We've completed 4 weeks of school. It's hard to believe it's been 4 weeks already. Here's what we've done so far.
Language Arts
Spelling - Completed the first 4 lessons of All About Spelling Level 1. These lessons are are very quick so far. We've been able to complete them in one day (about 15 minutes) and spend the rest of the week reviewing. I'm considering speeding up to 2 lessons a week until we catch up to Anneliese's current reading/spelling level.
Handwriting - We're doing one day a week of Handwriting Without Tears. The other days we are copying a poem, copying definitions from the dictionary and copying short selections into our nature journal.
Literature - I decided not to do the readings from Parables from Nature. After doing some major pre-reading I decided the metaphors about specific religious beliefs were not what we were looking for. Anneliese has been enjoying Aesop's Fables and Just So Stories. I found an audiobook of Just So Stories at the library that we will be listening also. We've had one story from The Blue Fairy Book scheduled so far. We started reading it, but the story was fairly long so I decided to break it up into a few days of reading. Anneliese has balked at listening to it every time I've tried to read it again. I'm thinking of finding a substitute book, rather than dropping it entirely. Shakespeare has come up on the schedule yet.
Poetry - Anneliese has been reading aloud one poem a day from A Child's Garden of Verse.
History
World History - We've both been enjoying the stories from 50 Famous Stories. Viking Tales hasn't come up on the schedule yet. Our Island Story has gone ok so far, although we both find it a bit dry.
American History - These haven't come up in the schedule yet.
Geography
Paddle to the Sea is awesome. It's hard to wait for a chapter each week. We'll be watching the movie at the end of the book. Gary grew up on the St. Clair river, which Paddle to the Sea travels down. It will be fun to include some family memories of the area when we get to that.
Science
Natural History - The Burgess Bird book and James Herriot's Treasury for Children have both been big hits. I got a copy of the audiobook of James Herriot's Treasury for Children and we are enjoying listening to the stories again and again after Anneliese has read them aloud. There is a great free download-able bird coloring book here.
Nature Study - Fun, fun, fun! We've taken some nature walks and recently hung a bird feeder in our backyard. Anneliese has made entries about Stellar Jays, Chickadees and dandelions. I've signed Anneliese up for once a month classes at our local Nature Center again.
Fine Art
Artist Study - I've made a few changes to our Fine Arts program. We won't be doing the Harmony Fine Arts program after all. I've picked out a few artists from different art movements to study. We will be studying Botticelli from the Early Renaissance movement, da Vinci, Raphael and Michelangelo from the High Renaissance movement since Michelangelo's sketches will be at the Seattle Art Museum this year, Durer from the Northern Renaissance movement, and Picasso from the Surrealist movement during the first half of the year. I've got a book of famous American artists coming that I will be picking at least one out of the add to our study this semester.
Composer Study - No Harmony Fine Arts. I have a modest collection of classical music and a nice children's book about composers lives that we will read as we listen.
Handicrafts - Anneliese and I have worked on a HUGE list of handicrafts she would like to try this year. So far we have done some loom weaving and cooking. She can now make oatmeal for breakfast on her own.
Pottery Class - Sadly, this didn't happen. I went into Open Arts Studio to sign her up and they had no idea how to register someone in person, which I needed to do to have them bill our virtual academy. They took my phone number and said they would call me in a few hours. It's been over a month and I've never heard from them, and I have called a few times trying to check up on it. Instead we will be working through Mona Brookes book Drawing for Children together.
Math
Math - Going well. I'm quite pleased with our math curriculum selection so far. I'm trying to get my resources together to start adding some living math into the mix. I'm trying to find some used copies of Mathematicians Are People, Too, both volume 1 and volume 2. The family has been giving each other riddles to solve, if you have any good ones, please share them. :)
Physical Education
PE - PE class is a no go. They lost their instructor and haven't found a new one yet. :( We've taken a few short 2 mile hikes and done lots of outside playing. Anneliese picked out a yoga video at the library that she enjoyed for a while.
Additional Reading
Anneliese has almost finished reading Charlotte's Web to herself. Next up is Little House in the Big Woods. In addition to her school reading and her scheduled additional reading,, Anneliese has been spending at least an hour a day reading books of her choosing.
History Odyssey
This is an awesome program! The regular readings, crafts, map work and dictionary copywork has all been fantastic and Anneliese is really enjoying it. The additional reading lists have been terrific as well. I foresee us using History Odyssey for many years to come.
As I expected my curriculum plans have already changed. Overall I am overjoyed with our curriculum for this year. Anneliese is really enjoying school. We have lots of time for outside adventures and awesome life experiences.
