I'm still here!

I hate that I haven't kept up with blogging recently :(  But, I'm still here and I'm hoping to get back to some homeschool related posts soon.

For now, I've really been trying to get my own business started so that has dominated my time.  I added some new pieces to my inventory.  Enjoy!

The Ant and the Grasshopper

Last week Buster Brown and I read the Ant and the Grasshopper.  The book is a suggested reading title in MFW 1st grade curriculum.  So I wanted to tell you about a great resource that Jolanthe at Homeschool Creations has shared!  These animal classification fandex cards were created to go with Five in a Row, but could compliment MFW as well.

Thanks Jolanthe!!!

Calendar Time

My youngest 2 start each day with calendar time.  At this point MJ can almost teach Buster Brown all the information we cover during this activity.  I stay close to prompt when needed and to answer questions.  I try to get J-saurus going on something while the other 2 do calendar time.

Pictured below is just an inexpensive dry erase board that I turned into a changeable calendar.  I used a sharpie to make the grid, write in the days, etc.  Then we use a dry erase marker to fill in the days.  We used to add each day one at a time, but MJ likes to write out the whole month and cross of the days.  On here we...

Write:   Month (Looks like a spelling lesson is in order!)
             The Date  m/d/year
             Day of the Week
             The Season
             Weather Condition
             The Year

Next we...
Say the Pledge"...one nation under GOD!.."  :)
Season
Number of the Day (MFW First Grade)
Yesterday/Today/Tomorrow
Address & Phone Numbers
Weather Chart

We finish with our Weather Calendar.  I think I found this at Deals, a dollar-type store in our area.  I've laminated the dates and weather symbols that we add each day.  The black sqaures are velcro.  Would've been nice to have white, but the black was free and free is good!

HTH!

MFW First Grade Phonics

Buster Brown is doing very well with his new curriculum.  This is the first year I've used MFW for first grade even though I've done first grade twice already! ;)  In his workbook he's been writing the beginning letter for each word I read and then practicing some sound blending at the bottom of the page.  Rather than cut out the vowels on the dotted lines, we use our letter tiles for this activity.

Hope you're having a great week in your homeschool!

Revised Schedule

Now that we are a few weeks into the school-year, I'm getting an idea of how our days will flow.  I came up with a revised 4-day schedule.  On Wednesday morning we have Community Bible Study and AWANA in the evening so, that day will not have schoolwork planned.  We can use any time we have that day for make-up work and for Buster Brown's Exploration Day which is part of the MFW first grade curriculum.  It's a chance to get outside and study God's creation in a fun hands-on way.
(BB is Buster Brown, my 6 yo ds; FLL stands for First Language Lessons)

7a.m. Mommy: wake, dress, coffee, devotion

7:30  Kids: wake, dress, breakfast, teeth & hair, make bed

8:30   *Kids should be seated and ready to work!

        -All: Bible (J-saurus & MJ CBS, AWANA -BB: MFW,  AWANA)

        -J-saurus & MJ: Spelling, Vocabulary, FLL, Writing

        -BB: MFW1st Workbook, FLL, Explode the Code, Quiet Play   

                -All: Reading

10:00  Snack Break
 

10:15  Math

        -J-saurus & MJ: Singapore Math, Drills, Computer Game

        -BB: MFW Math, Drills, Computer Math Game

               *Alternate between one-on-one Math help & Spanish

Noon   Lunch

12:30   Chores, Clutter Control

1:00    MFW

        -Monday: History

        -Tuesday: Science

        -Friday: Art

2:30   Free-time IF all work is completed and chores are done

5:00   Dinner

8:00   Bedtime Routine

9:00   Lights Out!