Wordless Wednesday–Cicadas

 

 

 

 

Kiddo has a great time finding and learning about cicadas.

We are finished!

Can you see me doing a happy dance?! (I certainly hope not)  We finished our “school year” today.  We are technically year round but we have finished our curriculum and taking a month off before starting again.  Did I mention how happy I am, one we finished most of the curriculum and two we are taking a break.
We have been working really hard the past two weeks to get finished by today. I had told Kiddo if he got all his work done by today, I would get him the new LEGO Pirates Wii game.  He had a list of what had to be finished and a goal.  He did really well working toward finishing.  Not sure if that was bribery or incentive but he enjoyed working toward a goal where he could see the finish line and wanted the prize.
This year we completed:
Exploring Creation with Astronomy
Exploring Creation with Zoology
Horizons for Penmanship
Drawing Program
Story of the World 2 with activity book
First Language Lessons (did a lot of skipping)
Reading – Every year I say I am going to keep a list of all the books he reads but I never keep it up. (a goal for next year) He reads everyday and reads every night at bed time with Dad.  I know he reread  Magic Tree House books, he read a few Magic School Bus Chapter books, he finished the Percy Jackson series and is on Book 3 in the Harry Potter series.  He has read every Horrible Science book he has(about 20, I think) and then there is the books we gets every two weeks at the library.  There are a lot of books, I am so happy he likes to read like we do.
What we are working on and will pick up with in July.
Math – We started with Singapore 2A and 2B. The workbooks got very frustrating for him and it was becoming a struggle.  We switched to Teaching Textbooks 3 in February.  He has finished 2 of the 4 cds and it is going great. We will continue to use TT and Singapore together next year. 
Grammar -  I purchased Easy Grammar 3 for next year and to be sure he would be ready for it I also purchased Easy Grammar 2 Student workbook in March for him to do.  He is on lesson 61 of 180.  Easy grammar has been great it is quick and easy while teaching at the same time. 


A side note:  After we finished our lapbook in Zoology today, I told Kiddo he could do whatever he wanted for the afternoon he played for 2 hours and then asked to start the new typing software I bought for next year. He worked with it for about an hour. He mentioned something about reading his Human Anatomy book tomorrow. And at bedtime there was something about lots of school work to do.  Doesn’t he know Mom needs a break, but you have to love, the love of learning he has. 




 

Curriculum is Here – Mom has homework.

 

 

I finally got all of our curriculum in for next year.  Technically we are year round now but for the official beginning of the new year in July, the books are here.  I have to return one set of books(piano) but other than that I am ready to start my homework. It looks like this year I will have a good bit of prep work to do beyond lesson planning.

Here is what I have chosen for our curriculum this year. 

Drawing – The Draw and Write will go along with STOW 3 and he is super excited about the Star Wars Drawing book.  He may have it mastered before July.

I downloaded a free drawing program for him this year, thinking he would not like it. He loved it. I was so surprised since he hates coloring but he loves to draw with a pencil.

Spelling and Vocabulary – Wordly Wise and Sequential Spelling.  We have been going through Words are Wonderful this year and will keep it up.

Grammar and Handwriting – Easy Grammar and A Reason for Handwriting. He can ‘t wait for cursive writing.

Latin, Piano, and Typing -  Prima Latina, Typing Instructor and John W. Schaum.  I know the photo shows Piano Adventures, even though it had been highly recommended I was not happy with the books.  To me they looked too difficult for a beginner. I did not like the lay out of the books.  I am returning them and purchasing the John W Schaum books, it is what I learned with and I feel more comfortable with it.

Extras – Map Skills for Today and Logic Countdown.  He loved the previous map skills workbook he did and he flew through the last logic book.  This logic book looks more difficult and I believe will give him a challenge.

 

Math – We will finish Teaching Textbooks 3 and continue to use Singapore level 2 for extra practice.  He is half way through TT3 and I plan on ordering TT4.

Science – Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology. I will have to go through the list of supplies needed for this book, in Chapter 4 you need a tooth!

History – Story of the World 3 with activity book. 

Bible – Telling God’s Story.  I will be reading these books completely before we begin them but I think this will be a good fit for Kiddo.

 

There is all my books for the new school year.  Lesson planning should be interesting this year. I have a good bit of planning, reading, researching and scheduling to do for this curriculum. Mom has homework!

Wordless Wednesday - Big Box of Curriculum

My last box of curriculum arrived today.  Kiddo is super excited about the Star Wars drawing book. (He is already working with it)