Friday, August 29, 2014

Ideas for September Feast Days

Posted by The Cotter Family
Here are some of our favorite traditions for the month of September. This is by no means an exhaustive list, rather it's my way of creating a resource that I plan to revisit each year for myself! I hope you can find it beneficial as well!

Month of Our Lady of Sorrows

Other Ideas
September 5th: Bl. Mother Teresa

Other Ideas
*I'm thinking about doing a 5 finger gospel craft (listen to the glory story if you don't know what I'm talking about). Trace the kids' hands and write "You did it to me" the fingers? Shouldn't be hard. I'll post a pic later.

 Other Ideas
  • Prayer: Hail Mary, Memorare, Hail Holy Queen, the rosary...
  • Craft: Make a rosary
  • Food: Make a birthday cake for Mary!
  • Decorations: Blue balloons, streamer, etc. 
  • Radio Show: CAT Chat: Mary Leads me Closer to Jesus
September 14th: Exaltation of the Holy Cross


Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (2010) (My 2nd post ever! Wow, I've come a long way :)

Just to clarify:
The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross celebrates two historical events: the discovery of the True Cross by Saint Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine, in 320 under the temple of Venus in Jerusalem, and the dedication in 335 of the basilica and shrine built on Calvary by Constantine, which mark the site of the Crucifixion.

However the feast, more than anything else, is a celebration and commemoration of God's greatest work: his salvific death on the Cross and His Resurrection, through which death was defeated and the doors to Heaven opened. Excerpt taken from CNA

Other Ideas
September 15th: Our Lady of Sorrows

See ideas at the beginning of this post.
September 29th: Feast of the Archangels



Other Ideas
  • Prayer: St. Michael the Archangel
  • Crafts: 
    • Draw and Tell Saints (Click on the "Look Inside" feature. How to draw an Archangel is the free preview :)
  • Coloring Pages: Waltzing Matilda
  • Activity Book: The Great Battle for Heaven
  • Food: (um, the amount of food traditions for this feast is a bit out of control)
    • Angel food cake
    • Devil food cake - with St. Michael defeating it (see above)
    • Deviled eggs
    • Gnocchi (traditional in Italy): Catholic Cuisine
    • Blackberries (tradition holds that they are no good after this feast day because the devil spat on them on his way from heaven to hell)
    • Roast Goose (Polish tradition)
    • Gaufres (St. Michael's Waffles - French tradition)
    • St. Michael Bannok: Catholic Culture
  • Radio Show: CAT Chat: Amazing Angels and Saints
Be saints, it's worth it!
Lisa
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Sunday, August 17, 2014

Assumption 2014

Posted by The Cotter Family
I've always enjoyed the Solemnity of the Assumption. The event itself must have been so peaceful. I've always imagined Mother Mary, surrounded by those who love her Son, laying peacefully in her bed and then, much to everyones wonder, rising into heaven. What an incredibly joyous celebration must have followed there. There might have been balloons, but I can't say for sure. 

A ballon launch for Mary's Assumption. More on that later.
I decided that it was about time for Baby Peanut to get more involved in liturgical events, seeing as she is 9 months and has been slacking in this department with her lack of fine motor skills. So we made her a cloud to play with for the Assumption.


It was love at first squish.



Later in the kitchen we made more clouds for the Assumption party were headed to that evening. Ours aren't nearly as pretty as the ones at Catholic Cuisine, but they were made with 8 year old love!


I also snuck in a favorite tradition of incorporating fruit and herbs on this Solemnity because it's a traditional day for blessing your fruit and herb harvest. Having no homegrown fruit or herbs to claim as my own, I bought raspberry lemonade and threw some mint into it.


That evening we headed to some friends' house for an Assumption party! I am extremely thankful for our liturgical nerd friends. Without them our children would know we are odd. (Thank you to 39 week pregnant Sarah for hosting! I can't wait to light my birth blessing candle for you!)


The pentacle of the party was the Assumption balloon launch, which reminded us of Mary's rising into heaven.


At first there were oohs and ahhs as they watched the balloons drift off.



Then there were tears from the little ones when they realized that their balloons weren't coming back.


I imagine it was the same way for Jesus' disciples. They probably marveled at Mary being assumed and then cried tears as they realized that their time with her on earth had come to and end.

Be saints, it's worth it!
Lisa
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Thursday, August 14, 2014

Journey Across America: Maine

Posted by The Cotter Family
This post is part of a 50 state Journey Across America. For information on the basics of this project check out this post.

The Books:
We began by reading L is for Lobster and then Bean used the information she learned to make a notebook page for her United States scrapbook.

There are so many great Maine picture books, we just had to read them all! Lighthouse Dog to the Rescue, The Sea Chest (this one made me cry, which is no small feat), Keep the Lights Burning Abbie, and Birdie's Lighthouse all focused on... wait for it... Lighthouses!


And of course we relished in the Robert McCloskey's award winning books set in Maine. One Morning in Maine, Time of Wonder, and Blueberries for Sal. My kids love these stories and could read them over and over again.


Blueberries for Sal is a classic and a Before FIAR book, so you can find boatloads of story time ideas over at Pinterest.

We also taught the kids about Maine using the Our United States of America: Catholic Social Studies textbook.

The Food:
After reading Blueberries for Sal and because the wild blueberry is the official fruit of the state, we made blueberry muffins using this recipe from food.com.


The Craft:
And after all of those lighthouse books, we made our own little lighthouses. We used directions from Spoonful.com to create them out of plastic cups, and then the kids took it a step further and added their own landscapes. Pal's is still sitting on top of the fridge. We made these a few months ago. I'm behind in blogging.


After spending a week in the most northeastern corner of our country, we are now head to the middle with Missouri up next.

Be saints, it's worth it!
Lisa
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Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Journey Across America: Alabama

Posted by The Cotter Family
This post is part of a 50 state Journey Across America. For information on the basics of this project check out this post.

The Books:
We began by reading Y is for Yellowhammer and then Bean used the information she learned to make a notebook page for her United States scrapbook.


The kids and I then read A Picture Book of Helen Keller (she was born in Tuscumbia, AL) and Wind Flyers.

We also taught the kids about Alabama using the Our United States of America: Catholic Social Studies textbook.

The Food:
For an Alabama treat we made Alabama Fried Cherry Pies. (Although, we actually baked ours :).


The Craft:
After reading A Picture Book of Helen Keller, the kids created their own braille messages using... hole punched dots... I really don't know what to call them. We used this braille chart to show us how to create the letters.


And up north we go next to Maine!

Be saints, it's worth it!
Lisa
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Monday, August 11, 2014

Feast of St. Clare Movie Night

Posted by The Cotter Family
St. Clare is the patroness of the media therefore, we had a family movie night to celebrate her Feast Day!


The kids really outdid themselves by turning our living room into a theater.


Tickets were even purchased with homemade money. (Special guests Grammy and Pop Pop were able to join us!)


And in the middle of the movie we took an intermission to get refreshments at the concession stand.



I think we just started another fun feast day tradition!

Be saints, it's worth it!
Lisa
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Wednesday, August 6, 2014

20+ Games and Activities for Teaching the Multiples with Skip Counting

Posted by The Cotter Family
Last year my 2nd grader committed to memory the multiples through 12. Here are 20+ ways that we made it fun!



Multiples of 2: Have your students find, or build, lego pieces based upon the multiples you are learning. (Check out Kids Activities Blog for more details.)


Multiples of 2 and 3: Divide 36 frosted covered cheerios (to make the activity more enticing... if you are really awesome you'll use candy) into groups of three. Then skip count the groups. Next, eat one from each pile and skip count the twos!


Multiples of 3: Using a hundred chart, have your students put markers on the multiples of three. (Download a chart for free at Currclick.)


Multiples of 4: Create a hopscotch board with the multiples, then play hopscotch! Be sure to have the students recite them as they hop along.


Multiples of 4 and 5: This two player game comes from RightStart Math. Mix up cards with the multiples of four and five (or any two sets of multiples) and lay them facedown, like you would for memory. Assign each player a multiple. Players then take turns flipping over one card at a time, searching for their set. If a player finds one of their cards, then they keep searching until they find one that belongs in their opponents set. The first player to find all of their cards is declared the winner.


Multiples of 5: Write the multiples on popsicles sticks. Have the students press them in order into playdough. (Inspired by Chalk Talk.)


Multiples of 4 and 6: Create a Venn Diagram with the multiples of four and six.


Multiples of 7: Play a simplified version of paper football!

Give each player three tries to score by flicking the football into the end zone. If a student succeeds in getting the football into the marked off rectangle, then they score seven points. If they do not succeed, then mark 0 points for that possession and move to the next player.

Chefs = Chiefs. My daughter is not the first to make the Chefs mistake. Great googly-moogly.

Multiples of 7: Have your students cover all of the numbers on a hundred chart BUT the multiples of seven. (Download a chart for free at Currclick.)


Multiples of 8: Tape the multiples to the floor and have your students hop their way through them. Use card stock and tape each corner!


Multiples of 9: Create a ladder of the multiples using strips of paper.


Multiples of 9: Teach your students the finger trick!

Multiples of 10: Use dimes to teach the multiples of 10. Take it a step further and ask questions like: "How many dimes do you need to get a dollar?" or "How many dimes do you need to buy a $0.70 toy?"


Multiples of 10: With finger paint, have your students stamp out the multiples of 10.


Multiples of 8 and 11: Write out the multiples of 8 and 11(or any two sets of multiples) on squares of paper. Then put the squares into a bag and assign each player a set of multiples to be searching for. Have the players take turns drawing out one number at a time. If a player draws one of their multiples, they keep the number, if they do not, they put the number back. Players pass the bag back and forth until someone finds all of their multiples.


Multiples of 7 and 12: Place the multiples of seven and twelve (or any two sets of multiples) face down, like you would for memory. Assign each player a set of multiples to search for. Players then take turns flipping cards over one at a time in search of the first number in their set. Once they have found it, they move on to search for the second number in their set and so on. The first person to find all of their numbers, in order, is the winner.


Online Games

Connect the Dots Multiples: ABC Ya
Balloon Pop Math: Sheppard Software
Fruit Shoot: Sheppard Software
Pumpkin Multiples: Math Playground
Skipping Stones: Math Buddy
Count by Numbers: Learning Planet

Be saints, it's worth it!
Lisa
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Monday, August 4, 2014

Curriculum Plans: 2014-2015

Posted by The Cotter Family
August, seriously, you are here? Welp, you always put me into homeschool prep mode, so here we go... our curriculum plans for 2014-2015.

Bean – 3rd Grade

Math
Rightstart Mathematics – Level D



We used this program last year and I'm happily using it again. It is very different from how I was taught math, so sometimes I doubt their methods, but once we finish a lesson and Bean understands the concepts I mentally apologize. At this level there is minimal prep, so I typically look at the lesson between breaks, grab the supplies needed, and we are ready to go. They use lots of hands-on manipulatives and tons of card games for mastering math facts, so Bean rarely complains about math.

English

 Writing
Teaching Writing Structure and Style
Student Writing Intensive - Level A

We are drinking the IEW koolaid this year and will be hopping on board with pretty much every Catholic homeschooler in our area. Fortunately, the core programs are provided to me for FREE from our public charter school program. I always knew my tax dollars were good for something.

The items needed for this program thoroughly confused me when I was trying to figure it out. Hopefully that's just me, but I'll share it with you incase I'm not alone.

First you'll need Teaching Writing Structure and Style for YOU. Yes, you will be taking a class so you can better facilitate their methods.


The class is a one time thing, so once you complete the program you are set to facilitate any level of the Student Writing Intensive program, which begins with Level A. My plan is to complete Level A this year and then move on to the next program in the level according to the crazy pathway that IEW has created.


Grammer
Fix It! Grammar- The Nose Tree

Also from IEW, we are giving their Fix it! Grammar program a try. I ordered the student book and teacher manual of the first book, The Nose Tree. Basically Bean will be editing her way through the story and learning new concepts as she goes. Brilliant!


Spelling
All About Spelling - Level 4

After completing, and enjoying, levels 1-3 of All About Spelling, we are continuing on with level 4. IEW suggests using levels 1-3 of this program and then beginning their Phonetic Zoo program for spelling. However, we are sticking with All About Spelling because it's cheaper and we know it works, so why change a good thing? (You'll also need the Spelling Interactive Kit to use this program.)


Handwriting and Typing
Handwriting without Tears - Cursive Handwriting

Another program we've stuck with throughout the years is Handwriting Without Tears.



This year we are venturing into cursive! I have the teacher's guide as well, because I got it for free from our charter school program, but I'm not sure if it's necessary, in the past I've rarely looked at the teacher's guides, even although I have them.

For an extra $3.50 I ordered the keyboarding + cursive handwriting pack ($12.00 for both!). I'm excited to test it out!

Reading Comprehension
Bean does a LOT of reading. Like, hours a day. I'm not too worried about her comprehension skills. However, we still use Reading Eggspress as a fun way to test comprehension because Bean sees this computer program as a treat. (It has an avatar element where your kids can play games with other kids, just a heads up. We don't use it because avatars creep me out.)


Classically Catholic Memory - Delta Year 
For the following subjects we use the memory work laid out by Classically Catholic Memory as the backbone of our studies.

Science
History
Religion
Latin
Geography
Poetry

For more on what this looks like check out my Classically Catholic Memory tab for bi-weekly wrap ups and lesson plans from all 18 weeks of Gamma Year.

More History
This year we will continue to use the American Girl Historical Characters that go along with our history sentences from CCM. So far we have done units on Kaya, Felicity, and Caroline, and throughout next year I have plans of doing the rest of the characters. (Minus Julie and Rebecca... those are my least two favorites.)

Social Studies
Last year we studied North America in CCM geography and I planned on focusing on one state each week until we covered all 50 states. My hope was to be done by now, but alas, we have 15 states to go. We will keep plugging away until we are finished, hopefully by December! Check out the progress so far on our Journey Across America. (Yep, not all of the states we have studied have been posted on yet.)

Spanish
Rosetta Stone – Spanish


We purchased Rosetta Stone two years ago and so far Bean has made her way through the first 3 units of Level 1. It was an investment, but it will take her 6-7 years to get through it all at this pace, plus Pal and Peanut will be able to use it as well. Dividing the curriculum out this way makes it about $20.00 per child per year and any other Spanish program would be more than that... not to mention I can’t teach Spanish. We did not get the homeschool edition, and I personally don’t think it is necessary.

"Specials"
We get our "specials" covered at our one day a week charter homeschool options program. This year Bean is taking Drama, P.E., Legos (yes this is a class), art, and science (which is a bonus because we do science at home... they do awesome experiments every week, so it is well worth it!)

Pal - Kindergarten

Math
Rightstart Mathematics – Level A


It's worked for Bean, so I'm hoping it will work for Pal too!

Reading
Basically we are finishing up many of the programs we started last year for reading. I don't do a traditional "phonics" program with the kids, as usually after we do the below, they are reading and it's not necessary.

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons


This book has worked as the starting point of reading for both of our kids. It is very easy to follow as the teacher and I love how comprehensive it is. Pal is almost finished with the lesson and we should finish this up in the first quarter.

Little Angel Readers - B and C



I adore these sweet little readers that teach lessons on virtue and the Catholic faith. They can be used as an entire reading program, but Pal only reads the stories in them for some supplemental fun.

Reading Eggs
Lastly, Pal is using the main component of this online program for supplemental practice with learning how to read. It's also great for basic computer skills!

As a heads up, I have a whole post on what we've used for teaching our kids to read. Check it out for more ideas!

Spelling
All About Spelling - Level 1


Spelling in Kindergarten, wait, whaat? Well, instead of using a traditional phoenix program, I've just taught the kids to read and spell, so far, it's worked. Think of spelling as phoenix, now it's okay. You'll also need the Spelling Interactive Kit to use this program.

Handwriting
Handwriting Without Tears - Kindergarten



I mentioned this one above, and here is a whole post on it!

THE BELOW IS COPIED AND PASTED FROM BEAN'S PLANS
(They'll do these things together, but at their own levels)

Classically Catholic Memory - Delta Year 
For the following subjects we use the memory work laid out by Classically Catholic Memory as the backbone of our studies.

Science
History
Religion
Latin
Geography
Poetry

For more on what this looks like check out my Classically Catholic Memory tab for bi-weekly wrap ups and lesson plans from all 18 weeks of Gamma Year.

Social Studies
Last year we studied North America in CCM geography and I planned on focusing on one state each week until we covered all 50 states. My hope was to be done by now, but alas, we have 15 states to go. We will keep plugging away until we are finished, hopefully by December! Check out the progress so far on our Journey Across America. (Yep, not all of the states we have studied have been posted on yet.)

THE ABOVE IS COPIED AND PASTED FROM BEAN'S PLANS

"Specials"
Pal will be joining Bean at our charter homeschool options program one day a week. The kindergartners stay together all day, so he'll get a variety of activities in and learn how to do important things like raise his hand and stand in a line.


There you have it friends! Let me know if you have any questions, I love talkin' homeschool curriculum!

Be saints, it's worth it!
Lisa
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