Pre-K Plans: Fall 2011

Well, here's the post I've been avoiding for quite some time. Robbie's curriculum for 2011-2012. I've been undecided in a few areas, but I believe I've got it all nailed down... for the moment, anyway.

Robbie just turned 4 at the very end of May, so he is technically starting his Pre-K year this fall. However, we choose to meet him where he is instead of worrying about a "grade level". He loves to learn and I'm sure that this year will be no different.


BIBLE...
will mostly be read-alouds from our various Bible story books. I'm looking into AWANA programs in our area, as well. RockerDad may be working second shift this fall, so that could make it difficult to arrange transportation to and from AWANA (we only have one vehicle). We will also be using some free printables from Bible Study Planet.

READING...
will be our biggest focus this year. He's doing very well, so I want to keep the momentum going.

Robbie will be finishing up his Hooked on Phonics 1st Grade lessons sometime this fall. He'll simply move on to the 2nd grade lessons and continue. (I'll still be using Phonics Pathways as MY guide, though.) He will also finish up Explode the Code 2 and keep moving forward through this series, as well.

He's read nearly all of our simple phonics readers, but I am going to have him re-read them at least once more before beginning the reading list I've compiled for him. It consists of titles from Sonlight readers and similar titles I own. In addition, he will continue with his McGuffey Readers and finish up our Dick and Jane books.



WRITING...
will continue to be homemade letter, number and word tracing and practice sheets until he's ready for copywork.

We aren't using any specific products for this except for highlighters (I make the pages with these), pencils (for Robbie) and the green 1st grade composition books I picked up from Staples. We go through more than one of these per month, so I'm glad they're only $0.90 each.


MATH...
has been, by far, the toughest choice for me to make

After tons of reasearch, soul-searching, fretting, praying and emails/chats with many of you, I truly believe that Robbie will thrive with Singapore Primary Math. I plan to go as slowly (and with as much repetition) as Robbie needs. There will be no hurry to finish. I am hesitant to publish this part of the post, since I haven't actually ordered it, yet. I do, however, feel pretty confident in my choice.

I really, really wanted Robbie to love RightStart Level A. It just didn't happen. He was understanding and executing everything perfectly well (it was actually WAY too simple, for the most part), but he started hating to see the stuff come to the table. I began to hate it because he wasn't enjoying it (not that everything must be fun, but it really didn't seem like a good fit for him). We will be using many of the RightStart methods, materials and even some of the lessons as we go along.... and definitely the games... but it won't be the main program.


HISTORY & SCIENCE...
will be covered by our (mostly) monthly themes & read-alouds.

Here are some of our planned topics (subject to change on a whim..lol):

• Dinosaurs
• Harvest/Halloween
• Native Americans & Thanksgiving
• Advent & Christmas
• Pirates
• Bugs
• Presidents
• Knights & Dragons
• More!!!

Robbie will also be learning some very basic geography this year.


MUSIC...
will simply consist of listening to a different composer each month as we do our schoolwork. I don't plan to go in-depth with this, just learning the composer's name and informal discussions about the music and instruments. I may also begin to teach Robbie some basics on the piano.


ART...
will mostly be incorporated in crafts and such for our themes. Many of our planned activities can be found on my Pinterest Boards I would also like to add some picture study to our days, as well. We'll see, though.


OTHER...

Our read-alouds (outside of our monthly themes... inside when they fit :D) will be books that I am able to obtain from the Sonlight 3/4, 4/5 and A lists (read-alouds, science and history) as well as from the Ambleside Online Year 0 list. We have an amazing used bookstore within 20 minutes of our home. I am always finding wonderful books there for next-to-nothing.


As a member of TOS Homeschool Crew for the 2011-2012 year, who knows what else will be thrown into the mix!!! I can't wait to find out.


Well, those are the bones of our plan for 2011-2012. I'm still workout out how to bring it all together in a fun (and not overwhelming) way.

I can't wait to see what everyone else has planned!!!

I'm sharing this post at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers Weekly Wrap-Up: Curriculum Special Edition, Let's Talk Curriculum at Training Children Up for Christ and Educating Layton's Show Off Your Curriculum Link-Up.