I wanted to post some pictures of what we have been doing. It is only day 3 but the kids are really enjoying our new schedule. So here it goes.
Look who is learning how learning how to ride a bike! Go Ellie T!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Day 3
Just want to let you know that as I type this post my 3 year old is having one of the biggest meltdowns I have ever seen! I just had to scream at her to get her to stay in her room. Motherhood.
I wanted to post some pictures of what we have been doing. It is only day 3 but the kids are really enjoying our new schedule. So here it goes.
In Friends and Heroes, we are learning about keeping a diary/journal. We researched Samuel Pepys and read some entries of his. Then Jackson had to pretend he was in a loft of a barn like Macky from F&H. He was to wrap up in his blanket and write about his adventures that day. The lesson suggested that we do it by candle light but I used my own discretion. This was out of Jackson's comfort zone. He is still not a very good speller and lacks confidence. But after writing a bit I caught him writing notes by himself. I LOVE when he realizes he CAN do something!
Charlotte received excellent presents for her birthday! One of them was this sorting activity. She still doesn't quite understand patterns but she does understand different colors and sizes. She really enjoyed this activity today.
Ellie is really doing very well with ETC!
We also played UNO Moo! The kids really like this game! Thank you Mrs. Mindy!
Look who is learning how learning how to ride a bike! Go Ellie T!
I wanted to post some pictures of what we have been doing. It is only day 3 but the kids are really enjoying our new schedule. So here it goes.
Look who is learning how learning how to ride a bike! Go Ellie T!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Isn't that the way it goes
Right after I hit the "publish post" button my son decided he would slow down so much that he would not finish school. Luckily this is not my first rodeo and I stuck with it. He finally finished a good 3 hours later! It was a good day otherwise.
Today he is struggling again. I am trying to be patient. We all struggle at times. It just looks different to each and every one of us. So what do you all struggle with at home, if you homeschool? And if you don't, what does your child struggle with at school?
Today he is struggling again. I am trying to be patient. We all struggle at times. It just looks different to each and every one of us. So what do you all struggle with at home, if you homeschool? And if you don't, what does your child struggle with at school?
Monday, August 22, 2011
Our First Day 2011-2012
As I am starting this post Jackson is still working on math but he is almost done! Today was a good day!
Today we started our official school year! I decided to do it today (even though we have been schooling throughout the summer) because it was Ellie's first year of Kindergarten and she was a bit sad about missing the whole "first day of public school". So I decided to make our first day a big deal for her sake. Plus it is a great way to start the year!
We started our day with a great and favorite breakfast, pancakes and bacon! Char helped me mix the pancakes!
While I was getting breakfast ready Jackson and Ellie sparred in the backyard!
During breakfast we read from the book of Acts. In our Friends and Heroes curriculum we are learning about the early church so I thought it would be good to go through the entire book of Acts with the kids. We talked this morning about the ultimate demise of Judas and the appointing of Matthias to take his place with the other Apostles.
Then it was time for "First Day of School' pictures! Ellie had to have her bacon in hand..whatever! They all dressed themselves and for that I am happy so all of you that have really cute pictures of kids in their brand new outfits..don't hate! :)
For whatever reason the two other individual pics are not loading...I will try again later.
Anyway. After pictures we came in and started our day. We started with a video from our Friends and Heroes study. The video is 30 minutes long so I used this time to clean up the kitchen (which was nice!). When the video was over I sent the girls to work on chores. (Originally I had wanted the kids to do their chores before school but today worked out much better). While the girls cleaned their room Jackson and I learned about the Roman soldiers. We talked about what an Empire was and he had a great modern day example. I was really impressed. He remembered seeing on a TV show where a bee hive had been taken over by wasps. Great job, J Hunter!
After he was done with that, I sent him to clean his room and then he was allowed a break. Meanwhile Ellie came back to the table to work on her assignments. She chose Explode the Code first. When she was done Charlotte wanted her time. So I allowed her to color in a workbook we got at the dollar store. The big kids played outside for a while. Then it was time for Jackson to read and Ellie worked on her math. When they were both done we all played a game of "Old Maid". They all thought it was a lot of fun.
So here I am now. Jackson is working on finishing his math and I just got done reading to the girls. After lunch I am going to read "Tom Sawyer" to them and then it will be nap time for Char and play/TV time for Jackson and Ellie.
So how was your day?
Today we started our official school year! I decided to do it today (even though we have been schooling throughout the summer) because it was Ellie's first year of Kindergarten and she was a bit sad about missing the whole "first day of public school". So I decided to make our first day a big deal for her sake. Plus it is a great way to start the year!
We started our day with a great and favorite breakfast, pancakes and bacon! Char helped me mix the pancakes!
Then it was time for "First Day of School' pictures! Ellie had to have her bacon in hand..whatever! They all dressed themselves and for that I am happy so all of you that have really cute pictures of kids in their brand new outfits..don't hate! :)
Anyway. After pictures we came in and started our day. We started with a video from our Friends and Heroes study. The video is 30 minutes long so I used this time to clean up the kitchen (which was nice!). When the video was over I sent the girls to work on chores. (Originally I had wanted the kids to do their chores before school but today worked out much better). While the girls cleaned their room Jackson and I learned about the Roman soldiers. We talked about what an Empire was and he had a great modern day example. I was really impressed. He remembered seeing on a TV show where a bee hive had been taken over by wasps. Great job, J Hunter!
After he was done with that, I sent him to clean his room and then he was allowed a break. Meanwhile Ellie came back to the table to work on her assignments. She chose Explode the Code first. When she was done Charlotte wanted her time. So I allowed her to color in a workbook we got at the dollar store. The big kids played outside for a while. Then it was time for Jackson to read and Ellie worked on her math. When they were both done we all played a game of "Old Maid". They all thought it was a lot of fun.
So here I am now. Jackson is working on finishing his math and I just got done reading to the girls. After lunch I am going to read "Tom Sawyer" to them and then it will be nap time for Char and play/TV time for Jackson and Ellie.
So how was your day?
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Gearing up for 2011-2012
Hello friends!
It has been a very fast summer! We have had a pretty uneventful one as far as vacations go. But this summer Troy was able to find a job and that was the most important thing. We only have one car so we were stuck at home for the most part (with the exception of a few great friends that didn't mind picking us up every once in a while). We didn't get to swim like I had hoped. But what I had planned even before Troy went back to work was schooling all summer. I knew that it would not be as formal because, well, let's face it I am really bad at the follow through. There. I said it. I put it out there!
So we have had school this summer. We actually did really well sticking with it. The big's went to Mom and Dad's for a week and that was a week off, and there were a couple of days in there that I decided we needed a break. Last week we were at Mom and Dad's again. We did assignments while we were there and this week we are home and we have not done anything. I have been getting things all set up for the new school year.
There will not be any new books or curriculum. It is all the same as we have been working on this summer but come Monday morning there will be: an extra special breakfast, pictures in front of the tree out front (it is Ellie's first day of Kindergarten!), brand new crayons, markers, map colors and pencils, and maybe even a extra special snack for our first day.
I am hoping that the kids and I will be able to do some trips to the library and the park this year. It all depends on whether or not we get another car. I know the Lord already knows what kind and where it is. I am just patiently waiting for Him to show us the way.
So how are you all getting ready for this school year. Whether you homeschool or not...we all have fun traditions!
It has been a very fast summer! We have had a pretty uneventful one as far as vacations go. But this summer Troy was able to find a job and that was the most important thing. We only have one car so we were stuck at home for the most part (with the exception of a few great friends that didn't mind picking us up every once in a while). We didn't get to swim like I had hoped. But what I had planned even before Troy went back to work was schooling all summer. I knew that it would not be as formal because, well, let's face it I am really bad at the follow through. There. I said it. I put it out there!
So we have had school this summer. We actually did really well sticking with it. The big's went to Mom and Dad's for a week and that was a week off, and there were a couple of days in there that I decided we needed a break. Last week we were at Mom and Dad's again. We did assignments while we were there and this week we are home and we have not done anything. I have been getting things all set up for the new school year.
There will not be any new books or curriculum. It is all the same as we have been working on this summer but come Monday morning there will be: an extra special breakfast, pictures in front of the tree out front (it is Ellie's first day of Kindergarten!), brand new crayons, markers, map colors and pencils, and maybe even a extra special snack for our first day.
I am hoping that the kids and I will be able to do some trips to the library and the park this year. It all depends on whether or not we get another car. I know the Lord already knows what kind and where it is. I am just patiently waiting for Him to show us the way.
So how are you all getting ready for this school year. Whether you homeschool or not...we all have fun traditions!
Friday, August 5, 2011
This Week
This week has been a good one. The kids have all done their schoolwork with little to no complaints. We did have a tough time with Jackson on Monday but since then it has been good. We are almost caught up from our 2 week break which really is amazing.
My house is not too bad either! I have really been trying to make the kids do their chores first thing in the morning, This helps motivate me to stay on top of mine. I have actually kept up with the floors! Another thing I have noticed is that my sweet husband is more likely to help me out with the dishes if the rest of the house is clean. I don't know why that is. Maybe it is because he knows I have been working hard instead of hardly working!
I feel good about this week. Even Char has had fun coloring and reading to me!
On another note our cat is about to give birth any day. I keep thinking that today is the day and then nothing! She is huge!!! Hopefully I will have pictures of babies soon!
My house is not too bad either! I have really been trying to make the kids do their chores first thing in the morning, This helps motivate me to stay on top of mine. I have actually kept up with the floors! Another thing I have noticed is that my sweet husband is more likely to help me out with the dishes if the rest of the house is clean. I don't know why that is. Maybe it is because he knows I have been working hard instead of hardly working!
I feel good about this week. Even Char has had fun coloring and reading to me!
On another note our cat is about to give birth any day. I keep thinking that today is the day and then nothing! She is huge!!! Hopefully I will have pictures of babies soon!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Following Through
Okay so I am just going to put it out there....most days we sit in front of the TV all day and do nothing. This has become a reality that I am ashamed of. I could blame it on the heat or not having a car, but in all actuality it is because it is so much easier to let the kids be occupied by the big box that makes noise! As you know we are schooling through the summer and the last two weeks have SUCKED! We have not gotten anything done.
Se la vi (is that how you spell it?).
So this week I decided we are going to start over. No more kicking myself or boo-hooing. We are going to start. The first day, Monday, we had 3 different visitors stop by. This put a wrench in my plans but I stuck with it and made the kids stick with it too. While I prepared dinner, Ellie sat at the island and did her ETC while Jackson sat at the table and worked on his math. Jackson did not finish until 9pm. He is a trooper!
*Before you get all judgmental on me for making my kid work into the night... let tell you that it took him about 6 hours to do 2 pages of work. He chose not to get it done! Today he finished a much larger amount of work in about 45 minutes!
Anyway. Today was much better. We started the day off without TV and the kids ate and played outside first thing. Really, we have to go out before 9 am to keep cool (or cooler!). After playing we started school. Ellie is always faster because she has less work. She finished with a great attitude and then worked on her chores. Jackson also had a great attitude and finished all subjects by 10:30!! Only an hour and 45 min! I was so proud! Char watched PBS. I know I just said no TV but she woke up on the wrong side of the bed and I didn't want to fight her while I was helping Ellie. And if I am following my lesson plans, 30 minutes of TV is allotted for Char! The kids ALL did had their chores done by 11 and we were able to go next door to play with our friends.
Anyway all that to say I am going to really try to follow through with the kids this year. It is so easy to stop doing our work when it gets hard or we get a better offer. I think it is a good lesson to teach them too! I am not worried about how they will turn out in the academically, I am more worried about how they will turn out spiritually. And following through is a lesson that needs to be learned!
Se la vi (is that how you spell it?).
So this week I decided we are going to start over. No more kicking myself or boo-hooing. We are going to start. The first day, Monday, we had 3 different visitors stop by. This put a wrench in my plans but I stuck with it and made the kids stick with it too. While I prepared dinner, Ellie sat at the island and did her ETC while Jackson sat at the table and worked on his math. Jackson did not finish until 9pm. He is a trooper!
*Before you get all judgmental on me for making my kid work into the night... let tell you that it took him about 6 hours to do 2 pages of work. He chose not to get it done! Today he finished a much larger amount of work in about 45 minutes!
Anyway. Today was much better. We started the day off without TV and the kids ate and played outside first thing. Really, we have to go out before 9 am to keep cool (or cooler!). After playing we started school. Ellie is always faster because she has less work. She finished with a great attitude and then worked on her chores. Jackson also had a great attitude and finished all subjects by 10:30!! Only an hour and 45 min! I was so proud! Char watched PBS. I know I just said no TV but she woke up on the wrong side of the bed and I didn't want to fight her while I was helping Ellie. And if I am following my lesson plans, 30 minutes of TV is allotted for Char! The kids ALL did had their chores done by 11 and we were able to go next door to play with our friends.
Anyway all that to say I am going to really try to follow through with the kids this year. It is so easy to stop doing our work when it gets hard or we get a better offer. I think it is a good lesson to teach them too! I am not worried about how they will turn out in the academically, I am more worried about how they will turn out spiritually. And following through is a lesson that needs to be learned!
Monday, August 1, 2011
When is my birfday?
This a another post about my dear Char! She is obsessed with her birthday. She has been talking about it since Jackson's in April.
Yesterday she looked at me in all seriousness and asked, "Is my birfday in four more minutes?". I just about died! She had her four fingers up and anticipation on her face. I was sad to tell her she still had 20 days!
She was okay with that. After all, she has no concept of time! :)
Yesterday she looked at me in all seriousness and asked, "Is my birfday in four more minutes?". I just about died! She had her four fingers up and anticipation on her face. I was sad to tell her she still had 20 days!
She was okay with that. After all, she has no concept of time! :)
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