I needed to take a leave of absence from many things, including my sanity at times. It has been long winter, partially because of the layers of viruses that have come to reside in our lives.
I must admit, my schooling efforts have been incredibly paltry since mid-February. I have been sick and seasonally depressed. It makes for a very challenging approach to home schooling.
Today we are creating our March calendar. It's already the 10th. We are working on Reading, writing to uncle seth, and will make a mess shortly for our science project using H2O and corn starch. Eveyrone's favorite textured mess.
Our weekly calendar looks like this-
Monday- Music, Math, Muzzy (Spanish), Reading
Tuesday- Art, Workbooks, Book Report, Calendar, Reading
Wednesday- Science, Games, Letters to Seth, Reading
Thursday- Reading, Birds, Nature Walk/Journal, ASL, Reading
Friday- Baking, Reading, catch up
Science Subjects- Astronomy, Animals and Plants in Winter
Reading- Special Stories include Grandmother/Grandfather folk stories from around the world
We are still doing Tae Kwon Do, guitar lessons, and Ethan's been attending after school activities through comm ed- Club Invention, and one about birds, both very successful. Avery has started dance lessons through comm ed too, on Tuesdays.
I am anxious for winter to leave, this current cold bug to leave, and my happy sanity to return.
Florida was mostly successful. I'll write an update about it another time.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Badda Bing, Florida Here we Come!
We have been busy learning and preparing for our trip to Florida, which is in 2 days. We are learning about the ocean floor, sonar, marine life, land formations, and tomorrow we'll learn about currents. I want them to understand the bigger picture of water and see how connected water is to water and land, within ourselves let alone outside of us. We plan on visiting 2 beaches and will bring science journals with and we'll still have schooling during the week. I will pack our books and supplies in one of their luggage.
I didn't get as much as I wanted accomplished today. It was a busy busy day with piddly little things. I wanted to cover currents and watch some planet earth but we watched a sad little house on the prairie movie and I cleaned. It was a weird day.
Ethan's reading and writing skills are improving daily. Avery doesn't do squat when her blood sugar is off. Nahni shadows everything we do and loves to move and sing. She has a lot of her ABS sounds down. It's really cute to have her join us in our schooling.
Tomorrow we're talking about currents, marine life, and doing our Friday book report on The Snowman. I love that book and movie.
I look forward to christmas break. Well take off the week of Christmas and have a fun time doing little things such as baking and playing outside. Now that it's snowed Ethan wants to be outside a lot but he asks me to go out too and I haven't been outside much. I need to take the time and be with him. He's very sweet. He's getting better at his guitar and I can tell what he's playing, sometimes. He had his lesson today and it seemed to go well. I am happy to have him wanting to play. His Tae Kwon Do is going great and he's thriving alongside his friends. Ryan is as well in the adult class. I enjoy watching them both in their activities.
Avery is quite the little mama. Bossy at times, and very helpful in the kitchen and with decorating and accessorizing. I love watching her get dressed and dress up Nahni. Avery loves to bake and create with me. I find little bowls of flour, raisins, sugar, and spices or a blend of something, hidden in cupboards or niches here and there. She is curious and I like that.
Saturday we leave 8am for MSP and won't be home until next Saturday. Blessings to all!
I didn't get as much as I wanted accomplished today. It was a busy busy day with piddly little things. I wanted to cover currents and watch some planet earth but we watched a sad little house on the prairie movie and I cleaned. It was a weird day.
Ethan's reading and writing skills are improving daily. Avery doesn't do squat when her blood sugar is off. Nahni shadows everything we do and loves to move and sing. She has a lot of her ABS sounds down. It's really cute to have her join us in our schooling.
Tomorrow we're talking about currents, marine life, and doing our Friday book report on The Snowman. I love that book and movie.
I look forward to christmas break. Well take off the week of Christmas and have a fun time doing little things such as baking and playing outside. Now that it's snowed Ethan wants to be outside a lot but he asks me to go out too and I haven't been outside much. I need to take the time and be with him. He's very sweet. He's getting better at his guitar and I can tell what he's playing, sometimes. He had his lesson today and it seemed to go well. I am happy to have him wanting to play. His Tae Kwon Do is going great and he's thriving alongside his friends. Ryan is as well in the adult class. I enjoy watching them both in their activities.
Avery is quite the little mama. Bossy at times, and very helpful in the kitchen and with decorating and accessorizing. I love watching her get dressed and dress up Nahni. Avery loves to bake and create with me. I find little bowls of flour, raisins, sugar, and spices or a blend of something, hidden in cupboards or niches here and there. She is curious and I like that.
Saturday we leave 8am for MSP and won't be home until next Saturday. Blessings to all!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Getting Ready for FL
We leave in less than one month for FL. I booked our van rental today, less than $220 for a week's rental, using two discount coupons. Nice. I've also checked out where the closest whole food's store is and it's very close by and open until 10pm so we can get our groceries before we settle into the hotel for the night. I am looking forward to having some r&r and seeing the kids play at the beach. I love watching the kids play in the surf and sand.
Homeschooling has been a little slow this month. I have a harder time being indoors with the colder weather and it affects my thoughts heavily. We are making progress in reading and writing with Ethan, and most things for Avery that will help her start to read. They have both enjoyed many hours of coloring and drawing and creating in general. New songs are added every week, ones that are connected to the weather and seasons. We are starting our bird focus for the winter nature aspect of our education. Last we we learned about the american crow and how many caws is a hello and how long they usually are and where they live and what they eat. We went on an outside trek to see the crows and only saw one and heard another.
We are also getting ready for the yule season and will decorate outside with special lights and lawn decorations, much easier to do before any deep snow comes.
Ethan's guitar lessons are going quite well. He is enjoying his practicing and lessons. His TKD is going really well, and he has improved greatly in balance, coordination, and confidence. I enjoy watching him and Ryan.
Avery would like to take dance lessons and if they offer any in the winter comm ed we'll take them. I'm hoping to get her into more comm ed classes so we can do something during the winter together, just she and I. Ethan too of course but she and I could use some alone time. She is the middle child after all and I am aware of her needs and she does get very needy at times, who doesn't.
We are not doing anything with the many paths homeschool co-op this fall. Maybe over the winter. I will have an 8 week yoga class set for january into march at the studio for kids. I hope we get someone coming. Fridays at 10am starting mid-January.
We are reading about beaches and aquatic life this month in science. We are learning all about what we might see and enjoy in FL. I am quite excited for our upcoming vacation.
Homeschooling has been a little slow this month. I have a harder time being indoors with the colder weather and it affects my thoughts heavily. We are making progress in reading and writing with Ethan, and most things for Avery that will help her start to read. They have both enjoyed many hours of coloring and drawing and creating in general. New songs are added every week, ones that are connected to the weather and seasons. We are starting our bird focus for the winter nature aspect of our education. Last we we learned about the american crow and how many caws is a hello and how long they usually are and where they live and what they eat. We went on an outside trek to see the crows and only saw one and heard another.
We are also getting ready for the yule season and will decorate outside with special lights and lawn decorations, much easier to do before any deep snow comes.
Ethan's guitar lessons are going quite well. He is enjoying his practicing and lessons. His TKD is going really well, and he has improved greatly in balance, coordination, and confidence. I enjoy watching him and Ryan.
Avery would like to take dance lessons and if they offer any in the winter comm ed we'll take them. I'm hoping to get her into more comm ed classes so we can do something during the winter together, just she and I. Ethan too of course but she and I could use some alone time. She is the middle child after all and I am aware of her needs and she does get very needy at times, who doesn't.
We are not doing anything with the many paths homeschool co-op this fall. Maybe over the winter. I will have an 8 week yoga class set for january into march at the studio for kids. I hope we get someone coming. Fridays at 10am starting mid-January.
We are reading about beaches and aquatic life this month in science. We are learning all about what we might see and enjoy in FL. I am quite excited for our upcoming vacation.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Orlando Thoughts
Our Orlando trip is coming up. We are staying at our timeshare in Orlando and are NOT going anywhere near Disney World...blech.
We would like to visit-
The Orlando Science Center
The Atlantic Ocean
The Gulf Coast
We are interested in doing a tour on either coast and will look into chartered tours with an eco-minded focus.
We are staying in a fully equipped hotel/apartment that will have wonderful accommodations for the week, including a bed for each of the older kids, a full kitchen, a generous soaking tub and laundry. We can pack light because we will be staying at one location, rather than 3 as was the case in TX.
We would like to visit-
The Orlando Science Center
The Atlantic Ocean
The Gulf Coast
We are interested in doing a tour on either coast and will look into chartered tours with an eco-minded focus.
We are staying in a fully equipped hotel/apartment that will have wonderful accommodations for the week, including a bed for each of the older kids, a full kitchen, a generous soaking tub and laundry. We can pack light because we will be staying at one location, rather than 3 as was the case in TX.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Bye Bye October
Our October was filled with coughs, sore throats, headaches, and less productivity that I would have liked.
We are making progress with our reading. Ethan enjoyed reading to himself and I often find him reading during a quiet moment or to Avery.
Avery enjoys making books by stapling together a bunch of paper and writing on each page. She insisted that we add her latest book to our bookshelf. I greatly agree.
We have our flights booked for Orlando as well as our hotel. We will be leaving for Orlando in December. Now we need to start learning about the beaches and continue learning about aquatic life in our science kits.
Thursday and Friday of the past week we had a rummage sale at the studio, and my kids joined me for the better part of each day. During that time we got interviewed by lakeland TV about the presidential cookie poll happening at our bakery. We also drew on the sidewalk in front of my studio, and earned a little money. Ethan was very excited about earning money and made a money cup in which he asked people to put their payment into for the sale items. It was cute but annoying. Avery did the same. They liked to see people coming in and talk to them. By the second day they were tired, out of sorts, but more able to focus on their drawings and sidewalk art. Nahni didn't want to be there at all. I consider it a good experience in salesmanship and am glad we were able to have the sale.
Last week we learned about timelines in math. We learned how to create a timeline to show what we did for schooling and how long each subject took to learn. Ethan caught on immediately and Avery did her best.
I intend to get back on track in Novemeber. No more colds, sore throats, injuries, or rummage sales.
When we homeschool, our routine is something like this-
Circle Song- Round and Round (everyone participates in it)
Morning Movement- Yoga, dancing, a walk outside, whatever we feel like
Monday- Send a letter to Seth, Reading, Nature Walk and Journal, Music (we learn at least one new song weekly and repeat all our whole list of songs we've learned), Avery ECFE
Tuesday- Math, Reading, Art, Weekly Outing, Ethan Tae Kwon Do
Wednesday- Science, Reading, American Sign Language (we watch our video and learn a few new signs in our signing book (sentences like "My name is...") Ethan Music Lesson, Workbooks.
Thursday- Social Studies, Geography, Calendars when we change them, History, Reading, Avery ECFE, Ethan Tae Kwon Do
Friday- Reading, Art, Spanish, Book Journal
We read every day as a group and Ethan reads individually. We do art most days. We have workbooks to use and we often do them more than once a week.
We are making progress with our reading. Ethan enjoyed reading to himself and I often find him reading during a quiet moment or to Avery.
Avery enjoys making books by stapling together a bunch of paper and writing on each page. She insisted that we add her latest book to our bookshelf. I greatly agree.
We have our flights booked for Orlando as well as our hotel. We will be leaving for Orlando in December. Now we need to start learning about the beaches and continue learning about aquatic life in our science kits.
Thursday and Friday of the past week we had a rummage sale at the studio, and my kids joined me for the better part of each day. During that time we got interviewed by lakeland TV about the presidential cookie poll happening at our bakery. We also drew on the sidewalk in front of my studio, and earned a little money. Ethan was very excited about earning money and made a money cup in which he asked people to put their payment into for the sale items. It was cute but annoying. Avery did the same. They liked to see people coming in and talk to them. By the second day they were tired, out of sorts, but more able to focus on their drawings and sidewalk art. Nahni didn't want to be there at all. I consider it a good experience in salesmanship and am glad we were able to have the sale.
Last week we learned about timelines in math. We learned how to create a timeline to show what we did for schooling and how long each subject took to learn. Ethan caught on immediately and Avery did her best.
I intend to get back on track in Novemeber. No more colds, sore throats, injuries, or rummage sales.
When we homeschool, our routine is something like this-
Circle Song- Round and Round (everyone participates in it)
Morning Movement- Yoga, dancing, a walk outside, whatever we feel like
Monday- Send a letter to Seth, Reading, Nature Walk and Journal, Music (we learn at least one new song weekly and repeat all our whole list of songs we've learned), Avery ECFE
Tuesday- Math, Reading, Art, Weekly Outing, Ethan Tae Kwon Do
Wednesday- Science, Reading, American Sign Language (we watch our video and learn a few new signs in our signing book (sentences like "My name is...") Ethan Music Lesson, Workbooks.
Thursday- Social Studies, Geography, Calendars when we change them, History, Reading, Avery ECFE, Ethan Tae Kwon Do
Friday- Reading, Art, Spanish, Book Journal
We read every day as a group and Ethan reads individually. We do art most days. We have workbooks to use and we often do them more than once a week.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Interesting
I have spent a while online researching craft supplies for our fall/Autumn needle felting project, along with other notions for homeschooling. I am decidedly in love with anything resembling the waldorf style of learning. Hands-on, natural materials, earth-centered, and individually honoring. Which is what we do at home. I visited a mainstream toy store today looking for what to get the play area downstairs that might be fun for the kids, and I thought I'd see what the recommended for toys in Ethan's age range....all plastic and all computer related. I felt sad when I saw the top sellers, Wii crap. I am so not into gaming and disconnecting (my opinon here). I think my kids are very fortunate to have me for their mom, because I am a earthy compassionate creative being that blends both ancient and modern methods for a truly marvelous learning experience. Providing I'm not crabby. :)
I am going to purchase foam flooring for the play area downstairs to make it more user friendly for the kids. Ethan and his friends play down their regularly. It would be nice for warmth and padding.
Ethan and Avery had a great day of schooling. We got to sing all our songs and added movement to them as we sang. It is fun to see Ethan's creativity in his singing. He sings nonstop, and I love it. Avery does too, in her fashion. Singing represents a happy heart and a confident voice. I refuse to let anyone take that away from them. We also read our chaper in the Mighty Minn book and Ethan and Avery both read their books. We all went outside to see the sewer truck come and suck up all our 6 years worth of waste. It was really cool and thankfully windy as well. Nahni and I took a walk down to get the mail and I let her dance in all the puddles along the way. She was wearing her rain boots and a cosy hat and clothes and just loved being in the puddles. She was so happy.
After lunch we worked on logic with one of our sudoku games using shapes and the kids did really well. We also drew our favorite memories of Itasca, created our October Calendar (a little late I know), practiced guitar (with much complaining of hurting fingers(Ethan only), and now their creating with their legos and wearing tubers and zots on their heads. It felt like a good day today.
We purchased a new light for our school area to go over the computer and illuminate the school materails. I am so happy to have it there, as it's where the kids play most of the time. I'm going to hang up a canopy now and help them to create an enchanted realm by the window.
Tomorrow we have science, ASL (I know how to sign- I am happy to meet you, and where were you born!), reading, workbooks, and music lesson. I am taking the night off to enjoy being home and maybe go for a canoe ride to enjoy the fall leaves.
Our theatrical unit is going well. We're at the part where we're going to create our background and costumes. It's really fun to have Marcia over weekly and hear how the kids are leanring with her. It takes a lot of patience on her part and I truly appreciate her efforts. It has been an excellent learning experience and she is completely phenomenal as a teen.
I want to get a melody harp for transition times and helping ethan when he's learning his guitar. I also want to get a pentatonic flute for him and Avery. We'll see about that next year.
Our home is decorated for harvest and we're going to have a harvest party for Ethan's 7th birthday. A harvest carnival with apple dunking, ring toss, pumpkin painting or drilling (as I think some of them would rather drill holes and would tremendously enjoy that), and whatever else looks good.
It's time to go to work. Blessings.
I am going to purchase foam flooring for the play area downstairs to make it more user friendly for the kids. Ethan and his friends play down their regularly. It would be nice for warmth and padding.
Ethan and Avery had a great day of schooling. We got to sing all our songs and added movement to them as we sang. It is fun to see Ethan's creativity in his singing. He sings nonstop, and I love it. Avery does too, in her fashion. Singing represents a happy heart and a confident voice. I refuse to let anyone take that away from them. We also read our chaper in the Mighty Minn book and Ethan and Avery both read their books. We all went outside to see the sewer truck come and suck up all our 6 years worth of waste. It was really cool and thankfully windy as well. Nahni and I took a walk down to get the mail and I let her dance in all the puddles along the way. She was wearing her rain boots and a cosy hat and clothes and just loved being in the puddles. She was so happy.
After lunch we worked on logic with one of our sudoku games using shapes and the kids did really well. We also drew our favorite memories of Itasca, created our October Calendar (a little late I know), practiced guitar (with much complaining of hurting fingers(Ethan only), and now their creating with their legos and wearing tubers and zots on their heads. It felt like a good day today.
We purchased a new light for our school area to go over the computer and illuminate the school materails. I am so happy to have it there, as it's where the kids play most of the time. I'm going to hang up a canopy now and help them to create an enchanted realm by the window.
Tomorrow we have science, ASL (I know how to sign- I am happy to meet you, and where were you born!), reading, workbooks, and music lesson. I am taking the night off to enjoy being home and maybe go for a canoe ride to enjoy the fall leaves.
Our theatrical unit is going well. We're at the part where we're going to create our background and costumes. It's really fun to have Marcia over weekly and hear how the kids are leanring with her. It takes a lot of patience on her part and I truly appreciate her efforts. It has been an excellent learning experience and she is completely phenomenal as a teen.
I want to get a melody harp for transition times and helping ethan when he's learning his guitar. I also want to get a pentatonic flute for him and Avery. We'll see about that next year.
Our home is decorated for harvest and we're going to have a harvest party for Ethan's 7th birthday. A harvest carnival with apple dunking, ring toss, pumpkin painting or drilling (as I think some of them would rather drill holes and would tremendously enjoy that), and whatever else looks good.
It's time to go to work. Blessings.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
New and Blue
Ethan got his new blue guitar today. A simple acoustical guitar with a simple case and tuner. He has a lesson book that is easy to understand. We have to retune the guitar due to his mis-understanding of tuning. I am good at tuning guitars and look forward to playing with him when I get my guitar back.
We didn't do any book work today. I had a lesson planned for science and math today that got put on hold until possibly tomorrow. It was too nice to be inside so we went to town. I went outside at 10am and didn't go back in until 4:30pm (well, back into the house). We went into town for lunch and on the way talked all about the trees that we saw and their attributes. After lunch we drove Avery to school and went back to mainstreet to give dad back his van. Then Nahni and Ethan and I went to Alco and bought more fall foliage stuff to decorate. I didn't have anything to go outside and 40% off is nice. He helped me by reading the signs and selecting flowers for the containers we purchased. We then walked over to the school and had dad come and pick us up to go home with the newbold cousins. It was a long day and I'm glad we spent a lot of it getting good exercise, fresh air, and a fresh perspective.
We will spend months indoors but for infrequent hours here and there outside. Today was wonderful and a treat to spent with excellent company and in the spirit of real life education.
It's time for bed.
We didn't do any book work today. I had a lesson planned for science and math today that got put on hold until possibly tomorrow. It was too nice to be inside so we went to town. I went outside at 10am and didn't go back in until 4:30pm (well, back into the house). We went into town for lunch and on the way talked all about the trees that we saw and their attributes. After lunch we drove Avery to school and went back to mainstreet to give dad back his van. Then Nahni and Ethan and I went to Alco and bought more fall foliage stuff to decorate. I didn't have anything to go outside and 40% off is nice. He helped me by reading the signs and selecting flowers for the containers we purchased. We then walked over to the school and had dad come and pick us up to go home with the newbold cousins. It was a long day and I'm glad we spent a lot of it getting good exercise, fresh air, and a fresh perspective.
We will spend months indoors but for infrequent hours here and there outside. Today was wonderful and a treat to spent with excellent company and in the spirit of real life education.
It's time for bed.
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