A blog of classical/eclectic homeschooling. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Sun, 13 Jan 2008 12:46:00 -0600 Sun, 13 Jan 2008 12:46:00 -0600 We are all now recovered from the stomach bug that knocked everybody out for a while.  The first half of last week was basically wasted because we were all ill--8th illness for the poor Bear this year--but the second was reasonably productive.  I'm working like crazy, so I don't have as much time as I'd like. Anyhow, as far as accomplishments go, the Bear only read five picture books last week.  Lowest grade level was 3.2, highest 4.5.  He breezed through them and has declared that for his birthday, I must make him a Thunder Cake from the book of the same name.  So that's what we shall do! I was worried that he wouldn't take to Patricia Polacco because her books are more touching than funny, but he loves the two he's read.  So we'll look for more now.  Though I am the last person in the world to get my undies in a wad about multy-culty issues, I believe that it is important to expose children to many different ways of living and different cultures.  For me, historical variety is as important as cultural variety, and I'm having great fun introducing the Bear to all sorts of new worlds.  It's keeps your world from being too small.  Polacco's books are Russian-themed and are often about her own immigrant family, who came to the US in the 1800s.  They're wonderfully illustrated and competently written, and the stories are lively.  I really enjoy introducing the Bear to them.  It's a shame he hasn't taken to Tomie de Paola with the same enthusiasm. The books for this week were: And to Think the I Saw It On Mulberry Street Dr. Seuss The Keeping Quilt Polacco, Patricia Thanksgiving on Plymouth Plantation Stanley, Diane Angelina and Henry Holabird, Katharine Thunder Cake Polacco, Patricia We did much better with math than reading--it requires less of him.  I backed up one lesson to Lesson 12 of RightStart A, so as of Friday, we'd done 12-24, or 13 lessons total, in 5 days.  I am still over the moon with this program.  It's just the thing to completely bypass all the Bear's audio processing problems and get straight tot he heart of the concepts.  I know from how he works automatically with number things that his fundamental understanding of math is very good, but getting into his brain via the ears was tough.  This does it, and we're flying along.  Reading ahead has really helped me figure out where Dr. Cotter's going with some of the things she's doing.  I'm actually teaching the material while introducing concepts from later, though at a low level, and the Bear's grasping it all without hardly blinking.  The Swim to Ten game, simple version, is pretty pointless because it seems way below his ability level, but he likes it, so I'll see if he gets whatever can be gotten out of it with a few more repetitions.  He's had an understanding of things in his head at a much higher level already--he just needed to consciously call on that understanding and to connect it to the words that describe it. I intend to finish RightStart B in time for his official enrollment as a Kindergarten homeschool student.  We'll see where we go from there.  I have a number of alternative plans depending upon what path he ends up taking. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/460505/ Sun, 13 Jan 2008 12:46:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/460505/ One very brave sniff was required before he could go and run for his free time. Man.  I'm loving this. He did no fewer than FOUR sections--that's eight days' worth--too. It's so difficult with him because he wants nothing hard and nothing boring.  It has to be both entertaining and easy.  That balance is NOT simple to find. We started out with Singapore EB.  We did it really over two years--from age 2.5 to 4.5--in spurts.  When I started it, DS would get me into these griding three-hour marathons and do three months' worth at a time, and then I wouldn't want to look at the book for weeks. I like RightStart better than regular Singapore Math, so I decided to switch to that and move back to Kindy just because I liked the order of presentation in RS A so much.  So we did that.  I was too busy with the house in the first half of 07 to really do anything with him on it, especially since I was so concentrated on READING!!!!!  After we moved, I decided to do a trial year of homeschooling, before it "counted" in real K, just to get into the habit and I could finish making my big blunders before it counted. Well, I made blunders, all right--I wasn't nearly as organized as I needed to be, despite my obsessiveness.  (I really, really didn't want to spend some money that now I realize must be spent to have a successful program, among other things.  Violin on a violin two sizes too small won't cut it, for instance.) But on to RS... For the first two weeks, everything was hunky-dory. Then the Bear got sick. And then he got sick again. And again. And again. We just finished up illness #8 for the 07-08 school year this week--and everything he's caught, I've gotten, too, of course. Anyhow, I decided to cut WAY back.  I went back to reading only for a while, with Bible thrown in now and again, until the new year, when I added math back in.  In desperation, I have decided to officially homeschool 7 days a week, which means with illnesses, we're getting in 4.5 on average now, about. Reading's now cruising along at a great place, so I went back to RS A.  After about ten minutes, the Bear was right back where he left off--he'd hardly forgotten a thing! I had tentatively scheduled two lessons per day.  Depending upon how long they last, we are currently doing 2-4.  Yes, 4.  And there are only 77 lessons for 180 instructional days, so each lesson was meant to take about two days on average! Anyhow, I often look like a crazed camp councilor during lessons.  I feel like I should get a free cheerleading outfit. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/459365/ Fri, 11 Jan 2008 09:05:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/459365/ The Bear just finished A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla.  It took him five reading days.  When he was first shown the book, he cried bitterly because he didn't think he could read a book with so few pictures, but he quickly brightened upon discovering that it was exciting and easy, both.  He had DH reread the part he'd read each day, and he even had me reread again one of his favorite sections after DH had reread it.  Now he's asked that we read the entire thing to him, at one go--he'd been warned that it will probably take two days rather than one, but he's still quite happy about it. We'll be taking a break between each of our chapter books to do a day of picture books.  I expect this pattern will continue for a number of years yet.  Picture books are their own genre and aren't just for kids who can't read chapter books yet.  There are, in fact, some really fabulous picture books written at the middle school level--Diane Stanley's work comes immediately to mind. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/454915/ Thu, 3 Jan 2008 16:47:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/454915/ These are all the books that were finished in 2007.  McGuffey's Eclectic Primer was mostly read in 2006, but it wasn't finished until Jan or Feb or so, since I decided to have him reread all the stories to lower frustration and build speed. McGuffey's Eclectic Primer McGuffey No, David! Shannon, David David Gets in Trouble Shannon, David David Goes to School Shannon, David Olivia and the Missing Toy Falconer, Ian Little Bear Minarik, Else Little Bear's Visit Minarik, Else Kiss for Little Bear, A Minarik, Else Father Bear Comes Home Minarik, Else Danny and the Dinosaur Hoff, Syd Biscuit and the Baby Capucilli, Alyssa Satin Meet the Dinosaurs   Hop on Pop Dr. Seuss My Pony Jack at the Horse Show Meister, Cari Mouse Soup Lobel, Arnold Barkley Hoff, Syd The Horse in Harry's Room Hoff, Syd Johnny Lion's Book Hurd, Edith Thacher Johnny Lion's Rubber Boots Hurd, Edith Thacher Happy Birthday, Danny and the Dinosaur Hoff, Syd Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp Hoff, Syd Sammy the Seal Hoff, Syd Why Benny Barks Milgrim, David The Hat Keller, Holly Pal the Pony Herman, PA Olivia Falconer, Ian The Lighthouse Children Hoff, Syd Drip, Drop Weeks, Sarah Biscuit Capucilli, Alyssa Satin And I Mean It, Stanley Bonsall, Crosby Amelia Bedelia Parish, Peggy Sam Gets Lost Labatt, Mary Corduroy's Garden Freeman, Don Good Work, Amelia Bedelia Parish, Peggy Grizzwold Hoff, Syd  Amelia Bedelia and the Baby Parish, Peggy Julius Hoff, Syd Ghost Named Fred, A Benchley, Nathaniel Olivia Forms a Band Falconer, Ian Bony Zweifel, Frances Olivia Saves the Circus Falconer, Ian Max's ABC Wells, Rosemary Max's Dragon Shirt Wells, Rosemary Young Cam Jansen and the Missing Cookie Adler, David A Rooftop Mystery Lexau, Joan M. Barney's Horse Hoff, Syd Gus and Grandpa Mills, Claudia Arthur's Back to School Day Hoban, Lillian Go, Dog, Go! Eastman, P.D. Just the Opposite: Dirty/Clean  Gordon, Sharon Just the Opposite: Fast/Slow Gordon, Sharon The Knight and the Dragon DePaola, Tomie Poppleton  Rylant, Cynthia One Day, Two Dragons Bertrand, Lynne Emmett's Pig Stolz, Mary Poppleton Everyday Rylant, Cynthia Poppleton Forever Rylant, Cynthia Poppleton and Friends Rylant, Cynthia Poppleton Has Fun Rylant, Cynthia Poppleton in Fall Rylant, Cynthia Poppleton in Spring Rylant, Cynthia Poppleton in Winter Rylant, Cynthia Little Bear's Friend Minarik, Else The Fire Cat Averill, Esther The Cat in the Hat Comes Back Dr. Seuss Spider-man 2:  Everyday Hero Figueroa, Acton Days with Frog and Toad Lobel, Arnold Mouse Tales Lobel, Arnold Frog and Toad All Year Lobel, Arnold Frog and Toad Are Friends Lobel, Arnold Frog and Toad Together Lobel, Arnold Grasshopper on the Road Lobel, Arnold Owl At Home Lobel, Arnold Uncle Elephant Lobel, Arnold Harry and the Lady Next Door Zion, Gene Henry and Mudge Rylant, Cynthia Johnny Lion's Bad Day Hurd, Edith Thacher McGuffey's First Eclectic Reader McGuffey Teach Us, Amelia Bedelia Parish, Peggy Winnie the Pooh Goes to School   Clifford Learns to Read   Flik's Perfect Gift   Small Pig Lobel, Arnold The Berenstain Bears By the Sea Berenstain, Stan & Jan Dinosaur: Two of a Kind Katschke, Judy Arthur's Birthday Brown, Marc Glasses for DW Brown, Marc It's Best To Leave A Snake Alone Fowler, Allan Stars of the Sea Fowler, Allan Arthur's Family Vacation Brown, Marc Arthur's Reading Race Brown, Marc Where's Spot? Hill, Eric Ten Apples Up On Top! LeSieg, Theo It's Not Easy Being Big! St. Pierre, Stephanie Thomas and the School Trip Awdry (based) The Great Valentine's Day Surprise   Are You My Mother? Eastman, P.D. Foot Book Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat Dr. Seuss Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? Dr. Seuss Mitchell is Moving Weinman Sharmat, Margorie Dinosaur's Day Thomason, Ruth Dinosaur Time Parish, Peggy What is a Wookiee? Buller, Laura Duckling Days Wallace, Karen  Tale of a Tadpole Wallace, Karen Wild Baby Animals Wallace, Karen Henry and Mudge and the Long Weekend Rylant, Cynthia Henry and Mudge and Annie's Good Move Rylant, Cynthia Henry and Mudge and the Sneaky Cracker Rylant, Cynthia Slinky, Scaly Snakes! Dussling, Jennifer Just Grandma and Me Mayer, Mercer New Baby, The Mayer, Mercer Are You My Mother? Eastman, P.D. Green Eggs and Ham Dr. Seuss One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish Dr. Seuss Put Me In the Zoo Robert Lopshire Clifford's First Snow Day Bridwell, Norman Hello, Red Fox Carle, Eric Clifford's First Autumn Bridwell, Norman Lynx Twins Grow Up Smith, Stephanie Pooh's Sled Ride Gaines, Isabel Nina, Nina Star Ballerina O'Connor, Jane Noah's Ark Hayward, Linda Pooh's Scavenger Hunt Gaines, Isabel The Tooth Book LeSieg, Theo  Baby Animals Simon, Seymour Clifford's Pals Bridwell, Norman Amazing Aircraft Simon, Seymour Best Friends for Frances Hoban, Russell My First Halloween DePaola, Tomie Baby's First Christmas DePaola, Tomie The A Book Berenstain, Stan & Jan Hello, Biscuit! Capucilli, Alyssa Satin The Very Busy Spider Carle, Eric Happy Birthday, Biscuit! Capucilli, Alyssa Satin Baby Sister for Frances, A Hoban, Russell Birthday for Frances, A Hoban, Russell Bedtime for Frances Hoban, Russell Billy and Blaze Anderson, CW Bread and Jam for Frances Hoban, Russell Blaze Finds the Trail Anderson, CW Egg Thoughts and Other Frances Songs Hoban, Russell Blaze and the Lost Quarry Anderson, CW The Story of Ferdinand Leaf, Munro Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie Roop, Peter and Connie Patrick:  Patron Saint of Ireland DePaola, Tomie Knuffle Bunny Willems, Mo The Snowy Day Keats, Ezra Jack Paddington Bear Bond, Micheal One Fine Day Hogrogian, Nonny Corduroy Freeman, Don Miss Nelson is Missing Marshall, James A Picture Book of Thomas Jefferson Adler, David A. The Story About Ping Flack, Marjorie Why Don't You Get A Horse, Sam Adams? Fritz, Jean Goodnight Moon Brown, Margaret Wise Swimmy Lionni, Leo Leo the Late Bloomer Kraus, Robert Komodo! Sis, Peter And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? Fritz, Jean Kitten's First Full Moon Henkes, Kevin Joining the Boston Tea Party Stanley, Diane The Biggest Bear Ward, Lynd Blaze and the Mountain Lion Anderson, CW Angus and the Ducks Flack, Marjorie Caps for Sale Slobodkina, Esphyr Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing Barrett, Judi Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day Viorst, J. Baby Farm Animals Williams, Garth A Apple Pie Greenaway, Kate The Biggest House in the World Lionni, Leo Abiyoyo Seeger, Pete Dogger Hughes, Shirley Clown of God   What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? Fritz, Jean Frederick Lionni, Leo http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/454910/ Thu, 3 Jan 2008 16:43:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/454910/ Here I am listing all books that were finished in 2006.  I won't be listing these books very often again because the full reading list is getting unwieldy.  :-)  This list is very short! Bob Books, Set 1 Maslen, Bobby Lynn Bob Books, Set 2 Maslen, Bobby Lynn Bob Books, Set 3 Maslen, Bobby Lynn Bob Books, Set 4 Maslen, Bobby Lynn http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/454908/ Thu, 3 Jan 2008 16:41:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/454908/ I've tried to keep track of all the books the Bear has read.  Sometimes, I don't update the list for a while, so I've probably missed a few books in there.  As of Dec. 31, 2007, the Bear had read 181 books total.  4 were read in 2006, making his total for this year 177 books. When 2007 began, he was reading at about a 1.8-grade level.  By April, he was solidly at a 2.0 level.  Around May, he was at 2.5.  He hit mid-third grade in November, and around then everything seemed to click because he's now at a mid-fourth grade level and doing well.  Third grade is his independent level, fourth grade his instructional level, and fifth grade his challenge level at the moment.  The next year goals are to a) build speed, b) build stamina, and c) get him at a fifth grade independent reading level before September when school is officially in session.  Right now, speed is still a serious issue, with his max WPM on a grade-level-appropriate text only being about 90 and his cruising WPM still hovering around 50.  (Max WPM for starting 4th grade should be 100 WPM--max WPM for ending 4th grade should be 120-150 WPM.)  50 is still a great deal better than the 30 that it was 6 months ago, however. I expect next year to be fewer since he just finished his first chapter book today.  (YAY!!!)  Unless, of course, he starts reading more books independently--if that begins next year, then he might read any number of books. We're briefly backing off on difficulty as we transition to reading more chapter books, as well.  At first, we read books like Little Bear by the "chapter".  He transitioned to being able to read such a book in halves and then in one sitting, and then we began reading multiple picture books a day, trying to go for varying difficulty levels, breaking up a really hard book with easier ones, etc. I will be posting reviews of the books that he's read this year--his thoughts and mine.  These are nowhere near all the books he's had read *to* him, only the one's he's read, but I didn't keep a list of that.  *g* http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/454891/ Thu, 3 Jan 2008 16:10:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/454891/ The best-fit curve was added by hand but is rather off because he continues reading books below his actual reading level. I arbitrarily assigned BR/beginning readers a value of 20. The one book up in the 1000s is really a fluke--I don't think it was nearly that hard.  However, he's definitely read some solidly fifth-grade level texts now. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/444595/ Fri, 14 Dec 2007 07:52:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/444595/ We're still going.  The Bear has been more sick this fall/winter than ever in his life--lots and lots of colds from a friend who goes to preschool.  So I decided to cut everything back just to reading for now, with math added in the spring. Reading is going great, though.  It's been hard going at times, but in the last few weeks, it clicked! In August, he was reading at about a 2.5-grade level.  Now, he's a solid 4.0, minimum--in fact, he'd be in the middle of the pack in a class of 5th graders at this time of year.  Woo-hoo!  I've been looking forward to this moment so long.  Automaticity can not be overrated. So, here's a list of the books the Bear has read to date: Bob Books, Set 1 Maslen, Bobby Lynn Bob Books, Set 2 Maslen, Bobby Lynn Bob Books, Set 3 Maslen, Bobby Lynn Bob Books, Set 4 Maslen, Bobby Lynn McGuffey's Eclectic Primer McGuffey No, David! Shannon, David David Gets in Trouble Shannon, David David Goes to School Shannon, David Olivia and the Missing Toy Falconer, Ian Little Bear Minarik, Else Little Bear's Visit Minarik, Else Kiss for Little Bear, A Minarik, Else Father Bear Comes Home Minarik, Else Danny and the Dinosaur Hoff, Syd Biscuit and the Baby Capucilli, Alyssa Satin Meet the Dinosaurs   Hop on Pop Dr. Seuss My Pony Jack at the Horse Show Meister, Cari Mouse Soup Lobel, Arnold Barkley Hoff, Syd The Horse in Harry's Room Hoff, Syd Johnny Lion's Book Hurd, Edith Thacher Johnny Lion's Rubber Boots Hurd, Edith Thacher Happy Birthday, Danny and the Dinosaur Hoff, Syd Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp Hoff, Syd Sammy the Seal Hoff, Syd Why Benny Barks Milgrim, David The Hat Keller, Holly Pal the Pony Herman, PA Olivia Falconer, Ian The Lighthouse Children Hoff, Syd Drip, Drop Weeks, Sarah Biscuit Capucilli, Alyssa Satin And I Mean It, Stanley Bonsall, Crosby Amelia Bedelia Parish, Peggy Sam Gets Lost Labatt, Mary Corduroy's Garden Freeman, Don Good Work, Amelia Bedelia Parish, Peggy Grizzwold Hoff, Syd  Amelia Bedelia and the Baby Parish, Peggy Julius Hoff, Syd Ghost Named Fred, A Benchley, Nathaniel Olivia Forms a Band Falconer, Ian Bony Zweifel, Frances Olivia Saves the Circus Falconer, Ian Max's ABC Wells, Rosemary Max's Dragon Shirt Wells, Rosemary Young Cam Jansen and the Missing Cookie Adler, David A Rooftop Mystery Lexau, Joan M. Barney's Horse Hoff, Syd Gus and Grandpa Mills, Claudia Arthur's Back to School Day Hoban, Lillian Go, Dog, Go! Eastman, P.D. Just the Opposite: Dirty/Clean  Gordon, Sharon  Just the Opposite: Fast/Slow Gordon, Sharon The Knight and the Dragon DePaola, Tomie Poppleton  Rylant, Cynthia One Day, Two Dragons Bertrand, Lynne Emmett's Pig Stolz, Mary Poppleton Everyday Rylant, Cynthia Poppleton Forever Rylant, Cynthia Poppleton and Friends Rylant, Cynthia Poppleton Has Fun Rylant, Cynthia Poppleton in Fall Rylant, Cynthia Poppleton in Spring Rylant, Cynthia Poppleton in Winter Rylant, Cynthia Little Bear's Friend Minarik, Else The Fire Cat Averill, Esther The Cat in the Hat Comes Back Dr. Seuss Spider-man 2:  Everyday Hero Figueroa, Acton Days with Frog and Toad Lobel, Arnold Mouse Tales Lobel, Arnold Frog and Toad All Year Lobel, Arnold Frog and Toad Are Friends Lobel, Arnold Frog and Toad Together Lobel, Arnold Grasshopper on the Road Lobel, Arnold Owl At Home Lobel, Arnold Uncle Elephant Lobel, Arnold Harry and the Lady Next Door Zion, Gene Henry and Mudge Rylant, Cynthia Johnny Lion's Bad Day Hurd, Edith Thacher McGuffey's First Eclectic Reader McGuffey Teach Us, Amelia Bedelia Parish, Peggy Winnie the Pooh Goes to School   Clifford Learns to Read   Flik's Perfect Gift   Small Pig Lobel, Arnold The Berenstain Bears By the Sea Berenstain, Stan & Jan Dinosaur: Two of a Kind Katschke, Judy Arthur's Birthday Brown, Marc Glasses for DW Brown, Marc It's Best To Leave A Snake Alone Fowler, Allan Stars of the Sea Fowler, Allan Arthur's Family Vacation Brown, Marc Arthur's Reading Race Brown, Marc Where's Spot? Hill, Eric Ten Apples Up On Top! LeSieg, Theo It's Not Easy Being Big! St. Pierre, Stephanie Thomas and the School Trip Awdry (based) The Great Valentine's Day Surprise   Are You My Mother? Eastman, P.D. Foot Book Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat Dr. Seuss Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? Dr. Seuss Mitchell is Moving Weinman Sharmat, Margorie Dinosaur's Day Thomason, Ruth Dinosaur Time Parish, Peggy What is a Wookiee? Buller, Laura Duckling Days Wallace, Karen  Tale of a Tadpole Wallace, Karen Wild Baby Animals Wallace, Karen Henry and Mudge and the Long Weekend Rylant, Cynthia Henry and Mudge and Annie's Good Move Rylant, Cynthia Henry and Mudge and the Sneaky Cracker Rylant, Cynthia Slinky, Scaly Snakes! Dussling, Jennifer Just Grandma and Me Mayer, Mercer New Baby, The Mayer, Mercer Are You My Mother? Eastman, P.D. Green Eggs and Ham Dr. Seuss One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish Dr. Seuss Put Me In the Zoo Robert Lopshire Clifford's First Snow Day Bridwell, Norman Hello, Red Fox Carle, Eric Clifford's First Autumn Bridwell, Norman Lynx Twins Grow Up Smith, Stephanie Pooh's Sled Ride Gaines, Isabel Nina, Nina Star Ballerina O'Connor, Jane Noah's Ark Hayward, Linda Pooh's Scavenger Hunt Gaines, Isabel The Tooth Book LeSieg, Theo  Baby Animals Simon, Seymour Clifford's Pals Bridwell, Norman Amazing Aircraft Simon, Seymour Best Friends for Frances Hoban, Russell My First Halloween DePaola, Tomie Baby's First Christmas DePaola, Tomie The A Book Berenstain, Stan & Jan Hello, Biscuit! Capucilli, Alyssa Satin The Very Busy Spider Carle, Eric Happy Birthday, Biscuit! Capucilli, Alyssa Satin Baby Sister for Frances, A Hoban, Russell Birthday for Frances, A Hoban, Russell Bedtime for Frances Hoban, Russell Billy and Blaze Anderson, CW Bread and Jam for Frances Hoban, Russell Blaze Finds the Trail Anderson, CW Egg Thoughts and Other Frances Songs Hoban, Russell Blaze and the Lost Quarry Anderson, CW The Story of Ferdinand Leaf, Munro Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie Roop, Peter and Connie Patrick:  Patron Saint of Ireland DePaola, Tomie Knuffle Bunny Willems, Mo The Snowy Day Keats, Ezra Jack Paddington Bear Bond, Micheal One Fine Day Hogrogian, Nonny Corduroy Freeman, Don Miss Nelson is Missing Marshall, James A Picture Book of Thomas Jefferson Adler, David A. The Story About Ping Flack, Marjorie Why Don't You Get A Horse, Sam Adams? Fritz, Jean Goodnight Moon Brown, Margaret Wise That is 161 books now. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/444578/ Fri, 14 Dec 2007 07:35:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/444578/ I have a feeling I just talked to my mom twice, but I can't be sure because there's no signature.  :-P http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/375278/ Fri, 17 Aug 2007 20:12:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/375278/ Resources: various readers All About Spelling Getty-Dubay Italic A nursery rhymes For this year, the concentration is on reading.  There will be no grammar and only some handwriting and a fair amount of spelling (for the decoding reinforcement). READING For reading, we're going to be reading a variety of early readers for half an hour to forty minutes a day, seven days a week.  This is the only school that we will make sure to do on Saturday and Sunday as well.  I strongly believe that reading is the greatest doorway to learning, and this is reflected in my emphasis upon it. DS is dyslexic.  Yes, he was taught to read through phonics, but phonic merely lowers the chances of reading problems--it doesn't rewire a miswired brain!  For that reason, our biggest challenge right now is speed.  We'll continue reading books at the second grade level until DS's speed is in the higher end of the normal range for second grade.  We'll read many classics, including Arnold Lobel, Seuss, Gene Zion, and the like, as well as new favorites, such as Cynthia Rylant.  Dyslexia, unless it is incredibly severe, needn't be a stumbling block to any child of normal intelligence with the right amount of intervention. SPELLING For spelling, we will use the program All About Spelling.  It is one of several Orton-Gillingham derived programs, but it needs much less time than other programs, like Spell to Write and Read, and does not require writing.  The first level is equivalent to about K-1st grade, so I won't mind taking more than a year on it, if we need to, since we'll only be doing it for a short while each week. HANDWRITING I believe that the goal of handwriting is legibility and clarity, and I couldn't care less about 19th century traditions.  For that reason, Getty-Dubay Italic is a perfect choice for us.  This year, DS is just doing one worksheet per day, and that is all.  If he wants to write more later in the year, he can, but I'm just concentrating on a good, loose pencil grip and correct letter formation this year. Most of the time he spends on handwriting is actually spent on the coloring portion, as I read our chapter book read-aloud.  This is great fine motor skills practice and helps him concentrate. READ-ALOUD Our read-alouds are of three types:  the current chapter book, picture books, and poetry.  The first and third I read, and the second is what DH reads at bedtime. I'm choosing our chapter books to be developmentally appropriate and high-interest but with a very rich vocabulary in order to expose DS to more words in a fun context.  In addition, I don't particularly care to read books to him that he would otherwise read in a year or two but prefer to choose something more out of the way.  Of course, I also look for short chapters! We are starting this year with George Macdonald's The Princess and the Goblins, which is just about perfect.  DS is mesmerized by the "ooooold lady Irene" and the goblins, both.  Our next read-aloud will be Kipling's Just So Stories.  After that, I'll probably start choosing fairy tale books, like those by Lang. MEMORY WORK Our memory work for English this year will be nursery rhymes, one per week.  They are culturally important rhymes to know, are appealing to children, and memory work in general helps train the memory, as well as helping enunciation and presentation, which, since DS is a born mutterer, he needs. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/375216/ Fri, 17 Aug 2007 17:40:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/reyesuela/375216/