Letter Party with a just-turned 4 year old.....

Middle A received this Aquadoodle as a gift for her birthday and she is loving it. We just lay it on the floor and it entertains her for quite a while. On Wednesday of last week, I casually asked her to write her letter A, as she's been doing this for a while now. We celebrated her writing skills with lots clapping and a "Good Job!". We continued with our "letter party" all the way to the letter Z. I am amazed at how much she's learned this year, it was only a few months ago that she was just starting to write.

"In this time of extraordinary pressure, educational and social, perhaps a mothers first duty to her children is to secure for them a quiet and growing time, a full six years of passive receptive life, the waking part of it for the most part spent out in the fresh air."- Charlotte Mason

Our School Room

I have been spending more time on my cleaning projects than online lately and with that, I finally got our school room done! I have been de-cluttering and boxing up old business files for the last couple of months. It took my hubby to be off of work a couple of days to help me get this done, but its done! I still have some curtains I want to sew and a little bench to cover and paint, but that will get done soon! I thought I would share some pics of the finished room :)


This is when you first walk in, please ignore the ugly curtains/sheet thing. Like I said, I have some curtains to sew ;p


Here's the little ones reading nook, I still have some crayon to get off the wall :rolls eyes:. It's done, minus some small cosmetic things ;)



This is the shelf above the reading nook. It holds all of the things I don't want them to have constant access to like playdoh, board games with little peices, paints, etc. I also have a shelf inside the closet in this room that holds art supplies for my oldest son.


This is my teaching wall. I will be adding more visual aids but I am thinking I need a cork board or something to put behind them so I don't have a million holes in the wall...any ideas? The shelf underneath the white board is going to hold my teachers manuals and family circle time books like poetry, a bible, hymnal, etc. The cube cubbie thing was purchased at Target a few years ago and was in my sons room holding transformers until now..lol. It has the option of creating your own "boxes" and I decided to enclose the top two to hold my white board markers, lesson planner, crayons (because evidentally i can't leave those around without someones art getting on the walls..lol) and other supplies I may need on hand while teaching like math manips, and bible felt people :D The green boxes are EMPTY and the black crates have toys in them right now (plastic junk that is going to be trashed when the little ones aren't looking...bwaahhaaaa) but they will hold our library books. The bubble gum machine is for rewards of course!


This is Big A's desk. I moved mine out into the family room to be used by everyone (it has internet). Big A is going to have a couple computer based subjects next year and my hubby has discovered that the internet is useful after all, so we like it to be in there for all to share! (meaning mom can't hog it anymore). I do have a laptop to myself still, so there ;p Anyway,s Big A loves having his own desk in there. Peace and Quiet. Away from the little ones. LOL


And finally, this is the toy area for the littlest ones. I needed an area to keep them busy while I teach Big A, so this works out great. It's right next to my teaching area, so they are still close enough should a toy fight break out..they happen often around here with a 3 yr old and a 1 yr old. I also have a "special chair" in which to sit a child upon should the need arise next to this area ;)



As you can see, I still have some small cosmetic things to take care of and as the little ones get older I will need to add a table, but for the most part I am pleased with how it has turned out and glad to have de-cluttered it!! It needed it!

About our homeschool....

Daisy had this on her blog so I decided to answer the questions myself :)

How long and for what grades have you homeschooled? This is our 3rd year homeschooling. I started homeschooling Big A in 2nd grade.

Did you know from the start you would homeschool or did some event point you down this road? Nope. I didn't even know that homeschooling was really an option for me. I started googling the word "homeschooling" after my son started showing signs of ADHD in 1st grade. He was a good candidate for the gate program (which is a program for gifted children in the PS system) but his teacher felt he wouldn't be able to benefit from it without being on medication. I wasn't interested in medicating him so I started looking into alternatives. Homeschooling was laid on my heart and I started googling it, came up with a ton of info and started researching.....and presented it to my hubby. He intially said no, but was convinced several months later after hearing of the things that were going to be taught in the school systems. Then we dedicated our lives to Christ shortly after and all of the sudden homeschooling wasn't about academics or adhd but was all of the sudden about raising Godly children in an ungodly world and realizing that public school isn't a place where we would be able to fulfill that goal.

Were you homeschooled? Hmmm well kinda. I was in an independent study program through our school district for most of my highschool years (you go to school once a week and take tests, return your homework, get more books.) so It's not the same but very close to it.

Does anyone in your extended family homeschool? No. We are the only weirdos ones:)Although my aunt did homeschool my cousin for his 5th grade year :)

What method and materials did you use your first year of homeschooling? We used all Abeka the first year. It was not a good fit but I kept plugging along (and wanting to send my ds back to school) because I was too worried about getting behind or changing curriculum in the middle of the year. I have since then learned ALOT about trying to emulate "school at home" and we really are trying to stay away from that mentality.

What method and materials are you currently using? Rod and Staff, Language Lessons for the Elementary Child, Mystery of History, and Apologia Astronomy. We also add lots of living books and interest led science. Art, music, composer and picture studies are also fun additions to our homeschooling.

What books, ideas, etc. have helped shape your homeschool? A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola and some others that I haven't finished reading yet ;)

What has been the most challenging aspect for you? Teaching with a baby. I have a 4th grader (who is very independent in his schooling PTL!) a 3 yr old that is generally happy with sitting and doing what I ask her, but a very demanding one year old who is happy when he's being held or nursing or just getting into things.

What aspect has come naturally for you? Scheduling our day, Lesson Planning (when i am able to get to it) and planning field trips and things to do.

What are your favorite homeschool memories thus far? Teaching Multiplication! I was worried I wouldn't teach it right..but he got it and is doing great! I also really enjoy watching my children learn about GOD and who He is! If they were to go to a public school I would never have the time to teach them about Him. I have also enjoyed meeting new people and other homeschoolers! ALot of my best friends are the new friends I have met while homeschooling!

What is the best advice you've been given? Don't be scared to change something if it isn't working. Relax and do what I am able and don't get too involved in activities that will take me outside of the house too much.

What advice do you give others just starting this journey? Don't be afraid to try new things (curriculum), don't plan ahead too much (not everything will fit each child or even work for that season in your life) and don't forget to PRAY and ask for the Holy Spirits leading in your homeschool. Too many times "I" want to do what "I" want to do and it doesn't work out for some reason or another....trust that God has a plan and will provide what you need. Also, try not to be like the homeschool Jones'...what works for that family may not for yours....so try not to measure up to what others are doing and find your own flow. This helps with "The grass is greener" scenario BUT do take good advice from others that may benefit you!

If you decide to answer these post them on your blog and leave me a comment with the link :)

Term 2 of our School Year

Today marks the start of the second term of our school year! We have 12 weeks under our belts and are looking forward to the next 12.
I just finished some of our plans and would like to share what we will be doing. We are easing into a Charlotte Mason approach but will continue with our traditional text's since I am implementing shorter lessons where I can.

4th Grade "Big A's" plans:
Math- Continue w/ Rod and Staff
Grammar- /copywork/narration/picture study- Language Lessons for the Elementary Child
Spelling- Rod and Staff (split into 4 short lessons each week)
Reading/Bible- Rod and Staff Bible and Nuture Reader Series ( This has been cut down to one lesson a week to make for shorter lessons)
Literature- This term we are going to be reading through "The Pilgrim's Progress". We have heard great things about this book and so I decided to make it a daily read aloud. It will take us the entire 12 weeks to get through!
Ancient History- We haven't even really begun to dive into this yet but plan on it this term. I want to really get into doing some projects along with reading the Bible alongside our lessons.
American History- We are focusing on one time period per 6 weeks. This term we will be using various read alouds and some history pockets to learn about the Colonization and Colonial Periods. I will be listing our read alouds for this weekly on the side bar. I am also interested in doing some hands on projects, so if you have any ideas for these time periods that were well worth it please let me know! Ideas are appreciated (I am not that creative...lol)
Science- Apologia Astronomy is our *curriculum* this year and its wonderful! We are going to continue with it and do about 1 lesson every 2 weeks, so 6 this term. Big A also has an interest in the weather and wants to be a meteorologist missionary when he grows up ;) So I have tried to encourage him in his interest and get him a ton of library books on the subject and sit through his forecasts everyday (which gives me and idea for a future blog post..lol)


For "Middle A's" preschool"
I am just doing my preschool activity rotation daily and some other fun things like a kit I received from Brighter Learning Adventures and her R&S workbooks (which she hasnt even touched yet..she'd rather write her letters on her magna doodle which is fine with me ;) We aren't doing LHTH anymore but may pick it back up soon...she really is a self learner and I dont want to have anything to "structured" quite yet..although LHTH is very gentle and fun.


For "Baby A's" babyhood:
He's walking now..sigh. He's toddling around and just learning and exploring as babies do. I read little books to him and he claps his hands and sings. He even knows how to lift his hands to the Lord and praise...sigh....love keeping him with me at church. So we'll continue to keep his learning natural ;) LOL


I haven't decided on our "extras" just yet. I need to decide on a hymn, poem, composer and artist to study but for this week and next we are just going to enjoy the season of Thanksgiving that is approaching with lots of art projects, singing , praising and thanking the Lord for the blessings He has given us this past year!

The planning is the fun part for me though and I will get back to it soon enough ;)

More pics of the Revolutionary War Trip

Here we were at the Admiralty Court. Ds volunteered to be arrested *giggle* He was pleading his case to the judge in this picture.



The Judge here was the judge, jury and prosecuting attorney (to show unfairness in the system without all of its parts) and of course, he was arrested due to the monetary gain by the Judge..lol.




Dd learning basic etiquette. She was learning to Curtsy.





*Sigh* All of these pigs were *spooning*..too cute!


Ah..isn't he just a handsome soldier? He was dead serious in his role...lol.





Here was the battle and the end of the trip. If you get a chance to experience something like this I would highly recommend it! There is nothing like hands on, living history to peak a child's interest!

Revolutionary War Field Trip

What a great starting point for our American History study!
This was the best field trip I think we have ever really been on. It was hands on History and something we all enjoyed. It was a long trip and holding my over 20 lb baby in a sling for 4 hours wasn't easy, but it was well worth it! We are looking forward to going back again.
If you live out in So Cal check out their website RileysFarm.com and go...you won't be disappointed :)

Here's basically what was learned on our trip: Games of the 18th Century, The Quartering Act, The Admiralty Court, Etiquette, The Stamp Act, A Well Regulated Militia, and Weaving.
That's alot to learn on one field trip!

Here are some pics of our first hands on experience: Weaving...







And here are some pics of my ds playing I think it was called "Ball and stick" but don't quote me on that ;p







And here I got pics of both kiddos making bread and butter :) You know this one was my favorite! They learned how wheat is ground, how to make a dough of out it and how to churn your own butter to put on the bread. This was Dd's favorite. She loves to help me bake bread.





Here is my ds with one of his buddies. Two boys churning butter...this will be a good one to keep for their future wives, dontcha think?



And here's a view of the mountain that we were on..it was beautiful and it made us look twice once we left realizing how far up we were!



I'll be posting this trip in a couple of posts....I have lots of pics to share :)
Have a blessed day!

She's writing!

My 3 1/2 yr old has begun writing her letters. She started writing them last night. It was almost as if something clicked and she just all of the sudden knew how to form them.
I actually *caught* her up later than her bedtime last night watching "Letter Factory", (a Leapfrog video)thanks to her very laid back Daddy, and right bedside her in bed was her Magna Doodle. She was writing the letters as they appeared on the movie . I scolded her for being up and then squealed as I watched her write the letter *H*!

So this morning I put her to the test and we got from the letter "A" all the way to
the letter "J", I wanted to make sure she was writing them not just by copying, but by memory, and sure enough she remembers how to form them without seeing them on the screen.

I am going to try and see if she will write them with a crayon soon, but still making sure I don't push the issue and let her just do it naturally.

First day of school.

I thought I would be far more prepared than I am to start school today. We had a very busy week last week, my brother was here visiting from Rhode Island and the week before we went on vacation. Not to mention it's hard to plan and implement with a 9 month old baby crawling around and getting into things. When he's not doing that he's doing other things that babies do to keep moms busy..lol.

So I am not prepared. I have all of our books, lists of books I want to read aloud, school supplies still in shopping bags that we picked up yesterday finally while shopping for a baby shower gift (all done in about 30 mins and I'm sure I forgot something..)and schedules ready to be printed off and hung. But I also have a ton that still isn't done....organization of our school room being the main thing. It would help if I could find said books, lists, and schedules ;p

Needless to say I am declaring our first day of school to be like the public schools do...we aren't doing anything "schoolish". We are going to get up and do some habit training and work on our morning rountines...since we have been out of routine all summer. Then we'll tackle the school room and get as much organized as we can (I'm saying that with the assumption that my children will be helping..lol). After we are done working we will go out for ice cream :)

First day of school is *supposed* to be fun anyways...right?

Have a blessed new school year!