Thoughts this Spring
If we were as productive this whole year as we were this spring – we would be SOLID! When I did our schoolhouse review for the winter, I was pretty discouraged. We were so far behind where I wanted to be pretty much all across the board. But luckily this spring, doctors appointments have lessoned and we are getting better and better at organizing our time and making the most of it.
Our spring was FULL of lots of learning and it actually felt really nice and normal. We still have quite a bit to do this summer but we just keep on keeping on. Again, feeling so grateful that we have embraced year round learning and that the kiddos are totally on board. They spoil me with their positive attitudes sometimes and I am truly grateful. So here is what we have been up to this spring!
FAMILY
Come Follow Me
The Doctrine and Covenants has been AMAZING! I don’t know if it is the Come Follow Me program or if I am just in a really great space with my scripture study but it has just been really amazing as a family.
BULLET POINTS OF GOODNESS:
- The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored.
- I am preparing to be baptized.
- The sacrament helps me remember Jesus Christ.
- God wants me to pray and learn from the scriptures every day.
- Jesus loves “the song of the heart”.
- I can prepare to make sacred covenants.
- The sacrament helps me remember Jesus Christ.
- The armor of God protects me.
- The prophet leads the Church.
- Jesus Christ will gather His people before He comes again.
- I can prepare to meet the Savior.
- Because of Jesus Christ, I will be resurrected.
- The Prophet Joseph Smith saw Jesus Christ.
- I can share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- I can build my life on the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- I can love others.
- If I am prepared, I need not fear.
- I receive the gift of the Holy Ghost when I am confirmed.
- I can obey God’s laws.
- I am serving Jesus Christ when I serve others.
- The Lord leads His Church through His prophet.
- I can “stand in holy places”.
- Jesus Christ will come again.
- I can help others feel welcome at church.
- Heavenly Father blesses me with His gifts.
- I can follow Jesus Christ.
- My spiritual light can grow brighter and brighter.
- Jesus Christ loves me.
- I can be honest.
- The gift of the Holy Ghost is received by the laying on of hands.
- I should always keep my promises.
- Heavenly Father has given me power to choose.
- Heavenly Father wants me to be grateful.
- The Sabbath is the Lord’s day.
Extra Resources: The Red Headed Hostess – Book of Jacob / Book for Sarah and Benjamin
Science
This winter was ALL about ENERGY! Jacob and I have done this unit before {back when it was actually two separate units!} but I love the changes that have been made and it was actually a lot more fun than I remembered it š. I am still working on the review {I promise, it will be coming SOON!} but we had a blast.
We covered the transfer of energy, the sun {as an energy source}, atoms, molecules, heat, heart sources and production, heat transfer, head conductors and insulators, temperature, electricity, electrical current, magnets and our Earth, electromagnetism, light and shadows, reflection, refraction, absorption, light and color, sound, volume and pitch, AND energy conservation.
That’s a WHOLE LOT!
We also started our last science unit of the year – GEOLOGY – at the end of May and learned what geology is along with the Earth’s composition. This is a new unit for ALL of us and it’s been amazing so far! More to come this summer!
Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Science: Energy; The Good and the Beautiful Science: Geology
Art
Art is a favorite. We didn’t get to do as many art projects as any of us would have liked, but we did do some! The kiddos did a really fun lion and a lighthouse scene. They also did a fun rainbow pot of gold to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
Resource: Let’s Make Art: Kids Catalog
JACOB {3rd Grade}
Language Arts
Jacob CRUISED through language arts this spring! And we also experienced one of our greatest victories. Jacob has so many strengths but writing has always been a struggle for him. It has resulted in some big shut downs and it was hard.
BUT! We saw a HUGE shift this spring. Jacob went from dreading all writing assignments to actually being excited. It was such an incredible moment to witness and I was so happy to be apart of it. It took time but we got there and I am so grateful.
This spring he did some poetry writing, learned how to keep your communications Christlike, wrote an opinion essay, AND a personal narrative.
He finished unit 3, unit 4, and got into unit 5! That’s a whole lot of learning!
We covered types of sentences, ENCE and ANCE, capitalization rules, past, present, and future tense, irregular past tense, direct objects, sentence diagramming, independent clauses, spelling rules, helping verbs, prefixes and suffixes, coordinating conjunctions, decoding difficult words, compound sentences, and dropping the y and adding IES.
In geography we studied humidity and temperature and learned about Greenland, Alaska, and Central America.
In art, we focused on the work of George Waldmuller.
Another thing I want to add is Jacob moved up a level in his independent reading! He is now reading on a fourth grade level and we had so much fun going through and changing his books on his shelves. I’ve said it before, but investing in our home library was one of the best decisions! We love it and it was such a confidence boosting day for Jacob!
Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts: Level 3
Read Aloud
We finally finished At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald in April. This was a new read for us and I still have really mixed feelings about it. There were some really sweet parts but it was SO slow and even when it was over, I was a little confused about what happened in the story. There was nothing questionable at all but just slow and I am not sure if we will read it again as a read aloud .
We did begin the Narnia series and WE ARE LOVING IT! I have always loved this series {and actually find it really spiritual – am I alone in this?!} and Jacob has been gobbling it up. We have read The Magician’s Nephew and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.
Everyone should read these books! I love them so much.
CLICK HERE for our read aloud list for third grade.
Handwriting
Jacob is almost done with his handwriting! His handwriting is so beautiful and his cursive that he has learned this year is equally gorgeous! He loves practicing it!
Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Handwriting: Level 3
Math
Wow! Jacob finished ALL of Unit 2 and most of Unit 3 this spring! I feel like Jacob is finally being challenged a little bit in math – but in a great way! We both love, love, love this curriculum and are so grateful for it. We are on course to finish this level this summer which means that Jacob will get to start a fresh new level with the “official” start of our new year! So happy about that!
This spring he learned: place value through the billions, number words, regrouping to one million, intervals of time, rounding to the nearest dollar, rounding to the thousands place, multi-digit subtraction, line graphs, rounding to any value, estimation, fractals, multiplication with unknowns, order of operations, milliliters and liters, perimeter, multiplication strategies, area and measurement, area story problems, adding area, fractions, equivalent fractions, fractions on a number line, comparing fractions, mixed numbers, and area bar graphs.
Multiplication continues to be a BIG focus this year in math. Jacob learned how to multiply by 7, 8, 9, and 11. He also learned how to multiply by multiples of 10.
And we covered one new mathematician: Mobius.
Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Math: Level 3
History
History and science are definitely the subjects we have been the most behind in. We made some good strides in it this spring though! We finished our second unit about ANCIENT AFRICA and NATIVE NORTH AMERICANS.
We covered the various culture areas in North America, including: the Great Plains, Eastern Woodlands, California, Great Basin, Southwest, Southeast, and the “Five Civilized Tribes”.
I wrote all about our experience with this unit HERE.
We almost finished all of Unit 3 as well this spring about WESTWARD EXPANSION AND INDUSTRIALIZATION. We covered Daniel Boone, the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark Expedition and Sacajawea, Robert Fulton and the invention of the steamboat, the Santa Fe Trail, the Oregon Trail, the California Gold Rush, daily life on the frontier, battle of the Alamo, stagecoaches, the Pony Express, the first transcontinental railroad, the Homestead Act, the land rush, the first and second industrial revolutions, and George Washington Carver.
I love really enjoyed this unit and so many of the topics we have learned. We read Gold Mountain by Gwendolen Lampshire Hayden & Pearl Clements Gischler. This was a great story that takes place in Eastern Oregon and did a wonderful job of immersing us in frontier life and learning about this time period.
Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful History: Year 3
Typing
Typing is the ONE subject we have completed – WOOT WOOT! Jacob finished this up in the middle of April. All I can say is that his typing is improving – he loves it – and we plan on continuing with the program! Read our FULL REVIEW HERE.
Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Typing: Level 2
Drawing
It should come as no surprise that Jacob has loved drawing this last year. He is almost done with his second book this year and has just gobbled it up. Review of these vintage drawing books is coming soon!
Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Drawing: Vintage Images Level 2
Piano
I feel like Jacob is experiencing a shift with piano right now and it is SO exciting to watch! He is preparing for his spring recital and is doing great! He is in the middle of deciding whether or not he wants to continue learning piano. He has done it for three years and I told him from here on out – it is his choice. We will see what he decides!
Curriculum: Faber Piano Adventures: Level 1
Sarah {Kindergarten}
Language Arts
Sarah is CRUISIN’ through her work! She is so close to being done with her various subjects. In language arts she finished unit 3, unit 4, and is almost done with unit 5! Her reading is incredible and I am so proud. Reading to Lydia is one of her favorite activities and I think Lydia is pretty fond of it as well.
This spring she covered SH, CH, TH, EE, AR words, inflectional ending ING and ED, nouns, verbs, plural nouns, homophones TOO, TWO, TO, and categories.
We also read several short stories about honesty and did some writing workshops.
Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts: Level K
Read Alouds
I WAY under planned how many read alouds Sarah and I would get through this year. I cannot believe how many books we have read! Here was our lineup this spring:
- Eagle Feather by Clyde Robert Bulla (QUICK READ): We have really enjoyed every Clyde Robert Bulla book we have read. He is a great author for this level. This was an interesting story about a Navajo boy and his experiences. It’s a fascinating look into a different culture.
- Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile by Bernard Waber {QUICK READ): We read a collection of books in the Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile series. We read The House on East 88th Street; Lyle Lyle, Crocodile; Lyle and the Birthday Party; and Lyle Walks the Dogs. These are such fun, lighthearted stories.
- The Noon Balloon by Margaret Wise Brown (QUICK READ): This is a simple picture book but with some great vocabulary. Easy read to get your snuggles in!
- Mother Penny by Gertrude Robinson (QUICK READ): Sweet story about a mother duck and her ten little ducklings. They get lost during a storm and includes their adventures until the ducklings get big enough to leave the island.
- The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner: This is one of my favorite series and I was PUMPED to share it with Sarah. It is such a sweet series about four children (it beautifully mimics our family!) and promotes family relationships and is just full of positive messages.
- The Journey of Ching Lai by Eleanor Frances Lattimore: This is a great story about transformation. It takes place in China and is about a young boy who doesn’t really appreciate his life and, after going on a journey, discovers what a blessed life he has. Lots of possibilities for good discussion.
- The Secret Garden by Frances Gilbert (QUICK READ): I love the classic version of The Secret Garden and this is a really beautiful, simplified version. I found it to keep very well with the original and is a great opportunity to share the story with younger kiddos.
- Viking Adventure by Clyde Robert Bulla: Another great Bulla book. This is a story about a Viking who goes on an adventure to North America. I love how Bulla incorporates history so seamlessly into his writing.
Click HERE for our complete list of read alouds for Sarah this year.
Handwriting
Sarah is getting towards the end of her handwriting book but we will continue working on it this summer. Her handwriting continues to improve and, as with all things Sarah, she is already developing her own style with it all. I love this girl.
Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Handwriting: Level K
Math
Sarah is just days away from finishing up her math. She has done so well and is definitely ready for first grade! She finished up unit 3 (all about numbers up to 20) and is almost done with unit 4 (a unit on measurement).
This spring she learned: 2D vs 3D shapes, the cube, sphere, cylinder, cone, fact families, Native American patterns, pictographs, the dime, telling time to the hour, odds and evens to 20, counting by twos to twenty, counting by tens, and one half.
Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Math: Level K
Piano
Sarah is doing so well in piano. I think she has a natural talent for it and I love listening to her play. She is preparing for our family spring recital and is SO EXCITED!
Curriculum: Faber Piano Adventures: Primer Level
Benjamin {Preschool}
All Aboard the Animal Train
Thankfulness / Squirrel / Brown
Benjamin has done so well this year. I really had no idea how he would do with school – let me just say, first year preschool we do very light – but he has done so well. This spring we really focused on adding letter recognition to our day. Learning his letters has not come easily for Benjamin but he has worked so hard and I am really proud of him. We still have a ways to go but he is DOING IT!
Curriculum: My Father’s World: All Aboard the Animal Train
Politeness / Panda / Blue
Friendliness / Dog / Light Blue
Forgiveness / Tiger / Orange
Joy / Sheep / White
Final Thoughts
We ROCKED this spring! I am really so proud of all that we were able to accomplish. Normally, I really try and focus more on the experience and feeling of our learning days, rather than a checklist, but I would be lying if I didn’t say that we were just trying to get stuff DONE this season. And we did, and we still love learning – and we still love each other š!
Curriculum Choices
- Jacob’s 3rd Grade Curriculum – HERE
- Sarah’s Kindergarten Curriculum – HERE
- Benjamin’s Preschool Curriculum – HERE
