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. 

Class #9: Spanish

For Spanish, the girls have been using songs, dance, and conversation to learn Spanish...  They are using the workbooks only for extra practice.  They took a Folklorico Dance Camp in the summer and learned some songs and dances.  They don't seem to notice they are speaking a different language that way.  I need to find a bilingual play group for more practice. 

Class #5: Gymnastics

For physical activity, Jaden and Morgan are taking gymnastics 2 times a week.  They LOVE it!!!  I never imagined that they would enjoy the class as much as they do, but they can not get enough of it!!  They are part of a homeschool group, so we even get to go to gymnastics during the day when the public school kids are in school.  The class lasts 2 hours, and includes 30 minutes of free time.

Some of their accomplishments: skilled jumps on the trampoline, handstands, cartwheels, splits, rolls, and working on the bars and balance beams.     

I like the fact that the place is professional, so they can go on to be real gymnasts if they choose to.  Many of the teachers and teachers' children have gotten to the professional level or junior professional level.  If either or both of the girls decide to get serious about it, the teachers are stern and require perfection.  For now, the girls are enjoying the playing =)

Class #3: English Literature

For Literature, we are reading several classics and doing lapbooks and crafts to go along with them.  The first book we started with and are almost finished with is part of the Little House on the Prairie series.  It is the 4th book in the series called "On the Banks of Plum Creek".  In the book, Laura and Mary made a button string for Carrie for Christmas, so Jaden and Morgan made button strings =)

Class #1: Anatomy & Physiology

For their Anatomy and Physiology class, we are using Apologia's Exploring Creation Science Series.  There is a textbook and a notebook that goes with the class.  Jaden and Morgan each have a notebook.  In the first chapter, it is a study of what anatomy and physiology mean, the history of it being studied, and started off the body discovery speaking of cells.  There were several fun experiments in the textbook, and the notebook had activity pages for them to write and draw what they remember from the chapter.  Their favorite part has been the "Try This!" sections which allow them to test out a theory or other project.  They made these "cells" out of jello and included all of the organelles inside the cell. The organelles were candy, fruit roll ups and chocolate- Every type of organelle was a different kind of candy.  At the end of it, they ate the cell up!!
We are in Chapter 2 now- studying bones.  It is a lot of fun & full of so much learning!

Homeschool 2011-2012

School is back in session for us!  Jaden is in 2nd grade, and Morgan is in Kindergarten... This just means that more is expected out of Jaden than out of Morgan, though they are basically studying the same things.  This year, they have these classes:

Anatomy & Physiology

Art

English Literature

Geography

Gymnastics

Mathematics

Reading

Religion

Spanish

Texas Studies

World Studies

Writing

When Life Gives You Lemons

At age 6 and 4 and this is their first time tasting lemons.  I had to get a video of it!  Their reactions are hilarious!

Meet Charlee

Check out this cutie!  His personality is even cter than his face =)  Jaden and Morgan are infatuated with him.  We got him on Saturday, and they have been spoiling him ever since!!!  He is a Chorkie (a Yorkshire Terrier mixed with Chijuajua).  He may get to about 8 to 10 pounds which is perfect for us.  He doesn't eat much and he is full of energy.  We named him Charlee from one of the girls' favorite t.v. shows "Good Luck, Charlie". 

A Trip to Paris

We took a trip to Paris.  On the road trip, we discussed French words: Merci, De rien, Je t'aime, Bon jour, and Adieu. When we arrived in Paris, nobody was near the Eiffel Tower, so we had it all to ourselves.  Unfortunately, climbing was not allowed, but the girls sure wanted to!! 

After visiting the tower, we went to eat hors-d'oeuvres at a local restaurant.  Jaden was trying to pick up on some of the language that she heard the restaurant workers speaking.  Then, she asked me, "Can I tell them 'Bon jour'?"  To which I said, "They are speaking Spanish not French."  We did not find a single French-speaking person in Paris, Texas.  Oh, well, at least we still got to see the Eiffel Tower, even if it did have a cowboy hat on top!

Homeschool- All about bodies of water Part 2

We finally made it to the beach!  It was a lot of fun!!  While there, we learned about tropical storms, as we arrived just in time to be in the middle of one!!!  You can see it in the clouds in these photos.  Right after I took these photos, we were pelted with rain that felt like hail and wind knocking us off our feet!!

Homeschool- All about bodies of water Part 1

I am very behind on posts.  Here come some posts from September 2010.  Jaden had a choice for her 6 year birthday: either go on a vacation with family, or have a party at home with friends.  She decided she wanted to go to the beach with her family. 

Before going to the beach, we made water, fish, and everything aquatic part of schooling.  On this day we learned about piranhas and the girls painted wood piranhas.

Snow 2/11/10~ Evening Snow Videos

Homeschool Fun- Pioneers

Museums can be a lot of fun when there are a lot of exhibits you can touch and try out.  The girls got a feel for how pioneers lived.  They tried out the cooking appliances, general store, clothes, beds, and learned about what it means to be a "pioneer".  It is these kinds of things that I LOVE about homeschool.  We are creating a lot of memories, and they are memories we can share.  =)

Happy Birthday, Morgan!

Morgan turned 4 today!  She has been anxiously awaiting this day all year long!!  When the day was finally here, and we all got up in the morning, I told her "Happy Birthday!"  She said, "It's not my birthday yet!"  She said she wasn't going to be 4 years old until she had her party!  LOL! 

We had a party with family at Gatti Town.  Then, we came back home and had cake and ice cream.  What a great day!  It's not every day your baby turns 4!

Snow is Back!!

The snow is back in Texas!! 

Homeschool Fun- Volcanoes, Lava, and Ash

Learning about our earth and the how's and why's of natural events and natural disasters led to our volcano discussion. The girls made their own volcanoes out of clay and then painted them. We used vinegar, baking soda and water to make them erupt. We watched a few videos of actual volcano eruptions, so that was cool. Then, I got to share my story of being a part of the volcano's wrath when I was 6 years old and living in Washington State. Mount Saint Hellen's left a mountainful of ash all not only Washington, but close states as well. I remember it mostly because I was at a sleep over. I remember all of us girls woke up and looked outside. It was darker than midnight outside, and we could not understand why we couldn't see the sun shining. Here you can find the actual video of the volcano's 1980 eruption and the ash it left everywhere: http://www.mountsthelens.com/video.html

"Volcano!" Ready to Read Level 1 by Marion Dane Bauer. By the same author, and in the same series, we, also, read "Flood!", "Earthquake", "Clouds", "Snow", "Rain" and "Wind"

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, Homeschool!

We have had so much fun learning hands on!! (Yes, I said "we" because I am learning almost as much as Morgan and Jaden are!) We have been all over the place, but I haven't been posting- so sorry! I have a lot of catching up to do!

In the beginning, Jaden struggled with seatwork. I say this because even if she sat down to do the work in workbooks and things, she did not retain anything she had learned. I revamped their homeschool experience, and all of us have enjoyed it much more. We are doing hands-on as much as possible. It is wild how when Jaden is doing something at the same time learning is taking place, she can tell me all that I said!!

This picture on this post is from the museum we went to and learned about pioneers. Jaden and Morgan asked the curators all kinds of questions, and I could tell their minds were running a mile a minute.

So, I will be posting shortly about some of our fun adventures in life and homeschool. Stay tuned!!