Friday, May 28, 2010

New Button

Good evening friends! I haven't been able to post on this blog for a bit and I apologize.

I have given up on all of our A Beka curriculum except the math. It's the only ones I'm still using. And I barely use them for that. It's basically just a guideline of what to teach.

For phonics my girlfriend from high school gave me the Hooked on Phonics program to use. We all like this so much better. And because it includes the readers and reading comprehension stories, I can also use that instead of the A Beka Reading and Language Arts for 1st grade. I am going to do Language Arts on my own next year anyways.

I have been seeing that kids are getting out of school already for the summer. We are going to be working for most of the summer I think. We'll take a little break, maybe a month. We started late and have not worked all the way through the school year because of my migraines and such. We haven't done school this week except on Monday because of my headaches.

I finally got my PSP up and working so I made a button for our blog.




I have a couple of pictures to share also.  The first picture is the kids and Tom listening to Bible study:







The kids were doing art on their own by watching a DVD that Amanda picked out at the library called Rainy Day Activities and here's what they made for me.  Kyle made the first one, the top picture is a picture that my husband took at one of his job sites.  Kyle thought I would like that.  ;-)  Then the bottom picture is my niece Graclyn.  Amanda's is the 2nd one shown and both of her pictures are of Graclyn.





We are just about done with our obedience lessons.  There is one story left to read.  It's been left since about Tuesday, but because of my migraine we haven't done it.  I still need to write up their test also and help them with their verses.  We are also still doing our bird study.  The kids will be starting their bird lapbook next week.









Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Turtle Week




This week it's all turtles. Here's our cute little craft. Please excuse my underwear boy, he decided it was Naked Tuesday. lol

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Apple Trees






This week's MFW theme was Apples (Aa, Apple, 4). So we made our own applesauce and traced-hand apple trees. I just had to share these pictures with you! lol Check out Corbyn's tree. It's funny & cute how their perceptions of the same thing (a tree) are different.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Recent Happenings











So we've recently jump back into things. Thank goodness for day work schedules and our sense of "normal-ness" returning! Our weeks haven't been exceptionally consistent, but we're gettin' it done. :)

This week we're on Lesson 4 (Apple, Aa, 4) in My Father's World. So far, we've learned about Creation (first 10 days), then weeks one-three were the Sun, the Moon, and Leaf. Each "lesson" is a week and the alphabet letter and number correspond (Sun, Ss, 1, etc). Each Lesson has a Biblical Concept: Sun = Jesus is the Light of the World. Moon = I am the Light of the World. Leaf = I will live and grow in Jesus. So each time we hold up the alphabet/picture card, the kids can name the picture, say the letter & sound and it reminds them of the Biblical Concept. My only issue has been with our public library. It seems that the books they suggest are not available to me (and that's just my small issue with our p.l.) so we're looking in to investing in the books (used) through Amazon.

Bare with me as I haven't figured out the photo placement. So, somewhere in this post, pictures will show up to show what we've worked on....

The first set uploaded is of our seedlings. Since we're so cold most of the spring, we have to have an indoor garden, first. It's been fun to watch the sprouts come up. So far, we've planted Lettuces, Spinach, a variety of Peppers, Carrots, Peas, and Tomatoes. Sounds like an amazing salad to me! If we get time (and outdoor warmth) today, we'll be starting our herbs in the same way. :)

The second set uploaded is of "schooling". Home made sundials, Z's "Masterpiece", our Mobile, and our Ant Farm.

The kids have gotten a kick out of the Ant Farm. I think I ordered it too soon, though... oops. Oh well, we may just have to order more ants a few weeks before the lesson comes up.. They're really fascinating behind plastic. LOL They just work, work, work.

Zoë and Corbyn have really enjoyed school each day. Corbyn gets copied pages to do what Sissy does, but he's learning so much in his own, 3 year old way. :)

Just a question, do you think Corbyn will have an easier time reading since we're going over letter sounds now and while we're teaching Zoë, he's participating? I'm not at all concerned about Zoë reading, but I've heard that boys have a harder time learning. Also, I've been trying to show him the proper way hold a pencil (as much as I can being left handed and he's right...) and write his letters, is there an easier way to do this? I know he's just three and I'm not stressing about it. Z just picked this stuff up much easier and I don't want Corbyn to be frustrated that he "can't" do it right now.

There's always more to come.... :) ♥
Happy Homeschooling!
~*April*~