HomeSchooling First Grade Edition

July 12th, 2013

So we finished Desmond’s Kindergarten year at the end of April. The books we ended up using changed some through the year as we figured out what worked for us and what didn’t. Math changed completely in January or so, Reading stayed the same, Science worked out okay, though we didn’t get as much done as planned, and History ended up mainly being a pre-history study. All in all it was a good year. I was planning on starting First Grade at the beginning of June, but then decided to wait till he went on ADHD med, then decided to start mid-June because his medication appointment ended up needing a followup before he goes on meds, which doesn’t happen until tomorrow and 2 1/2 months of no school just seemed like way too much time off. So we started mid-June. He is doing okay so far, and we haven’t fully ramped up, I am waiting for the meds before we do that, but we are doing Math, Reading and History, and will be adding Science and Spelling in by the end of the month.

Here he is writing a sentence this morning during Reading/Language Arts:
deswriting

Anyways here is our planned schedule for this year. It likely will change some, but it is our plan.

For Reading and Language Arts we are sticking with All About Reading, the plan is to get through level 2 and start level 3 this year. He will also be doing All about Spelling, likely levels 1 and 2. We’ll be sticking with Handwriting Without Tears for writing, since that is what his OT uses and it is working. I have not decided on what we’ll use for grammar, we may just wait another year before starting it. We’ll also be reading anything that interests us, plus various books relating to our history and science studies.

For Math we’re going to use Life of Fred. We actually started the elementary series in January. We are currently on book 3. We may decide at some point to switch to something else, but at the moment the books are working wonderfully for Desmond and he is enjoying Math.

Here he is looking at his Math book today:
desfredmath

For History we are doing Story of the World Volume One: Ancient Times. I’ve bought some books to go along with our history plus we have a great public library where I can check out a bunch of other books as needed and wanted. We have a great library.

For Science we’re going to try Intellego Unit Studies. We’re starting with Astronomy, and then likely going to work on Living things, Plants and Animal. It might change depending on what Desmond is interested in doing though. I feel that exploring the world and figuring out how things work is really the most important part of science in the early years.

We’ll also be doing art, we get Kiwi Crates monthly, and both Eloise and Desmond enjoy doing them. Plus he has been interested in making paper airplanes and origami. He may also work on painting some D&D miniatures, which will be great for his fine motor control and make them more interesting then the plain white plastic they are now.

There is a lot of other things that we will be doing such as vising museums, the zoo, the aquarium, farms, and anything else that catches our interest, playing with friends, going to Hebrew school, playing iPad aps and exploring and learning through life.

It is going to be a fun school year.

desipad

Yes I know I haven’t posted in awhile

June 19th, 2013

Been busy with finishing up Desmond’s K year, doctors appointments at around the 1 year anniversary of his accident, starting Desmond’s first grade year, and other various an assorted things. I am still here and I do plan to start updating again soon. For now how about a cute picture or three?

298207_10151890940813677_871327449_n

ashovel

astocks

awave

ballet

bball

four

pool

scoot

slide

straw

straw2

swim

water

water2

suls

Super Busy

January 28th, 2013

Erm yeah, I have been busy with all sorts of things so haven’t really remembered to update the blog. I am hoping to do better next month, really. I am going to at least try to get back into doing Wordless Wednesday. Anyways, we are still around, just haven’t had much time to post on the blog due to life being hectic and such. Here is a picture of the small ones from Thanksgiving, I’ll try to get some more recent pictures up soon.

Sully’s 20 month stats

December 5th, 2012

So we kind of missed Sully’s 18 month appointment by a few months, and his 15 month well child visit completely. Anyways he went to the doctor today for his late 18 month appointment. He is 24 pound 7 ounces which puts him around the 20th percentile for weight. He is 33 1/4th inches which puts him around the 75 percentile for height. He is doing great.

At birth he was 9 pounds 4 ounces and 22 inches
At one month he was 11 pounds 3 ounces and 23 inches
At 2 months he was 13 pounds and 24 inches
At 4 months he was 15 pounds 2 ounces
At 5 months he was 16 pounds 3 ounces and 26 1/2 inches
At 6 months he was 17 pounds 8.5 ounces and 26 1/2 inches
At 9 months he was 19 pounds 5.5 ounces and 29 inches
At 12 months he was 20 pounds 9 ounces and 30 1/2 inches
At 20 months he was 24 pounds 7 ounces and 33 1/4 inches

6 Months

November 5th, 2012

It’s been 6 months now since that horrible day when Eloise came downstairs to say, “Desmond fell out the window.” It’s been 6 months since the worry, since the calling of 911, the quick response, the airlift to John Hopkins Children Center. 6 months since we heard, the first 72 hours are the most crucial time. 6 months since the first blood infusion. 6 months since your hair was shaved so the doctors could fix your head. In 6 months you have gone from this:

Desmond on May 20, 15 days after his accident, right before moving from PICU to a regular room.

To a 5 1/2 year old, where it is not obvious that you even had an accident. You’ve had you hair cut, you’ve gone Trick or Treating, you’ve gone down a waterslide. Other then the obvious hyperness and inability to stay focused and still, there are no other obvious repercussions from the accident.

Desmond at Halloween almost 6 months past his accident.

We have a lot of doctor appointment in the next few weeks, and they will all be thrilled to see how amazing you are doing, only 6 months since your accident. An accident that could have cost you your sight, your ability to walk, talk or even your life. 6 months since we had a little miracle occur and you healed so that there are few reminders of 6 months ago!

Wordless Wednesday

October 31st, 2012

Halloween!

Wordless Wednesday

October 17th, 2012

At the pumpkin patch.

Desmond can read, if he wants to!

October 11th, 2012

So today for reading Desmond was suppose to read a story from his story book. He stated that he wanted to read a Batman story instead. So being a nice Mommy I wrote up a quick little Batman story for him with words I know he has seen before and blended. He read all 7 sentences by himself with just a drop of help from me! Here is the story he read today:

Batman ran at the cat.
The cat was bad.
Batman hit the bad cat.
The bad cat bit Batman.
Batman got the cat.
The cat was not a cat.
It was a rat!

I think I may need to write him up a few more Batman stories, since he seems to enjoy them, and is willing to read them without fuss.

Wordless Wednesday

October 10th, 2012

Here is Eloise playing on the playground at her playdate with a friend yesterday.

Wordless Wednesday

October 3rd, 2012

Dan snapped this great picture of Sully nursing his doll the other day. He got up in Mommy’s chair with the boppy so he could nurse his doll.