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Archive for the ‘Year 0’ Category


Posted on May 28, 2009 - by

Year 0: Week 31

Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:30am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

This is our last week of school before we take a break for the summer months. Although we are ALWAYS learning (and will be going many places, including the Cockrell Butterfly Center!), we will not be doing ‘formal’ lessons for the next couple of months. So, I wanted to use this week to wrap up our lapbook and then do an end-of-year evaluation with Kate to assess where to start again next school year.

Monday:

  • Mommy’s book club
  • Errand, cleaning day
  • Observe caterpillars and milkweed.

Tuesday:

  • Pledge
    Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
    Calendar: Write out weekly schedule
  • Butterfly Lapbook

    • Continue copywork of The Caterpillar by Christina Rossetti. (Handwriting)
    • Paint My Butterfly Symmetry. We found that the paint needs to be watery and wet when you fold over the butterfly to make a print on the other half. Our first attempt was too sticky and wound up tearing the paper.
  • Lunch (1hr)
  • Read first two sections of The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson, retold by Naomi Lewis.
  • Independent Reading/Rest Time

Wednesday:

  • Story time at the Library (11:30 am)
  • Turn in old and check out new books (12:00 pm)
  • Lunch (1hr)
  • Outdoor Play (1hr)
  • Literature: Library Books

Thursday:

Friday:

  • Nature Walk

Posted on May 28, 2009 - by

Year 0: Week 30

Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:30am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

This is our third week creating a lapbook about butterflies from homeschoolshare.com to contain all the new things we’re learning. If you’d like to know more about what a lapbook is, please visit this post where I included helpful links that helped me learn more about this great way to present a unit study.

Monday:

  • Mommy’s book club
  • Errand, cleaning day
  • Observe caterpillars and eggs on milkweed in backyard

Tuesday:


Posted on May 19, 2009 - by

Year 0: Week 29

Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:30am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

This is our second week creating a lapbook about butterflies from homeschoolshare.com to contain all the new things we’re learning. If you’d like to know more about what a lapbook is, please visit this post where I included helpful links that helped me learn more about this great way to present a unit study.

Just another note: Yesterday was Mother’s Day. Our family tradition for the past few years has been to plant flowers in our backyard to celebrate this day. Part of our research on plants that attract butterflies was put to good use as we shopped at our local garden shop and picked out some milkweed and zinnias to plant. Within an hour of planting the milkweed, we already had a Monarch butterfly flitting around checking it out. On Tuesday we noticed that she had actually laid eggs! We’re so looking forward to watching a butterfly’s life cycle up close and personal in our own back yard!

Monday:

  • Mommy’s book club
  • Errand, cleaning day

Tuesday:

  • Pledge
    Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
    Calendar: Write out weekly schedule
  • Butterfly Lapbook

  • Lunch (1hr)
  • Independent Reading/Rest Time

Wednesday:

  • Story time at the Library (11:30 am)
  • Turn in old and check out new books (12:00 pm)
  • Lunch (1hr)
  • Outdoor Play (1hr)
  • Literature: Library Books

Thursday:

  • Pledge
    Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
    Calendar: Write out weekend schedule
  • Butterfly Lapbook

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk

    Posted on May 7, 2009 - by

    Year 0: Week 28

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:30am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    This month we are trying a new activity. We will be learning about butterflies and doing a lapbook from homeschoolshare.com to contain all the new things we’ve learned. If you’d like to know more about what a lapbook is, please visit this post where I included helpful links that helped me learn more about this great way to present a unit study.

    Monday:

    • Mommy’s book club
    • Errand, cleaning day

    Tuesday:

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (11:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (12:00 pm)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Kate and I decided to draw a large butterfly outside using sidewalk chalk. I told her that she would draw half, and I would copy her half on the other side like a mirror. She knew that is called ‘symmetry’. We had fun not only discussing symmetry, but also using the anatomical names we have learned like fore wings and hind wings, antenna, proboscis, etc. She had a blast coloring with Mommy while also reinforcing things we had already learned about butterflies.

    Thursday:

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk

    Just another note: This Sunday will be Mother’s Day. Our family tradition for the past few years has been to plant flowers in our backyard to celebrate this day. Part of our research on plants that attract butterflies will be put to good use as we shop at our local garden shop. Looking forward to planting some great flowers this weekend and then watching to see what we’re able to attract to our little garden in the back yard.


    Posted on April 30, 2009 - by

    Year 0: Week 27

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:30am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    • Mommy’s book club
    • Errand, cleaning day

    Tuesday:

    • Pledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out weekly schedule
    • Phonics:
      • Short I vowel sound with “ind” and “ild” Crossword Puzzle- Barbie Phonics (pg 15)
      • Short and Long I vowel sounds – Phonics Educational Workbook (pgs 6-7)
    • Math: Addition sentences – Disney Princess Addition and Subtraction (pgs 7-8)
    • Science: We had a very strong thunderstorm system blow through the last few days, so Kate requested to learn more about storms.
    • Literature: Raggedy Ann Learns a Lesson by Johnny Gruelle
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Wednesday:

    Thursday:

    Friday:


    Posted on April 23, 2009 - by

    Year 0: Week 26

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:30am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    • Mommy’s book club
    • Errand, cleaning day

    Tuesday:

    Wednesday:

    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Watch Disney’s “Earth” at the theater for Earth Day!
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    Friday:


    Posted on April 17, 2009 - by

    Year 0: Week 25

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:30am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    • Mommy’s book club
    • Errand, cleaning day

    Tuesday:

    • Pledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out weekly schedule
    • Evaluation Week! Kindergarten Skill Test covers the following skills:
      • Alphabet – recognize and name all upper and lower case
      • Letter Sounds
      • Read Color and Number words
      • Knows Shapes
      • Count to 30
      • Knows Birthday, Address, and Phone Number
      • Says Days of the Week and Months in Order
      • Knows consonant blends and digraphs
      • Knows short and long vowel sounds
      • Reads 30 most common words
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (10:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (11:00 am)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    • Pledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out weekend schedule
    • Phonics:
      • Short Vowel Review: Barbie Phonics (pgs 7-8)
      • Short and Long O: Phonics Grade 1 Educational Workbook (pgs 8-9)
    • Math: Addition sentences using #s 1-9: Disney Princess Addition & Subtraction (pg 6)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Sign Language: Practice Time 123 DVD from Signing Time
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk

    Posted on April 9, 2009 - by

    Year 0: Week 24

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:30am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    • Mommy’s book club
    • Errand, cleaning day

    Tuesday:

    • Pledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out weekly schedule
    • Phonics: Easy Reader – Oliver Pig and the Best Fort Ever by Jean Van Leeuwen
    • Composer Study: Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf”
    • Artist Study: Matisse: The King of Color by Laurence Anholt (see my review of this book here)
    • Literature: Old Mother West Wind “Jimmy Skunk Looks for Beetles” by Thornton Burgess
    • Poetry: “The Farmer and the Queen” by Shel Silverstein
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (10:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (11:00 am)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk

    Posted on March 12, 2009 - by

    Year 0: Week 23

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:30am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    • Mommy’s book club
    • Errand, cleaning day

    Tuesday:

    • Pledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out weekly schedule
    • Poem of the Month: A Frisky Lamb
    • Handwriting: Practice all Upper Case and lower case letters
    • Literature:
    • Artist Study: Katie and the Sunflowers, by James Mayhew (another great story where Katie disappears into the paintings in a museum – this time they’re all of the postimpressionist era)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (11:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (12:00 pm)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature/Art Study:
      • I Spy: An Alphabet in Art, by Lucy Micklethwait (Awesome introduction to the alphabet and to art at the same time. Micklethwait has hand-picked 26 pieces of art and then asked the reader to spy the element in it that starts with that letter. Very cleverly done, and actually encourages the reader to stop and study a piece for a while before turning the page.)
      • Ellsworth’s Extraordinary Electric Ears, by Valorie Fisher (A very clever alphabet book that has a one-sentence story with as many words starting with that letter as possible. For instance, “Alistair had an alarming appetite for acrobats.” The picture for that page includes the alligator, Alistair, as well as the acrobat along with several other ‘a’ words for the children to spy. At the back of the book is a list of all the ‘hidden’ elements for each letter. It was fun to see if we could find them all without looking at the back of the book first!)
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    • Pledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out weekend schedule
    • Handwriting: Finish writing lower case letters, discuss which letters we need to work on for next time.
    • Poem of the Month: A Frisky Lamb
    • Sign Language:  Review all words, check against Signing Savvy
    • Composer Study: Strike Up the Orchestra, by Carin and Joan Dewhirst
    • Literature: Mother Earth and Her Children, by Sibylle Von Olfers
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk

    Posted on February 19, 2009 - by

    Year 0: Week 20

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:30am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    • Mommy’s book club
    • Errand, cleaning day

    Tuesday:

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (10:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (11:00 am)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk

    Posted on February 18, 2009 - by

    Year 0: Week 19

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:30am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    • Mommy’s book club
    • Errand, cleaning day

    Tuesday:

    • Pledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out weekly schedule
    • Handwriting: Write Valentines for friends
    • Poem of the Month: Baby Bumblebee
      Verse of the Month: 1 John 4:19 “We love because God first loved us.”
    • Math: Add up costs of items purchased for handicraft
    • Handicraft:  Make paper flowers with tissue paper and pipe cleaners as valentines for friends/family
    • Composer Study: Camille Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals (in background while doing handicraft)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (10:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (11:00 am)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Play at a local park (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    • Pledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out weekend schedule
    • Phonics:  Finish the All About Me section on Starfall
    • Poem of the Month: Baby Bumblebee
      Verse of the Month: 1 John 4:19 ”We love because God first loved us.”
    • Nature Walk: at park behind library, Kate added the drawing of a pine tree to her nature journal.  We’ll also print out the pic she took on my iPhone and add it to that same page.
    • History: Kate noticed that it was Lincoln’s Bday on my calendar.  It was the perfect segue into a small history lesson on who Mr. Lincoln was.  We read this story about his childhood, and Kate loved ‘coloring’ this pic, too…
    • Math: Fewer/Less Than vs More Than in Counting At the Zoo, by Amy Rauen (not the best example of a ‘living book’, but Kate enjoyed the simplicity of it.)
    • Natural History: 
      • Jump Into Science: Sun, by Steve Tomecek (Kate picked this one up at the library and really enjoyed learning more in depth about the sun. Definitely written to her age group or just a tad older, but done really well to explain how the sun works, sunspots, and why we need the sun here on earth. Another great random find at the local library!)
      • Across the Solar System, by Rod Theodorou
    • Literature:
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk

    Posted on February 18, 2009 - by

    Year 0: Week 18

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:30am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    • Mommy’s book club
    • Errand, cleaning day

    Tuesday:

    • Pledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out weekly schedule
    • Poem of the Month: Baby Bumblebee
      Verse of the Month: 1 John 4:19 “We love because God first loved us.”
    • Handwriting: Write out new monthly verse
    • Handicrafts: American Girl Kit Fashion Studio: Design your own fashions for paper dolls
    • Composer Study: Camille Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals
    • History:  Read about the fashions of Kit Kitredge’s day
    • Literature: I know a shy fellow who swallowed a cello, by Barbara S. Garriel (cute book with same structure as the poem, “I know an old lady who swallowed a fly”.  Great illustrations and a fun look at different instruments)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (10:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (11:00 am)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    • Pledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out weekend schedule
    • Outing:  Kate went with me to get my Driver’s License renewed at the DMV.  We talked all about driving and getting a license, eyesight tests, and posing for pictures.  While we were waiting we also reviewed some of her sign language and poems.  All in all, a fun way to learn while on-the-go.
    • Literature: The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Other Stories by Beatrix Potter and T. Burgess on CD
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk

    Posted on February 3, 2009 - by

    Year 0: Week 17

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:30am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    • Errand, cleaning day
    • Mommy’s book club

    Tuesday:

    • We took school to our local playground and did all our work on a blanket in the grass – so much more fun!!
    • Pledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out weekly schedule
    • Phonics: Review Short/Long I vowel sounds, Phonics Workbook (pgs 6-7)
    •  Verse of the Month: From Memory! 2 Cor 5:17 “Anyone united with God gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life blooms!”
    • Math: Addition sentences, Addition and Subtraction Workbook (pgs 5-6)
    • Natural History: Pick a clover, draw and mount in Nature Journal
    • Composer Study: Camille Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals (with accompanying children’s book) Pianists, Fossils, Swan, Finale
    • Literature: Old Mother West Wind by Thornton Burgess: The Willful Little Breeze
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (10:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (11:00 am)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    • School at Mimi’s house – Make gifts for Mommy’s Bday  :)
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk

    Posted on January 27, 2009 - by

    Year 0: Week 16

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:30am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    • Errand, cleaning day
    • Mommy’s book club

    Tuesday:

    • History:  Watch the Inauguration of President Barak Obama
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (10:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (11:00 am)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    • Pledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out weekend schedule
    • Phonics:  Phonics Workbook: short and long e sounds (pgs 4-5 )
    • Math: Addition/Subtraction Workbook: addition equations (pgs 2-3)
    • Artist Study: Pointillism: Katie’s Sunday Afternoon, by James Mayhew – great use of famous paintings by Seurat and others in a clever story line
    • History: Duck for President, by Doreen Cronin- Fun book about our democratic process starting with Duck holding an election to oust Farmer Brown as the leader of the farm he lives on.  (Wish we had read this during election time, instead of after the inauguration, but Kate seemed to ‘get it’ anyway.)
    • Grammar:  Dear Deer – A Book of Homophones, by Gene Barretta  - Awesome book about homophones – need watch age level, though, as a non-reader won’t get the double meanings of the all the homophones.  Of course, they would just enjoy the cute story line, if nothing else! :)
    • Natural History: All About Sharks, by Jim Arnosky  and  Tough, Toothy Baby Sharks, by Sandra Markle  (Kate’s most recent picks in the non-fiction aisles at the library.)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk

    Posted on January 15, 2009 - by

    Year 0: Week 15

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:30am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    • Errand, cleaning day
    • Mommy’s book club

    Tuesday:

    • Pledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out weekly schedule
    • Handwriting: Finish writing out new monthly verse
    • Phonics: Vowel combinations (oo, ir, and ur) on foniks.org
    • Poem of the Month: Mr. Lion and His Sneeze 
      Verse of the Month: 2 Cor 5:17 “Anyone united with God gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life blooms!”
    • Math: Telling Time Flash Cards
    • Natural History: All About Sharks
    • Composer Study: Camille Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals (with accompanying children’s book) The Elephant, Kangaroos, Aquarium, Animals with Long Ears, Cuckoo in the Woods, Birds
    • History: 
    • Literature: Old Mother West Wind by Thornton Burgess: How Reddy Fox was Surprised
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (10:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (11:00 am)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    • Pledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out weekend schedule
    • Phonics: Phonics educational workbook from Target – short and long a vowel sounds
    • Poem of the Month: Mr. Lion and His Sneeze 
      Verse of the Month: 2 Cor 5:17 “Anyone united with God gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life blooms!”
    • Math:  Graph letters in names – Write the child’s full name down. Ask the child to count how many “A’s” “B’s” “C’s” etc. are in his name. Graph the results. Try this with various family members names or even any silly word that your child can think of.
    • Sign Language: Review all signs
    • Artist Study: Georges Seurat on Starfall
    • Literature: Old Mother West Wind , by Thornton Burgess – How Grandfather Frog Lost His Tail
    • Handicraft: 
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk

    Posted on January 6, 2009 - by

    Year 0: Week 14

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:30am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    • Errand, cleaning day
    • Mommy’s book club

    Tuesday:

    • Pledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out weekly schedule
    • Handwriting: Write out new monthly verse
    • Phonics: Vowel combinations on foniks.org
    • Poem of the Month: Mr. Lion and His Sneeze 
      Verse of the Month: 2 Cor 5:17 “Anyone united with God gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life blooms!”
    • Math: Fishing Addition Game
    • Natural History: Snails Up Close and Pill Bugs Up Close (Kate picked out both of these books on her own at the library last week. She’s LOVING learning about bugs!)
    • Composer Study: Camille Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals (with accompanying children’s book) Royal March of the Lion, Hens and Roosters
    • History: 
    • Literature: Old Mother West Wind by Thornton Burgess: Mrs. Redwing’s Speckled Egg
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (10:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (11:00 am)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    • Pledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out weekend schedule
    • Phonics: Phonics Scramble Game
    • Poem of the Month: Mr. Lion and His Sneeze 
      Verse of the Month: 2 Cor 5:17 “Anyone united with God gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life blooms!”
    • Math:  Telling Time
    • Sign Language: Numbers (0-10)
    • Artist Study: Vincent Van Gogh on Starfall
    • Literature: Jane and the Magician, by Martin Baynton – a great book about forgiveness (without actually using that word)
    • Handicraft: Get Ready for Kindergarten – Learn how to draw an apple (pg 56) balloon (pg80), kite (pg 104), dinosaur (pg 116) 
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk

    Posted on December 13, 2008 - by

    Year 0: Week 13

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:30am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.  

    Every 2nd Thursday of the month, our local library hosts a Gymboree Yoga time that Kate thoroughly enjoyed last month.  So, it looks like we’re adding it to our monthly routine for now. :)

    Monday:

    • Errand, cleaning day
    • Mommy’s book club

    Tuesday:

    • Children Around the World Celebrate ChristmasPledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out weekly schedule
    • Phonics: Starfall: What is My Pet?, Where Do I Sleep?, Which is My Toy?
    • Song of the Month: Santa Claus is Coming to Town
      Verse of the Month:  John 1:14 (My mix of The Message and NLT) “God became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”
    • Math: Graphing, Ordinal Numbers – Everything for Early Learning (pg 196-197, 206-208)
    • Geography/History: Children Around the World Celebrate Christmas
    • The Donkey's Christmas SongLiterature:
      • The Twelve Days of Christmas: A Pinata for the Pinon Tree (Philemon Sturges’ New Mexican spin on the original song complete with a few Spanish words thrown in for good measure.  ”On the first day of Christmas mis amigos brought to me: a piñata for the piñon tree.)
      • The Donkey’s Christmas Song, by Nancy Tafuri (beautifully illustrated, cute book that uses all the different animals and their noises to tell the Christmas story)
    • Handicraft/Handwriting: Write a Santa Letter (used MeckMom’s guide – love that she includes a space for them to tell Santa about how they’ve shown “Christmas Spirit” this year instead of how they’ve “been good”.)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (11:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (12:00 pm)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    • Madeline in AmericaMath: Budget the grocery list with Mommy and then go grocery shopping together
    • Natural History: Kate picked out a book on Sea Urchins (totally her choice!) and almost completely finished reading it while waiting for Yoga to start. We also picked up a book about butterflies and their life cycle and a couple of bird books. She especially liked the page on Chickadees since that’s what I’ve taken to calling all of them of late.
    • Yoga Time at the Library (11:30 am)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • History: Silent Night: A Christmas Carol is Born (A story by Maureen Brett Hooper about how the Christmas Carol “Silent Night” was written.)
    • Literature: Madeline in America (An adaption of one of Ludwig Bemelmans’ stories by his grandson. Loved getting to see all references to Texas landmarks!)
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk

    Posted on December 1, 2008 - by

    Year 0: Week 12

    As we will be following Ambleside Online Year 1 next year, I wanted to follow their 12 week format this year as well.  To that end, I’d like to use this week as an evaluative week (notice I didn’t use the word “testing”).  I’ll be referencing the “List of Attainments” as my guide to see what we’ve learned so far and what things we need to focus on during the next 12 week period.

    Monday:

    • Errand, cleaning day
    • Mommy’s book club while kiddos play at Mimi’s

    Tuesday:

    • Pledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out this week’s schedule
    • Handwriting: Write all upper and lower case letters in journal
    • Phonics: Point out the vowels and tell me what sounds they make
    • Song of the Month: Sing 2 of the songs that we’ve learned so far
    • Math: Count to 50
    • Composer Study: Tell me one thing about Bach or his music
    • History:
      • How do we pick our president?
      • Tell one story about one of our early American leaders
    • Literature: Tell me a story about our fish or dog
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (11:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (12:00 pm)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    • Pledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out this weekend’s schedule
    • Verse of the Month: Recite the 3 verses we’ve learned so far
    • Math: Do some simple addition and subtraction with beans
    • Natural History:
      • Describe a walk to our mailboxes
      • Describe the lake at our neighborhood park
      • Review our “Nature Journal” together
    • Sign Language:
      • Use some of the signs we’ve learned to make a sentence
      • Sing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” while signing
    • Artist Study: Tell me one thing about Sandro Botticelli or his art
    • Handicraft: What’s been your favorite handicraft so far this year? What would you like to do more of?
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk

    Posted on December 1, 2008 - by

    Year 0: Week 11

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:30 am, when we return from dropping off Ethan, my three year old, at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    • Errand, cleaning day
    • Mommy’s book club

    Tuesday:

    • Nature Walk – Neighborhood park with gazebos
      • ducks, geese, turtles, nutras, mud dobbers homes
      • notice colors of trees, different kinds of trees, name those we can identify

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (11:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (12:00 am)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    • Pledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out weekend schedule
    • History:  An Outlaw Thanksgiving (Fun book about a little girl and her mother who wind up through a series of events having Thanksgiving with a well-known outlaw.)
    • Song of the Week: I’m a Nut
      Verse of the Month: Ecclesiastes 3:1
    • Composer Study: Johann Sebastian Bach
    • Literature:  Fat Chance Thanksgiving (Heart warming story about a little girl who makes a Thanksgiving Feast happen even though her mother tells her “Fat Chance that will happen”.)
    • Lunch (1hr
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk

    Posted on November 11, 2008 - by

    Year 0: Week 10

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:15am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.  

    Every 2nd Thursday of the month, our local library hosts a Gymboree Music time and then an hour later a Gymboree Yoga time.  This is the first month we’ll be enjoying these classes together and hope to continue enjoying them in the future, too.

    Monday:

    • Errand, cleaning day
    • Mommy’s book club

    Tuesday:

    • Tony's Bread, by Tomie dePaolaPledge
      Weather: Record temperature, outside conditions
      Calendar: Write out weekly schedule
    • Handwriting: Lower case alphabet on Magnadoodle
    • Phonics: Beginning and Ending Consonants Game - Everything for Early Learning Grade K (pgs 89-93)
    • Song of the Week: I’m a Nut
      Verse of the Month: Ecclesiastes 3:1
      Rhyme/Poem: 
    • Math: Identifying Patterns, Sequencing - Get Ready for Kindergarten (pg 67, 91)
    • Outdoors: Gather leaves for handicraft
    • History:
    • Sign Language: Signing Time DVD, Volume 2
    • StellalunaArtist Study: Sandro Botticelli - A Young Man Being Introduced to the Seven Liberal Arts, c. 1484
    • Literature:
      • Tony’s Bread (another great legend by Tomie dePaola about the origin of panettone, a rich Italian Christmas bread)
      • Stellaluna, by Janell Cannon (a beautiful story about a mother bat and her baby who are separated)
    • Handicraft: Leaf rubbing cards with verse of the month
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (11:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (12:00 pm)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    • George Washington's Teeth, by Chandra and ComoraMusic Time at the Library (10:30 am)
    • Yoga Time at the Library (11:30 am)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • History: George Washington’s Teeth (A story about George Washington’s life based on the timeline of losing his teeth. What a clever way to introduce kids to the history of Washington’s life with something they can relate to – losing teeth.)
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk

    Posted on November 3, 2008 - by

    Year 0: Week 9

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:15am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    • Errand, cleaning day
    • Mommy’s book club

    Tuesday:

    • Science: Visit the pediatrician for our yearly check-ups.  Measuring height and weight (of Kate and brother and sister), naming medical instruments (stethoscope, scale, thermometer)
    • History: Kate will go with us to the polling booth and experience voting for the president.  We’ll also be watching the results come in throughout the evening and coloring a map of the US as each state is projected it’s winner.
    • Literature: Kate’s choice

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (10:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (11:00 am)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk

    Posted on October 30, 2008 - by

    Year 0: Week 8

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:15am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    • Errand, cleaning day
    • Mommy’s book club

    Tuesday:

    • Pledge
      Weather
      Calendar: Write out schedule & reading goals
    • Handwriting: Lower case letters p-t on Aquadoodle
    • Phonics:Ending Consonant Sounds – Everything for Early Learning Grade K (pgs 81-85)
    • Song of the Month: Autumn Leaves are A-Falling
      Verse of the Month: John 1:12
      Rhyme/Poem: Who has Seen the Wind?
    • Math: Telling Time Learning Puzzle – learning 5 minute increments
    • Composer Study: Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto #1
    • History: Kids Pick the President on Nickelodeon
    • Literature: Ox-Cart Man, by Donald Hall.
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (10:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (11:00 am)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk

    Posted on October 20, 2008 - by

    Year 0: Week 7

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:15am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    • Errand, cleaning day 
    • Mommy’s book club

    Tuesday:

    • Pledge
      Weather
      Calendar: Write out schedule & reading goals, Months of the year

    GAME DAY!!

    • Composer Study: Johann Sebastian Bach (Playing in background for Game Day)
    • Phonics: Short Vowel Sounds Game- Everything for Early Learning Grade K (pgs 153, 156-160)
    • Science: Experiments with water

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (10:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (11:00 am)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    • Literature:  
    • Phonics: Ending Consonants- Everything for Early Learning Grade K (pgs 81-85)
    • Outdoors: Collect different leaves for handicraft
    • Handicraft: Leaf rubbings
    • Lunch (1hr)
      • Nature Walk

      • Friday:

     


    Posted on October 13, 2008 - by

    Year 0: Week 6

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:15am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    • Errand, cleaning day
    • Mommy’s book club

    Tuesday:

    • Pledge
      Weather
      Calendar: Write out schedule & reading goals, Months of the year
    • Handwriting: Dry Erase Board – lower case letters a-j
    • Phonics: Short Vowel Sounds - Everything for Early Learning Grade K (pgs 146-150), Barbie Phonics (pg 7-8)
    • Song of the Week: O Lady Moon
      Verse of the Month: John 1:12
      Rhyme/Poem: Who has Seen the Wind?
    • Math: Fill in the missing number
    • Outdoors: Find the moon
    • Natural History: Talk about moon phases
    • Sign Language: Review colors
    • Composer Study: Johann Sebastian Bach: God Alone Should Have My Heart
    • History: Bach on timeline and read chapter about Bach from Bach, Beethoven, and the Boys
    • Literature: Piglet Meets a Heffalump – The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh
    • Science: Observing the Moon
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (10:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (11:00 am)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    • Pledge
      Weather
      Calendar: Months of the Year
    • Handwriting: Lower case placemat k-o
    • Phonics: Starfall: Alphabet Movie, Y Can be a Vowel
    • Song of the Week: Autumn Leaves are A-Falling
      Verse of the Month: John 1:12
      Rhyme/Poem: Who has Seen the Wind?
    • Math: Sequencing - Everything for Early Learning Grade K (pgs 201-205)
    • Outdoors: Use Daddy’s compass outside – which direction does the sun rise/set
    • Geography: Look at map of our street with compass directions
    • Sign Language: Review colors and all other words
    • Artist Study: Sandro Botticelli - A Young Man Being Introduced to the Seven Liberal Arts  c. 1484
    • Handicraft: Fall Centerpiece
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk

     


    Posted on October 7, 2008 - by

    Year 0: Week 5

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:15am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    • Errand, cleaning day
    • Mommy’s book club

    Tuesday:

    • Pledge
      Weather
      Calendar: Write out schedule & reading goals, Months of the year
    • Handwriting: Lower case letters placemat
    • Phonics: Short Uu Vowel Sounds – Everything for Early Learning Grade K (pgs 139-145), Barbie Phonics (pg 6)
    • Song of the Week: Autumn Leaves are A-Falling
      Verse of the Month: John 1:12
      Rhyme/Poem: Who has Seen the Wind?
    • Math: Barnyard Count-up – Get Ready for Kindergarten
    • Outdoors: Look for insects/caterpillars
    • Natural History: Identify insects found
    • Sign Language: Learn colors
    • Composer Study: Johann Sebastian Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
    • History: How presidential elections work
    • Literature: 

    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

      •  

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (10:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (11:00 am)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk


    Posted on September 29, 2008 - by

    Year 0: Week 4

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:15am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out.  Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    • Errand, cleaning day
    • Mommy’s book club

     

    Tuesday:

     

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library  (10:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (11:00 am)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature:  Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

     

    Thursday:

    • Pledge
      Weather
      Calendar: Months of the Year
    • Handwriting:  Lower case vowels in notebook
    • Phonics: Starfall: Who Am I?
    • Song of the Week: Arabella Miller
      Verse of the Month: The Seven Principles – recite and explain
      Rhyme/Poem: Hurt No Living Thing
    • Math: Telling Time Poster
    • Outdoors: Weed front yard
    • Geography: Map of front yard
    • Sign Language: Review new words learned in Signing Time: Everyday Signs DVD
    • Artist Study: Sandro Botticelli - Madonna of the Magnificat, 1483-1485 CE
    • Literature: Uncle Wiggily and Nanny Wagtail
    • Handicraft:  Modeling clay
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature:  Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

     

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk

    Posted on September 21, 2008 - by

    Year 0: Week 3

    Due to the arrival of Hurricane Ike and the ensuing power outages, etc, we skipped ‘formal’ school last week.  Of course, we learned lots about hurricanes and the damage they leave behind, as well as learning about electricity and what happens when we don’t have it.  :)

    This week, we’ll be continuing some of our previous studies as well as revisiting some of the activities that didn’t get done over the past few weeks.  As I mentioned previously, these plans are definitely a work in progress and I’m learning how quickly certain tasks can be accomplished and which ones take longer for Kate.

     

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:15am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out.  Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    • Errand, cleaning day
    • Mommy’s book club


    Tuesday:

    • Pledge
      Weather
      Calendar: Write out schedule & reading goals, Months of the year
      Handwriting:  Next 2 Principles written in notebook
    • Phonics: Short Oo Vowel Sounds – Everything for Early Learning Grade K (pgs 123-128), Barbie Phonics (pg 5)
    • Song of the Week: The Muffin Man
      Verse of the Month: The Seven Principles – illustrate 2 more
      Rhyme/Poem: “January is Cold”
    • Math: Barbie Numbers and Counting – Counting 1-10 (pgs 22-25)
    • Outdoors: Weeding the garden
    • Natural History: Check on marigold plantings
    • Sign Language: “Sign About: Going Out” 
    • Composer Study:  Camille Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals (The Swan)
    • History: “The Value of Caring: The Story of Eleanor Roosevelt“
    • Literature: 
    • Science: Learn about Hurricanes
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature:  Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time


    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library  (10:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (11:00 am)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature:  Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time


    Thursday:

    • Pledge
      Weather
      Calendar: Months of the Year
      Handwriting:  Last 2 Principles written in notebook
    • Phonics: Starfall.com – Short Oo sounds
    • Song of the Week: The Muffin Man
      Verse of the Month: The Seven Principles – finish illustrations, post on wall
      Rhyme/Poem: January is Cold
    • Math: Barnyard Counting Game from back of ‘Get Ready for Kindergarten’ Workbook
    • Outdoors: Weed front yard
    • Geography: Map of front yard
    • Spanish:  
    • Artist Study: Sandro Botticelli - Primavera
    • Literature: Raggedy Ann’s Trip Down the River
    • Handicraft:  Paint frames for Kate’s room
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature:  Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time


    Friday:

    • Children’s Museum at The Woodlands Mall

    Posted on September 8, 2008 - by

    Year 0: Week 2

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:15am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out. Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Monday:

    Errands and Planning Day

    Tuesday:

    • Pledge
      Weather
      Calendar: Write out this week’s schedule & reading goals, Review days of the week
      Handwriting/Copywork: Write out The Seven Principles in Notebook
    • Phonics: Short Ii Vowel Sounds – Everything for Early Learning Grade K (pgs 113-118), Barbie Phonics (pg 4)
    • Song of the Week: The Farmer in the Dell
      Verse of the Week: The Seven Principles – illustrate one in Notebook next to copywork
      Rhyme/Poem: If a Mouse Could Fly
    • Math: Practice writing numbers in rice
    • Science:  Use measuring cups with rice
    • Outdoors: Weeding the garden
    • Geography: Map of backyard 
    • Sign Language: Learn new signs in Signing Time DVD, Vol 1 (Ball, Bird, Cat, Dog, Fish, Car, Airplane, Want, Shoes, Flower, Baby, Sleep)
    • Composer Study: Camille Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals (The Swan)
    • History: Start a Time Line in Notebook – add Camille Saint-Saens
    • Literature: 
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library (11:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (12:00 pm)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    • Pledge
      Weather
      Calendar: Months of the Year - January is Cold
      Handwriting: Lower Case a,b,c’s
    • Phonics: Short Aa, Ee, and Ii Vowel Sounds – Everything for Early Learning Grade K (pgs 119-122)
    • Song of the Week: The Farmer in the Dell
      Verse of the Week: The Seven Principles – illustrate one in Notebook next to copywork
      Rhyme/Poem: If a Mouse Could Fly
    • Math: Skip Counting - http://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/skip-counting.html
    • Outdoors: Front yard – sidewalk chalk
    • Natural History: Whatever came up during our time in front yard 
    • Geography: Map of Front yard in Notebook
    • Spanish: Ask Kate which types of words she’d like to learn (ie. verbs, more nouns, etc.)
    • Artist Study: Sandro Botticelli – Fortitude
    • Literature: Raggedy Ann’s Trip Down the River
    • Handicraft: Paint frames for Kate’s room (didn’t get done last week)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk: Park on Cypresswood (1-1.5 hrs)
    • Natural History: Name as many trees as we can
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature: Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Posted on August 25, 2008 - by

    Year 0: Week 1

    Our school days are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9:15am, when we return from dropping off Ethan at Mother’s Day Out.  Each bullet point is a 5-15 minute period of time.

    Let’s see how long this schedule stays intact before we start rearranging and modifying things! :)

    Monday:

    Holiday

    Tuesday:

    • Pledge
      Weather
      Calendar: Write out schedule & reading goals, Days of the week
      Handwriting:  Upper Case A,B,Cs
    • Phonics: Short Aa Vowel Sounds – Everything for Early Learning Grade K (pgs 100-105), Barbie Phonics (pg 2)
    • Song of the Week: Welcome to School Today
      Verse of the Week: The Seven Principles
      Rhyme/Poem: Pancakes by Christina Rossetti
    • Math: Get Ready for Kindergarten (pgs 11-18)
    • Outdoors: Backyard trees
    • Natural History: Drawing and labeling backyard trees
    • Sign Language:  Review all current signs – write a list
    • Composer Study:  Camille Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals (The Swan)
    • History: John, Paul, George & Ben, by Lane Smith (A great little book about some of our founding father’s as kids. Very cleverly written and even more cleverly designed/illustrated. My favorite part is at the end where the author goes through some of the more absurd “facts” of the book as fact or fiction.)
    • Literature:
    • Science:  Measuring
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature:  Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Wednesday:

    • Story time at the Library  (10:30 am)
    • Turn in old and check out new books (11:00 am)
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature:  Library Books
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Thursday:

    • Pledge
      Weather
      Calendar: Days of the week – The Very Hungry Catepillar
      Handwriting:  Lower Case A,B,Cs
    • Phonics: Short Ee Vowel Sounds – Everything for Early Learning Grade K (pgs 106-110), Barbie Phonics (pg 3)
    • Song of the Week: Welcome to School Today
      Verse of the Week: The Seven Principles
      Rhyme/Poem: Pancakes by Christina Rossetti
    • Math: Counting – http://www.mathsisfun.com/games/counting-bugs.html
    • Outdoors: Frontyard trees
    • Natural History: Drawing and labeling frontyard trees
    • Geography: Map of Front yard
    • Spanish:  Review current Spanish – write a list of colors and numbers
    • Artist Study: Sandro Botticelli – Fortitude
    • Literature: Uncle Wiggily’s Picture Book: Uncle Wiggily & Neddie Stubtail
    • Handicraft:  Paint frames for Kate’s room
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature:  Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time

    Friday:

    • Nature Walk: Neighborhood Gazebos (1-1.5 hrs)
    • Natural History: Name as many trees as we can
    • Lunch (1hr)
    • Outdoor Play (1hr)
    • Literature:  Kate’s choice
    • Independent Reading/Rest Time