ThadenPierce School

An old can of gel shaving cream and some cookie sheets make for a great sensory activity AND good handwriting practice.

We really like First Languages Lessons for the Well Trained Mind but I’m not so impressed with the memorization work. Some of it is great but some of it is just poems or nursery rhymes that aren’t impressive. I would rather the kids memorize things that they will really need or at least that’s beautiful!

For Christopher (now in book 3) we’re having him memorize scripture mastery cards – you can get them online for $.25 a set (four sets total.) We pulled out the scripture verses that were smallest to start with, but ones that I felt had meaning we could explain to him. Example – last week he memorized John 14:15 – “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” This week it is Doctrine & Covenants 82:10 – “I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say ye have no promise.” So we’re starting small! But I like that instead of just poems (and we are still memorizing some of those) he’s learning scripture that will come in handy.

For Moira I was pondering what would be best for her. And inspiration struck! I pulled down our Children’s Songbook and started at the beginning. She knows the first song, of course – “I am a child of God.” The second song is the one they are learning in primary (that is making her cry because it’s minor key) – “I lived in Heaven.” So we went with #3:

I know my Father lives,
And loves me, too.
The Spirit whispers this to me,
And tells me it is true.

Perfect! It’s easier for her to remember because it’s lyrics vs. a scripture (the rhyme helps.) Plus we have the primary songs in my iTunes so I can play the song for her and she memorizes to music so quickly. (And Christopher is learning them, too.) I love that it’s something they’ll be glad to know since they’ll be singing these in primary. I like that they are memorizing teachings of the Gospel. It’s perfect!

Oh, source – the scripture mastery cards, children’s songbook and primary cd you can buy at LDS catalog and it’s free shipping. You can also access the church’s music player through the church website if you want the primary songs for free! I don’t know if you can download them

So whenever there is a new poem for the kids to memorize in either book we’ll use the scripture mastery or primary song instead, unless it’s a poem we like.

He drew himself with his glasses on! He’s 3 turning 4 this week, I’m impressed. He also noted to us that he included his “Crazy hair!”

We’ll do a comparison shot, Bennett at 3 in real life:

Thanks, Abby!
Geography Game

I had not explored that much yet but Abby is right, there is so much to explore!! And in a variety of subjects – very cool!

Christopher’s diagramming more complex sentences now (adverbs & adjectives) and it’s taking longer for him to write out. His handwriting is fine, I think (we’ll start cursive probably this fall when he turns eight) but I do still like him to practice. He sometimes gets frustrated with writing out longer exercises, though. He much more prefers to write letters to friends or family or journal or do something fun for his handwriting practice – not just do grammar lessons. I agree that when it’s practical and fun, they’re more inspired to do a lot of handwriting (and I know it’s counting for handwriting practice, too.)

We found a good solution – when he’s diagramming his sentences I let him draw it out in the air. He shows me and says the sentence then tells me where each word goes – right top, left top, right diagonal, left diagonal. It lets him move, it practices the left/right concept, it verifies he’s learning his language lesson, and it spares us some frustration. I like that I can work with his strengths and still accomplish the same goal. Plus some bonus goals.

Free coloring book and giveaway – fun! We just had our dental visits but next month is National Children’s Dental Health month so we’ll be covering some dental care in our lessons.

I have NOT checked these out so please let me know if something is dead or inappropriate.

Preschool Learners
Animal ABCs
Alphabet Coloring Book
Alphabet coloring pages
More alphabet coloring pages…
And more…

ASL
Finger Spell Flashcards
Family Fun ASL links
ASL coloring pages

Geography
Maps of the World

History
History Worksheets (not sure what time periods)

Okay, tired of linking. Here are some more if you want to copy and paste and let me know if any of them are worth checking out!

http://www.learningtreasures.com/

http://www.lessontutor.com/ltlist.html

http://www.tlsbooks.com/kidspagearchive.htm

http://www.sitesforteachers.com/index2.h…

http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/resources…

http://familyfun.go.com/printables/…

http://www.akidsheart.com/

http://www.akidsheart.com/color.htm…

http://www.preschoolprintables.com/…

http://www.theteacherscorner.net/printable-worksheets/

http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/…

http://www.ezschool.com/worksheets/…

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/…

http://school.discovery.com/.

http://www.schoolexpress.com/

http://www.abcteach.com/

http://www.kidsdomain.com/

http://www.kidzone.ws/math/kindergarten.htm

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/wo…

http://choreworksheetsforkids.com/…

http://www.beginningreading.com/…

http://beginningreading.com/Free%20Workshe.htm

http://teacher.scholastic.com/

http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/Printables/Math_Worksheets/

http://www.learningpage.com/free_pages/home.html

http://www.bravekidgames.com/

http://www.kiddyhouse.com/Teachers/

Kit’s at the office this morning, Joseph just went down for a nap. C & Mo are doing their math by the fireplace – the sunroom is too cold this morning and we don’t really use desks or tables around here much. C is learning about perimeter and Mo’s taking a math assessment. Emy is stripping to her undies and playing with a stethoscope. Bennett asked to play with magnets while the big kids worked on math, though next year he’ll be doing math as well!

I had all the children dressed this morning. Really. Though somedays I wonder why I try.

Joseph is more consistently napping at 10am so we do circle time while he’s up and our exercises/motor lab stuff. Then I nurse him and the kids read to me or me to them while he falls asleep. Then he goes down and we do math and language – if we stay on task we can get C & Mo’s math and language done before Joseph gets up. Then we all lunch just after 11am. We save the specials for when Kit’s home (the art project today, for example.) And the reading, of course. We do lots of reading around here. When it’s warmer we spend some time in the yard.

A typical homeschool day for us, January 2009. Wanted to record some of this for when you guys are older.

OH, project idea – the peanut butter jar by Bennett. My Mom drilled a hole in the lid and in the side of the jar for us and we string a cord through it and knot it on each end. They are GREAT for storage jars for crayons, magnets, puzzles, etc. We love them, I don’t remember where we saw the idea but Mom drilled a bunch of jars for us.

1.  Draw or paint.

2. Organize your room, your special drawer, your school bin, or work area
.
3.  Write to family, penpal, missionary, soldier.

4.  Write a poem
 & illustrate it.
5.  Read a book.

6.  Read a book to younger sibling.

7.  Work on computer
 (educational game – typing, etc.)
8.  Practice your musical instrument or make one.

9.  Take a nature walk and collect things to draw in nature journal.
10. Do a puzzle
.
11. Puzzle books, crossword puzzles, etc.

13. Draw with chalk outside or paint with water on fence.

13. Memorize Scripture
 mastery cards.
14. Play game with sibling or neighbor
.
15. Exercise – trampoline, push ups, running, Wii Fit.
16. Work on cleaning project (ask Mom for ideas!)

17. Cook something.
18. Educational science/history movie.
20. Books on cd/tape.
21. Ride bike
.
22. Jump rope
.
23. Play with play dough
, make some homemade.
24. Make a craft
 (ask Mom re: bin.)
25. Use binoculars for bird or squirrel watching.
26. Use magnifying glass for bug watching.

27. Play catch
 or soccer in yard.
28. Read Friend, Highlights or National Geographic Kids.

29. Watch the clouds
 & draw them.
30. Plan some stargazing for later in the evening
.
31. Make up a story by drawing pictures or writing.
32. Cut pictures from old magazines and write a story
 or make collage.
33. Read an encyclopedia or one of our science or history books.
34. Practice Spanish.
35. Fold and/or put away laundry.
36. Help Mom bake bread, granola or muffins.
37. Play with puppet curtain.
38. Board game.
39. Build fort with table or bunkbed.
40. Go play in the busy box with younger kids.

Posting this as page link to the left as well:

attendance records
record of subjects taught (chapter titles?)
materials & texts used
reading lists
creative projects – photos of pieces
writing samples
worksheet samples
standardized test results
yearly evaluations – goals met, parent assessment, any co-op teacher remarks
photos & descriptions of activities & co-ops