture and do the worksheets. ( To cover grammar I'll remind her to capitalize the first word in the sentence, instruct where to put commas, remind her of her periods at the end of a sentence and spacing the words evenly on the paper as she writes, etc.)

I find that doing both the Bible Study(reading/discussion, worksheets and handwriting) can last up to an hour or more and she gets fidgety and tired.  So sometimes I break it up OR recently I've let her do either the handwriting or the bible sheets. 

I find I'm exhausted also after all of that but I do enjoy it and it is very rich time in the study of God's word.  It is a precious time for their spirits to soak up the Word of God and to ask questions(and they do MUCH asking) and gain an understanding of God and how we are to live our lives. It blesses me b/c of they are so curious and interested and EAGER to learn about the Lord.

As I write this I am reminded and convicted;  Convicted to go back to doing bible study like I did at the beginning: discussion, bible worksheets, handwriting  and Reminded that teaching my children about the Lord is the MEAT of our curriculum; the main reason why we chose to homeschool; so why not spend the necessary time? why not let the Holy Spirit direct how much of our time is to be spent on teaching these precious little ones about the Saviour of their Souls? 

Yes, Lord I hear You speaking ........