Family Friday

Treasures of the alphabet! That's the multi-sensory practice of Warrior in Phonics today, seeking and identifying his treasure! Noting the feel and shape of each, opening his eyes, and checking his hypothesis, he finished up with the sound of each.



With Student close-by to report when Warrior was overcome by temptation...he sometimes needed help NOT PEEKING!



At the table and finishing up her Science seatwork, Student and Warrior have been learning about healthy food choices. What entertainment to hear Warrior try to place his meals in the right groups...Hmmm, chicken must be in the chicken group!? And Student played detective to spot foods high in minerals and just which energies the body uses first!



Grandparent's Day along with the celebration of Mascot turning ONE, this weekend will be full of family and fun! With this in mind, the Homeschool determined to finish their work before lunch and take a bike ride to visit Great Papa Marshall during his long day at daycare. His wife has a full day of errands, and so he goes to the local Grandpa and Grandma house to spend the day.

Warrior stopped twice on the bikeride there, to ask just
HOW DOES SOMEONE BE A CHRISTIAN?!
Teacher, taking the time to listen and respond to God's appointment, Warrior all-too-soon was distracted with talk of jet packs and rocket-speed flying. However, Teacher's heart is warmed as is God's, that this wee one is listening to the measure of truth instilled in his heart by his Maker.



What laughs the Homeschool brought to the workers when they handed out candy to our curly-crew and their imagination turned rolling carts into club houses! Note to Teacher: MUST THINK LIKE A CHILD MORE OFT...

Great Papa Marshall doesn't talk as much as he did in his days of ministry, but his words are still so wise and encouraging. He shook many-a-hand at the daycare and brought smiles with his uplifting spirit. He is a gem, and Heaven will certainly rejoice when his time comes to join the New Jerusalem.

Sneeking into the weekend, Student begins her first gymnastics class. Cartwheels, here she comes!

Thursday Experiment

Beginning as each Thursday is arranged to, the Homeschool left campus and ventured to the local library.



What a joy to Teacher, as she remembers the transition in Student, and enters into the transition with Warrior, to be a witness to their noticing letters and numbers in the world. To have a hunger to gain more knowledge and display that which they have learned. It's the little, subtle changes that God has gifted Teacher to be a part of in the daily happenings of the Homeschool.

Inside playing,



checking out books



and being encouraged by the librarian's homeschool experiences growing up. God's encouragement is all around, and sometimes in unexpected places! What a respect the Homeschool has for those that came before us and established this nontraditional-learning palette.

National Courtesy Month, gives the Homeschool many more opportunities to give God the glory in serving others. And with that, the Homeschool took a trip to a local animal hospital and took along pal, Haley, to fill out an application. Teacher assisted in the ritual fill-in-the-blanks while Student learned about cats!



Home again, home again, jiggity jig. The Homeschool continued in Genesis. Warrior completed his seatwork and then some...because he thought the garden of Eden needed a rocket...



And Student chimed right in on the upcoming Good Neighbor Day, with a card for our neighbor who was recently in the newspaper for her Art exhibit at a local College.



Also in the quiet of Warrior's nap, Student practiced her cuttin skills with such concentration. Frozen, quartered strawberries for some healthy and tasty Math!




Outdoors for a water ballon experiment, Student and Warrior BOTH underestimated the 36 seconds it took to EXPLODE! Mascot just enjoyed the show!



Ending with some wagoning, biking, reading and devotions for all, the Homeschool looks forward to celebrating Grandparents Day early tomorrow!

Wednesday Love

That is all...

The greatest of these...

Not such a BIG word...but a BIG act...

Love.

Teacher is familiar, all too familiar, with the ways God gets her attention. Not mentioning things once and expecting her to GET it...but, rather, three times firmly stating in love to her, what needs to have her attention.

First, it was a song that quoted the scripture of '''doing all these things without love, it is vain...

Well, it then came through the Wednesday morning study for women that Teacher began and the kiddos had an opportunity to have a playdate.

Beth Moore, said " Control-freaks don't have fun they have fits!"

Then, the financial studies of next weeks curriculum prompted, "A child is a trust. We are stewards of our children's lives for a short time".

Well, third time, we are NOT out. With God, the graceful parent, we can try again. It's the schedule. The rigid schedule that Teacher was JUST thankful the homeschooling didn't for...but easy to slide into. When the pages are not passing but the hours are, a feeling of failure, NOT from God, can creep in. So, to reject that, in the name of Jesus, and REALLY get what God brought to the plate of the Homeschool, Wednesday was full of love. A lesson well-taught and well-learned all the days of our lives. Both this one, and the next!

Warrior & Student had a small Health lesson, focusing on posture and how good/bad habits of posture affect the rest of our bodies. Also, Warrior's BIG OL' Safety Cards for Health focused on Breakfast as the most important meal. Student really enjoyed the amazing detail in God's creation of humans: the equal measurement of the finger to finger span and the vertical height!



And after playdate, the Homeschool hosted our new Hoemschool Pal Haley, for lunch. Well, the spinach dip, fish cakes, and fresh veggies were good, but it was the Jolly Rancher Popsicles that brought the smiles!



Smiles show that people feel loved. Teacher gets smiles from feeling loved by the Heavenly Father, and so she will focus on passing that love on in the daily work of the Homeschool.

Tuesday Anew

With the curriculum and instruction reading of our planned learning this semester, God showed Teacher that He has little divine interruptions... sometimes called board games or crop planting in the dirt...other times called hide and seek.



Teacher had begun the day with high expectations of CHECKING OFF THE LIST! Which goes to show, that our plans, when differing from His, can never accomplish as much.

Flag salutes complete, with the usual disagreement of WHO holds WHICH flag...




that means somethings going to start... assured Warrior, as Bible lesson began in Genesis with creation. And what did God do on the 7th day of creation, His rest day?
Sat in his throne and listened to the birds...
What did He do...He doesn't sleep!

Warrior's first day of seatwork...he was so big!



Trying to find the floor in Student's room, proved to be better received when done in 15 minute increments. Trying to relate life skills and courtesy month, it's certainly respectful and courteous to one's family to keep a room in good condition!

Student continued reading her current library pick and journaled as well. Devotions is a welcomed time in her day. Not necessarily the same time each day, but certainly a regular event. Way to grow, Student!

Warrior's phonics has moved onto sounding the beginning, middle and ending of the single syllable word. M says mmm for "MM!" the pouty noise that something isn't FAIR! Funny, boy!

Each and every Spelling, Health and Bible lesson blends the kiddos to learn together. It's been fun to see how they transition from self-lead to group work!
Lord, we trust You with the work of our hands. Amen.

Friday Planning

Curriculum Planning. And so are the best-laid plans of mice and men...

Really, certain times throughout the year, Teacher focuses on
WHY HOMESCHOOL?!

When new curriculum arrives and the excitement builds just as much as the WORK...the wonder sets in. And the shelves cry-out for organization!



There is a responsibility from the Maker of these kiddos, and since they are His treasures, there is a certain loveliness in their existence. A loveliness that is sometimes overshadowed by the sinful nature of mankind, tired eyes, disrespectful body-language, and overwhelming presence of siblings in one room! It is through the work of the Holy Spirit, that this campus deals with all the above that every family deals with.

It is, however, our option to focus on His ways, and how one can transform to desire such ways, as He knows that which is best for us! So, we focus on the WHY, and He helps us educate in that which we feel He has called us to.

What we don't have to include in our day:
rigid time-schedules
limited recesses
colorless pencils
family separation
non-christian curriculum
dress codes
carpooling
carseat naps


The list could continue, and as the thankfulness of each here grows, we shall add to this list.

On the lighter and selfish side, Mascot and Teacher are the ONLY souls to reside at the Homeschool today. Principal took Student and Warrior camping, as we prepare for the coming semester of His work by our hands.

Mascot took the BIG chair at lunch and took pictures to show Warrior just WHO sat in HIS spot...



Working on his sound recognition, listening for purpose, and comfort levels with home...we taught Mascot school on HOME SOUNDS!

Drill = drr drr
Fan = woo woo
Train = choo choo
Clock = tick tock
Washing Machine = swish swish



And that Mascot had much fun being the only-student to stay behind from the field trip! Well, he and Lil Ben, the clock make two!

Thursday: Feet on the Ground

On the ground and off campus. The Homeschool ventured out for the weekly local library excursion. Changing from our original plan of Wednesday library day, it's majority rules... on Thursdays we shall go.

Having fun with toys, books and room galore, the Homeschool made their presence known!



While the boys rocked slowly for the picture, they turned up their voices...
...increased in their lack-of-courtesy...
... exaggerated their selfishness...
and reached their terget heart-rate in a matter of minutes with their running allover!

And we wonder why people think homeschoolers are WEIRD!?

Student, on the other hand, displayed her maturity and packed up her treasures before we exited with embarrassment amplifying at each passing second!



Upon returning to school, Principal took over for a tactile lesson of vocabulary.



Sprocket
Washer
Bolt
Nut
Oil
Lubricate

All in the manly-lessons that Warrior was craving today! God brings Principal just when Teacher knows an implosion is near! His presence is so needed! And next week, with the finance unit beginning, Principal's presence will increase, as he will be assisting with the teaching!

Settling in for reading of astronauts, letter M & L and the number 6...Warrior completed his day by refusing a nap. Laying down for an hour and then playing puzzle for the rest of his scheduled rest time, God is teaching Teacher just WHO is in charge!

Student, on the other hand, began her new book an journaled on her thoughts:
Title: The Carnival of Secrets
Ch 1-7
It's ok.
And it raely is a carnival of secrets!
Now i realy like it!
My book is as misteres as a map!
I love it!

And so she was assigned to use a simile in today's writing, and complete 5 lines. So interesting to see her feelings progress to fill in each line. Teacher will have to specify to include feelings on a particular event in the story! Sweet pea that she is, she and Warrior are riding bikes and pumping their arms at the passing-by semis to complete their day of learning! Got to smile, as each day is a mile closer to the prize!

Way Out Wednesday

Midweek hump passed with hospitality as a focus today.
September first, marks the beginning of National Courtesy Month. So the Homeschool extended it's hand to offer courtesy and hospitality without grumbling to our Grandma S2.

Student made her favorite 7-layer dip. She says THIS is how it's done:





Warrior, with MUCH energy, set the table to prepare the lunch area. He also helped place the food on the buffet, and since it was lunch time and NOT Supper, he was extending his regular chores and offering such hospitality knowing that a gift was on it's way! Can't guess what else would motivate a 4 yr old to do EXTRA chores...



Grandma S2 had pre-warned Warrior that a set of Army dudes and vehicles was coming his way. Loving vintage toys, the Homeschool still has yet to set up the 65 year old Lionel Train that Grandma lovingly passed on to us. Warrior is counting the days to it's set-up!

As for the Army soldiers, Mascot tried his hand at battle, too.



Bringing new books to gift Student, Grandma S2 expanded the Homeschool's collection of Robert Munsch books. Student promptly finished lunch and asked to be excused to her quiet reading getaway: her parent's bedroom!

Warrior is steadily increasing his preparation for reading, and he worked on his vowels today. Visually identifying them in a word, and singing about them...here, here goes, with the assistance of Student!




After our company left, and Warrior laid down for nap, Student did lend a helping hand and courtesy to help Teacher decorate for the new Season God has graciously relieved us with. Autumn decor went up and Student also wrote and painted about it:

I've Seen Fall!
Fall is one of my favorit Seasons!
I think fall is fun 'caus yo can...
find laevs
& play in them
& save them!
P.S. I love Fall!



Thanks be to God for His mercy and the cooler temperatures and influx of color in the world around us. You are good, God. We love you because You loved us, first! Amen