Here are some of our science plans......mostly lots of reading and lots of trips to the zoo.  The kids love animals, so we'll be reading lots of animal stories.  We might also do a few simple experiments from the Usborne book.  We've done a few in the past and they were always fun. 

Science

*Among the Farmyard People by Clara Dillingham Pierson

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=pierson&book=farmyard&story=_contents

*Among the Forest People by Clara Dillingham Pierson

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=pierson&book=forest&story=_contents

*Among the Meadow People by Clara Dillingham Pierson

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=pierson&book=meadow&story=_contents

Usborne First Book of Science and Nature

http://www.myubam.com/ecommerce/details.asp?sid=E0699&gid=85339105&title=First+Book+of+Nature+(C/V)&sqlwhere=+T.ID+In+(Select+ProductID+From+vCategoryGroupsItems+Where+CategoryID+%3D3080)

Uborne Book of Science Activities Book 2

http://www.myubam.com/ecommerce/details.asp?sid=E0699&gid=85339105&title=Science+Activities+Vol.+2+-+C/V&sqlwhere=+t.id+in+(select+productid+from+vcategorygroupsitems+where+categoryid+%3D3080)

Picture Books

Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle

From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfeffer

Wigging Worms at Work

Starfish by Edith Thatcher Hurd

Books by Melvin Berger

Books by Fanklyn M. Branley

Here are my thoughts on math for this fall:

We're going to continue with the Math-U-See Primer which Jaylyn loves.  She has so much fun with the blocks and she just "gets it."  We're taking it super slow and just enjoying counting and adding and playing fun math games. 

Jaylyn counted to 100 with very little help from me the other day!  I was so proud!  She's also understanding place value and can do simple addition and is understanding simple subtraction.  Of course, it helps when you subtract things like marshmallows and chocolate chips...................

The other day she really surprised her Daddy when they were playing with her math blocks.  She was trying to make the number 8 with her unit blocks but she had 10 blocks in her pile.  She counted them and realized she had too many.  Quickly she grabbed two blocks and threw them back in the sack.  Daddy asked her what she did and she said, "I took two of them away."  He asked her how many she had now and she calmly replied that she had 8 now.  He was very impressed!!!

Right now math is her favorite thing to do!  So we'll keep up the Math-U-See and read some fun math picture books from our library.  I've included a list of the ones our local library has, so throughout the year we'll check out a few and see what we think of them. 

Math

Math-U-See Primer

http://www.mathusee.com/primer.html

Picture Books

A Million Dots by Andrew Clements

Millions to Measure by David Schwartz

How Much is a Million

Spaghetti and Meatballs for All by Marilyn Burns

The Greedy Triangle

Same Same by Marthe Jocelyn

Over Under

One Some Many

A String of Beads by Margarette Reid

Follow the Line Through the House by Laura Ljunkvist

Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young

Anno’s Mysterious Multiplying Jar by Mitsumatsa Anno

Anno’s Counting Book

Pigs on the Move by Amy Axelrod

Monster Math by Anne Miranda

10 Little Rubber Ducks by Eric Carle

Here are some of my thoughts for literature for this year.  First, I have several lists of picture books and read alouds.  We're going to work through many of those.  Next, I have some books for fall, spring, and summer--many of which are online.  These are some Charlotte Masonish resources that we're going to try out this year.  We LOVE to read!  And lastly, I have a poetry book that we're going to reference throughout the year.  Jaylyn loves to have "discussions," so we'll use some of these poems to begin discussions and give her some food for thought. 

Picture Book Lists

http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/files/TEMPOdownload/VCCB%20Download/RFBooklists/kindergarten_book_list_2004.pdf

http://www.carolhurst.com/titles/prek.html

http://www.carolhurst.com/titles/k.html

http://kids.nypl.org/reading/recommended2.cfm?ListID=61

*The Aesop for Children by Milo Winter

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=winter&book=aesop&story=_contents

*The Complete Tales of Peter Rabbit by Potter

*For the Children’s Hour by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=bailey&book=hour&story=_contents

*Mother Stories by Maud Lindsay

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=lindsay&book=mother&story=_contents

*Kindergarten Gems by Agnes Taylor Ketchum

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=ketchum&book=gems&story=_contents

*Reading Literature-Primer by Harriett Taylor Treadwell

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=treadwell&book=primer&story=_contents

*Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales and Wonder Stories by Louis Rhead

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=rhead&book=andersen&story=_contents

*Grimm’s Fairy Tales by Frances Jenkins Olcott

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=olcott&book=grimm&story=_contents

*Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=kipling&book=just&story=_contents

Poetry

A Child’s Own Book of Verse:   Book One by Ada Skinner

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=skinner&book=verse1&story=_contents

I found a new character training website.  I think I might try out their newsletter.  If anyone else tries it, let me know what you think. 

I've discovered that good character resources can be hard to find!

In looking through curriculum for phonics, I've made a few decisions.  We're going to continue in our current book, the 100 EZ Lessons thing.  But we're also going to add in the Phonics Road when I purchase it and have time to study it myself!  We're not going to do the whole program right now.......that is way too much!  I just want Jaylyn to learn all the phonograms.  After she learns those, we'll move forward as she's ready.  It might take us a year or more to get through this curriculum, but that's ok!  That's the purpose of homeschooling--moving at your own pace.

Language Arts—Phonics

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons

The Phonics Road to Spelling and Reading Level 1

http://www.thephonicsroad.com/

Ok, I've been reviewing curriculum for the fall.  I never planned to do anything too formal for preschool, but Jaylyn loves school, loves to do projects, loves to read, and is just so excited about learning.  So, I thought I would plan a few things, so I can have ideas handy but we could still be flexible and laid back. 

Here are my thoughts for Bible and Character Training:

Bible

*Explorer’s Bible Beginnings And It Was Good

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_content/990656522?page=1627808&sp=1016&event=1016EBS|1627475|1016

*Explorer’s Bible Beginnings Precious in His Sight

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=1530X&event=CF

Bibles—The New Children’s Bible by Ann DeVries

http://www.amazon.com/New-Childrens-Bible-Anne-Vries/dp/1857928385/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245715604&sr=1-1

Character Training

A Child’s Book of Character Building by Ron and Rebekah Corriell

http://www.amazon.com/Childs-Book-Character-Building-Growing/dp/0800754948/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245725789&sr=8-1

This is a complete study of the Book of Virtues created by a homeschool mom and you can download for free.  It looks great!!!  Check it out!

I saw a link to this site on another blog and thought I would share the link as well.  This website lists tons of free resources for each subject.  One of my favorite things was the link to the McGuffey's Eclectic Spelling Book. 

I know you could homeschool using mostly free resources and your children would receive an excellent education.  But I'm too much of a curriculum junkie to be able to do that!  I LOVE looking through curriculum and would buy them all if I could!

We've been using Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.  Halfway into it, I'm not sure I like it........

I wanted a reading program with phonics--or more specifically, phonics the way I learned them in school.  My problem was that I did not know the name of the phonics program used in my private school.  This program doesn't teach all the letter teams I learned and it teaches some words as sight words.  NO!  I want to sound them out! 

However, I will say it has taught Jaylyn to read simple sentences and to sound many words out.  The program has taught her to slowly sound things out.  It's built her confidence and allowed her to read short phonics-based readers all by herself.  To her--she's reading and she loves it!  It's just not quite what I'm looking for. 

After lots and lots of internet research I realized that I was taught the  Spalding method.  Great!  So I looked into the book The Writing Road to Reading.  Umm, I'm overwhelmed.  It's been a long time since I did the phonics and I don't feel too confident in myself. 

Then I received an email from TOS about a phonics program--The Phonics Road to Spelling and Reading.  Wow!  This looks comprehensive and it teaches the Spalding method!  It's also much more than just a phonics program.  It's a complete language arts curriculum with literature studies, grammar, spelling, reading, and handwriting. 

This may be exactly what I'm looking for.  This is the Spalding method, but it's more user-friendly.  It comes with DVD's to teach you the lessons.  It has a manual for the teacher and one for the student.  The program focuses on learning the phonograms and the spelling rules.  It also prepares the student for Latin study with their Latin Road to English Grammar program--another plus for us since I wanted the kids to study Latin. 

I think we may get this program and start teaching Jaylyn the phonograms and then move forward with the program when she seems ready.  It may take us well over a year to get through the first level but at least we would be learning the phonograms and the spelling rules.  I want to get rid of some of those "sight" words! 

I have been very interested in Tapestry of Grace for our future history curriculum.  I have spent hours scouring their website and basically being completely overwhelmed by what I read.  I am experiencing ToG FOG and I don't even own Tapestry yet!!

I was so sad that Tapestry wasn't at our convention this year.  However, Lampstand Press has their "convention booth" on their website. They are also hosting webinars to learn more about Tapestry and their new Digital Edition. 

I think I may have to try that.  Maybe the fog will lift! 

Jaylyn loves her math blocks.  She plays with them at room time.  She arranges them and stacks them (the little square shape indentions on the rods allow her to stack the blocks without them falling over).  She pretends with them.  Those are her blocks and she’s very proud of them.  I chose the program because I felt we needed the “hands on” component and approach to math.  The blocks are fun for Jaylyn and she enjoys using them in her workbook. 

I do have a few complaints about the blocks—they are small!  I worry constantly about losing most of them.  I have to keep them stored in a big Ziploc away from Jaxon—choking hazard!!  The positive aspect of the block size is that they have greatly improved Jaylyn’s small motor skills.  In the workbook, the student is supposed to place the unit blocks on the blank blocks on the pages.  Jaylyn originally struggled to place each little green block but she is having an easier time placing each block and she’s able to complete the pages more quickly now.  My second complaint about the blocks:  the edges of the blocks and rods are sharp and pointy!  No rounded edges on those little things.  I worry that if Jaxon got a hold of one of them, he would really scratch someone.  So, I guess I wish the blocks were a slightly more little kid-friendly.  Little brothers and sisters will want to play with them and I don’t want to have to worry about anyone losing an eye! 

Jaylyn has also enjoyed doing her lessons.  We’re only on lesson 3—and taking it as slowly as need be—but she often asks to do her math before her reading.  She is very proud of her workbook and is especially proud that her book is bigger than Mommy’s book.  The books are very simple without any colored pictures or graphics.  So, while the look of the book is rather boring, the lack of pictures actually help keep the child focused on the math without any added distractions.  I know that Jaylyn would ask questions about any and every picture in the book and the lessons would take much longer to complete.  I’d rather have those discussions with a good picture book from the library than during a math lesson. 

We’re going to keep going with MUS and see when we finish the primer.  After that, I plan to head into Alpha and see what I learn along with Jaylyn. 

I've been looking around at different art books and curriculum ideas.  So far I haven't found too many things that I think will work for us.  But the other day I found the book Drawing with Children.  It looked interesting and with a little teacher prep, might be what we're looking for.  The biggest complaints about the book were the lack of lesson plans and the amount of teacher prep.  The reviews stated that the adult would actually have to participate in the lessons and draw along with the child.  GASP!  You mean, I would have to do art too?  Exciting!  I'm all for that!  I can't draw but I'm sure willing to try.  My art may not be any better than my 3-year-olds, but I bet we'll have fun together.  So we just might try this out! 

And to combat the lack of lesson plans, I found a little website where a homeschool mom posted her lesson plans for using this book. 

So if the lessons are planned for me, and I'm willing to get a little messy with some projects, I think we can do some art!

In my husband’s words:  “The three best events in my life are my wedding day, the birth days of our children, and the homeschool convention.” 

That just might be a true statement. 

My sweet husband helped me pack up all our gear and we headed out early Saturday morning.  The two older kiddos went to grandma and grandpa’s to play and we took little Ellie with us.  We spent several hours wandering the exhibit hall and looking at all kinds of curriculum and books.  My husband was the pack mule and was in charge of the stroller, all the baby things, and anything we purchased.  He patiently trailed behind me all morning. 

Our convention day was a success.  I reviewed curriculum choices that I had previously researched on the internet.  I was able to weed out several choices that are not going to work for us and I was able to write down a list of things to consider using in the next few years.  I also came away with a few fun things……..

Some  Bob books for Jaylyn to practice her new reading skills.

A handwriting book because Jaylyn SO wants to learn to write beyond just scribbling. 

Some math things………we bought Math-U-See Primer with the manipulative blocks.

We’ll add these three things to our schedule with the reading lessons we already do. 

I came away from the convention excited about the future of our homeschool and surprisingly under budget (which was probably the best part of my husband’s day!).

Here's an article that I saw on another blog (I can't remember which one though..........).  The article examines math and when math should be introduced.  I had never heard of waiting until after age 10 to teach math, and I never realized that historically, math was taught at later ages.  Something new to consider.............

After looking into the Suzuki method violin lessons for Jaylyn, I've been thinking about music curriculum.  What to choose????

I heard about Themes to Remember.  This is a method of learning the classical music themes.  The program sets original words to the famous pieces to help kids remember them.  It sounds like a fun listening activity and I know I don't know half of the tunes that they list. 

I've also heard good things about Pfeiffer House.  This is more of a complete music curriculum with music theory and things like that.  It looks like a very complete elementary curriculum. 

Then I found Classical Kids.  These are CDs with a story about a famous composer, as well as songs by that composer.  It sounds like a fun way to learn the music and a little biographical information about the composer. 

So these all sound fun!  But after looking at history, math, science, English, spelling, reading, writing, geography...........I have to add art and music.  How do you ever fit it all in???    

How do you ever pick a curriculum?  I have been researching curriculum which is one of my new favorite things to do.  For some reason it's so addicting.  There are so many options out there and I don't know how I'll ever decide.  I also don't want to buy one on impulse and then realize that it's totally wrong for our family.  I know we'll probably have to change some things and tweak here or there, but curriculum and books can get so expensive!  And I really do want them all.  Being on a budget is going to be tough. 

I think history is the most exciting subject right now.  I never really cared much for history at school because it was soooo BORING!!!  But as I research history curriculum they all look so fun and interesting!  I can't wait to use them.  I think I might actually enjoy history.  I recently stumbled onto Tapestry of Grace.  And wow!  That looks like fun.  And it's classical which I am leaning toward right now.  I have also heard good things about The Story of the World and even Mystery of History.  Classical again.  Can I do all three?

Sometimes I feel a little more Charlotte Mason so Sonlight looks interesting.  However, I did want to do history chronologically which they don't do.  And when I feel more eclectic, KONOS unit studies look interesting.  Although, I am so type A that I think I need more structure for myself, so I think I need a little more than just KONOS.  Can you use it as a supplement? 

I've ruled out some of the textbook approaches.  Sorry BJU and Abeka....I used those in my private school and I thought they were pretty boring!!!!  And I definitely need something my kiddos can do together.  I'm not teaching two separate periods of history in the same year.  I just can't decide (Yes, I'm aware that I still have several years to decide, but I am already agonizing over the decision).  They all look so fun!  How do you ever decide?