Curriculum Review | Horizons Math K

We have been using Horizons Math this year and couldn’t be happier.  I really like that it uses a spiral approach to teaching and reviewing concepts.  There are a total of 160 lessons.  Each lesson consists of a two sided page, usually broken down into four or five sections. 

Here is the Scope & Sequence for Level K:

1. Counting 1-100 (Counting by 1’s, 5’s, 10’s, 2’s, 3’s, 4’s to 100)
2. Number Recognition (Recognition of all families to 100)
3. Number writing (Writing of all families to 100)
4. Number value (Value of all single digit numbers)
5. Number After (Naming the number that comes after for all families to 100)
6. Number Before (Naming the number that comes before for all families to 100)
7. Number Between (Naming the number that comes between for all families to 100)
8. Place Value (Digit value: ones, tens)
9. Addition (Adding a single digit to all families without regrouping)
10. Subtraction (Subtracting a single digit to all families without regrouping)
11. Money (Recognition, value, and use of the penny, nickel, dime, quarter, half dollar, dollar bill and dollar coin)
12. Time (Naming time on the hour, half-hour, quarter-hour and 5 minutes)
13. Calendar (Naming the days of the week, the months of the year and the seasons)
14. Number Theory (Recognition of ordinal numbers, even and odd numbers)
15. Colors (Recognition of black, yellow, green, red, blue, brown, orange and purple)
16. Shapes (Recognition of circle, square, triangle, rectangle, diamond, star, hexagon, octagon, cone, sphere and cylinder)
17. Comparisons (Comparisons of items and quantities that are different, pairs, twins, belong together, tall, short, long, larger number and smaller number)
18. Direction & Position (Recognition of the direction and position of right, left, up, down, top, bottom, middle, inside, outside, first, next, last, front and back)
19. Graphs (Read and complete bar graphs and pictographs)
20. Measurement (Reading lengths in inches and centimeters, perimeter in inches)
21. Units of Measure (Identify and count cup, quart, gallon and liter)
22. Fractions (Recognize whole, 1/2, 1/3 and1/4)
23. Sequence (Determine what comes next)

You can download some sample pages (usually the first few lessons) from AOP’s website.  Here are a few more samples for you.

There is a lot of variety within the lessons.  Ignacio likes to write surprise messages to me within his assignments.  :)

We worked on Lesson 146 today.

I’d say it’s pretty well rounded.  It is challenging, but doable.  There are at times a lot of problems, but you don’t have to complete them all.  I usually mark the ones I want him to complete.  If he gets one wrong, he corrects it and completes an additional problem.  He really likes it and sometimes even completes more problems than I assigned.  I’d rather have the option of completing more problems if necessary than having to supplement what should be a complete curriculum. 

The Teacher’s Manual offers a detailed overview, list of necessary materials and supplies, teaching tips, and activities for each lesson.  It is not necessary at this level, but can be helpful when introducing new concepts.  It also includes 40 reproducible worksheets which can be used as a review or assessment. 

The full curriculum might be considered expensive, at $69.95.  I bought my set on eBay for $36 including shipping.  It was in like new condition with absolutely no writing on it.

I should mention that Horizons is a Christian publisher.  I try to only use secular curriculum, but found that the Christian references in their math series were minimal.  We will be using them again next year.

1st Grade Curriculum

Ignacio will turn six this November.  According to our local school system he should be entering Kindergarten.  If you can believe it, he would have been in K4 this last year.  Their learning targets are so ridiculous, it’s a shame.  I treated this last year as if it were Kindergarten, although I think there is a lot of gray in this area.  We used Horizons K for math this year; I was very happy with it.  My mother works for our local public schools.  She was impressed with the work he was doing and explained that at her school that would be second grade math.  He loves the solar system and geography, and is very knowledgeable in both.  Again, these topics are not even introduced until second grade.  In any case, here are my plans for the coming year:

Reading:
Explode the Code: Book 4 & Book 5. He really likes this series and tends to breeze through it. If he finishes them as quickly as the others we might also begin Book 6. He reads a lot. I should clarify that we don’t always complete every page of the lessons. We skip some and also do some out loud. He complained that some were too easy and sometimes felt like busy work. He really enjoys our new approach. When I ask him to do certain pages, he happily completes them. I think reading comprehension is very important and will be using Reading Response Bookmarks & Graphic Organizers by Kim Blaise. I will also use Building Dictionary Skills Grades 2-3 by if (Instructional Fair). He always reads out loud in the car and knows that he has to read a minimum of 15 minutes a day on our days off.

Writing:

We will be finishing Grammar & Punctuation 1 by Evan Moor.  I love this series; we are about half way through the book now.  I think I’ll have him move right into Grammar & Punctuation 2 as soon as he is done.  Once I know he has a firm grasp on the rules, I plan on using Write a Super Sentence also by Evan Moor.  He also enjoys writing letters and fan fiction.  He is currently working on an Angry Birds in Space story.

Math:

As for the formal curriculum, we will use Horizons Math 1.  I really like it.  There are a lot of review problems, but I just pick and choose which ones I want him to complete.  We also cook together, play a lot of board games and read Mathstart books.

Social Studies:

I’ve decided to focus on Geography this year.  Ignacio really enjoys it and I would like to encourage him to follow his interests.  Also, I thought he would have an easier time understanding history if he first had a good grasp of the geographical world.  We started using Beginning Geography K-2 by Evan Moor earlier this year.  I plan on finishing the book and then moving on to Map Skills Grade 2 by if.  We have a lot of maps and globes.  We also have a variety of atlases and geography books.  I’m not sure when, but once I feel the time is right I will start introducing cultures, then history.  He has begun reading some simple biographies.

Science:

I’ve decided to use R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey: Earth & Space by Pandia Press.  Ignacio wants to be either a meteorologist or an astronaut when he gets older.  This science curriculum focuses on both weather and space, how perfect is that?  We also read a lot of books and go on a variety of field trips.

Spanish:

We began using the Teach them Spanish! Series this year and really liked it.  I’ll continue with the 1^st grade book.  We also read along to bilingual audio books in the car and try to watch some cartoons in Spanish.  I’ve been speaking Spanish to him and he understands a lot more now.  His accent has also improved tremendously. 

Art:

He will continue taking the weekly art class our neighboring rec department offers homeschoolers.  We obviously do a lot of projects at home.  I am also really looking forward to using some Usborne books I recently ordered.

Gym:

Ignacio takes a variety of classes at the Y.  He is currently taking a track & field class.  He will be continuing with his swim lessons also. 

Music:

He really wants to learn how to play the guitar, hopefully we can find a good deal on one for him.  We listen to a lot of music; his favorite band is They Might Be Giants.  We also have My First Classical Music Book by Genevieve Helsby and Jason Chapman.  Ignacio really likes it.

I would like to point out that I school year-round.  My school year runs July through June.  I try to take it easy July and August.  We plan more trips than we normally would the rest of the year.  There are also weeks where we might only school one or two days.  I just don’t like taking the entire summer off.  It makes too hard to get back into our routine.

I'm thinking of reviewing some of my favorite resources in upcoming posts.  If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. 

Kindergarten Update and Curriculum

I’m think I’ll review some of the curriculum we’ve been using. I’ll have more in depth posts in the future. Here is a basic list:

Math: Horizons - Kindergarten (abacus, flash cards, etc.)

Reading: Explode the Code – We completed Books 1 and 2, currently half way through book 3.

Writing: For most of the year, Explode the Code has doubled as our writing curriculum. We also wrote a lot of stories and letters this year. We recently began using How to Write Book Reports PK-K and Grammar & Punctuation 1 (both by Evan Moor).

Social Studies: Ignacio is a huge fan of Geography. We have many maps and globes. We recently began using Beginning Geography K-2 by Evan Moor.

Science: We have been using Teaching the Fun of Science to Young Learners PK-2 by Janice VanCleave.

Spanish: Teach Them Spanish! K and Everyday Words in Spanish by Usborne.

Art: He takes a weekly art class. We also craft a lot and have a variety of art books by Usborne.

Gym: He takes a weekly P.E. class and a weekly swim class. He was in a dance group the first half of the year. We also play a lot and take many walks.

Additional info: It is worth mentioning that we also read a lot of library books. The topics vary, but they are usually about science or geography. We also play computer games. Also, his art and gym classes are specifically for homeschoolers. How cool is that?

At five years old Ignacio can:

• Count past 200. He gets bored and chooses to stop, usually somewhere around 220.

• He can also count by 2’s, 5’s, 10’s, 100’s, and by 3’s if he uses his fingers to keep track.

• He is adding and subtracting single digit numbers and double digit numbers.

• Is beginning simple word problems.

• Can read! Just today he finished reading Little Bear all by himself. He has also read the entire Piggie and Elephant series by Mo Willems.

• He writes using basic sentences. Always uses upper case letters and ending punctuation correctly. He has recently begun using apostrophes as well.

• He knows all 50 states by name. He recognizes each by shape and knows where they are located on a map. He also knows some state capitals and can recognize a variety of countries.

• He knows more about the solar system than I do. He knows all of the planets and dwarf planets. He also knows some of their moons and can recognize some constellations. When looking at the night sky, he almost always knows if he is looking at a star or a planet and is actually pretty accurate at naming the planet he is looking at. This is without a telescope, judging by brightness and location. He likes to use my GoogleSky ap to see if he was right.

• He is understanding a lot more Spanish now. His accent has also improved a lot. He can recognize color and number words when they are written.

• He has always been afraid of the water, but last week he learned to float.

Our Curriculum

Let me start by saying that this list is incomplete and could very well change during the year.  As stated previously, I'm experimenting this year.  I plan on increasing (or decreasing) the level of difficulty as necessary.  Although, my son seems to really enjoy what we are currently working on.  I'll keep you posted.

Math:

• Ready-Set-Learn: Beginning Math PreK-K  We started this little workbook in July and finished it mid-August.  We didn't work on it every day.  I just thought it would be a good way to ease him into our first school year while helping him improve his math skills.  He loved it!  I have to say that I was very impressed by this book.  It covers many topics from writing the numbers 0-10, to counting and matching.  At under $3.00, you can't go wrong!  It also includes reward stickers and a completion certificate.
• Horizons Kindergarten Math  After much research, I decided to use Horizons math curriculum.  I like its format, I was also very impressed by their level of difficulty.  Originally, my plan was to finish the Beginning Math workbook and then work on some more review sheets before starting the Horizons set.  I was afraid that if I started it too soon he would just become frustrated.  However, Ignacio had plans of his own.  He was bored with the review work and kept telling me he wanted to work on his math workbook.  We started the Horizons set last week and he is doing great!  I know this set can be a little pricy, but there are deals out there.  I was lucky enough to find the entire set on eBay for $36 including shipping!  I've already started looking for deals on the 1st grade level.
• I've been reading him Level 1 books from the MathStart series.  I love these books.  They do a great job at teaching math concepts, while also being entertaining.  Were lucky enough to have most of the series available at our local library.
• We also have quite a few fun math manipulatives and games.  I'll write more on that in the future.

Reading:

• More than anything, we are reading, reading, reading!  We go to story time weekly and to the library two or three times a week.  I also read to him daily, usually anywhere between four and fifteen books a day.  He always begs for more!  (I currently have 68 books checked out from the library, only two of them are for me.)
• Take It To Your Seat Phonics Centers PreK-K by Evan-Moor.  This book does involve some time on the parent's part.  You have to put the centers together by cutting everything apart and laminating them.  (I used Contact Paper)  Overall, I think its a good deal.  My son sees these centers as games and really enjoys them.  Each center is also conveniently stored in its own large envelope, making them perfect for travel. 
• Skill Sharpeners Reading Pre-K by Evan-Moor.  This book is pretty basic.  I think it would be really good for the beginner, but considering my son already knows his alphabet and letter sounds... I think he could be using the kindergarten level.  That being said, it is good reinforcement and I can't stress enough how much I love their cut and paste activities.
• Ignacio has already started sounding out words on his own.  I went out and picked up a few sets of Brand New Readers.  He really likes them.  I know a lot of people are fans of Bob Books or other similar sets, but I found these books more appealing.  I also let him page through them at the store.  The pictures are engaging and their stories are cute.  They are "readable" without being too easy.  I'll make sure to write a more thorough review in a future post.
• For a more "formal" approach I've decided to try the Explode The Code series.  I've already bought books 1 through 2 1/2 and the teacher's guide.  I also found a good deal on the Code Cards on eBay.  I wasn't sure whether or not he would like the books, I debated for some time whether or not to buy them.  I loved their approach, but I wasn't sure if my son would be interested in their simple "oldschool" drawings.  Well, I was looking at the Level 1 book on my computer (using Amazon's See Inside feature) when my son walked into the room.  We worked through some pages on the screen and he excitedly told me that he wanted to do more!  I took that as my answer.  I haven't started using these yet.  I'm going to be taking our first break when the baby is born and thought it would be best to wait until after that break to begin. 

Writing:

• We've been using Pre-Handwriting Practice by Sherrill Flora.  We started working on it in July and should be done with it in the next week or so.  I really like how this book is formatted.  It is full of half sheet activites.  First they work on their tracing activities (cute little drawings), then they work on their letters.  One row of tracing the letter, followed by one row of writing it on their own.  Worth the price.  It is reproducible, I made copies for him.  I figured if he needs to review I can make more copies for him, otherwise I am saving it to use with the baby in a few years.
• Once we finish our Pre-Handwriting Practice worksheets I plan on using Alphabet Animals by Carson-Dellosa.  This little workbook is pretty basic, but I think it will be good review after finishing his practice book.  The entire book follows the same format.  The left page has a drawing of an animal that begins with the letter of the alphabet, the right page trace and copy the letter in both uppercase and lowercase.
• Once we finish Alphabet Animals I plan on using printables from Starfall.  I'll share my opinion on it once we start the program.
• We also do some tracing/copy work and some "creative" writing.  I have traditional (dotted line) writing paper that I use for his tracing/copy work.  Sometimes I have him write his name, others I let him choose what he wants to write.  I write the word on the first three lines using a lime green highlighter (green is his favorite color).  He traces over my handwriting, then copies the word on his own on the lower line.  For our "creative" writing I give him either a sheet of bland printer paper or a sheet of storybook paper.  I let him write and draw whatever he wants.  Sometimes just random letters and his name, other times he will try to spell words or ask me how to spell them.  I don't correct him at all on his "creative"writing. 

Science/Health:

• For the most part we are reading library books, choosing them based on his interests. 
• I picked up a copy of Take It To Your Seat Science Centers PreK-K by Evan-Moor.  I plan on using these little centers to reinforce what we learn in our reading.  My son has a really good memory, I don't think he'll be interested in using the same centers multiple times.  I will probably come up with modifications on my own.
• I also purchased Teaching the Fun of Science to Young Learners: Grades Pre-K-2 by Janice VanCleave.  I think it has some great ideas, but have yet to try it.  I might start it towards the end of September, but I am leaning more towards waiting until January.

Social Studies/ Geography:

• My son loves maps!  He actually has two globes and a laminated map of the US in his bedroom.  All purchased at his request.  He has map puzzles also.  I'm taking a similar approach to science, by reading library books chosen to expand on his interests.
• I came across The Big Sibling Book at our local bookstore and just had to buy it!  Its an adorable pregnancy journal that also covers the baby's first year... all written by his big brother!  Ignacio loves working on it and it gives us a good opportunity to talk about our family and his soon to be born little brother.

Spanish:

• I am bilingual, but have struggled to teach Spanish to Ignacio.  He understood it and spoke it as a baby, but started rejecting it as he got a little older.  I've been making it a point to also read to him in Spanish.  I am also working on teaching him the basics.  For starters, when we work on our math I make sure to count in both English and Spanish.  I also picked up Everyday Words Spanish Flashcards, Everyday Words in Spanish and Very First Dictionary in Spanish all by Usborne.  Ignacio actually chose these himself.  He really likes their claymation pictures.  I really like them also, you can never really go wrong with Usborne books.

Art:

• I am a huge fan of art!  Actually, my whole family is artistic.  I think it is very important for children to be allowed a creative outlet.  I have tons of art supplies and Ignacio loves getting crafty.  I am sure I'll be posting a lot of future projects.