This was a wonderful first week of homeschool for 2010. Daily, we sang the ABC song while using his blue pocket chart for reference and we worked on letter recognition. At his best, he correctly identified 22 letters. And now, with the letters he does know, he can identify whether they are uppercase or lowercase. Mixed in with our letter work, Aidyn learned the sounds of several letters and can also name things that begin with certain letters. Next week, as an addendum to our curriculum, we will work further on phonics and word recognition using the pocket chart.
With counting, he has improved his skills by being able to count higher than when we began. We also played counting games with real-life scenarios. Yesterday at the table, I asked Aidyn how many of us were eating. He counted and answered, "Four." When asked how many there would be if Daddy left the room, Aidyn answered, "Three." When I proposed that Daddy would return with a new person and asked how many of us would be here altogether, he answered "Five." Although that seems rather simple, it is an improvement for Aidyn. We played all sorts of games such as that, and we plan to continue throughout the year.
In our Adventures in Nature unit, Getting to Know Snow, Aidyn and I read snow-related books. The family even visited Pinecrest and played in the snow. It was Aidyn's first time actually touching and rolling around in the snow, and it was an experience I'm sure he won't forget soon.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
20 Free (or relatively cheap!) Activities to Do with Toddlers/Preschoolers
1. Go stargazing. Just look up in awe. Bonus: bring binoculars.
2. Go for a walk and talk about anything.
3. Count fingers and toes.
4. Bake cookies together. Bonus: make them alphabet-shaped and allow them to "accidently" identify letters.
5. Dance to music and allow the speed and rhythm of the music to dictate your movements.
6. Make scribble monsters. Scribble with a crayon or marker on a piece of paper. Add arms and legs. Bonus: add googly eyes.
7. Play with Play-Doh or molding clay.
8. Build towers, castles, and other such structures with blocks.
9. Share a story in their bed.
10. Read poetry aloud whether or not they’re paying attention.
11. Add water to dirt outside and play in the mud. Bonus: make mud pies.
12. Learn with YouTube. Watch anything (reasonably) requested such as mini-cartoons, videos of tornadoes, the ocean, space, etc. See where it takes you.
13. Pull up Microsoft Word and allow them to peck on the keyboard.
14. Before reading a story, hold the book upside down and wait for them to correct you. Read the wrong way and allow them to teach you how to read a book.
15. Fingerpaint. Dry. Hang in random place (not on the fridge!).
16. Do leaf-rubbings. Put a leaf underneath a sheet of paper and rub a crayon or chalk over it to reveal the outlines of the leaf.
17. Tour a hardware store and talk about items you come across and their uses.
18. Give them a disposable camera and allow them to take pictures of whatever strikes their fancy.
19. Play with change: pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. Talk about them, sort them, stack them. Wash hands afterward.
20. Host a food coloring experiment. Add drops of color to water in a see-through container and stir to make an impressive cyclone. Combine colors and see what happens!
2. Go for a walk and talk about anything.
3. Count fingers and toes.
4. Bake cookies together. Bonus: make them alphabet-shaped and allow them to "accidently" identify letters.
5. Dance to music and allow the speed and rhythm of the music to dictate your movements.
6. Make scribble monsters. Scribble with a crayon or marker on a piece of paper. Add arms and legs. Bonus: add googly eyes.
7. Play with Play-Doh or molding clay.
8. Build towers, castles, and other such structures with blocks.
9. Share a story in their bed.
10. Read poetry aloud whether or not they’re paying attention.
11. Add water to dirt outside and play in the mud. Bonus: make mud pies.
12. Learn with YouTube. Watch anything (reasonably) requested such as mini-cartoons, videos of tornadoes, the ocean, space, etc. See where it takes you.
13. Pull up Microsoft Word and allow them to peck on the keyboard.
14. Before reading a story, hold the book upside down and wait for them to correct you. Read the wrong way and allow them to teach you how to read a book.
15. Fingerpaint. Dry. Hang in random place (not on the fridge!).
16. Do leaf-rubbings. Put a leaf underneath a sheet of paper and rub a crayon or chalk over it to reveal the outlines of the leaf.
17. Tour a hardware store and talk about items you come across and their uses.
18. Give them a disposable camera and allow them to take pictures of whatever strikes their fancy.
19. Play with change: pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. Talk about them, sort them, stack them. Wash hands afterward.
20. Host a food coloring experiment. Add drops of color to water in a see-through container and stir to make an impressive cyclone. Combine colors and see what happens!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
ABC's, Calendar, and Beethoven
This morning, following our 'brain shake,' Aidyn and I worked on his letters. We recited the alphabet and he did the usual naming of the letters. Today he correctly identified 22 letters! Afterward, I pulled down the X and showed him how one would draw an X. I asked him to practice on a blank sheet of paper. Once he had it down, I showed him our new calendar explaining the name of our current month, the year, and all the boxes representing the days. I also talked about how we are on day 7 of the month and asked him to count the days gone by. Then I allowed him to draw big X's on those days. I imagine his X's will be near-perfect by December. ; )
After hanging the calendar back up, he colored a picture of two boys having a snowball fight near a snowman and two children on a sled. When finished, we hole-punched the sheet and placed it in his binder. He showed initiative to learn how to hole-punch by himself, so I brought him blank paper and left him alone with the project. After some trial and error, he learned how to do it sufficiently enough. Then I pulled out an animal tracks worksheet. On it were pictures of a raccoon, a chipmunk, a deer, a rabbit, and a wolf alongside jumbled animal tracks. We talked about who would belong to what track based on size, shape, and whether or not the animal had claws. What fun! We matched all the animals to their tracks, and then Aidyn hole-punched it and added it to his binder.
When table time was over, we listened and danced to Beethoven. We interpreted some of the music and moved accordingly. "This sounds like people tiptoeing in the snow," I suggested, and we tiptoed around the living room. When the music got boisterous, Aidyn said, "This is chasing music. Run!" After running around, twirling, and dancing, Aidyn said it was time to put on 'lunch music.' So I put on slower tunes and made grilled cheese sandwiches for the family. Excellent homeschool morning if I don't say so myself!
After hanging the calendar back up, he colored a picture of two boys having a snowball fight near a snowman and two children on a sled. When finished, we hole-punched the sheet and placed it in his binder. He showed initiative to learn how to hole-punch by himself, so I brought him blank paper and left him alone with the project. After some trial and error, he learned how to do it sufficiently enough. Then I pulled out an animal tracks worksheet. On it were pictures of a raccoon, a chipmunk, a deer, a rabbit, and a wolf alongside jumbled animal tracks. We talked about who would belong to what track based on size, shape, and whether or not the animal had claws. What fun! We matched all the animals to their tracks, and then Aidyn hole-punched it and added it to his binder.
When table time was over, we listened and danced to Beethoven. We interpreted some of the music and moved accordingly. "This sounds like people tiptoeing in the snow," I suggested, and we tiptoed around the living room. When the music got boisterous, Aidyn said, "This is chasing music. Run!" After running around, twirling, and dancing, Aidyn said it was time to put on 'lunch music.' So I put on slower tunes and made grilled cheese sandwiches for the family. Excellent homeschool morning if I don't say so myself!
Field Trip to the Snow/ Discovery Destination
Yesterday Aidyn, his grandma, and I ventured to the snow in Pinecrest. All bundled up in layers and Aidyn in his snowsuit, we traveled for approximately two hours east until evidence of snow lay on the side of the highway. After finding a secluded campground in the Stanislaus Forest, we exited the car and proceeded to play in the snow. We touched it, clomped in it, and held it in our hands. Aidyn and I made a tiny snowperson before our fingers froze off. We had a ball throwing snowballs at Grandma (playfully). The sound of a snowball thwumping against someone is the funniest sound ever! Aidyn ran and danced in the snow, rolled in it, and even made snow angels. Our fun in the snow had us all dreaming of renting a cabin there for an entire weekend.
After we warmed our bodies up with the hot chocolate I brought, we decided it was time to grab something to eat. We drove through the quaint town of Mi-Wuk Village and eyed a little place called Andy's Mountain Grill and Deli. Upon walking to the door, we were asked by a regular if we had ever eaten there before. "Best place on the mountain," he assured us. Immediately we noticed that they served 'Chaka Burgers' and promptly ordered some. Best burger ever.
Once we were ready to go home, Grandma suggested we go through Twain Harte, a town she had heard was beautiful and we had seen signs for. We took the turn-off and drove into Twain Harte, and it was, indeed, a beautiful, green, little town, like a hidden place of magic. Scenes like that continuously inspires us to live in Gold Country!
All in all, I am fortunate that Aidyn explored snow in such a hands-on way.
Earlier this week, we had took in some snow-related books that may have inspired Aidyn to do as much as he did in the snow. First we read a classic by Jack Ezra Keats entitled The Snowy Day. We then read White Snow, Blue Feather by Julie Downing, a sweet story about a young boy's exploration in the snow. Next Aidyn "read" The Snowman to me. Famously known as the story without words, The Snowman is a story of pictures, and Aidyn told me what was going on in each little picture, and it sounded like a sweet story in his personal interpretation. We also wove in our ABC's with Zooflakes ABC which is an alphabet book with pictures of zoo animals as snowflakes. We had fun identifying each animal, and Aidyn announced that the iguana was his favorite!
We have also been counting things as we come across them to practice number skills. Aidyn can successfully count items up to twelve and, if assisted, can go even further. So far it has been a fulfilling week!
Monday, January 4, 2010
ABC's and 123's--Day 1
Today went remarkably well. In the morning after our "brain shake" (apple juice, frozen blueberries, banana, and ground flax seeds mixed in a blender), Aidyn and I worked on his letters. He correctly identified 21, and we reviewed the ones he missed with silly songs. Afterward he colored an alphabet worksheet that he said looked like "alphabet noodles." When he finished, he helped me hole-punch and place his work in his binder. Then it was time for counting games. I brought out our set of eight popsicle molds and asked him to count them. Then I proceeded to pretend to take away one, and ask him to count again. Using math language, Aidyn and I practiced counting, adding, and subtracting. Then we counted blocks. We would first count the entire lot of blocks, then classify them. I would ask him, "Okay, how many red cylinders are there? How many green cubes? How many colored blocks? How many triangles?" So not only did we work on counting, but we used mathematical language and geometric figures to bring it to life.
Later in the day, we took a trip to the library and stocked up on snow-related books. We're all set to go to the snow on Wednesday. We plan on taking thermoses of hot chocolate and edible snowperson pieces (a carrot for the nose, for example), so that once he melts, woodland animals can munch on the remains. We're looking forward to the little getaway.
Later in the day, we took a trip to the library and stocked up on snow-related books. We're all set to go to the snow on Wednesday. We plan on taking thermoses of hot chocolate and edible snowperson pieces (a carrot for the nose, for example), so that once he melts, woodland animals can munch on the remains. We're looking forward to the little getaway.
ABC's and 123's
Week of January 4th:
Theme: ABC's and 123's
Adventures in Nature Theme: Getting to Know Snow
Music: Beethoven
This week we will be reviewing the alphabet and number system through instruction, games, and activities. Our Adventure in Nature is 'Getting to Know Snow,' so we will be taking a trip to the snow to explore it, touch it, build a snowperson, and watch for 'snowprints' of different animals. Our books will include stories about the snow along with some ABC's and counting books. Our sixth composer in line, Beethoven, will continue our sampling of famous composers this week.
Theme: ABC's and 123's
Adventures in Nature Theme: Getting to Know Snow
Music: Beethoven
This week we will be reviewing the alphabet and number system through instruction, games, and activities. Our Adventure in Nature is 'Getting to Know Snow,' so we will be taking a trip to the snow to explore it, touch it, build a snowperson, and watch for 'snowprints' of different animals. Our books will include stories about the snow along with some ABC's and counting books. Our sixth composer in line, Beethoven, will continue our sampling of famous composers this week.
Assessments
This weekend was spent mostly in doing fun assessments with Aidyn and continuing his letter work. I found some helpful assessment worksheets for preschoolers and used them to guide our activities which included asking him to count by rote, count objects, identify letters, sounds of letters, colors, and shapes. He did well in most areas, and I also have a better idea about where he is lacking. I compiled these updated abilities and challenges along with a worksheet on goals for the 2010 year and placed them in a binder. I have also been compiling my resources for our plans this year.
Aidyn has consistently been working on letter identification. Today he correctly identified 22 letters! Before we even "did our letters," Aidyn played teacher and plucked letter cards out from the pocket chart. He told me and his grandma their names and many times told us their sounds. For some special letters, he would even say what words began with such letters. For instance, he picked up letter Z and said, "Here's Z, Grandma. It says, 'Zzzzz,' like 'Zzzurg' and zzzoo." His improvement is apparent and, more importantly, he is showing an eagerness and curiousity to learn that I love seeing.
Aidyn has consistently been working on letter identification. Today he correctly identified 22 letters! Before we even "did our letters," Aidyn played teacher and plucked letter cards out from the pocket chart. He told me and his grandma their names and many times told us their sounds. For some special letters, he would even say what words began with such letters. For instance, he picked up letter Z and said, "Here's Z, Grandma. It says, 'Zzzzz,' like 'Zzzurg' and zzzoo." His improvement is apparent and, more importantly, he is showing an eagerness and curiousity to learn that I love seeing.
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