This was Week One (of many "Week One's")...I've started and stopped so many times that I've lost count. The reason that this is a real Week One is that I'm actually organized!!! This makes it official; it makes it do-able.
Plus, with a first grader, you can't just teach phonics anymore!
Sharkbait, 1st grade:
Handwriting Without Tears - F/f, E/e, D/d, P/p (reviewing capitals, learning lower-case)
Phonics Pathways - sm, sn, st, sp, sc, sk
Right Start Math - quantities in twos, writing numbers, zero
Writing With Ease - complete sentences, narrations
SweetSong, K-4:
HWT and PP - A, E, I, O
RS - quantities of 1, 2, 3
Snuggie, Pre-K:
HWT - A
Mother Goose - The Alphabet; 1,2,3,4,5
Circle
Colors
We listened to eight chapters of Stuart Little from an audiobook.
I just received the activity guide for SOTW and can't wait to start history next week!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
The Second Day
This second day went well, though I woke up at 4:30am because of one of my kids crying, needing to be re-covered with blankies...I dozed on and off until 7, when I heard the garage door open and closing, meaning that Hub left for work. The girls were still sleeping and Sharkbait was drawing quietly at the kitchen table. The girls didn't wake up until 8 or so, so we didn't get school started until 9:30ish. I decided not to freak out about that and found the morning fairly easy!
By the time Shark had to do math, the girls were antsy, so I sent them outside for the math lesson. I love that I can see them completely while sitting at the kitchen table. I was glad that they weren't even interested in the kiddie computer or video. This makes me want to re-organize our crafts and activities roller cart thingy, so they can just go at that whenever they're not doing one-on-one time with me.
Tomorrow will be interesting because we have the homeschool PE class from 11:30am to 1:30pm; the girls' dance class from 4:00 to 4:45pm; and my step aerobics class from 5:00 to 6:00pm.
We'll have to have a quick breakfast, an early start on school, a quick lunch (with snacks and water to-go), a solid quiet time, and a crockpot dinner!
By the time Shark had to do math, the girls were antsy, so I sent them outside for the math lesson. I love that I can see them completely while sitting at the kitchen table. I was glad that they weren't even interested in the kiddie computer or video. This makes me want to re-organize our crafts and activities roller cart thingy, so they can just go at that whenever they're not doing one-on-one time with me.
Tomorrow will be interesting because we have the homeschool PE class from 11:30am to 1:30pm; the girls' dance class from 4:00 to 4:45pm; and my step aerobics class from 5:00 to 6:00pm.
We'll have to have a quick breakfast, an early start on school, a quick lunch (with snacks and water to-go), a solid quiet time, and a crockpot dinner!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
School Today
School went fairly smoothly today! I feel that the Lord was preparing me for this move and this school year. His hand of grace is all over it!
Our early morning is very relaxed. I take my time drinking my coffee outside while the kids play in our wonderful fenced-in backyard with its little patch of grass and lone tree. We come inside for breakfast and clean-up. Around 9 or so, we start school.
The morning is broken up into 30-minute segments. The first session I have one-on-one time with SweetSong. Sharkbait plays on our little kiddie computer and Snuggie watches Leap Frog videos. The second session, I spend with the Snug, while Sharkie is watching an educational video and Sweets is on the computer. We take 30 minutes for a snack and an audiobook. During the fourth segment, I do math with Sharkie and the girls switch the activities.
We listened to the first few chapters of Stuart Little on audiobook during snack today. I was pleasantly surprised at the kids' comprehension of the story's basic premise. I don't want to make our audiobooks a chore, so I'll just keep the questions to a minimum. It's mostly a time to enjoy a good story while eating our crackers :)
I got a load of laundry started during this time!
We ate lunch and the kids played until naptime. I think the kids are weaning themselves off of naptime. GASP! However, I'm going to keep them in separate rooms with toys, doors closed, and I know they'll most likely fall asleep!
I'm wondering when to do Language Arts with Sharkie...I had planned to do it with him at the beginning of quiet time/naptime. But the girls are still up and down, up and down. I may have to move his LA to after quiet time...I'm not sure yet. I think I'm going to keep on doing LA with him at the beginning of quiet time for the remainder of the week, taking time to train his sisters to stay in their assigned rooms, since LA is not too hard for him yet!
My plan is to do History Mondays after lunch and Science on Wednesdays.
Overall, it was a good morning. Now if I can just get those girls to stay in their rooms for quiet time...
:)
Our early morning is very relaxed. I take my time drinking my coffee outside while the kids play in our wonderful fenced-in backyard with its little patch of grass and lone tree. We come inside for breakfast and clean-up. Around 9 or so, we start school.
The morning is broken up into 30-minute segments. The first session I have one-on-one time with SweetSong. Sharkbait plays on our little kiddie computer and Snuggie watches Leap Frog videos. The second session, I spend with the Snug, while Sharkie is watching an educational video and Sweets is on the computer. We take 30 minutes for a snack and an audiobook. During the fourth segment, I do math with Sharkie and the girls switch the activities.
We listened to the first few chapters of Stuart Little on audiobook during snack today. I was pleasantly surprised at the kids' comprehension of the story's basic premise. I don't want to make our audiobooks a chore, so I'll just keep the questions to a minimum. It's mostly a time to enjoy a good story while eating our crackers :)
I got a load of laundry started during this time!
We ate lunch and the kids played until naptime. I think the kids are weaning themselves off of naptime. GASP! However, I'm going to keep them in separate rooms with toys, doors closed, and I know they'll most likely fall asleep!
I'm wondering when to do Language Arts with Sharkie...I had planned to do it with him at the beginning of quiet time/naptime. But the girls are still up and down, up and down. I may have to move his LA to after quiet time...I'm not sure yet. I think I'm going to keep on doing LA with him at the beginning of quiet time for the remainder of the week, taking time to train his sisters to stay in their assigned rooms, since LA is not too hard for him yet!
My plan is to do History Mondays after lunch and Science on Wednesdays.
Overall, it was a good morning. Now if I can just get those girls to stay in their rooms for quiet time...
:)
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Beginning the School Year
We did do two weeks of school in our temporary housing at the end of July, beginning of August, using those big all-in-one workbooks you get at your local superstore. We moved into our new house the second week in August and flew to my hometown for my sister's wedding the week after that. Coming back for the last week in August, we (almost) finished unpacking and getting settled.
But I see this week as the beginning of our school year.
I didn't order the last of my curriculum until the first week in September. Here we are entering the second week and it's time to get a'movin' on school!
This year, Sharkbait is in 1st grade. For him, we're using:
Handwriting Without Tears - lower-case letters
Phonics Pathways - already more than half-way through book
Right Start Math, Level A - starting in Lesson 13
First Language Lessons
Writing With Ease, I
SweetSong will do some K-4 work, including:
Handwriting Without Tears
Phonics Pathways
Right Start Math, Level A
Snuggie will be doing Pre-K stuff and we'll be using mostly Mother Goose and library books for her learning. She will use the wood blocks from HWT to get started on letter recognition and phonics.
With all three kids, we'll do one-day-a-week History (Story of the World, I) and Science. For science, we'll be using Usborne books as our starting point and library books as supplements.
It sounds like a lot to me, especially since we've signed the girls up for once-a-week dance class. Sharkbait is signed up for a homeschool PE class and I have two classes a week at the gym! I'm also going to be leading a book study for PWOC. Sharkbait has speech therapy and I still hope to make it out to library every Friday! Is it possible?
Probably.
I always struggle with perfection. I need to keep reminding myself:
1. These plans are not written in stone. Curriculum can be changed, classes can be changed. And that's okay.
2. Whatever gets done will benefit my children, our family, even if it's not done perfectly.
3. There are many others going through this or who have already gone through it. I just need to reach out when on the brink (or before I get to the brink) of insanity!
Ah, it's good to peptalk oneself once in a while. I feel a lot better about Tuesday, I'll tell you that much!
But I see this week as the beginning of our school year.
I didn't order the last of my curriculum until the first week in September. Here we are entering the second week and it's time to get a'movin' on school!
This year, Sharkbait is in 1st grade. For him, we're using:
Handwriting Without Tears - lower-case letters
Phonics Pathways - already more than half-way through book
Right Start Math, Level A - starting in Lesson 13
First Language Lessons
Writing With Ease, I
SweetSong will do some K-4 work, including:
Handwriting Without Tears
Phonics Pathways
Right Start Math, Level A
Snuggie will be doing Pre-K stuff and we'll be using mostly Mother Goose and library books for her learning. She will use the wood blocks from HWT to get started on letter recognition and phonics.
With all three kids, we'll do one-day-a-week History (Story of the World, I) and Science. For science, we'll be using Usborne books as our starting point and library books as supplements.
It sounds like a lot to me, especially since we've signed the girls up for once-a-week dance class. Sharkbait is signed up for a homeschool PE class and I have two classes a week at the gym! I'm also going to be leading a book study for PWOC. Sharkbait has speech therapy and I still hope to make it out to library every Friday! Is it possible?
Probably.
I always struggle with perfection. I need to keep reminding myself:
1. These plans are not written in stone. Curriculum can be changed, classes can be changed. And that's okay.
2. Whatever gets done will benefit my children, our family, even if it's not done perfectly.
3. There are many others going through this or who have already gone through it. I just need to reach out when on the brink (or before I get to the brink) of insanity!
Ah, it's good to peptalk oneself once in a while. I feel a lot better about Tuesday, I'll tell you that much!
It's Pathetic.
I know. It's pathetic. Just because we've moved across the country and did not have steady internet access for three months, that doesn't mean I should have neglected my blog.
Well, here I am, back online and brimming over with news!
We love our new house! It's so spacious! Four bedrooms means we have a guest room always available! Now, if we can only get our friends and family to fly or drive across the country to visit us...
Speaking of driving across the country...
We did it in four days. We crossed nine states in two vehicles. One was a little hybrid that, praise God, did not die going up and down the mountains of Colorado. Seriously, the only hybrids we saw in Colorado were abandoned on the side of the highways...We went 40-50 almost the whole way through the mountains, even though the speed limit was between 50-75 mph. Also interesting about driving through Colorado was the puking done by two of my kiddies in the mile-high city. I guess the change in the elevation and the heat got to them. They puked on and off the rest of the trip: in Walmart, in the van, in the hotel...
But it wasn't bad. Really!
I got pulled over in Arizona or Utah for tailgating my husband. I was definitely less than three car lengths behind him. The officer was really nice, though, and just told me to back off a little, for safety reasons. I agreed that it would be a good idea.
So, we're here now and mostly settled.
We've jumped into life here on base, getting involved in the chapel and the homeschool group. We pick up school again on Tuesday. This time all three kids will spend a little one-on-one time with me. It promises to be a busy, full, exciting time here! I can't wait to share it with you!
Well, here I am, back online and brimming over with news!
We love our new house! It's so spacious! Four bedrooms means we have a guest room always available! Now, if we can only get our friends and family to fly or drive across the country to visit us...
Speaking of driving across the country...
We did it in four days. We crossed nine states in two vehicles. One was a little hybrid that, praise God, did not die going up and down the mountains of Colorado. Seriously, the only hybrids we saw in Colorado were abandoned on the side of the highways...We went 40-50 almost the whole way through the mountains, even though the speed limit was between 50-75 mph. Also interesting about driving through Colorado was the puking done by two of my kiddies in the mile-high city. I guess the change in the elevation and the heat got to them. They puked on and off the rest of the trip: in Walmart, in the van, in the hotel...
But it wasn't bad. Really!
I got pulled over in Arizona or Utah for tailgating my husband. I was definitely less than three car lengths behind him. The officer was really nice, though, and just told me to back off a little, for safety reasons. I agreed that it would be a good idea.
So, we're here now and mostly settled.
We've jumped into life here on base, getting involved in the chapel and the homeschool group. We pick up school again on Tuesday. This time all three kids will spend a little one-on-one time with me. It promises to be a busy, full, exciting time here! I can't wait to share it with you!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Spankings and Speedtraps
We have these great s-curves in our subdivision that remind me of the s-curves in the town I grew up in. I love going fast around s-curves.
Two nights ago I was heading to Walmart, flying around those curves (okay, so it was only 40mph, but it felt fast; these are sharp curves.)
I got pulled over right before I hit the road leading out of the subdivision.
Ack!
I haven't been pulled over in about a decade! And I've never gotten a ticket! But I could see no way out of this one.
The policeman was very nice. He asked me if I knew what the speed limit there was. I looked hopefully over my shoulder; maybe a sign was posted? But, no. So, I gave it my best shot: 25? He smiled and said, "Actually, no. It's 30, but you were going 40 around those curves." (I knew this; I always watch my spedometer; it's fun.)
He assured me he was not going to give me a ticket, as long as all the documentation was in order (it was). He gave me a pink piece of paper (carbon copy) that had *warning* *warning* written all over it. No need to show up in court, no fine, just a warning. Thank you, sir, I said gratefully.
As I pulled away, I had this crazy thought: I'm going fly around those curves again on my way home! And do you know what popped into my head right after that?
"Foolishness!"
I spank my kids when they disobey a rule and shake my head when I see them try the exact same offense two minutes later. Foolish child, I think mournfully. You'll only get another spanking, you know! But here I was, right after a spanking, contemplating breaking the rule again! Okay, I'm not going to be foolish. I'm not 3 anymore, sista!
Humbled. A bit ashamed. But not foolish!
Well, not completely foolish...here's the rest of the story...
"They" are going to build new houses in our subdivision. One of my neighbors wrote a petition, asking them to consider not bringing more people into our subdivision, since there's only one road in and out. Think of the increased traffic! We have speeding problems, as it is! Hub and I signed the petition; in fact, I think we were the first to do it. Our neighbor presented it to the city council and they accepted it. That's why they were cracking down on speeding in our subdivision. Hence, I was caught...is that ironic (and very embarrassing!) or what?
My neighbor thought it was funny.
Oh, well, live and learn :)
For a (an?) hilarious recounting of an encounter with a law-enforcement officer read this:
http://http//highmaintenanceaspirations.blogspot.com/2010/03/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-time.html
Two nights ago I was heading to Walmart, flying around those curves (okay, so it was only 40mph, but it felt fast; these are sharp curves.)
I got pulled over right before I hit the road leading out of the subdivision.
Ack!
I haven't been pulled over in about a decade! And I've never gotten a ticket! But I could see no way out of this one.
The policeman was very nice. He asked me if I knew what the speed limit there was. I looked hopefully over my shoulder; maybe a sign was posted? But, no. So, I gave it my best shot: 25? He smiled and said, "Actually, no. It's 30, but you were going 40 around those curves." (I knew this; I always watch my spedometer; it's fun.)
He assured me he was not going to give me a ticket, as long as all the documentation was in order (it was). He gave me a pink piece of paper (carbon copy) that had *warning* *warning* written all over it. No need to show up in court, no fine, just a warning. Thank you, sir, I said gratefully.
As I pulled away, I had this crazy thought: I'm going fly around those curves again on my way home! And do you know what popped into my head right after that?
"Foolishness!"
I spank my kids when they disobey a rule and shake my head when I see them try the exact same offense two minutes later. Foolish child, I think mournfully. You'll only get another spanking, you know! But here I was, right after a spanking, contemplating breaking the rule again! Okay, I'm not going to be foolish. I'm not 3 anymore, sista!
Humbled. A bit ashamed. But not foolish!
Well, not completely foolish...here's the rest of the story...
"They" are going to build new houses in our subdivision. One of my neighbors wrote a petition, asking them to consider not bringing more people into our subdivision, since there's only one road in and out. Think of the increased traffic! We have speeding problems, as it is! Hub and I signed the petition; in fact, I think we were the first to do it. Our neighbor presented it to the city council and they accepted it. That's why they were cracking down on speeding in our subdivision. Hence, I was caught...is that ironic (and very embarrassing!) or what?
My neighbor thought it was funny.
Oh, well, live and learn :)
For a (an?) hilarious recounting of an encounter with a law-enforcement officer read this:
http://http//highmaintenanceaspirations.blogspot.com/2010/03/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-time.html
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Why I'm Grateful
Just felt like thanking the Lord for these blessings!
1. SweetSong wanted to do Phonics. We've started and stopped a few times now. But this time, I have this weird feeling (resolve?) that it'll stick. She's starting Kindergarten!
2. A visiting friend gathered a bunch of us moms and kids at the Riverwalk on Tuesday for a picnic. SO GOOD!
3. Another friend outfitted my girls for a year or so...and this woman has good taste...her daughter had a growth spurt so these 3T clothes won't fit her...they'll fit my gals! Here's to hoping my girls don't grow, hehe :)
4. I've been able to think through what I've experienced/learned here...closure is good...helps with the transition of moving in a few months...
5. We're having penne with broccoli and beans tonight for dinner. YUM! Sounds boring, but it's good! It's those little things that make our day, isn't it?
:)
1. SweetSong wanted to do Phonics. We've started and stopped a few times now. But this time, I have this weird feeling (resolve?) that it'll stick. She's starting Kindergarten!
2. A visiting friend gathered a bunch of us moms and kids at the Riverwalk on Tuesday for a picnic. SO GOOD!
3. Another friend outfitted my girls for a year or so...and this woman has good taste...her daughter had a growth spurt so these 3T clothes won't fit her...they'll fit my gals! Here's to hoping my girls don't grow, hehe :)
4. I've been able to think through what I've experienced/learned here...closure is good...helps with the transition of moving in a few months...
5. We're having penne with broccoli and beans tonight for dinner. YUM! Sounds boring, but it's good! It's those little things that make our day, isn't it?
:)
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