This curriculum is about our grade level for sure but I am using it as an introduction to geography and other cultures. Basically we just find the country on the map, watch a few YouTube videos, read a few books from the country and make a recipe from there and try and do a simple paper craft.
We do one country every few weeks. No rush for us to get through it.
I’m conflicted about this book. I loved the original books. This one was a little weird. I understand it’s a script so it was very different but I also felt it was a little light. But that is because I was expecting even more story like the books. Overall I loved re-entering the world of Harry Potter but I wish there had been more! Hahahahaha.
This is another curriculum I use with both kids
This curriculum has
A seasonal song that we don’t do- the kids just weren’t feeling it
An emotional intelligence section that I really like. You never think about needing to teach kids to identify their feelings and the feelings of others.
Weekly inquiry – this is a short section on something in nature that they say you can feel free to explore further at the library. I try and find a few simple picture books each week on this at the library that we can read through
Literature, Literacy & Poetry- there is a weekly book to read with a question or two to ask in response to the book, an excerpt out of a seasonal poetry book ( i did the poetry at first but the kids weren’t into it so I stopped) and a letter to study from a book called doodling dragons but we already have a pre-reading curriculum we use so I didn’t get that book.
Art- some of the projects from the art book are really cool but they are a little advanced for my kids. I have the art book but don’t really use it. I do like a lot of the projects though so I think in a year or two we will start working our way through it as an extra fun thing to add into our weeks.
There is a math curriculum they suggest but we use a different one I’ll tell you about in another post
Science – they use the ‘look I’m a scientist’ and ‘look I’m a ln engineer’ books which I have but I only sort of like them. Some of the experiments are a bit older for my kids and some just seem like a waste of time.
Connections project – each week there is a little something to do to connect to the week’s theme and reading.
They also suggest some videos you might like and some supplemental reading on the main subject
One word: E. Coli
Well I guess that’s two words. The neighbor diagonal to our backyard has a pipe that likes to overflow. Apparently. It overflowed when we had a big storm surge and our backyard was flooded. The city took some tests and there was high E coli levels.
Once the sun hits the top layer of soil after a couple hours, the E coli will be killed off by the UV rays, but the underlayer can be contaminated for months! So that takes away half of our backyard for planting food.
Our side yard had no flooding and there’s nowhere near the contamination zone so our raised bed that we do tomatoes in should be fine. Also the little area where we do snap peas should be fine.
My neighbor has a row of grapes that come every year and she lets us eat as much as you want. So for the month of September the kids gorge themselves on grapes and those are still fine
Thankfully our raspberries are fine. They’re on the complete other side of the yard from the contamination
We have this area that’s already 3/4 of the way fenced off from the chickens but it’s solidly in the contaminated area. So what I think I’m going to do is get a couple above bed, just kind of garden planters. The cheapest ones I can find and some cheap trellises to do cucumbers and a few other vining plants, not 100% sure what yet.
Thankfully garlic doesn’t have super long roots so these ones planted in the above bed gardens should be okay.
My husband actually cleaned this area out about 2 years ago. Took all the dirt out and we never refilled it between being pregnant and having newborns and babies. But this year I think I will put more cardboard down and fill it for a raised bed garden again and that should be good to plant in.
We won’t be planting any root vegetables this year just to be extra extra safe.
We are also inquiring about getting a permit to tie into the city storm drain to stop the flooding in our yard but is prolific and happens every winter so hopefully that’s a process that will be happening this summer as well.
I will keep you updated.
Monday – 1/2 hour of bowling
Tuesday – arm workout
Wednesday – ran 2 miles (not an improvement on time but not much slower, I was tired.)
Thursday -3.25 double stroller miles
Friday – at least 7100 steps
Saturday – 1 mile run outside ALONE!! So nice lol did it for time 12:36! Working on that speed
Total miles this week: 6.25
I am constantly adding, subtracting and adjusting our schooling to work best for our family. I also pull from a lot of different sources and curriculums so each week I will tell you a little about what we are currently doing/using for our 2024 pre-k/super early preschool with my 3 yrs old and my 21 month old. Almost everything I do is with both kids because my youngest wants to be included in everything so I just bring her along.
This is a 36 week curriculum. Each week there is a section for Nature study, math and science (which is anything from counting blocks to talking about sunscreen safety and use.), art, music, community/kindness, literature/read together and kitchen classroom.
We usually at least touch on the nature ( we have other nature curriculums), the math and science are hit or miss for us sometimes we do it and sometimes we don’t (we have other math and science curriculums).
I love the art and music sections. This is broken down into 4 week chunks and in each chunk you learn about a different artist and musician.
Community/kindness is hit and miss for me. Most of them we don’t do. I enjoy the literature selections and we cook together anyways, I wish the kitchen classroom gave you suggestions.
This book was great. It was a slower read because there was just so much wonderful information.
Whether you homeschool or not this is a great read to get you reclaiming your kids’ childhood. It was so great in reminding me that kids are only kids for a short time, and they (and you) deserve to enjoy every minute of it.
Sunday – 7000 steps minimum
Monday – run 2 miles
Tuesday – 7000 steps minimum
Wednesday – abs
Thursday – 7000 steps minimum
Friday – short walk/hike with the kids and friends
Saturday- morning hike /nature walk with the kids
Sunday – 4 hours of deep cleaning the house
It’s been a good week but I am wiped out tonight! My youngest has had some crazy sleep patterns this week.
Trailing the blonde 