School Has Begun!

 

We started school earlier this month! Here is an example of our daily schedule

 

 

Teaching 2 kids, 2 grades is proving to be a challenge. But, praying for strength and grace and LOTS of patience!

 

This is what we are doing for Bible this year; a family daily devotional called "Our 24 Family Ways".

 

 

We are doing a calendar every day, learning the days of the week, months of the year, seasons and weather! This will cover Benjamin's grade one science outcome *daily/seasonal changes.

 

 

 Last year, we started force and motion, a grade one science outcome. We had read a great force and motion book called "Forces Make things Move" and Benjamin completed a force and motion lapbook which included the 3 laws of motion. Today, we finished the *force and motion outcome by learning all about magnets! We did some fun experiments and, of course, played with magnets!

 

Rachel started Social Studies with making her own book about herself! Included lots of info about who she is, and about her family!

 

 Then, we made family trees, covering the *family social studies outcome. Of course, Benjamin had to make one too!

 

Benjamin started a Canada lapbook last year for Social Studies and just finished it yesterday. We will be doing a lot of learning about our country this year.

 

For Language Arts this year, the kids are both using "Explode the Code". Benjamin is also using a book called "Draw then Write" which is helping him get his creative juices flowing, as well as is great writing, spelling and sentence structure practise. Both kids are reading very well. Benjamin is reading books!! And, Rachel can read 3 letter words.


We are also reading "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" as our first novel study of the year. We already started our lapbooks...

Rachel (left), Benjamin (right):

 

Rachel (right), Benjamin (left):

 

We are using Singapore Math this year for both kids. It is going very well.

 

 

 

I wasn't sure what to do for music this year; there were just so many things we needed and wanted to do, and it just couldn't all be fit in. So, Rachel got a new keyboard...

 

 

And Benjamin got a set of drums...

 

 

 

I put the notes on the keyboard, and shape/color coded the drums and mom will be teaching music this year...

 

 

This year, aside from the music, Fine Arts will be lots of drawing, painting, cutting and pasting...we will be using a lot of new art supplies this year that are on order, and we purchased a new art easel. SO, we will be using a lot of new supplies and techniques to make all sorts of great visual art.

 

 

This morning, the kids made there own paper puppets and put on a puppet show for me!

 

 

 

 

 

 A couple of weeks ago, we met downtown at a park with a few other homeschool families to watch some outdoor plays! The kids had a blast! And, the kids got a nice intro to *drama.

 

For Health and Career this year, along with Bible reading and family devotions, the kids are doing daily chores; they are loving it and doing a great job! This is also going to cover the Social Studies outcome for both grade one and kindergarten *roles, responsibilities and expectations have a purpose (K), difference between roles, rights, responsibilities and expectations (Gr.1)...we are also awaiting a book called "I can Make a Difference" which both kids will be working on.

 

 

 We did a lot of activity this summer! Lots of parks, water parks, swimming, hiking, biking...we travelled, we stayed home, we visited friends and family, we had campfires in our own backyard. This year for PE, Rachel will be in ballet and Benjamin will be in Karate, along with lots of daily activities and play.

 

Today was the first day implementing my new plan for "Brain Breaks"; each time we transition from one thing to the next, we will take out a popsicle stick with a brain break listed on it...things like do 20 jumping jacks, or run around a chair 5 times. This is my plan to try to keep the kids focused and give them breaks in between each lesson.

 

Well, that's the plan for the year...well, most of it. But, I also know that things usually do not go quite as planned...