Monday Exposure

Having joined the local Home Educators Association, the Homeschool has exposed itself! Yes, among OTHERS whom God has called to this task of teaching and training children, it is a good thing.



This creates a schedule on both Monday and Friday that involve leaving campus.
Monday is Piano and Sign Language. Warrior seems to think it's a treat both to play AND do the activities!

An answer to prayer, the Piano teacher trades the lessons to Student and Warrior for group Signing lessons taught by Teacher.

Not all things are new this year, though. The fishing chart was a favorite for both Student and Warrior, so they have constructed their Fall 2012 charts and prepare to finish each days' lessons to place a sticker in the square and FISH for a prize each Friday.



Working side-by-side, Teacher can't wait to see what this arrangement brings!



Making use of in-between lesson time, Warrior has been digging into the flashcards box. And Student has taken it upon herself to learn a few Spanish words each month. So she gets permissoin to keep a handful in her desk each month. Now that's a priveledge!



The POINTER has been a popular addition to the classroom this year. Teacher just couldn't pass it up on the $1 rack at Target! Really, now, if Warrior and Mascot will just believe Teacher that it is NEVER EVER to be used as a sword, all should be safe! It's been a nice addition to Warrior's skip-counting efforts. He's been working though 2s, 5s and 10s.



And to complete the classroom, a newer globe! Grammy eyed this gem! It plugs in and offers a light display of the constellations God designed in the night sky. LOVELY! We are so thankful.

Thankful Wednesday

After the wrapping paper is wadded,
and the presents take their place in her room, Student is taking time to thank those who blessed her with their presence and gifts on her 8th birthday.

Naturally, at the top of the list: Grammy!



Continuing time in her favorite chair, Spelling and Language fill the morning.



And what can pull a girl from her favorite chair? Laundry!



Busy boys configure tessellations and read together.





God is good, and summer is almost here!

Busy Days

Some days are so packed-full, that they make up for other days at the homeschool that are not-so-full.



Altogether now, thank God for bringing Teacher motivation when all she can smell is SUMMER!



THANKS BE TO GOD THE FATHER FOR ALL GOOD THINS COME FROM HIM! And since He can work all things for good for those who love Him, we pray that Japan turns their eyes to Him during this time of recovery.







Student finished her share of seatwork and got a stinky-dose of life skills with the cleaning of her fishbowl.



And what does Teacher do when it's quiet on campus? Check on Warrior...



Sickness may spread, but so does love! Thank you Lord for bringing good.

Wednesday Abroad

The Lord reigns,
He is a mighty God.



His beauty is found in the earth,
and He delights in giving
the hearts' desire to His children.

Even when that desire is an afternoon out and a smoothie in-hand!

Thursday School

Because one can never have too many Box Car Children books on hand, Student lead us to the local library again!

Sprawled out like sitting at our own dining table, our load took up the whole table!



Student worked her new Spelling list and tested to master her post test of the previous list. Working her Math seatwork and Science reading on bees and their contentness on God's job for their life, she eyed the latest American Girl magazine! That's out little lady!

She spotted a snowball recipe that we are planning on sharing at the large family gathering for Christmas.

Warrior began his regular search for Spiderman books.



Collecting our books and belongings, the Homeschool ventured back to campus for baking cookies and afternoon activities in the backyard. God is good to bring warmth AND sunshine in December and we are not going to let it pass by!

Tuesday News

News of virtues, sunshine and tests!

Spelling Test: C+

Math Test: Review of Calendar, less than & greater than, measurement, multiplication, double-digit combinations, and story problems with extra information. A+

Speed Drill: Accumulative drills consisting of carrying in addition, subtracting double-digit numbers, multiplication of families 0, 1, 2, 3, 10, 11
Student's fastest time was 72 seconds! And it was outdoors, too!



And Warrior grabbed the mail from the carrier and found that his beloved Cubbies teacher had sent him a letter! What joys can be found in the mail!



Cuddling up for Reading, Student and Teacher continued in the historical fiction novel of a dustbowl migrant. Student has learned
some new Oklahoma Slang & Vocabulary:
tight-lipped
hightail it
panhandle
hood ornament
duster
twilight
dawn

No, Student hasn't forgotten the time in Kindergarten when a classmate went along with an older cousin to see a movie of the same name as one of her vocabulary words. Student and Teacher discussed that God is the Father of Lights, as written in the Bible, and often Satan tries to lure people away from God and into the dark. Children with a fear of the dark, or things that happen in the dark, is one way he tries to rob the joy God gives us. When we are afraid we shall trust in Him, in God whose Word we pray!

Then, Student remembered hearing about some headhunters from a Missionary and how they cut-off people heads and use them as hood ornaments...so that stimulated another conversation.

And that's when Student asked: What got us talking about movies and kids and headhunters when we are reading? VOILA! That's how God designed the female brain, we tend to intersect everything. Men tend to compartmentalize and think of everything separately. We, though, connected the book>vocab>movie>kids>dark>sins>headhunters>hood ornaments and so on goes our brain!

Seatwork to continue her new found knowledge of Roman Numerals, Student has officially had at least an introduction to everything in Math that was on our curriculum list for First Grade! To God be the glory for organizing and prioritizing our time!

Having a picnic at the park was a no-brainer for both the guys and the gals at the Homeschool! Warrior, Mascot and Student all piled into the wagon to roll to the neighborhood park. There, we played with pals and Teacher met with Mentor and read some encouraging scriptures! The sun was strong and we lasted until Warrior and Mascot lay their heads down at home, where the camera rested all afternoon! OOPS!
So, did Teacher mention they were tired?! And so the proof lies here:





The night will be full of fun and energy to run, now that the work is done!

Tuesday Roll

Just like the old skool when we opened that fresh canister of film and couldn't fathom the possibilities we could capture with just a click...Student walzted through the yard to find 15 different blooming varieties of God's beauty ever-present in the earth. A true celebration of the new season He has brought. A truly unfathomable outcome from the hands of a first grader.

And the roll drops...






This was an encouragement to bring her out of bed early. Listening to the birds praise Him, feeling the morning sun, Student became a fan of God's creativity! As though she didn't already have a love for color and visual arts, she has now a new appreciation for these that God has given.

This collage had to endure bits of cropping, unlike the above raw shots, but is the result of her Spring Scavenger Hunt. From the outdoors, to the indoors: a transformation by Student.



Reading, Math, and Language seatwork, violin, hospitality toward Warrior's playmate, Art, Geography, and a day of homeschool was made.

Thursday Prayers

Lord above,
We pray that the gifts and talents You placed in our children will be released to find their fullest expression in glorifying You. Amen

Gifts and talents within Student obviously include creating of art, crafts and all things collage-based. She can compile an arrangement of all things separate and result in a single masterpiece! Today, however, she had to share her gift and talent with not only Warrior, but a special guest.



When Teacher was small, she would stay overnight with a young girl from the neighborhood. She would not accept being last, so Teacher had to continually fight the urge to continue to put her company first and herself last, with the expectation Jesus would return soon and Teacher herself would then be first!

Well, Jesus' timing is perfect, and having not returned yet, Student finds herself in the same predicament! Johanna is certainly less of a challenge than Warrior, but Student persevered and kept calm about continually coming in last throughout the crafting, racing, swinging, playing and snacking! God teaches us so much through relationships, and we thank Him for Student's friend Jo.

Also sharing with Warrior, the Play-Doh gave Student the opportunity to teach and share. Instructing Warrior on how to make a sphere. So fast an furious he went...



And out popped the creations! Warrior's ball didn't survive long, but Student's figure was safe in her hands!



After finishing time with others, Student finished the day with time and space to herself. Math, Reading, Bible History, and Language, did however, share her attention.

Tuesday News

Praising God for the Homeschool's camera return, we are putting it to good use, with the wrist-strap tightly attached! Here's Student's proof-of-spring photography...



Student read from our History lesson on Ellis Island in the front yard. Distractions of green and oxygen and sun surrounding her. Another benefit of our first year attempt to obey in the education of His blessings, and a grrreat one it is this time of year!



Continuing around the yard and into the day's lessons, Student picked up the violin and played her two working pieces and took another stab at note-reading. Trying to seperate, dogs eating, fat cats in alleys, and all that in her brain...and Teacher's as well, we survived.



Warrior experienced a right-of-passage on the backyard swingset today before his naptime: pumping of the legs and independently swinging!



What joy that boy held, and what contentment he displayed all through his afternoon of the wind in his hair...(which he has announced he wants to look like Larry from the 3 Stooges, thanks, PapaD!) It was his naptime words of wisdom that brought out his frustration with life: I don't like temptation! As he tries to quit the thumb habit at nighttime, Teacher understood.

Student broke through to yet another test and set of speed drills in Math. She worked through her Language seatwork outdoors as well as drafting this story for Writing:
Big Fish!
Hey I'm going fishing! It is fun! What is it? Fishing is you have a fishing pole put a worm on it and catch!! The End

She was determined to finish the story before coming to the end of the space provided! That she did, and her printing was so neat that Teacher didn't comment on the length!

Off to soccer practice we walk. Finishing the day with MORE Activity for young hearts, and a stop at the creek on the way home!

Wednesday Wish Wash

In the sun, that is where the Homeschool's wish wash took place! And so the pictures are in Teacher's mind only, but our prayers for mercy and favor from Canon have been answered as they will be fixing and shipping the broken now fixed camera in the next 7 days! FOR FREE! That's the God of details right there!

Swinging Spelling,
brought Student these words:
pure
secure
pedicure
manicure
capture
nature
moisture
rapture
fracture
endure
These new sounds were being introduced, and Student loved the girlie words best! Ure in pure, and ture in picture.

Bible History, Math, Language, and Reading all filled the afternoon with room for violin, of course! After finding a rock with a suitable-sized platform to perform in the backyard, Student ventured indoors to record this latest work on Allegro...




Blessings of His warmth and care in the shining sky are felt by the Homeschool today. Thanks, God. Our minds are in continued prayer for Mr. Todd's family. Praise to the God of mercy for answering our prayers and bringing him through his first surgery today!

Monday Music

Reading keeps on bringing new ideas and stories into Student's brain. She began Reading in the Abeka 2nd Grade storybook from Mrs. Val. She picked her fav of 6 stories she read in the sunny backyard and summarized the Real Princess to Warrior. He even related it to the puppet show he last saw at the local library. Those thinkers!

Language had Student practicing more sentence structure and cursive along the way. TOday's topic: breakfast.
Four things you like for breakfast:
toast
eggs
bacon
stroodle

Two sentences about your fav breakfast:
My favorite was eggs! Breakfast is your first meal so your hungry!

Violin moves through Long Long Ago as we wish for it to be LONG LONG GONE...we tried playing a game to have fun reviewing for the special guest-teacher this weekend at peer group class, and it did bring smiles to our faces!



Math brought practice of number lines concepts, and Mr. Clock review. Student also worked on feet to yard conversions. She had thoughts as to whether to use a ruler or yard stick to measure the following:
Rug in living room: yard stick
Violin: ruler
Porch: yard stick

Subtracting double-digit numbers, and learning about scale drawings, Student completed her work!

It was Mascot that had a skill-developmental lesson from Warrior today: the sock ball!



Working on returning items given to him, eye-control to focus on moving objects, awareness of throwing an object with a ouroise (doesn't EVERY boy need to learn this?!) and further eye-hand coordination, Mascot enjoyed his learning-play with big Warrior!

Cuddling for a pre-nap read, Warrior asked for Lil Bill! Mascot much enjoyed the bright illustrations, and it wasn't until Warrior squeezed Mascots leg for kicking him that the reading and warmth was interrupted. Alas, to nap he goes, and to play the Homeschool goes!

Friday Fun

Note to Teacher: When a company spends efforts and finances to apply a wrist string for helping camera-users NOT to drop and break their camers, one should use it. THE END

After Teacher learned a lesson and dropped the Homeschool camera, learning proceeded for all others as well. Expanding our knowledge daily, we began our end-of-the-week learning in Bible History. Student and Warrior finished pledges and began the lesson on the good Samaritan.

Student then had to read a list of 3-5 instructions, and then follow them in order without re-reading them. She did this well, and even cracked quite a few smiles. After Reading her Amelia Bedilia book from cousin Maggie, we all had some laughs about directions and ow careful we need to be to include specifics and certain language. Thus, Student wrote her directions for Warrior as follows:
First read Snuggle puppy.
Next Find something ruby red.
Lastly take a nap

And he didn't argue a word, but succinctly followed her every direction. If the instructions are written he apparently doesn't call it BOSSY! We'll make note of this and have more writing in the future Student just to keep the peace on those rainy days of much indoor play!

Math was the only seatwork for our day. And that was all we scrunched in before our afternoon 2.5 mile ride to and from the park! Meeting Amiee and the troops for some good ol' Pre-Spring Activity!

Truly, the days are passing. And our May Day goal of ending First Grade's year of assignments is nearing...we can't be any more thankful! God has allowed this year of obedience in Homeschooling to be successful and enjoyable. Though as all things He calls us to do, they sometimes bring us out of our comfort zone, Homeschool has created new insight for all of us. Just as marriage and parenting in general are not easy or always comfortable, God comforts us not to make us comfortable but to make us comforters. Thanks to our Father for calling us to this mission that is great in His eyes, and worth the work in ours!

Thursday: Feet on the Ground

Morning seatwork to be done, as there is a birthday party awaiting the smiling face of Student. Not her own, but a friend in fact that according to Student,"If you can't make it, Mom, I will do fine on my own."

And isn't this the prayer of every parent? When the day comes to release these blessings into the wild, that they will do WONDERS for the Kingdom and just fine for themselves. So, she completed her work, wrapped the lil' rocket doll and awaited her ride in the sun...

Updated dolly with heart and bow, to add that Student-touch...



After returning to the Homeschool with vast amounts of enrgy, candy, and stories of girldom, Student settled in and read her complete version of 20, 000 Leagues Under the Sea. All 60 pages! All 5 chapters! Politely refusing a snack or time to watch a movie...that's a love instilled from the Maker and Teacher is so thankful! And thanks to Mrs. Val and her Homeschool gang for the book blessing!

Wednesday Wilderness

Wilderness Road, to be exact. Student is getting through the still-needed American History. Daniel Boone also fit into today's lesson. No big smiles or groans either way for Student, she just listened and learned.

It was the violin practice that brought out the groaning. But Student made it through Long Long Ago, and will have another quick practice tonight for Principal when he returns from the workday.

Mascot and Warrior read Dr. Seuss together. The growing age of Mascot is more obvious with the Homeschool events of reading, as he lets no book go unread! Don't even try to sneak and read without him, either.




Student scored 80% on today's Spelling list:
photo
√ chaot (caught)
moth
fear
orange
almost
√ pillo (pillow)
dimple
station

Finishing up Phonics and Language with review of pronouns and examples of antonyms and synonyms, Student was ready for a break! Math break to be exact!

Writing the long name for numbers and adding combinations with 4 addends, Student enjoyed the flashcard work. Making the pages kid-sized makes all the difference some days!



Warrior is also growing as he now plays the actual learning games on his toy-computers instead of just using them to make racket to distract Student from her studies...well, sometimes he still distracts, but what else are boys for bu to annoy those in their immediate environment and get a kick out of it? Got to love the little men!



Carted and rolled around all-the-live-long-Homeschool-day, Mascot served his purpose: ceating smiles on family faces! Through Bible History, Cursive Writing, and yet more Reading, our little trooper rolled in-style!



Thank you Lord above for adding your grace and mercy in the presence of our littlest adiition, that makes some of the biggest difference in our day! Amen

Fancy Friday

Actually, Saturday was fancy too, because we didn't complete our Friday fanci-fying until then!

Student completed a book report on one of her chosen library books today.
Fancy Nancy"s Tea Party gave directions for all of the goodies and fancies of hosting one's very own tea party!
Student's Report as follows:
Title: Fancy Nancy
Setting: Tea Party
Main Character: Nancy
Favorite Part: Tea for Two
Nancy is one of my favorite characters because she is fancy. My new fancy words from this book are ensemble & etiquette. I already knew etiquette from golf, but now it means more.

Student drew a space in her room that was NOT currently fancy and then finished the report by deciding how to fancify that space...and the winner is...her bed!



We began with a pile of stashed upcycle fancies and hot pink tulle that Principal and Student picked up while grocery shopping together. Mascot thoroughly enjoyed the thrift store embroidery hoop!



Truthfully, the report finished it's fancy efforts on Saturday, but Student was just as happy with her canopy. It's like a real pink castle!

In Toddler school, counting was the popular practice. Sticking to counting by ones, he decided to try to count all of the swirls on the step stool.



Delighting at the texture, Mascot joined right in! And after they counted with boyish raucous, they loved on eathother with boyish roughness. Toddler says Mascot thinks his hair is spaghetti and that's why Mascot keeps trying to fit it in his mouth!



Math connected Student's time-telling and fraction knowledge. To Teacher's surprise, the quarter after, and quarter til language brought this understanding to Student: Ok, so 15x4=60?
Seriously, it's NOT the great teacher, it's the great Creator of the brain!

Beyond the doors of Homeschool, pedals were pumping and riders were rambling. Racing here and there, the freezing temps were no match for Student and Toddler today. However, the lack of Midwest wind, was the grace of God supplying perfect energy-burning conditions!



Phonics and Language filed in with steady seatwork, and we called it a week! Looking forward to Make a difference Monday and the plans He has in store for us!

Life Skills

Since beginning the Homeschool journey, the eyes of Teacher and Principal have been opened to just how many teaching opportunities there are in a day. When the questions come from little mouths and older brains are tired, there is a temptation to answer with "I don't know..." or "...ask your teacher!" But, when you are the teacher, it all works together to create a life-long environment of learning. Is there ever a time when little brains are NOT sponging info?

Today's info came while expanding life skills. Student worked more on dishes than ever! She insisted that she was ready for more chores, as a friend of hers helps with dishes, so can she! During this wet and wild experience, Student practiced skip-counting, addition and subtraction combinations and ended Math with 2 new card games.

Student reviews the new games: "I like solitaire better than speed. Both were fun."

And continuing to wrap up the human body systems introductions, the digestion system introduced paper-dolly's new parts today.
"I guess I was mixed-up with the liver and pancreas yesterday. Now I know the liver is for getting out poisons, and making bile. But the food destruction happens in the pancreas. The small intestines is like 22 rulers...on an adult!"

Spelling and Phonics brought au and aw...



Toddler identified the letters each time Student decided which letter combination was used in the word examples. Waiting for one's own turn was quite the ordeal today! The Homeschool can't wait for the new load of mercies God promises each morning!

Transforming yesterday's still life into a new medium, Student worked with compressed charcoal today...and directly afterwards, took the map picture for our History and Geography lesson. Yes, how Teacher remembers such scrubbing...quite the job for a first grader! However, Student did think the blending was fun.



Computer time was spent on kidshealth.org. Student colored this outlined astronaut, a girl of course, cuz GIRLS ROCK!



And a joke from Student's latest list online that brings her fashion sense to laugh:
What did the zero say to eight... nice belt!