I have been spending the last three years reading and researching this crazy idea of taking on the responsibility of teaching our own children at home. Who In Their Right Mind would do this? When we can send our kiddos to fun classrooms with good teachers--and then have time to go to the gym and have lunch with grown ups...or perhaps get a job or go back to school. Who would give that up? Only people who are in love behave this way.
Well, Li'l Bit: I think I love you, so what am I so afraid of?
So, in my excitement for the commencement of Li'l Bit's official Kindergarten year, here is a glance at the curriculum I've put together for her:
I like the idea of our kids hearing Scripture, not just Bible stories (though we do have some wonderful Bible storybooks.) We've been walking through TOPGTTReading since she was three. It's been a slow walk because I'm learning how to be consistent, but she's getting ahead of me with her sight reading. So now I really have to get on the ball in teaching her phonics!
I love this book! I wish I could find more like it. It has beautiful artwork to accompany the 23rd Psalm--word for word, actual scripture! We've read it so much that even Gizmo (who is feeling A-OKay, by the way!) can recite it with me!
They both love the Math U See blocks. :) We're getting acquainted with the video and lesson structure, and this week we're making our own Decimal Street so Li'l Bit can master place value. So far I really like this curriculum, and everyone I know who uses it likes it.
Handwriting is simpler and harder than I thought. I use the workbook as a guide, but it takes consistency, practise, and constant supervision to help her learn. Muscle memory. To do these lessons I'm going to have to master the art of occupying the younger two, so I can focus on Li'l Bit.
Synopsis: the books have a little bio about each composer. The cd has the composer's music: a 30-60 second excerpt from their famous pieces. That piece is followed by the same music paired with cute lyrics to help the kid (and, umm, the parent) remember who composed what. The one thing I don't like about it is how synthesized the lyric-less bits of music are--only because when I expose my kids to fine art and music I want it to be in its most beautiful form. Also, I plan to focus a week+ at a time learning about the life of one composer and always having his music playing throughout the house. We did one week with Chopin and I found a wealth of good storybooks about him at our library. In the end Li'l Bit has always loved to listen to the Classical Karaoke cd. And when I have the real thing playing sometimes she will actually say, "Hey, that's Pachelbel!"
These books have wonderful pictures and bios. Every so often the kids will pull one off the shelf, sit on the floor, and just gaze at kids from around the world. Ann Voskamp also has some very popular geography/world studies books I want to get my hands on. (her blog is amazing: http://www.aholyexperience.com/)
I stumbled onto this book in our local book store and love it. The subject matter is very intriguing--by telling the history of the White House, it tells the story of our country. (Which, our kids are going to need to know to help them weather the storm of politics and understanding our government.) It's cut up into digestible pieces, and the artwork is gorgeous.
I love this book! The experiments are SO doable and SO many of them are right on Li'l Bit and Gizmo's level without being hokey or crafty. I chuckled to myself when I got it because I thought, "No good, baptist girl would ever buy curriculum with the word wizardry in the title!"
And last but most certainly not least: Literature!! Just makes you want to breathe deep and snuggle into the couch doesn't it! This is and will always be our strongest subject. We all love to read, and as mama of the house I just have to make sure that they have only the best to consume. These are just a few of our favs, but there are dozens and dozens I could list. And the most surprising books have amazing morals in them! Like The Magical Ballet Slippers by Nick Ellsworth--all about self control.
So, anyway, that's our little world right now. And this little world is embarking on a very cranky breakfast time, so here goes...
