Updates from the Teacher

So much has happened since we last chatted.  We've made a move upstate from our coastal home to the Capital City.  It happened all in about 3 weeks.  We're still getting settled but amazingly enough, school has gotten better.  Both Boy Wonders' are "in school" while the Girl Wonders' nap.  Having preschool and kindergarten at the same time is definitely an interesting challenge.  I think they would be happy doing science all day, as long as it involves some type of water experiment. 

I will be writing more after the turn of the new year.  We'll be buckling down (whatever that means) by adding a couple of more subjects to our weekly schedule.  I'm slowly adding them in to give us all time to get accustomed. 

That's all for now.  I wish you a very delicious and cozy holiday season.

More Map Skills (With Some Science and Math Thrown In)

The boys are thoroughly enjoying their map and geography book I posted earlier.  The latest exercise called for making their very own compass.  I must mention at this point that my boys are avid campers and have their own compasses (from the kids' meal at Chick-Fil-A).  By avid campers, I mean they put on their backpacks and camp in the yard, the playroom, the bushes, wherever, as long as they can call it camping.  They have been tent camping with Sweet Hubby and are waiting so very impatiently for cooler weather to go again.  So, teaching them how to make their own compass out of household materials was almost more excitement than they could handle.

First, we needed a magnet, a sewing needle, a circle made from cardstock, and a small bowl of water.  Run the needle over the magnet in the same direction 100 times.  (We had to make a slight variation since we were also practicing counting to 100).  Then set the cardstock circle on top of the water.  Put the needle on the cardstock.

After gently tapping the circle to make it spin and make the needle spin, the needle will automatically point north.  Our needle actually did this!  We were so very excited.  We used the kids' meal compasses to make sure our homemade compass was working correctly.  Yep, close enough for cheesecake.

We are very much enjoying our geography book.  The Boys' Wonder look forward to each lesson.

School Supplies

I've been stocking up on school supplies for the Wonder Kids this summer.  I realized I needed some as well.  Here's my list:

Making a Map

For our geography this month, we are studying maps.  I found a delightful book called "Leagues and Legends" from Veritas Press.  It is a story about a man who walks into the wrong shop only to meet Mr. Latitude and Mr. Longitude.  They proceed to tell him how to find his way using maps.  The Boys Wonder loved the story.  Boy Wonder #1 is determined to be Mr. Tardy (the main character) every time we go for walks now.  The accompanying workbook has exercises that teach how to read and draw maps.  The first lesson was to make a strip map.  We had to make a strip map of the route from our house to the grandparents house.  This was fun, even for me.  The Boys Wonder had to remember what all we saw on the way to Nana and Papa's house.  (This was slightly difficult since we normally traverse this route during naptime since it takes 5 hours).  They had a great time drawing bridges, rivers, fields, and houses.

The strip map created by the Boys Wonder.  One drew the rivers and bridges, the other drew the houses.  They both worked on the grass and fields.

Mr. Latitude (L) and Mr. Longitude (R).  They are helping the boys learn to read and draw maps.

Boy Wonder #2 leading Mr. Longitude across the map from our house to the grandparents house. 

Covered Wagons in My Playroom

We've been reading through the "Little House on the Prairie" series for about a year now.  We're up to book 3, "Liitle House on the Prairie".  The Wonder Kids have been loving listening to the book over lunch.  Since I finally have more energy, we've added some fun along the way.  In the chapters where Pa is building the house, we used Lincoln Logs to build a house as we read.  The boys especially enjoyed that part.  Then they clamored for a covered wagon.  I am not crafty at all so I found a great link on a website and voila-covered wagons.

The base for our covered wagon.

Covering the wagon bottom with brown paper and glue stick.  Or as Boy Wonder #2 calls it, "putting purple on".

Once the brown paper is all glued into place, the "canvas top" gets glued into place.  Boy Wonder #1 chose a red canvas while BW#2 chose a white canvas.  At this point, BW#1 was more interested in piano practice (really more piano banging) so BW#2 finished up both wagons.  Any opportunity to immerse himself in glue stick work makes him happy.

Adding wheels, 2D and 3D.

BW#2 and GW#1 spent the next 30 minutes or so pushing the wagons across the playroom prairie.  They were having a great time until they hit the Island of Sodor and BW#1's train tracks.  Then chaos ensued.  It's probably good Laura Ingalls Wilder never encountered that on her journey westward.  Our covered wagons did not survive multiple train accidents on the bridges. 

Here's the link to the covered wagon craft.

Buoyancy and Emptying the Pool

One of the great joys of homeschooling is the myriad ways we can do science experiments and teach the foundations of science.  Our science lessons that past 2 weeks have included nothing but water.  And the blow-up pool.  We emptied the pool after a couple of days of using it.  The water got icky so we had to wash it.  Except I never got around to washing it fast enough.  Then it rained cats, dogs, and buckets from the sky so the pool filled up again.  The kids were thrilled to say the least.  Nothing is more fun at our house than playing in the pool (well, maybe eating popsicles).  So we experimented with floating and sinking various toys, rocks, sticks, balls, cups, and whatever else we found in the yard.  Bricks don't float unless you put them on frisbees.  Frisbees float until you put too much stuff in them. 

Then it rained cats, dogs, and buckets again.  So we did more experiments.  The Wonder Kids also learned how to reuse the rain water to water the garden.  The Boys Wonder had fun spilling their buckets of water on the blueberry bushes.  I could not convince them that they were watering the bushes.  In their world, they were spilling the water on the bushes, ergo, a much more fun adventure.  Girl Wonder #1 daintly watered the strawberry bushes.  Mostly, she watered her head with some splashes into the strawberry bushes.

Solutions and Dilutions

Using our science curriculum, Elemental Science, we experimented with solutions and dilutions last week.  The experiment calls for using Kool-Aid (prepared dry according to directions) and water to see the changes caused by solutions and dilutions.  The Boys' Wonder had a blast!  I am really enjoying this science curriculum as it is experiment-based and uses items from around the house.  Both boys can easily do the work with minor adjustments for Boy Wonder #2 since he's a preschooler.

Stirring the water before we add the drink mix to make a solution. 

Each boy added a different amount to their cups so we could compare and discuss the differences.

Adding more mix to the second cups.  The boys tasted each cup to see if there was a taste difference depending on the amount of mix they used.  They didn't like this part.  We discovered they don't like Kool-Aid.

Adding the mixes in.

Diluting our solution.  The boys thought this was great fun.  Especially when they splashed the water and Kool-Aid all over mommy's floor.

Another Day in the Community Garden

We attempted to work at our homeschool community garden yesterday.  Here's how it went:  Wonder Kids:  We want snacks..I'm thirsty..Hey, watch me climb the fence...I'm hungry...Can I play with the scarecrow?...How come she gets to play with the sprinkler?...We want to go to the playground...I want her snack.  Mommy:  The weeds are the little green thingies on either side of the veggies...That's lima beans, don't pull it...That's a tomato, don't pull it...She owns the sprinkler, she can play with it...No going to the playground til you've pulled a weed...Eat your crackers...You just had 2 sippee cups of water in 2 minutes, no more for another 2 minutes...Stop climbing the fence...Don't break the fence, we don't have the money to replace the fence...That's corn, don't pull the corn...No, you can't eat the corn you just pulled (Sorry, Oh Great Garden Guru, Savannah Mac)...Do not take the clothes off the scarecrow...Don't take the scarecrow down...Just go play on the playground.

Veggies are a'growing.

Scarecrows, fully clothed.

Working Our Community Garden

Our homeschool group has a donated plot of land that we are putting a garden in for use by the homeschool group and the church that donated the land.  We spent a rainy Monday last week clearing the rows of weeds and grass so that another group could plant on Tuesday.  The sand gnats were in abundance.  My Wonder Kids were helpful for pulling the weed clods and dumping them over the fence.  It did help that big excavators and dump trucks were clearing the land next to our plot.  Nothing like watching an excavator work while you dump clods to make little boys and girls come to a complete standstill.

Gardening

One of our subjects we're studying this year is gardening.  We started gardening last year in 5 gallon buckets but not to much success.  We are trying again this year.  Over the past month we've mixed soil, picked vegetable and fruits we like to eat, and planted blueberry and blackberry bushes.  This past weekend we picked out tomatoes, jalapenos, and cilantro.  The children are very excited.  We've been growing basil and parsley in plastic cups since January.  Those are doing quite well, much to the childrens' joy.  They have enjoyed seeing the seeds sprout and marking how many days it takes to get the seeds to sprout. 

Setting out the veggies and deciding which plant goes in which bucket.  The children helped me decide which bucket was best based on the needs of the plant.

We planted blueberry bushes earlier in the month.  The children are having fun watching the leaves sprout and blueberry flower grow.  We won't be able to eat the berries until next year so we will be learning how to be patient with our blueberry bushes.

Boy Wonder #2 watering the blueberry bushes, his favorite job.

Taking School Outside

It's spring here on the coast so that means some days are just simply "going outside" days.  Today is one of those days.  To put it mildly, the day is simply divine.  There is a light breeze enough to blow away the sand gnats, no clouds in the sky, and a mild, 83 degrees.  Today we played a new game I made up.  It's called "Jump".  We play it with the alphabet, a Hundred Chart, chalk, and a blank section of the driveway.  (I think all parents know the trick of making up games to keep their children occupied and the parental sanity intact.)

First the alphabet jump.  I wrote out the alphabet in lower and uppercase letters at the edge of the driveway.  For Boy Wonder #2, the preschooler, I called out sounds.  He jumped to letter that matches the sound.  I also called out letters and he jumped to the letter.  For Boy Wonder #1, I called out words and made him spell out the letters by jumping on them.  They had a great time until Girl Wonder #1 decided write her own letters over mine.  She did have fun jumping with the boys.

Next came the number jump.  Using a hundred chart I drew on the driveway, Boy Wonder #1 worked on reciting counting by 2's, 5', and 10's.  Then we attempted simple addition facts, until Boy Wonder #2 and Girl Wonder #1 joined in the action.  Then we just practiced counting by jumping on the numbers.

Then we did everyone's favorite driveway game-hopscotch.  Boy Wonder #1 drew the game yesterday afternoon during another beautiful coastal afternoon.  He was so happy to be able to draw his own hopscotch board.  Boy Wonder #2 and Girl Wonder #1 joined in the fun, throwing rocks and jumping wherever they felt like it.

 

Getting You Caught Up

Since last we left our schoolroom, many changes have occurred.  Baby #4 has arrived, hence the delay in posting.  So, now to get you caught up, slowly, on what's happening in the schoolroom.

I am learning how to homeschool with 1 kindergarten student, 2 preschoolers, and a newborn.  Needless to say, the learning curve is quite wiggly.  Thankfully, it's kindergarten.  We make sure to do the 3R's (reading, 'riting, 'rightmetic) at least 3 times per week.  Then we read, play, read, help mommy, play, read, help daddy, and read.  I'm sure once we get past the next few weeks and the baby starts sleeping through the night, I might have more insight.  Hey, a teacher can hope.

We also started our herbs for our garden.  The children had a great time putting soil into the growing cups and planting the seeds.  Their favorite part was watering the planting cups.

Our grow cups, soil, and seeds.

Setting out the grow cups after filling them with soil.

More grow cups that must be in a line for easier counting.

Watering the grow cups after filling them with parsley, basil, oregano, cilantro, and rosemary.  After all that hard work, it was snack time.

Our School Schedule

When we started homeschooling last year, I had a great schedule planned.  My 3 year old (Boy Wonder #2) and 1 year old (Girl Wonder #1) would nap from noonish to early afternoon.  During that time, my 5 year old (Boy Wonder #1) would have his kindergarten time.  This way, I could give him the concentrated attention and time needed to do his work.  Ha.  Ha.  Ha.  As we all know, the best laid plans often go awry.  These were no exception.  Our first obstacle was pregnancy #4 and the ensuing first trimester all-day sickness/tiredness.  Our second obstacle was that my preschooler decided he needed to do preschool, not nap.  Whatever big brother does, little brother has to do as well.  Needless to say, the past few months have been a challenge to get school completed.  Granted, we were starting kindergarten early since my oldest didn't turn 5 until the fall.  He's an early reader so we've been encouraging that with a light homeschooling schedule. 

Fast forward from our starting date of August of 2010 to January of 2011 and we're way "off schedule".  I had the year mapped out, lessons assigned to days, etc., ready to tackle the kindergarten life.  Nothing went according to my plan.  So this week I decided to chuck the plan I had and work with Boy Wonder #1's natural schedule.  He's an early riser.  By early riser, I mean 5:00am to 5:30am.  Daddy leaves for work at 6:00am so he likes to have time with daddy before daddy leaves.  This means he's raring to go at 6:00am.  One day last week after daddy left, Boy Wonder #1 asked to do kindergarten.  Seriously.  Begged.  So with coffee in hand for mommy, we did kindergarten.  And it was amazing the transformation from his being tired and cranky when we did it after lunch/during naps to his begging for it at 6:00am and willingly sitting down to work.  Then we did it a second day in a row.  Same results.  The bonus for me was we ALL got to take naps during nap time. 

This week, we're doing kindergarten at 6:00am.  While this would not be my ideal time since I am a morning person and love to sit with a cup of coffee in the early quiet to read the Bible, the newspaper, catch up on email, and check my favorite blogs...I will adjust.  Seeing my son get excited about school and having some "just us time" is worth pushing my alarm up a little so I can still have a few minutes of quiet time before the house awakes.  I think this is one of the sweet joys of homeschooling I have discovered the hard way.  I thought our schedule had to resemble a traditional school schedule but it doesn't.  At least not at this early stage it doesn't.  I am sure we will revisit our schedule many times over the next many years as each child starts school or moves into different phases of school.  But for now, we are content to get kindergarten completed before the sun comes up and the wild chaos of little brother and sister add to the mix.

Science for Today-Vegetables and Fruit

After we left behind mass chaos and confusion at our local grocery store, we made it home in time to meet the mailman at the mailbox.  To our delightful surprise, he brought the first seed catalogs of the year.  Oh the rejoicing in our house!  After lunch and naps, we perused the catalogs.  The Boy Wonders looked at every page and every vegetable and every plant.  Girl Wonder sang to them.  Together, they made quite a list of the vegetables for our garden.  We talked about which veggies would grow in our area, the overall difference between veggies and fruits, and which veggies we would grow when.  Currently, our list has about 35 items on it.  Yes, it will have to be pared down.  My garden isn't that big.  The WonderKids are so very excited to get started.  Boy Wonder #1 made a request for sunflowers in the mailbox flower bed.  He pointed out that we couldn't grow veggies in the flower bed since it was only for flowers.  Smart boy, that #1.

"And this one, and this one, and this one, and this one."

Orange You Glad We Study Science

Monday we had a chilly rainy day.  What better way to combat cabin fever than make fresh orange juice using oranges from one of our sweet neighbors.  She has several oranges trees in her yard that were very bountiful this past year.  Despite 2 hard freezes, she still had plenty of oranges left to share.  Not good for eating, they are perfect for making juice.  So what do you get when you combine 24 locally-grown oranges+ 1 kindergartener + 1 preschooler + 1 toddler + cabin fever?  A science lesson in turning solids into liquids using fruit.  This experiment was perfect for this age range and general science concept level since they have short attention spans and it's very messy.  I even managed to get them to drink some of the juice.

Our lovely oranges, fresh from the yard down the street.

Sliced and ready for squeezing.

Boy Wonder #1 using his big muscles to squeeze the liquid out of the solid.

Not to be outdone, Boy Wonder #2 had to use his big muscles to show us how he was able to make solids become liquids.

Need a fun vocabulary booster or brain game?

I have to share this lovely site.  I've used it in the past year to keep my brain from atrophying since I am a word nerd and it's hard to indulge that nerdiness in a house of preschoolers and toddlers.  Not only do you get a benefit, but so do people in countries where rice is a desperately needed survival food.

Here you go:    www.freerice.com

Go ahead, answer the first question, watch your rice bowl fill up.  Yeah, I know, you'll sit there and play and lose track of time.  And another hungry family across the ocean will be helped.

Welcome to Our New Adventure!

Anybody who has ever thought homeschooling was easy or boring never tried it.  We are having a blast homeschooling, although some days I question my sanity.  This blog is my opportunity to share our adventures in homeschooling along with the good, bad, ugly, and hysterical days.  I can't guarantee you'll like it or be interested, but I will guarantee a slightly eccentric and off-kilter view of life from behind the desk of this homeschool teacher.  What, you didn't know homeschool teachers had desks?  Ha.  I do.  I just have to find it first.