Lindy's Homeschool: Hooray for Dick and Jane!

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Hooray for Dick and Jane!

See Dick and Jane.
See Dick and Jane work.
See Dick and Jane work for Maxwell.

I can not tell you how wonderfully Dick and Jane has brought a breath of relief in our journey to learn to read. YIPEE! Maxwell has said things like "I think I'm good at this!" "I love to read this." and I have caught him reading to his younger brothers without me throughout the week. He has read over a HUNDRED pages just this week.

I KNOW all the warnings about Dick and Jane and "Why Johnny Can't Read." and so I have been drilling phonics still, but I noticed that Maxwell had an easier time reading sight words then he was sounding out words, even though he knows the phonics I've taught him backward and forward. That's why I made the change, and I think excitement to read is more important then anything else.

Needless to say I have more Dick and Jane books coming in the mail...

So other then our Dick and Jane break through, not much happened this week. I would like to blame this on all of us having chest colds, or blame it on how the public school kids were out for most of the week, or that I'm pregnant, but...well, really I just got caught up in reading a good book and I needed a break from feeling like I had to follow a schedule (even though I've given myself a very flexible schedule...) But these are the couple things we did do:

Most of southern Alberta had a "family day" on monday, and the town of Cardston put on a cute carnival at the wagon museum. There were lots of booths and we got to go through the museum for free. The kids had a blast, and Daddy was able to share it with us :)

We also talked about how during the Roman Empire, Jesus Christ lived his life. We went over any parts of his life that had to do with the Romans, and then we made sheep, because Jesus was the lamb of God.

I have to admit, Hyrum's sheep was my favourite:

1 comment:

LynetteFebruary 27, 2012 at 6:40 AM
Sounds like you've got a good thing going up there in Canada! :) :) I can't remember...Do you do your science and history as a co-op or on your own? You get so much done with those subjects!!
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The "awkward and unprepared" Myth

There are many misconceptions and biases against homeschooling, and many people really think that I've never heard them or considered them. Many people worry about the "inevitable social awkwardness" of homeschoolers or that they are "unprepared for the world." In my experience, I've found that homeschoolers tend to be as socially "normal" or "awkward" as their parents. As far as "unprepared for the world" is concerned, that depends on how they are taught, but I have seen many successes first hand. Basically, I know the ins and outs of the decision I've made, thanks.

Why I Homeschool

When I was first married, I fell in love with the kids of the Leavitts and Schafers (my sisters-in-law families.) They were...and still are...confident, leaders, innocent where they should be innocent, creative, and accepting. They were also homeschooled. I wanted my future kids to be like them, and if homeschooling was part of that equation, then I was willing to make the sacrifice. Now, after years of study, prayer, and experience, I want to homeschool for many reasons. I want my kids to be family oriented not peer oriented. I want to include the gospel in every aspect of what they are taught. I want them to think out side of the box. I don't want them to be obsessed with what is "cool." I want them to feel loved by those around them. I want them to know who they are and what they stand for before they are bombarded by outside influences. I know that many families can do this without homeschooling, but it seems a lot harder to me. Basically, I'm a control freak. I want to be in control of my children's learning and social life....homeschooling makes that easier.

Also, now that I've realized they are severely dyslexic, I think homeschool is the best place for dyslexics to learn.

And there's the statistics.

My Schedule

7:15

START OUR DAY

Daddy does scriptures

Breakfast

Devotional w/ videos

Come Follow Me

Goals/mindfulness/memorization

9:00

School Starts

Maxwell

School of Hope Online

Hyrum's 3 "R"s

IEW Grammar and Writing

Video Text Algebra

Spelling (Word Wasp)

Daniel's 3 "R"s

Writing Prompts

Rightstart Math level "G"

Spelling (Wasp)

William's 3 "R"s

All About Reading

Creative Writing

Rightstart level "D"

Abraham's 3 "R"s

Logic of English

Handwriting Without Tears

Rightstart level "B"

Activity in afternoon:

Social Studies

Science

Art

Chess

field trips

Literature Club

WAS classes

My Curriculum

For math, I do RightStart Mathematics, which is an abacus based math, Times Tales to memorize multiplication, Video Text for Algebra, and Mathantics or other supplements on youtube.

For Devotionals, I use Come Follow Me.

For Reading, I have used the Barton Reading and Spelling program, but right now I'm experimenting with All About Reading and Logic of English.

For Writing, I use Handwriting Without Tears, IEW Fix It! Grammar, and IEW Student Intensive Writing.

For History, and Science, I use The Four Year Plan (which I LOVE.) This year we are using the "Family Jubilee" book which covers Biology, Modern World History, and New Testament.