As
homeschool moms we all have our way of doing things. Some have elaborate
planning pages, files, excel sheets etc. Others simply pick up the
parent/teacher guide and follow what you need to do next. And then there are
those who just go as the day takes them.
This is
what we normally do:
We do two
language programs, one for English and one for Afrikaans (our home language).
Afrikaans: For
our home language program which came in the form of worksheets and we have
license to copy, so I would copy the unit that we are going to work on for the
next week or two. This will mean that both my kids have the necessary
worksheets to work on. We are doing main focus on spelling and learning grammar
rules. For those who are curious, we use the Clever werkkaarte by Macmillan.
For anyone wanting to do this, you have to be able to speak and read in
Afrikaans to teach your kids the correct pronunciation of the words. My comment about these Clever worksheets:
There is aprox 38 worksheets per unit and there are 12 unit/ sets. I initially was
very sceptical due to the price mostly. We eventually got them and we just love
them. My kids spelling improved drastically and even their reading picked up
wonderfully.
English: We
learn English as a first language and not a second language. We started very
late with our English program, only seriously started this year, but the
previous years we did do other work here and there. We are doing Adventures in
Phonics by Christian Liberty press and are busy with the Level A book. We will
be starting within the next few weeks with the readers that you have to buy
with the first level. My comment about AIP. Love, love, love. I really like how every
letter is introduced, beginning sounds, where it is in the middle. There is
loads of review of the words, pictures of the words, fill in the missing sound
etc. We also use a little book where they wright new words down. There is a
flashcard set that you have to purchase additionally for level A. I have not
really used that, I just write the words on a whiteboard and they say and act
out what the word is. They love doing this. I am totally amazed how fast they
pick up the words. You can preview this book HERE in google books.
Mathematics:
We always start our day with Mathematics. Our reason for this is, the brain is
still very awake and fresh and they can focus better. We use to do a South
African program called Prac Math (in our home language). It is really a great
program. But, yes I have a but. There is no good foundation and review per
method. This means that within a month or so, they totally forget what they
learned. So after much thought and research we moved over to the American
program Math U See. Every day we will
just pick up where we left off the previous day. We are currently at Beta
level. Even though my kids have done almost everything in the Beta series, they
needed to learn the English terms and get to know how the program is presented.
My comment about MUS: Initially I was
very scared to use it as the program is in English. Wow, how surprised was I.
My kids picked everything up so quickly and they absolutely love the method and
working with the blocks. There is nothing negative I can say about MUS at this
stage. The kids love it and I love it. I just wished we started using it a long
time ago.
History,
Geography, Science etc: We use Konos. I read through the character trait we are
busy with and then select the activities we want to do for the week. I get the
necessary reference books from the library. Our local library does not have any
of the books they recommend, but I just get whatever else I can find on the
subjects. I also do an internet search. I find pictures, videos and anything
that will be helpful for us to cover that topic. Most important we use the Bible
as our pillar. My comment about Konos:
When we first started using it, I was very overwhelmed and confused. But after asking
for some guidance I became calm. Now we tackle it one thing at a time. One
should not look at the entire Volume (file) as a whole, but just look at the
character you are working on now. Konos is fun and very hands-on. You can view my page Konos.
Art: As I
am a very artistic person, we do crafts and arts whenever we feel like it. I
use anything from ideas that pop up. Reference books, the internet and then the
best resource ever, Pinterest.
Most of the days we do everything. We do not have set times that we work, but we normally do try and start by 8 or 9 in the morning and continue until we are done (with breaks in between). Art is the only thing we do not really do everyday, but in a sense we do, as everything creative is art :)
So no
matter what methods you use enjoy it. There is no one size fits all. We all
have our own ideas of what we want to do and what we want to accomplish.
Afrikaans: For
our home language program which came in the form of worksheets and we have
license to copy, so I would copy the unit that we are going to work on for the
next week or two. This will mean that both my kids have the necessary
worksheets to work on. We are doing main focus on spelling and learning grammar
rules. For those who are curious, we use the Clever werkkaarte by Macmillan.
For anyone wanting to do this, you have to be able to speak and read in
Afrikaans to teach your kids the correct pronunciation of the words. My comment about these Clever worksheets:
There is aprox 38 worksheets per unit and there are 12 unit/ sets. I initially was
very sceptical due to the price mostly. We eventually got them and we just love
them. My kids spelling improved drastically and even their reading picked up
wonderfully.
English: We
learn English as a first language and not a second language. We started very
late with our English program, only seriously started this year, but the
previous years we did do other work here and there. We are doing Adventures in
Phonics by Christian Liberty press and are busy with the Level A book. We will
be starting within the next few weeks with the readers that you have to buy
with the first level. My comment about AIP. Love, love, love. I really like how every
letter is introduced, beginning sounds, where it is in the middle. There is
loads of review of the words, pictures of the words, fill in the missing sound
etc. We also use a little book where they wright new words down. There is a
flashcard set that you have to purchase additionally for level A. I have not
really used that, I just write the words on a whiteboard and they say and act
out what the word is. They love doing this. I am totally amazed how fast they
pick up the words. You can preview this book HERE in google books.
Mathematics:
We always start our day with Mathematics. Our reason for this is, the brain is
still very awake and fresh and they can focus better. We use to do a South
African program called Prac Math (in our home language). It is really a great
program. But, yes I have a but. There is no good foundation and review per
method. This means that within a month or so, they totally forget what they
learned. So after much thought and research we moved over to the American
program Math U See. Every day we will
just pick up where we left off the previous day. We are currently at Beta
level. Even though my kids have done almost everything in the Beta series, they
needed to learn the English terms and get to know how the program is presented.
My comment about MUS: Initially I was
very scared to use it as the program is in English. Wow, how surprised was I.
My kids picked everything up so quickly and they absolutely love the method and
working with the blocks. There is nothing negative I can say about MUS at this
stage. The kids love it and I love it. I just wished we started using it a long
time ago. 
History,
Geography, Science etc: We use Konos. I read through the character trait we are
busy with and then select the activities we want to do for the week. I get the
necessary reference books from the library. Our local library does not have any
of the books they recommend, but I just get whatever else I can find on the
subjects. I also do an internet search. I find pictures, videos and anything
that will be helpful for us to cover that topic. Most important we use the Bible
as our pillar. My comment about Konos:
When we first started using it, I was very overwhelmed and confused. But after asking
for some guidance I became calm. Now we tackle it one thing at a time. One
should not look at the entire Volume (file) as a whole, but just look at the
character you are working on now. Konos is fun and very hands-on. You can view my page Konos.
Art: As I
am a very artistic person, we do crafts and arts whenever we feel like it. I
use anything from ideas that pop up. Reference books, the internet and then the
best resource ever, Pinterest. 
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