Hi MOF,

I would love more info on starting a co-op! You can PM me with more info.

I do actually have a blog already - www.teachcooklove.blogspot.com . I've let it lapse for the past 6 months or so, but I'm going to try to schedule in a few blocks of time a week to keep it up to date.

I am really good at planning and organizing(sometimes not so great at executing though( so I have considered writing a book. You never know - maybe some day!

Thank you very much for sharing! You are so organized! May I ask how old your kids are? 

Always happy to help!

My girls are 24m, 11m, and we have another due in February!

Anne,

I don't use any particular curriculum and my choices on what to teach are based on what I feel the girls are capable of/what they are interested in. There are a few books/curriculum I use to flesh out my goals.

Science
- Most of our science is based on a bi-weekly theme that I choose. Usually, this theme is based on something that Lily is interested at the time or something I think she will enjoy. This week, as you may guess, is Polar Regions.
- There is also a really great preschool science site that we pull from for experiments - http://www.teachpreschoolscience.com/index.html. Don't forget when you're doing experiments to start the vocabulary and routine of the scientific process now!
- As for learning the animals, I will make both a powerpoint for each region and a set of flashcards.

Geography
- When it comes to learning what countries to locate in a given week, I just choose arbitrarily.
- As you can see, if there is a place that relateds to out thematic study we will also learn to locate it.
 
Math
- We are following the standards in Book One of the Complete Canadian Curriculum  (meant for grade one students). We obviously don't physically do the worksheets (though I suppose you could). We instead do fun activities based on the concepts presented in the book.

Language Arts
- We are following "First Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind" (also for grade one) which is where the first few goals come from. This is mostly English Grammar lessons.
- For sight words, we are using the Little Reader trial at the moment in combination with our homemade flashcards that we usually use.
- For phonics, I am simply choosing a CVC word family each week.

Foreign Language
- We have chosen to begin with French, Chinese, and ASL because they are the languages that I have some proficiency in. Also, Lily was born in China (Chinese), we live in Canada (French), and ASL helps to tie the languages together.
- We are waiting for Little Pim to arrive to add to our lessons

Bible
- For our bible story, we use the "My First Message" bible. I then create corresponding comprehension questions and choose a craft to do.
- As for our verse, I chose a list of verses that I thought could be understood and applied by a toddler and we work on one each week.

Music Theory/History/Appreciation
- We use rhythm and music note flashcards
- I choose a composer to add to our listening library each week.

Performing Arts
- Lily LOVES to dance! I'm just teaching her some basics right now.
- Lily really enjoys music, particularly guitar because she sees so many people around her playing. I will add chords as I feel she's ready.

Art
- We have an art curriculum on the way (Artistic Pursuits - As They SEE It). In the meantime we are arbitrarily choosing an artist to study.

Phys. Ed.
- We don't get out much, so we do simple yoga and active console games at home.

Misc.
-Anything I feel we should learn that doesn't fit into the other categories.

- I also often make printable learning games for us to play, based on our theme.

I hope this helps - feel free to ask any more questions you might have!!

I'd LOVE to do that! Move to Ontario!!! I've been searching for people to do a co-op with here!

I'm in Ontario - you? I seem to recall you being in Winnipeg, but maybe I'm going crazy...?

Well, I usually do it for a longer period, but I plan to start doing every two weeks to keep on track!

Both of my girls really love to learn and I feel I have been doing the a great injustice by not keeping on top of things.
Hopefully clearly outlining our goals on a regular basis will remedy that!

[Science]

If anyone is interested, here are my learning goals for the next week (or possibly two). I'd would love to hear what your goals are as well!

Science
Understands how polar bears keep warm
Can identify/name basic Arctic animals
Can identify/name basic Antarctic animals
Can sort Arctic and Antarctic animals
Understands what camouflage is
Is familiar with how several Arctic/Antarctic animals camouflage
Knows at least one fact about each Arctic/Antarctic animal studied

Geography
Can locate Antarctica on a map
Can locate the Arctic circle on a map
Can locate 25 countries on the world map
Can locate all Canadian Provinces on Canada map
Is familiar with appearance/homes of Arctic peoples

Math
Can identify the widest/wider/narrowest/narrower of a pair or group
Can sequence narrowest to widest
Can identify the thickest/thicker/thinnest/thinner of a pair or group
Can sequence thinnest to thickest
Can predict which of two objects will be heavier or lighter
Can choose the group of items with more/less/most/least

Language Arts
Can recite “The Caterpillar” by Christina G Rosseti
Can define “noun”
Can define common nouns, sister, brother, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, and cousin.
Can identify the letter (the capital) that makes a noun a “proper noun”
Can read 20 sight words
Can say the sounds made by the letters b, c, f, h, m, p, r, s, and v.
Can read all cvc “at” family words (bat, cat, fat, hat, mat, pat, rat, sat, vat)

Foreign Language
Can say the Chinese word for “cold”
Can say the French word for “cold”
Can name 5 objects in Chinese
Can name 5 objects in French
Can sing one French song
Can sing on Chinese song
Can sign “cold” in ASL
Does the ASL actions to “Humpty Dumpty” (wall, fall, horses, men, together, again)

Bible
Can name the first man and woman God created
Can name where the first man and woman lived
Can tell why Adam and Eve had to leave Eden
Can tell who told Eve to eat the apple
Can recite Genesis 1:1
Can recite James 1:17
Says evening prayer alone at least one time

Music Theory/History/Appreciation
Can tap one simple rhythm
Can choose between a C and F when hearing the notes played
Can identify portraits of Beethoven and Bach
Can choose composers portrait (between Beethoven and Bach) based on recited facts
Is familiar with the music of Beethoven
Is familiar with “throat singing”

Performing Arts
Can perform three basic tap dance steps
Can perform the basic Cha Cha step
Can play one guitar chord (Em?) while holding guitar in proper position

Art
Is familiar with the works of Van Gogh
Can name at least three Van Gogh works
Can identify Van Gogh From a portrait
Knows at least three facts about Van Gogh
Knows what secondary colours combined primary colours make

Phys. Ed.
Can do three yoga positions when named
Can play one game on the Zippity

Misc.
Can play a basic mouse control game
Can differentiate between left and right

TMT - We just used a little placemat with the world map on it to begin! Bought it on a whim at Zellers one day along with one of the Canadian provinces.

My father almost fell over when he came to visit and Lily (20mo, at the time) brought out the map and pointed to Alberta saying, "Alberta! Grandad! Grandad works there!"

Hi all!

This is not my video but my 24mo (also Lily, strangely enough) does this as well. She asks all the time to "...do countries, please, Momma!"

I know people are curious on how to teach the map - asking for specific techniques. Honestly, all I did was show her maybe five or six countries at a time on the map and, after showing them to her, asked her where they were.

For example:
"Look Lily, this is Russia" (do this for five or six countries)
After showing five or six...
"Lily, can you show me where Russia is?"
And then lots of praise from Mommy when she gets it!!

I did this ever session gradually building on the number of countries (still only adding 5 or 6 each time).

Now, we're not as consistent with this as I would like, so her knowledge isn't as vast as the little girl in the video, but it certainly could be if this method was applied every day or even every second day!

Good luck!

Indeed! They mentioned it in the original announcement and then again in the clarification! Exciting, isn't it!?

I do know that they originally said that it was a tiered system that would go all the way up to 100%, so maybe that will make you feel better!

At what age would you recommend beginning the program with children? I have a very musically inclined 24 month old and was wondering when you thought she might be ready.

Well, I do hate to be a bother as I know this has been a constant question, but when can we expect the discount coupons? We're all waiting very patiently, I'm sure.

I'm in the midst of the trial of Little Reader and I'm afraid that my little ones will be mad when it's all gone!

So...do we at least have a tentative date, since we're past, "year's end"?

Are you feeding solids as well as nursing? Both of my babies had trouble sleeping through the night at that age and I found that feeding them I nice big bowl of oatmeal before bed worked like a charm!

2010bebes,

For prizes, I've used both products, boxes of chocolates, candle sets, etc. You could use gift certificates for a coffee shop restaurant, or spa (depending on your budget).