Canadianized AO Year 1

There are some ideas on Canadianizing AO here, but for Years 1-3, we just didn't have access to any of the Canadian History books recommended.  I am still not totally satisfied with the history books we have found - but will make use of what is available.

My general plans for all the years, are available here, (there are some changes) - but this post will give much more detailed information for Year 1, including fitting it in the AO Year 1 schedule.  Note that there are changes from the last time we did Year 1 - so there may be changes in the future.

Most of the year will be based on AO's Year 1

There are some changes listed here which are personal changes instead of Canadianizing....

Booklist Change Summary:

• Remove - Benjamin Franklin
• Remove - George Washington
• Remove - Buffalo Bill
• Add - Hudson - Janice Weaver
• Add - Laura Secord - Janet Lunn
• Add - Alexander Graham Bell - Elizabeth MacLeod
• Add - Canadian Minutes (the Canadian Minute ads from Historica - we watch them online)
• Remove - Blue Fairy Book (We didn't enjoy many of the Blue Fairy Stories selected by the AO Advisory.)
• Add - Rainbow Fairy Book (We bought this at a good price - so our Fairy Stories are from here)
• Add - Selina and the Bear Paw Quilt
• Add - A Fiddle for Angus
• Add - Very Last First Time
• Add - Dragonfly Kites
• Optional in Free Reads- Pocahontas, Red Fairy Book)
• Note - we also don't do Trial and Triumph

Note - I generally tried not to add something without removing something, so as not to overburden the year. I was quite careful to balance out the Rainbow Fairy Books, similar to how the Blue Fairy Book stories were scheduled.

Weekly Changes 
(I haven't noted the readings by week that you don't read from the AO schedule for the books that were removed.)

Week 2

• Selina and the Bear Paw Quilt (Entire Book)

Week 3

• Rainbow Fairy Book - The Nightingale

Week 6

• Rainbow Fairy Book - Snow White and Rose Red

Week 8

• Hudson (1/3+)

Week 9

• Hudson (1/3+)

Week 10

• Hudson (finish book)

Week 12

• Rainbow Fairy Book - Hansel and Gretel

Week 6

• Rainbow Fairy Book - Master Cat

Week 15

• Rainbow Fairy Book - Jack and the Beanstalk

Week 17

• A Fiddle for Angus (Entire Book)

Week 18

• Rainbow Fairy Book - The Six Swans

Week 19

• Laura Secord (1/3+)

Week 20

• Laura Secord (1/3+)

Week 21

• Laura Secord (finish book)

Week 26

• Rainbow Fairy Book - Cinderella

Week 27

• Very Last First Time (entire book)

Week 28

• Alexander Graham Bell (1/3+)

Week 29

• Alexander Graham Bell (1/3+)

Week 30

• Alexander Graham Bell (finish book)

Week 31

• Rainbow Fairy Book - Rumplestiltzkin

Week 32

• Dragonfly Kites

Week 36

• Rainbow Fairy Book - East of the Sun, West of the Moon

Year 1 Booklist - Revision 3

This is the revised Year 1 booklist for Maple Hill Academy. It is recommended for a child at or close to age 7, or older children just starting a Charlotte Mason style of education (up to about age 9 or 10)

The older booklists are still available.

This booklist is based on the Ambleside Online program, and the Milestones Academy program, with adjustments.

Follow the Ambleside Online Year 1 with the following changes:

Scriptures:
Penny Gardner Storied Scriptures
Scripture Memorizations (your choice)
Optional:
Reading from Church Magazines
Singing Primary Song (Select 1 per month. Can also sing in Foreign Language or ASL)

History:
We do not do Trial and Triumph - your choice
Skip all the Americn History Biography books
Add in Family History (Genealogy) - Learn about Mom and Dad

Canadian History:
See Canadian History Plan

Natural History/Science:
(Add in "Wild Days" - Karen Radcliffe as a reference for parent)
(Add in "Pocket Full of Pinecones" - Karen Andreola as a reference/inspiration for parent)
Add in (for reading practice as well as science) Christian Nature Reader Book 1 WHEN child is ready to read it.

Phonics: (Reading Instruction)
See Maple Hill posts on teaching reading
(Christian Nature Reader Book 1 WHEN child is ready to read it - for science as well as reading practice)


Math:
We strongly recommend the Mathmatics Enhancement Programme
Another free choice is Khan Academy which is nice for a little change, but can also be a stand-alone online program.

Foreign Language:
We are doing German, but do what makes sense for you. There are free lessons here for Spanish, French, and German. Also recommend getting a few fairy-tales with Audio CD to read over and over.
My Very First Little German Book

Poetry:
Remove the 3rd term poetry options. (to make room for Dennis Lee)
Add Dennis Lee (Canadian Poet) - do in first term - move other poets back 1 term


Writing/Copywork:
Peterson Directed Handwriting (Cursive Step 2) Note that Cursive Step 1 can be helpful to have for finger-tracing practice.
Selected copywork from readings/scriptures/etc.

Literature:
Remove "The Blue Fairy Book" - stories just seemed long and uninteresting.
Add "Fairy Tales Every Child Should Know" - edited by Hamilton Wright Mabie (Selections below)

• Beauty & the Beast
• Hansel & Grethle
• One eye, Two eyes, Three eyes
• Cinderella
• The Magic Mirror
• Alladin
• Fair One with the Golden Locks
• Jack & the Beanstock
• Sleeping Beauty

Canadian Literature:

see Canadian Literature Plan

Free Reading:
Remove "The Red Fairy Book"
Remove "Pocahontas"
Add "Follow My Leader" by James Garfield

Sketching/Painting
Draw Write Now 4-8 (or 1-4 if you haven't done them)
OR
1-2-3 Draw books by Freddie Levin - pick 3 or 4,
OR
Drawing with Children
OR
Basic Observation Drawing - some resources

Picture Study:
some info
Family Rotation

Music(read how-to) [note this How-to is on Milestones Academy]

Recommended - Violin, Piano OR Recorder (inexpensive) OR other similar instruments
Do NOT start more than one instrument at once! We have been doing Suzuki Violin for three or four years before getting to year 1!

Violin
- Suzuki Violin [we do this with an instructor ] Recommended Resource "Step-by-Step" series by Kerstin Wartberg

Piano
- Suzuki Piano [we do this without an instructor] Recommended Resource "Studying Suzuki Piano: More than Music" by Bigler and Lloyd-Watts
another option is My First Piano Adventures - Information and Video Lesson Guide here!

Recorder
option for a very inexpensive music alternative, or for the parent that is too uncomfortable trying to teach something else on their own...
Nine-Note Recorder method [note, we haven't tried this yet]

Other
Similar instruction in another instrument. (ie, Suzuki Cello)

Scouting
Scouting Plan for their age

Year 1 Booklist - Revised

Out of Date, but kept for people that would prefer to use the old plan. New plan here

This is the revised Year 1 booklist for Maple Hill Academy. The older booklist is still available.

Term numbers will be denoted by the number before the title as such: (1) Bookname. If there are no term numbers, the book is used for the entire term. (or has not been determined)

* denotes the book/resource is for the parent (at least mostly)

(note - links need to be checked...)

Devotional
Family Rotation using Penny Gardner Storied Scriptures

Scripture Memorizations

Optional:

Reading from Church Magazines

Singing Primary Song (Select 1 per month. Can also sing in Foreign Language or ASL)

Math
Mathmatics Enhancement Programme - Year 1
Reading Instruction (as needed)
*Teach your child to read in Just 10 minutes a day - Sidney Ledson. (or other phonics)
Dick and Jane Primers/Readers

or

(1)Primer - Harriette Taylor Treadwell
(1)First Reader - Harriette Taylor Treadwell

Science/Nature
* Handbook of Nature Study - Anna Botsford Comstock - used for several years. 1911 version available here
* Wild Days - Karen Radcliffe
* Pocket Full of Pinecones - Karen Andereola
(1) Peter Cottontail by Thornton Burgess (download available...)

(2) Reddy Fox by Thornton Burgess (download available...)

(3) Christian Nature Reader Book by Julia Write

James Herriot's Treasury for Children - James Herriot (delightful as an audiobook!)

Family Science Rotation

History - Family
Learn about Mom and Dad, events they remember, places they lived, etc.

History - Canada
A Pioneer Story - Barbara Greenwood

A Child's History of the Life of Christopher Columbus by Josephine Pollard

History - World
(1,2) 50 Famous Stories Retold - James Baldwin (selected chapters)
(2,3) Viking Tales - Jeannie Hall - Part 1, chapters 1-11
Family World History Rotation

Geography
General Map Reading skills using map of the city
(1)Childcraft, "World and Space" - chapter "Where in the World?" (if available to you.) - or find some basic map reading information.
(1) Overview of 7 continents and the Oceans
(1,2,3) Paddle to the Sea - Holling (Start after the Childcraft Reading)

Writing/Copywork
(1,2) Cursive First
(3)Simple Copywork

Poetry
(Read one poem a day - memorize 1 each term)
(1) A children's Garden of Verses - by Robert Louis Stevenson
(2) Now We are Six - A.A. Milne
(2) When we were very young - A.A. Milne
(3) Oxford Book of Children's Verse [if Available - very expensive] or other poem book

Read Aloud Literature
Aesop for Children - Milo Winter (selected stories)
Just So Stories - Rudyard Kipling
The Blue Fairy Book - Andrew Lang (selected stories)

Literature
(Suggested to be read by student alone and narrated - however if student is not ready, you may do joint reading, or just read to them.)

(1) Boxcar Children - by Gertrude Warner
(2) Follow My Leader - James Garfield
(3) Pinocchio - Carlo Collodi [might go over into your break between years....]

Canadian Literature

(1)Selina and the Bear Paw Quilt - Barbara Smucker

(2)A Fiddle for Angus - Budge Wilson

Additional Literature
(No narrations are required - can be family reads, or read during spare time.)
King of the Golden River - John Ruskin
The Red Fairy Book - Andrew Lang (Select stories - select number based on child's enjoyment)
The Velveteen Rabbit - Margery Williams
Little House in the Big Woods - Laura Ingalls Wilder
St. George and the Dragon - Margaret Hodges
The Cricket in Times Square - George Selden and Garth Williams
(others to be added)

Shakespeare
Family Rotation
(using Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare - Edith Nesbit)

Sketching/Painting
Draw Write Now 4-8 (or 1-4 if you haven't done them)

OR

1-2-3 Draw books by Freddie Levin - pick 3 or 4,

OR

Drawing with Children

OR

Basic Observation Drawing - some resources

Picture Study
some info
Family Rotation

Handicrafts
will vary due to interest... suggestions (for both boys and girls)
Plastic Canvas
Spool Knitting
Bead Buddies
Rug Hooking
Woodworking (free days at many renovation stores)

Music
(read how-to) [note this How-to is on Milestones Academy]

Recommended - Violin, Piano OR Recorder (inexpensive) OR other similar instruments

Violin
Suzuki Violin [we do this with an instructor ]

Piano
My First Piano Adventures - taught by parent - Information and Video Lesson Guide here!
Suzuki Piano - taught by parent (combined with My First Piano Adventures)

Recorder
option for a very inexpensive music alternative, or for the parent that is too uncomfortable trying to teach something like Piano keeping just a few lessons ahead...

Nine-Note Recorder method [note, we haven't tried this yet]

Other

Similar instruction in another instrument. (ie, Suzuki Cello)

Foreign Language - German (make similar choices for your language)
(why German)

First Step auf Deutsch (Note, this is available in French and Spanish too)

Teach Me German 1 & 2 (Teach Me Tapes Inc) (I believe available in French and Spanish)

Find 3 German books with Audio Tapes

Optional: Practice Primary song of the month in German

(3)My Very First Little German Book
Alternate choices - French, Spanish, or other desired.

Citizenship
Polite Moments - Gary Maldaner (Last section of book)

Scouting
(extra badges may be worked on as desired)
Otters - Blue Paw (Activity)
Otters - Red Paw (Helping)
Otters - Tan Paw (Handicraft)
Otters - Safety Badge
(note - your Otter should plant a tree and look after it this year for the Green Paw)

Is MEP Math CM? - Also, Kindergarten Math

On some of my Charlotte Mason message boards, whenever the MEP math program is mentioned, there are always some posts saying the MEP (Mathematics Enhancement Program) is not in the CM style of doing math. The main criticism seems to be that it is not a Mastery program.

So - is the MEP math program consistant with a Charlotte Mason education?

First it should be noted that Charlotte Mason did not put a great emphasis on math. She agreed that it was necessary and useful, but should not have a great importance put on it. Of course, a lot has changed in the last 100+ years, I think Science and Math has a greater importance than it did in the late 1800's!

So, what were Charlotte Mason's recommendations? Here is my understanding (at least for the early years).

1. Short Lessons (with attention)


2. No cramming (slow progress with math rules)


3. Teach concrete before abstract (ie, use manipulatives, or real life)


4. allow counters as much as they want


5. make a multiplication table before using one


6. use actual items (use money to learn money. Weigh and measure to learn weights and measurements)


7. put concepts on the board (or paper) to allow visual memory. (ie, write 2x4=8 instead of just reciting it)


8. Master a concept before proceeding. (I haven't found where this is said - but it seems to be mentioned on the message boards...)

So - how does MEP fit?

1. Short lessons. Although MEP (in Year 1) is designed for a 45 minute classroom class, I find that doing it 1 on 1 with my son takes us about 15 to 30 minutes... usually about 20. On top of it, each lesson is broken down into 4 to 8 different activities (including a streach and sing counting songs in the middle), each of which is different enough to keep my son's attention. On the occasional day that he has had enough before the whole lesson is done? Well, we just leave the rest for the next day. (That has happened maybe 3 times this year...)


2. No cramming - With MEP, you don't need to recite math facts - at least we haven't had any need. So far the facts have been being learned slowly, with the introduction of each number. Delta has learned many, and uses manipulatives as needed still. There certainly are not pages of "sums" to do...


3. Teach concrete before abstract - I think MEP does this well, using pictures, word problems, counters, dominoes, and other manipulatives you might have to help understand what you are doing before doing it straight with the numbers. (Note that you don't HAVE to buy expensive manipulatives. A set of dominoes is nice, although there is often a picture of dominoes when used.... and you can use anything for counters.


4. Allow counters when needed. - MEP has so far emphasised (even in the test) to allow counters.


5. Make a multiplication table before using one. - Well, we aren't that far in MEP yet, so not sure if it would do that - but if it doesn't specifically have you do that, before working with multiplication - take a week or so to make one! (ie, use several counters to figure out the various problems, then write the answer on the table.


6. Use actual items (money, measurements, etc.) Well, so far the money problems we have done in MEP have involved pense - we use pennies. We aren't up to doing measurements yet either - but I know that soon we will be measuring length - doing actual measuring.


7. Put concepts on the board for visual memory - MEP often tells you to write on the board the equation after discussing a word problem or other puzzle.


8. Mastery - talked about below.

Well, I guess MEP is a spiral program. I know that I read a post somewhere about how it isn't the same as most spiral programs, but is different. Unfortunately, I can not find that post as I would have liked to reference it.

That said, MEP is fairly spiral, in that not every student in a class is expected to understand every principle before the class moves on. It does Addition and Subtraction at the same time (and later Multiplication and Division at the same time), instead of focusing on Addition until it is totally mastered before starting subtraction. And it will throw in an advanced concept at times, just to give the student an idea of the existance (ie, negative numbers) then leaves it later.

I don't know - all that makes sense to me. And it seems to me that MEP does have the student work at basic concepts until they are likely mastered. For instance, a number is introduced (say the number 5) at the beginning of year 1. They learn different ways it can be represented (sticks, tally marks, roman numerals, and of course a 5) They practice writing a 5. They do basic addition and subtraction problems using pictures that use the number 5. There are problems that include up to number 5, as well as review numbers 1-4. There are word problems that work with number 5 (or others done), logic puzzles. This goes on for about a week or so, with a few other things thrown in for variety - then they move to the number 6. I don't feel that there is a lot of jumping around, even though there is variety, and cool concepts.

So, to me, MEP seems like a mixture of Mastery and Spiral - somewhere in between.

In any case. I feel that MEP follows CM recomendations in SO many ways. Add in that it is FREE (except your paper and ink), and that most kids seem to love it - it seems like a great choice to me.

RECEPTION

Oh - and the Reception (Kindergarten) Year lessons have been being added to the website. As Echo was always wanting to do math with Delta, we started her on the lessons. They are very similar, but move slower than the Year 1 book - and is dealing with the concepts through pictures. They are not using the actual abstract numbers - like 1, 2, 3.

So, for instance, there will be a picture (usually of a family - used throughout) that the child will describe. They will count various things in the picture, and do basic math in a real-life situation. For instance, there will be a picture of the family setting up for a birthday party - and you have your child count the plates (5) and the cups (3) - and you ask how many more cups they need to get out so there will be enough. The numbers have been slowly increasing... we are working with the number 6 right now.

Concepts we have seen so far (we are on lesson 23) include more/less; horizontal/vertical; very simple addition/subtraction (usually by 1 or 2); First, second, third, etc; Right/Left / Above/Below / Next/Before / etc; colours (child is asked to colour something a certain colour); basic writing skills (copy over a line in the picture); and probably some I have forgotten.

Note that the pictures (that come with the program) are all in color - so this course will cost a bit more to print off - but it seems very worth it!

ADDITION: Check out this http://ohpeacefulday.blogspot.com/2010/04/are-mep-and-cm-compatible.html for more on MEP and CM

More about Dick and Jane

Using the Dick and Jane books (along with some phonics) is working out well for both Delta and Echo. I found a great site that helps you determine what order to do the books in - the names of the books vary a little from decade to decade. I personally prefer the ones from the 40's and 50's - but any would likely work well.

For the starting reader, there are 5 to 6 books of interest.

The Early Primers go in order of

1. We look and See
2. We Work and Play
3. We Come and Go

Echo is currently working on the "We Come and Go" book.

There is a Junior Primer (from a later decade) called "Guess Who". One website mentioned that it is for slower readers - so I suspect that if the child is still having problems after the Early Primers, they would move to "Guess Who" instead of starting the Grade 1 Reader. However, it looks like it would also be a good Primer for a child that picks up reading quickly, but hasn't done the Early Primers.

There is a "Storybook Treasury of Dick and Jane and Friends" which has the Early Primers in it (but not in order!) - and uses "The New We Work and Play" (from the 60's.) It is the Yellow book. There is a Blue Storybook Treasury (not sure of the name) that has a couple of the Newer primers, and "Guess Who". Either of these books might be available in your library.

The Grade 1 Readers are called

1. Fun with Dick and Jane
2. Our New Friends

There are Readers for higher grades (only available used) - and I did find the books for Grade 2 and 3 at the same used store - but I feel by that point, using true literature is a better choice, even if you are buddy reading with your child.

It looks like there is a reprint of "Fun with Dick and Jane" - but I haven't had a chance to look at it yet, so I'm not sure if it is like the original or not. (Oh, and be aware.... there is a "More Fun with Dick and Jane" book that is an adult book satire of the Dick and Jane series. Don't mistake it for a Dick and Jane book!) [SEE UPDATE BELOW]

It doesn't look like "Our New Friends" has been reprinted. I was fortunate to find a used copy from the 40's in pretty good condition. I am having Delta read it for practice. I think his reading ability is a little above it, as he rarely makes mistakes, but he does occasionally need to work out a word, so I think it will be great practice. And he is enjoying being able to read a book with a story without it being difficult.

For a review of my understanding of Charlotte Mason's methods of teaching reading... She does advocate a little bit of work with phonics, mainly looking at word families.... but she mostly recommended a method of learning whole words. She recommended taking a nursery rhyme or poem, slowly teaching the words (by making copies of each word individually and having a child pick them out from other words) and working on all the words of a stanza of the poem out of order until they knew them - then reading the poem. As the very first Dick and Jane primer has a total of 17 words - it seems to me to be a good choice, although it was recommended by CM to include interesting words that are large and different. The repetition of the words in Dick and Jane serve to really get the child to know those words - and the child has a joy of reading a whole book right off!

Basically, I've found that a mixture of phonics and whole words seems to work well. The child has a way to figure out words that they don't know, and know how the system works through phonics - but phonics alone seems for many children to make reading hard work trying to figure out each word. Using whole words repeatedly lets them experience the joy of reading more easily and quickly. Together seems to work well. And although Dick and Jane is now looked down on for teaching reading - I think they can work well with that combined approach.

UPDATE

With some research, I have been able to find the Stories in the 40's Fun with Dick and Jane.

(Site with information)

They are....

• Family Fun (section)
• See it Go
• Guess
• Something for Sally
• Do What I Do
• Father Helps the Family
• Sally Makes Something
• Sally Wants to Play
• Jane Helps
• A Funny Ride
• Fun at the Farm (section)
• At the Farm
• The Pony
• Dick and the Hen
• A Family in the Barn
• A Big Big Dog
• Puff Wants to Play
• Funny Cookies
• Two Pets
• Pets and Toys (section)
• Fun for Little Quack
• Little Rabbit
• The Big Blue Ball
• In and Out
• The New Toy
• The Toy Farm
• Jane Wants a Doll
• Who can Talk?
• Fun with Our Friends (section)
• Sally Finds Friends
• Who Can Find It?
• The Funny House
• A Ride with Mother
• What Sally Saw
• Fun at School
• Pets at School

The Recent Reprint has 6 stories

• Look Up
• Who Is It?
• Something Pretty
• Where is Sally?
• Jane Helps Mother
• A Funny Ride

I assume that "A Funny Ride" is the same, and that "Jane Helps Mother" is "Jane Helps". Perhaps the others are the same with a different name.

In any case - there is obviously a LOT of stories missing - so I will have to hope I luck out and find the old one at a descent price.

Look, look. See, see. See Echo Read!

Ok, here it is. I can't remember the process that was taken when I learned to read because I read when I was barely 3.

I do know the story though.

Because my oldest brother knew how to read before going to school - and had a teacher who couldn't handle that - he absolutely ended up hating school in grade 1. So my parents worked hard to not let their other children learn to read before school.

However, one day when I was young, my older sister got out a "Dick and Jane" reader and played school with me. I'm not sure how long she played with me that day, but before she was done, I was reading. My parents shrugged their shoulders, and got out the rest of the "Dick and Jane" readers.

Jump forward a couple of decades, and I have been working on teaching Delta and Echo to read. But by now, the "Dick and Jane" readers are looked down on, as being a part of the illiteracy problem. So, I started the phonics program. It worked ok for a while, but none of the kids enjoyed it after getting to a certain point. And reading just was such hard work.

So, I talked to my Dad (who was a teacher), and he said that a mixture of reading instruction types works best overall. This was also about the time I discovered Charlotte Mason. I then made up some Doman type flashcards from "Teach your baby to read" and made a few homemade books. That worked well with them as a bridge. I started Delta on the Treadwell/Free Primer, and he did well. Reading is still work, but he is reading fairly well. I hope fluency will come soon.

But Echo.... she was to the point that she needed something other than just the phonics - but the Treadwell/Free Primer was too difficult. Then I had the flash go off in my head. If I learned how to read so easily with "Dick and Jane", then maybe my kids could too. I did a bit of looking, and found that my library had a couple of treasury books, and I requested them.

Well, what a joy! I sat with Echo, and she has read a couple of the "readers" in the one treasury with hardly any help at all. The phonics she has done allows her to figure out the word - and the repetitaveness gets the word in her head so that she doesn't have to figure it out each time - so it moves quicker. She is thrilled because she is reading a story, and a book, not just sentances. Delta has read both treasurys by now, and is enjoying reading without the effort. They have both spent a lot of time with them on their own.

So - I will be adjusting the learning reading suggestions on the blog. It is just exciting seeing them love the books. (And scarily enough, I remember the stories and pictures.)

I will admit that Mike finds the repetative stories annoying, and rolled his eyes when he saw the books from the library.... but I find them nostalgicly interesting.

Additions to Year 1

see here

In looking for more Canadian Content, I have found a couple of books that I am adding to Year 1.

They are both a picture book, but with a fair bit of story. These are free reads that shouldn't be missed!

• "A Fiddle for Angus" - Budge Wilson. Based in the Maritimes, is about a boy that chooses to learn the fiddle so that he can play music with his family. (Note that one of the illustrations includes Natalie MacMaster - a famous Canadian fiddler)
• "Selina and the Bear Paw Quilt" - Barbara Smucker Although mostly based in the States, a family moves to Upper Canada to avoid the Civil War. Generations of the family are tied together via a quilt.

Also for Year K, I have added "The Hockey Sweater" by Roch Carrier. You can hear the author read the story at the CBC archives!

Year 1 Supply List

Well, School Supply lists are starting to appear in the stores - so I think I will work out our supply list. These are the things I think will be needed as well as the actual books we will be reading.

This is a rough guide - I make no claims to this being all inclusive...

• 1 Lined Notebook (divide into 3) for drawing/dictated, narrations, etc for "Polite Moments", Literature, drawing practice
• 1 Lined Notebook (divide into 3) for History. (Canadian/Family/World) and Geography
• 1 Lined Notebook for Science
• 1 (or 2) blank notebook/sketchpad for Drawing and Naturestudy
• 1 4x6 photo album with space beside each picture for writing - for picture study
• 1 small binder to put in handwriting/copywork pages.
• 1 small binder or other for the MEP Math Workbook pages (I keep the pages not being worked on in my main MEP math binder - but will put out a few weeks worth in the small binder)
• 1 large binder and a set of dividers for mom's MEP Math book. (Lesson plans, workbook pages, overheads, "posters", etc)
• Large Scale "graph" paper for math (squares big enough to write in for your child) - OR regular lined paper
• (more binders/ duo-tangs/ portfolio book binders, or whatever binding supplies for binding any books printed instead of bought)
• Printer Paper (probably lots!) for printing
• Pencils, Pens, Pencil Crayons, glue, scissors, drawing pencils, watercolours, post-it's, and/or other misc supplies as needed.
• Adhesive dividers to divide the journals

Note that generally, I recommend good quality, hard bound journals for the notebooks - to encourage using careful good techniques. These books may still have room in them for Year 2, as most of the child's work in the early years is oral. However, narration might be done with drawing at times, and the mother might write a sentence or two of the child's narration.

Year 1

Outdated - see here

This is the Maple Hill Academy Year 1 booklist, based on the research I have done, and what is a fit for my students.

Term numbers will be denoted by the number before the title as such: (1) Bookname. If there are no term numbers, the book is used for the entire term. (or has not been determined)

* denotes the book/resource is for the parent (at least mostly)

Download the file with the schedule for each term (36 weeks, in 3 - 12 week terms) from our Yahoo Group! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/maplehillacademy/

Devotional

Family Rotation using Penny Gardner Storied Scriptures

Math

Mathmatics Enhancement Programme - Year 1

Reading Instruction (as needed)

*Teach your child to read in Just 10 minutes a day - Sidney Ledson. (or other phonics)

(1)Primer - Harriette Taylor Treadwell

(1)First Reader - Harriette Taylor Treadwell

Science/Nature

* Handbook of Nature Study - Anna Botsford Comstock - used for several years. 1911 version available here

* Wild Days - Karen Radcliffe

* Pocket Full of Pinecones - Karen Andereola

Burgess Bird Book for Children - Thornton Burgess

James Herriot's Treasury for Children - James Herriot

Family Science Rotation

History - Family

Learn about Mom and Dad, events they remember, places they lived, etc.

History - Canada

(1,2)A Pioneer Story - Barbara Greenwood

History - World

(1,2) 50 Famous Stories Retold - James Baldwin (selected chapters)

(2,3) Viking Tales - Jeannie Hall - Part 1, chapters 1-11

Family World History Rotation

Geography

General Map Reading skills using map of the city

(1)Childcraft, "World and Space" - chapter "Where in the World?" (if available to you.) - or find some basic map reading information.

(1) Overview of 7 continents and the Oceans

(1,2,3) Paddle to the Sea - Holling

Writing/Copywork

(1,2) Cursive First

(3)Simple Copywork

Poetry

(Read one poem a day - memorize 1 each term)

(1) A children's Garden of Verses - by Robert Louis Stevenson

(2) Now We are Six - A.A. Milne

(2) When we were very young - A.A. Milne

(3) Oxford Book of Children's Verse [if Available - very expensive] or other poem book

Read Aloud Literature

Aesop for Children - Milo Winter

Just So Stories - Rudyard Kipling

The Blue Fairy Book - Andrew Lang

Parables from Nature - Margaret Gatty

Literature

(Suggested to be read by student alone and narrated - however if student is not ready, you may do joint reading, or just read to them.)

(2) Follow My Leader - James Garfield

(3) Charlotte's Web - E. B. White

Additional Literature

(No narrations are required - can be family reads, or read during spare time.)

King of the Golden River - John Ruskin

Pinocchio - Carlo Collodi

The Red Fairy Book - Andrew Lang

The Velveteen Rabbit - Margery Williams

Little House in the Big Woods - Laura Ingalls Wilder

St. George and the Dragon - Margaret Hodges

The Cricket in Times Square - George Selden and Garth Williams

Selina and the Bear Paw Quilt - Barbara Smucker

A Fiddle for Angus - Budge Wilson

Shakespeare

Family Rotation

(using Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare - Edith Nesbit)

Sketching/Painting

Basic Observation Drawing - some resources

Picture Study

some info

Family Rotation

Handicrafts

will vary due to interest... suggestions (for both boys and girls)

• Plastic Canvas
• Spool Knitting
• Bead Buddies
• Rug Hooking
• Woodworking (free days at many renovation stores)

Music

(read how-to)

• Suzuki Violin - with instructor
• My First Piano Adventures - taught by parent

Foreign Language - German

(why German)

Powerglide German course for Children

(3)My Very First Little German Book

Alternate choices - French, Spanish, or other desired.

Citizenship

Polite Moments - Gary Maldaner - if I can find a source in Canada

Scouting

(extra badges may be worked on as desired)

Otters - Blue Paw (Activity)

Otters - Red Paw (Helping)

Otters - Tan Paw (Handicraft)

Otters - Safety Badge

(note - your Otter should plant a tree and look after it this year for the Green Paw)

UPDATED: 3 Nov 09

Math Plan

My overall plan involves using the MEP (Mathematics Enhancement Program) for the first years of math, and "Life of Fred" for the later years. This is my goal, however math is a subject that needs to be catered to the needs of the student. On my Math Overview page, I list some free and inexpensive alternatives, enhancement activities, and basics on figuring out where to start if your student is not a year 1 student. For the later years, you may wish to change the order of topics if needed for other subjects (for instance, you may need Trig earlier for physics.)



Year 0


I do not advocate specific instruction on math for children in Year 0 (preschool ages) except for day to day life and regular play. However, many math concepts can be introduced lightly in life. Simple counting of real life objects. (With young children of age 2 or 3, start with the concept of 1, 2, and more than 2 - with real things. Don't proceed to higher numbers until this is sure.) The older child can do estimation of numbers with you using small items like seads. Other things I have done...

• provide puzzles of the right difficulty.
• Lego's and other building blocks provide math skills and engineering skills (just let them play)
• mosaic boards / peg boards.... light brites. (adds practice with fine motor skills too)
• Practice "Left" and "Right" through games
• Maze workbooks are fun
• The occasional Dot-to-Dot can be fun (but can be overdone too)
• Opportunities to play with playing cards
• • matching numbers
  • sort by colour
  • sort by number
  • sort by suit
  • sort numerically by suit
  • War - introduces Greater than and Less than
  
  
• Opportunities to play board games with adult/older kids (counting squares, dice numbers)
• Dominoes - matching, adding....

Children should get opportunities to do Year 0 activities throughout later years...

Year K

• MEP Reception Year

Year 1

• MEP Year 1
• Challenges Stage 1,2

Year 2

• MEP Year 2
• Challenges Stage 2,3

Year 3

• MEP Year 3
• Challenges Stage 2,3

Year 4

• MEP Year 4
• Challenges Stage 2,3

Year 5

• MEP Year 5a
• Life of Fred - Fractions
• Challenges Stage 3,4

Year 6

• MEP Year5b
• Life of Fred - Decimals and Percents
• Challenges Stage 3,4

Year 7

• MEP Year6a
• Life of Fred - Beginning Algebra (1st half)
• Challenges Stage 3,4

Year 8

• MEP Year6b
• Life of Fred - Beginning Algebra (2nd half)
• Challenges Stage 3,4

Year 9 - 12

Select appropriate "Life of Fred" books to match the goals of the student, and to match Graduation requirements where you live. If your student is going into a math intensive field, they should plan to do ALL of these.

• Life of Fred - Geometry
• Life of Fred - Advanced Algebra
• Life of Fred - Trigonometry
• Life of Fred - Statistics
• Life of Fred - Calculus
• Challenges Stage 5