Preschool Begins.

While I totally believe that unschooling is the way to go in the early years, I also know that with S I need to include a few different things to let her have a feel of the things the world has to offer. I'm a totally an unorganized unstructured person, and so we do things as they work for us.

Monday - we started with Name recognition! So S is learning what her name looks like in print, ALL CAPS right now and eventually when she starts to see it and know it we'll convert to Cap with lower case! We also worked on how to hold a pen, in a none-pressured way. She is a fist holder, so I'm trying to get her to look a little more comfortable with the pen - so we're working with FAT glitter markers from Laurentian

Tuesday - we began Calendar activities. Where I'm introducing the days of the Month, day (as in weekday name) and number. Because it was spur of the moment, my numbers are just squares of paper stuck on to a $5 calendar from Staples (a few years ago!) I'm hoping to get a pocket thingy so that we can have more fun with it, but we'll run with what we've got today!

Wednesday - I made both girls Finger painting bags, similar to the Crayola Mess free Easel thing -- both of them spent a couple hours with these little thingies and they were simple to make costing less than a couple dollars

S is also getting a kick out of the tepee (mentioned below!)

So things are underway and I'm introducing one or two new things each day and including a reasonable amount of reading time. Tomorrow I'm hoping to add shaving cream activities to our list but right now I need some good cookie trays in good shape to work with! LOL!

So there you have it - that's what we're up to this week!

Science and History Grade 2

Well school began on Monday and after 3 days we're doing pretty good with our new time-table, I think it will work even if we aren't timely.

Science
So we opened up our science studies this year with a unit on plants. So far we're learning about seeds. We have dissected Great Northern Beans and Blackeyed Peas and our field trip was to the Moe's where we got beans on our burritos and we peeled the skin off to to see the cotyledon (kah-til-ee-don) and embryo inside! I also have the remnants of our science experiment all over my computer desk here...

We have soaked some seeds in a solution of bleach and water (1 tbsp of bleach to 2 cups water) so the seeds won't mildew or mold. We then placed them in a ziplock baggie with moistened paper towel to so we can watch the embryo emerge, the roots grow down and then the leaves shoot up! We have one set on top of the fridge (for heat) and one taped to the window to see which ones will grow faster (the warm ones or the sunny ones). I'm setting up a lapbook as well to go with this unit, just because our unit provides cut outs and papers that go with it and I need somewhere to store the stuff and she'd like to be able to go back and look at it again later.

Ancient History
Here we are finishing up a unit on Ancient Greece - we opened with the Trojan War and are learning about the Trojan Horse, Odysseus, and the Odyssey. And though we won't be quite in tune with the Olympics there is also a unit on the Original Olympics and we might just pause there for a few days and explore some of the Olympic footage and info that surrounds Beijing 2008.

American History
I've accidentally opened up another can of worms and decided that we need to learn a little about American history. We're starting in 1764 with American Girl story Kaya. Learning about the Native Indians (Nez Pierce) and eventually heading down to our neck of the woods where we'll learn a little about the Creek and Cherokee Indians of GA - which will help us toward a girl scout badge Georgia Native Peoples. With that in mind we have built our Tepee in the living room, and are working on a nice set of moccasins for M and I. I may have to buck up and get another kit for S as I'm sure she'll feel left out, though I think I be able to fashion my own and just have M sew them together! :) Today we'll be reading about the "Trail of Tears."

Odd Creative Adventure
As an offshoot of History, Creative Writing, Art and other subjects M will spend the year designing a notebook around her imaginary birth place. In it so far I have asked her to share their calendar - which is apparently different from our Calendar. Their Flag which apparently looks like the British flag but is actually differently coloured

Language - we've started our way through English for the Thoughtful Child.
Math - we've dug out our Grade 2 Math book.

So there you have it... Most of what we've done the past couple days. Next week we have a few different adventures as we begin classes outside of the house.

Our Initial Plan for 2008-09 School Year

So school starts for most kids in our state on Monday. And in searching a typical day in Preschool just because I wanted ideas of what to do with S while M does her work. I made up a plan - an ambitious plan, but a plan just the same - everything starts with a plan in my book! :)

Before I say more, my goal with M is to make it to lunch - nothing rigorous, nothing strenuous. Dh's says try to accomplish at least 2/3 of the list and be happy! My thought, we'll do what we do and be happy as long as she learns and doesn't fall behind!

So without further adieu - this is M's Grade 2 plan - she has desires of getting up EARLY so school will start at 8:30 for her.

8:30 – 9:15 Math
9:30 – 9:45 Language Arts
9:45 – 10:00 Writing
10:00 – 10:30 Snack Time
10:30 – 10:45 Recess
10:45 – 11:30 Science
11:30 – 12:00 PE / Health
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 Quiet Time
2:00 – 2:30 Art Computer Music or Home Ec
2:30 – 3:00 Reading
3:00 – 3:30 Snack

Realizing that my Littlest is 2.5 yrs old. Take this goals list with a HUMONGOUS pinch of salt. I'm not going to force, but will hopefully have plenty of stuff available for her to have fun with so she isn't feeling left out.

9:00 – 9:30 Circle Time
9:30 – 10:00 Center Time
10:00 – 10:30 Snack Time
10:30 – 10:45 Recess
10:45 – 11:30 Free Time - Centers or Art
11:30 – 12:00 PE
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 Nap / Quiet
2:00 – 2:30 Art Computer Music or Home Ec
2:30 – 3:00 Reading

Nothing in our house is EVER forced. I'm terrible at adhering to a schedule so this will be really loosely applied, but it gives me a skeleton to work from - and with that - that means that I won't fritter away my day mindlessly (which I tend to do!) ... and if that is accomplished then we're doing well! :)

The Shocking Truth of a Homeschooling Dad

Ya know its funny! Of late we've been predictable. Its summer so when dh gets home from work, we can be found lounging around the living room watching TV or maybe mum on the computer, older dd in her room reading and the little one running from end to end of the house! Its too hot to do that outside so the playground right now is indoors.

As the school year begins, I often wonder dh thinks when he gets home. I've never been the best house-keeper (I'm working on it!) Sometimes he finds books strewn from one end of the house to the other. The girls will pick up a book and read and you can usually trace the trail of them by following the books they've left in their wake! They get picked up later but still that trail is evidence of learning happening which is a sign I want to hang inside our front door! "Please Excuse the mess, we're busy learning!"

For the next little while though the girls and will embark on a journey to 1764 (with AG Kaya of the Nez Pierce or Nimiipuu) to learn about the Native American people and events that happened during that time. Kaya, the American Girl doll is a good catalyst for us to start with!

So with that in mind, the above layout shows 3 things... what the girls thought of our first activity, what our first activity looked like and dh's face when he saw our handiwork!

(papers from Outerbanks by Eva Kipler, layout inspired by the August 2008 Ad-spiration Challenge at Gottapixel, fonts Myriad Pro.)

Ruby Falls

We visited Ruby Falls, in Chattanooga, TN on the weekend. The girls got to see first hand the effects of water on limestone - forming Stalactites and Stalagmites. It was pretty cool!

M's favourite was the Steak and Potatoes. S' favourite was the Dragon's foot and Elephants foot.

The falls were awesome.

Baking Secrets - and Brownie Try-Its

Well, M came up with the idea that her 'kinz are having a party tonight, and she absolutely had to make "Wacky Cake."

And thus we began work on her VSC Confectionarily Yours Try It (which we got approval for, from the GSVSC, over a month ago! )

We have to do four Activities....

07/18/09 - #2 With your troop, or a friend and an adult, make a cake from scratch or from a mix. Help purchase the ingredients for your cake.

Well she decided she wanted muffins/cupcakes instead. She helped buy the ingredients, printed the instructions for the cake, and with very little help and a little guidance prepared the batter! (me I just took photos and offered suggestions! - it was hard to stand back and not dig in with her, but I'm getting better! Holding a camera helps! :)) (Image Blurred to protect the innocent.)

She's going to share her wares with a couple of the girls from the troop tomorrow when they go on another little try it adventure!

Potty Train

Learning my lesson, the little one is more stubborn than her sister. Bribery will work.

When she gets all the stickers on her "Train" chart, she will get this cute little guy on the left. She is madly in love with dinosaurs, and Land Before Time's Chomper has hit the big one. He's just adorable!

We have had one success making it to the potty - well mostly - she kinda missed and hit the floor first but finished in the potty! But that's okay! That's what vinyl flooring is for right!? We seriously haven't focused much this week so back to it we will get on the weekend, in the mean time I need to get this wee lad ordered! Well, its not really bribery - its a reward for success!