'13/14 Week 1 Day 1

The first day of our new school year is successfully behind us. I expect to spend about a week or two ironing out the kinks in my planning to make the days go smoother and more effectively. Not that today was a bad mess! Not at all. I was VERY surprised how fast and efficiently everything went. I mean everything. Yes, teaching Second Grade and Kindergarten is more work, but a through planning makes everything flow beautifully. And we had a fun day. We worked hard and we accomplished a lot. I am very pleased. Andrew, God bless his heart, needs to still work on focusing (and I am saying this after ten weeks on very little focused workbook time), but his attitude toward his schoolwork is awesome! Makes me want to teach him until ... forever. :)

As usual, we started our day off with Bible songs, memory verses, Bible stories and facts, and this morning also a craft illustrating the creation of the world. The hula-hoops are there to learn about personal space. :)

Saara adding a few final touches to our creation circles.

A mug to trace the circles, lots of construction paper, cotton balls, and stickers make a decent back ground for the story. The "Zzz..." is not for God sleeping on the seventh day, by the way.

Math time. We reviewed simple counting and filled out Lesson 1 in both kids' workbooks. Saara had trouble remembering how to count by fives, so we brought out our labels and buttons to help her refresh her memory.

Handwriting. Saara was thrilled to have her very own handwriting workbook. She wanted more ...

... so she disappeared into her room with her copywork examples (the letter of the day 'F' and her full name) and emerged with her tablet filled with very good handwriting.

We finished our day with a civics class. Previously, Andrew and I have just briefly talked about the main symbols of the US, like the White House or the flag. Today, we took a closer look at what are symbols and what are some of the symbols standing for the United States. We started with the the flag.

Andrew colored the flag and learned about the numbers of stripes and stars. We also recited the Pledge of Allegiance and read a book explaining the history and meaning behind the words.

And, of course, it being the first day, we had to finish it on a sweet note. Some wise-owl cupcakes to celebrate the school year ahead.

2013 Summer Activities 8

As the week started, I was a bit apprehensive because I had nothing planned for the kids except for their morning swimming lessons. Would they be bored out of their minds? 
Well, I did not count on them being SO resourceful. I told them 'no' on TV every time they asked, and they came up with loads of things to do. Most of them were terribly artsy.

Last week of swimming lessons.

One day, the kids were learning a bit about water safety.

And there was the fun day.

One afternoon Saara asked me, if she could go ahead and paint. Sure, I said. I had no idea that both kids painted for four days and at the end of it all we organized a little exhibition.

 

The next levels accomplished. Saara's swimming instructors were shocked when I told them Saara was just five years old. She was the youngest in her group of mainly 9-12 (or so)-olds.

More painting. Now on the the rocks.

Andrew's rock faces.

I have been going over and organizing things for the new school year. It is only two weeks away! One day, I dressed the kids up in the Wild West style stuff and made some WANTED posters. Andrew and Saara thought it was a lot of fun.

Wild Wild West. It is going to be a Wild New School Year!

Drum roll, please! Andrew setting up the art exhibition.

I think, some abstract pieces Saara painted are worth a pretty penny (as if I would ever sell any). Totally 'frame-able'.

The artists 'discussing' their work just before the 'official' opening.

'12/13 Week 2 Day 6

We did not get to playing with, i.e. learning more, about magnets today. Oh, well. They will not disappear and facts about them will not change, so we are quite safe to catch up with our science lesson about magnets next week.

We did try to paint batik style in our geography class, though. That consisted of drawing a design on a paper with a sharpened candle stick and then brushing paint over the design that revealed the white candle wax lines. We used white crayons instead and it worked. The outcome might have been more dramatic with the candle wax, but crayon lines were visible enough and the children had a hands-on experience of how some people in the world work with fabric. We also read about basket weaving, wood carving, carpet knotting, and other crafts people still do all over the world. 

Later this afternoon, we involved the kids in our church's preparations for tomorrow's back to school luncheon. Both children were scrubbing tables and chairs, sweeping floors, washing windows, etc. alongside with us. They had a great time doing this and will have even greater time celebrating the new school year with other kids in church tomorrow.

Today, I also sent off the registration form for Starlight Singers choir for Saara and Precious Notes bell choir for both kids. Andrew and Saara are looking forward to their 'choir practices' very much. 

Saara and her craft sticks she uses to solve math problems. Today, I noticed she has been busy drawing smiley faces onto some of them. :o)

Painting over crayon designs - almost like dying fabric using batik technique.

The crayon designs are pretty visible.

Andrew's reading is improving.

Instilling good work ethic. Both kids hard at work preparing for tomorrow's luncheon.

Back to school! BTW, these flower pencils were a lot of fun to make.

Back to School!

We do not have set traditions what to do to celebrate a new school year. It seems, however, that taking pictures and playing with balloons are becoming a tradition. Also, so are going bowling and eating a cake. We accomplished the first two this morning and will master the last two activities this coming week. 

Big day for my 4-year-old baby girl! She is now being 'officially' homeschooled.

I asked Andrew and Saara to color their names for their school work binders.

All ready to fill the empty binders with some awesome adventures.

Last Saturday Before

Today is the last Saturday before school starts. The children and I spent the whole morning talking about studying and learning, about homeschool. We made an "Andrew poster" and sorted out Andrew's new cool calendar, we looked at some of his school books and went over some school rules. Before we blew up a whole lot of balloons and dug into a delicious Fist Day of School cake, we gathered around Andrew and prayed for him. On Monday then, the fun begins. I can see myself recording every step of the way. More than educating it feels like we will be making a lot of memories.