Wow, what a contrast since our last blog! It's freezing out and it has us inside the house the beginning of this week! Monday we had no gymnastics since it was MLK day, and today-well, with wind chills this low there's no way we're going out!
Lots has happened since I visited our blog, so we'll try to sum it up the best we can....
In reading/writing we purchased a new phonics program. BabyGirl was getting bored and overwhelmed with the 100 easy lessons book and needed a big change. We found one that has wonderful songs and incentives that motivate her. She's excited to do a lesson each day, even though we really focus on every other day or so. (a goal we can achieve :) I'm hoping this will get her excited about reading more on her own. I can see where looking at a story 5 sentences long can be a bit consuming! So far, looks good. I've noticed so much lately that she will get out her note pad and pens, find a cozy spot to sit, and start writing poems and cards. Her penmanship has greatly improved, and she often will practice writing all the letters of the alphabet. She does all this without being prompted, and I'm so proud of her. I can't believe how well she can sit by herself and sound out words and write down how they sound to her. It's awesome! Our walls are absolutely becoming filled with her little creations. We do tons of reading each day and are already nearing the end of our Little House books again! She can't get enough of them!
In math we've practiced counting (we've now reached 40, and going beyond), patterns, dot to dots, graphing, sorting, pairs, and play math games daily. We introduced greater than, less than and equal as well as numerals. (we just touched on these with a brief intro which she dug) She loved the idea of the alligator eating up the larger set!
For science we've done some experiments with ice. We put ice on a plate, treated some with salt and then put food coloring drops on them. It was cool to see how the ice treated with salt created patterns with the coloring seeping down into the cracks. We also put 2 plates filled with equal amount of ice down to melt. We put one in the sun and one in the shade. Lastly we discussed which was heavier, ice or water. We dropped ice into glasses to watch it float. BabyGirl absolutely loves science experiments, and requests them almost daily. She loves to make her hypothesis and test to find the outcome! We also discussed temperature and reading thermometers during these ice units.
For geography we studied north, south, east and west. We learned how to put this information to use in reading maps and our globe. She did GREAT with this and immediately aced every question I gave her!
We did some social studies checking out different jobs people do each day. This was fun for her since we have a puzzle where you find the job and match it with the people. Anything to do with puzzles go off with a bang!
We've done tons of art...we can see it everywhere we look! :)
We're continuing with our Sesame Street Fire Safety program, and they are so much fun! There is a song, a story and sometimes a play to go with each lesson. Being the avid stuffed animal collectors we are (especially Muppet's!) we have all the characters and are able to bring the stories to life as we go along! So great!!!
Bits and pieces have fallen into place along the way as well....we've visited the dentist, helped our grandma around the house, started sewing with our new sewing machine, and so much more! Pretty much every day starts out with doing every jigsaw puzzle we own after breakfast. And pretty much every day ends with mom, dad and BabyGirl playing "go fish" until bedtime.
Today has turned into "let's fill the living room with all my barbie stuff!" We're having so much fun playing! Later we plan to paint our nails crazy colors and apply some new temporary tattoos. You know, what could possibly be better than this!!???!! Learning to let go and have fun is just as important as the other stuff! I know lots of people who could benefit from this little lesson! :) Until next time...
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
Wonderful Weather!
How great has the weather been the last couple days?? We've totally been enjoying our tramp, especially since we originally thought it was crushed by the ice storm. Turns out it was just the enclosure that got crushed, and we don't really need that anymore. So, yes! Let's jump and jump and jump! The sky and clouds are amazing today as well as the temperature in the 70's! We're going to enjoy every single last second of it!
The last few days we've done lots of learning. We don't really have a "schedule". We have school when BabyGirl wants to have school, which luckily for us usually means every day. We did school all morning on Saturday and all morning today. She just keeps asking for more! We finish one worksheet or lesson and she yells "again!" It's great! Just because we didn't have what BabyGirl considers formal "school" on Sunday we did lots of learning then as well. I don't have to tell any of you that every situation can be used as a learning experience. Now for my logging of the specifics for myself..
In the reading area we keep practicing rhyming since she loves it, especially the worksheets. We identified beginning and ending consonants, as well as short vowel sounds. We had a field trip to Grandpa's book store where she found all sorts of new chapter books and explored everything.
In math we've done tons of dot to dots, practiced counting higher and higher, counting by 5s and 10s, played go fish, trouble and lots more games involving numbers. We've worked on our calendar and are going a little more in-depth with our questions about it. BabyGirl is also learning different ways of thinking out and working math problems. She's doing great!
In science we've discussed trees and their place in our world. What we need from them, and what they need from us. We learned what we use trees to make, and the concept of conservation and recycling. We've also explored outside tons the last couple days observing the effects of the ice storm on our environment and the animals here.
In geography we learned about north, south, east and west. She learned how to identify them on maps, our globe, as well as in her own surroundings. She has always had a great understanding of her surroundings and direction, so she caught onto this immediately and loved locating things on maps I made her and logging where they were in relation to each other. She was able to stand in our own yard this morning and point out where the sun rises and sets and tell me the names of those directions. It was great and she is so proud of herself!
This week we get to start back to dance and gymnastics as well. Today is gymnastics and she can't wait!! We're getting a little more involved in our local playgroup that we attend and will be sharing art projects for the class to do as well as stories and snacks. It should be fun, and has several home school kids attending. Now, lets get back outside to enjoy the beauty!!
The last few days we've done lots of learning. We don't really have a "schedule". We have school when BabyGirl wants to have school, which luckily for us usually means every day. We did school all morning on Saturday and all morning today. She just keeps asking for more! We finish one worksheet or lesson and she yells "again!" It's great! Just because we didn't have what BabyGirl considers formal "school" on Sunday we did lots of learning then as well. I don't have to tell any of you that every situation can be used as a learning experience. Now for my logging of the specifics for myself..
In the reading area we keep practicing rhyming since she loves it, especially the worksheets. We identified beginning and ending consonants, as well as short vowel sounds. We had a field trip to Grandpa's book store where she found all sorts of new chapter books and explored everything.
In math we've done tons of dot to dots, practiced counting higher and higher, counting by 5s and 10s, played go fish, trouble and lots more games involving numbers. We've worked on our calendar and are going a little more in-depth with our questions about it. BabyGirl is also learning different ways of thinking out and working math problems. She's doing great!
In science we've discussed trees and their place in our world. What we need from them, and what they need from us. We learned what we use trees to make, and the concept of conservation and recycling. We've also explored outside tons the last couple days observing the effects of the ice storm on our environment and the animals here.
In geography we learned about north, south, east and west. She learned how to identify them on maps, our globe, as well as in her own surroundings. She has always had a great understanding of her surroundings and direction, so she caught onto this immediately and loved locating things on maps I made her and logging where they were in relation to each other. She was able to stand in our own yard this morning and point out where the sun rises and sets and tell me the names of those directions. It was great and she is so proud of herself!
This week we get to start back to dance and gymnastics as well. Today is gymnastics and she can't wait!! We're getting a little more involved in our local playgroup that we attend and will be sharing art projects for the class to do as well as stories and snacks. It should be fun, and has several home school kids attending. Now, lets get back outside to enjoy the beauty!!
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Ring in the New Year!
I can't believe December has left us, and we are already starting 2008! The month of December was a crazy one filled with Christmas preparations and a full week without power which threw us into some sort of parallel universe!! Then, to top it off, I forgot my password to log in and blog. December was filled with all kinds of fun, learning adventures and great times. Now, on with the new year!!
Yesterday we took the opportunity to put away all the Christmas decorations which turned into an all day event! At the end we started our January calendar and got it posted. Things are back to normal finally....
Today we worked some winter mazes to practice our writing as well as the lower case f and g with our reading adventure. We practiced rhyming with water colors and it was very sucessful! She totally dug it and found all the words herself without any help! The reading adventures are really paying off!
For art she also did some free play with water colors and had a blast making picutres and telling me stories about them. They are always full of imagination and fascinating! I love it! We also put together a snowman that she cut out and decorated herself after following all the directions I gave for the specifics. She did great on this one, too. It's always wonderful to mix art and learning!
We did tons of math today including matching numbers with groups, pattern practice, the #28, graphing, etc. Along with all of our "seatwork" we do alot on Jump Start World. She loves it and we can do it together. There are several subjects we study on JSW. It's a blast! We are currently working on the 1st grade level. Of course, we also use beads, marbles, paperclips, etc for adding, subtracting manipulatives.
BabyGirl got her own FP digital camera for Christmas and we also use this pretty much daily. She takes it around with her snapping shots here and there. When it's full we download it into her very own folder and she can tell me all about them, make up stories, and we see the world from her POV. It's amazing to see and sometimes so hilarious!!
We started our Sesame Street Fire Safety preschool program today as well. She had so much fun! We listened to our story, sang the song and played the hot/cold game. It was great and we look forward to working through our book this month!
What a great start to 2008!! It's sure to be filled with tons of fun, family, friends and learning! I hope you all have this great sense of excitement for the upcoming year! Here's to our children and grandchildren reaching beyond the stars, making their dreams come true and never taking no for an answer. May the questions never stop coming and our minds never accepting "because". I can't wait to see what develops next out of my little miracle! :)
Yesterday we took the opportunity to put away all the Christmas decorations which turned into an all day event! At the end we started our January calendar and got it posted. Things are back to normal finally....
Today we worked some winter mazes to practice our writing as well as the lower case f and g with our reading adventure. We practiced rhyming with water colors and it was very sucessful! She totally dug it and found all the words herself without any help! The reading adventures are really paying off!
For art she also did some free play with water colors and had a blast making picutres and telling me stories about them. They are always full of imagination and fascinating! I love it! We also put together a snowman that she cut out and decorated herself after following all the directions I gave for the specifics. She did great on this one, too. It's always wonderful to mix art and learning!
We did tons of math today including matching numbers with groups, pattern practice, the #28, graphing, etc. Along with all of our "seatwork" we do alot on Jump Start World. She loves it and we can do it together. There are several subjects we study on JSW. It's a blast! We are currently working on the 1st grade level. Of course, we also use beads, marbles, paperclips, etc for adding, subtracting manipulatives.
BabyGirl got her own FP digital camera for Christmas and we also use this pretty much daily. She takes it around with her snapping shots here and there. When it's full we download it into her very own folder and she can tell me all about them, make up stories, and we see the world from her POV. It's amazing to see and sometimes so hilarious!!
We started our Sesame Street Fire Safety preschool program today as well. She had so much fun! We listened to our story, sang the song and played the hot/cold game. It was great and we look forward to working through our book this month!
What a great start to 2008!! It's sure to be filled with tons of fun, family, friends and learning! I hope you all have this great sense of excitement for the upcoming year! Here's to our children and grandchildren reaching beyond the stars, making their dreams come true and never taking no for an answer. May the questions never stop coming and our minds never accepting "because". I can't wait to see what develops next out of my little miracle! :)
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