So how have things been going?
Jack seems happy, and that should be the most important thing, right?
Unfortunately I am still very focused on out comes.
He is doing really well there too but I am feeling the pressure, but at least for once I'm looking forward to the school holidays :)
Jack can almost read 50 words, he has finished reviewing 25% of Kindergarten Math (I use this site). Ballet and Hip Hop are going great guns and Karate is on track for grading. We have been a little slack with science and art but I guess that is something to work on for next term.
That will have to do for now as morning tea is almost over :)
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Getting there
Things feel a bit more positive this last week.
I was spending a bit of time thinking
"Why am I doing this?"
and
"How can I do this?"
My attitude has changed slightly now and I'm feeling like I was still focusing too much on instant outcomes.
I know that was stupid but I was feeling the pressure to have him do soooooo much better than he could have possibly done at school. That was really silly of me because that stopped the whole thing from being enjoyable for us both, so I've let that go (sort of, for those who know me )
The other thing I did that has helped was we took a trip out to Scholastic's book factory. They were have a sale and I felt we just didn't have enough books at Jack's level to help him learn to read. He loved it and this has helped learning to read be fun again :)
So in short I'm hoping the roller coaster has stopped, or at least slowed.
I was spending a bit of time thinking
"Why am I doing this?"
and
"How can I do this?"
My attitude has changed slightly now and I'm feeling like I was still focusing too much on instant outcomes.
I know that was stupid but I was feeling the pressure to have him do soooooo much better than he could have possibly done at school. That was really silly of me because that stopped the whole thing from being enjoyable for us both, so I've let that go (sort of, for those who know me )
The other thing I did that has helped was we took a trip out to Scholastic's book factory. They were have a sale and I felt we just didn't have enough books at Jack's level to help him learn to read. He loved it and this has helped learning to read be fun again :)
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Wow, easier and harder
So home school is both easier and harder than I thought.
Jack is so bright, he can now identify at 17 sight words, write letters Aa-Ii and is starting to identify what letter a word starts with,
His math is fantastic. He can count up to 100 and understands the concept for counting higher. He can write most numbers 0-9 (3 is a bit tricky for him). He can sort colours and shapes, order groups from smallest to largest, he understands 1/4 and 1/2 and can show you how to divide a group of objects into those. He understands the concept behind timestables so we are starting to learn them off by heart.
Dancing is going well he loves coming home and showing us what he has learnt.
In Karate he is starting to concentrate more (YAY)
I am thrilled but I am also tired. I am trying to find some me time but its hard. Things here are busy outside of the home schooling but I know its not forever and I keep reminding myself that I am giving Jack the best start possible.
We are having a day off today as he has a little temperature, so he is resting on the couch watching a dvd.
Jack is so bright, he can now identify at 17 sight words, write letters Aa-Ii and is starting to identify what letter a word starts with,
His math is fantastic. He can count up to 100 and understands the concept for counting higher. He can write most numbers 0-9 (3 is a bit tricky for him). He can sort colours and shapes, order groups from smallest to largest, he understands 1/4 and 1/2 and can show you how to divide a group of objects into those. He understands the concept behind timestables so we are starting to learn them off by heart.
Dancing is going well he loves coming home and showing us what he has learnt.
In Karate he is starting to concentrate more (YAY)
I am thrilled but I am also tired. I am trying to find some me time but its hard. Things here are busy outside of the home schooling but I know its not forever and I keep reminding myself that I am giving Jack the best start possible.
We are having a day off today as he has a little temperature, so he is resting on the couch watching a dvd.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Not as slack as you might think
Well I started off with good intentions with this blog.
I am quickly learning that all my free time (well most of it) is now gone.
We have been doing really well with home school.
Jack will start word list 2 this week and ballet.
Here goes another big week for us.
I don't think bloging everyday is realistic so lets try for a couple of times a week.
OK wish me luck!
I am quickly learning that all my free time (well most of it) is now gone.
We have been doing really well with home school.
Jack will start word list 2 this week and ballet.
Here goes another big week for us.
I don't think bloging everyday is realistic so lets try for a couple of times a week.
OK wish me luck!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Day 3
Schedule
9am PDHPE Indoor circuit
9:15 English Sight words
9:30 Math work sheets x2
10am Practise writing the letter c and numbers 0-9
10:30 Recess
11am PDHPE creche
12:30 Knitting
6:30 Karate
8pm Reading
Results
It was raining this morning so we did an indoor circuit. Jack loved it but there were some problems (well one actually) David wanted to join and while Jack was doing shuttle runs in the passageway they banged heads. However Jack still enjoyed it.
Jack managed to identify all 10 sight words on the second attempt. He was really pleased and I am amazed but then we have always read to him before bed.
We tried some simple addition and subtraction. He breezed through it, he actually got quite impatient with me when I wanted him to count out loud as he worked them out. What can I say the love of Math is in his genes.
Letter and number writing was a bit of a nightmare. I tried to leave him to do it on his own while I blogged but he kept wanting to show me his work and get praise. I did my best to accommodate but it wasn't enough and he slacked off a bit, still managed a fairly good effort.
Knitting was tough. We didn't get started until 3pm and all the kids were home and there was music blaring through the house and Jack couldn't concentrate. After watching him try with the finger knitting I think French Knitting will be easier.
As for Karate I only saw the last 10 minutes but he seemed to struggle to stay focused there too.
note for me - include music - singing at night. I have always sung to Jack now I need to get him to sing with me.
9am PDHPE Indoor circuit
9:15 English Sight words
9:30 Math work sheets x2
10am Practise writing the letter c and numbers 0-9
10:30 Recess
11am PDHPE creche
12:30 Knitting
6:30 Karate
8pm Reading
Results
It was raining this morning so we did an indoor circuit. Jack loved it but there were some problems (well one actually) David wanted to join and while Jack was doing shuttle runs in the passageway they banged heads. However Jack still enjoyed it.
Jack managed to identify all 10 sight words on the second attempt. He was really pleased and I am amazed but then we have always read to him before bed.
We tried some simple addition and subtraction. He breezed through it, he actually got quite impatient with me when I wanted him to count out loud as he worked them out. What can I say the love of Math is in his genes.
Letter and number writing was a bit of a nightmare. I tried to leave him to do it on his own while I blogged but he kept wanting to show me his work and get praise. I did my best to accommodate but it wasn't enough and he slacked off a bit, still managed a fairly good effort.
Knitting was tough. We didn't get started until 3pm and all the kids were home and there was music blaring through the house and Jack couldn't concentrate. After watching him try with the finger knitting I think French Knitting will be easier.
As for Karate I only saw the last 10 minutes but he seemed to struggle to stay focused there too.
note for me - include music - singing at night. I have always sung to Jack now I need to get him to sing with me.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Day 2
Scedule
9am-PDHPE-walk around the block
9:15-English-Sight words
9:30-Math-count to 100
9:40-English&Math-practise writing the letter Bb and numbers 0-9
11am-PDHPE-Creche
12:30-Arts- French Knitting
2:45-Arts-Karate
4pm-Arts-Hip Hop
5pm-HSIE-water and feed the orange tree
7pm-English-Read Book with Daddy
Results for Day 2
Jack took his scooter for our walk. I'm sure it slowed him down. Half the walk was up hill so I took the scooter off him because he was struggling.
On Monday Jack was able to identify 8 out of 10 sight words, today he got 9 out of 10.
Yesterday Jack needed a little help counting to 100 today he did it on his own.
Jack's penmenship is already improving.
We skipped knitting, it has been suggested to me to start with finger knitting. We will try that tomorrow.
Jack totally loved his first Hip Hop class, he couldn't wait to tell me all about it and show me his new dance moves.
We fed and watered our orange tree, this gave Jack the chance to do some measuring with the watering can. While we were looking at our orange tree we noticed that something was killing the leaves. We have decided that we need to look up on the internet what it is and how to stop it.
A note for me - Tuesday afternoons are a very busy time in our home, need to keep that in mind when planning both Tuesday and Wednesday as I may be quite tired on Wednesday mornings and Wednesday afternnons are even busier lol
9am-PDHPE-walk around the block
9:15-English-Sight words
9:30-Math-count to 100
9:40-English&Math-practise writing the letter Bb and numbers 0-9
11am-PDHPE-Creche
12:30-Arts- French Knitting
2:45-Arts-Karate
4pm-Arts-Hip Hop
5pm-HSIE-water and feed the orange tree
7pm-English-Read Book with Daddy
Results for Day 2
Jack took his scooter for our walk. I'm sure it slowed him down. Half the walk was up hill so I took the scooter off him because he was struggling.
On Monday Jack was able to identify 8 out of 10 sight words, today he got 9 out of 10.
Yesterday Jack needed a little help counting to 100 today he did it on his own.
Jack's penmenship is already improving.
We skipped knitting, it has been suggested to me to start with finger knitting. We will try that tomorrow.
Jack totally loved his first Hip Hop class, he couldn't wait to tell me all about it and show me his new dance moves.
We fed and watered our orange tree, this gave Jack the chance to do some measuring with the watering can. While we were looking at our orange tree we noticed that something was killing the leaves. We have decided that we need to look up on the internet what it is and how to stop it.
A note for me - Tuesday afternoons are a very busy time in our home, need to keep that in mind when planning both Tuesday and Wednesday as I may be quite tired on Wednesday mornings and Wednesday afternnons are even busier lol
Monday, January 30, 2012
Day 1
I loved day 1, it was fun and we learnt lots!
My planned schedule looked like this
9am - PDHPE - Walk around the block
9:15 - English - Sight word list 1
Read Level 1 book
Practise writing the letter Aa
10am - Recess - outside
10:30 - Mathematics - count to 100
Practise writing 0-9
complete 2 worksheets on shapes
11am - Science - 1 experiment - Freezing cold
12 noon - Lunch
12:30 - PDHPE - Creche
2pm - HSIE - Learn about the Aboriginal culture
4pm - Creative and Visual Arts - Karate
Jack really enjoyed school, he was happy and excited about each new lesson.
The timetable was right time wise for PDHPE, English and Math. Science only took us a couple of minutes to set up but took until 7pm to finish.
What didn't work?
Creche closes at 1pm and doesn't reopen until 4pm - This means creche needs to be scheduled earlier in the day.
I don't know Karate so I found it easier to get his big brother to do it with him in the evenings.
HSIE was supposed to be about Aboriginal Culture but that is going to require a little more planning on my part so at least for this term HSIE will be about growing and changing, we will do this by caring for our orange tree - Jack loves oranges.
I have decided to buy Jack a French Knitting Loom for Creative and Visual Arts (or maybe we will make one). I think this will be fun but will all so help his fine motor skills.
In the end I was really happy with how the day went and I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
Note to self - I should really go over the foundation statements for Kindergarten and see where Jack is at with that.
My planned schedule looked like this
9am - PDHPE - Walk around the block
9:15 - English - Sight word list 1
Read Level 1 book
Practise writing the letter Aa
10am - Recess - outside
10:30 - Mathematics - count to 100
Practise writing 0-9
complete 2 worksheets on shapes
11am - Science - 1 experiment - Freezing cold
12 noon - Lunch
12:30 - PDHPE - Creche
2pm - HSIE - Learn about the Aboriginal culture
4pm - Creative and Visual Arts - Karate
Here is my report for Day 1
Jack really enjoyed school, he was happy and excited about each new lesson.
The timetable was right time wise for PDHPE, English and Math. Science only took us a couple of minutes to set up but took until 7pm to finish.
What didn't work?
Creche closes at 1pm and doesn't reopen until 4pm - This means creche needs to be scheduled earlier in the day.
I don't know Karate so I found it easier to get his big brother to do it with him in the evenings.
HSIE was supposed to be about Aboriginal Culture but that is going to require a little more planning on my part so at least for this term HSIE will be about growing and changing, we will do this by caring for our orange tree - Jack loves oranges.
I have decided to buy Jack a French Knitting Loom for Creative and Visual Arts (or maybe we will make one). I think this will be fun but will all so help his fine motor skills.
In the end I was really happy with how the day went and I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
Note to self - I should really go over the foundation statements for Kindergarten and see where Jack is at with that.
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