Oh my goodness gracious!
I have been SOOOOO busy that I have not had a chance to even
sit at my desk, not to mention at the computer WRITING!
I know that I really NEED to set aside time each day for my
writing. It really is what helps me to “decompress”
and relax, helps me to get my thoughts out of my head and I KNOW that I sleep
better once these thoughts are out here in cyber-land.
Just WHAT have we been up to?
SO much!
We have been in full bloom, out here on the farm. The winter did decide to hit the road and it
seems as if the Spring time tasks around the farm all came due at once! We had a beautiful blossom and I got the kids
outside for some photos.
What has REALLY been taking up my time is schooling the
boys. I had “Spring Time” lessons
planned beginning in early April. Well,
the weather didn’t quite cooperate with MY plans, so we have been playing “catch
up” and trying to get all of our field trip and exploration done! The boys have really taken to creating field
journals, and they are SO easy to create yourself. (better yet, THEY can create
their own!)
This is my first year as a “Homeschool teacher” and it’s a
bit different than being a public school teacher”. Though I only have 1 (next
year 2) children to report on, I still have to do ALL of the same state
reporting. I have to submit an
Individual Home Education Plan [similar to the OLD IEP format that you “ancient”
teachers, like me, remember writing] I also have to have copies of ALL of the
materials that I will be using next year. THIS, my friends, is the toughest
part for me. I am indecisive. I know what I want to accomplish, HOW I want to
do it, and my heart always returns to the “Old Way” of doing things, versus the
“New and Improved”. Which should I use? Why do I even battle with myself? If you are comfortable teaching something...your will TEACH BETTER. It's a proven fact. Why reinvent the wheel?
1. 1. Proven to be successful
2. 2.Been tried, practiced, tested, modified, edited
and reworked
3. 3. I was highly trained to use them
As the years passed, (and really not MANY years, in the BIG
scheme of things) I went on to use FIVE different “Reading Programs”, 3 sets of
NYS assessments, writing curriculum (with major changes) 3 different times and
NOW, the introduction of the Common Core Standards and all of the curriculum changes
that go along with them. [PRAISE GOD that I am no longer in the public school
system!!!]
Knowing my background in Literacy/Special Education, people
often ask me WHAT curriculum I use with my kiddos, and why? They ask my thoughts
on the “Core” and I offer it freely. I thought I may share my thoughts with you
all. Some of you may just be starting your homeschool journey, some of you may
be seasoned “Mommy-teachers”, but I thought that you may be interested in
knowing what a Teacher-turned-Mommy-turned –“Mommy-Teacher” recommends.
First and foremost, when you begin home education, the
foundation is the MOST important. Just as in building a house, if your
foundation isn’t solid, your house will never hold up.
Your little ones need to build a solid foundation,
one that fosters a LOVE FOR LEARNING, encourages FEELINGS OF SUCCESS and one
that is MEASURABLE and ATTAINABLE… by not only them, but YOU. (***I will reference this statement
later on when I discuss Common Core)
Your beginning literacy learner needs to learn the following
before moving forward:
1.
Phonemic Awareness
2.
Decoding Skills (which stem from the phonetic
teaching of sounds and words)
3.
Dolche words (YES, these word lists are STILL
relevant)
4.
Proper handwriting technique
5.
Proper questioning technique: Who, What, When, Where, Why and How
The Common Core standards are NOT
BAD. I don’t want you to get the wrong
idea. The problem with them is 2-fold;
time constraints and the inability to offer REAL remediation to a child that
just plain learns differently than others.
The curriculum is not designed to offer multi-sensory, individual
learning style instruction. It is very much:
1. This is the lesson for today. 2. This is how you do it. 3. You
have 15 minutes to complete it.
THIS method of instruction is not
beneficial for ANY child and DOES NOT foster a solid foundation.
I TOTALLY “get” the end result, but
the means to the end is not quite developed enough yet to thrust our children
into learning that way. The core does NOT foster a love for learning. It has brought much anxiety, hatred for school,
and frustration from parents, students and teachers.
I feel bad for the teachers…they have
years of study, Bachelors and Masters level educations and are repeating a
script, timed and robotic.
SO, What programs do I use?
Simple. Old. Tried and True.
Kindergarten:
Explode the
Code! Yes, I am aware that this
program was written in the 70’s. But you know what? The English language is WAY older than that-
and, it WORKS.
Handwriting
without Tears Again, the first draft of this program did hit schools 30
years ago, but again, IT WORKS.
Good ‘Ol Dick and
Jane : I LOVE the success my
child (and ALL of my “children” throughout the years) feels when reading a
whole story. The Dick and Jane series was the perfect 1st
books for my child to read both guided and independently.
It is also IMPERATIVE that you READ ALOUD to your emerging
reader daily. I read to all 3 of my
kiddos during “circle time” each morning.
We read the same story 5 days in a row. (Based on the Five in Row series) This allows
for fluency, cross-curricular connections, the ability to have your child “be
the teacher” towards the end of the week when he feels that he can read the
book better than you can! ;-)
I am also using some Fountas
and Pinnell assessments and book
lists. I am blessed with a great early
reader. One great way to not only correctly “level” their reading, but offer
accurate district reporting, is completing a reading level assessment. (or having it done
if you are not trained)
Also, make sure that you have some HIGH interest,
independent , appropriately leveled readers available at ALL times. The more interest your child has in reading,
the more often he or she will have in learning the basics, the more stamina he or
she will have to finish what they started to read and last, but not least, the
more JOY your child will find in reading.
What do I plan to use for 1st grade literacy?
Explode the
Code!
D’Nelian Manuscript
Writing
Sequential
Spelling
As well as hundreds
of guided and independent choices, our weekly read-aloud selection and the
addition of a read-aloud chapter book. (we already read the “Little House”
series at night before bed) I plan to begin with the shorter Roald Dahl books.
(ie. George’s Marvelous Medicine, The Twits, Danny, The Champion of the World and then move in to The BFG, The
Witches, James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory.
Now, these resources are just the beginning. These are what
I have used with many students over the years and what I chose to use with my
own kindergartener, as well as what I plan to use with my younger two as well.
I don’t guarantee ANY of my recommendations for ALL children. Remember, every
child learns differently. You need to make an educated decision as to what will
work BEST for your child. You have
already made the choice to put your child’s need ahead of your own and embark on this home school journey. You are
already ahead of the game!
I do feel that the “teacher”
is a VERY important catalyst in learning. Equally as important as the materials
and the teacher, is the ENVIRONMENT in which to learn in. Not all families are able to designate a
specific area in the home JUST FOR SCHOOL. I am fortunate to be able to do so.
[future post on classroom set up coming soon]
I hope that my recommendations may help you to prepare for
another exciting school year at home with your babes. I feel like I have truly
found the BEST of both worlds!
Any questions? Leave
me a comment!
You can also follow our daily antics via instagram @daniteeple
{beBlessed} and have a GREAT DAY!
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