Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Goals for 2013-2014

Wow, is it REALLY that time of year again?  The time of year when we begin to really start putting some learning goals and objectives in place for the upcoming academic year?  Yeah....  Learning never stops, but I do like the easy summer months to reevaluate and look ahead to new and exciting things to try and learn.

First off, I have let Bear pick a theme a couple times now for the year.  One year it was pirates.  That was fun and we really did do a lot of pirate things in Pre-k and K.  This year, we have decided we will be fairy hunters.  Its more a philosophy thing....  It might not make a lot of sense to those outside, but its a concept and idea of how we are treating our educational journey this year.  Expect and accept the unexpected glorious events that can make learning the wonderful journey that it can be.  Be Whimsical and Joyful.  Be Helpful and Kind.  Yep, that's our year ahead. 


Kinda..... 


For now anyway......

 
Some things we are planning to use......  notice I say planning.  Life happens (as does learning) when you are busy making other plans....
  • Writing/Language Arts:  Narration and copy work, journaling, and A Reason For Handwriting (working on level K and moving into level A)
  • Right Start Math Level A/Continuing with Living Math.  We will be kind of feeling the waters.  I am also looking for more information on "Trivium Concepts."  While not leaning one way or another it is interesting, while studying it will be continuing on with our living math as well as a bit more formal mathematics with Right Start. 
  • Enchanted Homeschooling Mom and various units that work with things we are doing (I will list more in depth later on).
  • Story of the World:  Vol. 1 Ancients --reading the book
  • Early America History:  Reading books about specific people during our country's foundation.  Focusing on books about girls and boys that lived during the time periods.  This will of course include Felicity. 
  • Expedition Earth (from Confessions of a Homeschooler)
  • All about Reading OR Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons. 
  • Nature/Science:  Bird walks, nature walks, learning about habitats, geology. Nature Club. Journaling.
  • SQUILT (Super Quiet Uninterrupted Listening Time) Volume 1: Baroque Period
  • Art:  The Complete Book of Art Ideas, journaling, and more independent studies right now.  Art is something we do a lot of, and I am still hesitant to push at this age.  I don't want Bear to mimic, but rather create.  We will just be really continuing to explore concepts.
  • Foreign Language/Cultural Studies:  German Language School (this is still a "will the budget allow it" kind of thing so it may change).
  • Swimming and Gym Class.
  • We are still working on religion/Bible studies, but as it was last year, it will be incorporated into much of our studies.  We will be working on memorization of the commandments, days of creations and selected Bible verses as well. 

It seems like we are planning so much, yet it really isn't.  I am excited to get started.  Our start date is still open for discussion.....  Hopefully the second week of September we will be set and ready to open new books.  One big thing I promised Bear that she could do when she turned 6 was to let her get her own library card, with some rules attached of course.   

Now..... how about you?

 
Not Back to School Blog Hop

6 comments:

  1. We love the Squilt lessons. I so agree with you about these lessons being plans. After 15 years of homeschooling, we have put our plans away for more pressing or exciting things ...many, many times.
    Blessings, Dawn

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    1. I am excited to get into Squilt as well. Homelearning allows for life lessons when they happen, and often times they provide valuable learning opportunities. Thank you for visiting.

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  2. I like your Fairy Hunter idea...it gives a sense of excitement to your learning discoveries!

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    1. Thank you, but it wasn't my "theme" it was Bear's. She gets all the credit! :-)

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  3. I'm a huge fan of All About Reading. My only wish is that it was available when my older kids were learning to read. Thanks for sharing on the NOT Back-to-School Blog Hop.

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    1. I have both the books. We had started 100 Lessons, but I think it was too soon. I plan to start with AAR, but may switch to 100 Lessons if I think it would work better. Thank you!

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