General Questions/All Grades
What grades does your curriculum cover?
We have built curriculum for Preschool through grade 8. However, we also supplement our own curriculum with other online programs beginning in middle school. The programs we use for these grades, as well as a schedule for them, is listed on individual grade pages. This curriculum is formed around Utah State Core Standards. We list the standards we are teaching with each lesson.
What is an “Everyday Thing”?
An Everyday Thing is something we do every day. In our home daily say prayers, study scriptures, recite the Pledge of Allegiance, check and record the weather on a weather chart, update our calendar by adding and discussing the date, write in our journals, do home chores, and spend time reading. Journal prompts are listed in the weekly lesson schedules.
Tell me about the schedule.
The daily weekly schedule is a “to do” list for each day. Parents and children will work together through the lessons and tasks listed each day. School is held Monday-Thursday. Friday is a catch up day meant to provide time to go back to any assignments that didn’t get finished throughout the week. Fridays are also used to complete field trips, visit the library, work on necessary reviews, or do additional research as needed. In high school, this schedule changes slightly.
What are monthly goals?
Monthly goals are the standards that we are focusing on for that month. They are listed just under the heading for each month and consist of both Media Literacy standards, which we focus on when we attend the library on Fridays, and English Language Arts, which we focus on in journal writing and daily reading. These goals don’t have their own lesson plans attached but are practiced, corrected, and reviewed as we do our daily activities. A great way to do this is to have a copy of the monthly goals with your child’s journal and as he/she reads. You can then focus on one or two of the standards for each activity every week. This is a great way to cover standards while your child does their daily things and without adding a structured lesson. Each month, we start new goals in these areas and our journal writing, reading, and library visits shift focus to the new goals.
Where are the journal prompts and what do they teach?
Prompts for journal writing can be found in the “weekly lesson schedule” for your grade. Although we provide suggestions, feel free to write about anything you want. We use journals to practice handwriting, self-expression, reflection, and writing skills. We daily correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation in journals and work to get better every day. This is where a lot of our ELA standards are found.
What is a Monday Mission?
We decided that our children’s education would focus on the whole child. We encourage our children to always spend time practicing their beliefs, even during school. So, we made a small act of service a part of every week’s school goals. Monday Missions are meant to be done during the week on the child’s own timing. They are fun ways to encourage thinking of others.
What foreign language does your curriculum cover?
Our family decided that American Sign Language is where we want to start so our curriculum reflects that. We work together as a family to learn each lesson. We have fun “finals” each semester which consist of our family learning the signs for a song we choose and performing it together for friends and family. When our children reach middle school, they enroll in online programs that allow for the practice of other languages offered. This continues into high school.
Why don’t you have many dance, drama, sports, or music lessons?
We try to incorporate these items into our curriculum as much as possible and think they are very important. However, our family participates in these lessons through community programs and we feel that those more than cover what we miss. We participate in acting lessons, dance classes, recreational sports, and instrument lessons and have found that those cover the standards very well.
What are mini lessons?
Mini lessons are short, simple lessons about specific themes our family finds important. Some are grade specific while others are repeated each year, adjusting it to the child as he/she grows. Mini lessons can be found in the mini lesson document and gives tips, guidance, and resources but leaves the teaching up to you and what you are comfortable with.
What about physical activity and physical education standards?
We participate in sports and cover our standards that way. However, we try to do something active each day. We play outside or do an indoor workout video in order to get moving. We also take time to do Brain Breaks during our school day. These short 5-10 minute videos (search on YouTube) help give our bodies and minds a break during long sessions of learning.
What is “review and/or update your goals”? What goals?
Utah state standards use the SMART goal system. Our family has implemented this into our school day by making a list of monthly goals. These goals may include anything that is important to your child including goals in sports, fitness, school, reading, writing, grades, crafts, music, dance, self-control, chores, reading scriptures, or completing a large task. In our family, mom and dad make and work towards goals, too. We each have a board to write our goals on, erasing them as they are completed. Each month, we reflect on our progress and adjust our actions to better finish the ones we haven’t completed.
What is a SMART goal?
The state of Utah using the SMART goal system to teach children methods of setting, planning, and reflecting upon goals. SMART is short for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. Each month when we update goals, we use these measurements to discuss progress and methods of completing goals.
How do you teach keyboarding skills?
Our children are using various online programs to learn proper keyboarding. They practice once each week and by the end of the year this practice covers all the grade-level keyboarding standards. As they get older they also spend time typing out reports and using online search engines. This gives them additional keyboarding practice that is useful.
In public schools, keyboarding begins in 3rd grade officially with students learning how to log in and perform basic computer skills from Kindergarten. In kindergarten we use Keyboard Climber 2, which teaches her both keyboarding skills as well as letters. The focus for this exercise is getting a kindergartner to understand that he/she can find the correct button based on what he/she is seeing on the screen. It can be found here:
In second/third grade we use Type a Balloon , Alpha Munchies, and/or Keyboard Ninja and emphasize correct posture, hand placement, and technique.
5th graders should know their basics and simply be working to improve their accuracy and speed. Games like The Typing of the Ghosts, Type a Balloon, and Typing Chef are great for those goals.
We also use Mickey’s Typing Adventure and Typing Instructor for Kids to improve and test typing skills.
Additionally, elementary school children are expected to begin to learn coding skills. We use Scratch Jr., Scratch, and Python. In middle school, we enroll them in online coding classes.
Why aren’t science lessons as regularly scheduled as other subjects?
Science lessons take a lot of time and materials. They take complete focus from both child and parent. With several children at home and a crazy schedule, I (and most families) simply cannot create huge science experiences for every child every week.
Science lessons are designed to be moved around according to your schedule. You don’t have to do them on the date that they show up on the weekly schedule…that is just a guideline. Weeks without science lessons in one grade give you the chance to focus on science with a child in another grade. This ensures all children at all grade levels can cover their science standards in a fun and interactive way.
These lessons usually teach a single (or very few) concept and build on each other. Each lesson is meant to be a review of the previous ones. We also encourage you to discuss, point out examples of, and allow your child to ask questions and research their interests throughout the week. This helps with retention of information and allows your child to see what they are learning is applicable to real-life.
Bonus: Most lessons can be done with a group of children with some adjustment for each age level. Allow your older children to “teacher assist” lessons for younger ones or let younger ones join in the lessons for older children. Encourage children to teach each other; it’s the best way to learn. This helps communication, group problem solving, and social skills. Learn together as a family!
Why is it important to plan ahead?
It’s always a good idea to plan ahead, but especially in teaching. You want to be sure you have all the supplies and that you know exactly what you are teaching. I plan at the end of the month for the upcoming month, making sure I’m ready to go. School runs more smoothly and the kiddos aren’t waiting around for me during school time while I figure something out.
What is the 100th Day of School Celebration?
This is a simple, but fun way to celebrate completing 100 days of school and a great way for younger students to practice counting to 100. You may want to organize a special outfit with 100 dots on it, eat 100 pieces of a special treat, create a 100 square hopscotch, jump rope 100 times, or anything else that helps you count to 100. There are tons of cute ideas online…just search for it.
What is a Monthly Read-a-thon?
Each month (usually the 2nd Friday of the month), we have a 1- hour read-a-thon. Children are encouraged to get comfy, grab a few snacks, and curl up quietly with some good books. I also allow YouTube videos of books being read for younger students. This is a chance to make reading a special and fun time and get some extra stories in.
Why doesn’t the schedule match up for this year?
I create the schedules for the most current year I used the curriculum in my own family. This means that the dates and scripture study schedule may not be current. The curriculum should still line up with the normal school schedule, you will just have to decide on your dates and fill in the correct scriptures study assignments. Some holiday lessons may need to be moved around to the correct dates as well.
Preschool
Why do preschool and kindergarten lessons have themes?
Early learning is best done through real-life experiences. The lessons mean more and are retained better if they connect to what is happening in the moment. So, our preschool and kindergarten curriculum revolves around themes which reflect what is happening in the world at that time. Standards are taken into account and listed with each lesson.
What is center time?
Center time is a part of the day created for learning through child-centered play. It is meant to be open-ended with little to no instruction. The activities are created in a way that they encourage natural learning through play. Young children learn best through play as it encourages them to interact with things they are interested in and problem solve at their own level. Center time can be anywhere from 15 minutes to hours long, depending upon the interest level of your child and your family schedule. Center time is a great way to get your little one learning on their own while you help older children with their work.
Kindergarten
Why do preschool and kindergarten lessons have themes?
Early learning is best done through real-life experiences. The lessons mean more and are retained better if they connect to what is happening in the moment. So, our preschool and kindergarten curriculum revolves around themes which reflect what is happening in the world at that time. Standards are taken into account and listed with each lesson.
How does a kindergartner write in a journal?
This will depend upon where you kindergartner is at. In the beginning, he/she will probably just draw a picture in response to the prompt. Scribbling is OK, too. Help him/her to label their picture or scribbles with a simple one-word description, asking them to trace or copy what you write. As the year progresses, ask your child to use more words in their responses. Help them by writing out a complete sentence and allowing them to trace or copy it on their own. Focus on effort and correct letter formation (backwards is OK sometimes).
Why do you use Leap Frog Letter Factory so often?
I know. Playing a video seems like lazy teaching. Normally, I’d agree with you. With few exceptions, I keep media out of my teaching. This is one of those exceptions, but for a very good reason.
I once taught in a K/1 combination special education class. That year the teachers of those grades decided to test a theory they had. With special permission from the principle, they assessed every child for letter and sound recognition. After assessment was done every classroom played the Leap Frog video once a day for their students. After a month the children were re-assessed. Letter and sound recognition shot up by 80%. It worked in mainstream classes as well as special education. It worked for students who were struggling as well as those who were already keeping up. There is something about that video that just makes sense to kids. I’ve used it to teach my own children and I’ve found that it is the most efficient way to get my kids to learn those letters and sounds.
What is buddy reading?
For preschool and kindergarten, we buddy read. We have an adult or older sibling read with our little ones, allowing them to ask and answer questions, learn how to follow along the text, and enjoy the pictures. We focus on enjoying story time and make it fun, allowing our little one to choose which story they want to read.
What is center time?
Center time is a part of the day created for learning through child-centered play. It is meant to be open-ended with little to no instruction. The activities are created in a way that they encourage natural learning through play. Young children learn best through play as it encourages them to interact with things they are interested in and problem solve at their own level. Center time can be anywhere from 15 minutes to hours long, depending upon the interest level of your child and your family schedule. Center time is a great way to get your little one learning on their own while you help older children with their work.
What books do I need for Kindergarten?
My First Book of Mormon Stories (Deanna Draper Buck)
More of My First Book of Mormon Stories (Deanna Draper Buck)
A Basic Course in American Sign Language (Tom Humphries)
Tracing Letters and Numbers : 200 Practice Pages: Workbook for Preschool, Kindergarten, and Kids Ages 3-5
Each weekly theme calls for 4 different books with some lessons requiring certain books. Most lessons can use any book from that theme. I’ve found the best way to do this is to visit the library each week. If you have a home library you will likely have several books you can use, too.
2nd Grade
What is 2nd grade reading comprehension?
By 2nd grade, our kids can read at grade level or above. We ask them to daily read a grade-level story aloud to us. Then, we ask them questions about the story. Who were the characters? What did they do? What problem did they face? Where were they? Sometimes we also ask them to re-tell the story in their own words.
What are sight words and why are they important?
As your child is learning to read it is important for them to recognize and read from memory (not phonetically sound out) sight words. These are words that are either common in text or that do not follow the rules of phonetics. Starting in first grade, our family beings introducing sight words. Some children are ready for these in Kindergarten. You can find a list of Fry Sight Words here. We practice about ten words a week using flash cards and writing exercises. The goal is to have your child be able to “read” the word because they have memorized the shape. If they can’t tell you what the word is in less than two seconds, they haven’t mastered that sight word. Each week we add new words, taking away those that are mastered. After a few years, our children have mastered every sight word, allowing them to read with more fluency, accuracy, and speed.
How do I teach spelling words?
Each week in 2nd grade we practice spelling words. These are common words and words that are often misspelled. We practice Monday-Wednesday. On Monday, we do rainbow words, asking our child to spell out each word three times, each in a different color. Tuesday and Wednesday we give a mock spelling test where we ask our child to spell the word out once without looking and correct any mistakes. On Thursday we have a final spelling test, asking our child to write the word perfectly without looking.
5th Grade
What is 5th grade silent reading?
We allow our 5th graders to read on their own at grade-level or above. We ask them to spend time each day reading through chapter books of their choice. When they finish a story, they give us a verbal book report, re-telling what happened.
What is the economics fair for 5th graders?
In 5th grade many students learn about the economy. They learn the basics of building a small business, marketing, supply and demand, and how to make a profit. My daughter’s public school does this through an economics fair. She’s been looking forward to it for years. So, we decided to have our own. She will choose a product that she can make, research the cost and time associated with making it, make products, sell products, and review her cost to profit ratio. This is a project that will take a few months and will wrap up in January. We’ve decided that late November and throughout December would be her best bet as selling because of the holidays. We plan to create an online business using social media ads. Another option may be a children’s market in your area. Ours was closed for 2020 due to COVID-19
