Slow Transition into Handbook Projects

We are slowly transitioning from our established curriculum into incorporating more activities from the various handbooks. Today wasn't so different than usual. It was more of an introductory day to the KoF handbooks.

Both kids are working on Psalm 119:11 for their Scripture memory verse. This doesn't earn a badge, but it does get them back into the habit of memorizing Scripture. The KoF program awards badges for entire chapters that are memorized, so it will be awhile before I can award any. Except for knowing the books of the Bible. The Transformer has most of them down. The Kitty Cat is getting there slowly.

The Kitty Cat is working on memorizing "Jesus Loves Me," along with her brother, for a badge, as well as the Keeping Clean badge (taking charge of one's own daily hygiene) and the ABCs badge. She really wants to do Embroidery, but we still have to pick up the materials for those projects.

I started her today on a formal blend ladder schedule so that she can start sounding out CVC words. She did great! I did it partly as a test to see if I needed to order a refill of the phonics program worksheets that her brother had used in K. It costs $35, so I wanted to make sure that I needed to spend that money. Seeing as how she did, I don't think I need to do that!

Come fall, I will start her on the phonics program that the Transformer is finishing up this week. We'll do it slowly since she is still so young. And I will start her on The Reading Lesson. We don't use the CD-ROMs, just the book. My son started it about 2 years ago, then we shelved it after a few months. We got it back out about a year ago, and he has been steadily working on it. He should be wrapping up with it by summer. It brings kids up to about a 2nd grade reading level. It does not include writing, although I believe they do have writing supplements available.

Today we went to the After School Caravan, a program that our public library offers to 7-12yo kids. Although my kids are younger than that, the librarian allows them to participate if I remain available to help them as they have need. Today they got to play games with an emphasis on Australia, the current continent featured. Apparently there is a meeting tomorrow during which some budgetary decisions will be made about the library programs and their continued availability. Times may be changed, fewer programs may be offered, library hours may be shortened, and jobs may even be cut.

On another note, I have not been implementing the speech therapy activities that I had planned to. Mostly because... I forgot. :/ It's not a big thing, and she probably will grow out of some of her sound substitutions. But she may not... So I thought we'd ease into working on correcting some of her sounds. She consistently makes a "th" sound for "s" and "f" sounds for voiceless "th." She has no problems with voiced "th." She can mimic the correct pronunciation of "s" sounds but is unable to mimic the correct pronunciation of "th" sounds. So I am planning to work on the "s" correction first with her.

Another thing that I keep neglecting during school is making sure that we complete all the requirements for the BSA Family Award. We've already done most of it through just living, so it's just a matter of being disciplined enough to complete the remaining areas. I also need to help the Transformer pursue completing some more of his Tiger Cub electives. We had really neglected doing his Cub Scout handbook activities while our attention was on the Pinewood Derby. His Tiger year will wrap up in May, I believe, so we have until then to complete any outstanding Tiger Cub activities. After that, and beginning with June Day Camp, all of his activities will fall under his Wolf Cub badge.

In wrapping up, I want to add that both kids got report cards from their swimming instructors last night. They both did really well. The Transformer's instructor advised me about a week ago to allow him one more month in his current level, so I have registered him for that. My daughter, although she has done very well, will probably remain in her level for a number of months until she develops enough confidence to get her head underwater. We'll see how recreational swimming goes once it's consistently warm outside, and we can join the community pool as a family.