The Plan

The plan as it stand right now:

4th Grade

Growing with Grammar 4
Writing With Ease 2
HWT Cursive & Copywork
Math: Combination Singapore & Mammoth Math
Spelling – Phonetic Zoo
Piano
Spectrum Reading Comprehension Grade 4

1st Grade

Soaring with Spelling & Vocab 1
Growing with Grammar 1
HWT Printing
TCR Phonics Books 1
Writing With Ease 1
Piano

Together Subjects

SOTW 4 Modern World
Science: Various topics using Science in a Nutshell Kits

I still have a few things to decide for this year yet but this is our framework that we are working with at the moment. We’re completing more of the map work and outlining in History this year which has increased our time spent. One of the goals this year for Jr. is to have him writing more easily in terms of hand fatigue. We are increasing his daily writing a bit to help his hand muscles get stronger. Lil’B's main focus this year is to make that jump to independent reader. He’s right on the cusp! It will be such a delight to see him internalize the fact he is reading all by himself.

Greenfield Academy July Notes

Jr. Related Notes:

We’re settling into our new routine with a few bumps and adjustments. I had been thinking after reviewing what I had scheduled in a typical day for Jr. that we may need a mid-lesson break. Turns out I was right and we are now having a bit of a recess before lunch. Then returning to studies after lunch or in the evening. I’m actually amazed at how much Jr. is able to work on independent of me this year. The ability to read his own directions is freeing to us both.  In the photo he is working on his Grammar. I am enjoying that he has a series of work that he can work on independently like his handwriting, grammar, copywork and phonics review. That is allowing me to easily work with his little brother for a focused time period.

Jr. has read two chapter books from the A to Z Mysteries series by Ron Roy. I’m allowing him to make his own selection for his chapter books. I’m hoping to move to giving him a selection of a few choices but I’m not finding a lot of series that suit him at the moment. We’re always on the look out for fun, adventure series for the young reader if you have any suggestions I’ll gladly take them.

Cursive has been a really good fit! I am amazed at his interest and the quality of his cursive writing. History is again a hit and the audiobook version of Story of the World is still tops for Jr. I got a huge kick out of the question he thought up to write to his international pen pal about history. He followed it up with a sentence about his favorite story from last year’s history: Ottoman Turks conquering Constantinople. Science (Chemistry) is going slowly unfortunately because it’s been a little more difficult to separate the boys for science that I’d hoped. Turns out that Lil’B is not happy being left out of the mix at the same time he’s not quite old enough to fully participate. Some rethinking on how to approach science with them both wanting to be little chemists.

Lil’B Related Notes:

This little boy knows how to add numbers! What a surprise it has been to work with math with him. He’s quickly shown me that we either need to speed up or add to what I’ve got planned. Even with the hands-on math related things he’s a little bored. So next week I’m hoping to add a bit more spice to his math related activities.

Handwriting is going well. I’m always pleased to note this since he’s my lefty. I can’t take credit for any of his skill though because I’m positive that his fine motor skill development is in direct porportion to the amount of drawing he’s done since he was little. I am grateful that my lefty is also artistic leaning.

Reading is consistenting mostly of phonics review and lots of book reading with Mommy. He’s easily frustrated here so I’m treading lightly. It has been a difficult summer with regards to reading. His brother is now able to read much faster in his head than aloud and thus prefers to read silently. That has left Lil’B out of the story and it is increasing his awareness that he can’t read which in turn increases his angst. With his phonics review he’s proving to have a lot of the hard consonant sounds and short vowel sounds already learned. I think once again we’re all just waiting for that moment when the pieces click into place for him.

Science for Lil’B is consisting of units of animals at the moment. We covered Ants last week and this week (along with the next few) we’re covering butterflies. Unfortunately we’re struggling to keep our caterpillars alive again. Last year we had some trouble too. I’m wondering if our house isn’t a bit to cold. We’ve got five eggs in the garden that we’re watching. And I checked today three have hatched so we’ll bring them in tomorrow but try a new location and housing for them. In the caterpillar-butterfly weeks ahead we’ll cover elephants and eagles. I’m going to see if I can find a place to order tadpoles from too. We didn’t have any luck locating any in the wild. And I think both boys would like that project.

Well that’s all I’ve got this time!

Welcome to a new year at Greenfield Academy

School is back in session! Or rather homeschool as my newly minted Kindergartner will tell you. He was delightful in the week leading up to our first day with him as fellow student. I would casually ask if he was ready to start school to which he’d reply with a series of questions. He would ask several questions to clarify that I meant he was homeschooling! Very cute.

Onto discussing our new year!

We run a year round schedule of sorts. This year with the way we worked through those cold and stuck inside months of winter I was able to easily have a nice summer break of about 6 weeks. That break ended just after July 4th but with the big holiday I gave the boys an extra week to start the following Monday. This year is different for me in that I am actively schooling two children this year versus last year where our youngest was still more of a “hang out if he wants to” student. This year is also a bit different because I separated the boys in Science which is something new to all of us this year.

Thus far we are managing our new schedule pretty well considering we’ve only been at it a week. Those darn science experiments are already causing me headaches which means this weekend I’m going on a shopping spree to fill the lab box with all that we need. On hand makes it much easier to make the experiment happen! Last year my lack of things on hand had me saying “tomorrow” too often. This year I’m determined to avoid that with the Lab Box. I love that R.E.A.L. Science has the materials list that makes it so easy to get what I need to fill up the box! I am also pleased with some of our new choices including Spectrum Writing for an introduction to basic writing skills and Phonetic Zoo for spelling.

Here is the breakdown for my Year 3 – Mostly 3rd Grade (Age 7 going on 8 )

Math: Singapore 3A
Science: R.E.A.L. Science Chemistry
History: History Odyssey Early Modern Level I
Language Arts:

1. Writing: Spectrum Writing Grade 3
2. Handwriting: HWT Cursive
3. Grammar: Growing with Grammar Grade 3
4. Spelling: Phonetic Zoo
5. Phonics: Review using a Phonics series from Teacher Created Resources
6. Reading: Reading a chapter book a week is the goal

Here is the main breakdown for my Year 0 – Kindergarten (Age 5 for almost the whole year!)

Math: Singapore used to be Earlybird and I can’t remember the new name Book 1
Science: Unit studies using Living Learning Books (Animals, Plants & the Body)
History: Following along with History Odyssey Early Modern Level I as able
Language Arts:

1. Handwriting: HWT Printing
2. Phonics: Phonics series from Teacher Created Resources
3. Reading: Read with Mama lots and lots of early readers

Together the boys are also touching Music and Art but I think I’ll go into more depth with those in a separate post as those are both handled with less formality or structure.