Homeschool Update

So before I go into what curriculum I'm using or what form I'm following
I wanted to break down our schedule....
My husband works nights.
It limits our ability to go many places (the girls and I)
We spend all morning doing some daily chores, cooking dinner
watching some toons, playing with toys (educational and otherwise).
going outside
etc. etc.
Around noon, Josh gets up for work. We all sit down for dinner, our big meal of the day.
After we eat the girls spend some time with their daddy until quiet time.
During quiet time my youngest (2) takes a nap.
And my oldest (4) does "school" usually.
Sometimes she watches a movie or plays.
After nap time the girls get more time with Daddy before he leave for work
I make an easy evening meal
and then we do evening activities
Read books, watch a movie, play outside
pretty much do all things kid related.

So anyway, what we use for school is a combination of ABCmouse.com and other educational websites, reading books and educational books, work books bought at Walmart or other discount stores, , nature, some apps on devices, and even some TV shows.

Instead of doing "preschool" or kindergarten, we just go by age group... Sort of a everything your 4yr old needs to know.

We have been working for a couple month now and will continue on this path until Nov, which is when my oldest turns 5. We will reevaluate then. Here is the list of "what your 4yr old should be learning"...

READING
   Upper and Lower case letters Can say, not sing the alphabet
Can spell name orally
Phonics
Site words
Rhyming
Beginner reading
Word matching with pictures
Puncuations
Memorize longer pieces of poetry
Recites full name, address, phone number, and parents names



WRITING
   Penmanship improving. Uses a preschool pencil while writing.
Can copy letter in upper and lower case. Copies complete words and complete sentances.
Can write all letters from memory
Can print name (with capital at beginning)
Draw a person with 8 boday parts



MATH
   Counting 1-100
Adding #'s through 10 through story problems
Write numbers to 20 from memory
Matches written #'s to corresponding sets of objects
Able to tell time on the whole hour and on the half hour
Coin recongnition (quarter, nickle, dime, penny)
Patterns
Shapes
Uses and understands positional words (over, under, in, out, around, inside, outside)



SOCIAL STUDIES
4 Familiar with different parts of communites (fire station, police station, hospital, library, bank etc)
Familiar with different modes of transportation
Understands the concept of rules and consequences in regard to living in a community. (obeying stop signs, not littering etc.)
Familiar with several different countries
Knows a little bit about the state you live in. (the name, where it is located on the map)

5
  Knows about the various holidays.
Knows about the American flag (fifty stars for fifty states, 13 stripes for the 13 original colonies)
Can recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Beginning map skills; recognizes the United States and his home state.
Knows the names of several other states.
Knows the directions north, south, east, and west.
　


SCIENCE & Health
   Understands the concept that babies grow into adults that seeds grow into plants
Understands the five senses.
Can identify sweet, sour, bitter, and salty.
Knows weather terms.
Knows the four seasons.
Our day to day varies right now, but each day we try to do at least these 3 things:
Letter sounds song
Sign language alphabet
Counting to 20

We have a sticker chart for counting milestones- 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50 etc to 100 Once she is able to count to 100 we are going to have a pizza party.

All of that is my guideline, what I base my ideas or any lesson plans on. We learn about a ton of other things as well, based on what my child wants to know! We take her questions and run with them.

That pretty much sums it all up! I'd love to hear any feedback that you may have.


 

Float trip

I'm going on a float trip next weekend!!
I'm super stoked!
What better way to feel some freedom then by floating down
a moving body of water in an inner tube???
Just me and nature...
and my husband.
cousin.
his wife.
friends....
lol
The kids will be with family for the weekend.
So I am free of them
only for a little while, which is all I'd ever want.
I'd really like to use this trip to really get closer to my husband.
We've been doing well, but life is so busy.
It's super hard to find one on one time that doesn't involve the TV!
or computer
or phones.
We bought some really fancy two seater float with cup holders.
Pictures post trip. Maybe. :)
We are going to the Maramec river in MO.
We've been one other time before and it was really nice. It's definitely a beautiful and peaceful
place. I enjoy what little time I get to spend time in nature! When I was a kid
I always loved going to the lake or into the woods.
I love collecting rocks and shells.
I'm hoping that Josh and I can find the spice of life while we are gone
and maybe that I can find some inspiration.

What is a year??

What's a year?? When you have children, that truly is a loaded question!
It's not much and everything all at once!
A lot can happen in a year!
A lot can change.
I still feel the same. Sure some things are slightly different...
but I'm still me.
Still having the same struggles.
Still doing the same things.
Sometimes that's a good thing..
sometimes that's a very bad thing.
It's life.
ANYWAY
My updates as of now are as follows:
Madelyn my oldest is 4.. and will be 5 this year. Say WHAT??
Elizabeth my youngest is 2.. and will be 3 at the beginning of next year.
I'm 25 and will be staying that way this year. :D :D
I'm still married. ;)
This year it was be 5 years!! I'm really amazed and excited.
Marriage is hard. Almost the hardest thing I've ever done.
We've been through a ton of stuff. a TON.
And we've made it to the other side.
We've lived to fight another day.
Hopefully there isn't that much fighting ;)
I'm still a stay at home mom.
I'm on a weight loss journey and so far failing.
I'm still trying to figure out who I am.
I'm still on my mission to be Free.
To be who I want to be.
And to let others be who they want to be.
Even when I don't like it.

On another note.. I plan to create another blog for My poetry
and writings. Hopefully I can get better at keeping up with this blog
and stick with that blog. I'm really looking forward to sharing more then just a piece
of me with the world. My family. And friends.
I keep a lot of myself hidden.
But I'm ready to put more of me out there. Even if it's just in a little way.
Even if no one notices. It's more about me and my personal growth then
it is about others understanding me.


Until next time.
Me-free.