HS: Week 2b

We read, and we read, and we read a little bit more.

This week finished Week 2 of our Sonlight p4/5 curriculum and we finished "rowing" Harry and the Dirty Dog (reading it every day and completing fun activities related to it). Before we started school, I thought we would use Sonlight curriculum just for Ray and literature-based activities specifically for Chandler.  But it turns out that Chandler always wants to sit in on the Sonlight readings and Ray always wants to do the activities with Chandler's book of the week. 

I also realized that Owen Ray's curriculum is super light on Fridays so that families who only have a 4 day school week can easily adapt it to fit their needs.  On that fifth day, they usually go to a zoo, museum, park, library or some type of field trip.  Um, yes. I will be joining that group. 

Chandler's Activities for Week 2

CR Smith Museum

This week, we were able to go on our first field trip with our homeschool community.  We visited the CR Smith Museum in Fort Worth and learned all about airplanes... and legos.

It was hot this week.  Too hot.  But we still did our level best to get outside every day. 

 

 

My Little Inventors

Owen Ray invented an "Ant Killing Machine" and then attempted to execute his design using some of his blocks.  Chandler tried to help.

Craft-time at the Library

HS: Week 2a

 

I am one happy mama.  This weekend Owen Ray asked Trey and I if he could do his schoolwork, and we had no answer prepared.  The question: "What will I do if my child asks me if he can do schoolwork on a Saturday?" had never entered my mind.  Ultimately, I ended up telling him not to worry about schoolwork and just play because I believe that "play is the work of the child" (at least the Montessori-ish part of me does).  In most cases, more critical-thinking skills and imaginative risk-taking go on in the playroom than the classroom.  With that said, though, I was pretty excited that he enjoyed his first week of Kindergarten enough to want to continue it.  I think the curriculum choices are going to end up being a good fit for him.

So far, week 2 has gotten off to a swimming start.  The kids and I took a morning walk and happened upon some sunflowers (or are they black-eyed Susans?).  In any case, the boys enjoyed picking a few for their sister and then we headed home to get Elinor to bed.  In lieu of piling up on the couch to do their read-alouds, we opted to head outside, fill up the kiddie pool, and I read to them while they splashed around.  Would you believe that their comprehension increases when they're not forced to sit still while being read to?  Elinor woke up shortly after we finished our readings and joined the boys in the water.  

HS: Week 1b

It's hard for little boys to be cooped up inside all day long.  And there have been far too many days this summer that we haven't set foot outside.  I blame it all on sweltering Texas heat.  Just the thought of heading to the mailbox makes me break into a sweat. Also, my garden is not so much a fan of the heat either.  Thankfully, there have been some overcast days and more mild temperatures (the 90s are sometimes considered "mild" in mid-August).  We finished up our week of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and spent plenty of time enjoying the outdoors.

Wednesday - Exploring a new park

Thursday - Owen Ray's "Science Experiment"

We love how many colorful insects visit our garden

Friday - Nature Walk

Chocolate Chip Cookie Counting

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Story Wheel

HS: Week 1a

 Since Trey is heading back to school a week before his student's arrive, I figured it would be a great time to officially launch our homeschooling curriculum, as well.  I'd spent the last few weeks fine-tuning what I thought I wanted our homeschooling days/weeks to look like, but I knew not to get too attached to my schedule.

When the alarm clock went off at 5AM, I actually felt relieved.  This summer, we've had the luxury of sleeping in, and my alarm clock has been my 12 month old daughter.  When she starts crying, I jump out of bed and start my day.  Somehow, waking up to the sound of something other than crying felt... well... good. 

 The boys woke up around 7 which gave me two good hours to accomplish the tasks I would normally be doing during the day (the hours that would now be dedicated to homeschooling).  This was a good thing.  Owen Ray had been looking forward to his first day of "Kindergarten," and he expected to get started immediately.  Chandler was, likewise, excited -- he thought putting on his brother's old backpack (albeit upside down) meant that he was ready for preschool. 

During Elinor's first nap, I had planned to do the activities that were geared for Chandler.  Over the summer we've been working through the "Before Five in a Row" booklist, and I had hoped to find something similar to that for this school year.  If you're not familiar with Five in a Row (FIAR), it's a literature based program that uses the best picture books written as a basis to explore broader learning topics.  For example, you might read a book like "Blueberries for Sal" and then plan activities to teach your preschooler about how plants like blueberries grow, information about the state of Maine, or the habits and behaviors of bears -- all things related to the book.  Since we've read every book on that list, I was hopeful to come across a similar program, but with a different booklist.  I was super blessed to score Picture Book Activities by Trish Kuffner for less than $10 on Amazon.  It had a dozen or so activities for each of the 50 stellar picture books she'd chosen.  I created a lesson plan template, and then just plugged in the activities I wanted to do each day of the week.  So easy.

This first week we're reading through If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and completing 2 or 3 activities related to it per day.  On Monday we did melted crayon drawings that we posted on our fridge with Scotch tape because the little mouse wanted paper and crayons to draw a picture and display it. 

  On Tuesday we acted out all the parts of the story using props.  As I read each page, the boys raced around the house to find what they needed (including a box with a pillow and a blanket to take a nap) and baking chocolate cookies to enjoy with their milk mustaches.

 

I really hope to get outside each and every day with the kids.  They need to be able to get outside, soak up sunshine, and just breathe deeply.  We are so blessed to have a neighborhood playground and a small walking trail which my children affectionately call "The Enchanted Forest" (not to be confused with "The 100 Acre Woods" which boring people simply refer to as the frisbee golf course at Bicentennial Park).  On our walk through "The Enchanted Forest the boys spotted a rather weird looking fruit that they wanted to bring home.  When we got home we cut it in half and then did some research to discover that it was the fruit of an Osage Orange tree.  Because its inedible fruit repels insects, savvy folks used to place one under their bed to keep out the spiders.  Owen Ray was fascinated by this and couldn't wait to share his discovery with his dad as soon as he got home. 

Our Neighborhood Playground

This is how Elinor feels about homeschooling.

Brothers are best friends (thoughts on reading-aloud)

 Becoming a stay-at-home mom this past year was not just a major change for me; it was a major change for my 2 and 4 year old, as well.  The daycare center they attended was highly structured and tightly run (and rightly so). My two little guys had rooms on opposite ends of the center, and they did not see each other during the day.  When I transitioned to staying home, they had to learn how to function as siblings; how to share, how to fight fair, and how to live in relative peace and harmony now that they were spending more than just the weekends together.  

In spite of the frequent sibling squabbles, this process of watching their relationship as brothers flourish has truly been a joy. Our prayer for our boys is that they will grow up to be the best of friends.  It's our mantra here.  I cannot tell you how many times (a day) we say "Brothers are best friends".  If we keep saying it, it's got to soak in, right?  

One of the best and easiest ways that I have seen my boys grow together has been through their mutual enjoyment of reading-aloud.  We have spent countless hours together reading through one fabulous picture book after another.  And my heart smiles when I hear those sweet words uttered from the lips of my little tank - "Read it again, mommy!" Big brother often agrees, and so we stay curled up on the couch reading through Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel one more time.  

This past year I've used the book lists from Sonlight p3/4 and Before Five in a Row.  I cannot recommend them highly enough. We don't have the money to purchase all the wonderful books included on the book list, so we check them out from the library instead.  If we decide that we must have a book then we request it from Paperbackswap.com or seek out the best deal online.  

Before Five in a Row

Sonlight Core p3/4

If you've got little ones and you're looking a way to help their friendship flourish, I would suggest beginning the daily practice of reading-aloud to them... together.  These books lists would be a great place to start.