We are running on time!

Well English took longer than i wanted but alhumdulillah we are finished on time! Well we are finishing on time that is. I wanted to be done with English by lunch. Out normal lunch time is in 15 minutes and he is writing a sentence in his journal Then we will do a quick wrap up and have lunch. Then some math and science and if we have time Arabic or IS.

Inshallah I do think next week we will be able to have English and math or science done by lunch each day. This I like.

Working Plan.....for now

So inshallah I think that we will be more efficient with our English curriculum in another week or two. The science used to take a long time until I got a good enough feel for it that I always was ready. The math is in a very regular format so it is easy to be prepared for. None the less I think, inshallah I will write out(copy) the lesson plans for each day in math and English so I can be prepared and because the amoeba that was My Little Man's computer has become a vegetable, lol (the Pentium 4 processor is broken).
The way our day has been going
Wake dress teeth
eat read the Morning Warm Up and start
Break and back to work
Lunch and small break then back to finish up English
break, then math,
long break then science
I am hoping that by next week we will be used to the new curriculum enough to get to math by lunch and may be even finished with it by lunch. 

Hmph

Well My Little Man was supposed to get 1 day's worth of school work over the 3 days at his dad's house. He did approximately 1/4th of his English lesson and that's it!
If he went to public school and needed to do 1 days worth of work at his dad's house each month it would get done. But nope.......ARG! drives me nuts!
Well Bob did apologise but this is absolutely not abnormal.
Bob offered to have Carter stay until lunch on Saturdays of the weekend My Little Man stays late so that he can get the work done for the most part at my house. I am ok with that except it means the poor guy will have school 6 days in a row the one week of the month then 4 the following week.
Oh well at least then I know he will get a fair amount done the one day.  Alhumdullilah. Well My Little Man got home at a little past 7 this evening and we started his school work at 8ish so he is wrapping up the last thing and its 12:30. We skipped 1 or 2 things and saved his math practice pages for tomorrow.
I really don't see what the problem is. I send all the lesson plans, printed out and customised for My Little Man. I print off all the materials necessary. I Send all the counters and manipulatives. I go over what the lessons will be with My Little Man the day before hand. I even go through the lessons with Bob before he leaves with My Little Man for the weekend. I am available to help.
I have suggested that My Little Man get dropped off in the morning for schooling and picked up afterward but somehow that offer is rejected each and every time.
I think Bob really just isn't thinking of My Little Man's needs at all. He thinks i am trying to steal his time but my son needs an education and he just doesn't respect me. Grr.

What We've Been Up To

Right now My Little Man is using a calculator to create addition problems and then make up a math story involving the equation.
He worked on a Boating Safety booklet, reviewed Arabic letters and focused on dthal, thought up and started a science experiment to see if he could get too hot by drinking hot water with a straw so he could go outside with out a coat and not get cold. Next, inshallah he is going to read and test himself on comprehension. When he read a work he didn't know he wrote it down and studied it so he would recognize it in the future.

Oh when he was working on his dthal page he started experimenting with mixing colors. So lets see thats Arabic, art, science, math, vocabulary in English, and is getting a book now for reading.  4 hours of school work and no problems other than the occasional "Enough sound effects i can't concentrate!" coming from my end. not bad

What We've Been Up To

Well for about a month we had been really butting heads. I didn't want every post to be negative to I didn't post. Well we took last week off, every single day! Today was our first day back to school work. With the exception of Eid's and a couple other days we had been going for 3 and 1/2 months strait.
We'll with only 1 minor blip we had a good day. We started after lunch and are wrapping up now.
My son spent 2 hours on math, much of the time day dreaming but eventually he got down and did the work. Either way he did a page of addition problems equaling 15 or less, and learned his +0 facts to 13. He has know how to add for quite some time. He was just hadn't realised that +0 is always the other adden. Anyway I am pretty condifant that he knows his +0's now by rote.
He read nursery rhymes, and lessons 1-5 in McGuffey's Eclectic Primer, even doing the cursive copy work.  He did 2 pages from How We Use Numbers.
He did lesson 1 from Arabic is Easy with the video and we read the lesson in the book together. He still isn't solid in his vocab despite all but 1 of those words he has be "learning" since he was 4! Oh well
Right now he is writing me a letter. His task is to fill his page up. The page is ruled at about 1 inch so it's not an over the top request and he hasn't complained, even though I have sent him back 3 times saying. "This is very good. Now finish filling up the page." I told him he could draw picture but that I mostly wanted words.

Meeting Goals

So when you homeschool 2 kids, or at least these 2 you cover a LOT less material in the same amount of time, but I feel like we got a lot done this afternoon none the less.
I decided this week that I would just lay put the whole week for myself as a plan instead of daily plans. Today I kinda wish I had done the daily plan thing instead. On the other hand we covered Math for My Little Man, Science for both. Did some reading/science for B, Arabic for My Little Man, Social Studies for both and a little English for My Little Man. B also corrected has papers that I had checked, this morning.
Ideally we would cover English, Math and Science everyday and Social Studies a few times a week for B and once a week for My Little Man. Also covering Arabic and Islamic Studies daily for My Little Man. Health about once a week and making sure we use the computer each week as well, other than just reading our text books.
We will just have to see what happens tomorrow. Tomorrow is the play group day. At 11 we have the one that is just a few ladies from the neighborhood and at 3 we have the one that is for a homeschool group. Also B celebrates his birthday tomorrow.
B keeps coming a couple hours later than we planned and that bugs me. I talked to his mom about it today and told her it is just not worth it if he doesn't come when planned because it just throws off the whole day. Ideally I would like to start with My Little Man at about 8:30, B at 9:00 take breaks as necessary until 1 for a nice long lunch break and end the day by 4:00. This way we have plenty of time to take breaks, send one kid off with a break if necessary while I work with the other and still have plenty of times to do things together.
At least this afternoon was better than the morning. My school boys were in good moods.

Plans for a week with B

So My Little Man is at his dad's house for the week. He will be home for a couple hours monday-friday in the mornings so we can do our Arabic and Islamic studies together. Other than that it will just be B and me.

So I am trying to figure out where he is academically. I know that his reading level is about the same as My Little Man's and that his vocabulary is a little low as well, probably as a result of the low reading level. His strongest subject is math right now, but from the assessment i gave him he is not at the same level as his peers. He seems to be behind generally in all subjects although he has nice handwriting and is certainly more mature than My Little Man. He is clearly light years ahead of My Little Man when it comes to writing.

I think B is just a bit of a late bloomer. He has a fair amount of life skills, now we just need to beef him up in academics so he will be ready for the world.

I am thinking this week he may act out a bit given it will be our second week together. Thats ok, he will probably just need to test the ground to see where he and I stand. Therefore I think i need to have a behavior plan.
If I really focus on reading, math, and writing with him I think that might be best. He said he wanted to learn about bugs so maybe having him do a lap book about bugs might be a good starting place. hmmmmm

Back to School After Eid

Well we are back to school work today. Last week was a bit hectic so while we did some schooling we didn't get too much done academically. Although I do think our Arabic skill benefited quite a bit.
Tuesday was Eid and yesterday we also took the day off from school work for recuperation purposes.

So far to day we are in a pretty relaxed mode. We started an hour ago and began with our official math book. It has manipulatives that you punch out of the back of the book which is always fun. The lesson was basically just review of Kindergarten level math.
Currently he is making his invention from his English lesson. It goes with the book Tools by Ann Morris. It talks about tools giving examples from around the world. My Little Man drew a picture of a tool of his own invention and is now creating it using legos.
I would still like to cover Islamic studies, Arabic and science. As well as practice spelling and writing, both handwriting and composition. Like I said we are going about it very relaxed so if we don't get to them today I wont fret.

The Next Step/I have decided what we will use in each subject!

So here is the big list:

• English
• reading: Scott Foresman Reading, Harcourt Collections
• writing: 6 Traits of Writing 1st Grade, Scott Foresman Reading, Harcourt Collections
• grammer: Scott Foresman Reading, Harcourt Collections
• spelling/phonics: Scott Foresman Reading, Harcourt Collections
• Penmanship
• English: Spencerian Penmanship
• Arabic: Iqrah Reader, and various printables
• Science: Scott Foresman Science 2nd grade
•  Social Studies
• History: Our Prophet, and Our Country
• Civics: Our Country
• Geography: Our Country and Al Ummah
• Culture: See IS and Geography
• Economics: Our Country
• Mathematics: How We Use Number, and Mathematics in Action
• Islamic Studies
• Salat: My Salat Companion (TJ)
• Quran: Juz 30
• Aqeedah: Most resources from TJ (Talibideen JR)
• Arabic:
• Reading: Madina Arabic Reader book 1
• Writing: Madina Arabic Reader book 1, Iqrah Reader 1st grade
• Oral: Madina Arabic Reader book 1, Iqrah Reader 1st grade
• Health:
• cooking/nutrition: weekly meal prep,
• other: Harcourt Health, and various other individual resources for each topic

So Where are We? Choice curriculum/Getting back into the routine.

Well it looks like we have the Arabic picked out, Math, Science, and English picked out. This leaves handwriting, Islamic Studies, Social Studies, Arts and Health.
I have all but decided that we will learn Spencerian Penmanship because it will be an art as well as a tool for communication. I think I really need to spice things up for penmanship otherwise we'll be miserable.
Also I figure for arts just making sure we have various art projects going on regularly. I will just let it be mostly child directed inshallah.  Say we love reading Three Little Bikers, maybe we can make a puppet show of it, or are leaning about the food groups, painting a poster about it, or we write and learn a little nasheed about what good writers do. Things like that.
Also I am thinking that SS and Health do not need to be done every day. Ideas i have for them are teaching one subject, a few times a week and then when we have mastered the concepts and skills do the other.
We could have one week with one subject and one week with the other or One day with one subject and the other a day or 2 later.
As far as IS goes I think we will do Quraan everyday, and other subjects on certain days. Maybe Aqeeda on mondays, that kind of thing.

This brings me to Mondays. Mondays are the hardest day of our week because he is often tired coming home from a fun weekend at Dad's. It seems also to very important that with in the first few mins that he walks in the door that he gets started on school work. If he does not he has a hard time with the transition back to Mom's house all day. I tend to want to chat with his step mom about what he did on the week end and what not. I guess I will just have to give her a call later in the day. 

Handwriting

So the options seem to be, first of all, do we want to continue manuscript or move to cursive?
I gave an impromptu lesson in cursive today. He though it was cool. I wonder if it would be easier because connecting letters is already familiar to him via Arabic.

 I think it would be cool to learn how to write in the older style, Spencerian.  It also seems to lend itself to learning calligraphy more readily. It might force both of use to slow down and really pay attention to letter formation. (My hand is aching just thinking about handwriting.)

This is Engrossers Script

Just for fun

Of course there are more moder scripts like D'Nealian

So if we learn cursive, what is the end goal? Simplicity or beauty? I think it just depends. If he is capable, beauty because this could be one more way to express himself, on the other hand if it is just not with in his abilities then simplicity would be the obvious choice.  Simplicity would allow him to read cursive and take notes faster.
I still think making beautiful handwriting the goal could be a wonderful choice because it could become an art form, as I mentioned before.
MMM I think I am going to poll people on facebook. 

English Curriculum

So until some other amazing thing comes along, which tends to happen but I dobt it will beat these choices, I decided we will use Scott Foresman Reading 2nd grade for the first 16 weeks, and then Harcourt Collects for the second 16 weeks. And since we homeschool year round to a greater or lesser extent I the remain 20 "official" days are easy to add in.

SF Reading includes, phonics, comprehension, writing, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, web quests and test taking skills (I am not to worried about the test taking skill parts because while we probably will do the state tests occasionally we may not as they are optional.)

H Collections includes comprehension, grammar, spelling, writing, web quests, and phonics.

 As far as penmanship goes, this is a septate issue.

Passwords for various text books and links

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=82095303
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=82095304
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=82095381
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=82095505

English
	Languages of Literature Grade 6	http://www.classzone.com/books/language_of_lit_gr06/index.cfm?state=MD
	Languages of Literature Grade 7	http://www.classzone.com/books/language_of_lit_gr07/index.cfm?state=MD
	Languages of Literature Grade 8	http://www.classzone.com/books/language_of_lit_gr08/index.cfm?state=MD
Health
	Teen Health Course 1	http://glencoe.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0078697603/student_view0/
	Teen Heath Course 2	http://glencoe.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0078697611/student_view0/
	Teen Health Course 3	http://glencoe.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/007869762x/student_view0/
Spanish
	Realidades 1 Web Code jck-0001	http://www.phschool.com
	Realidades 2 Web code jdk-0001	http://www.phschool.com
	Realidades 3 Web code jek-0001	http://www.phschool.com
French
	Discovering French Bleu 1	http://www.classzone.com/cz/books/french_1/book_home.htm
	Discovering French Blanc 2	http://www.classzone.com/cz/books/french_2/book_home.htm
World Studies
	A Message of Ancient Days World Studies 6	http://www.eduplace.com/ss/hmss/6/index.html
	Across the Centuries World Studies 7	http://www.eduplace.com/ss/hmss/7/index.html
	Creating America World Studies 8	http://www.classzone.com/books/cas05/index.cfm?state=MD
Math
	Math 6	http://www.glencoe.com/sec/math/mac/mac01/course1/
	Math 7	http://www.glencoe.com/sec/math/mac/mac01/course3/
	IM	http://glencoe.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0078738180/student_view0
	Algebra 1	http://www.glencoe.com/sec/math/algebra/algebra1/algebra1_05/
	Algebra 2	http://www.classzone.com/books/algebra_2/index.cfm?state=MD
	Geometry	http://go.hrw.com/gopages/ma/geo.html

Links for Free Curriculum or Text Books For 1st Grade

So here is a list of links that could be useful for other young families.  BTW North Carolina is supposed to have the best schools in the country so I use their standards and pacing for guides.

• Used homeschool curriculum, and homeschool groups, events, and activities 
• Home - Rainbow Resource Center, Inc.  
• SCM Curriculum Guide – Simply Charlotte Mason 
• BCP Glossary Lesson Pathways Browse Categories 
• Free Homeschool Curriculum and Educational Resources - Homeschool Buyers Co-op 
• Curriculum Based Programs, Interpretation and Education, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior 
• TJEd Online.com: Your online resource for education, training and support for A Thomas Jefferson Education 
• Old Fashioned Education Freely Educate LeapingFromTheBox - Homeschooling and Unschooling Information and Educational Resources 
• كتب مباحث الصفوف الأساسية والثانوية 
• Classic Curriculum Scope and Sequence Grades 1 - 12 
• Pass Words For Georgia Text Books in Fulton
• Text Books 
• Ideal Muslimah and other books
• The Presidents Challenge (fitness) 
• Dictation lessons in drawing for primary grades
• Object Lessons 
• Pearson - Prentice Hall Social Studies 
• Grade 2 Science
• http://activities.macmillanmh.com/science/ca/grade2/index.html 2nd Grade Science
• FOSSweb - Air and Weather 
• http://msnucleus.org/curriculum/curriculum.html Free k-12 science curriculum!
• http://science.education.nih.gov/customers.nsf/ESDental.htm Dental unit for little ones
• Technology Curriculum k-6 
• The arithmetical primer. Underhill's new table-book; or, Tables of arithmetic made easier. By D. C. Underhill ... 
• 19th Century Schoolbooks Collection 
• First lessons in arithmetic on the inductive pl... 
• The Grammar of Math: First lessons of Arithmetic  This site has videos and many other resources to go with the previous link 
• California Mathematics - Grade 1 - Chapter 1
• http://ceure.buffalostate.edu/~csmp/  CSMP complete curriculum for math
• http://www.sfreading.com/ Has grammar book, and various other materials
• Language Arts: State Resources take some time and explore this one
• The gradual primer, or, Primary school enunciator: The child's first step, taken in the right place, Part I
• McGuffey's eclectic primer 
• The new Franklin primer and first reader
• For reading Assessment 
• Starfall's Learn to Read with phonics 
• http://www.harcourtschool.com/menus/harcourt_brace_spelling.html
• http://www.homespellingwords.com/1st-Grade-Spelling-Words.htm 
• Mrs. Perkins' Dolch Words
• http://www.k12reader.com/first-grade-spelling-words/ 
• http://treasures.macmillanmh.com/national/teachers/building-reading-writing-skills/supplementary-grammar-writing-activities
• http://treasures.macmillanmh.com/national/teachers/building-reading-writing-skills/supplementary-grammar-writing-activities 
• spelling assessment
• First lessons in language, or, Elements of English grammar
• The Grammar of English McGuff 
• McGraw-Hill | Grammar & Writing Activities »
• Zaner-Bloser Handwriting Products - Grade 1 - Zaner-Bloser Teachers' Store  free page maker
• Islamic Copywork
• Arabic primer 
• arabic primer audio
• Comprehensive List of Madinah Arabic Resources 
• Learn arbic: lesson 1
• Learn Quran 
• TJ Blog MY FAVORITE SITE IN THE WORLD! 
• The site Talibiddeen JR 

Handwriting Pages

I made some handwriting stages....well just about copied them from a used up commercial handwriting book, but I added my own flare. I mean really there is only so much one can do to make handwriting pages. lol
Anyway as soon as i figure our how to up load them I will post them.
Ok here are the links:
Tall short and below the floor
Cc
Cc word
Ee
Ee words
Ff
Ff words
Practice
Application 

Writing about snail

Just this moment my little guy came in and told me about a snail he found in the back yard. He is now drawing a picture and writing a sentence about it. Yeayh! I asked what he was going to write and asked what are some more details he could tell about.
I asked "Where were you."
He responded "Outside."
"Where outside? You were by the tree right?"
"I was by the back, back tree."
"Ok, yeah, add that to your picture. What other details could you add? Think about it"
He added the sun, grass, the "back, back tree" our house, and he is drawing up a storm now. How can I tell, sound effects, lol. O he added this room, our basement. it is so cute!

I just told him to do a really good job with his best hand writing so he could share it on the internet.

The little thing above the n on the ground is the snail. He is in front of a tree. The back porch has striped awnings and he shows the stairs in our house.  The text reads "A snail was on the bottom of my hand when I was outside. The snail was going to the top." His handwriting is very nice here, mashallah.
If I am right behind him prompting him to hold his pencil correctly, sit up and hold his paper this is what his handwriting looks like. Sometimes we "chomp" that is we will tap each finger to our thumbs to practice coordination. I need to look up some more ideas for small little things that we can occasionally do to increase hand strength and coordination. Both his hands and mine get tired easily.  I'll post my findings inshallah.

So I think I will follow a posting schedule. inshallah.
Monday: Cool Links!
Tuesday: Miscellaneous Lessons
Wednesday: Islamic Studies
Thursday: Arabic Studies
Friday: English Studies
Saturday: Mathematics
Sunday: Science

Subjects We're Studying

Hi world! Aslamulakum muslimeen!
So first thing is first we are studying Arabic, Aqeedah, Salat, Penmanship, Writing, English, Math, Science and what ever comes along ;). We informally study nutrition and health, along with other things.
Our current goals are as follows:
Arabic, increase vocabulary, an strengthen letter formation.
Aqeedah, Who is Your Lord?
Salat, perfecting physical positioning and meaning of the words
Penmanship, pencil grip, correct formation, leaving space between words
Writing, letter writing
English, spelling, thinking about what we have read
Math, review and assess
Science, Space and technology!
Other, Ireland!