Today we did origami art.
Goldfish and Salt cellars.Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Half-Way Point
January 16 is our half-way mark; the end of first semester. I used to do quarters, but find this much easier. Actually, everyone grades are very good this year even though I am putting less emphasis on grades and more on the importance of learning to connect all of our subjects.
We are having a good year and thank you to so many of you who have showed me that it's okay to chill out some.
We are having a good year and thank you to so many of you who have showed me that it's okay to chill out some.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Socialization, Racism Plus 8 lbs, 1oz
I joined a local homeschool group last year to give my kids an opportunity to meet other homeschooled kids. It was not like we anticipated as the families were very stand-offish and the other children would not talk much to my kids. My kids were put off and no longer wanted to go to the functions. I told them we were going to try again and we did; we went bowling and ice skating and roller skating. My daughter would make friends, but my teen would not make any connections.
When it was time to renew our membership, let's just say the kids were less than enthusiastic, but I wanted to still be able to have the benefits of membership.
Yesterday we went roller skating with our homeschool group.
I love using teachable moments with my children, but there are some lessons I wish I could avoid. Yesterday, my daughter made a friend right away and the girls skated and giggled together for about 30 minutes. Then my daughter came to me with moist eyes and told me the her friend said she could not skate with her anymore because her grandmother did not like us. I explained that this was apart of life and we need to make sure that we never treat other people like that and so on and so forth. But I was led to approach the grandmother. I explained to her that my child was sad that she could no longer skate with her grandchild and ask if it was because of our race or because of my size. (I am a very large woman.) she hemmed and hawed and got very flustered and said she did not mean it like that and would talk to her grandchild. Five minutes later the child came back over and said she could skate with her now.
While I felt protective of my child, I could only feel sad for the little girl that would be taught the lesson that should be erased from all curriculum.
Anyway... here is a short video.
Oh, and that 8lbs, 1oz.... Well when we got home, we got a call from the agency that they had a 4 week old baby boy that needed placement. He is a cutie and such a peanut.
And on we go!
When it was time to renew our membership, let's just say the kids were less than enthusiastic, but I wanted to still be able to have the benefits of membership.
Yesterday we went roller skating with our homeschool group.
I love using teachable moments with my children, but there are some lessons I wish I could avoid. Yesterday, my daughter made a friend right away and the girls skated and giggled together for about 30 minutes. Then my daughter came to me with moist eyes and told me the her friend said she could not skate with her anymore because her grandmother did not like us. I explained that this was apart of life and we need to make sure that we never treat other people like that and so on and so forth. But I was led to approach the grandmother. I explained to her that my child was sad that she could no longer skate with her grandchild and ask if it was because of our race or because of my size. (I am a very large woman.) she hemmed and hawed and got very flustered and said she did not mean it like that and would talk to her grandchild. Five minutes later the child came back over and said she could skate with her now.
While I felt protective of my child, I could only feel sad for the little girl that would be taught the lesson that should be erased from all curriculum.
Anyway... here is a short video.
Oh, and that 8lbs, 1oz.... Well when we got home, we got a call from the agency that they had a 4 week old baby boy that needed placement. He is a cutie and such a peanut.
And on we go!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Money
1st grade started a lesson on counting pennies and dimes this week and he caught on so fast that he finished the entire lesson in 3 days. This is his quiz for the lesson.
(I just realized that I dated his quiz 1/9/09... guess I am trying to rush the week. LOL!)
Monday, January 5, 2009
Easy Monday
We decided to ease back into class. For language arts there was a good game of scrabble happening: 
and for math class they played The Allowance game.
They also played Bible verse hangman which led to many hanged men LOL! Gotta work on that!
5th and 10th grade begin a writing assignment where they will be writing a short story. They started with character development today as well as deciding on important scenes that will be relevant to the story. I look forward to seeing what they come up with.
and for math class they played The Allowance game.
They also played Bible verse hangman which led to many hanged men LOL! Gotta work on that!
5th and 10th grade begin a writing assignment where they will be writing a short story. They started with character development today as well as deciding on important scenes that will be relevant to the story. I look forward to seeing what they come up with.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Up Up and Away
We start back to school in the morning and it is under much protest. I can't even blame them as I am not overly excited to start up again yet either, but I am looking forward to being back on more of schedule. Our semester ends in 2 weeks, so I will be doing progress reports to let the students know where they are with their grades.
I found a new math site with free printable drill sheets. I try not to use them too often, but they are good if a student needs a little reinforcement in an area.
Peace,
:)De
I found a new math site with free printable drill sheets. I try not to use them too often, but they are good if a student needs a little reinforcement in an area.
Peace,
:)De
Friday, January 2, 2009
"Me A Heart Too!"
My 4 year old is very delayed in speech. In the year that he has been home with us, his speech has improved a great deal. He has many words now, but struggles to put them together in order.
Today he was not feeling well: runny nose, scratchy throat, so we have just been lying around and snuggling. He was laying with his ear on my chest and sat up quickly and said, "What dat mama?"
Me:"What baby?"
Him: "In dere." (pointing to my chest) "Boom, boom, boom?"
Me: "Oh, that's mama's heart you hear."
I ask my oldest to grab the stethoscope and I put it in his ears. I let him hear mine first and then his. His eyes lit up so big.
Him: "ME A HEART TOO!!!"
Me: " Yes, baby, you have a heart too."
Today he was not feeling well: runny nose, scratchy throat, so we have just been lying around and snuggling. He was laying with his ear on my chest and sat up quickly and said, "What dat mama?"
Me:"What baby?"
Him: "In dere." (pointing to my chest) "Boom, boom, boom?"
Me: "Oh, that's mama's heart you hear."
I ask my oldest to grab the stethoscope and I put it in his ears. I let him hear mine first and then his. His eyes lit up so big.
Him: "ME A HEART TOO!!!"
Me: " Yes, baby, you have a heart too."
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