Halfies

In the words of Roosevelt Franklin, Halfies.

Half for you, half for me!

Here's to half a Homeschool day for Friday!

Student's vocab test is now complete. She will continue with new words from our reading in History beginning Monday with I Kings.

For a change in violin practice today. Student & Toddler tossed the beanbag onto the staff to practice note recognition and then rhythm exercises. Toddler was so delighted to partake in anything violin. Oh, to be just like big sis, right?

Math, taking form in an auditory lesson today, Student reviewed skip-counting and opposites of addition & subtraction combinations.

playing, "What time is it Mr. Clock", Student is learning to tell time right down to the minute. Also, completing another test and speed drill, Student is really making a dent in that huge book!

Helping Mascot with his tummy-time, Studemt and Toddler played a game of eye-spy with the patchwork scraps in the quilt!

Finishing our Halfies day of Homeschooling, Student & Toddler whipped up some no bake cookies for the weekend road trip. They even shared the bowl-licking duty! And boy is Homeschooling the sweetest on Fridays! Thanks, Lord!

Rite of Passage

Did Teacher cry when Student went off to Kindergarten?

No.

Student looses a tooth...and Teacher looses her composure!

And to celebrate, Student passed into yet another maturation level of this life...BARBIE-DOM.

We had resisted the plastic playmate for the last 6 years...now I think she is ready. And Veronica is her name.

Homeschool welcomes Veronica! She was present for Reading, Math, Language and Cursive today. Reading came to us from the Rhyme Bible. This borrowed beauty from Mrs. Janet has opened Student's eyes to more poetry fun! THANKS for sharing, Ethan! And, yes, Mrs. Heather has expressed her love for such a book, as well. We can't go wrong with this one.

Toddler disagreed about every rhyming pair of words Student found...but that's precisely the job for a boy TOddler...attempt to antagonize each living creature he comes in contact with. If his plan fails, he will result to flogging...simple love, that's our Toddler!

Student spent time with Principal creating her new wallpaper for her penthouse imac. She loves having her own computer in her room, and little by little, she learns that with no internet, computers still have purpose.

Photoshop and fun...what else could a girl want from her Dad?

Elocution

Yes, after History from I Samuel, our hospitable Homeschool hosted Gramma Es Tu today. She is a loving adoptive Gramma, that reads so eloquently thanks to her elocution homeschooling back in the day!

Her reading is positively entertaining! Student & Toddler sat attentively for 45 min, right next to each other! Only twice did Gramma have to warm

"No fighting!

No biting!" she quoted from a storybook from her motherhood days.

Yes, that is a box and a rocker added to our Homeschool today. She gifted us boxes of her extras in her fabric stash, and the rocker for Mascot's daytime cuddling and midnight feedings! And with winter coming on, the days will be perfect for sewing! Student said just today...

"I feel like quilting!"

And so we enjoyed our visitor, and substitute in Reading! As for Seatwork, Student enjoyed the syllable exercises in Language. The clock work in Math was new. It combined addition problems and clock faces showing the passing of time. She wrote her answers like the numbers on the digital clock faces! Again, no stopping Art from crossing over into EVERY subject! Her typography would make Principal proud!

Student's Computer time was spent with Fancy Nancy. She decorated her own Christmas tree...that's right! NOT Holiday tree, but a birthday candle for Jesus! Get into the spirit, Student!

And for music today, Student joyfully sang along with Francesca. SLAM to the parents listening to Hannah Montana...well, mainly Uncle Toby! :) Frannie sings and we all actually like it! Student has worked hard de-coding the lyrics, so props to her careful ear. We'll have to set up Music Appreciation class with Uncle Ed & Uncle Toby to see if they approve!

Hospitable Homeschool

Homeschool welcomed a new teacher today!

And what better opportunity for Student to practice hospitality?

1Peter 4:9

"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling."

No grumbling, maybe an open-mouth of hunger, but no grumbling from Student as she had her second experience on the stovetop! Heating the sugary goodies to a boil, she made no-bake-cookies for her violin instructor. And at Student's request, The Mascot survived the cropping in today's image!

Mrs. S enjoyed them with Toddler and Student after lesson. However, as for my lesson on hospitality, I failed: she requested milk and I was fresh out! :)

Reviewing the 7 continents, Student also read about life on each continent!

Student: I thought maybe someone lived Antarctica...but only penguins!

Seatwork in Math, Phonics, and Language earned Student computer time today.

She created this titled:

"Awake and Happy, Sleep and Rest!"

Creativity is a brushstroke away with artpad. Click on the artpad splatter, and create! It is a common request from Student.

And one of the better ways to spend computer time, since Art is the nucleus of the world!

Our Creator created us in His image, thus, as He is creative, so are we. And I think Student got an extra measure of creativity!

Grand Grammy

Beginning our morning with Art, Student created cards for the Veterans so close to our hearts. With little help from Toddler, she completed then before her time away from Homeschool today with Grammy! I guess the Art continued at Grammy's, as each came home with pipe cleaners galore! And the distorted picture is yet more artistic fun the kiddos had with the computer...Student has only hands here...

For activity today, Student completed a session of Winsor Pilates. What a trooper, she actually is quite flexible and says she has missed this activity!

As for Reading, we cuddled on the couch for some furry fun. Student picked out a velvet covered book of snuggly stories gifted to her when she was a toddler herself, from Gramma S2. Student enjoyed The Straw, the Coal and the Bean. The Wee Little Woman was a bit of a tongue twister and ended not a moment too soon!

All the fun she had with Grammy and Toddler was followed up with Math seatwork. Student had some measuring review of inches. Also in review, was reading the face of the clock. This was brought to our attention last week when Student wanted to read some new jokes. Yes, a clock is a clock, but the front is a face. Why is it that we have bothered to name the front when it is the only part that we look at anyhow?

What has a face, but no eyes? A Clock!

What's a teacher's favorite cheese? Grated!

Why does a Mathbook always feel sad? He's full of problems!

Thanks to Student, the day can have some laughter of jokes and delight in a good poem. Her first Haikus, Student presents the following:

There was a cute dog.

He played with a bouncy ball.

And he swallowed it!

Cinderella stinks.

She kissed a slimy, red snake.

She didn't mean to.

Golf is fun to do.

The ball has dents on it's skin.

It needs a band-aid.

Itch This

With sinus infections and our first dose of miracle-antibiotics, we attempt a normal week of homeschool again.

We continued Reading in Through My Eyes, by Ruby Bridges. Student and I took turns reading and listening. Her heart was crushed and her faced was twitching when she heard the cruel racist remarks of the protesters. Afterall, Ruby bridges was sweet six-year-old first grader, like Student. And the personal connection Student has grown is so real.We coccluded with a conversation of the deceit the enemy tricks us with, still to this day. Those who resisted integration in the South, were believing a lie of the enemy.

Map activity in Geography, brought us to create our own world puzzle. Student colored, and had some help cutting those jagged and wiggly 7 continents! Placing them on the globe was fun. Student practiced naming and placing the oceans as well. And when we saw the mountain ranges labeled in our text, we fondly remembered The Appalachian Christmas Quartet that we had as a December Holiday tradition when Student was a wee one.

Continuing our Map learning, Student and I played while Toddler napped! Auntie Barb gifted us a memory game that fit right into our lesson. I Never Forget a Face.

This memory game has drawings of different characters from around the globe to match up. We placed some of the faces onto the proper continent drawing. Student really noted the different head shapes, noses and skin tones. Her Artistic eye never rests! Recognizing that God created beauty in many different looks, Student had to calm her want to draw while we continued onto Math.

Also in seatwork, we practiced Cursive, Language, and Phonics. Woo Hoo!

And in preparation of Student's solo recital at the end of the month, we compared and contrasted the 2 P's her teacher suggested:

Practice

Performance

As for Toddler, he woke up from nap ready for homeschool. He talked and talked to Principal about his homeschool last Friday. This, in turn, was a big neon light flashing "TEACH ME!" that I had not been seeing. So, with the help of Student, he enjoyed his own lesson again today! Yes, he picks up much and stays around for some other learning, but specifically-designed lessons for him is obviously his favorite. Who doesn't want a little attention?

We have no answers as to why Toddler chooses to dress himself with no boxers half of the time...maybe I should cut the itchy tag from his pants?!

New Hands

Yes, our Phys-Ed-Teaching friend recently remarked what joy she experienced teaching "sport stacking". And, having talked to other students who enjoyed the same, we tried our own version today with Student and Toddler. Hand-eye coordination was perfected, and I think this could truly be considered aerobic excercise, as Student got pretty frazzled when timed, and Toddler threw his cups so far, he had to run to bring them back to the table! We are looking at our hands in new ways now.

Student:

You take 12 cups, 3 on the right, and 3 far on the left. Then, you have 2 stacks of 3 in the middle. And you take the one on the right with both hands to make a small pyramid on the right. Then one bigger in the middle, and another small pyramid on the left. Use both hands.

Maps are growing on us, as we are having fun labeling our blank map with the Continents and Oceans. First Grade sure brings our world closer to home!

Seatwork continued in Math, Language and Phonics. And in History, we sat in the Autumn sun and enveloped ourselves in the Battle of Jericho as recorded in the book of Joshua. Student also practiced her cursive.

And with our first 9 weeks having ended, we have concluded a list of

Bad Homeschool Habits:

1-Waiting until the last-minute to go to the restroom

2-community cups

3-not getting dressed

4-clipping nails during school

5-forgetting to brush teeth

6-increased no-name papers

7-wayward crayons

8-eating delicious full-course lunches

9-MIA pencils

10-pen wars

Fall Labor

Let words of our mouth be acceptable in His sight... and so we say THANKS to the Creator that gifted us this Autumn day of homeschool!

Truly, the breeze was an honest hurricane-strength on our 2 mile ride today. Toddler's bike was blown over and as he cried about it, he was stumbling away by the force of the gust! All the while, Student sang and super-sonic peddled through it all!

Good ol' Mid-West wind. It didn't keep us from loading 7 wheel-barrows full of leaves and dumping them in the neighbor's compost pile. It didn't keep us from spending a barefoot hour at the park. It didn't keep us from scheduling Toddler's dream field trip for this Friday. It didn't keep us from homeschooling.

The time spent inside resulted in Student's artful creation from stencils she located by surprise in the craft cabinet! She was to take a picture to post, and she discovered some crazy background on the computer that brought her picture to life! She is an imac girl, all the way! Principal would be so proud.

Student has been more apt to practice Suzuki violin with the fun lyrics we found in our online search! Again, anything royalty-related is a-okay with her.

Seatwork settled us down in the evening. Math, Phonics, History and Geography. It's just that keeping track of our work here is much easier than keeping a separate log. So forgive the repetition, and give props for the bright ideas developed by procrastination!

Student: Our Friday Field Trip, I wanted to go to the train, and we are!

Guest Monday

Yes, a blessed Monday, indeed!

These sweet cousins spent a morning with us during homeschool, after a late night of family fun!

Having our Geography study together, Cousin M, the eldest, read to the others from a book about the Arctic animals. Toddler didn't stay around long, as he chose to have snack during lesson...we'll have to work on that! What boy wouldn't choose food over ANYTHING ELSE? Note to Teacher: snack after study.

Working in the Kids' Road Atlas, the girls used the California map to find cities with zoos, and highlight them before listing them in Northern-most order. Clearly the highlighter made the lesson! And cooperation was tip-top!

And for History, we read in Joshua about Rahab hiding the two spies. Of course the girls ran right outside to play spies! Bringing History to life is the only way to do it!

(Thank Student for the above typing while Mascot ate!)

Our 70 degree day of sunshine coaxed us to have a picnic at the neighborhood park. Running and carrying the lunchbox and thermos, we must have looked like a whole school with four kiddos on foot and one in the infant pack... as for tomorrow, we are back down to our normal three, including the sleepy Mascot, to continue our homeschool learning!

Well, not before a trip to the library and seatwork with Principal tonight!

Renew

So, Student asked for a change. Change, who doesn't want it? So fresh and new.

And, she designed the new header on her blog...until the Principal gets ahold of it and can upgrade colors, this is what we creatively came up with! Good ol' Designing Principals!

Violin practice continues on Go Tell Aunt Rhody! Suzuki practice fun in the following video!

Math brought speed drills and another test. Check.

Done and oh-so-well!

As for our Calendar work and dime focus today, Toddler wanted in on the hands-on activities, so it was a little rough for Student to focus. But she is certainly being taught patience and attention-among-distraction skill! Where will she ever use such life skills! :)

Cursive connecting and History meshed well today. Student picked her 6 words from our studies.

Geography focus on maps brought continent and ocean educating! We knew that wall-covering map from Mrs. Lois would be good for more than decorating someday!

Student was on pet duty today, as Alazandra needed her tank cleaned. Well, thank us that we spared the pictured because that fish was living in one polluted environment!

Student: I didn't know I was going to clean today. I think she likes a clean tank. I helped pour the water. She almost didn't go into the cup! She did.

Red Jewel

Student is working on hiding the verses in her heart from Awana. In Sparks, one has certain verses in the "red jewel" section to learn...of course we wonder why they don't call it the RUBY section, since we are all about being virtuous women of God. But, alas, I guess the boys in Sparks care nothing about being a virtuous woman!

Seatwork in Math is filled with much work on counting coins. Even the word problems are oney oriented, how did Grammie know when she sent the card in the mail full of quarters that it would be a continuing of Student's Math? Just another God connection!

Reading through Numbers lessons, we will read of the life in Canaan and worked with the globe and maps to spot the 12 tribes of Israel and their locations. We shall continue map work and read onto Deuteronomy. As our Illustrated Children's Bible skips around a bit, we'll continue right into Joshua and look forward to adding American history next semester!

And for the family of Christopher Klicka we are actively praying and praising his passing this week. Praise God for those He calls and they obey and answer! Klicka's work in homeschooling was an encouragement...wonder what goals God has set for us?

Minus the Citations

Beginning another morning. A morning that God has made, a morning that has brought new mercies from above...thank you Father!

Homeschool today began with reading. First, Student delightfully read through her

Clubhouse Jr. magazine. And to her wondering eyes appeared a recipe for royal treats! This girl spies everything connected to royal princesses! This was just what she needed to brighten her morning.

And continuing into reading, we are discussing Priscilla Superstar! This book came home yesterday from the library, and Student picked it for her first book report! So onward we work!

Cursive connecting practice came from Student's six chosen words from her book:

at bat

practically

ball

souffle

five-star

knockball

I see her enthusiasm come through in the art parts of the book report, and I am reminded that learning is especially enjoyable when one doesn't have to cite sources in a report!

And so the mascot posed with the poster Student created for her report. Flaps, and fancy font and illustration with crayon and ballpoint.

oh, and the homeschool mascot helped with the picture! Her presentation to Principal will be tomorrow.

We will finish seatwork in each area as usual. But we are finishing tonight because we were givem 2 blessings in the mail today, and Student is soending time in the rain using them right now! Thanks to Robyn for the rain gear, and thanks to Lori for the clothes! All is good in a day of homeschool!

Columbus Day

Wonder how many posts are titled as ours is today? Many people we ran into today, as it was our out-and-about Monday, didn't know it was Columbus Day! That's when you know you are a teacher, when holidays that don't mean a day off are still noted!

Our trek to the library was in the four-wheeled vehicle today. Our temperatures keep dropping, and the bikes are seeing less sunshine. Toddler especially is bothered by this. But with gloves and hats, almost anything can be enjoyed on a cool Fall day! And so we bundled and rode the afternoon away!

Happy Columbus Day for us, meant an old school Columbus cartoon, and paper boats! Well, in the folding instructions it was a hat before it was a boat, and Student couldn't resist! So, on the head it went!

And did we say what a joyous and fancy event this folding was? Student enjoys Fancy Nancy, and we were sure that her boat would have nothing less fancy than sequins, and so Student took the lead with the glue and all!

Seatwork in Math was prompted from Student telling Principal that we weren't doing Math right now! Yikes, nothing new, that is. So, he slammed his gavel and let us know that review is practice well worth her time!

Again, the mascot sleeps in his swing, and we continue on our best with homeschool. As we are so blessed to attempt this adventure to bring Him glory, our eyes stay fixed on the prize!

In preparation for our field trip to Lindsborg this weekend for the festival, student is doing a mini-unit to learn about Sweden! And, yes, she'll have a full report of the food afterwards! That is if her Uncle Ed leaves any for her...just remember the cotton candy episode at World's of Fun this summer? The picture shows Student's self-lead project of a windmill, minus a brad, as our homeschool needs to take a trip to the office supply store...so it fits right in with our pre-Sweden studies!

Lindsborg's Svensk Hyllningsfest is a biennial tribute to the Swedish pioneers occurring in October of odd numbered years. The festival features art, crafts, special foods, ethnic music, folk dancing, parade, smörgåsbord, and special entertainment.

History continues in Exodus chapters 2-4. Before thumbing through the dictionary as well as listening for the keywords in the lesson, Student familiarizes herself with the new vocabulary words and forms a hypothesis as to their definitions:

fled: leading to something

cruel: steal or take in a mean way

Practicing writing each vocab word in cursive, Student carefully looks at the example letters and connects to complete each word. Her concentration is focused her into tunnel vision! I'll be sure to start doing a pupil check at the end of each cursive session!

Seatwork in Phonics and Language are spread out through the day among the Math ones. It is a bit overwhelming when Student sees the stack in the morning! Reminding her that we will complete only what we can, with no pressure and not all at once, helps her begin breathing again!

Studying up for Awana tomorrow, Student hides The Word in her heart.

We have not really sorted our outings between recess and PE, so we are deciding to call all outdoor or active time activity. How does one sort through all of the labels of blogs anyhow? We are trying to have a rhyme and reason meshed with consistency...as long as there is no test on it! As for activity, Toddler baseball and biking 2.5 miles, with a donut break in between, brought our hearts happiness and our brains oxygen today!

Speed Drill

Math mornings are the best! Student really has live-wires in the am. Our first attempt at speed drills went smoothly. Student thought it was fun to time the work! And on top of that, there were no complaints when we finished up with place value review and a test! Whew!

And readying ourselves for Awana, Student recited her verse and hid it in her heart... check out the video!

More review for Student's Genesis vocab test on Friday. And as for the rest of our day, we are off to spend time with Dad on his day off and read all the price tags and signs! As for the last time we went out, Student said:

" 'Please wash hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds before returning to work.' Hmmm. I'm reading everything!"

Tuesday Tuning

Actually, we didn't, but should have. Student has learned the complete Song of the Wind...so here goes, without tuning but with much effort!

Why homeschool, we ask ourselves some mornings? On with our efforts, to God be the glory! Afterall, everything we do with our hands, do with all our might! Thanks to Him for establishing the work of our hands.

Homeschool began with our first attempt of a scheduled start-time since our family's addition, and because of Our caring Father in heaven, we began on time! Starting with a self-lead Art project, Student began her day with one of her favorite subjects.

On we moved to work more with place value in Math. Review of these concepts and added seatwork, Math was complete.

For language, we added some suffixes to our list. And continuing in poetry, Student and I read a highly recommended book o' rhymes: I Never Saw a Purple Cow and Other Nonsense Rhymes. Student had the opportunity to write an animal poem of her own:

Ther Was a Zebra

Ther was a zebra. That was funny and ate alat. It's a speshl zebra.

More review from our Genesis vocabulary. We have finished Genesis, in History, and will have our vocab test at the end of the week.

Pen Pal Update

This morning was blessed by Mrs. Nancy sharing with us about her recent trip to The Philippines in which she visited Student's pen pal in her home and school: Vanderpol Christian Academy. Pulling down the globe, Student saw where the islands are. Listening and looking at the presentation photos, Student got a heart-piercing look at poverty. I think of the Linebarger's and the way Mrs. Nancy said God has prepared them to help bring change to these parts of the world by educating the next generation. Educating them in The Word first and foremost. Student likes the fact that they have the same Abeka curriculum as she! So, this lesson of thankfulness and contentment was for more than just Student.

We made bread today to go with our cheeseburger soup from Mrs. Tonya. It is worth the flour mess because Toddler and Student create and reinvent for hours! Art never tasted so good!

Our time with cursive today was review. Student wasn't excited, as she hungers for new material and info and review isn't her favorite.

Math was her only seatwork today. Short and sweet as she is continuing with skip-counting.

And for her self-led project in Art, she fell right into our new season this week!

Student: I didn't know I wasn't going to find the other piece of the project that is seen in the picture here above my words I am saying. So, to fix the missing frame we went to Photoshop on our IMac, and we pushed on one of the other frames and copied it and put it on the part we were missing. There was still a piece on the one we copied...

Mid-Week Counting

Can there be any warmer place than holding a newborn? What a perfectly cuddly place to read! Beginning with our Library book recommended by Tonya: The Little Wooden Farmer, Student listened with the new addition in her lap. This Dutch farmer has no animals and he and his wife decide to get some, and thus the tale begins! Sweet illustrations and mandalas throughout keep the folk tale lively and true to it's Swedish style.

Cursive smiles keep coming! Student has a new favorite subject! Continuing on, we are finishing up with the letter "R".

History has come to Egypt! We read the introduction to life in Egypt and continued with the life of Joseph.

Math was reviewing counting. Backwards, forwards, skip-counting and place value. I think Student will be dreaming numbers tonight, I know I will!

Speedy practice of violin. Getting faster with each song, Student loves learning something new and so she looks forward to her next lesson with Mrs. S.

Happy Wednesday: Awana day!

Happy Painting

CORRECTION: not 1-D, but 2-D...next time I'll ask the artistic principal FIRST!
Reading has become an ordinary event, with less and less struggling and question. Student has truly soared in her phonics and belief in being able to conquer bigger words! Way to go Student!

History is inching us into Egypt. When Student saw the illustration for our lesson from Genesis today, she was just counting down the minutes until she had the opportunity to draw her own 2-D picture from our lesson on Joseph today.

Our vocabulary words:

seduce

objection

2-D

Yes, this is child-friendly history, but introduction to such words makes for great girl-talk and understanding the evils present in our world still today. She understands that God created family and marriage, and this holy union is under attack. She truly has such a loyalty and understanding of such since she watched Fireproof. Oh, what these amazing child brains can sort out!

Letter by letter, we are now through "L" in our cursive lessons. Student has been creating all the words she can, connecting letters to create words from the letters she has already learned. You know, loopy versions of:

cab, dad, lab, jab, bad, dat...no she hasn't learned scat, for music appreciation, but it sounds like it!

Testing in Math proved that she is learning right along, and still wondering why the tests are so easy. Yes, someday it may not be so, but I bask in this love she has for Math, and thank her Dad for that trait. God is good to create brains that understand Math, as I know that mine doesn't.

Violin practice was done with the puzzle method, and am I glad that her excitement lasted the whole session.

Whew!

Fall Fest, here we come!

Student: It is fun that the first day of Fall is now!

I made Potiphar's wife with her head turned away because she didn't listen to Joseph when he objected.