We've completed the Kindergarten curriculum from My Father's World. As we were nearing the end a few weeks ago, we had lots of fun doing crafts and not forgetting, our book picnic (my boys love this to bits!) at the park next to our flat.
This is our favourite spot where the boys have their breakfast, read their books and watch the trains and the world go by.
Quail, flower and rainbow crafts...
You see double now as recently, Nathanael is able to join Zech during craft time.
I've bought the first grade curriculum but I'm holding on to that for a while. Currently, I planned my own lessons. Here are some stuff we have done.
Bible
I'm using a Mandarin big book. Ended up sharing the story once in English and on another day in Mandarin. Zech listened to each story with great interest. Maybe he's one of those who simply loves stories. What I like about this set of Bible stories is how easily I can teach character building based on each story.
One of the stories of Esau and Jacob allowed me to focus on the individual identity. As a follow-up, my boys made a handprint and after brainstorming with Zech, I wrote both his and Nathanael's strengths on their handprint.
For the subsequent follow-up, Zech drew a self-portrait with a mirror in front of him. Then he wrote a short paragraph about himself.
English
I've chosen words related to the story as Zech's new vocabulary. Other new words include sight words or words from his readers.
Using the Melissa and Doug magnetic letters, I taught Zech to use the CVC format to make words. With a set of sight word cards below, I showed him how to construct simple sentences using pronouns, verbs, nouns or adjectives. To my surprise, he could create more complex sentences like the following.
I'm also focusing on phonemic awareness. I know I should have done this earlier but with the K curriculum, there really was little time left. So it's like back tracking. Still, better late than never. We've just practised sound discrimination between beginning and ending consonants and revised short vowels. Moving on to rhyming and long vowels next.
Math
Zech is learning to use different strategies to add and subtract. Usually, manipulatives are used to develop his conceptual understanding and to link from the concrete to the abstract.
In the picture below, he's using the 'make ten' method to add.
Other than addition and subtraction, he's also doing patterns (below) and learning to tell time.
Zech is now 4 years 7 months. Homeschool is beginning to look more like school. Sometimes I feel guilty for giving him too much work and for insisting on neat handwriting. After being advised by more than 1 concerned friend, I decided to let it go if effort is put in.
As much as possible, I try to take the boys outdoor or to the playground more than just once a week. Play and field trips are a major part of learning for them. This is one important element I've incorporated in the upcoming unit I've designed based on the Singapore theme. Will be sharing that soon in my blog.
