Classical Conversations Supplements Week 7

War of 1812 reading comprehension with questions.
Power Point Presentation of Excretory System
James Monroe- Short biography and Quiz--http://gardenofpraise.com/ibdmonro.htm- for some reason I can't link these pages but they are great! So go to the website or google garden of praise James Madison. 
Reading Music Basics
Free Music Theory Worksheets
Drawing Music Symbols- I will be using some of these sheets in my class. 


Word Search
War of 1812 Word Search


Coloring Sheets
Urinary system coloring page
James Madison Coloring sheet


Games
War of 1812 Trivia game
Excretory System Quiz
Multiplication Game Website- lots of interactive games to practice multiplication
Geography Game match States with their capitals and locations.
James Monroe Jigsaw Puzzle
James Monroe Crossword Puzzle online
James Monroe Word Search
Reading Music Game


Stuff to Watch
Once Upon a time The Kidneys
Nova Science NOW How does the brain work- LOVE THIS!!
First Invasion War of 1812- History Channel


War of 1812 Overture- Listen to Tchaikosvsky




Reading List

• Washington Ablaze: the War of 1812 Grade 4-6
• What's so great about Francis Scott Key Grade 1-3
• Dolley Madison saves history -
   Smalley, Roger. Ages 9-12
• The story of the Star-Spangled Banner - Jacobson, Ryan Ages 9-12
• The Star Spangled Banner- Welch Catherine Grade 1-2
• The Flag Maker  Gartoletti K-Grade 2
• Once on This Island, Whelan. 
• Batttles of the War of 1812. 
• Soldiers of the War of 1812 
• War of 1812 (Cornerstones of Freedom)
• War of 1812 (Perspectives On History) 
• James Monroe, Venezia. (RR)    

Headsprout Early Reading Program Review

I LOVE Headsprout Early Reading Program.  I have tried almost everything to teach my daughter Hannah to read.  We tried Funnix, which started off great, however, the parent needs to sit with the child the entire time, I got frustrated, Hannah got frustrated.  It was pretty ugly by lesson 30, so we stopped.

I tried different books, nothing seemed to click.  I thought maybe she is just too young, ( She'll be 5 in two weeks.)  Then I found Headsprout, (Praise the LORD), she sits down and does it independently everyday. Her reading skill in the last 3 weeks have exploded!  She grabs Bob books off the bookshelf and buzzes right through them!  She tries to read everything in sight, maps, cereal boxes, even the Bible.

After the first few lessons, we did struggle with some attitude.  But I gave her a choice either we get out the other reading books or you can sit down and do Headsprout.  She always chooses Headsprout.

If you are getting frustrated teaching your child to read, I highly recommend Headsprout.  They also have a 30 day money back policy, so what do you have to lose :)

Headsprout Reading Comprehension Review

I am writing this review because before I purchased it I had scoured the internet for a review but couldn't find one.
I tried this program on my son Ethan who would be in first grade if I sent him to public school.  He is homeschooled and an above average reader so I figured we would try the program which recommends the program for 3rd-5th grade.

Here are the Pro's
1.  My son enjoyed doing the program, we had no fights about doing it.  He continued his enthusiasm into the final episodes.
2.  The way the program is written is brilliant, the way they visualize finding the main point in the text makes a hard concept simple to understand.
3.  I think this is a great way to prepare for standardized testing, we won't be doing that for the next couple of years .
4.  If your child is having trouble with reading comprehension, get it!


Here are the Con's
1.  It is really expensive!!  I compare this program to Teaching Textbooks Math which costs a lot less but lasts a whole school year.
2.  It only took my son 3 weeks to complete the entire program.  I was hoping it would last around 6 months.
3.  The parent can't review the progress until 24 hours later, which I really didn't like.  I want to know if we need to stop and go over the lesson again or if he can proceed.
4.  There were really no instructions for a recommended way to use the program.  I didn't even realize they were sending me books and by the time we got the books we were on lesson 46 out of the 50 total.


Would I buy it again?  I am going to have to say that I wouldn't buy it again.  I think I could find a more economical way to teach the same concepts.  If they reduced the price to $75-100 I would totally tell everyone I know to get it.  So if you aren't concerned about the cost it is a great program.

Classical Conversation Week 6 Supplements

School house Rock - Elbow Room- A song all about Lewis and Clark and the Louisiana Purchase

Lewis And Clark Coloring Sheets

Lewis and Clark Word Search

Lewis And Clark: American Explorers
Lewis and Clark Journal Entries

Human Body - Digestive System - Kids Animation Learn Series

Your Digestive System-  Your kids can listen to the audio
Lewis and Clark The Great Journey West- available on Netflix

Lewis and Clark Expedition Game
The Incredible Human Machine- National Geographic- available on youtube and netflix- this is an amazing documentary.  I highly recommend watching this one.  Just stop when the man and woman are dancing, I think it goes into the reproductive system :)

Your Digestive System- Reading Comprehension Sheet

Label Your digestive system- more in depth

The Louisiana Purchase Reading Comprehension
Davy Crockett print out and quiz

Multiplication Wheels 11's
Multiplication Wheels 12's

Related Books

The Louisiana Purchase, Stele

Journals of Lewis & Clark

How We Crossed the West, Schanzer. 
Walk the World’s Rim, Baker. RA:3-A; R:5-A 
Lewis & Clark Expedition (Col. Book). 
Seaman, Karwoski. 
Lewis & Clark Expedition, Neuberger. 
Seaman’s Journal, Bubank. 
Streams of the River, River to the Sea,O’Dell.
Lewis & Clark:A Prairie Dog for President, Redmond.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition Perritano, John.

Sacagawea : journey into the West  Gunderson, Jessica.

Lewis and Clark : a prairie dog for the president Redmond, Shirley-Raye, Grade1-3

A picture book of Lewis and Clark Adler, David A. K-Gr2

A picture book of Sacagawea Adler, David A.

Classical Conversations Cycle 3 Week 5 Supplements

Cycle 3 Week 5 Supplements

Liberty`s Kids: #11 "Washington Takes Command" (1/2)

Liberty Kids: #40 We the People

George Washington Animated 

constitution schoolhouse rock

9's Times Tables using your hand

George Washington- Online Puzzle

Once upon a time... Life - The skin (1 of 3)
Additional Perspective Drawing activity


Additional Reading Resources
George Washington Wasn't always old  Gr. 3-6.
George Washington’s World. 
The Life of Washington. 
Guns for General Washington, Reit. 
Duel in the Wilderness, Farley. 
Winter at Valley Forge, Knight. RA: K-6; R: 3-6 
Meet George Washington, Heilbroner. RA:1-6; R:3-6 
George Washington & the General’s Dog, Murphy. 
Phoebe the Spy, Griffin. RA: K-A; R:3-6 
Big George : how a shy boy became President Washington  Rockwell, Anne F.
Farmer George Plants a nation Thomas, Peggy
George vs. George : the American Revolution as seen from both sides
    Schanzer, Rosalyn.
George Washington : farmer, soldier, president
    Nettleton, Pamela Hill.

My Homeschooling Choices so far this year.

Ethan is my seven year old, here is what I am teaching him.
Math- We are using Horizon's Math 2nd grade.  We should finish this up around Christmas and then we will try switching to Teaching Text Books
Spelling- I am using Spelling Power for our spelling curriculum- along with spelling city.com  
Writing With Ease-Level 1- We will be finishing this book in the next month or so and will get the next book.
Headsprout Reading Comprehension Program- I like this program because it something Ethan can do independently.
Classical Conversations for all the rest.  We read supplemental books on History and Science.

Hannah will be turning 5 in October.
Math- We are using Horizon's Kindergarten and connect the dots to teach number order.
Spelling-  Explode the code book 2 
Phonics-Headsprout Reading program
Classical Conversations for all the rest.  

We aim to read to Ethan and Hannah an hour every evening, it usually ends up being about half an hour.

Noah my 1 and 1/2 year old, I am trying out Teach your Baby to Read...I'll let you know when he starts talking if it works :)

Classical Conversations Cycle 3 Week 4 Supplements

Classical Conversations Cycle 3 Week 4 Supplements


School House Rock-Telegraph Line (Nervous System)
School House Rock- The Declaration Of Independence

Liberty Kids the First Fourth of July- Synopsis:
James and Sarah meet Thomas Jefferson and witness the writing of the Declaration of Independence.;;

Worksheet on the Brain- Easy to read and reading comprehension questions.  

Multiplication Wheels for skip counting the 7's

Multiplication Wheels for skip counting the 8's

Timeline Cards Hand Motions


Additional Reading Resources

Sam the Minuteman, Benchley. Minute Boys of Lexington, Stratemeyer. 
Minute Boys of Bunker Hill, Stratemeyer. 
Reb & the Redcoats, Savery. Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution, Fritz. 
The 4th of July Story, Dagliesh. Declaration of Independence. 

Meet Thomas Jefferson, Barrett. R1-6 (S) 

Where was Patrick Henry, Fritz. 

Will You Sign Here John Hancock, Fritz. 

Franklin: The Autobiography, Franklin. 

Great Little Madison, Fritz. 

Give Me Liberty, Vaughn 
Why Don’t You Get a Horse Sam, Fritz.  

Can’t You Make Them Behave,King George? Fritz. RA:K-5, R:3-5 

Calico Bush, Field. RA:3-A; R:5-A 

Bunker Hill, Doyle. George the Drummer Boy. 

Guns of Thunder, Bond. 

Classical Conversations Cycle 3 Week 3 Supplements

Classical Conversations Cycle 3 Week 3 Supplements -


Liberty Kids The Boston Tea Party

The Prince of Egypt - Animated movie about Moses and the Plagues- It's a full length feature, may not be appropriate for really young kids.

Magic School Bus Flexes it's Muscles

States and Capitals Geography Game- this is a great website for reviewing the states and capitals.

Additional Reading Resources For Week 3

American Pioneers & Patriots.
 Boys & Girls of Colonial Days
Phantom Militia, Brodeur.
On the Road to Indepedence, DeMar. 
Secret War, Brodeur. 
Johnny Tremain, Forbes. R 3-5 
And Then What Happened Paul, Fritz.
Calico Captive, Speare.
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, Latham. A: R:3-5 
Daniel Boone, Boone. 
A Captive in Williamsburg, Doyle. 

Squalls Before War, Bustard. 
Blackthorn Winter, Wilson. 
Susan Creek, Wilson.
Two Williams, Wilson. 

The List, Baker. 

Classical Conversations Supplement Cycle 3 Week 2

CC Cycle 3 Week 2 Supplements

The Mayflower Compact Short Video

The Mayflower Compact Document

Participle Worksheet 1

This is America Charlie Brown, The Mayflower Voyagers

Free History Audio Book on Early America- I am so excited about finding this website!  You've got to check it out!