| Author | |
Maryan
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 02 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3145
|
| Posted: June 04 2013 at 7:11pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
We don't do school year round because our summer is broken up oddly. BUT We are doing "summer school" here this year. I haven't done school in summer since my oldest was in first grade?? But we really need to hit a couple of subjects that got lost under the couch this year. We always read, and we sometimes do mathy things, but this summer it's definitely more.
But I didn't want it to be the same as the school year, so I'm trying some things that I wouldn't do during the year! I'm not going to schedule our summer school, but whenever we are home and free we'll keep going.
- Science/Nature Study: Sassafrass Zoology (compliments of this thread). We read the first chapter today of the text, and I think my boys will enjoy this. (FYI I ordered the printed text, the printed teacher log, but the PDF Student Log book for the kids from Elemental Science). We're using the two encyclopedia's that she recommends, but then we're just going to supplement with whatever books/videos we own -- she does recommend some, but we don't have most of what she recommends. They are super excited. A friend found us Herriot's treasury, so Daddy's going to read those at night to the boys.
 We'll also take our notebooks outside to draw/observe the animals around us. What we don't finish, we'll keep doing during the school year.
- A Grammar Refresher: We're going to read Grammarland, and the accompanying worksheets (recommended by Lindsay and Amanda in this thread), with the goofy Words are Categorical grammar books, and Ruth Heller's grammar books. I also have a bunch of Hainstock's grammar "games," and some grammar type puzzles.
- Spelling -- Words Their Way Wordstudy Notebook. I'm not buying the teacher book to go with it. I'm just having the kids do the word sorts as reviews. What we don't finish, we'll keep doing in the school year. We've done the Words Their Way with our own notebooks, but at the end of the year, we stopped doing spelling tests and a couple of sorts got destroyed by the 2 yo, so these colorful notebooks were on sale and will be fun as a review and a head start for next year. (FYI -- if you haven't done Words Their Way, I'm not sure you would get the notebooks without the Teacher's manual. I don't want to steer anyone to buy something that will make no sense!I'm just sharing what we're doing.)
- Math: Right Start Math games
- Literature and Religion: Each child has a fun booklist which also includes saints books.
I'd also like to teach my oldest how to type, but I haven't figure out what program yet. Suggestions??? He'd also like to start his Saxon math in the summer. I may let him. 
Anybody else doing some version of summer school?
__________________
Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SeaStar
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068
|
| Posted: June 04 2013 at 7:41pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Eight ate: a feast of Homonyms
This is a fun grammar series that my dc enjoy. For some reason Ruth Hellerman's books seem very serious to me. We tried a few this spring but liked the other series much better.
We tried Typing Instructor for Kids this year but it was a no go. We all found the program hard to navigate, even though it is highly rated.
Now I am looking at All the Right Type and Time for Typing, also both recommended.
__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: June 04 2013 at 8:43pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
We've never done summer school before - we usually just take a few weeks off and then start our new year...more like year round schooling with a mini break in the summer, but our year last year wasn't the greatest so we're going to give ourselves permission to take a longer break this summer and do a little bit of summer school. Like you, Maryan, I'm not scheduling - if we're home, mornings will involve a little summer work. Afternoons are free.
I wish our summer work was as fun looking as Melinda's and Maryan's! But we're working on refocusing on some good habits and tying up a few loose ends from last year's less-than-stellar work. So, it's more practical.
Morning Work:
Independent Work:Keyboarding Skills - Typist - apparently we're all working on keyboarding skills this summer!  We're on a mac, and Typist was a free app. My 4th and 8th grader are using it this summer to improve their keyboarding.
Reading - I assigned a novel each to my two older kids, and my 4th grader is finishing a book and then we're going to pick something new for him.
Latin - for my 8th grader. Finishing up Latina Christiana.
Before Lunch work with me:Reading - My 5 yo started reading road signs on her own (  ) so I guess I'll continue our simple reading lessons.
Academic Writing - My high schooler is writing an essay and we're working together on some academic writing instruction using Bravewriter's Help for Highschool, which is a review for her, but we're picking up more on our second time through the book.
Read Aloud during Lunch:
And swimming.  Lots of swimming. Which I guess falls under the official heading of "PE".
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Maryan
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 02 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3145
|
| Posted: June 04 2013 at 9:25pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
SeaStar wrote:
Eight ate: a feast of Homonyms
This is a fun grammar series that my dc enjoy. For some reason Ruth Hellerman's books seem very serious to me. We tried a few this spring but liked the other series much better.
We tried Typing Instructor for Kids this year but it was a no go. We all found the program hard to navigate, even though it is highly rated.
Now I am looking at All the Right Type and Time for Typing, also both recommended. |
|
|
Oh my goodness! I have a corny joke teller who would LOVE that homonym book! I have to try that!
And thanks for the feedback on typing! Please keep me updated on your opinions.
Mackfam wrote:
Morning Work:
Virtue/Good Habits - We're going to start using SCM's new habit training program, Laying Down the Rails: A Habit Training Companion. I'm excited to give it a test drive! I've been reading through it and really like it! |
|
|
Oh thanks for linking this! I remember the book being talked about on here at some point because the name sounds familiar, but I think I was too swamped to check it out? I bought PACE which I like, but it's not motivating for me personally -- it's more a reference for many character materials by virtue? The Laying Down the Rails seems like a personal refresher too. I like the stories that she inserts. The "cleanliness" selections were great! (I love sample pages). I definitely need this for summer thought and planning.
The summer of typing! This year after Writing with Ease, I realized that he has to learn to type FASTER and properly. Hunt and peck just doesn't do it. I wish I had a Mac, so I could just go with Typist! I'll just keep looking!
__________________
Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Christine
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 23 2006
Location: Washington
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1151
|
| Posted: June 04 2013 at 9:41pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I use Typing Tutor JR and Typing Tutor 10 with my children. My oldest daughter says that she preferred (and only needed) JR. She is a very efficient typist. 
__________________
Christine
Mommy to 4 girls, 5 boys, & 2 in God's care
Memories of a Catholic Wife and Mother
Pretty Lilla Rose
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Amber-v
Forum Rookie
Joined: Jan 29 2012
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 83
|
| Posted: June 04 2013 at 11:03pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Another free option is Dance Mat Typing from BBC - not as complete as some programs, but a good start and a fun presentation. I tried a couple different programs, but this was the first that really got my daughter going. After she had gained some familiarity and confidence I went to a more boring typing exercise type program, but since she had the hang of it already, she didn't find it so tedious. I am thinking of trying my son on it this summer.
We will also be doing some math, reading practice (for my 7 yo) and more read alouds than we generally do. Due to a tough first trimester I didn't finish out the year as strongly as I would have liked, but thankfully I'm starting to feel a lot better!
Amber
__________________
Amber
Mom to dd (born 2002), ds (2005), ds (2008), ds (2011), dd (11/2013)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
kristacecilia
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 05 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 677
|
| Posted: June 05 2013 at 6:08am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We are doing summer school, too, which will also include typing. I just have Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing.
We are doing a few things we didn't get through during the school year:
- Artistic Pursuits
- Finishing up history readings and doing a little bit of reading ahead so we jump into the right era in the books in the fall.
- maybe some BFSU
- math
__________________
God bless,
Krista
Wife to a great guy, mom to two boys ('04, '06) and three girls ('08, '10, '12!)
I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SallyT
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 08 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2489
|
| Posted: June 05 2013 at 6:33am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We're finishing some of our read-aloud books -- Augustus Caesar's World, George Washington's World, and Amy Welborn's Book of Heroes (so nice to talk about virtues in the summertime when things so often fall apart!). And we're continuing with the Life of Fred elementary series, because I don't want to lose that thread. We'll take weeks off for some day camps and travel, but when we're home, my aim is to do half an hour a day (usually over or just after lunch) all summer.
Sally
__________________
Castle in the Sea
Abandon Hopefully
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: June 05 2013 at 7:25am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We'll probably take until the end of June to finish school, though, it tapers off as we wrap up different books and texts. Then, we'll take off July and have a baby . I'm a little bummed that the new baby means forgoing our favorite summer art program and swim lessons this year, but I just am not one of those people who can push through and be active at that stage. My midwives don't have to tell me twice to rest and put my feet up And, somehow, with a newborn in tow, I plan to get the older three to German culture/language camp the first two weeks of August. It is such a great program and so well done by a Professor from the local university. That's school, right? I count it as such anyway
Then, we plan to start school the week after. Having given a test run this last term of this year, I'm putting together notebooks a la Maryan to make schooling run a bit more smoothly with the new baby. It is a lot of work, but it has helped in regards to accountability and allowed for more independence, and it is dh friendly should he need to help. Anyway, getting those ready is pretty much sucking away all my creative energy.
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
pumpkinmom
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 28 2012
Location: Missouri
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1028
|
| Posted: June 05 2013 at 7:46am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We are in our third week of eight weeks off for a summer break. I had to compromise to get my boys to do any type of school activity. We agreed on 3 days a week with an hour each.
Math: working in the Evan Moor Daily Word Problem book as this is an area they need to work on. Also working on multiplication facts through Timez Attack and oldest is using the 2 week trial of Reflex (thanks to a recent thread here). Independent reading of LOF Butterflies
Science: Youngest is reading Men of Science (thanks to a thread I read here). He has asked me to read these to him.
Reading/Natural History: reading Great Smoky Mountains National Park Ridge Runner Rescue by Mike Graf. This is a hit!
My oldest was doing this until Monday when we enrolled him into a two week summer school at the local public school. He just needs the experience. They are working on reading, math, science, and social studies.
I'll come back and add links later.
__________________
Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Maryan
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 02 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3145
|
| Posted: June 05 2013 at 8:27am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Ooooh! More fun stuff! And more typing suggestions! Thank you!
CrunchyMom wrote:
| Then, we plan to start school the week after. Having given a test run this last term of this year, I'm putting together notebooks a la Maryan to make schooling run a bit more smoothly with the new baby. It is a lot of work, but it has helped in regards to accountability and allowed for more independence, and it is dh friendly should he need to help. Anyway, getting those ready is pretty much sucking away all my creative energy. |
|
|
Yes. I will be doing this year's version towards the end of the summer. Although my oldest says he wants to help make them with me! They are time consuming and creative energy sucking!! I have to repeat to myself: "You will be so grateful later. You will be so grateful later. You will be so grateful later."
Actually I am making some for this summer with our notebooking pages, a calendar and some drawing pages. But they were not intense.
__________________
Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
jawgee
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 02 2011
Location: New Hampshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1415
|
| Posted: June 05 2013 at 9:27am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We're on light schooling now that goes through the summer. We're continuing with morning readings (and wrapping up our history spine and science during that time). Also, during the week my kids work on:
-Math and reading, daily
-Nature, Piano, and Korean, 3x/week
-Handwriting, light grammar, written narrations, 1x week
I am just keeping a checklist so that they can get through each of the items at their own pace. That's the plan, at least....
__________________
Monica
C (12/2001), N (11/2005), M (5/2008), J (8/2009) and three angels
The Catholic Cup on Facebook
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
pumpkinmom
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 28 2012
Location: Missouri
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1028
|
| Posted: June 05 2013 at 6:35pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Jen, I would love to hear how you are using this. I bought it too. I know it has lessons already written up, but . . . . . I'm still struggling with implementing this. Maybe it will work better when we start normal school back up and I put it in our lesson plans.
__________________
Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: June 05 2013 at 7:51pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I just started a new thread specifically about Typing Programs.
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
kristacecilia
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 05 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 677
|
| Posted: June 06 2013 at 6:37am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We are using the Laying Down the Rails for Children program now, too. I'd love to see a thread about it. Can we? Can we?
__________________
God bless,
Krista
Wife to a great guy, mom to two boys ('04, '06) and three girls ('08, '10, '12!)
I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
kristacecilia
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 05 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 677
|
| Posted: June 06 2013 at 6:43am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Okay, where is the thread with the notebooks a la Maryan. I'm curious now.
__________________
God bless,
Krista
Wife to a great guy, mom to two boys ('04, '06) and three girls ('08, '10, '12!)
I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Kristie 4
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 20 2006
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1508
|
| Posted: June 06 2013 at 6:57am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I am curious too!
__________________
Kristie in Canada
Mom to 3 boys and one spunky princess!!
A Walk in the Woods
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Maryan
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 02 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3145
|
| Posted: June 06 2013 at 8:03am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Krista and Kristie... essentially my notebooks are like a "Big Book of Everything" that you see at the store?? They were tweaked from Jen's notebook thread because I had a high risk pregnancy and I needed to be super organized with all paper contained. And a 3 ring binder wasn't cutting it.
I copy every.single.sheet.of.notebooking page that the kids will need for the year, and then print our lesson plans on yellow paper and then proclick them into 5-8 week increments. It is a TON of work. But worth it to me for a sane school year, but it kills about a month of my summer. All copywork, dictation, thinking skills, etc. all in one notebook. I include blank narration pages for coloring and writing down their narration as well.
Sometimes I just copy and bind the first part of the year and then just copy and proclick zip the copies... that way if we are behind, I just need to adjust my lesson plans, and then zip those pages and bind my notebooks. (That's probably as clear as mud.)
Here's a blog post about it (you can click on pictures to get an better idea).
We just made some for this summer with month calendars of June, July and August (with our family activities so they can do a countdown,) Grammarland worksheets, Sassafrass notebook pages, blank pages for coloring and nature study, a few sodoku puzzles, and a sheet for recording their summer reading. These were much easier to do than the whole year! Thank goodness!
__________________
Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: June 06 2013 at 8:15am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I am doing Sassafrass in the Fall, but I was planning to make a separate notebook for that since it seems to produce a finished "product" at the end. I'd love to know how you like the program and what you would do if you were doing it in the regular school year or if it would have worked as well for you as a separate notebook.
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Maryan
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 02 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3145
|
| Posted: June 06 2013 at 8:22am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Lindsay, we're going to move the pages we make this summer into a separate notebook of its own... I *think*... in the Fall. OR keep doing it the way I do notebooks and then just pull them all into one notebook for a finished product?
The kids love this so far. And we just use whatever books we have to supplement. So far it's been very fun. I'll keep you updated.
__________________
Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Summer School
