Saturday, August 14, 2010
Marie is 3!
Marie turned 3 last week! She didn't have a big party but we took her to the aquarium and had presents and cake and a little party at home. She wanted a Phineas and Ferb party and we found a Phineas balloon that is bigger than her! This week, she had her 3yr check up and although she has gained an inch and 3lbs, she still is well below the 3rd percentile. She was 21.5lbs and 33.5in. Her Dr is not worried about her being small because she is consistently growing at her own rate and she looks fine. Developmentally, she does everything a 3year old is supposed to do and more! She knows she is awesome and, just like everyone else, we love to be around her.
Monday, August 9, 2010
The ABGs!
Xander has been doing well learning his Greek alphabet and letter sounds. Marie's been picking it up to just by overhearing us as we do Xander's work. She's singing the Alphabet here- if it sounds like Greek to you, that's because it is! The volume isn't that great so you may need to turn it up.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Xander's Curriculum
I know some of you are wondering what exactly Xander will be doing this year. Maybe I can be a better blogger by posting updates about what is going on with him and his school this year.
He has already finished a small geography course that focused on reading and interpreting maps and he did a workbook on analogies. He really seemed to catch on to analogies right away and like doing those. We began a course on being a smart consumer this summer as well and he is almost finished with that. He loves money, so he was excited about this book! He also started learning cursive and we are still working on that.
For his regular school year, this is the list of what I have planned.
Math- He's working on Math Mammoth 3rd Grade. This math curriculum stresses mental math and he's a little frustrated with being told to do things differently than he is used to but I think he'll adjust and it will be a really good course.
Grammar- Grammar Island Series. We are both really enjoying this book so far. It is an interesting grammar program and a lot different than what I am used to. Right now, we are just reading through the book but when that is finished he'll move to a workbook that practices what he's learned, and a writing, vocabularly, and poetry course. Not all at the same time! He's also working through a small editing practice workbook.
Spelling- He isn't doing a full spelling program this year but is going to work through some spelling workbooks and lists. He's doing Apples Daily Spelling and Building Spelling Skills.
Handwriting- He's going through cursive and print workbooks. Not that he doesn't know how to write in print, but he could use the practice!
Foreign Language- He wants to learn 3 languages this year- Spanish, Greek, and Korean. For Spanish, he is doing La Clase Divertida and for Greek, he is doing the Greek Code Cracker. So far, the Greek book is both of our favorites! For Korean, he will do Time For Korean. We aren't going to start the Korean until we are finished or almost finished with the Greek book. It is intimidating, though, because just from flipping through the Korean book, it looks really hard!
History- He wanted to study ancient history and I picked Mystery of History. I think this will be a fun class and he is really excited about it. It's a really, really, really, big book and I'm not sure if we'll be able to finish it in one year or not.
Science- He is doing Human Anatomy and Forensics through a Winter Promise course. I am really impressed with this one so far. Not that we've started it, though! LOL!! He will be using a bunch of books, maintaining a notebook about what he is learning and doing, and going through a lot of really different activities in this course.
Art- We'll be doing Artistic Pursuits once a week. This book has the kids look at and discuss one famous piece of art each week, then it describes the techniques used in that piece, and the kids then do their own artwork in the style being studied.
Music- We're working on getting some guitar lessons set up for him. I'm not sure when he'll start but we have a couple of options in mind already.
PE- We're going to count his taekwondo as PE. He also does some yoga every morning before he starts his work.
Geography- He's not doing a formal geography course this year but we'll play some geography games every week. He's going to be playing Scrambled States and Where in the World?
Reading and Writing- Finally, I will be assigning him books to read and writing assignments based on those books. He has to read 1 fiction and 1 non-fiction book of my choice at a time as well as 1 book of his choice. So far, he has read The Whipping Boy, The Boxcar Children, Bunnicula, and a book on Greek Myths as my choices. He's currently working on The Matchlock Gun and a couple books on ancient monuments and ancient cities. His choices have been Calvin and Hobbes, The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson), and Frankenstein (adapted for kids). I'll have him write reviews of those books on his blog soon. I have a list of books I want him to read but he's reading them faster than I anticipated so please go ahead and post if you have a suggestion. Also, if anyone knows if the mother in Matchlock Gun dies, let me know soon! I'm not sure and I want to know before he gets to the end.
Other- He wanted to take a musical theater class but I'm not sure we can fit it in the schedule and he also has to do a daily Bible devotion/quiet time.
He has already finished a small geography course that focused on reading and interpreting maps and he did a workbook on analogies. He really seemed to catch on to analogies right away and like doing those. We began a course on being a smart consumer this summer as well and he is almost finished with that. He loves money, so he was excited about this book! He also started learning cursive and we are still working on that.
For his regular school year, this is the list of what I have planned.
Math- He's working on Math Mammoth 3rd Grade. This math curriculum stresses mental math and he's a little frustrated with being told to do things differently than he is used to but I think he'll adjust and it will be a really good course.
Grammar- Grammar Island Series. We are both really enjoying this book so far. It is an interesting grammar program and a lot different than what I am used to. Right now, we are just reading through the book but when that is finished he'll move to a workbook that practices what he's learned, and a writing, vocabularly, and poetry course. Not all at the same time! He's also working through a small editing practice workbook.
Spelling- He isn't doing a full spelling program this year but is going to work through some spelling workbooks and lists. He's doing Apples Daily Spelling and Building Spelling Skills.
Handwriting- He's going through cursive and print workbooks. Not that he doesn't know how to write in print, but he could use the practice!
Foreign Language- He wants to learn 3 languages this year- Spanish, Greek, and Korean. For Spanish, he is doing La Clase Divertida and for Greek, he is doing the Greek Code Cracker. So far, the Greek book is both of our favorites! For Korean, he will do Time For Korean. We aren't going to start the Korean until we are finished or almost finished with the Greek book. It is intimidating, though, because just from flipping through the Korean book, it looks really hard!
History- He wanted to study ancient history and I picked Mystery of History. I think this will be a fun class and he is really excited about it. It's a really, really, really, big book and I'm not sure if we'll be able to finish it in one year or not.
Science- He is doing Human Anatomy and Forensics through a Winter Promise course. I am really impressed with this one so far. Not that we've started it, though! LOL!! He will be using a bunch of books, maintaining a notebook about what he is learning and doing, and going through a lot of really different activities in this course.
Art- We'll be doing Artistic Pursuits once a week. This book has the kids look at and discuss one famous piece of art each week, then it describes the techniques used in that piece, and the kids then do their own artwork in the style being studied.
Music- We're working on getting some guitar lessons set up for him. I'm not sure when he'll start but we have a couple of options in mind already.
PE- We're going to count his taekwondo as PE. He also does some yoga every morning before he starts his work.
Geography- He's not doing a formal geography course this year but we'll play some geography games every week. He's going to be playing Scrambled States and Where in the World?
Reading and Writing- Finally, I will be assigning him books to read and writing assignments based on those books. He has to read 1 fiction and 1 non-fiction book of my choice at a time as well as 1 book of his choice. So far, he has read The Whipping Boy, The Boxcar Children, Bunnicula, and a book on Greek Myths as my choices. He's currently working on The Matchlock Gun and a couple books on ancient monuments and ancient cities. His choices have been Calvin and Hobbes, The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson), and Frankenstein (adapted for kids). I'll have him write reviews of those books on his blog soon. I have a list of books I want him to read but he's reading them faster than I anticipated so please go ahead and post if you have a suggestion. Also, if anyone knows if the mother in Matchlock Gun dies, let me know soon! I'm not sure and I want to know before he gets to the end.
Other- He wanted to take a musical theater class but I'm not sure we can fit it in the schedule and he also has to do a daily Bible devotion/quiet time.
New School Year
Our kids started their new school year August 2. It seems way too early but they didn't ask me what I thought.
Grace and Greta are now in 1st grade. They have the same teacher Xander had in 1st and we are all excited about that. So far they have been having fun and they like their class. They didn't know any of the girls in their class and only one of the boys but they have said they are making friends. They can't name any of the girls they have been playing with, however! Xander is being homeschooled this year. He is really excited about it and so far has been really cooperative. He has had a light week because some of our books didn't get here in time to start so we'll see what he thinks next week when he has a full load. Marie will turn 3 on Sunday and isn't in school yet. She's having a lot of fun playing with Xander and coloring next to him. She's even starting to sing the Greek alphabet!
Grace and Greta are now in 1st grade. They have the same teacher Xander had in 1st and we are all excited about that. So far they have been having fun and they like their class. They didn't know any of the girls in their class and only one of the boys but they have said they are making friends. They can't name any of the girls they have been playing with, however! Xander is being homeschooled this year. He is really excited about it and so far has been really cooperative. He has had a light week because some of our books didn't get here in time to start so we'll see what he thinks next week when he has a full load. Marie will turn 3 on Sunday and isn't in school yet. She's having a lot of fun playing with Xander and coloring next to him. She's even starting to sing the Greek alphabet!
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