Here’s a breakdown of week 2:
Monday
We talked about the day, what month it was, the weather, and what season was coming up.
She wrote down her spelling words and then traced some fun autumn words. She liked tracing better. It was easier.
I printed out a blank map of the world with the continents labeled and had her read them out loud. She recognized a couple and knew which one she lived on 🙂 Then she colored it according to weather patterns (cold in Antarctica is blue) and we had a brief lesson about the fact that there are 2 hemispheres and the dividing line is pretty much always warm but as we move around the sun we get warmer and colder and that’s how we have seasons. Pretty neat.
I’m glad I have some math workbooks already because I’m just not that great at coming up with ‘fun’ things to do, but I tore some pages out and she counted items and wrote the number.
Reading time (this is her favorite).. usually for half an hour– and I tell her she can read anywhere she wants. Usually she falls wherever she finds a book.
Review time.. We talked about the seasons and maps and I wrote out some questions. She was able to answer them with help, but her retention was really good. I discovered her big issue with spelling words and such is that even though she knows about letters, she doesn’t always understand the sounds they make. Add that to the lesson plan for tomorrow! However, she DID know how to spell all the words I asked (without looking) –but she used capital letters, so we’ll have to work on that…overall I was really impressed.
Tuesday
Since we were having trouble writing words (to answer a question) I decided we should go over vowels and consonants. Turns out she didn’t really know the difference. She does now! We talked about and did worksheets on the long and short vowel sounds and that helped her out a lot. This took a long time, but in my opinion was completely worth it. (I used the AEIU worksheets and the knowing the vowels from consonants (it says it’s candy) that they color to know the difference.)
Wednesday
Since yesterday was so language heavy today we did coloring sheets (color by number and letter)–she loves anything arty!
Then we worked on some more math–these were worksheets torn out of books ($1 at walmart, target, etc) but they were things like count the number of butterflies on the left and circle the same amount on the right, or write the number of ladybugs on the line.
Then I used her write on/wipe off board (again, cheap at megamart) that had writing uppercase and lower case letters on it. She has REALLY improved, plus she gets to use the dry erase markers, which she loves!
Thursday
Trace the numbers 11-15, count and write the number of items (from a bank of numbers), match the number of objects to the correct numeral, fill in on the number line (so proud!)
I picked up a ‘farm info’ booklet from the library’s free section. There was an ‘it’s in there’ that told about farm animals and farm products and what they can be made into. I had her read that and then we talked about all the different things like crayons could be made from soybeans, etc. Even I learned a thing or two! Then I had her do a farm animal and baby matching worksheet and worksheet about the products.
Friday
we took off (daddy was coming home early and I was SO tired after doing a lot on Thursday!) I think Friday may end up being a reading day or day off just in practice.
Some things I need to work in are the ‘cooperation’ ideas and emotions and such. I think after just 2 weeks I know I wouldn’t last long as a homeschooler–but my daughter really needs to get the idea that in school or in life (hey work is coming sooner than we think)–you really do have to follow directions, follow laws, follow rules. I am not out to break her spirit by any means–but she has a BAD attitude whenever anyone tells her what to do.. and she KEEPS THE ATTITUDE ALL DAY LONG. That has got to stop. No matter how patient we are and how much we explain (or yell, or punish, or anything else)–she still has this ‘I’m so mad at the world’ attitude. That’s no way to live. Especially when we all know that that’s just how life IS. I’d rather she learn to cope with it now at home, safely, than out in the world where the other kids will make fun of her (or worse, NOT want to be her friend AT ALL)….so yeah.. we need more cooperation and emotions types of lessons 🙂
