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Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten {Review – Part VII – Crafts}

Posted on May 5, 2013 by CherryBlossomMJ

The Book of Crafts for Jr. K is brand new, it was not available when we first started. In the lesson plans I was queued with something like “Make a gingerbread craft” or “Madeline Craft”, but there was nothing more than that. Previously what I did was searched pinterest for great ideas and went from there. However, now with The Book of Crafts, no searching on my part is necessary as they are all laid out for me. I received a portion of this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. See full disclosure at close of post or … Continue reading →

Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten {Review – Part VI – Music}

Posted on May 4, 2013 by CherryBlossomMJ

Now we’re in my category that I can boast on a bit as I spent practically a whole day organizing myself on this one to make the most of it. While I know that people would love to have a CD of all the songs chosen for the year in the curriculum plans for Jr. K because of copyright issues that is a hard task to accomplish. However, with the availability of streaming music online, especially through a new software I’m just now getting to know called Spotify it is possible to follow someone’s playlist. I practically spent all day … Continue reading →

Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten {Review – Part V – Prayer}

Posted on May 3, 2013 by CherryBlossomMJ

Through these two books, my young preschooler daughter is getting a heart of prayer and a foundation of devotion time fairly regularly. She loves to memorize and recite prayers and this is such a precious time and set of memories for me that was helped to form and be created from the organization and recommendations of the Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten Curriculum. Continue reading →

Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten {Review – Part IV – Poetry}

Posted on May 2, 2013 by CherryBlossomMJ

Through the recommendations of Memoria Press in their curriculum package it is amazing what is possible to provide in a pre-school or Junior Kindergarten experience and I’d say the bulk of the best of it is within the literature and poetry section. Since there are 33 weeks and 34 literature selections, let me start with telling you about the poetry because of this, there is really only three. Two, however that you use on a regular basis throughout the year of curriculum in the lesson plans. The third doubles one week for both literature and poetry. A key element to … Continue reading →

Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten {Review – Part III – Math}

Posted on May 1, 2013 by CherryBlossomMJ

Alrighty, so far I’ve told you about the Junior Kindergarten Lesson Plans For One Year and the Phonics books portion of Jr. K. Now I want to tell you about the Math and Numbers portion of the curriculum.

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Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten {Review – Part II – Phonics}

Posted on April 30, 2013 by CherryBlossomMJ

Coming into starting Jr. K, AppleBlossom already knew her alphabet. She could sing it in order (only half the time skipping N and then insisting she had said too) and she could identify letters out of order both upper and lowercase. Also, thanks to LeapFrog Phonics Letter Factory DVD she knew all the sounds as well. What she did not know was how to write any letter other than a capital A that I had just showed her one day randomly. So I knew I needed something organized to really work through them all.

Learning the alphabet is the critical first step in learning how to read. The Alphabet Book teaches letter recognition, letter formation, and pencil grip through repetition and tracing.
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Stardines Swim High Across the Sky and Other Poems by Jack Prelutsky

Posted on April 30, 2013 by CherryBlossomMJ

The poet, author, and indomitable naturalist Jack Prelutsky, having returned safely from far-flung places with an extensive collection of unique creatures that are a blending of the animate and inanimate, has worked in close collaboration with the fine artist Carin Berger, who herself conducted considerable field operations in preparing Mr. Prelutsky’s specimens for exhibition and publication. While many creatures (two dozen species in all) were discovered and recorded and their precise qualities examined, we are presenting sixteen here for the first time and for the enjoyment and education of the general public.
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Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten {Review – Part I}

Posted on April 29, 2013 by CherryBlossomMJ

2012-2013 has been an incredible school year! We are not quite finished yet, but we are close and I’m in awe of how amazing the year has been. Truly with this kind of beginning for our homeschool experience is amazing.

I’m delighted to have gone deeper with books and really watch my young preschooler’s mind fly, and that is what we are doing with Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten.

Because of what Memoria Press has put together with their teachers at Highlands Latin School, I feel like I know what I’m doing in this teaching business. Coming in if you ask me to go back to teach middle or high school I have no fear. Hand me a preschooler, and I’m terrified. Or rather, I used to be terrified until Memoria Press took away the fear and presented me with everything I need for success. Continue reading →

Polar Bear, Why Is Your World Melting? by Robert E. Wells

Posted on April 22, 2013 by CherryBlossomMJ

A great choice for an Earth Day read! In the Arctic, the summer ice is melting, making it hard for polar bears and their cubs to survive. Why is the world getting warmer?
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Earth Day Reads!

Posted on April 19, 2013 by CherryBlossomMJ

Looking for reads for Earth Day? There are plenty of suggestions from one of my favorite publishers HarperCollins Children’s! Continue reading →

Biscuit in the Garden by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Posted on April 19, 2013 by CherryBlossomMJ

Discover the garden with Biscuit and his new friends in the latest entry to the My First I Can Read series that has sold over 11 million copies.

A fresh green garden adventure for Biscuit, the bestselling My First I Can Read Book character and everyone’s favorite puppy! Continue reading →

Blossom School: Tues & Wed, April 16-17th, 2013

Posted on April 17, 2013 by CherryBlossomMJ

I’m so tired today. Physical therapy was all I could make it to this morning as I missed Yoga. My bed just wouldn’t let me go. I’ve added back a song that I mistakenly deleted from my playlist on the machines from Kelly Clarkson, (What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You) Stronger. I’ve decided that is my workout song, so appropriate. Yesterday was a bit of an odd day, I was expecting to have the fourth part of my route canal, but all we did was take an x-ray to see how the bone was healing and plan to come back … Continue reading →

Blossom School: Monday, April 15th, 2013

Posted on April 15, 2013 by CherryBlossomMJ

“Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” – Colossians 3:13 Forgiveness: I treat someone as if they never hurt me. AppleBlossom’s quote: Like when I’m bad, and I ask if you forgive me and you say yes. Mama: Yes sweetheart, 77 times yes. The Children’s Book of Virtues, p. 19 The Tortoise and the Hare Eric Carle’s Animals Animals, p. 74-75 (Horses) The Berenstain Bears Big Book of Science and Nature, p. 88 (Mammals) – I need to go through and double check on page numbers. The P4/5 IG has certain numbers and while my original Big Book of Science were … Continue reading →