1 st grade independant work????

I have 7, 6, and 2 year old boys.  I completely understand the need for giving them something constructive to do! 

Here are some of things I have started:

Child’s Book of Character Building- there are 4 coloring sheets for each character trait.  We talk about the trait in am.  They have the day to color. 

Copywork- scripture verses adapted from Character Building book.  I set the timer for 15 minutes and turn on classical or praise and worship.  Rushing does them no good.  They go until the timer beeps!  At the end of the week, they pick their favorite, decorate it, and mail it to a loved one. 

Reading-My six year old looks at the pictures and narrates the stories to his little brother.  My seven year old actually reads to his brother.  Could they read or narrate to a pet or stuffed animal? 

Learning crate- I have filled a file crate with  items for them to do when they are waiting for me or have extra time.  It works good when I don’t have time to organize an activity.  It is filled with library books, drawing books and a sketch pad, coloring books, puzzles.  Just make sure it is independent and everything they need is in the crate.  I have had to take a few things out of their crate because they were not using it correctly or it required my help.   

I hope that helps! 

Jennifer

My 5-yr-old is technically in kindergarten because of his birthday, but does some first grade work.  His independent work is as follows:

1.  Explode the Code or other phonics type worksheets

2.  Handwriting practice – we use Handwriting Without Tears and I give him a few letters to review a day which he practices on his white board.  I do an independent lesson to learn the new letter later in the day.

3.  A history or science coloring page or he draws a narration of what we read about in science or history that day.  He also does oral narrations, but he loves to draw and it keeps him busy!

4.  Puzzles, logic games (like Rush Hour Jr. or Mighty Mind or just plain old blocks or magnets)

5.  I sometimes have him do something on the computer like Starfall or Clickn’Read, etc.

I am not a fan of ‘busywork’ but sometimes he gets mazes and skills worksheet pages too (from generic workbooks you can get at pretty much any store).  The reality is I have two older boys to work with and a 3-yr-old too so the 5-yr-old needs to keep himself busy when I’m not available.  I have shelves of manipulatives, puzzles, file folder games and such if he needs something once he’s finished with what I have planned.

It can be a wiggly age, I know!  Sometimes doing active games or songs before a block of quieter stuff helps them calm down a bit – like the Hokey Pokey or “Run around the living room as fast as you can for 5 minutes”.  Sometimes it backfires and they get all crazy though.

Best of luck!

Heather