Our Learning Goals & Curriculum for 2010-11(3rd and 1st grade)

I am still very pleased with the resources and curriculum I have purchased in the past.  Therefore, my learning goals for the year and the tools I will use to achieve them are very similar to last year.  I was much more successful in regards to accountability this past year but I am not yet where I want to be in this regard.  I feel I’m on a roll, however, and will continue to build on the successes we’ve experienced recently.

• Reading: We’ve been successful with 30 min of independent reading but haven’t been doing it daily.  We didn’t reach our goal of reading independently for 60 minutes so we’ll reach for that again this year.  MeiLi has come a long way this past year.  She is reading more complex chapter books and doesn’t struggle as often.  She now will stay up late to read independently on occasion as well.  Buddy has grown tired of the Now I’m Reading series of easy readers, which to be honest, so have I.  He is now taking an interest in easy chapter books like Frog & Toad Are Friends.

• Grammar & Writing: Integrated through science and history … copywork, letters to family and friends, creative writing activities, etc. We’ve been much more consistent here – partially due to integrating a daily reflection journal as part of our geology study, Explore Our World :: Africa.

•  Shakespeare:  We studied The Twelfth Night this past year.  My intention was to take the kiddos to a performance at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.  As I was looking up ticket information, I discovered they give a family performance in September for discounted prices.  I figured this would be the best option for our first time.  I don’t yet know what we’ll study this coming year as it will depend on what performances will be selected at OSF.

• Handwriting: I don’t think we practiced handwriting more than once or twice last year.  We have a long way to go as a result.  MeiLi needs work in cursive and Buddy has been getting sloppy so he needs some penmanship practice as well.

• Spelling: This is another area that I rarely bothered with last year.  Both kiddos seem to pick up words as they use them so it hasn’t been of much concern.  Maybe 2010-11 will be different.

• Math: MeiLi continues to excel in math. She has just begun Singapore 4A. Buddy is also doing well and recently begun Singapore 2A.  I don’t see a need to change this as we’ve been very consistent with our math studies.

• Science: We were very successful this past year with science.  We covered Astronomy and Geology units rather throughly.  Our goals for science this year include Simple Machines, Electricity, Magnetism, Energy & Motion.

• Nature Study: We’ve begun to undertake a weekly nature study with our Roots & Shoots club.  When possible I try to coordinate with Barb’s challenges at Handbook of Nature Study.  I am also looking into the possibilities of volunteering regularly at a local horse ranch as a part of Roots & Shoots.

• History: As we haven’t yet finished volume 2, we are continuing with Story of the World: Medieval Times.  We very much enjoy the accompanying coloring pages and map work.  As we proceed, we will be transitioning MeiLi to written narrations rather than oral.

• Physical Education: We’ll continue with our study of Taekwondo.  We’ve been talking of potentially joining swim team but it is an equally big commitment.  MeiLi will be testing for her black belt early next summer so that has been the focus right now.  We’ll also continue to incorporate other activities  throughout the year.

• Mandarin Chinese: MeiLi will be continue meeting with a private tutor for 1 hour each week.  We’ve been a little more consistent in doing the homework assignments and accompanying workbook activities. Though I still feel we could do better.  I don’t hear her speak so I really have no concept of how much she really knows.  Tinsel says she is doing well, though.

• Spanish:  Buddy has recently developed a strong desire to learn Spanish.  I think this is in part due to the fact that one of his friends in the neighborhood speaks Spanish.  I am delighted.  It provides us with some structure when MeiLi is working on her Mandarin lessons.

• Art & Music History: We will continue to use Themes to Remember to aide in our quarterly composer studies.  We’ll also continue to study an artist each term as well.  This is another area that fell to the side in 2009-10.  I hope to improve here as well.  Artists I hope to cover this year are:  David Wiesner,  Georgia O’Keefe, and  . Composers I hope to study include: Edvard Grieg, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and ?

• Music: Both kiddos will continue to take piano lessons with Janellybean.   Buddy has also begun to study guitar.  MeiLi wants to learn flute.  However, I honestly don’t know how we can manage to learn two instruments.  I’d rather they focus on just piano right now but I don’t want them to get discouraged either.  I need to give this area some more thought.