Sebastian Aged 6.10 years
Sebastian is keen and focused, always determined to master any skill he undertakes. He has an incredible attention span, is highly competitive and extremely self-motivated, he is a pleasure to teach.
English
Reading Skills
Sebastian is keen to be reading as well as his older siblings and applies himself to this task without prompting, often searching for books at his level and reading outside of ‘lessons’.
Sebastian is progressing through All About Reading Level 1, and can now read consonant teams, words with final and initial blends, sight words and additional sounds for the vowels and c, g, y and ch.
During 2018 we will complete Level 1 covering words ending with ff, ll and ss, compound and plural words and open and closed syllables. We will then begin All About Reading Level 2.
Resource: All About Reading Level 1 and All About Reading Level 2.
Brilliant multi-sensorial program, best on the market. Ties in neatly with his spelling program.
Spelling
Sebastian’s spelling comes with more ease than his reading, which is rather fascinating. The spelling enhances his reading rather than the other way.
Sebastian is progressing through All About Spelling Level 1, and can now spell four letter words and phonograms th, sh and ch. He can spell words with final and initial blends, segment words with consonant blends and knows when to begin words with c or k.
During 2018 he will learn when to double ff, ll and ss, when to use k or ck at the end of words. How to spell works with ng and nk, spell compound words and know which ending to use for plural words and learn about at open and closed syllables. We will then begin All About Spelling Level 2.
Resource: All About Spelling Level 1 and All About Spelling Level 2.
Multi-sensorial program that ties in neatly with Reading program, can’t rave enough about it.
Handwriting
Sebastian has incredible fine motor skills, one of his favourite activities is tracing intricate images for hours at a time. For Christmas we purchased him a light table and he continues his passion unabated.
Last year we focused on correct pencil grip and making sure he was forming his letters correctly, of which he only needed a little correction.
In the upcoming year we will continue to to supervise his letter formation, ensuring particularly that he forms letters in the correct direction.
Resource: Startwrite
Creates customised handwriting practice sheets.
Creative Writing
Sebastian’s stories often feature a boy called Sebastian and other familiar details involving his own experiences. He gets most excited about his stories.
We began the year with me scribing the majority of his stories, but towards the end of the year we gradually transferred over to him beginning to write his own stories.
In the upcoming year our intent is to write daily, encouraging Sebastian’s love of creative writing whilst working on the mechanics. We will continue to discuss sentence structure and logical sequencing, an area he needs more assistance with. Walking a fine line between keeping the story ‘his’ whilst gently assisting him.
Resources include: Writing Prompt Cards and Programmed English – Clare Kinsella
Grammar
Sebastian has a good grasp of oral grammar; sentence structure, correct word usage and tenses. Grammatical infractions are quickly ‘pounced upon’ by siblings so all the children are strong in this area.
Last year we focused on introducing mechanics such as capitals, full stops, correct tenses, nouns and verbs.
In 2018 we will be cementing these concepts further and introducing commas, abbreviations and contractions as well.
Resources include: Little Grammar People – Nuri Mass and Primary Language Lessons – Emma Serl
Narrations
A retelling of what has been read/watched/learnt into one’s own words, requires a good understanding of the subject matter, it takes concentration and sequencing skills. Narrations can take various forms; oral, written, illustrations, acting, building or creating.
Sebastian’s narrations are good, he can remember parts verbatim, but struggles to deliver ‘big picture’ bullet points.
As we consider narrations to be an extremely important skill, a foundation for logic and writing, we will be devoting time to narration regularly for the subjects of; Faith, Geography, History and Science.
The focus for now will continue to be on the more active forms of narration and oral narrations, slowly introducing written narrations as his skill level for the mechanics of writing grow.
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 our daily Read Alouds and this year he was able to listen to longer chapter books with great pleasure and attention. He still enjoys familiar and ‘meaty’ picture books.
Resources include: Our extensive home library and the town library.
Poetry
The listening to and memorisation of poetry is part of our family’s culture of nurturing a love of literature.
Sebastian will continue to be immersed in poetry daily and memorise at least one poem a term, to recite at our family weekly recitation nights.
Resources include: Robert Louis Stevenson’s poetry, Classic Children’s Poetry, Children’s Book of Verse and more from our extensive poetry collection
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Mathematics
Sebastian loves maths and is quick to understand any new concepts, he is working a year above 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.
Last year Sebastian covered ; 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.
In 2018 Sebastian will learn about; 2 digit addition and 3 digit subtraction, 3 – 9x tables, division by 2, 5 & 10 and with remainders, equivalent fractions, expanding decimals, measurement, area, mass and time, right angles, axis of symmetry, grid co-ordinates and pyramids, tallies and graphs.
Resources include: Maths Online, 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. We have been owner building since before Sebastian’s birth and he has grown up observing, learning and building.
Last year Sebastian studied various topics including; fish,electricity and dinosaurs. He watched many youtubes, documentaries and science videos and enjoyed a variety of science experiments and made many K’nex models to name a few endeavours.
This year our studies will include; Earth & Space, Life cycles as well as always being flexible to follow any further interests that arise. To meet these studies we will use various mediums and resources, and we’re confident that other areas of scientific and technological interest and knowledge will be sought and pursued.
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 to understand the significance of certain events.
Last year we studied various topics including World War 1 and World Explorers; including Christopher Columbus, Marco Polo and Livingstone.
This year our focus of study will be Australian History. We want Sebastian to have an awareness of and passion for our nation’s history.
We will be studying the First Peoples, Convicts, Early Settlement, Exploration, Bushrangers and the Gold Rush.
Resources Include:
Arthur Bailey’s – A Sunburnt Country
Our own extensive collection of historical living books, picture as well as chapter books, and the town library.
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Geography
We want Sebastian to have an awareness of and appreciation for different cultures, customs and environments. To be familiar and confident with maps, to be able to recognise the different continents and many countries.
This year we will continue to use Mega Maps for our mapwork which continues to be hugely popular with our children, a great bonus is Sebastian’s passion for tracing lends well to developing mapwork skills. We will also focus on the Australian environment which will tie in neatly with our Australian history studies.
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.
Resources include: Our library and town library, DVDs and youtubes and Mega Maps
Creative Arts
Creative Arts spontaneously happens in our household daily, there is always some form of creative arts being undertaken, currently I feel as if we live in the March household (Little Women).
Visual Arts
Last year Sebastian had the opportunity to participate a couple of Art Workshops with our local home education group, these ran for a period of several weeks, taught by art teachers, they were full, huge days with the focus on: printing, charcoal, soft & hard crayon work and mandalas. I was totally amazed at the dedication, talent and focus of all the children. Mid 2018 the work undertaken in these workshops will be displayed at the Grafton Art Gallery.
We also continued our membership with Artventure , with which we continue to be highly impressed. Sebastian’s passion is still focused however on his tracing of which he still spends hours weekly doing.
This year our local home education group has been selected to participate in the 2018 Drawing in Schools Outreach Program at the Grafton Art Gallery, at the conclusion of this Outreach Program their work will be displayed at the Gallery. Sebastian will be participating in this.
We will also continue to expose Sebastian to a variety of different mediums including, drawing, painting, collages, claywork and tracing.
Resources include: How to Draw books, youtubes and internet sites and our craft/art supplies including clay.
Music & Dance
Sebastian will be exposed to a variety of music genres, with the opportunity for movement and free expression. With his older sisters undertaking dance lessons they often come home and demonstrate moves learnt and spontaneous ‘classes’ ensue. Dance Star and Sing Star are always the rage here. Various musical instruments are available in our home which Sebastian can readily access.
Drama
Last year shadow puppets were widely popular and the children designed puppets, props, choreographed the plays and manned the lighting. Most impressive.
This year ‘home grown’ plays appears to be the rage. We’ve already seen Red Riding Hood, which Sebastian’s big sisters choreographed and all the children performed in, complete with costumes and props. Sebastian can still remember not only all his lines but the majority of everyone else’s verbatim.
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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 God and His Church. This year Sebastian is to receive his Sacraments; First Confession, First Holy Communion and possibly make his Confirmation.
Resources include: St Joseph First Holy Communion Catechism, Liturgical Year Resources, saints biographies 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 compete in our annual home education Sports Day. Sebastian will be continuing with swimming lessons this year and not only improve with his water safety skills but listen within a group situation and follow instructions. Sebastian will also participate in a Paddleboard session this year as he did last. He will be competing in a local running competition again this year as he did last year, running 2km. Some weeks he will participate in Park Run, a 5km run as he did occasionally last year. Sebastian will also be kayaking regularly, he shows great aptitude and a love for this sport.
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.
