Our School Room

I thought I would include pictures of our school room.  Some families have a designated room, while others use the kitchen table or family room.  I like to have all our things neat and organized (my OCD won't let it happen any other way :) into one area upstairs.  We use our school table for the worksheets and projects.  We use the couch area for our reading time and we use the outside any chance we can get.  We have been known on a beautiful fall day to have our lessons on a blanket in the yard.  This is another reason why I love homeschooling.  We learn in all sorts of settings, but organization is key for me.  I like a rough draft of our schedule for the year.  And then weekly lessons written out for 3-4 months at a time.  This gives me some wiggle room if we find something that isn't working or want to add on more fun things.  I am continually learning to "let go" of the "we have to fit everything in mentality".  Learning to trust in God and knowing that He will guide our way is the most important rule.  My kids are healthy, happy, smart, social bugs and as long as I am teaching them how to learn and find the resources they need...then I am happy.

 Our American History timeline, counting to 100 chart and US map.

 Our very packed closet.

 Our school table.

 Love my Desk Apprentice from Staples. 

 I keep all my teaching manuals and daily supplies right on the table.

 Each subject has a box, so everything is easily accessible.

Soccer Boy loves putting up our weather report each morning.

Week #6

Soccer Boy had a great week learning about the letter "Ll".  We took a walk outside and picked several varieties of leaves.  We used to these leaves to make a leaf book using paints and leaf rubbings.  He really enjoyed this little project.  We have been reviewing all letters learned so far and he really has impressed me with just how much he is remembering. We received a new stack of Berenstein Bears books in the mail...his favorites.  We read one of these each day along with a book about our theme for the week.  We talked this week about how a leaf cannot separate from a tree and survive.  Just like we cannot separate ourselves from Jesus and survive.  I think he got a good grasp of this by using one of my potted plants.  We watched a fallen leaf wither each day this week.  He said, "Mommy that leaf needs to betach (reattach) to the plant so it won't die".  Too cute!  I love spending these days with my little ones:)

 Another piece of our Kindergarten quilt.

Soccer Boy's leaf book.

Artsy Girl was very busy this week moving into multiplication.  She also continued her studies of America by learning about major rivers, mountains, time zones, the White House and Washington D.C.  After studying how the Indians taught the Pilgrims how to plant corn using fish, we planted several corn kernels outside to test.  She planted two plants with fish and two without.  She hypothesized that the fish would help provide the nutrients needed to grow the corn bigger.  We will be measuring to find out if she is right.
Next week is sure to be just as busy, as Soccer Boy begins soccer practice.  And Artsy Girl begins American Heritage Girls along with karate for both of them. Whew!!

 Adding corn kernels to her garden.

 Not loving touching the fish:)

Week #5

Soccer Boy had a great week learning all about the letter M.  We spent the week exploring the moon, pretending to be astronauts, and learning how Jesus wants us to light the world with our good deeds.  If he didn't learn anything else this week, he did learn one very important thing.  As we were making his sun, moon, and stars mobile, I asked him where did they come from?  He looked at me and said, "That's easy Mommy, God made them!"  Enough said...it was a great week:)

 Using oreos to learn about the phases of the moon (thanks pinterest).

 Our Sun, Moon, and Stars mobile.

Our next piece of the Kindergarten quilt.

Artsy girl spent this week learning about the Pilgrims.  She finished her Magic Treehouse book, drew a picture of a typical Pilgrim family and located Plymouth Rock.  We discussed what a typical day would have been like in 1620, very hard!!  We also began our Magic School Bus Electricity Kit...she really loves all these projects.  She learned about static electricity using a balloon and her hair, and made Rice Krispies dance.  Our Bible theme continued with learning to live in the light by having Jesus in your heart.  I think she has a real grasp on this subject, thus we will be moving on to our study of the book of Luke next.  We also continued with our English, Spelling, Cursive Handwriting and Math.  Those subjects just aren't quite as exciting as the others:), so I may not mention those as often each week!

Week # 4

We have just finished up our fourth week of school already...wow!  One month has flown by.

Soccer Boy finished his first official lesson with his curriculum.  He has been studying all about the letter "S" and the sun.  My Father's World Kindergarten suggested that we make a badge with each unit for him to wear or hang up.  The crafty goddess in me wasn't thrilled with this idea, so I decided to buy some inexpensive white cotton fabric and cut into 7 inch squares.  My idea is that with each unit I will have him paint a picture of what we are learning about and I will write the biblical lesson below it.  At the end of the year, I will have 26 nice little squares to turn into a beautiful quilt.  What a wonderful way to remember his Kindergarten year!  I used fabric paint and then when dry, I heat set it for about 3 minutes with the iron...easy-peasy.  He also made a very lovely sun and letter s's using noodle art.  He had fun learning about his shadow, making raisins and learning about how Jesus helps light our way.
We're off to the moon next week!

Artsy girl spent the week learning about the Native American Indians.  We read all about the different tribes spread out around the country.  She made a replica of a wigwam and teepees (forgot to take the picture) and learned about sign language.  She also made a really cute "stained glass" picture which is hanging in her bedroom window to go along with our study of the importance of names in the Bible.  We took two pieces of wax paper, some crayon shavings and the letters JESUS cut out of purple construction paper.  I ironed the wax paper together and she tied on a string.  It turned out really cute and super easy!  She is continuing to read about the adventures of Jack and Annie and the Magic Tree House each night before bed.  We set sail on the Mayflower next week!

Crunchy Garlic Dill Pickles

I have tried several dill pickle recipes and this is by far my favorite, Garlic Dill Pickles from Food in Jars.  Artsy girl and I got busy and chopped away the afternoon.  We made 14 pints of homemade crunchy dill pickles.  Every fall, she LOVES getting out a fresh jar of pickles (Mommy does too)!  We made slices as well as spears...just for a little variety.  We tweaked the recipe a little to make a larger batch.

Back in the Swing of Things

We are not a typical homeschool family (or maybe we are)...who knows?  We have just finished our 3rd week of our new year of school.  We always start back to school the Monday after the 4th of July.  We do year round homeschooling, which may not appeal to some, but for us it's a perfect fit.  We get time off each month and take December and June off as well.  My kiddos thrive with this schedule and I keep my sanity with breaks throughout the year:)

Soccer Boy if officially in KINDERGARTEN!  He is so excited that he can hardly contain his enthusiasm.  He is especially excited about learning to read this year.  I have decided to use My Father's World Kindergarten.  I have read rave reviews about this gentle yet effective program.  I will post about our year and all the progress he is making.

Artsy Girl is officially in 3rd grade.  She is excited too (maybe less so that Soccer Boy)!  We will be using Adventures in My Father's World this year.  She will take a tour back in time through American History.  I have decided to stick with Teaching Textbooks 3 for her Math, as she really likes this program.  She will be using BJU Press Spelling 3 for the first time.  We were unhappy with the previous spelling program, so fingers crossed!!  She really enjoys the Magic Tree House Books.  We will continue to use these as her readers. They are several titles that fit right along with American History.  She will still be practicing her cursive writing each day using memory verses.  She will also continue with the BJU Press English 3.  This is our second year using the curriculum and we really like how well it covers both grammar and writing skills. I will be updating regularly on her progress.

Weeks #11, #12 & #13

Wow, time has been flying by! 

 I am so behind in my posts...it has been crazy around here these last couple of weeks. 

To catch up,  Soccer Boy has been learning about the letters L & M.  He is just progressing along no nicely.  He has our routine all figured out and really loves doing his schoolwork.   We spent all last week learning about Thanksgiving.  We studied about the pilgrims, Native Americans, turkeys, and the Mayflower.  This is all new territory for him, but he really enjoyed coloring all the pictures and decorating the turkeys.  He had fun placing his letters for the alphabet on his magnet board.  He also enjoyed painting a log cabin that goes along with Artsy Girl's history lesson this week.

  

Artsy Girl has been very busy in anticipation of taking the week of Thanksgiving off.  In our geography & history studies, she has spent a week learning all about the United States.  She studied about the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War and George Washington.  She learned about the history of the American log cabin and painted her own replica.  We also studied about the history of the American Patchwork Quilt...a precious heirloom here in the South.  She created her own piece of art out of fabric, ribbon and a little Modge Podge (I am slightly addicted to Modge Podge...love it!)  In Bible, she finished her study of Moses.  In Math, she began mulitiplication...yikes!  She is doing really great with all this new information.  For the next two weeks, we explored a unit on volcanoes.  We used the Magic School Bus books and science kit.  She (and myself too) learned so much about how volcanoes are formed, the different types, famous volcanoes and the Ring of Fire.  We performed several experiments all leading up to the erupting of our very own volcano...a favorite with both kiddos! She has gotten the "Science Bug" and now wants lots of science projects for Christmas. 

We will be taking this week off for Thanksgiving, but will return next week beginning our three week study of Christmas!