2013-2014 K-5 Curriculum

We zoomed through the My Father's World (MFW) God's Creation From A to Z, which is their Kindergarten curriculum, but I choose it as our K-4 program. This year we will continue with MFW Learning God's Story for 1st Grade, but again I choose it as our K-5 program because the transition should be smooth and easy. I really like how the phonics is built into the program. My goal and hope for Caleb is to get him reading. Unfortunately, I am doing this after having already finished and realized I took very few pictures.

 I really enjoy the layout of the Teacher's Manual as lessons are already in a weekly grid with check boxes. The check boxes made it easy for me to see during the day what we had completed and what needed finishing. The Bible Reader is plain black and white with large font type; great for beginning readers. The Bible Notebook corresponded with the Bible Reader and after hearing a story Caleb would have to write a short sentence and illustrate his story. The Bible Notebook was a big challenge for Caleb and so we had to discontinue using it.

The Learning God's Story student workbook was all about phonics. The first few lessons reviewed what was learned in God's Creation From A to Z and then moved on rather quickly. We slowed down quit a bit to give the new information time to assimilate. Reviewing previously learned words was essential.
My Big Book of 5-Minute Devotions was truly a delight and gem. Animals as characters in a brief moral story followed by "What does God say?" Just loved it!

Another curriculum gem is the Peter and the Wolf CD Caleb truly loved. He listened carefully, colored the instrument cards the right color and placed them under the right heading. Easy peasy! I personally love how MFW incorporates classical music into their programs.

Math consisted of the Complete Book of Math for 1st and 2nd Graders. The Unifex Cubes and sheets were included in the student pages. I veered a little and choose to have Caleb finish Book B of Singapore Essential Math.

Timeline figures were included in the student pages and just needed coloring and hanging. We hung our timeline on the fireplace mantel because we never use the fire place. Timeline figures correspond with the Bible readings and was a great feature for reinforcing what was being read-aloud.

 Oh, yes let's not figure Drawing with Children. While I liked the concepts being taught I think the book could have been a bit simpler. However, well worth the effort teacher and student put into it because the outcome is pretty cool.

Overall, this was an excellent choice and very much pleased with all the hard work Caleb put into everything. These are a few more of the student pages including the Bible memory verse handwriting page all to help reinforce words learned to increase his reading ability. The phonics and reading were so well integrated. I just loved it!

Unit 14: Horse

I've debated the last few weeks whether I should keep the same pace or speed it up. I am wanting to go straight into My Father's Worlds (MFW) 1st grade curriculum. I am not certain starting the 1st grade program after the new year will give us enough time to finish everything before the regular school schedule starts in August 2014. Next year when I legally have to inform the state of my decision to homeschool we will belong to a homeschool group that will maintain all of our records and sessions start at the same time as public school. Additionally, Caleb is an only child and we get through a days work quickly and he has mastered the art of sitting and doing his work with little to no complaining. From now on you will see us completing 2 units in one week. I have found Caleb is more than capable of getting the work done especially since he knows school is not optional. Monday's/Tuesday's and Thursday's/Fridays we will complete MFW lessons. Wednesday's he will go to Learning Planet K-5 program while I go to women's bible study. We should be finished in 5 to 6 weeks and I am excited. Now for the review.

Unit 14 in all about the letter Hh and horses. Caleb learned one of my favorite bible passages for children; Children, obey your parents in everything for this pleases the Lord. Colossians 3:20 NIV. Once trained, a well-behaved horse obeys right away with no hesitations. God wants us to do the same. We learned how Noah obeyed Gods command immediately while Jonah tried to run away and suffered the consequence of his disobedience.

Just beautiful. I am well pleased with his writing.

Finally, he agreed to color the pictures starting with the letter sound. I would get confused between his x marks and check marks.

Cut and paste page. The word hill was challenging for him. So we worked through sounding it out.

  Math page distinguishing between heaviest and lightest and largest to smallest. After a series of questions the smallest horse had to end up in the barn.

Cut and paste page 2. We reviewed the sentences together and then he pasted them in the right spot.

Dictation page. His writing is difficult to see, but it is beautiful near perfect. I couldn't praise him enough for a well job done.

I love all the review and repetition of words. Caleb's ability to recognize and read words grows daily.

We read Fritz and the Beautiful Horses. Such a delightful book. We read a couple of books from the library too selections were poor this time.

 Caleb had to compare a horse and car identifying all the differences. It was neat to see in one of our books fire fighting horses that pulled the equipment unlike our motorized fire trucks of today. Caleb loves fire fighters and believes he will be one in the future. We were also supposed to make a clay model of a horse. That turned out to be a dud and scrapped the project.

Unit 13: Cow

Unit 13 is all about the letter Cc and cows. Caleb learned that in order for him to grow in his salvation he must learn to crave pure spiritual milk (the word of God) like a newborn baby. What a great lesson for me too. I must foster a love for learning in him. The words to remember this week were "God's Word helps me grow."

Caleb tried to memorize The Purple Cow poem by Gelett Burgess. We didn't put enough work into the memorization. I had to trace the cow badge and then let him color it purple which worked out great for the both of us.

Handwriting page. He is still working on placing his letters in the correct location.

Sound discrimination page. He can do this independently now. No help from mom.

The math page is a little challenging this week. He had to circle more than 2 cows and less than 3 cows. I am not sure he got the concept.

Cut and paste page. I review any words he has trouble with and then he pastes onto the page. He is still figuring out how to sound out words. He loves to get in a hurry just to have the activity over with and wants me to just tell him the word. I resist the request and tell him to sound it out.

Dictation page. He is getting better at identifying the middle vowel sound now and has started the good habit of repeating the word to himself so he can hear the sounds.

Cut and paste page 2. I love how Caleb tries to read these one his own before he asks for help.

Caleb's drawing of a cow, cooking, can and a comb. Someday he'll include more color.

We read a ton of books related to cows. Ferdinand came with program and was cute. However, if you want a book both you and your child will love try Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type. Written by a lawyer it was a favorite by both of us. Cows go on strike then the chickens refuse to lay eggs. The farmer demands milk and eggs, but not without an ultimatum. Oh, and the ducks get in on the action too. This is a keeper and one I plan to add to my personal library.