Wednesday Notes

Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart...Eph 5:19

Let us do such praising with melodies of Student's first duet!



What a blessing this year has been with the addition of coop classes on Monday and Friday. After class, to the library go!

Thursday Travels

Rubber to the pavement,
plastic to the skulls,
away rolled the Homeschool on two wheels.

To the park for sun and shady lunch,



sharing,



vitamin D,



and a life lesson in the fallen world...

Really, the Homeschool can't go ANYWHERE and NOT see someone who needs God's love. And the woman sleeping on the park bench in midday was no different. It's the love on the face of Student that draws up the desire in Teacher to want to share His love with a sleeping stranger.

After offering her a lemonade, she asked if we had a cigarette and replied no and blessed her day as we rode away. It was the LOSS OF LOVE in Student's face that taught the lesson today. What a fallen world gives is rarely loving, or thankfulness to those who show His love. But this should be a reminder that we don't GIVE to show others how good WE are, but to show others how good God is. Even if they don't want what we are offering, or snicker at our gestures...God is love. And without His presence in this fallen world, it would be uglier. Godbless that servant heart of Student.



Rolling along to the library and seatwork before Warrior's nap, the naptime mystery read was well received by Warrior. And why not, why not feel loved at home rather than at a public place. May we offer the love that God would have us offer our children: unconditional and never-ending. Amen.

Final Friday

In the words of James 1:27

True religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

At the Homeschool, the attempt to focus on the practice of this true religion comes on Final Friday of each month.

Down the street to sweet Miss Margaret's home, rolled the Homeschool parade!



This colorful card and caramel apple wrapped in sunflower paper were delivered with love. Student and Warrior colored her day with true religion, as she colored ours with kindness. Everything else on Friday seemed to be not-so-full of life! Really, since Miss Margaret turned 90 this past summer, she really knows how to work those spiritual gifts,
and she is a BIG BLESSING to all of those around her.



Prize fishing on Fridays, both kiddos were able to catch a glow-in-the-dark outer space puzzle of 100 pieces each. Student was determined to get it together and matte it asap...and so she did!



Student also jumped right into the teaching role as she assisted Warrior with his counting. These repetitive exercises have only proven tiresome for Teacher, thus far. Warrior just keeps on chipping away and his brain keeps soaking it up! Praise God for boys who sit and learn for 20 minutes at a time!



Switching library day to Friday this week, Mascot tried out his newly acquired walking skills at the play area. Right past the fence and in with the chickens...that boy is unstoppable!

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!

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!

Wednesday Wandering

The perfect chapter book has been written, and Student now holds it in her precious hands! Mattie Mae is a welcome addition to the Homeschool library. After months of searching through chapter books full of catty-girl behaviors, boy-focused school days and selfish sibling-disrespect, Teacher befriended Mattie Mae.

Student was delighted with the new reading material and sat to read the first chapter, immediately cuddling beside Mascot in Teacher and Principal's bed, and beginning chapter 1: Here's Mattie.




Reading aloud of a first-grade Amish girl and her lessons of respecting others, accepting differences in others and loving family, Student recorded her findings in her journal.
Who: Mattie, Hannah, Mom, Mammy, Lizbet, Brother Benjy
What: had to walk on a cold day to pay
Where: poor family...(wondering if Student interpreted where as were...anyhow...)
When: don't know
Why: had to pay Hannah

And with the welcome subtraction of yet another tooth, Student studied the intricate God-design of teeth! Seeing how far up the front teeth have to come down, increased her patience in waiting for her next adult tooth to show itself. Good ol' Science bringing patience, got to give God credit for that! Science for Toddler, however, is aching for some rocket action! He's been asking about making a rocket, so we'll give it a try before the week ends. Maybe it'll be the boy part of our Vday party. Who wouldn't want to see the love rocket blast off?!

Toddler also piped up with excitement about the library puppet show today. We traveled the 1/2 mile there and were laughing out loud through the whole presentation! When Mascot wasn't chewing his shoe, he found pleasure in the puppet action, too. Student laughed louder than anyone in the audience! Maybe she is related to Teacher?!

Toddler spent time preparing his newest-learned verse for Awana. Yes, he said it alright, but it was the scavenger hunt in the apple tree practice that brought him to life! Asked to find 3 specific objects and return them to the dump truck, He didn't have to go far because every item Teacher prompted him to look for was right on the floor! That's where they are easiest to find, but not easiest to dodge when rushing to the bathroom. However, when he was instructed to see if he could put them away fester than he retrieved them, he in fact mastered that by dumping the truck right back onto the floor. Yep, that's the floor's life here at the Homeschool.



We just kick the mess out of the camera lens to help encourage our homeschool documenting. This blog is a record of our daily learning, that is required by the state. Teacher records the accomplishments and praises the God of second-chances along the way! It's the discouraging times we leave behind each day so as NOT to be overwhelmed with each new day we are given to try, try again. Thanks to God for His new mercies every morning, without them, the Homeschool would fail. Amen, He is good!

Student spent much of the afternoon hours of Toddler's nap as a Design Consultant. She aided Principal in the latest freelance project for an upcoming midwest run. She told Principal her thoughts on the color schemes and NOT to change certain elements, and they cooperated in the work.



It was Math that needed the extra pick-me-up today. Student decided to spice-up her seatwork by checking for Principal's gene that may have been passed on to her: ambidexterity.



Disappointed with the fruit-filled chocolate pieces, they laid and witnessed a successful experiment. Two-handed Math!

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!

Teach Us to Number Our Days

Library day, yes it is already Monday, again! Time moves right along, and pages keep turning. Our book bag was filled to the brim from our visit today. We traveled to violin and then to the doctor and then to the dentist. In between each stop, Student was busy with her Dad-made Math worksheet, and books galore.

Compare and contrast of each author's variation of Cinderella, this was our Literary lesson today. Student chose the stories, and with no surprise, our first grader chose a royal story for our learning!

Continuing on increasing our number skills, we put our counting chart to work. Student helped create this, weeks ago with the scripture reading...

"Teach us to number our days, oh Lord."

And oh how this is timely, with our counting down 18 days to the expansion of our family. Approximately 18 days, but our Student is counting!

Seatwork continues in Phonics and Space. We created a sorting envelope exercise for our planet groups, similar to the lapbooking technique that our good friend Tonya introduced us to.

And Student says: Please help me cut these! Hey, all of the gas planets have rings!

Thanks, Dad for my addition and take-away worksheet. I got the bonus, even!

Out & About

Beginning with a rainy trip to the library, our Monday began! Loading home a new bundle of books, Student couldn't wait to open this book about many of her favorite things:

Sewing

Royalty

Art

Today was Student's first lesson for the Fall semester of violin. Just seeing her with her instructor gave me new hopes for our home practices. And, new ideas for practices were discussed, and I can't wait to try them out! One involves a birthday candle... we'll see what Student thinks of this one!

Squeezing in 2 History lessons today, Student learned of the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We had the opportunity to relate their lives to eachother through a family tree, and use a map to track their travels throughout their lives. Any map brings the life out in her eyes. Making them or reading them, this part of Geography is a favorite.

Student got right to work making our family tree, and she didn't want to stop at 3 generations! But, it was such a sad realization to me, about this fallen world and divorce. Family trees aren't what they used to be. But, she has our family pretty much figured out, and said she would like to try again, sometime. Going further back into the family, that is.

Math was continuing with place values, and counting to 200. Her seatwork was a little on the easy side, today. But no complaints from Student!

Phonics was a breeze today, as well. Some review on paper, and off we went to read!

We made time to read aloud first, and then Student sat next to me under the tree in the shade and listened to this book: The Princess Gown.

Student: The dress was very pretty. I don't know how it was illustrated the same every time, until the stain came and they put the embroidery on it. I like how they spelled the title. I really wish that I had that gown. I like the pearls on it.

Hanna was an artist like her dad. It reminded me of me, b/c my dad is an artist and I am an artist, too!

Veggie Tales

How did God create girls different than boys? Well, if you are still wondering, and haven't figured it out... 'tis true that girls are talkers and boys are doers.

Student created a puppet theatre today. We reviewed our Literary terms from our Literary Thursday Lesson blogpost. And, this girl student remembered well, but couldn't keep her play under 5 minutes for a video post! Really, if there are characters to introduce, an antagonist to overcome, and a resolution ...well, you see it is all fun, but long! So our family will enjoy some live entertainment once Dad returns!

The puppets are colored oh-so-beautiful with colored pencil that we couldn't get to come through in the picture. But, the characters are full of expression, as Student loves the extra sessions on Veggie Tales videos that teach one to draw the characters. She has had lots of practice!

Our morning 1 mile ride brought us to the local library and we have filled our cabinet with all new books. Toddler was pulling books out ready to get reading right when we returned home. And taking turns with Student, we read a small portion of our pile. Cuddly and warm... not too many times can a Teacher safely read that way in school... just another blessing God has given us through our adventure in homeschooling.

Afterwards, time to splash in the backyard and soak up some sun, our summer day was complete!

Book Fest

A new load of books has made it's way from the library to the hands of Summer readers! We turned in our reading logs and collected tickets for the free swim party that each kiddo qualified for. Toddler surely gets the award for MOST EXCITED!

We found a pop-up book that was on the "new books" rack and so it is actually in grrreat condition. It is Earthly Treasure which deals with all of the goodies that God hid within our planet when He created it! Our space studies continue.

Computer has been taken over by aliens, with the finding of kidsastronomy.com both Pupil and Student are enjoying this unit, especially Pupil since Star Wars can be talked about and it relates to our subject! He is on cloud nine...or should I say an asteroid? He is always fast moving and enjoys the scenery he flies past.

Student, on the other hand, is slow to enjoy and marinate all of the facts into her brain and invent a mental picture of all we describe of outer space happenings.

Together, they are making a great Summer School team!