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)

Wordless Wednesday - I love this guy!

Menu Plan Monday

It is the end of the month so our menu is mostly from the freezer this week.
Monday -  Easter dinner leftovers
Tuesday – Italian Beef, green beans, corn on cob
Wednesday – Stuffed Bell Peppers (chicken)
Thursday – Taco Salad
Friday –  Out (TKD testing night)
Saturday – Breakfast for Dinner -  Waffles w/ strawberries, Bacon, Frittata

I went a little crazy–Lapbook for Exploring Creation with Zoology

 

 

I am not sure what went through my mind.  I had a moment of crazy, I was looking around currclick and saw a lapbook for the second half of the Zoology book we are currently doing.  I thought Kiddo would love this, he would have so much fun with it..  That must have been when I lost all leave of my senses because, I bought it. 

I know all the hard work was done for me, there were clear instructions for putting the lapbook together.  All the printables were provided and even extra reading materials were suggested.  I admire those who do lapbooks for school, they look so good but they are work.  I am so tired of cutting out and gluing.  Everything is done and ready to go, tomorrow we will go back to chapter 7 and start filling in his lapbook.  I know he will like it and it will be great fun, but really I lost my mind just a little. 

This lapbook required 3 folders and it took over 50 pages of printables, a fair amount of glue, brads, staples, and construction paper.  It took a couple of hours to cut out and assemble. 

 

 

 

Have a great week!

Weekly Review

 

We did not get a whole lot done this week because DH was off Wednesday through Friday. There were doctors appointments, insomina and playing around with Dad but not a lot of school going on.

We did manage to get most of our work done other some reading and we will catch up next week.  When Dad is home, somehow my schedule for everything goes out the window. 

Kiddo is bursting at the bit to start Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology.  He has almost read the entire book and been through the junior notebook.  He is already to start next years books with cursive and Anatomy he is excited. 

We listened to a sample of Story of the World on audio and he loved it. I got volume one and he is listening to it at night before bed.  I am thrilled he remembers some of the stories for the first book, we read it 2 years ago.  While I think they are expensive, he loves listening to them and what a great way to refresh the information.  I will be getting the other volumes as well. 

Kiddo is also proud of his baby veggie garden.  He checks on it everyday and is sure he can see the lettuce growing  He may water it to death, we have talked about enough water vs. too much water but he loves his plants.