I am soooo very excited to start American history this year! As I mentioned in my postcard post the other day – we will also begin learning about each of the 50 states (this year we will cover 35). In our All American curriculum, geography/state study is only scheduled for the older children. I love the resources offered, but wanted to build on it just a bit (imagine that!), including my younger boys on a lighter level, & adding geography as part of our memorization work. Here is what I’m up to . . . supplements I will be using:
I’m am going to unbind the WP Make-Your-Own State Notebook & add pages to it (from resources listed below). Then I will make a much easier version for my mustangs. Details coming soon!
This sounds like A LOT! Believe it or not, I already had ALL of this (just picked up here & there over the years). I am not using each resources to its core, just pulling the listed items from each. We may not get a chance to cover it all each week, but at least I will be prepared :) Besides, it is just organizing what I already had on hand :)
I realize not everyone has a collection of American History geography resources. If you are looking for something to add to your state studies the one I think I love the most is the UNITED STATES COLORING BOOK. It is beautiful & very educational!
image from Amazon
I seriously considered using this for all the boys, but decided it might be a little overwhelming for the younger two. Instead I’m using the dover coloring book & am going to let them add stickers like the pictures in this book.
I know I have said several times that I needed to update our chore chart/system. The hard part of this for me is the wide age range I have now.
Tyler is such a diligent worker & doesn’t really need a chart or system. His responsibilities are the same each day & he does them without being asked. *We do give him an “allowance” ($20/month). He is our oldest & is always our “go to guy”. By far he is his daddy’s top hand & my biggest helper with the little kids. His diligence is not only remarkable, but his attitude is such a blessing. The boy seriously LOVES to work. Currently his daily chores are all the outside animal jobs.
For several months now he has been “training” Tucker – teaching him to do his jobs. And I am so pleased with how well he has done. Occasionally, the boys will fight & argue, but for the most part they work well together.
Tucker really had us worried for a while . . . WORK, was not a word we associated with him. at. all. He was too busy exploring to “work.” Having him as Tyler’s helper has instilled the work ethic we were hoping for. Recently, he has been doing most of the animal chores on his own with Tyler overseeing them. He wakes up early & begins his chores immediately most mornings (without being reminded).
Tucker & Trevor have a couple of chores together: dishes, picking up poop, & yard work (picking up the scattered toys). These two do NOT work so well together. They fight constantly & when the job isn’t done well the other is always to blame. Very seldom do they work together without fighting. Very VERY seldom do they do anything without fighting, but that is another story. To cut the fighting down & get the job done I have given them “zone” or areas of responsibility. If they are working in the yard, they each have a side they are responsible for. If they are doing the dishes Tucker does it one day & Trevor the next.
Trevor he loves to work, but only when he wants too. Typical for a 5 year old. He does very well with his personal chores (emptying small trashcans around the house, wiping the table off, & feeding the dogs). He is a very good “mommy helper” & loves to help me make my bed.
Soon, Tyler will begin with bigger boy duties, Tucker will take over Tyler’s chores, & Trevor will gain a few more personal chores.
All of my children make their beds, put their clothes away, clean their rooms, & help in “zones” during cleaning days/times.
I have a new chore “chart” in the works, but it is very simple & more of a list than a chart. However, for my younger kids & to aid in getting back in a “school” routine & out of the more relaxed summer routine we have enjoyed for a couple months now I had my sweet sister make the boys “routine cards”:
*These cards are not in any particular order & I’m still missing a few. I just sent my sister a little mason jar surprise, so maybe she’ll surprise me with a few more pictures. Isn’t she a great artist? These are NOTHING compared to “real” artwork. Can you tell the pictures I colored? LOL (take a close look at the toy box , meal times (lunch/dinner), & goats). Yeah, I did NOT get blessed with the artistic gift!
I still need to cut these beauties out & decide where I am going to put them. I’m thinking in the hallway to the boys room – **Which I just totally redid – painted it & made it into a family “message center”. It is AWESOME. Not completely done yet, so pictures will be posted soon!
I know I’ve posted before about my beliefs on starting “school” with little ones, but if you are new to this blog or somehow missed those posts . . . I just want to say, that I do NOT start “school” with my little ones to jumpstart them into being the smartest 2 or 3 year olds or because I think they “have” to do school asap. My opinion, is quite the contrary. I start introducing “school-like” activities to my little tot’s mainly to keep them busy & entertained. I think it is very important to encourage natural growth & exploration in an educational/hands-on environment. During the toddler years I try to surround my kids with toys & activities that will build necessary skills for upcoming years. So, what do I use & exactly what do I focus on?
I don’t think a “curriculum” is necessary, but the FIAR books are wonderful “keepers” that you will read over & over again (not just when your child is 2). I don’t do all the activities listed in the guide, but pick a few here & there & add some of my own ideas.
This is a great time to set the tone for “school” & begin each morning with a circle time. I would suggest starting with a short routine of a prayer, song, “how are you today”, a short calendar time – “Today is Monday”, the weather, & possibly 1-2 focus reviews (Ex. new word, character trait). Add to your circle time as your child matures & understand. You can do a complete calendar time, memory work, & build on skills you are focusing on. Preschooler’s & Peace offers great Circle Time Suggestions.
Truman turned two in May so “Tiny Tot Time” will now be “Tot School”
Here is my weekly planning sheet (I made using a combination of ideas from sources listed below):
I tried to have hands-on activities for each of our weekly focus' - for J- they sorted & counted & practiced patterns with Jelly Beans. When we were learning the shape of a heart we made heart cookies. Snack time was also an important part of our day - I tried to tie in the concepts we were learning. If our shape was oval we'd have a boiled egg, if we were focusing on the color blue & squares, we'd have blue squares of jello. If we read Jesse Bear - we had teddy grahams, etc.
I also created a Preschool Poster we refer to daily that included all the weeks information (mentioned above), plus a list of other skills/activities (listed below) & centers.
Auditory Discrimination Skills Listening to tapes Play "Go & Get"
Visual Discrimination Skills Classify objects by color Legos
Creative Expression Skills Puppets Google (make a picture of this shape) Play Dough Dolls Dress up Trucks, Cars Clap to music Music instruments Singing Collages Macaroni, paper shapes Painting (water colors, finger paint) Vegetable sculptures
Gross Motor Skills Walking like a dog, bear, crab, worm, duck, frog Hopping, Skipping, Balancing Roll Like a Log Push, Pull, Drag Balloons Bubbles Window Washing Pouring rice back & forth Hokey Pokey Obstacles Course
Fine Motor Skills Buttoning, snapping, cutting, tracing, zipping, coloring
Fun Cooking help Tea Party Nature Walk Hide & Seek Tag I Spy Mother May I Simon Says
Chores
This is also the age that I begin chores with my little ones. We begin with personal care & property – dressing themselves, washing hands, brushing teeth, picking up shoes, dirty clothes, & small messes (if their room is a big mess, I will sit in the floor & direct them. They typically know where something goes, but the large mess can be rather overwhelming). Toddlers also love to wipe things. I give Truman a spray bottle (with water & vinegar) to “clean”. If they spill something, I give them a rag to clean it themselves (I usually come in behind & clean-up, but to initially allow them to clean the mess teaches them responsibility). At this age, they love to mimic activities. Usually my little one will follow the older children around as they do their chores. When the boys are picking up the yard, Truman loves to point out the poop, or a out-of-place toy.
At this age praise goes a LONG way. Early learners gain so much confidence & joy just from seeing the reaction of others. I try to over-react in praise & make sure my little one knows how proud I am. Stickers or small treats also go along way – even a toy that only gets to be played with on special occasions. As your child matures from 2-3, you may introduce rewards. We have magnet frames for “cheerfulness”, “sharing”, etc. that are displayed. Depending on your child’s understanding, you could also begin an easy reward system.
Discipline:
Two is not exactly my favorite stage. Mostly because my own lack of patience combined with the lack of communication with a demanding little person. Each of my children have such different personalities that have required very different consequences. I am certainly no expert & feel totally inadequet to give any advice in this area; however, I will highly recommend Creative Corrections by Lisa Whelchel (this book is a toolbox for parenting children of all ages).
HELPFUL RESOURCES:
Theme Suggestions:
Character Traits
Bible Stories
Books/Authors
Movies/Characters
All About Me (my feelings/emotions, my family, my body, my community)
Birthday
Human Body
Healthy Foods – Fruits & Veggies
Jobs (police, fire, post office, teacher, construction, etc.)
Desperate times call for desperate measures! We don’t have cable TV – movies & Netflix only, but there are points in the day that an educational or entertaining show is extremely helpful.
I love to read. The opportunity to read is not always available, but there is always a book ready & waiting for me. I am begging Big Daddy to get me NOOK, but there are a few priorities way ahead. Here is a list of books on my current reading list:
One of my new picks for curriculum this year is All About Spelling. I have searched high & low for the perfect spelling/phonics curriculum. I think I have found it. As I prepare to start school (in a week – YIKES!!) I have been reading all the teacher guides familiarizing myself with the curriculum. I totally fell in love with All About Spelling!
The Review Box – LOVE THIS IDEA!! Each kid has their own review box & you begin each daily lesson with REVIEW!
Flashcards (also color coded) for each kid!! (purchased separately, but well worth it!!)
Like Winter Promise, your child learns all the sounds of a letter
The teacher’s guide includes “Don’t Forget” teaching reminders
Lesson plans are not planned out for you – no getting “behind” just moving ahead (at your child’s pace). In fact the guide suggests, “schedule as many study secessions needed before moving on.”
All my boys are starting at level one. I’m interested to see how each of them progresses through the program at their own speed. I really think they are going to LOVE spelling this year – the multisensory is so important for my boys. I’m so excited to begin!!
Vision (insurance carrier info & primary optometrist)
The following page is important home information:
utilities (electricity, propane, phone/internet, trash, & home owners info)
auto info (insurance, towing, & mechanic)
financial info (banks & accounts)
The last 2 pages are important dates & family library system for lending/borrowing
Then I made sub-tabs for:
(Projects)
I LOVE these dividers (came with the binder), they not only have a pocket, but also a mini pocket for holding index cards (I use it to store pictures)
The front of the divider holds current projects & pictures of inspiration (you can see I have quite a bit of projects in the works). Behind it is a pocket folder to hold our home project pages:
The next sub-tab is for:
I have a full size copy of our important emergency contacts for the kids “phone center” & behind it is our homeschool group directory & church directory. I also plan to add a frequently called numbers page.
**UPDATE**
This last picture was originally posted with our information on it – opps!! I had intended on posting this blank version – grrr! Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing it out!
Am I crazy or what? A 12 hour trip to Tennessee with 4 boys 10 & under a screaming 2 year old & fighting Irish Twins. I must be CrAzY! But from the looks of these pictures, you sure wouldn’t think so . . .
I have been working really hard at “gettin' it ALL together". I have a crazy amount of information & ideas I gathered from LARGE FAMILY Logistics & I needed somewhere to “see” it all. Kim even suggests a Home Management Binder in her book. It has been at least 2 years since I updated my “control journal” & almost just as long since I abandoned implementing most of it. I needed to put all my notes from LARGE FAMILY Logistic’s into action & form a better plan (& actually use it, not just plan it). I actually have several “binders, notebooks, folders, etc.” that I use to manage all the craziness that stems from a large homeschooling mama.
I’m not completely done with all of them, but I am so excited to shared the gems inside these bad boys!! I started this post with the intentions of sharing it ALL with you, but whew, it was beyond L-O-N-G after the first section. LOL So, here are the basics & I will go into detail in future posts.
My HOME Management binder . . .
I LOVE LOVE LOVE these mead binders. They are super flexible & actually hold quite a bit.
Boyhood & Beyond: Practical Wisdom for Becoming a Man by Bob Schultz - Brand New $8
Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read - K-2nd Grade $50
Language Lessons for the Elementary Child 2 (by Queen Homeschool) - Like New $10
Math Facts for Copywork (by Queen Homeschool) - $5
Easy Grammar Grade 5: Teacher/Student Combo Book - Like New $20 Easy Grammar Grade 4: Teacher/Student Combo Book - Like New $20
Writing With Ease by Susan Wise Bauer: Strong Fundamentals $20 Workbook Level 1 $25 Workbook Level 2 $25 *The spine has been cut on this book to separate the student pages from the teacher pages - each are separate & spiral bound. The Student book is used week 1-12. Weeks 12-36 are unused.
God's Creation Series (elementary science by Christian Liberty Press): Our Father's World Gr. 1 - $5 God's Wonderful Works Gr.2 - $5 Exploring God's Creation Gr. 3 - $5
Tucker has had a loose tooth for months, that just would NOT come out. It even had a little help a few weeks ago, when the cattle gate swung & hit him dead in the mouth. He wiggled & wiggled & it just would not give enough to be pulled. Lucky for Tucker, my uncle is a dentist & when he heard Tucker had a loose tooth he graciously volunteered to pull it. My little Tucker boy was sooo excited! No tears, no hesitation . . .
Just a toothless boy that couldn’t be happier! I sure am gonna miss that little gap b/t his 2 front teeth.
Our last night in TN was spent in the ER . . .
The boys were having a pillow fight & suddenly I heard Trevor screaming a deep hurt cry. You know, the cry that make you jump & run QUICK! As a mom of 4 boys, I don’t typically react to cries with much haste, but I knew something was wrong. As I headed downstairs I met the other kids who let me know “Trevor was hurt”. Usually, my kids give me some kind of forewarning to prepare me for the kind of injury I’m about to face. When I reached the bottom of the stairs I realized I had not received near enough warning to prepare me to find Trevor laying on his back in a puddle of blood. YIKES!!!
. . . 5 Stitches later . . .
This boy is one tough hombre! He definitely gave off a whaling cry initially, but his composer in the ER was amazing. I was so proud of him. A few tears & moaning was all there was as he bravely aloud the doctor to numb the wound in prep for stitches. No screaming crying or freaking out – just one very brave little boy. My Sweet boy! I was so proud. & he was just as brave when his daddy took them out later.
Trev is by far our toughest outlaw!!
And just incase you are wondering, this is what the wall looked like:
I’m not sure if it is “nesting” or if my ocd has kicked in to overload.
Since I live out in the sticks, garage sales are not too successful in these here parts (not to mention it is VERY HOT this time of the year). What’s a mom to do? ONLINE BABY! Craig’s List, Facebook, & Blogger!!!
FOR SALE(*Prices do NOT include shipping, but are negotiable)
$225 American Girl Doll Kirsten - RETIRED!!
*She is in "good" condition - Her hair needs to be rebraided - the American Girl Store can redo her hair. Sadly, Taylor's brothers loved her doll & thought fingernail polish would be a good idea - NOT SO MUCH!! The polish is just on her body & is hidden with most clothes.
