Soap in a Ziploc Bag

Today's lesson in All About Spelling involved me sealing dishwashing liquid in a zip-close plastic baggie.  :)

Z1 used his pointer finger to "write" the letters that make certain sounds on this baggie  So, for example, I would dictate the sound "s"  or "ch" and he'd "write" the corresponding letter(s) on it.   He loves how the "goo" feels.  I have to admit, so do I.  It's kind of relaxing.  

I'm going to do the same thing with some shaving cream as soon as I can get to the dollar store to buy some cheap shaving cream. 

Right here, right now.

In my last post I was struggling with the Right Start Math curriculum but I'm sticking with it.  Today's lesson (working with 10s) was actually pretty interesting so I'm encouraged.

Aside from that, we just started the All About Spelling program level 1.  It will be really easy for Z1 since we've covered much of the material (syllables and vowels/consonants) but I'm hoping it'll build his confidence and fill some gaps.  

Last Friday, I went down to NYCHEA's annual meeting at the ROC.  It took us over an hour on the train to get down there.  And then when we got down there, I realized that I could not fully participate since Z2 is just a touch too young to hang out independently with other children (he still hits and bites on occasion) but he is too old (and disruptive) to have stayed quietly in the meeting room.  So I didn't garner much from the meeting at all.  One thing I did hear a little bit more about was the Charlotte Mason method and I'm going to try to get some more information on it.  (Currently, my lean is toward classical homeschooling in the vein of The Well-Trained Mind.)  What I learned from the whole exhausting experience was that it is just not the time.  I have been struggling so hard to get us involved in groups and trying to get us doing things with other homeschoolers.  I have been repeatedly frustrated.  I am now accepting that when the time comes, building our community and getting the support I need will be simple.  It won't be exhausting.  It won't be frustrating or stressful.  As with everything else, I'm learning to be right here, right now.

On a different note, it was so exciting today!  At the library program we go to regularly on Tuesdays, they introduced a new thing.  We can now borrow bags full of materials (puzzles, coloring pages, puppets, books, etc.) all focused on a particular theme.  The theme of the bag we borrowed this week is "Community Helpers" which is awesome because one of the aims for first grade is learning about . . . you guessed it community helpers!  So that was a wonderful discovery!  And I'm reminded that for all the things I don't have, there are many things I do.  So I'm grateful!

So I'm feeling very positive about things right now.

Already learning . . .

I took the huge risk of purchasing the Right Start math curriculum for almost $200.  I wanted something that would be fun, interactive and hands-on while providing a rock-solid mathematics foundations.  It's extremely important to me that the boys develop a deep understanding of math--not just learning what to do and doing it.  I what them to really comprehend why they are doing things.  I think the program is wonderful in that regard but I find it tedious and dry.  Except for the games, there really is nothing fun about it and the materials are really drab.  

I understood it was a risk.  At this point, I kind of wish I had gone with the Math-u-See program like I was going to initially.  But I'm not purchasing anything else for this school year.  I have spent about $275 on curricula this year: Right Start and All About Spelling and that's my limit.  I would rather spend money on museums or classes than on curricula.

So, I'm going to make do with the Right Start math for this year, look into doing Math Mammoth (the free worksheets) and continue to use the School Zone Math 1-2 book I purchased some time ago.  

I'm not sure about purchasing math curricula in the future.  I may give Math-u-See a try but that's really about it.  I have decided to read (and perhaps purchase) Knowing and Teaching Elementary Mathematics to help me become more confident as a math teacher.  I will probably cobble together my own curriculum using many resources.  We really don't have money to waste and so I will have to be more self-sufficient in regards to curricula.