I use FIAR with Jack, my 7 year old (starting our 3rd year) and B4FIAR with Gage, my 4 year old.
I will never use another program with my younger boys. We have had the most fun with FIAR and I'm still amazed at how much they learn. The truly amazing part is that they are enjoying themselves so much...they don't want to stop learning. The books that Jane, the author, chose for FIAR are treasures! I've chosen to purchase them rather than borrow them from the library but I think one of the greatest things about FIAR is that you can utilize the library for your readers. This works beautifully for anyone on a tight budget.
I had this saved on my computer from the last time someone asked me what a typical day was like with FIAR... maybe you would like to read it too. It describes a week of FIAR with my son Jack when he was 6
crud. I can't find it. I'll just go with memory here...
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The Story of Ping (story based on a duck who lives with his large family on a boat in the Yantzee River. Story takes place in China)
Monday ~ Read The Story of Ping. (Geography) Jack finds China on the globe. He locates China on the map and attaches story disc. We look at pictures of China in books and on line. We learn some facts about China & discuss Chinese culture. Later that night, before bed, I read a story about a little girl who lives in china. We discuss the way she is dressed and other Chinese aspects found in the illustrations.
Tuesday ~ Read The Story of Ping. Jack places story disc on the map. (Literature) Discuss "repetition" as a literary device and point out how it is used in the story. We read more about Chinese culture and look at more pictures. Jack and Gage both color a picture of a woman in traditional chinese dress (found on line and printed out). Jack colors a smaller picture of a chinese warrior which we cut out and turn into a bookmark (I laminate and add tassel to top).
Wednesday ~ Read the story once again. Jack places story disc on map. We use colorful construction paper to make chinese "lanterns" (instructions/pattern found on line) which we string on a piece of yarn and hang across the corner of the dining room. We all have a blast making these. (Science). We learn about "bouyancy". We fill a bucket half full with water and use items collected from the house to see if they will float (cork, penny, feather, rock, piece of paper etc). Jack and Gage both have a lot of fun predicting what will and won't float. We look at pictures of the Yantzee River on line and learn why it's also known as the "yellow river". We learn why the Chinese paint eyes on the front of their boats.
Thursday ~ Read story and place disc on map. Jack finds China on the globe again. (ART) We discuss the use of "broken reflections" to give the impression of water and point out how the artist used this techique in his illustrations. Jack paints his own sun and reflection on the Yantzee River on a large piece of paper. We drive down to the lake (only a few minutes from our home) with some pieces of bread in hopes of seeing the ducks. We sit down in the sand and coax them over with our bread. We spend about 10 minutes feeding them. (MATH) When we get home Jack takes the 68 paper ducks (I had previously stamped and cut out. 68 represents the number of ducks in Ping's family including himself) and glues them onto his painted river. We then count the ducks... forwards and backwards.
Friday ~ Our day off. We made Chinese Fried Rice for dinner (found in the archives at FIAR message board) and reflected about all we had learned while eating. We attempted to use chop sticks which were picked up on our way home from the city at a chinese restaurant (free)
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so ... you can see, hopefully, how much fun FIAR can be. You don't *have* to so much. I add coloring pages, field trips, art projects etc to spice things up. We spend about 60 - 90 minutes each day reading, looking at pictures, and doing related projects. This time is not always in one sitting. Some of the reading (related books) and fun projects are after dinner. Some days...when the boys don't want to quit and Caden is cooperating then we'll do more. We use to only hs monday - thursday... but I've decided this next school year we will take every other friday off. We use these days for trips to the library, field trips relating to the story we are rowing, and for me to plan the next week or two (I like to be 1 or 2 weeks ahead but it's not necessary).
If you have any questions don't hesitate to email me
steague4@hotmail.com
FIAR message board is wonderful. You will find a ton of ideas to go along with each reader in the FIAR achives. It's a huge help and inspiration to me.
http://www.fiveinarow.com/cgi-bin/fo...000&LastLogin=
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