Kipp is working on first grade state requirements this year. Because he is enrolled in the charter for the first time, I am attempting to keep his studies as light and easy as possible until I get a better understanding of his learning style, likes and dislikes. We've begun with the following:
(1) Math: Kipp is starting with Math Steps: Level 1. However, it appears that this isn't going to be enough for him. I will be looking for some additional resources to give him more of a challenge.
(2) Language Arts: Kipp is reading the Bob Book series. However, he is working through these pretty rapidly now that I'm making consistent time to listen to him read. Once we finish this series, we will jump to some simple chapter books and then I would like to move to some solid literature and unit studies.
In the meantime, we will do unit studies where I read the stories to Kipp. To help include him in Landry's Ancient China unit, we will pick stories with an Asian theme such as The Story about Ping and A Pair of Red Clogs. Barefoot Books also has some Chinese stories that I will look into later.
Kipp has started Spelling Connections: Level 1 and Explode the Code 1. Because his ability to learn exceeds his ability to write, we will skip grammar worksheets. Instead, we will try activities such as cutting out magazine pictures and labeling them according to the correct part of speech.
Kipp is very creative and can tell stories for as long as anyone will listen. Again, however, his ability to write at five hinders his ability to get his thoughts on paper. For this reason, I will encourage him to dictate his stories to me while I write them down. I can use this as a vehicle to encourage complete sentences, sentence punctuation, and concepts like character, plot and the beginning, middle and end of a story.
(3) Social Studies: Kipp will use a social studies workbook to complete the state requirements for this subject. I have some matching games from Lakeshore Learning that address holidays and heroes and jobs in the community. Kipp will also participate in the same local history field trips as Landry. Again, however, I believe that children need a sense of world history. To that end, we are playing the Story of the World CD's whenever possible. I have an activity book designed to complement the CD's. The activity book includes a list of books which expand on the subject of each story. However, I believe just listening to the stories is wonderful exposure at his age.
(4) Science: Kipp will participate equally with Landry in the science experiments listed in Landry's curriculum. In addition, I ordered Cycles from Prufrock Press. According to Prufrock's website, Cycles will give Kipp "the opportunity to explore cycles in relation to patterns." Having skimmed through it, I think Kipp will love this book.
(5) Music: Kipp takes piano lessons and likes to play with Music Ace Deluxe.
Kipp will participate in the same PE, art and religious activities as Landry. Please see the post entitled, "Curriculum 2008-2009, Part 1" for details on those activities.
Okay, two sons down. One to go!
(1) Math: Kipp is starting with Math Steps: Level 1. However, it appears that this isn't going to be enough for him. I will be looking for some additional resources to give him more of a challenge.
(2) Language Arts: Kipp is reading the Bob Book series. However, he is working through these pretty rapidly now that I'm making consistent time to listen to him read. Once we finish this series, we will jump to some simple chapter books and then I would like to move to some solid literature and unit studies.
In the meantime, we will do unit studies where I read the stories to Kipp. To help include him in Landry's Ancient China unit, we will pick stories with an Asian theme such as The Story about Ping and A Pair of Red Clogs. Barefoot Books also has some Chinese stories that I will look into later.
Kipp has started Spelling Connections: Level 1 and Explode the Code 1. Because his ability to learn exceeds his ability to write, we will skip grammar worksheets. Instead, we will try activities such as cutting out magazine pictures and labeling them according to the correct part of speech.
Kipp is very creative and can tell stories for as long as anyone will listen. Again, however, his ability to write at five hinders his ability to get his thoughts on paper. For this reason, I will encourage him to dictate his stories to me while I write them down. I can use this as a vehicle to encourage complete sentences, sentence punctuation, and concepts like character, plot and the beginning, middle and end of a story.
(3) Social Studies: Kipp will use a social studies workbook to complete the state requirements for this subject. I have some matching games from Lakeshore Learning that address holidays and heroes and jobs in the community. Kipp will also participate in the same local history field trips as Landry. Again, however, I believe that children need a sense of world history. To that end, we are playing the Story of the World CD's whenever possible. I have an activity book designed to complement the CD's. The activity book includes a list of books which expand on the subject of each story. However, I believe just listening to the stories is wonderful exposure at his age.
(4) Science: Kipp will participate equally with Landry in the science experiments listed in Landry's curriculum. In addition, I ordered Cycles from Prufrock Press. According to Prufrock's website, Cycles will give Kipp "the opportunity to explore cycles in relation to patterns." Having skimmed through it, I think Kipp will love this book.
(5) Music: Kipp takes piano lessons and likes to play with Music Ace Deluxe.
Kipp will participate in the same PE, art and religious activities as Landry. Please see the post entitled, "Curriculum 2008-2009, Part 1" for details on those activities.
Okay, two sons down. One to go!
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