End of year exam with CTY

Water polo tournament

Unity camp

Week long Church Camp was a great time.  

This camp was developed by the Rasur Foundation to equip participants with skills to connect with others and communicate effectively.  The children had the opportunity to build social and emotional intelligence by learning to connect with themselves and each other.  

Ian in third grade

In third grade we focused on learning to LOVE learning.  As Ian expressed interest in certain subject, I incorporated that subject into our curriculum.  And at 9 years old, there were a ton of "adjustments."  One thing that has re-surfaced is the love of all things animals.  Also he is fascinated with astronomy (and therefore, as a natural extension, spirituality).

Academically *required* foci include math and reading.  Math is the metronome for the cadence of education.  We focus on math - regardless of the desired ultimate field of study.  Additionally, being able to read well is the foundation of being able to "self-teach."  Ultimately, "self-teaching" is how all teaching is done.  Instead of JUST reading, we focused on vocabulary development, spelling, handwriting, and an introduction to actual writing.


This is what we did for the 2014-15 academic year:

• Handwriting - A Reason for Handwriting
• Spelling - A Reason for Spelling; and Spelling U See
• History - Story of the World The Middle Ages Volume 2; plus activity book
• Math - pre-algebra readiness (long divisions/multiplication; fractions, decimals)
• Science - Astronomy
• Reading - E.B White books + electives
• Language Arts - First Language Lessons (parts of speech, sentence diagramming)
• Vocabulary - SAT Barron's Picture These SAT words in a flash

Extracurriculars

• Upright bass
• Guitar
• Choir
• Water polo
• Swimming
• Jack and Jill (volunteer, social education)

Summer plan

• Bass - bass camp
• Guitar lessons - continue
• Swimming
• Water polo
• Spiritual - church camp
• Fencing - trying out camp
• Pre-algebra (may do this for 2 years as necessary)
• Writing:  Writing With Skill
• Speech/debate:  Jr. speech camp
• Scat prep and exam

Activities to date (up until 2014)

First Grade

In 1st grade we focused on the fundamentals:  reading, writing, arithmetic.  Hana makes great progress, but learning all of this stuff isn't easy.  So time has been taken to make sure she fully understands how to add and subtract.  How to write her letters well.  Phonics for spelling.  And reading practice with comprehension.

At this stage, the schooling is very straight-forward.  Individual preferences aren't as highly regarded because there's still so much to learn on a basic level.  Also, much of the curriculum repeats (spiral method) so there's plenty of time to re-hash trouble spots (with a larger context later on).  


This is what we did for the 2014-15 academic year:

• Handwriting - A Reason for Handwriting (print version)
• Spelling - A Reason for Spelling
• Phonics - Explode the Code
• Language - First Language Lessons
• Reading - comprehension workbooks (various)
• Math - Math Mammoth (multiple digit addition, subtraction, and intro to memorization of multiplication)
• History - American Pioneers and Patriots
• Science - Various (seasons, animals)

Extracurriculars

• Gymnastics (semester 1)
• Basketball (winter)
• Viola
• Choir
• Jack and Jill (volunteer, social education)

Summer plan

• Viola lessons - continue
• Swimming lessons
• Spiritual - church camp
• Fencing - trying out camp
• Math - practice worksheets (Hana likes worksheets)
• Writing:  Writing With Skill

Activities from the past (until 2014)

Riverside Park - Manhattan

With old friends at the park.

This is where the local hang out.  Venice Beach inspired, and a little taste of "home." 

Central Park Zoo

Who doesn't LOVE the zoo?  And this zoo was the PERFECT size to squeeze in prior to a dinner meeting.  Also, the weather was (albeit a tiny bit wet) great because the temperature was ideal for walking and reading at the zoo.   Ian is re-inspired to work with animals after this visit.  

Empire State Bldg

Can't visit New York and NOT see the Empire State Building. 

College visit - never too early

Juilliard School.

 Columbia University

Melissa Harris Perry Show - Behind the Scenes

It's not very often when you get to see the "behind the scenes" of a TV show when you don't work in the industry.  This experience was very educational, and inspiring to Haley as she watched Melissa (and her team) make quick adjustments and improvise as breaking news streamed in despite their full pre-planned schedule.  It was amazing.  

End of the school year....

 Classroom party.  Awards ceremonies.  Summer reading books!!

Dave and Busters

Hanging out, playing games, at Dave & Busters!!

Final Choral Performance

Check.  And check.  Great season, fantastic music, fun times, and medals recognizing the amount of time and effort the children put into their singing.

And we appreciate the director (above with the kids) for bringing out the very best choral music from within them.

Fine dining and the Symphony

Steak dinner, and beautiful music watching big sister play, at Bass Performance Hall.

History lesson...

...at the feet of our elders. 

Ian and Hana interview Great Grandma (on video) asking questions like:

"What was my grandfather like?"  

And Haley is here:  http://tayloredcurriculumtocollege.blogspot.com/2015/05/history-lesson.html

End of year science and Pokemon reading

Hana is so happy to bring her science projects home.  She has an entire notebook full of a years worth of various diagrams and coloring pages of scientific phenomena.  These 2 were her favorite!!

And Ian is SO GLAD to have some (more) down time to play games and watch videos.  

Honestly, I think that he reads quickly and well because of all the time he spends/spent reading the Pokemon conversations - that pop-up quickly on the screen and requires "fast reading" to fully understand what to do.  And the nice thing about it is, the vocabulary used in the game is more advanced than "basic."  

Potato Plant Progress