What we are learning

Preschool-Kindergarten

reading- we just like to read everything around us. We like to go and find several easy readers at the library and snuggle up together and read them together. If Jayden feels like reading , he reads , if not he listens and asks questions and we talk about the stories and I make a big deal over him reading. He has picked up a bunch of words just by reading them in context. We also have a word wall. When ever Jayden asks how to spell a word we write it on there. Some weeks we will do serveral words, some weeks none. I find the more relaxed we are the better he does.

Math- is so fun right now. We count lots of things and play math games. Our math games teach addtion and subtraction. Examples are - if there are 5 dinosaurs eating in the valley and the T-rex eats one of them , how many are left. Then I write it out and show himwhat the math problem would look like. He of course is a boy and loves this. We play other like- if we have ten marshmallows and we five more how many do we have in all? I always like to write out the problem and use the plus and minus and equals, that way he gets used to math terms.

Science- we just take note of the world God has created. Whatever we see we talk about and find books about or look up on the internet. The other evening we where out in the yard playing dinosaurs and we saw some bats so that lead to a great talk and some great research on bats. By the way- did you know that some bats fish?

Writing- right now we just color alot! We write in the sand with sticks. I dont push writing because of his age. he likes to trace patterns and has just learned how to do a really big A. I figure it will come in time when he is ready.




5th grade-

Math- Aleks.com. I like this site. Its $20 a month but its worth it to me now.


Language Arts/ Grammar- Sydney will be starting her blog (http://lolastarneal.blogspot.com/ ) and writing to family an friends to improve her writing and grammar skills. She will also make a book this semester. She will have to write the story, edit it, and illustrate it.

Reading- She will read several books this semester and write a short book report after she gets done with each book. she will be posting these on her blog. She will also be reading a biography each week and doing a short report on the person that will be posted on her blog as well.

History-  we are working our way through American history this semester. We are at the war of 1812. We like to make booklets about the main people, what caused the war, what was going on culturally at the time, etc. We like to read biographies of several different people to help get a more well rounded view of each time period we study.


Science- we are studying the scientific method this year so it will be alot of learning the steps in depth and several experiments to help give her a hands on approach to learning the steps and writing a scientific paper.

Art Appreciation- I will be using the Gardenofpraise.com website and working our way through some of the artist. I will add some great books I find from our library along the way.

Music Appreciation- using the same site as above along with enchantedlearning.com. We will also be listening to the composer/ musicians music during the day and on car rides.

Bible- living what we teach and preach. My favorite saying is "Discipleship is caught , not taught".We will be working through the New Testament this semester as well.

Home Ec- Sydney will be learning to prepare several meals and snacks on her own. She has already and continues to help me cook in bulk, which math, science, and other subjects are easily pulled into.

Other fun stuff- Sydney is playing flag football for upward sports this season.  We also belong to a American Heritage Girls group.