we have a new computer // laptop 💻! It’s the first working one we have (we had an ancient MacBook with some photos on it - but it was so old nothing else on it worked!). . . I’m so excited that we received some funds owed to us (apparently from 4 years ago and our old house’s closing) that we put toward this much needed family purchase. . . We’ve been pretty low tech for the early years but are now edging into adding in some pc games and things for our educational, financial learning and entrepreneurial interests. . . We ended up going with a gaming computer because of the added space, and ability to edit YouTube videos (we’re all YT creators over here with the exception of dad). Right now we are using a central nook in our living space, that we usually use for our Christmas Tree 🎄 as the new PC area. We took E’s old IKEA desk and transplanted it upstairs.. and are using our piano 🎹 bench as our desk chair also, (since it’s right along side the nook). I’m so happy for the savings we get to have there 🖤 in not having to buy a chair! . . If you swipe over >> you can see the wall space I’m currently dreaming up ideas for to help the flow of activities we are going to be doing here. If you have a space dedicated to your pc I would to hear about how you have it set up! I will be posting an updated pic of this little nook as it evolves.. . . Right now we are doing a few educational websites as a supplement after doing our morning character devotional, and reading a few chapters of our current read aloud. First we do a few modules on #spellingcity (usually while I’m busy straightening up what was left over from breakfast), next the kids start on their morning chores & routine. Once they’re done they do a few exercises on #xtramath . . . I’m planning to add some typing practice after lunch using the program developed by #handwritingwithouttears . . Catch a video of M busy this a.m. up in my instastories. . . xo . . . . https://www.instagram.com/p/BqIMmjygeQI/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1xpkknm325ng9
Alright, I don’t have an unboxing video for you as I purchased this curriculum back before summer began, but I hope these pictures will give you an idea of what we’re working with this year.
For Kindergarten, I picked up BookShark’s Level K All-Subject Package including Math-U-See Primer. Together, it includes Reading with History, Language Arts, Science, Math, and Handwriting.
To start, these are all of the Level K Read-Alouds and Readers. BookShark is a literature-based curriculum, which means no textbooks. Through fiction and nonfiction alike, the children get to experience history and science on a whole new level. You can read more about BookShark’s Methodology here.
Now, I want to take a moment to mention that veteran BookShark moms suggest starting Kindergarteners on BookShark’s Preschool Level and working your way up from there. This is because some of the history books can be a little intense for younger kids. I, however, am taking this advice on a kid by kid basis and feel BigE can handle these books.
The books I have pictured may change over the years or be updated, so be sure to check the website for the current list.
Up next, are some of the many ways BookShark encourages hands-on learning.
On the top left is the Level K Science consumables. The science box houses a wide array of items to be used in weekly experiments. You will need to supplement these items with a few of your own from around the house. The DVD includes videos of each of these experiments being performed, either for your own viewing to get an idea of how it should go or for showing to the kids.
On the top right is BigE’s favorite part of our lessons. Once a week, we use the Primer DVD to watch the new lesson, then BigE gets to use the manipulatives to solve his math worksheets.
On the bottom is another favorite. With these wooden blocks, we shape the letter of the week and practice starting each letter from the top.
At the bottom here, we have two more items that make history and geography a little more hands-on. On top is the Timeline book. This book will be used over the entirety of BigE’s homeschool experience. Each year he will color the timeline figures as we discuss them, then stick them into the book on their respective pages. By the time we finish, this will be a very full book.
Underneath is a foldable laminated map of both the world and the United States. As you read the books, some activities utilize the map to mark where the characters trek. By the end of the year, you can see all of the places you’ve visited through the literature.
Now we’ll get into the part that holds it all together. The part that keeps me a sane mom who knows exactly what we’re supposed to get done each day.
When you receive the big box full of BookShark goodness, you will find Instructor Guides and Student Worksheets for each subject. You also receive a massive 3-4 inch binder for housing it all in order by week. This binder was a bit much for me, so I picked up two 2-inch binders to separate my Instructor Guides from my Student Worksheets. I then picked up two .5-inch working binders. In these, I keep four week’s worth of work at a time, and we use those daily.
My Student Worksheets binder also contains my Math-U-See Primer worksheets broken up by week and our Handwriting Without Tears book sits on top as the pages are used in too much of a random order to be placed in their respective weeks. While my Instructor Guides binder looks a little depleted, you’ll notice that it starts with week 5. Weeks 1-4, as well as the introductory pages, all live in my .5-inch working Instructor Guide binder at the moment.
Another note here. As this curriculum will be used with all four of my kids, The Student Worksheets binder remains untouched. Instead, I make copies to be written on.
I won’t get into the details of what each week or each day’s schedule looks like as the easiest way to see is to head on over to BookShark and download their Instructor Guide sample sheets. They are very generous and allow you to see the first three weeks of each subject.
Finally, my favorite part is how nicely our entire year fits on one bookshelf. From left to right are the map, timeline, working binders, science consumables, books, manipulatives, and BigE’s crayons and other supplies. On our work-table sits all of the books we will be enjoying that week.
When we get a few more months into our year, I will come back and tell you more about how we like the curriculum and what a day in our homeschool looks like.
I had said I was not going to become a #curriculumjunkie but it appears I've started down the slippery slope. Both schools my kids attended have used this and the kids LOVE it. We needed to augment and here we have it! #hwtears #handwritingwithouttears #1stgrade #4thgrade
