Thursday, September 20, 2012

Math, Wind and Rain

School is off to a great start.  I am excited at how much we are able to get done and how little review we are having to do.  I love being able to jump right back into everything.
 

Math has been fun, I love how Handsome not only does what is ask but adds his own personality to it.  When told to put a hat on the 3rd kid in line, he puts a rainbow hat with all the colors of the rainbow in order.  Then continues to follow all the instructions only doing them in rainbows.  So much fun to be able to watch those creative brains at work.

Ahhhh... and science.  I got the curriculum "R.E.A.L. science 4 kids."  I have to tell you I love it.  Here are the kids with the anemometer we built.  Of course there has been no wind... but knowing where we live, we should have some chances to use it and record the wind speed in our area. 



And our rain gauge.  It was fun to build it on our own.  Sure we could have bought these things, but defiantly not as much fun as building it!  Again, NO RAIN since we made it.... but knowing where we are there should be plenty of chances to use it here soon.
 


Next up... we'll be making a weather vane and then with all our new weather instruments we will be recording the weather for a year.  I've never cared so much about science growing up... but this stuff is FUN!

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Character and Gospel Learning

One thing I have come to LOVE about homeschooling is the time I have to do more gospel centered learning as well as integrate the gospel into all the subjects of learning. 
 
(Really, a lunch discussion started by Handsome was on what was Babylon) 
 
As I was preparing for our school year this summer I was very much struck by a comment from Brigham Young.
 
Brigham Young said to Karl G. Maeser as he was instructing him in starting Brigham Young Academy, "neither the alphabet nor the multiplication table should be taught without the Spirit of God." 
 
How does one integrate the Spirit of God into reading and math?  I don't know if I've figured it out completely but we do start with prayer, asking for the Spirit to be with us all day and especially in our learning.
 
Other than that, this year I have felt strongly that Social Studies needed to include not only etiquette, but Family History, as well as Character building.
 
Etiquette because I feel it is becoming a lost art, really I could use some lessons in etiquette.  Also, I think it helps my kids greatly, in making friends, being kind, showing respect, and hopefully in future employment.  I am excited to learn it right along with my kids. :)
 
Family History because I have felt strongly that my kids need to learn where they came from.  We are starting simple with my and their dad's upbringing.  How our family was formed, the importance of family.  Then my dream, (I hope I can make it work) I want to put a vinyl tree on the wall and hang pictures of cousins, grandparents, and other ancestors within the tree.  Plus I am blessed with many family stories that I am excited to share with my kids... and hopefully take life lessons of character out of the stories to lead into our other subject Character building.
 
With Character building I feel that it is very much the parents responsibility to teach these qualities to their children.

President Kimball said “Do not let your children out to specialists in these things, but teach them by your own precept and example, by your own fireside.  Be a specialist yourself in the truth.  Let our meetings, schools and organizations, instead of being our only or leading teachers, be supplements to our teaching and training in the home.”
 
  I felt that the best way for me is to incorporate character learning into our daily devotionals and throughout the school day.  To start for the month of September we are working on Honesty.  I love the church website.  In resources for teaching children there are topics listed alphabetically.  There I can find lessons, stories from the Friend, videos, songs, etc.  For Honestly we started with a FHE lesson.  Then in our kitchen I placed the picture of the example of honesty from the story and the phrase, "I choose to be...." each new character trait will be added to the wall as well as a picture to show the new character each month. 
 

And lastly, just an idea I had that I thought I would share.  Handsome and Gorgeous now have all 13 of the Articles of Faith memorized.  However, they cannot tell you the Article of Faith based on the number.  So I thought to add a picture of it on the back of the index cards that we have them written on.  I am still trying to think of good pictures for some... but here are the ones that I have come up with so far.  And just remember I'm not an artist, but I thought it was good enough to help my kids.  Now, when I ask for an Article of Faith by the number of one we have a picture for they can tell me.  If any of you have good ideas for the others please let me know. :)





Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Hula Hooping Boy



So after seeing the man at the fair hula hooping.  Handsome had to try out some tricks of his own. 

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Field Trip- The Fair

Field Trip Friday: The Puyallup Fair
 
We did lots of fun things, but the highlights were...
 

The kids got to fish and catch a trout. 
 


Handsome got  a little wet from a HUGE fish another kid caught.
 

We watched this guy hula hooper.  He was funny and Handsome loves hula hooping, so when he asked for a volunteer Handsome was picked and had to move that tire across the stage for the guy to hula hoop it! Which he did! 

They had a Rainforest area with live animals.  It was awesome! 


Scorpion!
 
 Porcupine
 
Handsome wanted to do the Mutton Busting again... but backed out at the last minute when he was on the sheep about to go out the gate.  Oh well.... I'm fine playing it safe. :) 

And lastly, a kiddy roller coaster ride... my kids are not thrill seekers, they did not like the roller coaster until it was done. :)

Monday, September 10, 2012

Science-observations

 
 
 

To start out our science this year we started with some observations of our garden, weather, and crickets. The kids had fun sitting in the shade and drawing our garden this year.

 

 
 We also listened to the crickets. Did you know that if you count the chirps of one single cricket for 14 seconds then add the number to 40 you have the temperature outside in Fahrenheit. The kids had fun listening to the crickets (who were making a lot of noise, it was HOT).
 
 

And I had to include the pictures of our garden. I am proud of it this year. Last year I didn't do it, I was raising a very little baby, and the year before was a failure as I became pregnant and couldn't stand any food, not even the food growing in my garden. So this year (although small) is a big accomplishment for me. We have lettuce, spinach, broccoli, carrots, corn, pumpkin, strawberries, blueberries, green beans, and tomatoes. And we have learned new things that we will be trying out next year.


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

First Day of School and Finished Projects

 
Yesturday morning I woke up and saw this little big boy up, dressed, with backpack, morning chores done and drawing using our new writing center (I'll tell more about that below).  I can't believe how grown up he is getting, and it was fun to see how ready and excited he was to start school.
 

 Ready for First grade!
 
A little note about the backpack.  Yes, I know I home school and really Handsome doesn't need a backpack, but I have wished we had a big backpack (we have little ones) a few times with traveling and such and thought, the best time to get one is when they are 50% off.  So I picked one up for Handsome as a special thing, and he LOVED it.  (It still has yet to have anything put in it... but I'm sure it will get used soon).  The kids have both really wanted lunch boxes, especially ones with their favorite characters on them.. but I just couldn't justify the cost when we just eat at home and don't need them at all.  But a backpack, that I could do. :)   So Handsome got his first school backpack.



I can't believe I have a 1st grader!  So grown up!
 
 

And we told Gorgeous that she was starting Preschool this year.  Really, I've built my schedule to work in teaching her the letter sounds and doing fun drawing.  She also joins Handsome and I for read alouds, science, and social studies.  Mostly, I felt it was important to let her know she had her own time with mom to learn.  I've also put in time for Adorable to cuddle, read and/or play one on one with mommy.  (As for the picture...  I'll just say, she's not a morning person) 



 I let the kids pick their "First Day of School Breakfast."  The choice was pancakes with whip topping and sprinkles.  YUM!


 Handsome got a little too carried away with the sprinkles and ready to dive in. :)


 
Now, on to my projects.  I had three major projects I wanted to finish before school started.  A writing center, a mailbox station, and a beanbag chair/stuff animal storage.

 
The writing center was finished the night before school.  It is just a pocket chart I made that will hold blank paper, paper with lines to prompt letter writing, envelops (I save all the ones that come with the junk mail), and blank books for the kids to write stories in.  Then the next row of pockets hold markers that are organized according to color.  I love for the kids to see all the variations just within one color.  Also, color pencils and regular pencils are found there.  I came up with the design myself and used the fabric I had on hand.  With only one major mistake (I had to do some hand sewing because I missed a step).  I am very happy with how it turned out, and more excited for it to be used.  




The mailbox station was made first this summer.  The kids loved to write notes to family members and I thought it would be great to have mailboxes for all of us.  That way the kids could write a letter and the receiver could then write them back a letter.  I even made a mailbox for outgoing mail, which has already been used to due to President Monson's birthday.


After spending time looking around the web and Pinterest for mailbox ideas.  I tried to think of the crafty people I know and what they would make.   In the end I used a pattern from a book that I have, and made changes to it in size and added elements to make a mailbox.  I like the fabric look.
 
The only tricky part about the mailbox station and the writing station is the fact that I have 2 one year olds hanging out at my home.  Although the markers are washable, I didn't want to have to put them to the test, and I didn't want all my hard work ruined within minutes.  So I had to put them up high out of the reach of little fingers.  So far so good, but I see those smart one year olds minds' turning to try to get into it (especially the markers).  We'll see how long it takes them to figure out how to get to them.


 
And a project not so much for school, but for organization.  I've always wanted a beanbag chair for the kids, but didn't want another thing to take up space in our little home.  Then on a blog I saw a beanbag chair that held stuff animals.  What an idea, I needed a place to store all the stuff animals and a beanbag chair would be PERFECT!  On that blog it said I could buy one for a lot of money or it was suggested that someone could make one up.  So the challenge was on and I decided to make one myself.  I found a pattern of a beanbag chair on line for free, changed a few elements like added vinyl to see through and a zipper to easily access the stuff animals.  I used the fabric I had on hand, which turned out to be minky (so soft!).  I LOVE how it turned out.  I thought I would have to make two, but apparently it was big enough to fit all the animals, and still have some room so it was comfy for sitting on.  I love the new addition as it cleans up and organized our toy/library/school space. :)


 
Well that was a LONG post, but I had to make up for all the ones I missed during the summer.  I may or may not post about vacations, depending on the time I have after schooling is done. :)
 
 

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

New Words



As story keeper for my kids, I had to write down the words little Adorable is saying now.  Yes, they are mostly understood by me and our little family, but the fact that I can recognize them and he says them when asked is so adorable. 

Today while changing Adorables diaper I asked him to say and he repeated; "mommy", "daddy", "Jesus", "ni-ni" (as in good night), "bye-bye", and waved hi.  He also knows many signs, such as "sorry", "please", "water", and "more".

And just a little note.  Can I say, how happy I am that my baby can see a picture of Jesus and then say "Jesus".   My other two didn't do this as early, and the reason I believe is the fact that in our home our picture of Jesus is right above the changing table.  So when Adorable goes to get a diaper change we say "Hi" to Jesus, point to Jesus, etc. to keep him busy.  Then after the diaper change Adorable likes to touch the different parts of Jesus' face and we identify his eyes, ears, mouth, nose.  It is a fun little thing, and to think that he is learning about his Savior so young, makes me happy.
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