The Way They Should Go

2007-2008 Update…  Still First Grade!

 I am beginning to update this page as we make decisions about next school year.  This will still be “First Grade”, not because of a lack of progress really - but because the 2007-2008 school year is our first year of homeschooling where we are actually notifying the school district and doing all the official things.  It is also the grade KTRose would be in age-wise in Public School, so let’s just make this easy.

Our Overall Strategy:

We are attempting to follow a classical framework, with a strong Christian/Biblical component.  We are trying to marry training up our children spiritually with a strong academic program, keeping the flexibility to pursue in more depth the areas of interest for our children.

First Grade

History

Following the Classical concept, History will be presented chronologically beginning, conveniently, at the beginning.  It will also be a “Spine” subject meaning we start with our year plan here and base several other subjects off of what is being covered in History.

Chosen program:  Biblioplan (see www.biblioplan.net) because it presents history chronologically, following the Classical structure so Ancient History will be this year.  Biblioplan also integrates Biblical/Church history seemlessly into their program.  With this program you buy the lesson plans through them, but all else (texts & materials) are other peoples, so you pick and choose what works for you.  Biblioplan works off of several main reference texts, and then uses readers and other recommended literature to help the child put themselves in the timeperiod.

Main Texts:  Usborne IL Encyclopedia of World History

                    The Story of the World, Vol. 1 Ancient Times

                    Egermeier Story Bible

Other Matierials:  Need to find a good way to build a timeline

                    Maps set - Blackline?? 

Other Texts: Pharoahs of Ancient Egypt

                    Dance, Sing & Remember

Unresolved Issues:  Really waffling on how many of the Readers, Read-Alouds and Supplementary Reading to buy verses use the library.  The fiscally responsible thing to do is use the library.  But I just love so many of these!!

Bible

Bible will be heavily integrated into History for this year as our History program includes Bible reading as Text in parts, as well as Famiy Read Aloud Time.  Activites will be built around the current readings interspersed throughout the year.

Text:  Egermeier’s Story Bible.  Very nice text - Chronological readings that are a good length for our current attention span.  Written on an elementary vocabulary level yet still Biblically accurate.  Even includes 3-5 questions per reading in the back of the Bible.  I think this is out of print, but you can get it through www.sonlight.com.

Unresolved Issues:  One question we are trying to resolve is what to cover in “Bible” during the 400 year break between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament.  I was thinking daily Psalms and Proverbs readings while Scott suggested a little research into what was happening with the history of the Jewish people at this time.  We’ll see what wins the day.

Art 

Art will also be heavily integrated into History.  We will study, discuss and imitate art of the time & peoples we are studying.  Will also probably tie art in with Science.

Text:  Usborne IL Introduction to Art  -or-

          History of Art for Young People, Janson & Janson

Language

Grammar:  Grammar will be simple and low/no pressure.  There will be a reading each day designed to familiarize her with basic grammar terminology and rules.  But the main focus is on hearing sentences and paragraphs spoken using proper grammar.

Text:  First Language Lesson for The Well Trained Mind

Learning to Read:  Will be somewhat unstructured for learning to read.  Will practice reading phonetically controlled books as well as use texts as my resources for introducing new concepts.

Texts:  Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons

           Bob Books

           Dr. Seuss

           Step into Reading:  Phonics, Ready to Read

           Step into Reading:  Phonics, Reading with Help

Read Aloud:  Most of these come from Biblioplan History which incorporates Readers that I will be reading to KTR, then there is also Family Read Aloud which DH will be reading before bedtime.

Spelling:  Spelling will probably not start until part way through First Grade since I’ve seen several recommendations to hold off on it until the child is a stronger reader.

Text:  Spelling Workout - Modern Curriculum Press

Handwriting:  Will tie in somewhat to Science.  Chose a program that both teaches the student to draw (I picked ones with animals to tie in with Science) then gives them several sentences to copy about the animal.  I may get ambitious and create additional lessons to cover any animals the text does not.

Text:  Draw Write Now, Volumes 1,4,7 & one more… forget #

Science

Science will be a secondary “Spine” subject with some Read Aloud, our Handwriting and probably also some Art tying into what we are covering in Science.

Science covered this year will be Life Science and is not a Curriculum or bought Program but following The Well Trained Mind’s suggestion, something I am putting together for us.

Main Texts:  Kingfisher Illustrated Animal Encyclopedia

                  Usborne Fisrst Encyclopedia of the Human Body

                  ??? Not yet a text for 6 weeks covering Plants

Outline: 

One week:  Creation & StewardshiP (overall theme)

19 weeks:  Animals

Within each category we will learn defining characteristics of each classification and study a few examples in depth.

4 weeks:  Invetebrates (more time b/c a favorite)

2 Weeks:  Fish

2 Weeks:  Amphibians

2 Weeks:  Reptiles

3 weeks:  Birds

5 weeks: Mammals

1 week:  Buffer - summation/review if not used.

10 weeks:  Human Body

Intro & Nervous system

Seeing & Hearing

Taste & Smell

Touch & Skin

Bones & Muscles

Circulatory & Digestive

Breathing & Voice

Genes & Heredity

Growing & Being Healthy

Germs & Sickness

6 weeks: Plants

I have no idea!

Note:  After doing the above outlining and planning for Science a friend suggested Apologia for KTR.  I checked out their site & the Exploring Creation through Zoology looks really interesting.  Going to check them out at HEAV and see if we want to do that instead. 

Math 

Debating between two different programs.  Currently using Horizons and KTR is doing well.  May just stick with that.  However, want to take a look at Math-U-See with DH and see whether it looks worth a try.

Text:  Horizons:  Finishing K and Starting Level 1   -or-

          Math-U-See

Music: 

Doing the Ken plan working our way through the periods of music, but stretching it over the full school year.  Will be very passive for the most part.  Listening during independant work or during play times.  I know we’ll have disucssions about it as we go because she tends to notice changes in music and ask about them.