The Trumpet of the Swan

I thought for the summer I'd "review" the books that we are reading aloud. This week we read The Trumpet of the Swan by EB White. Princess wanted me to read the whole book in one sitting, but five chapters at a time was about all my voice could handle! We loved this book!!!! I don't remember reading it as a child and I'm sorry that I missed it. Louis was such an interesting character and it was fun to follow his struggles and his journies. I also enjoyed Louis father, you could just picture how proud and regal he was. I highly recommend this book! Here are a few questions that I asked princess(and her answers) about the book...

Was the book good or bad?
Good

Who was your favorite character?
Serena

What was your favorite part of the book?
When Serena fell in love with Louis and later they had babies.

What did you think was the funniest part of the book?
When Serena put her head on Louis's head

Would you read the book again?
Yes

Weekly Report-Last week of SL Core C!!

Today is princess's 6th birthday! She has no school today because of it and because we finished Core C yesterday!! We plan on continuing math and reading throughout the summer. We may do a unit study or two, it depends on how busy we get! Anyways here's a wrap up of our last week of the 2007-2008 school year...

LA: Everything is finished for the year! Princess has been enjoying picking out books from the library and reading them to me. I just got information on our library's summer reading program and we plan on participating in that again this summer.

Math: Princess recently took the CAT for first grade and only got one question wrong on the math section(she did above avg. on the LA portion too)! So I think that she has the concepts down better than I thought she did. We have been continuing working with Miquon and her memory of her math facts had increased. We will start 1B again next week rather than waiting for fall.

Core C: This week we read about Granny Han and A Grain of Rice. I have to say that this has been my favorite week of the Core. It was a great ending! It left princess wanting more, more, more. We will probably begin Core 1 in August, if I can wait that long!

Science: We have been flower hunting, reading about ducks, counting milipedes on hiking trails and identifying birds with friends. It has been fun and I'm surprised how much princess already knows about science.

I hope you had a great week and a wonderful school year! I will keep posting sporatically throughout the summer, but look forward to "seeing" you all regularly next fall! Thanks for reading....

wordless wednesday

Weekly Report--Sonlight Core C week 33 & 34

Well I missed last week because I have been busy planning! We are going to do two summer units(books and projects around a theme) this summer. So I had to put together a unit on China(the subject I chose) and one on butterflies(the subject princess chose). Check, that's done! I also have been planning for next year. I've been putting together my binder(which looks awesome!), looking for used curriculum, setting our goals and creating notebook and vocabulary sheets to use next year. Can you tell I like to be organized? What I learned this year was that if I don't plan for it in advance, it won't get done the way it should. So hopefully next year I will do better! All in all I am very excited about next year, it will be our third year homeschooling and I feel like we have finally found all the curriculum that will work for us. It's going to be a fun year! Now I just need to plan a christmas study and a chemistry curriculum, it never ends! With all the planning, we did manage to get some school in, here's a look...

LA: Princess has been chosing books from the library and is excited that she can actually read them. Since we have finished our reading program for this year and I don't want to start on next years, I have just had her read something of her choosing everyday. She's doing well and I'm very proud of the progress she has made. I plan on continuing this throughout the summer.

Math: We have been reviewing what we learned using Miquon. I also plan on continuing math throughout the summer. Princess loves it and I don't want her to forget all that we have learned this year.

Core C: We have been studying missionaries, some of them I'd never heard of. It has been interesting to read about them. We also finished House at Pooh Corner. When I closed the book for the last time, princess said, read it again, read it again! I'm glad that she enjoyed it.

Science: We talked a little about the states of matter, but mostly we have been checking out Let's Learn and Find Out Books from the library. Princess chooses three things she's interesting in learning more about and then we go find books about it. It has been fun, but I'm glad that we will have more structure when we start next year.

Hope you all had a great two weeks! Please scroll down and look at my used curriculum for sale (or trade) to see if you can use any of it. I'd love to have it out of the house! Thanks for reading!

Blessings...

Wordless Wednesday

Used Curriculum for sale

Here's what I have available, I will include shipping if you take more than $50 worth of stuff. I accept paypal. Please leave a comment or email me at info@elementalscience.com if you are interested!

Sonlight:

Sonlight LA1 package ($25) --includes guide with handwriting schedule is written in pen throughout, but pencil marks have been erased, includes extra copywork print out, missing story starter pictures and activity sheets #1-12, 14, 16-21, 23; also includes Sonlights LA1 games and Language and Thinking Skills

Sonlight Gr.1 Readers Schedule (SOLD)

Sonlight Core C(now K)-2007 IG (SOLD) --there are a few pen marks throughout, all the pencil marks have been erased --still using, will be available May 24th!!

Sonlight Core C(now K)-History 5-day books (SOLD) --All books are in good condition, they have the pink Core stickers on the bindings, includes the following, Usborne Children's Encyclopedia, Hero Tales, Living Long Ago, Wild Places, Granny Han's Breakfast --still using, will be availble May 24th!!

Sonlight Sing the Word! From A to Z (SOLD) --part of Core C(now K) Bible program, excellent condition

Sonlight Core 1 History Books (SOLD) --includes Usborne People and Places and Houses and Homes, both in like-new condition

Usborne Book of World Geography (SOLD) -- like-new condition

Hooked On Phonics: (will combince all five HOP levels for $45)

HOP yellow level ($10) -- includes readers, guide book, word play flashcards and parent guide. This is now the kindergarten level

HOP orange level ($10) --includes readers, guide book, tape and phonics chart. This is now the first half of the first grade level.

HOP red level ($10) --includes readers, guide book, flashcards, and phonics chart. This is now the second half of the first grade level.

HOP green & blue level ($20) --includes readers, guide book, flashcards and phonics chart. This is now the complete second grade level.

Science Resources:

Singapore Start-up Science Books 1-4 (SOLD) -- Book 1 is half used, but other three are untouched.

Harcourt Science Textbooks Gr. 1, 2, 3, 4 ($3 for each) --these are used school textbooks, but are in good condition Math: (SOLD)

Singapore PM 1A Teacher's Guide --some pencil writing, otherwise great condition

Singapore PM 1A textbook --like-new condition

Abeka: (SOLD)

Abeka K4 teachers guide for reading and writing --some pencil marks throughout but in good condition

Abeka K4 teachers guide for numbers (math) --some pencil marks throughout but in good condition

Abeka K4 manuscript teacher's guide --like-new condition

Abeka Number/picture flashcards

Abeka letter/picture flashcards

Abeka Little Owl Book 3-8

Abeka K4 charts and games -- this include all the phonics/math charts and games for K4, it also includes the games that you have to make to go with the program!, everything is cut out and prepped for you to use. (missing calendar)

Weekly Report--Sonlight Core C Week 32

We are wrapping up our year. It's hard to believe how much we have covered and that it's nearning an end. Princess has had a wonderful kindergarten year! Here's our week in review...

LA: Princess is two book away from finishing the HOP blue level. I can't believe how fast she's going. The other day she picked up Go, Dog, Go and read it to my while I was preparing dinner, so I wouldn't be bored. She was so proud of herself! We are a few lessons from finishing ETC and once that's done, she will just be reading alittle each day to keep her skills up!

Math: Princess finished her 1A book this week! We went out to lunch to celebrate. We spent the rest of the week playing with manipulatives and working on math facts.

Core C: We are still reading and enjoying House at Pooh Corner. We also read about Menno Simmons and John Wesley in Hero Tales. I had heard of these men before, but it was nice to learn more about them. Who knew I'd be learning in kindergarten too!

Other: We took a field trip the the Horticulture Gardens close by us this week. Princess learned to identify several trees and flowers that are native to this area. We also spent some time drawing what we saw. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Hope you had a great week, thanks for reading about ours! Blessings...