INDIVIDUAL HOME INSTRUCTION PLAN
NAME OF CHILD: Mikro
ADDRESS: Same as above.
Age: 7
GRADE LEVEL: First
DATES FOR SUBMITTAL OF QUARTERLY REPORTS:
October 15, 2010, January 15, 2011, March 31, 2011, June 30, 2011. Annual assessment shall be a narrative report prepared by [Mom].
Primary instruction will be provided by: Mikro's parents, [Mom and Dad].
Plan of Instruction:
Our educational method is a melange of Waldorf, Charlotte Mason, Classical Education and unit studies approaches. We emphasize nature study, living books, and hands on, experiential learning. Our tools and resources include, but are not limited to, those listed hereinafter: reference materials (atlas, dictionaries, globe, maps, encyclopedias, non-fiction books, videos, the internet), workbooks, worksheets, hands-on activities, experiments, projects, newspapers, magazines, frequent field trips, group activities, nature walks, books from our family library and from the local libraries, games, creative thinking, predicting/forecasting, gathering facts, classes and programs at museums, zoos, nature centers and similar venues, music CDs, abundant art supplies (clay, paint, crayons, pencils, sketchpads, felt, chalk, etc.), free play, storytelling, conversations, and real life. We believe the world is our classroom, and eagerly avail ourselves of the wonderful cultural and educational opportunities available both here in Westchester and in New York City.
We incorporate math, reading, spelling, vocabulary, penmanship and narration activities in unit studies of areas of particular interest to Mikro. For example, dinosaurs, reptiles, plants, the ocean, the Hudson River, space, volcanoes, earthquakes, and the human body will be launching points for poetry, penmanship, storytelling, reading, research, experiments and other activities centered on those themes.
We take a lot of field trips and take classes at nature centers, museums, and zoos with our homeschool groups. We are members of NYCHEA, Tri-County Home Schoolers and Homeschool New York, all groups which provide many educational and social opportunities for Michael. We are longtime members of the American Museum of Natural History, the NYC zoos and aquarium, Historic Hudson Valley, and Teatown Lake Reservation, as well as the National Museum of the American Indian, the Hudson River Museum and the New York Botanic Gardens, and make frequent visits to them, both as a family and with homeschooled friends. We also visit the New York Hall of Science and Poet’s House and public libraries in Westchester, Manhattan and Queens.
The following subjects shall be reported, per Section 100.10 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education:
Our approach to Mathematics is a combination of real life learning through participation in daily life activities such as cooking, building, shopping, etc, and the use of manipulatives, textbooks, workbooks, videos and games. We use resources including, but not limited to, Math-U-See, Singapore Math, Zillio Math Mountain, Time4Learning (online), Learning Pathways (online), Khan Academy (online), various workbooks, living math books, and Math Start books. We also look at the history of math, which dovetails nicely with our ancient history studies.
We will be further developing addition and subtraction skills, working on place value, regrouping, skip counting, money and telling time, and introducing the concepts of multiplication and division.
For reading/English language arts/spelling/writing, we have an extensive home library and visit the Croton Library, and libraries in New York City, often. Mikro will read content-related non-fiction materials to support his studies in other subjects and to explore his chosen areas of interest. He will read from self- and parent-chosen literature on a regular basis. He will engage in reflection on those literature pieces in one or more of the following ways: journal writing, book reviews, conversations, drama based on the books, and book clubs.
Our goal is for Mikro to continue to enjoy reading, to gain exposure to a wide variety of genres, to be able to reflect critically on what he reads, to read for information, and to learn how and where to find written resources as needed. We will work on reading increasingly more complex material. Mikro reads picture books, chapter books and some longer juvenile fiction. We read a lot of science and nonfiction, poetry, and just plain fun books as well. Mikro participated in the Croton Library's Summer Reading Game, and successfully completed it in August.
We will practice spelling, and explore parts of speech, punctuation and proper sentence structure. Mikro will continue to narrate back readings in other subjects, such as history and science, will practice his penmanship, and will continue to create stories and poems. He will compose stories and journal entries about his bearded dragon. Our goal is for Mikro to enjoy writing, to gain expertise in both the writing process and in technical writing and editing skills, and to develop a sense of power over the written word.
For history/geography, we will continue our study of ancient history, including, but not limited to, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Mesopotamia, China, Japan, India and Pre-columbian civilizations of North and South America.
We will also explore topics in American history and New York history relevant to holidays such as President’s Day, Independence Day, Memorial Day, etc. and will look at topics which may include, but shall not be limited to, pre-European contact, European settlement, the 13 colonies, American Revolution, adoption of the Constitution, and westward expansion.
Mikro will develop his understanding of the social sciences and humanities by reading and discussing fiction and non-fiction materials, including the Story of the World series by Susan Wise Bauer, living books, timelines, maps and other resources, by participating in field trips to historic and politically or culturally significant sites, through discussion and debate, through arts, crafts and cooking projects, and through videos, music and the internet. Our goal is for Mikro to develop a foundation for understanding the culture, history, resources, development, and government of New York State, the United States of America, and the world.
For science, our goal is to expose Mikro to a wide range of scientific disciplines, to continue to build upon his passion for science and nature, to help him understand and employ the scientific method and to appreciate the importance of science in daily life. We will explore earth science and physical science and continue our studies of the human body, animals (alive and extinct) and their classification, plants, ecology and conservation, geology and space. We will also look at the history of science, particularly in connection with the cultures we are studying in our exploration of ancient history.
We use resources which include, but are not limited to, living books, Lentil Science, Time4Learning and Supercharged Science (online programs). We have several science experiment kits which we will be doing this year. Mikro will be taking classes offered through Mad Science in earth and life science topics, beginning in the fall. Mikro and his father will be using their kit built telescope to observe the stars. If it continues to be offered (after a personnel change), Mikro will continue with the nature class for homeschoolers at Croton Point Nature Center. He will participate in the River Explorers programs at Beczak Environmental Education Center in Yonkers.
Mikro is passionately interested in dinosaurs, evolution, paleontology, and living animals of all kinds. We collect bugs, raise caterpillars, watch ladybugs metamorphosize, and participate in citizen science projects through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We maintain several bird feeders, nest boxes, and are a Certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation.
We are raising a baby Bearded Dragon and a Red Eared Slider turtle. Mikro will be observing their behavior and assisting in their care as well as helping to keep a notebook chronicling the growth of his baby bearded dragon.
Mikro enjoys reading Ranger Rick, National Geographic Kids, Kids Discover and Zoobooks. He watches educational programming on PBS, the History Channel, National Geographic Channel, Science Channel, NASA TV, Planet Green and Animal Planet. He also watches Bill Nye the Science Guy and other scientific programming online. We will also take field trips to museums and nature centers and special events such as the World Science Festival.
For art/music, we experiment with watercolors, clay, crayons, pencils and other media, and will be using the Meet the Masters online art curriculum. We visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, and other similar venues and attend plays, concerts and dance performances at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Peekskill and at the Tribecca Performing Arts Center and the New Victory Theater in Manhattan (in which one of our homeschool groups participates as a partner).
We sing and listen to a variety of music from different cultures and genres and will use music as a tool in other areas of study (e.g. science and math songs, songs about the Hudson River.) We will be using resources including, but not limited to, books, our ever expanding collection of CDs, DVDs of Leonard Bernstein’s Young People’s Concerts with the New York Philharmonic, and the Music Makers series of DVDs.
For Foreign Language, we will begin studying German using resources which may include, but not be limited to, BBC’s Muzzy program, Live Mocha (online) , Language Tree German for Kids DVDs, books and music.
For physical education, Mikro takes swimming lessons in the summer, and enjoys nature hikes and park days with his friends year round. He plays Frisbee, wiffle ball, soccer and basketball informally with neighborhood friends, is learning to ride a bike, and loves to run, hop on a hoppity hop, and jump on his trampoline.
We will be covering Health topics such as good eating habits, personal hygiene, how the body works, physical fitness, basic human needs, self respect and self awareness, drug/alcohol/smoking awareness, gun safety and sun safety.
We will also cover Traffic, Bicycle & General Safety, including memorizing our phone number; safety rules and symbols; safety equipment; awareness of strangers; playground safety; personal and social skills which contribute to individual safety; how to access help when illness, injury, or emergency situations occur; and how to recognize potentially dangerous situations and know how to avoid or reduce their risk.
We will cover the following Fire Safety & Prevention topics: how to dial 911; awareness of heat and burn hazards; awareness of how to evacuate in case of fire (practicing our family escape plan); and how to prevent fires. We will use internet resources, including the Smokey the Bear materials of the National Park Service, books, and appropriate field trips, such as the Croton Fire Fair.
We will cover Patriotism and Citizenship by discussing and reading about the rights and responsibilities of citizens and the principles upon which our country was founded, and by learning about patriotic songs and holidays.
Dated: August 15, 2010
Signed: [Mom & Dad]
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