Spring 2013 School Schedule

I just registered the girls for Spring 2013 classes at Friday School.  I am excited that they were able to get into the classes that will help them, and they will enjoy!  Here are their classes for Spring:

Jaden (3rd grade):

Block A: Draw Write Now

Block B: Incredible Edible Bible Fun

Block C: Spanish II

Morgan (1st grade):

Block A: Spanish I

Block B: Incredible Edible Bible Fun

Block C: Historical American Girl

We only have 2 weeks left of Fall Friday School, and then, we will have a 3 month break. 

Our home schooling will continue throughout the break, of course.  We are doing a lot of fun things at home, too... I just have not done well blogging about it. 

Back to School 2012!

Morgan, age 5 (birthday 1/22/07) First Grade 2012-2013 school year

 

Jaden, age 8 (birthday 8/5/04) Third Grade 2012-2013 school year

 

I had to photograph the girls for their Friday School badges, and this is what I got.  Though we do home school all year long, many activities are only available to us during the school year.  We are starting back in all of the school activities.

 

Friday School starts on September 21st, and will be every Friday until the end of November.  Morgan will be taking kindergarten classes there with her friends.  Jaden will be taking Character Traits class, Team Building, and Alphabet Arts.  Their classes were very picked over by the time we got to pick because we took a 2 year break from the cooperative.  Next semester, they will have more choices. 

 

GEMS girls' club starts back up this coming Wednesday.  Morgan is still not old enough to attend, but Jaden will be a part of the group.  She is very excited for it to start,

 

AWANA starts back on September 10th.  Jaden will be in Truth and Training and Morgan will be in Sparkies.  They are both a little anxious to start because their friends will be in the groups younger than them.  Most of Jaden's friends will still be Sparkies and Morgan's friends will still be Cubbies.

 

We are ready to get started with all of these activities.  Looking at the schedule exhausts me, but it will be fun. 

Zoology Book of Animals

For our field trips to the zoos and other animal locations, the girls have taken photos.  I needed a way for them to be able to display their photos and the information they have learned about each animal.  Because of this, I came up with the idea of making a scrapbook notebook. 

Jaden and Morgan are doing this on their own.  They are putting together scrapbook pages with their own cutting and pasting skills.  They are even putting "fact boxes" on each page to note what they have learned.  I like that it is all done with their hands.  They will enjoy looking at it in a few years when they have progressed. 

I have a scrapbook bag that I am toting with us to various libraries.  All of the scrap booking is happening at the library where we have books about the animals close at hand.  This is a great addition to their Zoology text!!

Twister House

We have some storms headed this way... I hope they pass over us.  We saw what a twister can turn your house into, and I do not want to see that in real life =)

The Lorax

Have you been out to see The Lorax at the movie theater yet?  This is a movie you just MUST see!  The animation is awesome, and the story can't be beat! 

Before you go, pick up a copy of the book at your local library and read it first!  It is by Dr. Seuss.  I love all of his books, and this one is one of the best!

UNLESS

This movie fit right in with our Girl Scout event coming up in April for Earth Day.  The girls will be doing a bunch of fun projects with other Girl Scouts, including planting a tree to take home with them.  That means both girls will have a tree seedling to plant in our yard!! 

Since the event is not until April, we picked up a bush to plant.  We picked out this willow, and the girls did a great job getting it into the ground.  While planting, Morgan said that she was so happy to be planting because she is helping the community.  =)

This is what we did as a "homeschool project" for this movie:

1. we read the book

2. we discussed the book

3. the girls did activity pages I found online at Seussville.com

4. we saw the movie

5. we went planted a bush (and will later plant a tree!)

"UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot,

Nothing is going to get better.  It's not."

One week after seeing this movie, we went to a library event and had the opportunity to see 3 more Dr. Seuss books in animation!  "The Cat in the Hat", "Green Eggs and Ham", and "Horton Hears a Who".  Turn your Lorax-movie-watching experience into an event! 

Homeschool Teachers

If you homeschool your children, this post is for you.  I know us homeschool moms consider ourselves "moms", and everything that goes along with being a mom is just mom-stuff... BUT, it isn't.  Being a homeschool mom is a big job that not everyone can do! 
A homeschool mom is actually a TEACHER.  Though you may not consider yourself a teacher, you are!!  This title comes with some perks.  I don't know all of them, but I have found some that I thought I would share with you.
First of all, to get these perks, most places require a teacher ID card.  You can make your own, or some homeschool organizations provide one.  First Class Homeschool, for example, send you one when you become a part of their homeschool group. 
After you have your teacher ID, you can start enjoying the benefits.  Check these out:

1. Museums, art galleries, and other hands-on learning organizations usually have a discount off on admission for teachers (your children get in with the same discount). 
2. Craft stores like Michaels and Joanns offer a discount as well.  All you have to do is show your ID at the register to get a discount on everything you buy.

3. Books store including Barnes and Noble, Borders, Books-a-Million and Half Price Books give a percentage off.

4. RoomStore, Apple, Banana Republic, J. Crew and The Limited are stores that you need to check before making a special trip. 

4. Some discounts are given according to where you live in the country.  They vary widely.  Check around you.

These are just a few of the places I have found.  I only just started using my ID last week.  If you are not sure if a place offers a discount to teachers, just ask!  What have you got to lose!!

The Secret World of Arrietty

We finally saw the movie that goes with the book we read "The Borrowers".  I had such high hopes for the movie.  In my head I built it up much bigger than it was.  This movie was ok.  There were a couple of funny parts.  Overall, that is it- it was ok.  Many differences were found between the book and movie (or course, that is how it always is).  The biggest disappointment for me was the ending.  It was weird to walk out of the theater feeling as though the story wasn't over.

Dinosaurs

Jaden and Morgan can both fit into the foot print of a dinosaur!  Wow!

Above, Morgan attempts to put the dinosaur back together

Above shows the size comparison of a dinosaur bone to animals we have today.  Below, Jaden looks through the microscope to discover more interesting dinosaur facts

All about dinosaurs.  This was just a mini exhibit inside the museum.  There were a lot of interesting facts to devour.  My girls aren't big on dinosaurs, so this was the perfect size for us- just enough to learn something but not enough to bore them =)

The Borrowers

The Secret World of Arrietty comes out at the movie theater tomorrow.  In case you haven't heard about it, it is based on the classic book by Mary Norton called "The Borrowers". 

If you have never read this book to your children, now is the time to dive on in!  It is a cute tale about a family of "borrowers" that live in a "borrowed" house and "borrow" things from the regular-sized house occupants.  If you have ever wondered why you can not find the missing match to a sock or something else that you know you laid right where you could get to it... This may explain it all!!

There is actually a whole series of "The Borrowers" books.  We are planning to read them all, but so far we have read the first one pictured above.  The girls loved the story!

Now, we will be headed to the movie theater to see the story on the big screen!  I can't wait!!  Stay tuned for our feedback after the show!

The Secret World of Arrietty Trailer

Memory Books @ Michaels

If you have a Michaels Craft Store near you, you may want to get over there for some of their events.  They have events for children and adults.  They can give you lots of great ideas.  I love it there!  My girls do, too!!  Today we had the pleasure of attending on of the events for kids.  Jaden and Morgan got to make memory books out of paper bags.  Not only was it a fun event, but it gave us a great idea for more books!!  It was so easy.  The girls made some beautiful books, as you can see.  They are going to use them to put in their photos of the Girl Scouts 100th Anniversary Event they are going to tomorrow. 

They did these with small craft bags, but the bag possibilities are endless!  Imagine using the grocery size bags and making books.  Those would be great for trip memories. 

I wish I had the step by step instructions for you, but I couldn't find a link on the Michaels site.  I will have to find it later and add it.  =)

My Unsocialized HomeSchoolers

(Morgan falls asleep reading her book)

It always amazes me to hear people's comments when they hear that my girls are home schooled.  It is a 50-50 reaction.  Some people agree and some disagree with homeschooling. 

Those opposed to homeschooling, usually site the social aspect of staying at home.  My children will become freaks of nature- not able to communicate with people outside of their family- is usually what they say. 

I have had people so adamant that I am wrong tell me stories of children they know who were home schooled and turned into quiet children.  They are so sure that if the children don't go to a school building, they will not develop skills to socialize.  Maybe they will turn into hermits!  Like the lepers of Jesus' time, they will live separate from society, never to see or talk to anyone! 

I tell you, they must not know my children!  If you meet either of my girls, you would never look at them and think those things.  They are faced with more activities than many children their age.  We have a calendar full of them! 

I am making this post for the people who are bent on thinking home schoolers are unsocialized.  Follow my blog, and watch all of the fun we have!  In addition, you will learn some things about what you can do with your own children.  Children are meant to be cherished!  They are only little for so long! 

Service Project #2

The 2nd service project for Jaden's GEMS club is today!  They are decorating boxes for the local food pantry.  The boxes will be filled with food to fill hungry bellies for the holidays.  We filled 2 boxes with food as our contribution.  It included veggies, gravy, jello-o, rice, beans, etc. 

In a couple of hours we will be headed to the GEMS meeting where the girls will decorate and fill boxes.  How fun is that?!

Class #8: Religion

For religion, many of the school books we have center around God as the creator and give value to He who deserves the credit for creating our amazing bodies, lives, universe, etc.  This is something that can not be taught in the public school system.

Jaden is reading some first readers about bible stories.  Dennis Jones has a series of books that offer great illustrations and simple words for each story.  Jaden read "Who will Help?" last night.  This is a book about the good samaritan.  Such an awesome story, and I love that it is made in a way that she can read it and understand it all on her own.  Mary Manz Simon and Dennis Jones are paired up on several of the books. 

In addition, the girls are now in 2 God-centered programs.  One of the programs meets every other week, and the other one meets every week.  Each program teaches about God, the Bible, service, self-worth, and those kinds of values.  They do service projects as well.  Today, they are going to a nursing home to deliver hand-made cards and a cake and to sing for the elderly men and women's birthdays. 

Class #12: Writing

The girls have been doing writing that is included with their reading exercises in Abeka.  I, also, give them printed off sheets from the internet for extra practice.  Their formal writing practice comes from Rod and Staff.  These workbooks are great because they give lots of practice and are a good price!  Morgan is doing the writing book for Grade 1 and Jaden is doing the one for Grade 2.  Jaden is now officially starting to learn cursive. 

Class #2: Art

Art is a easy subject to fit in.  It actually is part of a lot of the other subjects.  The world studies, writing, and reading all have art projects to go with them.  For writing, they use Draw, Write, Now which shows them how to draw step by step and includes copy work to practice writing.  We, also, go to Michaels and take advantage of their free crafts.  This painting above is one that Jaden made at Michaels.

Class #14: Wood-working

LeCount is in charge of wood-working with the girls.  He takes them to the free workshops 3 to 4 times a month.  Each time they make something, they even get a completion badge!  How fun is that?!

Class #7: Reading

For reading, the girls started with Explode the Code, but they are both working with Abeka now.  It is amazing how far they have come!!  It was a struggle at first for Jaden because the words would overwhelm her, but not any more.  She is tackling them all!!  Because of the rough start in reading, she is completing her grade 1 reading book this week.  All of the rest of her curriculum is grade 2.
Morgan will be starting grade 1 reading in October. 

Class #11: World Studies

World Studies turned into a large project these past few months.  I am always on the lookout for fun and free activities for the girls to do, and Michaels is a great place for free craft classes!  This summer they had world crafts, and I took their schedule and worked the learning into the crafts.  Before the girls went to craft class, they learned about the country at home.  It was so much fun!!  I checked out books about each country and had worksheets and activities for each one.  Then, I put the crafts they made and the worksheets and activities into binders seperated by continent.   We had world studies and art all rolled into one!!

These are the countries they studied to go with Michaels crafts (I inserted a few more countries and added my own crafts for them as well including Nigeria, Kenya, Argentina, and Venezuela):

*Tuesday June 21: 11am-2pm Swedish Dolls & Flags

*Thursday June 23: 11am-2pm German Hat & bell

*Saturday June 25: 11am-2pm Eqyptian Heiroglyoph & Mummy

*Tuesday June 28: 11am-2pm Bahamas Can Hug & Lei

*Saturday July 2: 11am-2pm United States warrior shield & pin

*Tuesday July 5: 11am-2pm Italy suncatcher & pizza

*Thursday July 7: 11am-2pm Australia aboriginal art & koala

*Saturday July 9: 11am-2pm India henna hand & elephant

*Tuesday July 12: 11am-2pm Russia nesting dolls & bear

*Thursday July 14: 11am-2pm France impressionist painting & man

*Saturday July 16: 11am-2pm UK crown & shamrock

*Tuesday July 19: 11am-2pm Japan printing block & dog

*Thursday July 21: 11am-2pm Greece  pot & torch

*Saturday July 23: 11am-12pm Mexico sun & flower

*Tuesday July 26: 11am-2pm China Tibetian painting & tangram

*Thursday July 28: 11am-2pm SouthAfrica friendsh bracelet & lion

*Saturday July 30: 11am-2pm Brazil mask & snake

Class #6: Mathematics

I am using Singapore Math with the girls.  All of the other programs we tried, I just did not like.  We tried Horizons, Rod and Staff, and Abeka.  So far, this curriculum has been awesome for teaching math!  As always, Jaden and Morgan are at the same level.  Morgan always wants to keep up with her big sister =)

Class #13: Computer Education

Computers- such a fun thing to learn!  Jaden and Morgan do not get computer time at home... Only because we have only one comuter which is used for work/job searches. 

However, the local library has an awesome computer lab for them to use.  There are books to read, educational games to play, and just the overall "getting used to how to use a computer" aspect of it.  I know I will need to break down and purchase Reader Rabbit software to use at home every now and then... Or find something safe online.