The “backward 5” has happened to all of my kindergartners. They work SO hard to make their “5” face the right direction, but if they take a break from academics, they return to their desks and write their “5’s” backward again. Maybe it’s genetic? Maybe it’s universal? I dunno. But I do know that our littlest learners need consistent, almost-daily … Read More
First Day Flop
I had great plans for our first day of school etched in my notebook. It was going to be a day of introductions to the vigorous first grade curriculum that I compiled. And, in my wildest dreams, it was going to flow right into Day 2, when we would get right down to work for the next 180 days. As … Read More
First Grade Curriculum
A friend of mine recently asked about our choices for First Grade curriculum. I didn’t have a chance to go through the list with her yet, so I thought I’d gather all my thoughts and links here and share them with you, too! DISCLAIMER: From one curriculum-junkie to another-possible-curriculum junkie: if you are happy with your curriculum choices, you may … Read More
Morning Circle Time: Preschool and First Grade
During the “school year”, we enjoy a Morning Circle Time at the breakfast table. Typically, I read from a devotional book as the girls eat. Afterward, we find the date on the calendar, and do a couple of exercises that correspond with the girls’ readiness (i.e. we talk about the weather, make the date with coins, do some skip-counting together, … Read More
