As our summer progresses, I've made a few changes to my original plans for light summer school. For the most part, we're sticking to the intent of the original plans, just changing the materials used.
Elf is currently working through Math Mammoth multiplication, doing 2 or so pages daily. He is also reading for about half an hour daily and is at the moment deep into Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. He's also busy with Snap Circuits, and the microscope he recently took apart, cleaned, and put back together. He works off and on writing and illustrating a comic strip he's creating.
Fairy is using MathSteps level 2 for review over the summer. She loves the simplicity of it, and yesterday did 6 pages with no prompting! We're continuing work in The Reading Lesson, which she also loves, and best of all, seems to be working! She also spends a lot of time playing with fairy dolls, making "potions" in the garden, and drawing. I'm reading Ramona and Her Father to her. She's really excited about the Ramona movie coming out this month!
Both signed up for our library's summer reading challenge. We've completed 4 weeks so far, and the kids just earned their free book bags. I finally bit the bullet and got them their own library cards - they always look so proud going up to the checkout counter with them! The librarian (our favorite one) gave me quite a compliment last week: she said it was wonderful to see a parent setting such a good example for her kids with reading, and obviously they are growing to love reading too. I got ahold of Swallows and Amazons to start reading aloud this week as we wrap up Mary Poppins. And we'll be starting The Witches on audio cd, as we've just about reached the end of Matilda.
We officially start up schooling again in 4 weeks. Now that I finally have made all my curriculum decisions, I'm really looking forward to it. There are a few things I still need to buy before then, but the list isn't too bad. I plan to start with math, language arts, history, science and music/art appreciation, then add in grammar and geography a little later.
And that's what we're up to! I had asked for more hours at work, but am not getting them due to the fact that our sales are down 7.5% compared to last year. So instead we're gardening, cleaning out the house (those baby clothes have got to go!), and relaxing. Hope your summers are going well!
I am so excited to hear you are reading Swallows and Amazons! My kids still count that as their favorite book ever. We've read it twice now.
ReplyDeleteWe also remember that it was a little slow for us at first. Lots of sailing information that we weren't really into. But we are so, so very glad we hung on and continued. We ended up reading all 12 (?) books.
We decided our next dog, if female, will be named Nancy Blackett. She is our favorite character.
It sounds like you are enjoying a light, fun and easy, but productive summer! It feels like such a short season, though... doesn't it? :)
ReplyDeleteI find myself more structured in summer than other seasons! We just aren't fans of the heat. During the fall and spring, though, we like to spend a lot of time outside. :)
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