Sebastian Aged 6 years, 2017
Sebastian is a bright boy who is quick to learn new concepts. He has an incredible attention span and can stay focused on a task for hours, he is also highly competitive and extremely self-motivated, often determined to complete any assigned tasks, these traits make him a breeze to teach.
English
Reading Skills
Sebastian is keen to read and wants to read ‘now’, he’s not always wanting to begin his lessons but eager to read books. It has been rather a challenge finding books at this beginner level, thankfully the town library has a big supply. Sebastian can currently read words with single letters and we have just begun to introduce consonant teams. By the year’s end he will cover more consonant teams, we’ll introduce words with final and initial blends, words ending with ff, ll and ss, some sight words, compound and plural words, additional sounds for the vowels and c, g, y and ch, we will look at open and closed syllables.
Resource: All About Reading Level 1 Brilliant multi-sensorial program, best on the market. Ties in neatly with his spelling program.
Spelling
Sebastian can currently spell basic three letter words and we’ve just started introducing diagraphs th, sh and ch. By the year’s end we will have also introduced words beginning and ending with blends, knowing when to begin words with c or k, to double ff, ll and ss, introduce consonants ng and nk, spell compound words and know which ending to use for plural words, we will look at open and closed syllables.
Resource: All About Spelling Absolutely brilliant multi-sensorial program, can’t rave enough about it.
Handwriting
Sebastian has excellent fine motor skills, one of his favourite activities is tracing intricate images for hours at a time. This year we will continue to work on ensuring he has correct pencil grip and is forming his letters correctly. He only needs a little correction in this area and supervision as always is important.
Resource: Startwrite Creates customised handwriting practice sheets.
Creative Writing
Sebastian amuses us with his stories as they all seem to involve a boy called Sebastian and food is a recurring theme. Currently I scribe the majority of his stories but as he grows in spelling confidence we are gradually transferring over to him writing more often. Our intent is to write daily, continuing to encourage him in his interest in writing whilst working on the mechanics. Discussions include sentence structure and logical sequencing, striking a balance between keeping the story ‘his’ but gently assisting him to think of other possibilities.
Resources include: Writing Prompt Cards and Stories with a View
Grammar
We wish Sebastian to have an awareness of basic grammar, both orally and in the written form. Grammatical incorrections are quickly ‘pounced upon’ by siblings so a strong awareness is present orally. When story writing we discuss the mechanics such as capitals, commas, full stops, correct tenses etc.
Resources include: Little Grammar People – Nuri Mass and World of Language – Ruth Heller
Narrations
Narrations – a retelling of what has been read/watched/learnt into one’s own words, requires a good understanding of the subject matter, takes concentration and sequencing skills. Narrations can take various forms; oral, written, illustrations, acting, building or creating. We consider narrations to be an extremely important skill and will devote time to various forms of narration daily. Sebastian will weekly produce narrations for; Faith, Geography, History and Science. At this stage the focus will be on the more active forms of narration and oral narrations, as his skill level for the mechanics of writing develop we will slowly introduce written narrations.
Literature
Nurturing a love of literature within our family is at the core of our family’s learning approach, we immerse our children in quality literature from birth. We read from many genres and delight in living books – a book that makes the subject matter ‘come alive’. Sebastian loves listening to picture books and has recently begun listening to chapter books with greater pleasure and attention.
Resources include: Our extensive home library and the town library.
Poetry
The listening to and memorisation of poetry is part of our family culture of nurturing a love of literature. Sebastian will continue to be immersed in poetry and memorise at least one poem a term, he will recite his poems at our family recitation nights and select one for our local Homeschool Concert.
Resources include: Robert Louis Stevenson’s poetry, Classic Children’s Poetry, Children’s Book of Verse and our extensive poetry collection
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Mathematics
Sebastian loves maths and is quick to understand any new concepts, he is working beyond his grade level. Sebastian is determined to get 100% on each of his lessons and will redo an entire lesson if he gets one answer incorrect. This year he has already covered multiplications; 2, 5 and 10x, place value and patterns. By the year’s end some of what he will further cover will include; fractions – halves and quarters, money – paying and change, division – grouping, sharing, subtraction – trading, 2 digit subtractions, addition – adding 2 digits, adding three numbers, measurement – measuring in centimetres and metres, comparing areas, volume displacement, analog and digital time, calendars, space and geometry – right angles, the rhombus, trapezium and tessellating patterns and 3-D objects, statistics and probabilities – reading and adding tally marks and picture and column graphs.
Resources include: Maths Online, online worksheets, maths activities, maths board games and our living maths books collection.
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Science and Technology
We desire to encourage Sebastian’s knowledge and awareness of science and technology, to encourage him to have a questing mind and the confidence to tackle technological challenges. Whilst we have been owner building for eight years, since before his birth, Sebastian has had the opportunity to observe, learn and build. We have just finished learning about dinosaurs and our next focus of study per Sebastian’s request is animals, we will learn about their characteristics, habits and their environments. Sebastian soaks up any knowledge that he is introduced to and is always keen to participate in any learning happening along with his brothers, already this year they have made extra strength bubbles, used science experiment kits, made paper crossbows and K’nex models to name a few endeavours. We are always flexible to follow any further interests that arise using various mediums and resources, and we’re confident that other areas of scientific and technological interest and knowledge will be sought and pursued. With his brothers modeling questing minds and the various ways in which to source information Sebastian will soon be as proficient.
Resources include: Our home and town libraries, Young Scientist set, DVDs and youtubes, Experiment kits, Snap Circuit Kits, K’nex and Lego
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History
We wish for Sebastian to have an interest about ‘all things history’ and want him have a basic awareness of world and Australian history and be able to apply skills of inquiry to learn further by the conclusion of Stage 1. Much of our history approach is covered by using our vast collection of historical living books, picture as well as chapter books, we greatly enjoy reading these together. Our focus of study this year will be Australian history for which we have an extensive collection. We will be studying the First Peoples, Convicts, Early Settlement, Exploration, Bushrangers and the Gold Rush. We want Sebastian to have an awareness of and passion for our nation’s history.
Resources include: Our home and town libraries, DVDs and youtubes and The Australian Book – Eve Pownell.
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Geography
We want Sebastian to have an awareness of and appreciation for different cultures and customs. To be familiar and confident with maps, to be able to recognise the different continents and some of the countries. Much of our geography approach is covered by using our collection of geography living books, picture as well as chapter books, we are always flexible to follow any interest areas that arise. We will be using Mega Maps for our mapwork which has been hugely popular in the past and intend on directing Sebastian’s passion for tracing towards tracing maps to develop mapwork skills.
Resources include: Our library and town library, DVDs and youtubes and Mega Maps
Creative Arts
Visual Arts
Sebastian will continue to be exposed to a variety of different mediums including tracing and drawing.
Resources include: How to Draw books, youtubes and internet sites and our craft/art supplies
Music & Dance
Sebastian will be exposed to a variety of music genres, with the opportunity for movement and free expression. Also his older siblings are attending Rock n Roll classes and often come home and demonstrate moves learnt and spontaneous ‘classes’ ensue. Various musical instruments are available in our home and which Sebastian can readily access.
Drama
Sebastian will be looking at various musicals this year and learning some of the songs. With an older sister in musical theatre drama is naturally a big part of his life.
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Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
Values and Attitudes, Interpersonal Relationships, Problem Solving, Decision Making, Interacting, Moving and Communicating
Many of the skills learnt in these areas are covered by the values we hold as a family which are underpinned by our Catholic Faith.
To be confident in their own selves knowing their value and dignity, to understand they must treat their bodies with care, to remove themselves from situations in which may be harmful, to treat others with kindness, consideration and generosity, to extend Christian charity to all regardless of their belief system.
-Faith Studies
Sebastian is to deepen his personal relationship with God and increase his knowledge of His Church and the saints.
Resources include: Liturgical Year Resources and saints biographies from our library and the ‘Green’ Catechism.
Active Lifestyle, Dance, Games and Sports, Gymnastics
Sebastian is to develop an understanding of the importance of an active lifestyle and nutritional health.
Sebastian will be continuing with swimming lessons this year and not only improve with his water safety skills but have to listen within a group situation and follow instructions. He will also compete in a local running competition again this year as he did last year running 2km. Sebastian will also compete in our annual home education Sports Day.
Growth and Development, Personal Health Choices and Safe Living
Sebastian to have an understanding of ‘the human body’, the need for personal hygiene and an awareness of nutritional health choices.
