Sep. 25, 2007 - Vowel Detective Game

Vowel Detective Game ~ All About Syllables ~ Grades 1-4

Instructions

1.    Spend a week writing three letter words with short vowel sounds; think of as many as you can (sample words: bag, beg, big, bog, bug).

2.   Spend a couple days writing four letter words with long vowel sounds and silent final e; think of as many as you can (sample words: bake, kite, cute)

3.   Spend one day writing the following notes on syllables.

a.   Open Syllables (v•cv)

                                         i.    Vowel is at the end of a syllable (r.4, 5)

                                       ii.    Vowel says its long sound (ba•by, mu•sic, o•pen, si•lent)

b.   Closed Syllables (vc•cv)

                                         i.    Vowel is not at the end of a syllable

                                       ii.    Vowel says its short sound (af•ter, nev•er, un•der, win•dow, pop•corn)

c.   Ask, “Now that I taught you what’s different about open and closed syllables, what is the same about them?” After they guess the answer, write it: Every syllable must have a vowel.

4.   Play Vowel Detective Game to understand how vowels rule the kingdom of words. They are the kings of the alphabet. They dictate how a word is spelled and pronounced. They have the keys to unlock your greatest potential as a speller and reader. Watch their placement for clues.

a.   Write 5-10 (depending on how many kids you have) open syllable words and 5-10 closed syllable words on index cards. They have to be words with two syllables.

b.   Hide them throughout the house.

c.   Have some children look for open syllable words and other children look for closed syllable words. If they find words that aren’t the ones they’re supposed to find, they must leave them in their place.

d.   Whoever finds the most of their kind wins.

5.   Have children answer the following questions to assess their understanding.

a.   What is an open syllable? or What kind of syllable has a long vowel at the end?

b.   What is a closed syllable? or What kind of syllable has a short vowel not at the end?

c.   What’s similar about open and closed syllables? or What must every syllable have?

Sep. 25, 2007 - Principled Literature

Sep. 23, 2007 - Principled History Lesson Plans

Sep. 12, 2007 - Treasure Island Teaching Guide

Sep. 11, 2007 - Treasure Island Apprehensions

Sep. 9, 2007 - Principled Planning for 07-08 School Year

Jun. 29, 2007 - 2007-2008 School Year Excitement

God is so good to me. You would not believe how blessed I am right now. We're moving back home (Maui) after being on Oahu for 4 years. I am excited about leaving the Noah Plan Lessons because I've used them all and really enjoying developing my own lessons. Maybe the level of the joy of learning will be increased. Come August 30, I should have almost all year planned for Lit, Hist, Science, Geo, and other ancillary subjects. I'm also excited to get into my last year with the Writing Road to Reading and RightStart Math. If you're reading this, pray for me. The Lord gave me a vision to start a Principle Approach (PA) school in Maui seven years ago. I might be on the threshold of developing a team of parents who have the same vision. We'll see. I'll post my lesson plans once I finish them. anyone want to do 4th grade PA curriculum with me? Email me. Raquel Werk

Jun. 29, 2007 - Hans Brinker Study

We just finished reading Hans Brinker. We celebrated by going ice skating for the first time. I never thought in a million years my kids would like it or be able to do it. They had a blast and want to go back everyday. Well, besides that joy, reading hans Brinker was a challenge rhetorically, but a wonderful learning experience in geography, history, art, and Dutch culture, not to mention the abundance of etymology and prosody examples. If any one ever asks me how to teach English using literature, I know exactly how that works. What better way to exemplify English than to use classic literature. Forget the grammar books, although using spelling words for grammar is useful. Study the grammar in a book like this one and your bound to exceed any state expectations. My kids colored a great picture of the book and I know they'll never forget where windmills come from or what a dike is. I think I'm falling in love with literature. I can't wait to teach Carry On Mr. Bowditch, Treasure Island, and Secret Garden next year. Raquel

Apr. 23, 2007 - Hans Brinker Ch 1&2

Feb. 27, 2007 - Writing Threshhold

Feb. 27, 2007 - A First Independent 4R Moment

Sep. 2, 2006 - Planning to Use Principle Approach Education

This is what I do when I plan my year using Principle Approach curriculum.

1) Make schedule of what subjects I will teach during what times.

2) Make an academic calendar of what breaks and holidays I'll have, when I start and finish school, what days I'll have special days (literature, history, or science celebration days), and when each week of the quarter is.

3) Take topics covered found in the Noah Plan overviews for my grade and make a personalized quarterly overviews of topics and basic name of designated assignment covered in Bible, Lit, Hist, Sci, and Geo.

4) Plan specific lesson plans for 1 quarter for all subjects. This is a list of what page or lesson and assignment name I teach for a given day for that subject. The key and Principle Approach distinctive is that the principles and teaching methods are identified in the Noah Plan lessons for each subject, each week. This gives me a pretty good idea of what books I've need, what assignments I'll be teaching, and where to find the specific lesson details I'll need at the exact time I teach. 

5) Prepare notebooks with labeled divider tabs, cover page (complete with name of our school and teacher, student name and picture, and subjects studied with year and grade), and spine label (same info as cover page).

I recently helped a new homeschool mom do these things for her fifth grader and since she is new to Principle Approach curriculum, we'll be following the same lesson plans for Bible, Lit, Hist, Sci, and Geo. The new learning goal for her this year is in The Writing Road to Reading. She's using a basic math text just to get by.

I am so excited to teach this year because I feel so much better about teaching all my subjects. And I have a better understanding of the flow of my schedule. I'm excited to be better planned. I got so excited about my planning I ended up planning the entire year for Lit, His, and Sci. These subjects were so easy to plan for. All I did was decide which book/chapter we'll read on a given day. The teaching method is the same, so now I have a better understanding of how to get through the subject. And I'm excited to see what we're going to learn, especially after finally having a great emotional connection with teaching Shakespeare this year. It's neat! Every year (this is my third) I fall in love with another unit of study that I had previously know nothing about or disliked.

Principle Approach education is difficult to use, but the more I use it the deeper I get into learning and appreciated all that God has provided for us to learn. I'm sure we all fight the thoughts of hating school from our own school days. Well, Principle Approach makes you a lover of learning. Your children might not appreciate it as much as you, but they will be scholars and great thinkers of their day. Teaching logic in kindergarten by teaching outlining is just one example of how PA students get an early start in life and learning. They'll ultimately be able to read, think, and do more with their life than I ever did at a given age. Teaching sentence patterns (grammer-complements) to your first grader (before they get to 4th grade) will make them better at understanding what they read and how to write better. Teaching your second grader visual math strategies make them quicker at computation which will free their minds for higher math. They won't get stuck at simple computation. PA education is worth every sacrifice of time and effort. If you want to better yourself and reach your own goals?

Aug. 22, 2006 - Reading Shakespeare - A Comedy of Errors

Aloha! We just finished reading Shakespeare's A Comedy of Errors and I've never had such an enlightened reading of Shakespeare's story as told by Charles and Mary Lamb. This was a great story! One thing that stood out to me was the logic. The plot totally works the child's logical thinking. The language...talk about great examples of etymology and syntax...GREAT! Talk about Thinking Governmentally and cause to effect thinking...IT'S ALL THERE! What a joy to teach this. I'm thinking it would be great to write a play/drama or felt characters story. Principles...besides the fact that Shakespeare uses his gift to write and think...the characters in the story and the way they react show their lack of trust and hope; Truth will always be revealed; The world's way of handling problems leads to frustration and confusion; Trusting God in your circumstances leads to blessings; God works all things for good to those who love Him. Great tool for reasoning Biblically and logically! A must read!

Aug. 7, 2006 - Podcasting Principle Approach Training

I thought I'd pass this on to the PA community. Paul Jehle, a Principle Approach principal in MA is on the radio program of Dr. James Kennedy (Coral Ridge Ministries in Georgia-I think). The radio ministry is called Truths that Transform and those with iTunes or iPod can podcast it onto their computer and get the whole series. Today's title, "Evaluating your Philosophy of Education Part 1." People would need to find the website in a search and click on the podcast.

May. 24, 2006 - What's Different about Principle Approach Curriculum?

The Bible for Reasoning and Reading - two subjects in one, the PA Bible lesson uses the Bible to teach reading through an elevated language and to reason from principles (the whys and how), not just facts (what and when).

Spelling - The Writing Road to Reading connects speech sounds with their written symbols by teaching them to reason why the word is spelled the way it is and how it is used giving the child an understanding of how language works.

Math - RightStart Math gives math meaning and makes it fun through games. It's true that this curriculum keeps your children asking for more. They learn strategies that minimize memorization and enhance understanding. If you're not using RS Math AND your child begins to have difficulty...think about giving them a start in math that will lasts beyond failed memory and lack of reasoning and logic.

Literature - If you're not reading aloud or reading books recommended by the Noah Plan Curriculum, you're not lifting your child's understanding of language. I've been reading NP recomended books for 2 years now (stretching myself in reading and understanding such lofty plots and themes-believe me, it was a stretch) and have (for once) diverted to one unrecommended book and totally notice the difference in the excellent use of language. If you've already read some of these specially selected books, you're ahead of me.

History - The Chain of Christianity is more than a timeline of people and events, it opens up for us a story of how God's law has been revealed to man to bring liberty to not individuals, but nations themselves. Every nation's government, economics, and business can benefit from the Providential perspective of history. PA history explores the internal causes of events and characters and even places YOU on this timeline as someone who can continue to be a part of His story in the world.

Geography - Ever heard about how the physical geography of a region of the world has made a specific contribution to the development of man? How about the individuality of each continent? You'll find it here.

Science - more than facts and experiments. Relate the nature and character of God in all of science. The more you study, the more faith is built, the more you fall in love with an awesome creator...and...learn a few facts; maybe even use the little that you do know to invent or creator something new as so many God-fearing scientists have (ie., George Washington Carver).

English - abandon grammar workbooks and daily drills; take time to explore meanings and origins of words discovered in other subjects and take those writings and emulate the same use of language. Also learn how words are formed and the secrets (patterns aren't just for math) of sentences to increase understanding. Renew your mind about how language is supposed to be taught. Restore to your home the methods used by generations before us; those who brought language and writing to its highest standards.

May. 24, 2006 - New Schedules New Learnings

It's always good to have time be on your side. Thank God for breakthroughs in learning for children. God lets them grow and all of a sudden they get it when they didn't get it before. I've had even more breakthroughs. I've simplified our schedule and included beach time. We have 1.5 hours of Bible and Math and then either go to the beach or have read aloud time. Spelling and English are done sometime later during the day or after dinner, which is working out so great. I'm getting regular exercise and loosing weight and they're being more diligent and focused. It's too good to be true. We've been going through Proverbs in Bible and it's amazing how applicable they are. Through our daily contrast of the wise child and the foolish child our study is proving to be a great learning experience as they get older too. They also are used to the read aloud and are beginning to just sit and listen and enjoy the books we're reading. We just finished Benjamin Franklin and they loved it. We're going to have a special day of science related experiments wth our other Principle Approach families. For summer, we're going to keep learning since I have more I'd like to cover and both my husband and I want to keep them engaged. They do get a week or two off here and there, but want to keep the routines. I want to make sure Isaac gets through 2nd grade math before the new year starts. He's a little behind and Isabel gets to catch up to him so in the fall I'll teach one grade (3rd) for math and all other subjects too. I'm thinking of conducting a 1st/2nd grade daily math and spelling class for a new homeschool mom I've become friends with. My kids are excited to help teach (which is another shocker; I've only dreamed of  having kids who love to teach as I do). Neat to see God work in my life and my kids life. This year has been a challenge for me, but God has granted me so much peace about homeschooling. I don't feel pulled by anxiety about teaching at a regular school to be around more people. God is blessing me with a little/non-regular school community that is not so presurresome. I like this!

May. 24, 2006 - Homeschool Methods Simplified

What helps me simplify homeschool is to mentally follow a checklist of what I think is primary for a quality education. These are methods of teaching I make sure I do every day we have school:

1) Bible/Reading-more than just reading practice (the best kind) and discussing/checking comprehension (10-15 min), but also asking reflective and reasoning questions about why God says/writes and writing that down (10-15 min).

2) Math-practice the basics (5-10 min oral), lesson from curriculum (20-25 min), and play math games for basic operations (10-15 min) (they love that; crucial) 

3) Spelling/English: new words dictation (10 min), old word practice discussion/penmanship (15 min), writing sentences to discuss the word function (15 min) (parts of speech) (That alone is a principle: words have a job/purpose).

4) Read Aloud (20-25 min) to child: this is where you use literature, science, history or other topic to elevate your childrens knowledge and use of language. Discuss and document: setting, plot, characters, and theme for narratives and topic and facts for informatives (a little every day). As a supplement or secondary method, include a color page, map work, or paper (scissors/glue/markers) activity or experiment.

The most important thing to remember is not just to get through a bunch of worksheets, workbooks, or textbooks, which tends to bore and stifle learning. Learning is a time to develop daily disciplines (physical and mental) and experience God and His world to the end of becoming good communicators of His truth, not just having knowledge, but having understanding and wisdom in all of life. Test the curriculum you're using against these ideals and continue to store these treasures in your heart and watch God expand and lengthen your tents. If your curriculum lacks good books for read aloud and you want to supplement, go to FACE website (face.net) and get the Family Program for Reading Aloud or choose a book and syllabus from the grade level book lists. Another good and small investment would be the Self Directed Seminar. 

Apr. 29, 2006 - New Breakthroughs

Well, sometimes it seems as if the things you've been praying for are far from being answered. Homeschool is a struggle at times, but can also be very rewarding. I've been praying about making learning more fun for my kids, especially my son, but I tend to believe learning is more about developing disciplines and focus. I never developed that growing up, but my kids will even if learning is not fun.

So, even though it was planned and the kids wanted it, I gave them a spring break. I planned absolutely nothing and accidentally ignored them (preoccupied with other things). Well, it was the worst week of our life. Don't try this at home...as they say...Not a suggested method, but one I'm glad happened, because now they have a greater appreciation for school than they did before. They're accepting the responsibilities of homeschool now. I think subconsciously they thought we wouldn't do much now that they're not in school this year. Well, we certainly don't spend our time like they did at school, but the same exact requirements are expected. After a "BORING" week, I was ready to get back in the groove, but I still was frustrated with my schedule. Well, instead of starting on time Monday morning (as you might think I'd do after not having school for a week), I was going to update the schedule real quick when suddenly I got inspired...and BOOM! I finally got...not only the needs of my kids...but also my own personal needs. I thought I would have to sacrifice some of that for them, but thought I'd try fitting all our needs and see if it works. It does! I am so relieved. I get to remain a night owl.

Before I even get to the new schedule, I also wanted to mention that I've been frantically searching for a way to redeem myself from the year I taught first grade. I had never taught lower elem grades before, but had such a bad year, that I was trying to figure out how to do it better so someday I could overcome this (other things that occupy my mind). The good news is that I've come across some books that helped me with that, which also contributed to my new breakthrough in homeschooling. Who would have ever thought that classroom management principles apply to homeschool management? That's where the breakthough came in. I realized the beauty (not just the function) of read-aloud time and came up with a way of fitting all my other subjects into it (might seem like a duh factor, but something clicked).  

Anyway, according to my new schedule, I get to: sleep in, not rush through my subject time periods, walk everyday, and stay uplate. These were some things missing from my old schedule. Now, I get up at 8:45a (instead of 7:30a), have breakfast, and start schooling at 9:30a (bed at 12a for me-Yeah!). We do Bible, Math, and Spelling/English>basic routines that don't change. We used to mix the other subjects on different days. The problem with that is it's more planning than I want to do (since Principle Approach education requires my own study before teaching). So, I decided to have what I'll name (to my self) read aloud time. This happens everyday after lunch (I wanted to do that before but never did). This is another basic routine that helps us stay disciplined (good thing). Then, we go out doors for a walk somewhere (store, park, beach, library). This is where I am forced to get exercise. Then, we come back for a little independent reading (not as established as I'd like it to be right now). The thing about the read aloud time is not just reading aloud, but a time to 4 R more specifically. I read to them (Reasearch, Reason, and Relate). We write (Record, using my Noah Plan lessons or curriculum guides) something down from our study and spend time enriching it by doing a craft, skit, activity. This is where the planning becomes doable. The thing is that I'm taking Lit/His/Sci and rotating them: 5 wks Lit, 2 wks His, 3 wks Sci or something like that. Any content that did not fit into that quarterly overview with this rotation, we study over the summer. So, now, not only is our daily schedule more predictable, but it's easier to plan. I can focus on the same subject all week for as many weeks as I've planned and we can really get into the subject and make it an experience they'll never forget (Lord willing). The other thing, I don't try to fit in a subject right before bed, which is what I used to do. No more! Nights are for mom now! Yeah!

As soon as I started this, the entire school day and week just flowed. It was almost like the moans and groans of previous days have vanished. They know what to expect, they get better at learning and hopefully develop the habits of learning (a totally boring week helps reinforce this too). School becomes disciplined, but also enjoyable. I think the kids like it. So far, this week was like icing on a cake: smooth, creamy, and sweet. We'll see if it sticks.

Mar. 6, 2006 - Perfect Days - A Lesson on Government in History Class

Sometimes weather dictates your mood, energy, and motivation. But then newer days come and God pours out His favor on you. I spent an entire week depressed and fatigued. I was starting to feel worthless. Rain, rain, and more rain in paradise seemed to predict my days.

Well, this was the day of favor ladies. Sunny, warm, and lovely (dad was also home from work today). I felt good, motivated, and inspired to teach with full vigor and diligence. I use the word diligence because I have not been so good at vindicating discipline when needed and all parties seemed to take advantage of mom. Not today. And that's not all.

We started today with an awesome memory verse discussion about "victory" and God gave me the neatest tune so we could learn it by singing. That's was thrilling. I love it when God does that. Then we went about our daily routines of learning and then had lunch. After lunch we have history and I wasn't sure how I was going to teach what I had planned to teach for history...the government of Plymouth...a follow-up lesson from a couple weeks ago on the government of Jamestown. Well, I knew I wanted to use the big RED BOOKS (Principle Approach primary resources...ask me if you want more info on that). So, I turned to the section where it talks about this topic and I knew I wanted to tie it with what we discussed about Jamestown (unjust and dependent). Well, I didn't have much time to read a whole lot since we were on our way to the desks. So, I quickly skimmed one paragraph and these are the words that struck me: Bible-loving, God-fearing, and something else I forgot. Well, a few fast thoughts later I had them copying some short notes on the board for them to copy. This is what God gave me right on the spot (I explained what each meant).

Government

Jamestown v. Plymouth

Money-loving v. Bible-loving

Law of England v. Law of God

I forget this point. Ask me if you are really interested.

Dependent v. Independent

Unjust v. Industrious

The basic idea is that Jamestown colony governed people similarly, rewarding everyone regardless of their own industry. Sounds fair, but loaded with humanism, socialism, liberalism. (This whole point is examined in the Red Books and foundational to Principle Approach philosophy.) On the other hand, Plymouth colony decided that it would be best if everyone work independently to provide for themselves, thus being rewarded for their own industry. This all anwers the question, "who or what is in control? - thinking governmentally." Jamestown-government control; Plymouth-individual control. Principles: Individual self-government produces independent and insdustrious character. God blesses a Christian form of government.

So then, the real challenge was, "what was I going to do to enrich this lesson?" Well, I had been wanting to plant some flowers in the yard and thought this would be the perfect way to be industrious and independent. Upon hearing this idea, my son asked, "Are we from Plymouth?" I said enthusiastically, "YES!!! We don't want to depend on the government to plant a beautiful garden. We're going to put our own work into it and get the blessing of beautiful flowers." Then, a little later, my daughter asked, "This is not history, mom. We're doing science" (reflecting on our botany study). I said excitely, "well, if God created all subjects and all knowledge comes from Him, history is the same as science. It all interrelates." She decided to expand on that and, in a way, reassure herself what she knew to be true. Amazing! What a great lesson and perfect day we had! 

Dec. 2, 2005 - Addition Strategies

Addition Strategies Summary

All of the following information comes from the Right Start Math Program which can be review on alabacus.com. These strategies start with an American abacus that has 10 rows of 10 beads (100 total beads) in two colors. First row is 5 of one color and 5 of another contrasting color and the first five rows are like that. The last five rows have the colors switched. When looking at it all together, the colors make a chekerboard pattern of four 25's.

Point 1: Show what numbers 6-10 and 60-100 look like with the contrasting colors. 6 is five and one. 7 is five and two. 8 is five and three. 9 is five and four. 10 is five and five. 60 is 5 tens and 1 ten, etc. Anything above 10 is named with a tens. Example: 65 is 6 ten 5.

Basic Strategy: Even (2-10) and odd (1-9) numbers are memorized. Anything plus 2 is the next odd or even number.

Point 2 - Adding single digits (or what some might call fact families): solve the problem without counting and memorizing forward and backward by looking at the pattern of numbers in fives or tens. All addition problems can be solved mentally or with the visualization of the abacus.

Strategy 1 - Facts to 10: Memorized by their pattern.

1+9

2+8

3+7

4+6

5+5

Play Memory game or Go Fish with facts to ten to help memorize them. Also, anything plus ten is just that number as the ones. So, 10+7 is 1 ten 7 or 17 (seventeen).

Strategy 2 - Doubles: Any single number added with the same number. Notice the pattern. When you get to 6+6 and higher, use the visualization of 6 or that number; meaning, if 6 is 5+1 and 1+1=2 then 6+6 can actually be seen as 10+2. 7+7 is 10+4, etc.

1+1=2

2+2=4

3+3=6

4+4=8

5+5=10

6+6=12

7+7=14

8+8=16

9+9=18

Notice all the answers are even.

Strategy 3 - Near Doubles and Middle Doubles: ND - 6+7: Those numbers are near each other when counting by ones. Take the lower number and double it and add one. MD - 6+8: Take the number in the middle when counting consecutively and double it. 6+8 is actually 7+7 which is 14.

Strategy 4 - Two Fives: Any number above 5 can be added using the pattern from the abacus. 5+7 is 10+2 (because 7 is 5&2), thus the two fives. 8+7 is actually seen as two fives plus 3&2 = 15.

Strategy 5 - Give and Take: Anything plus 8 is the previous odd or even number. What you do to show this is that you take 2 from the other number to make 8 a 10 and add the other number which was the previous odd or even number. When adding 9, just give and take 1 instead of 2 since 9 is 1 away from 10.

Strategy 6 - Double digit under 100 w/o trading (10 ones for 1 ten or 10 tens for 1 hundred): Add tens and ones from left to right. Different, I know but this is not a paper pencil exercise. It's mental math. Seeing patterns of numbers and in this case it's tens and ones. 34+55 is actually 80+9 or 84+5. This encourages skip counting which actually reveals patterns.

Strategy 7 - Double Digit under 100 with trading: Same concept as above. Add the 10s but increase it by 1 ten when the ones are greater than 10. When done on the abacus, it shows the purpose behind trading (carrying, as some incorrectly call it). You are not just teaching them the skill of carrying, you are teaching them how and why we do that. 57+38 is 80+15 or 87+8 which is 95.

Strategy 8 - Double Digit over 100 with trading: Add the tens and ones. Reuse the simple strategies 1-5 to add mentally. 78+63 is 7 ten and 6 ten is 13 ten (using two fives or near doubles) or 130. 8 plus 3 is 11 because 8+2 is ten and add one. So we have 130+11=141.

The double digit addition (and the others for that matter) take awhile to think and use. Practice everyday and see how fast you catch on. It is a challenge, but if you help your child do it this way, they will be faster at math than you. And they’ll have more understanding and meaning than the mere skill we learn growing up. Some of us probably still rely on counting or calculators to balance our checkbooks.

I had a student in middle school math (pre-alg) a few years ago who we as a class relied on to do our simple addition because he could do it faster coming from an Asian background and upbringing. Using an Asian abacus helped him do that but he was also better able to reason through the principles of pre-algebra.

Let me know if this helps.