The other day, we had just finished reading a particularly wonderful picture book together and I asked my oldest daughter, "What is your favorite book in the whole world?"
She answered, "I don't know, Mom. I haven't read every single book in the whole world yet."
I laughed. Oh, I laughed! "You are so right! And that is so exciting! That means your favorite book is still out there, waiting for you to discover it!"
Isn't that the most exciting news you've heard all day? I thought so.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
North America
We are almost three weeks into school now... I wish you could sit in some time on our morning chaos. :) Actually I don't. Some things are better kept private. :) I am learning each day -- and I hope the girls are, too! We are figuring out our routine, what works, what results in anarchy, what subjects need quiet concentration and when it is okay to grab our books to study in the grass.
We spent a week traveling the U.S.A -- learning a little bit about the country we are blessed to call our own. We browsed Lynn Cheney's awesome book about the 50 states (if you are a Fancy Nancy fan, you'll love Robin Priess Glasser's intricate illustrations). We colored flags, classified some common animals, learned about the Statue of Liberty (and enjoyed Jane Yolen's book Naming Liberty), and enjoyed some decadent graham cracker, cream cheese frosting, and berry edible flags. We also read How to Make a Cherry Pie and See the U.S.A and learned some lessons about grace and forgiveness in the ensuing mess of cherry-pie-making. In other areas, we studied Day One of Creation and talked about light and darkness. We spelled. We read. Sadie learned the letters M, N, and O and went on bear-hunting adventures. Elisa can now count to 100.
Our journeys then took us to Canada. We learned that 90% of the population lives in the southernmost 100 miles of this vast country. We read about hockey, and snow, and "loonies." The girls loved learning the word "toque." We sang "O Canada!" Thanks, Jill, for teaching me the lyrics 10 years ago on my first visit to Saskatchewan! We made snowshoes from posterboard and ate "poutine" for dinner. I don't recommend french fries covered with cheese curds and brown gravy as a nutritional meal, but it was fun!
An ice sculpture - made after reading about the Hotel de Glace in Quebec.
Poutine! For my sweet Canadian friends - I know it is probably not any where authentic. I actually used mozzarella cheese instead of cheese curds due to availability and cost. Funny - the kids actually wouldn't eat it. I guess they like good ol' ketchup.
In the midst of the bright spots of learning and laughing, I changed dozens of diapers, settled fits, comforted a fussy baby, cleaned pattern blocks off the floor three times a day, vacuumed messes, swept cocoa powder that Raina had dumped on the kitchen floor, let toddlers play naked in the kiddie pool so Elisa could finish her reading lesson, and, for some reason, allowed Sadie to wear cross-country ski boots and walk around jabbing carpet with her poles. :) It really is chaos. But I am so thankful for the chaos!
Labor Day found us camping again -- this time, with no tent! A new adventure, sleeping under the stars. We had a fabulous night out.
I forgot to add that I ended up downloading another geography curriculum from Confessions of A Homeschooler to get some craft ideas and I am so thankful for the extra help in organizing each country's study!
We spent a week traveling the U.S.A -- learning a little bit about the country we are blessed to call our own. We browsed Lynn Cheney's awesome book about the 50 states (if you are a Fancy Nancy fan, you'll love Robin Priess Glasser's intricate illustrations). We colored flags, classified some common animals, learned about the Statue of Liberty (and enjoyed Jane Yolen's book Naming Liberty), and enjoyed some decadent graham cracker, cream cheese frosting, and berry edible flags. We also read How to Make a Cherry Pie and See the U.S.A and learned some lessons about grace and forgiveness in the ensuing mess of cherry-pie-making. In other areas, we studied Day One of Creation and talked about light and darkness. We spelled. We read. Sadie learned the letters M, N, and O and went on bear-hunting adventures. Elisa can now count to 100.
Our journeys then took us to Canada. We learned that 90% of the population lives in the southernmost 100 miles of this vast country. We read about hockey, and snow, and "loonies." The girls loved learning the word "toque." We sang "O Canada!" Thanks, Jill, for teaching me the lyrics 10 years ago on my first visit to Saskatchewan! We made snowshoes from posterboard and ate "poutine" for dinner. I don't recommend french fries covered with cheese curds and brown gravy as a nutritional meal, but it was fun!
An ice sculpture - made after reading about the Hotel de Glace in Quebec.
Poutine! For my sweet Canadian friends - I know it is probably not any where authentic. I actually used mozzarella cheese instead of cheese curds due to availability and cost. Funny - the kids actually wouldn't eat it. I guess they like good ol' ketchup.In the midst of the bright spots of learning and laughing, I changed dozens of diapers, settled fits, comforted a fussy baby, cleaned pattern blocks off the floor three times a day, vacuumed messes, swept cocoa powder that Raina had dumped on the kitchen floor, let toddlers play naked in the kiddie pool so Elisa could finish her reading lesson, and, for some reason, allowed Sadie to wear cross-country ski boots and walk around jabbing carpet with her poles. :) It really is chaos. But I am so thankful for the chaos!
Labor Day found us camping again -- this time, with no tent! A new adventure, sleeping under the stars. We had a fabulous night out.
I forgot to add that I ended up downloading another geography curriculum from Confessions of A Homeschooler to get some craft ideas and I am so thankful for the extra help in organizing each country's study!Thursday, August 25, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
First Day
This morning was our first "official" day of kindergarten. I snapped a quick photo, plunked Raina in the play pen with some plastic Lauri toys and began with prayer. I prayed something about the mess and noise we were going to create, and Elisa just giggled. Two hours later, as we finished up, it was clear that I was right on! Mess and noise 101.
Raina played happily in the playpen through our Bible time and Elisa's reading (the most important and concentrated lesson). Then, she was done. She tried to steal Elisa's spelling tiles, but Sadie distracted her with a stack of shape flashcards. Mess #1. She dumped out the pencil sharpener filled with pencils I'd sharpened for handwriting. She emptied a tupperware full of elastic bands used for loom projects while Elisa worked on math and Sadie and I sang the alphabet. The construction paper Sadie and I were using to make a pouch for her K kangaroo was fun to spread on the floor. She stamped the floor and my desk chair pink and yellow while the older girls talked about continents and oceans and made a map of our neighborhood. She emptied a cupboard while we poured water into different containers to see how it conforms to whatever shape it is in.
You know what? She might have had the most fun!
I think we have some planning and training to figure out, though. Any ideas? I do want to train her to play contentedly in the playpen for 30-40 minutes. This morning she lasted about 15-20. We'll get there. :) In the meantime, enjoy some pictures of our ransacked school room.
Raina played happily in the playpen through our Bible time and Elisa's reading (the most important and concentrated lesson). Then, she was done. She tried to steal Elisa's spelling tiles, but Sadie distracted her with a stack of shape flashcards. Mess #1. She dumped out the pencil sharpener filled with pencils I'd sharpened for handwriting. She emptied a tupperware full of elastic bands used for loom projects while Elisa worked on math and Sadie and I sang the alphabet. The construction paper Sadie and I were using to make a pouch for her K kangaroo was fun to spread on the floor. She stamped the floor and my desk chair pink and yellow while the older girls talked about continents and oceans and made a map of our neighborhood. She emptied a cupboard while we poured water into different containers to see how it conforms to whatever shape it is in.
You know what? She might have had the most fun!
I think we have some planning and training to figure out, though. Any ideas? I do want to train her to play contentedly in the playpen for 30-40 minutes. This morning she lasted about 15-20. We'll get there. :) In the meantime, enjoy some pictures of our ransacked school room.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
One Room Schoolhouse
As I've been planning kindergarten (and preschool!) for the coming year, I have enjoyed reading the curriculum line-ups of other homeschool mamas. Sometimes I get new ideas or inspirations, sometimes I am encouraged that we are on the right track, and sometimes I realize that actually I'm missing an entire chunk of something important, and, oops! I better fix that! :)
I am still learning and discovering all the methods and philosophies of education and I don't feel like we have settled in a camp at this point. But my goals for these early days of formal education are to teach the fundamentals simply, to enjoy (lots of) quality literature, to gain an understanding of world we live in, explore the outdoors, and see God's grace and kindness in all of it!
I decided to pull together my own curriculum. There are lots of packaged programs that cover everything... but I couldn't find one that fit our needs. So... we've had fun researching and compiling a program I am quite excited about!
Baby jail... if we need it. :)
Language Arts:
We are using the book "The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading" as our core phonics program. We are about 1/3 of the way through and are loving it. I like that there are no pictures. She's reading letters! :) It's very scripted and simple for me, and has enough variety in the reading exercises to keep Elisa interested. We are working on long vowel sounds this week. Silent Es. :)
Our spelling program is All About Spelling. I wasn't going to use this originally, but read so many positive reviews I couldn't help myself. :) It has some corresponding readers with beautiful pencil illustrations. I am also using their Level Pre-One reading program for Sadie. I love the clean, basic presentation - no frills, but wonderful illustrations and simple fun with the fundamentals.
We are using A Reason For Handwriting as well. This program bases its writing practice on Bible verses, with each Friday's lesson being a decorative page to write and share the verse. I like the idea of practicing handwriting by sending letters, so we will have a rotating penpal schedule for the verses. Let me know if you want to be on the list! :)
We may add First Language Lessons towards the end of the year for grammar, depending on how far we get with our phonics studies.
Math:
My basic plan for math is to use the 100 chart, clock, pattern blocks and manipulatives to teach basic math concepts. I also have Singapore math workbooks that Elisa loves!
Science:
We are using the program "The World God Made" as our science core, supplemented by a few resource books, nature walks, and the library.
Social Studies:
The elder board at church was asked to commit to a year of praying for the world - country by country. We decided to make that a family endeavor, so our social studies will be weekly country studies. There are several curricula that do that sort of exploratory geography program, and I looked at them... but they are designed for older kids. So, I am putting together my own, based primarily on the books "Children Just Like Me," and "Windows on the World." We will color flags, work on maps, read about the lives of children in other countries, learn bits of language, prepare meals, and pray for those nations. The website www.homeschoolcreations.blogspot.com has helpful printouts and library book basket suggestions for a lot of the countries we'll study.
(these are Sadie's books)
We will be reading lots of fun read-alouds based on lists from "Honey for a Child's Heart," and the lists from Sonlight and Beautiful Feet curriculum. Right now we are enthralled with the world of Winnie the Pooh. Silly old bear.
Bible:
We will be using "Big Truths for Little Kids." Each week there is a story, a verse, and catechism to learn. Also, we'll be doing AWANA again.
I am looking forward to studying and learning together -- especially the country studies. I know it will be challenging with a strong-willed kindergartner, an easily distracted middle daughter and a rambunctious one-year-old, but we are so thankful we have the freedom to teach school in our little transformed dining area! What a blessing!
I am still learning and discovering all the methods and philosophies of education and I don't feel like we have settled in a camp at this point. But my goals for these early days of formal education are to teach the fundamentals simply, to enjoy (lots of) quality literature, to gain an understanding of world we live in, explore the outdoors, and see God's grace and kindness in all of it!
I decided to pull together my own curriculum. There are lots of packaged programs that cover everything... but I couldn't find one that fit our needs. So... we've had fun researching and compiling a program I am quite excited about!
Baby jail... if we need it. :)
Language Arts: We are using the book "The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading" as our core phonics program. We are about 1/3 of the way through and are loving it. I like that there are no pictures. She's reading letters! :) It's very scripted and simple for me, and has enough variety in the reading exercises to keep Elisa interested. We are working on long vowel sounds this week. Silent Es. :)
Our spelling program is All About Spelling. I wasn't going to use this originally, but read so many positive reviews I couldn't help myself. :) It has some corresponding readers with beautiful pencil illustrations. I am also using their Level Pre-One reading program for Sadie. I love the clean, basic presentation - no frills, but wonderful illustrations and simple fun with the fundamentals.
We are using A Reason For Handwriting as well. This program bases its writing practice on Bible verses, with each Friday's lesson being a decorative page to write and share the verse. I like the idea of practicing handwriting by sending letters, so we will have a rotating penpal schedule for the verses. Let me know if you want to be on the list! :)
We may add First Language Lessons towards the end of the year for grammar, depending on how far we get with our phonics studies.
Math:
My basic plan for math is to use the 100 chart, clock, pattern blocks and manipulatives to teach basic math concepts. I also have Singapore math workbooks that Elisa loves!
Science:
We are using the program "The World God Made" as our science core, supplemented by a few resource books, nature walks, and the library.
Social Studies:
The elder board at church was asked to commit to a year of praying for the world - country by country. We decided to make that a family endeavor, so our social studies will be weekly country studies. There are several curricula that do that sort of exploratory geography program, and I looked at them... but they are designed for older kids. So, I am putting together my own, based primarily on the books "Children Just Like Me," and "Windows on the World." We will color flags, work on maps, read about the lives of children in other countries, learn bits of language, prepare meals, and pray for those nations. The website www.homeschoolcreations.blogspot.com has helpful printouts and library book basket suggestions for a lot of the countries we'll study.
(these are Sadie's books)Art, Music, Etc.
We are going to use "Drawing With Children," and try to teach some piano with Bastien Basics. Maybe I'll introduce some classical music with the help of the library.We will be reading lots of fun read-alouds based on lists from "Honey for a Child's Heart," and the lists from Sonlight and Beautiful Feet curriculum. Right now we are enthralled with the world of Winnie the Pooh. Silly old bear.
Bible:
We will be using "Big Truths for Little Kids." Each week there is a story, a verse, and catechism to learn. Also, we'll be doing AWANA again.
I am looking forward to studying and learning together -- especially the country studies. I know it will be challenging with a strong-willed kindergartner, an easily distracted middle daughter and a rambunctious one-year-old, but we are so thankful we have the freedom to teach school in our little transformed dining area! What a blessing!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Introducing... Micah! Our adorable nephew who visited with his sweet mama for two weeks in July. Erik's brother Adam is serving in Afghanistan with the Army, and brave Kristen is serving on the homefront as Micah's faithful mommy. We loved having them here and wanted to share some pictures!
Pictures of the four cousins turned out as horribly as you can imagine. :) But I'll include one, anyway. We tried to have Erik do manly things with his little nephew. He helped with tools, and barbecuing, and enjoyed the Land Cruiser. :) Come back soon, Micah!
Pictures of the four cousins turned out as horribly as you can imagine. :) But I'll include one, anyway. We tried to have Erik do manly things with his little nephew. He helped with tools, and barbecuing, and enjoyed the Land Cruiser. :) Come back soon, Micah!
Close Call
It doesn't show up clearly in the photo, but there is a new safety feature in our home. I have always been afraid that a small child would decide to climb through the railing that looks out over our brick entryway. Sadie was my docile baby who never tried anything dangerous, so we never needed to block it. Enter Raina - my mischievous daredevil. Last week, I was cooking dinner and Erik had all three girls upstairs. He came down with Elisa for a quick chat that became a very involved time of discipline. Sadie emerged on the stairway, saying, "Daddy?" to which he answered, "Don't interrupt, please." Sadie, again, said, "But, Dad? Raina's on the railing." I heard her announcement and bolted up the stairs. Erik ran to the brick and stood below her in case she fell. One of the pictures shows where she was. Not on the carpeted area, but on the wood strip on the outside of the railing. A full story over hard brick. Praise God for her big sister. And - we now have a plastic guard.
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