This kid boggles my mind with his reading abilities. I picked up some children's chapter books and he can read a whole chapter in under 3 minutes. It's amazing. He is reading a Magic Treehouse book right now and then wants to start Courage the Cowdog. I require 2 chapters a day plus 1 non-fiction book a day (he picked to learn about cars this week, we've learned how cars work and different types of cars and engines and stuff. Even Mama learned something!)
We will continue with school through the summer, a modified 'year round' schedule. He is almost done with his Scholastic Success! 1st grade so I need to order the 2nd grade option. He's completely through the maps and reading section, almost done with the Math and grammar sections and plugging along on writing.
I am contemplating forcing him to write a book report, that will help with sentence structure, reading comprehension and penmanship. Mean old mom that I am.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Week 2, Day 5
I say "Day 5" rather than "Day 6" because we took a holiday on Friday for Emmett's birthday :)
Still going well!!
We are really plugging along at penmanship...some pre-k letters, some k letters, some 1st grade writing. He really needs help WRITING. He struggles with d vs b (which direction) and sometimes he questions which direction a number goes 4 is a toughy sometimes *sigh*
Math otherwise he is doing great. We are also working on geography (maps).
I need to work a bit more on getting J out and about. He is such a social butterfly that it is hard with the weather...and last week we were all sick. Hopefully I can get some social stuff done this week :)
It amazes me how FAST he picks up on all the learning stuff. I cannot put anything in front of him hard enough! I may have to pick up some 2nd grade stuff just to keep up with him :)
Still going well!!
We are really plugging along at penmanship...some pre-k letters, some k letters, some 1st grade writing. He really needs help WRITING. He struggles with d vs b (which direction) and sometimes he questions which direction a number goes 4 is a toughy sometimes *sigh*
Math otherwise he is doing great. We are also working on geography (maps).
I need to work a bit more on getting J out and about. He is such a social butterfly that it is hard with the weather...and last week we were all sick. Hopefully I can get some social stuff done this week :)
It amazes me how FAST he picks up on all the learning stuff. I cannot put anything in front of him hard enough! I may have to pick up some 2nd grade stuff just to keep up with him :)
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Day 2
Day 1 was very challenging and not much got done. I was down with some sort of stomach flu.
Today we did a few more work sheets and I am in the process of setting up the computer in James' bedroom (no internet!!!) so that he can do a few educational games online.
I wish we could go outside and do something (it's not that bitterly cold outside) but Aldria is sick (again). Ugh..she is sicker than a dog so no library,no walks, no nothing because she is too sick to be out and about.
Things we need to work on:
Penmanship...his writing is not good...Daddy may have to help with that because I have barely legible handwriting LOL
A little bit on math, he can do hands on math GREAT (I use rocks, I have 5 rocks, plus 3 rocks...) but if I just write out 5+3= he gets a wee bit confused.
Crafty stuff (scissors, glue, etc) he does okay usually but he can't really cut along a line and tends to use a crap ton of glue when it's not required LOL
His reading is off the charts good, his reading comprehension is awesome...just need to work on REAL math (vs hands on) and handwriting...
The handwriting and the crafty stuff is all small motor skills, he's always lagged a bit behind on that so I'm not shocked. We'll work on it!!
Today we did a few more work sheets and I am in the process of setting up the computer in James' bedroom (no internet!!!) so that he can do a few educational games online.
I wish we could go outside and do something (it's not that bitterly cold outside) but Aldria is sick (again). Ugh..she is sicker than a dog so no library,no walks, no nothing because she is too sick to be out and about.
Things we need to work on:
Penmanship...his writing is not good...Daddy may have to help with that because I have barely legible handwriting LOL
A little bit on math, he can do hands on math GREAT (I use rocks, I have 5 rocks, plus 3 rocks...) but if I just write out 5+3= he gets a wee bit confused.
Crafty stuff (scissors, glue, etc) he does okay usually but he can't really cut along a line and tends to use a crap ton of glue when it's not required LOL
His reading is off the charts good, his reading comprehension is awesome...just need to work on REAL math (vs hands on) and handwriting...
The handwriting and the crafty stuff is all small motor skills, he's always lagged a bit behind on that so I'm not shocked. We'll work on it!!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Evaluating James
So I found this list of common things that kids need to know in Kindergarten, and before I start I thought it would be nice to have a rough idea of what James knows and what we'll be working on next semester. This is a rough estimation because he's not home right now. I'll probably change as we go :) My goal is to have all these 'skills' crossed off :)
Numbers and counting up to 3
*Count to 3
*Represent numbers up to 3
*Count by typing
Numbers and counting up to 5
*Count to 5
*Represent numbers up to 5
*Count by typing up to 5
*Count up
* Count down
Numbers and counting up to 10
*Count to 10
*Represent numbers up to 10
*Count by typing
* Count up and down - with pictures
* Count up and down - with numbers report C.5 Count up and down - with numbers
* Tally marks
* Number lines
* Before, after, and between
*Count forward and backward
*Names of numbers up to 10
* Complete a sequence report
Numbers and counting up to 20
*Count to 20
*Represent numbers up to 20
*Count by typing
* Count up and down
* Tally marks
* Number lines
* Before, after, and between
* Count forward and backward
*Names of numbers
*Complete a sequence
*Count tens and ones
Numbers and counting beyond 20
*Count to 30
*Count to 100
*Count groups of ten
* Number lines
*Count tens and ones
Skip-counting
* Skip-count by twos
*Skip-count by fives
*Skip-count by tens
* Skip-count by twos, fives, and tens
Comparing
*Fewer, equal, and more
*Fewer and more - comparing groups
*Fewer and more - with charts
* Fewer and more - mixed
Patterns
*Similar patterns
* Complete missing parts of patterns
*Growing patterns
Adding
*Addition with pictures - sums up to 5
*Add two numbers - sums up to 5
*Addition sentences - sums up to 5
*Addition with pictures - sums up to 10
*Add two numbers - sums up to 10
*Addition sentences - sums up to 10
Subtracting
*Subtract with pictures - numbers up to 5
*Subtraction - numbers up to 5
*Subtraction sentences - numbers up to 5
*Subtract with pictures - numbers up to 10
* Subtraction - numbers up to 10
* Subtraction sentences - numbers up to 10
Positions
*Inside and outside
* Left, middle, and right
* Top, middle, and bottom
* Above and below
* Location in a three-by-three grid
Fractions
* Identify halves, thirds, fourths
* Equal parts
Time
* Match clocks and times
* Read clocks and write times
* Times of everyday events
* Match analog and digital clocks
* A.M. and P.M. report M.6 A.M. and P.M.
Sorting, ordering, and classifying
*Same
*Different
*Same and different
*Classify by color
* Venn diagramss
* Put numbers up to 10 in order
* Put numbers up to 30 in order
Data and graphs
* Making graphs
Probability
* More or less likely
Measurement
*Long and short
*Tall and short
*Light and heavy
* Holds more or less
* Compare size, weight, and capacity
Money
* Coin names - penny through quarter quarter
* Coin values - penny through quarter
* Count money - pennies only
* Count money - pennies and nickels
* Count money - pennies, nickels, and dimes
* Equivalent coins I
* Compare two groups of coins
Geometry
*Identify shapes
*Identify solid figures
* Relate planar and solid figures
*Count sides and corners
*Compare sides and corners
* Geometry of everyday objects
* Symmetry
Vocabulary
* Sum and difference
Numbers and counting up to 3
*
*
*
Numbers and counting up to 5
*
*
*
*
* Count down
Numbers and counting up to 10
*
*
*
* Count up and down - with pictures
* Count up and down - with numbers report C.5 Count up and down - with numbers
* Tally marks
* Number lines
* Before, after, and between
*
*
* Complete a sequence report
Numbers and counting up to 20
*
*
*
* Count up and down
* Tally marks
* Number lines
* Before, after, and between
* Count forward and backward
*
*
*
Numbers and counting beyond 20
*
*
*
* Number lines
*
Skip-counting
* Skip-count by twos
*
*
* Skip-count by twos, fives, and tens
Comparing
*
*
*
* Fewer and more - mixed
Patterns
*
* Complete missing parts of patterns
*
Adding
*
*
*
*
*
*
Subtracting
*
*
*
*
* Subtraction - numbers up to 10
* Subtraction sentences - numbers up to 10
Positions
*
* Left, middle, and right
* Top, middle, and bottom
* Above and below
* Location in a three-by-three grid
Fractions
* Identify halves, thirds, fourths
* Equal parts
Time
* Match clocks and times
* Read clocks and write times
* Times of everyday events
* Match analog and digital clocks
* A.M. and P.M. report M.6 A.M. and P.M.
Sorting, ordering, and classifying
*
*
*
*
* Venn diagramss
* Put numbers up to 10 in order
* Put numbers up to 30 in order
Data and graphs
* Making graphs
Probability
* More or less likely
Measurement
*
*
*
* Holds more or less
* Compare size, weight, and capacity
Money
* Coin names - penny through quarter quarter
* Coin values - penny through quarter
* Count money - pennies only
* Count money - pennies and nickels
* Count money - pennies, nickels, and dimes
* Equivalent coins I
* Compare two groups of coins
Geometry
*
*
* Relate planar and solid figures
*
*
* Geometry of everyday objects
* Symmetry
Vocabulary
* Sum and difference
Why hello!
Starting just after Christmas we will become a homeschool family! I cannot tell you how nervous/excited/scared/worried/happy I am! Basically if you name an emotion I'm feeling it right now :)
A little about moi, I'm Renae. I'm 26 years old and the happy, blessed stay-at-home Mama of 3 wonderful kids. James, my guinea pig, is 5 years old. He's at the kindergarten/first grade level. Aldria is 3, we're not doing any forms of formal education with her just yet but she's traveling along with us and learning every day! Emmett is the baby, he is only 10 months old.
Our reasons for homeschooling are numerous and ever changing. I, truly, have nothing against the public school system. It's a wonderful system for those that need it. I do think it's wonderful that we live in a country that provides free education to all it's citizens. I'm also thankful to live in a country that lets me have options about how I educate my children.
I'm not religious so we're not one of those fringe Conservative Christians that homeschool so we can teach our kids that Cain and Able hung out with Little Foot and Ducky ;-) Juss sayin...
Anyway, sit back and read about my (hopefully numerous) successes and my (hopefully few, but likely numerous) failures. This is new territory for me and I really have zero clue what I'm doing. I just hope I don't screw it up too badly.
Cheers!
A little about moi, I'm Renae. I'm 26 years old and the happy, blessed stay-at-home Mama of 3 wonderful kids. James, my guinea pig, is 5 years old. He's at the kindergarten/first grade level. Aldria is 3, we're not doing any forms of formal education with her just yet but she's traveling along with us and learning every day! Emmett is the baby, he is only 10 months old.
Our reasons for homeschooling are numerous and ever changing. I, truly, have nothing against the public school system. It's a wonderful system for those that need it. I do think it's wonderful that we live in a country that provides free education to all it's citizens. I'm also thankful to live in a country that lets me have options about how I educate my children.
I'm not religious so we're not one of those fringe Conservative Christians that homeschool so we can teach our kids that Cain and Able hung out with Little Foot and Ducky ;-) Juss sayin...
Anyway, sit back and read about my (hopefully numerous) successes and my (hopefully few, but likely numerous) failures. This is new territory for me and I really have zero clue what I'm doing. I just hope I don't screw it up too badly.
Cheers!
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