New Beginnings

So, we've wrapped up our insect unit. Gosh, it was so much fun! We have a great folder we've created of our journey including our artwork, worksheets, adventures, etc. Our last 2 lessons were so much fun! Here's a brief summary...

For our ants we read Two Bad Ants. It was a fun book written from a great perspective! We discussed the social life of ants, did some relevant worksheets and some awesome artwork too!

For our bees we read 2 really cool books on honeybees. BabyGirl added after we read the books that they didn't happen to mention the fact that honeybees are almost extinct and we need to work to keep them around. She asked what we would do if there were no more, and we had a very interesting and productive conversation. She never ceases to amaze me with her intelligence. We played Flight of the Bumblebee and ran around dancing expressing our feelings and emotions the song brought out. We had to do this several times! Then, we played the song again using crayons to transfer our dance onto paper. She had so much fun with both of these activities, and so did I!

And thus ends our insects for now....I'm sure we will keep revisiting our log book when we find different and new insects to add.

Today we started our human body unit. We did a preliminary quiz to re-cap the 5 senses. BabyGirl aced this with flying colors, so we will not need to go over any of that before hand. Our Magic School Bus Human Body Science Kit is so awesome and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to learn about the human body and have fun at the same time!!!! We put up our human body life-size poster and went over all the parts to start off. The kit goes over the human body one system at a time starting with the skeletal system. We found the skeleton stickers and placed them in the appropriate places on the poster, and we were off. Our first experiment is on the strength of our bones. What makes our bones strong? We put some chicken bones in a jar of vinegar to let them sit overnight. BabyGirls hypothesis was: "Milk. The calcium from milk makes our bones strong. I think they will get soft." We can't wait to see what happens. This kit is so hands on and right up our alley!!!

We practiced counting today and writing our numbers. We also did some matching. We practiced identifying beginning consonants, then having BabyGirl write them down upper-case and lower-case. We did the short I in our phonics kit, which is still a big hit around here. It's so much fun to see who we will meet with each new sound! We also work on introducing a new reader each lesson. Right now as I type BabyGirl is sitting in her own little chair, feet on the ottoman, going through all the readers she has read so far. The stack keeps on growing and she just loves to sit and read them aloud to her dolls, or mom & dad.

Last night as I was watching BabyGirl out the window running through the yard, shaking her head making her hair fly side to side and squealing I was speechless. What a great time in our life. Childhood is so wonderful and amazing....what's even more wonderful and amazing is that I, as her mother, have this great gift to give her. A chance to learn with no boundaries, to be free in her thinking and doing, to keep hold of her curiosity, to have fun every single day and take all of these things along with her into adulthood. If I accomplish anything in my life, this is what I want it to be. This is what homeschooling means to me...

Great Day!

We had a great weekend spending time with family. Bub Shawn came over and stayed with us which is always a blast! We miss him the minute he walks out the door and count the seconds until we see him again! We went skating on Saturday and had so much fun! Gab went with us and brought Desi. We also had Bub, and Pop met us as well. It was awesome and I love laughing with everyone. You know we rocked it to Thriller! :) BabyGirl had a great day with Daddyo on Sunday helping him with all kinds of projects, and going to get stuff from Atwoods. Always fun!

Today started out a little clustered with some stupid bill issues making my head spin! I tried focusing on what I needed to do, but after I did my morning exercise routine everything fell into place. I could think so much more clearly, and we were off! BabyGirl loves working out with me and it is sooooo cute! She uses little board books as her weights!

So, we did ladybugs today. We learned all kinds of interesting facts about them, and made some to go with our insect decor. They are adorable with our butterflies, caterpillars and big spiders! We traced and practiced writing our numbers, and did some ladybug dot to dots. We discussed carnivore and herbivore, putting what insects we've studied in their group. We identified what insects belong in what environment, also using ones we've covered. We've got just a couple more things to cover in this unit and then we'll move on to the next. (which is still to be determined) We have some great books about ants and bees on hold at the library, then we'll wrap this up!

In phonics today we worked with x. We did a great activity where I placed letter x's on the floor that BabyGirl followed. Each time she picked on up, she had to make the x sound and then go to the next one. At the end of the trail she came to a little buried treasure box that I filled with a piece of gum for her to have. It was so much fun! Then we introduced our next phonics reader dealing with x. She is doing so great, and already knows so many sight words I can't believe it! Our list of words she can read is just huge and growing like crazy! It's so great! We also, of course, practiced writing. She loves to write, too.

Later we head out to gymnastics, and then another great day is on the horizon for tomorrow.

New start

Today went so well, I had so much energy, and we did so much! It was so refreshing after feeling overwhelmed from our busy March, and our much needed break did the trick!

I've had a thought that I need to exercise more...but it's been not much more than a thought in the back of my mind. Somehow I tend to block out or forget the fact that I feel so much better when I do. I can think so clearly and can just get things done! So, today was the day I actually did my workout this morning (a video-at home-since I hate hate hate the gym :) And it went so well. BabyGirl did some with me, then we went on to do her kid exercise CD with different movements set to music. After that the day just went smooth as can be, and I'm writing this to remember so that on a simply lazy day when I have no motivation I will GET UP and GET GOING! Yay for energy and healthy exercise!

We went over symmetry today in our bug unit and made a butterfly by folding a paper in half, cutting out the wings, putting paint on one side and smashing it together. It was so cool to see our finished products, and I'm quite positive that symmetry will never be forgotten. Not to mention it was such fun!

For math today we did more addition/subtraction with pictures and items. We practiced writing out the problems as well. We went over halves and BabyGirl did SO WELL. It was awesome!

For reading, phonics, writing we worked with the short O sound. We wrote words and then read them and matched them to pictures. And, of course, read books.

For other bits of science and in the spirit of Earth Day we did some recycling activities that involved cut/paste since that sparks lots of interest and practices great hand movements. We also identified different hazards to our environment.

We're continuing to practice the months of the year, and are thoroughly investigating Jump Start World. BabyGirl also practices music daily with Daddy when he gets home. She got a real guitar, ukulele and recorder for her birthday. We're warming up to introducing notes as soon as we're ready. She's doing great with the exercises!

So wraps up our day. I love the track we're on, and look forward to many more productive days coming our way. Until next time...

Time to chill

We have been so incredibly busy lately I've actually looked forward to these rainy days so we can stay in and veg! March was full of Easter, Birthday, Aunts visiting and Great-Grandparents visiting. It seemed like we couldn't even get a break. I welcome April and all the spring that comes with it!

We're continuing with our insect unit and are learning so much about them. Now, when a "something" flies past we don't immediately freak out. We discuss what we've learned about different insects. Of course, if the thing happens to be a wasp....... continue freaking out! :) Ha!

We're working with some subtraction now, and it's going over really well! We just take the basics of what we already know and keep building on that, and it's working out great for us.

Our phonics and writing is moving right along, and I love to watch the progression. I can't even explain the fulfillment I get when I see what she's learned being used in our every day lessons and life. It's amazing!

Science is BabyGirls favorite subject, so it gets plenty of attention with great enthusiasm. That's why using this theme unit is working out so perfectly for us. I feel the possibilities are endless when I think of all the fun things we can move onto next. Animals, human body, universe, ocean.......ahhhhhhhhhhhh I can't wait!! Oh, yes, and on that note...BabyGirl got a Magic School Bus science experiment kit for her birthday on the human body. We are so excited!!!

Gymnastics is still going great, and I love to see how much stronger she gets with each session. Her teacher is excellent and we absolutely love her. Dance is still going as well and we're looking forward to the upcoming performances at the herb fest and recital. Always fun...

Then, on comes summer! We're taking a trip to visit the great-grandparents this summer which will also include Silver Dollar City. Bring on the swimming, gardening, sand box and outdoor activities daily. We can't wait.

So, that's our quick update. With the little sickness that we've passed around the last week, I'm ready for us all to feel better and resume with where we left off....