Why we chose Singapore Math as our math curriculum

The 2008 National Mathematics Advisory Panel cited Singapore Mathematics as exemplary for its lean curriculum which allows fewer topics to be treated in greater depth. Singapore students rate highest in mathematics in the world. It is for this reason that many other countries and homeschoolers have decided to import their mathematics program into their own schools and curriculum.


This video clip explains Kindergarten math and the use of Number Bonds



The importance of visualization, making connections and communication




Singapore's Math Philosophy



Resources:
Singapore Math

What the US can learn from Singapore's World Class mathematics system

Homeschool Forms

I wanted to share these forms that I use in my homeschool. I hope they are a help to you in your own homeschool organization and planning.


Lesson Planner Page
This is the form I used to plan out our lessons in advance at the beginning of the school year. Although this form worked well for me, I've since changed how I approach lesson planning and I now use the Student lesson log/planner below.


Lesson Planner Reminders
I use this form to plan out (each weekend) what I have to do to prepare for the following school week. It is my homeschool "to do list" and helps me stay organized and on top of what I need to do to prepare for another week of teaching.


Student Lesson Log/Planner
Using this form, I write out what I would like to accomplish each day with my children or what lessons or studies we did that I may not have previously planned to do. You can either bind all of the pages together and use it as your planner, or attach to a clipboard (like I do) just to keep you on task for the day. I use the two squares at the top to write in the student name(s) and the box at the bottom for the date.

Non-standard measurement & estimation

Balancing Animals was developed for interactive whiteboards, but you can play it online for free using just a computer and a mouse.
We extended the activity of using non-standard measurement to include estimation. This was a fun activity for our kindergarten and first grade students. It was fun to use non-standard measurement in relation to weight instead of length.

Geography: Reading a Map

Geography is fast becoming one of our favorite weekend subjects. Pumpkin, G-man and Bear have all learned the 7 continents and their location. We are involved in a geography co-op on the continents and then we are working on our own geography lessons using Evan-Moors' Beginning Geography series Volumes 1-3.
The focus of Volume 1 is learning how to use/read a map as well as working with different types of maps.

I was really pleased with the exercises in this reproducible workbook and the kids are really enjoying learning how to use various types of maps.


Resource used:
Beginning Geography Volume 1

Field Trip: Green Cay Farm

Today we took a field trip to Green Cay Farm. It was a wonderful opportunity for the kids to see how vegetables are grown and pick a few of their own. We were able to pick carrots (most fun) and tomatoes (delicious) today.





It was interesting to see broccoli before it is picked! The part we eat is actually the flower.



Even Cutie Pie got to go on her first homeschool field trip.



Isn't hands on learning the best?

Christmas came early

Christmas came early at Passport Academy. First there was the interactive whiteboard and now the prizes from HSBA post.

Here is what we won:
$25 CurrClick

Creativity Express Software

Learn About China Kit

$20 in MindBites Lessons

Heart of the Matter Online Homeschool Conference Tickets for 2010

The Old Schoolhouse - 1 Year Magazine Subscription

We would like to especially thank Heather's kids for assisting with the drawing. We are very pleased with our Tiger mascot and our prizes! Thank you to the vendors for the great prizes and thank-you to everyone who voted for us!

Weekly Wrap Up: Honor and excitement

This week we are participating in the Weekly Wrap Up with Weird, Unsocialized homeschoolers.

I was so honored to be nominated for Best Eclectic Homeschool Blog right along with Kris. It was intimidating let me tell you. But somehow I won and I'm still in shock! I guess it was lucky for me I was only nominated in one category! I'm joking, I feel so honored to be nominated at all. Just reading through the nominations list I was able to add quite a few more fantastic blogs to my blog reader. I'm so grateful for all that I am able to learn from other homeschooling moms and I'm excited about the opportunity to be able to share resources that work for us as well.

Our homeschool has gone high tech with the delivery and installation of our new interactive whiteboard from Promethean. I'm very excited about this new resource for our homeschool. I guess this means we can join in on the fun with Momma Snail's Homeschool Techie 101.

This week we also trudged along with our reading, writing and arithmetic, but somehow that doesn't seem as exciting to talk about right now. As soon as the shock and excitement wear off I'll be back to posting about our school work.

We won!

I just found out this morning that Passport Academy has won, Best Eclectic Homeschool Blog in the 2009 Homeschool Blog Awards!

Thanks to everyone who voted for us!
Winning really made this homeschool mom's day.
Now, don't ask about the prizes because I honestly have no idea what I won. I'm just excited to have our blog be out there and appreciated!

THANKS!

High Tech Homeschoolers

Our Promethean Activboard got delivered today!
Who said homeschoolers cannot be high tech?

In case you don't know what an Activboard is, it's an interactive whiteboard.

When I spoke at the Heart of the Matter Homeschooling Conference, one of the great resources I shared during my session was Promethean Planet. It is one of my favorite resources for interactive multi media learning. The best part is that you do not need an interactive whiteboard to use the FREE lesson plans that are shared on that site, just a mouse!

There are so many great features I'm excited about including the adjustable motorized screen.
This feature ensures that we can use the board easily from Kindergarten through high school---not that I'm ready to commit to homeschooling through the high school years.

Another great feature is that I can display anything I have on my computer on the white board.
I just love that. There are so many great things I find on the internet and I love that all four of us are going to be able to look at it on the big screen together. Actually, maybe our whole homeschool co-op will squeeze in and enjoy it!

I was very impressed with how the pen works. It is really easy for the kids to write on the board. Just as much fun as a regular whiteboard...or "maybe a little more" according to G-man. I know I had a ball writing on it tonight during the online tutorial.

Plus, everything I do on the whiteboard I can print out or save. How great is that? I can write math problems on the board and then print it out later to stick in our portfolio.

Of course the most exciting part of having an interactive whiteboard is the hands-on multi media lesson plans I can use and create. I'm sure as we start using the board and I become more confident I will discover even more reasons to be excited about this new addition to our school room.

This was just the incentive I needed to finish setting up my office/school room.
Stay tuned for more on our high tech learning!