Plans for the New School Year

As the school year approaches rapidly upon us, I am forced to contemplate what I liked and didn't like about our past year and our learning experiences.  What stands out in my mind as things I liked are the fairly recent units of study on the universe, birds and trees.  These were well-planned, thought out, researched and executed.  Bear enjoyed them, too.


However, I have felt like most of what we did was spur of the moment and disconnected, especially for geography.  What I mean is that we might talk about France as we read a picture book set there, or any other country, but I don't feel like we have had any coherent focused look on any one country.  


Learning has always happened whenever we feel like it. It has never been scheduled into our day.  For example, today in the middle of a game about picnicking, Bear sees her hundred board on the shelf and decides to fill it out.  I'd like to find a bit more of a rhythm for our days for the upcoming year, and not necessarily just in the area of learning.


These are the core five things I want to work on with Bear this year.

• Faith Formation -she'll attend PSR (Parish School of Religion) at church this year and I also want to focus on one verse a week for her to memorize, or at least become very familiar with.  I am using the verses that Carisa uses with her boys in her Raising Rock Star Preschool resources since that way I don't have to so all the work.
• Reading - we're beyond the Montessori reading series now. We are currently revisiting the Progressive Phonics, but skipping straight to the middle of the Intermediate lessons.
• Writing - using the moveable alphabet to write out ideas.  She loves to write lists, so we'll work on that with our alphabet letters.  Finding ways to write - letters to grandparents, lists, stories with Mommy - and practicing letter formation using Erica's letter tracers.
• Math Literacy - following the Montessori method for this one, but throwing in a bunch of math games too.
• Culture (Practical Life, Art, Music, Sensory Exploration, Science and Socials.)
• I have a few ideas for this section but haven't settled on anything yet.  I'm toying with reading her the Magic Tree House books and doing a unit for each book in a hands-on, Montessori like approach for history.  
• We'll be doing science experiments and observations tied to Sid the Science Kid for a bit as she is quite interested in the show right now.  
• Practical Life will entail helping around the house.  
• For art we'll be starting to learn about specific artists.  
• I'm trying to get her signed up for violin lessons for music.

My goals for Bear (and J-jo) are for them to 

• Love God.
• Love others.
• Love moving.
• Love beauty (nature, art, music, culture, etc.)
• Love working.
• Love playing.
• Love learning.

and to add the following prayer to their repertoire of prayers: “Good morning, God!  I thank you for this day.  Please be with me in all I think and do and say.”  

(the idea for this came from Training Happy Hearts)

I'm linking up to The Preschool Corner.