First Grade Prep

Time to start preparing for the first grade. I poke around a bit during the summer, but get down to business in August. Which is nearly here, I can barely believe it!

When I started my research I was planning to go with Oak Meadow, I like the philosophy behind Waldorf style teaching, I'm reading more into Charlotte Mason, and I like the idea of this too for the most part. So it's just finding more so what DD does well with.

Here's my links and thoughts, for organization purposes. That's why I keep this blog, to help me keep bookmarks organized paired with my thoughts, and then for anyone else that can use them.

Tanglewood Plan Your Own Curriculum
This provides a sheet to help plan out your curriculum, it's intended to be used with their curriculum, but you could easily print this out and fill it in with whatever curriculum you choose.

Singapore Math - $76
recommended on the site:
# Primary Math Textbook 1A U.S. Edition (code:PMUST1A)
# Primary Math Workbook 1A U.S. Edition (code:PMUSW1A)
# Primary Math Textbook 1B U.S. Edition (code:PMUST1B)
# Primary Math Workbook 1B U.S. Edition (code:PMUSW1B)

I'm leaning heavily towards this curriculum for math.

Noeo Homeschool Science Biology I -$135.58
I think this might be the science route I go, DD has a very high interest in science, and I really like how the information is provided.

I'm going to see if I can find some of the books at the library and get away with buying:
Biology I: Seeds, Scales, Feathers and Tails! Instructor's Guide - $19.95
The Young Scientists Club - Experiment Kits - 65.94

Pandia Press History
I found this through a recommendation and I'm leaning on adding this to our first grade year. DD is very interested in history and science, so I really want to get a curricula that does her justice. samples here; buy the History Odyssey Ancients Level One Study Guide here - $31 or whole curriculum here - $105; level 1 book and supply list for ancient history *pdf;

Growing with Grammar - $24.99
I'm not sure where I lean on this, I think it might be good for DD to learn proper grammar, but I think we have a lot going on this year, with learning to read more fully, that I might put grammar back until she has reading down. If I see this for a low price though I might pick it up, it's 24.99 for first/second grade in one book.

Royal Fireworks Press
I wont be purchasing this, but they have a good list of Aesop's fables on that above link that would be good to borrow from the library.

Ambleside Onlinr year 1 - free
Charlotte Mason inspired curriculum, provided for free. I do not plan to use this curriculum, I found with my DD that a fully literature based curriculum was not the best fit for her. But we both enjoy reading, so I will be using this site for reading recommendations. ::year 1 book list::

I'm considering a few workbooks from Evan-Moor to have on hand. They give out free lessons a month that you can print, you can find them here (grades 1-3). they have other grades if you click at the top. July has camping, which I think might be fun to print the book out they have, and do this on our August trip.

I would like to do these free lessons: Big Pig; In the Garden; Couplets - 2 line poem; -am word family

Many of their books come with "page by page" views, so you can see exactly what you are paying for, and if it's worth while for you to do so.

Some books that were of interest to me:
word family
Native Americans
Basic Phonic Skills, Grade 1

I plan to renew my subscription to ed helper when it expires this year. It was nice to take our theme we were working on, go to that site and find printables for her to color in or fill out. She really liked their Sudoku puzzles, and many of those came in themes that related to our current topic. Instead of always printing and using papers for their online stories, I would just set up the laptop on the table, and read from there to DD. It worked out well, and while the stories aren't prize winners, they didn't bore her, and many she enjoyed.

Bulletin Boards & File Folder Games/Learning Centers
We don't have a bulletin board, just my dining room wall and I sticky tack everything up, this was a HUGE hit last year, so I plan to get some more to spice it up a bit! Accent Punch-Outs

Free Jan Brett Alphabet cards I am thinking I will print these out, I wanted to get an alphabet train, and haven't been able to find exactly what I'm looking for. Jan Brett has gorgeous art work, and these are free, so I may do these. Need more ink before I can do anything.

*Scholastic Last year I bought my bulletin board displays from here, and a few misc. items. The shipping was very quick, the items are great, I had nothing but good results here, and plan to buy from them again. Grade 1

Carson-Dellosa
bk's schoolhouse
education for kids
teacher store house
Teacher's Paradise

File Folder Games:
I made a lot of these last years, and WOW did it take a lot of time. The kids really enjoyed these and still use them. So I'd like to buy a few more, because contact paper is not my friend, lol. I'd like to buy some felt too, since cutting out felt took a lot of time. This year I have a lot going on and don't want to spend as much time on things I can get for a relatively good price.
a to z teacher

These word walls look like you could easily make them at home and print yourself.