Geography/Literature/Science: This week we learned about the Ganges River and the legend of how it came to Earth. We spent the rest of the week reading the many Indian story books. Many of them have great moral lessons. Panchatantra and Jataka Tales are fun and entertaining, but also teach important lessons. We also reviewed the water cycle and how rivers and fresh water are so important to us.
Phonics: We did lessons 166-170. The focus was on the 'long a' sound spelled 'ay'. The story was Kay and The Ray Gun. This one is our favorite story now. It was so great to see him excited and laughing about the story, while self motivated to keep reading faster and more fluent. We love McRuffy readers! He took to reading 'ay' very quickly. We also reviewed punctuation, periods and question marks.
Math: This week we did lessons 131-135. We practiced finding out if a number is odd or even. We learned about reading addition problems vertically as the same as horizontally. We played with tangrams. We reviewed how to read and understand graphs. We reviewed moving up and down the 10's number line. We reviewed reading and writing time to the hour. We learned about reversing numbers in addition has the same sum, and writing equations like 3+4=4+3. We also played the Elephant Truck game, which is a fun game that reviews counting by 1's, 2's, 5's, and 10's.
Next week is our last week of McRuffy Reading! I'm thoroughly impressed with this curriculum and have ordered the 1st grade program to start soon. I plan on taking a few weeks in March to review all of the readers and phonics concepts and put a little extra time into mastering letter writing. Then, our 1st grade journey will begin! I'm so thankful that Govinda is loving learning to read. I'm especially thankful for my wonderful husband and family members who help and support our homeschool journey. Thanks!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
India Book List
We read so many great story books for India! Here's a list of them all so we can revisit them later:
About India:
Elephant dance : memories of India by Heine, Theresa.
A family in India by Jacobsen, Peter Otto.
The Ganges by Cumming, David
In the heart of the village : the world of the Indian Banyan tree by Bash, Barbara.
India by Fontes, Justine.
Monsoon by Krishnaswami, Uma
Sacred river by Lewin, Ted.
Take a trip to India by Lye, Keith.
Trading up by Williams, Brenda,
Indian Folktales:
The blue jackal by Brown, Marcia.
The drum : a folktale from India by Cleveland, Rob
Fat Gopal by Singh, Jacquelin.
Hindu stories by Ganeri, Anita
The little brown Jay : a tale from India by Claire, Elizabeth.
The monkey and the crocodile; a Jataka tale from India by Galdone, Paul.
No dinner! : the story of the old woman and the pumpkin by Souhami, Jessica.
Once a mouse ... A fable cut in wood by Hitopadesa. English. Selections.
One grain of rice : a mathematical folktale by Demi.
The peacock's pride by Kajpust, Melissa.
The Prince who ran away : the story of Gautama Buddha by Rockwell, Anne F.
The Ramayana by Seeger, Elizabeth
The ringdoves : from the Fables of Bidpai by Kamen, Gloria.
Seasons of splendour : tales, myths & legends of India by Jaffrey, Madhur.
The sheep of the Lal Bagh. by Mark, David,
The stonecutter : an Indian folktale by Newton, Patricia Montgomery.
The story of Divaali by Verma, Jatinder Nath,
The talkative beasts; myths, fables, and poems of India by Reed, Gwendolyn E.
THE TIGER, THE BRAHMAN, AND THE JACKAL WITH PICTURES BY MAMORU FUNAI by Steel, Flora Annie Webster
Lakshui, the Water BUffalo Who Wouldn't, Gobhai
Cow For Jaya, Grant
Poombah of Badoombah, Lillegard
Baya, Baya, Lulla-by-a, McDonald
Golden Serpent, Myers
Nine Animals and the Well, Rumford
Tigers:
Tiger by Hoffman, Mary,
Tiger's story by Blackford, Harriet.
Tigers at twilight by Osborne, Mary Pope.
Bengal tiger by Spilsbury, Richard,
Heart of a Tiger, Arnold
About India:
Elephant dance : memories of India by Heine, Theresa.
A family in India by Jacobsen, Peter Otto.
The Ganges by Cumming, David
In the heart of the village : the world of the Indian Banyan tree by Bash, Barbara.
India by Fontes, Justine.
Monsoon by Krishnaswami, Uma
Sacred river by Lewin, Ted.
Take a trip to India by Lye, Keith.
Trading up by Williams, Brenda,
Indian Folktales:
The blue jackal by Brown, Marcia.
The drum : a folktale from India by Cleveland, Rob
Fat Gopal by Singh, Jacquelin.
Hindu stories by Ganeri, Anita
The little brown Jay : a tale from India by Claire, Elizabeth.
The monkey and the crocodile; a Jataka tale from India by Galdone, Paul.
No dinner! : the story of the old woman and the pumpkin by Souhami, Jessica.
Once a mouse ... A fable cut in wood by Hitopadesa. English. Selections.
One grain of rice : a mathematical folktale by Demi.
The peacock's pride by Kajpust, Melissa.
The Prince who ran away : the story of Gautama Buddha by Rockwell, Anne F.
The Ramayana by Seeger, Elizabeth
The ringdoves : from the Fables of Bidpai by Kamen, Gloria.
Seasons of splendour : tales, myths & legends of India by Jaffrey, Madhur.
The sheep of the Lal Bagh. by Mark, David,
The stonecutter : an Indian folktale by Newton, Patricia Montgomery.
The story of Divaali by Verma, Jatinder Nath,
The talkative beasts; myths, fables, and poems of India by Reed, Gwendolyn E.
THE TIGER, THE BRAHMAN, AND THE JACKAL WITH PICTURES BY MAMORU FUNAI by Steel, Flora Annie Webster
Lakshui, the Water BUffalo Who Wouldn't, Gobhai
Cow For Jaya, Grant
Poombah of Badoombah, Lillegard
Baya, Baya, Lulla-by-a, McDonald
Golden Serpent, Myers
Nine Animals and the Well, Rumford
Tigers:
Tiger by Hoffman, Mary,
Tiger's story by Blackford, Harriet.
Tigers at twilight by Osborne, Mary Pope.
Bengal tiger by Spilsbury, Richard,
Heart of a Tiger, Arnold
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Weekly Update: India and Tigers!
We had a fun tiger-filled week! The stories from India are great. I think we'll spend an extra week on India because we like it so much.
Art: Here's our white tiger, Namaste, the tiger at our local zoo, cooling off in the pond:
Literature/Geography/Science: We read many great books about and from India and tigers. I was able to finally read our first chapter book, and both of the boys listened attentively, without pictures! I've been trying to do this for a while with no success until now. The chapter book was The Magic Tree House: Tigers At Twilight. It was a fun adventure about the animals in India. Other great stories that we read were Tiger's Story, Once A Mouse, The Brahman, The Tiger, and The Jackal, A Grain Of Rice, The Stonecutter, The Ringdoves, and Hindu Stories.
Phonics: This week's focus was on the 'long o' vowel sound spelled 'oa'. The story was 'Goat and Toad'. We had fun with it and reading progress is going very well. I can't believe we have 2 more weeks left with McRuffy Kindergarten phonics! His reading is getting more advanced every week.
Math: This week we did lessons 125-130. We practiced adding and subtracting, counting by 2's, 5's, and 10's, counting pennies, nickels, and dimes.
Art: Here's our white tiger, Namaste, the tiger at our local zoo, cooling off in the pond:
Literature/Geography/Science: We read many great books about and from India and tigers. I was able to finally read our first chapter book, and both of the boys listened attentively, without pictures! I've been trying to do this for a while with no success until now. The chapter book was The Magic Tree House: Tigers At Twilight. It was a fun adventure about the animals in India. Other great stories that we read were Tiger's Story, Once A Mouse, The Brahman, The Tiger, and The Jackal, A Grain Of Rice, The Stonecutter, The Ringdoves, and Hindu Stories.
Phonics: This week's focus was on the 'long o' vowel sound spelled 'oa'. The story was 'Goat and Toad'. We had fun with it and reading progress is going very well. I can't believe we have 2 more weeks left with McRuffy Kindergarten phonics! His reading is getting more advanced every week.
Math: This week we did lessons 125-130. We practiced adding and subtracting, counting by 2's, 5's, and 10's, counting pennies, nickels, and dimes.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Weekly Update: Buddha, Tibet, Nepal, and Yaks
Art: We drew a yak in the Himalayas with Draw Write Now. These books are fun and we like them!
Literature: We read a few books about Siddhartha Buddha and some Buddhist parables, Buddha by Demi, Buddhist Stories, and Seven Blind Mice. We also discussed how the Vishnu Avatar Buddha described in the Srimad Bhagavatam is different from the famous Siddharta Buddha, who came later, and the significant differences between them. We found Tibet and Nepal on the map.
Geography: We found Tibet and Nepal on the map. We discussed how Buddhism spread to China and Japan.
Phonics: We did lessons 156-160. The reader was called 'Ruff Camps' and the focus was on the ending consonant blend 'mp'. This was an easier week since all words that end with 'mp' have short vowels, and vowels are the most tricky letters to read because they make so many different sounds. I like how McRuffy breaks up the weeks on long vowels with easier weeks with consonant blends to review and reinforce previous concepts and not overwhelm the beginning reader.
Math: We did lessons 121-124. The main focus was counting by 2's and practicing adding and subtracting. We also introduced a graph and probability by picking different counters and counting how many of each color was picked on the color graph. Also, a short introduction to symmetry with the pattern blocks was fun and though provoking. The pattern blocks have been revived after months on the shelf with a new and fun appeal for both of the boys! Math is becoming a more independent subject now. He can use the animal counters to find the answer to math sentences on his own. Navin and I cheer him on while he does his workbook page.
Literature: We read a few books about Siddhartha Buddha and some Buddhist parables, Buddha by Demi, Buddhist Stories, and Seven Blind Mice. We also discussed how the Vishnu Avatar Buddha described in the Srimad Bhagavatam is different from the famous Siddharta Buddha, who came later, and the significant differences between them. We found Tibet and Nepal on the map.
Geography: We found Tibet and Nepal on the map. We discussed how Buddhism spread to China and Japan.
Phonics: We did lessons 156-160. The reader was called 'Ruff Camps' and the focus was on the ending consonant blend 'mp'. This was an easier week since all words that end with 'mp' have short vowels, and vowels are the most tricky letters to read because they make so many different sounds. I like how McRuffy breaks up the weeks on long vowels with easier weeks with consonant blends to review and reinforce previous concepts and not overwhelm the beginning reader.
Math: We did lessons 121-124. The main focus was counting by 2's and practicing adding and subtracting. We also introduced a graph and probability by picking different counters and counting how many of each color was picked on the color graph. Also, a short introduction to symmetry with the pattern blocks was fun and though provoking. The pattern blocks have been revived after months on the shelf with a new and fun appeal for both of the boys! Math is becoming a more independent subject now. He can use the animal counters to find the answer to math sentences on his own. Navin and I cheer him on while he does his workbook page.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Weekly Update: Himalayas and Snow Leopards
Geography/Literature: This week, we sailed away from Japan and landed in Korea and went back through China on our way to India. We read a nice story from Korea called The Firekeeper's Son. Then we came to the Himalayas and climbed Mount Everest with a story called To The Top about the first men to climb it. We read a few books about the Himalayas, snow leopards, and the Sherpas. I plan on spending at least a month on India, but this will include Tibet, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka.
Art: We drew a snow leopard, adapted from the leopard from Draw Write Now. I helped him with some of it to keep it fun, and he really enjoyed making all the dots.
Phonics: We did lessons 151-155 this week. The focus was on 'long e', mostly words with 'ee'. The story was called Can A Deer Steer? We love these readers. They really reinforce the new concept while reviewing previously learned concepts and being really funny and entertaining.
Math: We did lessons 116-120. We practiced more addition and subtraction sentences, putting numbers in order from least to greatest, counting by 1's, 5's, and 10's, counting pennies, nickels, and dimes to find their cent value, introduced counting different kinds of coins together, and finished off with a new game called Addition and Subtraction Pool.
Art: We drew a snow leopard, adapted from the leopard from Draw Write Now. I helped him with some of it to keep it fun, and he really enjoyed making all the dots.
Phonics: We did lessons 151-155 this week. The focus was on 'long e', mostly words with 'ee'. The story was called Can A Deer Steer? We love these readers. They really reinforce the new concept while reviewing previously learned concepts and being really funny and entertaining.
Math: We did lessons 116-120. We practiced more addition and subtraction sentences, putting numbers in order from least to greatest, counting by 1's, 5's, and 10's, counting pennies, nickels, and dimes to find their cent value, introduced counting different kinds of coins together, and finished off with a new game called Addition and Subtraction Pool.
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