We are having a great time Joneschooling! I have started down a road to some big changes, and I am super excited about them! First of all, we are no longer doing all 2nd grade work. We've moved up to 3rd grade in almost all areas. Honestly, I think I should have been doing a year ahead of where we are since Pre-K, but I'm stubborn. My thoughts were....I just want her to be a kid and enjoy life. Why should I push her to do work beyond what she would normally be introduced to in a regular school setting? So, I just let her do what was required for the particular grade she would be in. Last week she came to me crying. She was so upset because she said her phonics (along with some other things) were for babies. She said she doesn't understand how any 2nd grader would not know these materials. Okay, mom. This is your wake up call. She wants to be challenged. She wants to move on to bigger and better things. Okay. Now I'm listening, BabyGirl.
So, we are trying some all-new things. Instead of phonics we are doing literature-based learning. She will read a selection of my choice. Next, she will answer comprehension questions as well as ones regarding punctuation, spelling, vocabulary, parts of speech, etc. She is absolutely thrilled with this! And, since I've screwed my head on I've realized I can incorporate science or history in with this concept creating a "unit" study. Wow. Imagine that. :) Anyway, we've started out with insects because we are covering that for science this year. We are reading several selections with this unit including Charlotte's Web (you really cannot read this story too many times) and many others. I have activities/worksheets for each chapter. They range from regular old "worksheets" to arts and crafts activities. She is really enjoying it, and so am I!
For another "something new" we will be following a group of sled dogs starting in February with the Go North! Polar Husky challenge. This year we will be learning about Alaska. This will include not only the native cultures, but also the climate and oceans. I think we will probably just follow them for a month unless she really digs it. Then, we will have to take a look at changing our schedule. I know she will just LOVE this. We have several friends following them as well. We will be getting together with them during the month to do some activities based on this curriculum.
Math has been going remarkably well! We've had a long and bumpy road when it comes to math. BabyGirl does not dig it AT ALL. She does see the necessity for it in some day to day life. But, all in all, she thinks it is just an obstacle for her. Lately, though, things seem to have changed for the better. We have started our geography unit and she is just sailing through it. We also just finished working with means of measuring which she also adores. So, I'm hoping all this geometry will spark a fire for addition/subtraction/multiplication. Ha! Well, a mom can hope can't she?? :)
For history/geography we've been learning about the Pioneers. This has been an absolute blast!! BabyGirl has always had an admiration for this time period. (and colonial) She has greeted each lesson with curiosity, zest and such enthusiasm! She got a Felicity American Girl doll for Christmas. She is from the colonial days. Needless to say we have been learning to "take tea" as well as learning lots of interesting tidbits from her time. We will finish up this week, and then move on to the Civil War. I've found some very interesting literature to go along with that, as well as some recipes and music from that era.
Music is going so well. I cannot even tell you how wonderful it has been. She is improving at a remarkable pace. I'm so happy we decided to make the commitment to the music school. At the end of the post you can hear one of the pieces she is currently working on. Be sure to pause the music first.
Recently we went to Gilcrease Museum on the free day that it offers once a month. Accompanied by our besties, we worked on landscapes. They have a large room with a beautiful view of the Osage Hills. The perfect setting for landscape drawings!!!
Here is a picture of BabyGirl and her bestie walking through the museum...
Here are some pictures of that view....
Here she is deep in thought about what to sketch...
All the girls drawing....
Here is a random pic of Papa Darrell being silly. I just couldn't leave it out!
Here she is with her cousins at Mimi's bday party!
Finally!!! Our first snow of the season!!!
Wearing daddy's bandanna!
Here is one of many American Girl playdates!
Here she is being the amazing big sis that she is!!
As I mentioned before, we are studying insects. After school one day BabyGirl decided to draw this diagram for Little Man so he would know what attributes all insects have. :)
This is part of our literature activities to go along with the unit. We thought of all kinds of compound words that are bug names. We made a list of them, and she picked out two to draw silly pictures of, along with a picture of the real one next to it. This one is a Honey Bee.
yellow jacket! :)
Here she is with Felicity. Notice she is wearing her time period bonnet.
Here she is at a tea party with her friends.
Tea is even better out of a real china cup!
Here are a couple of videos for you to enjoy. One is of her performing "Promenade" hands together for the first time. The other is of her adding all the red food coloring to Mimi's red velvet cake.
Coming soon.......Happy Birthday to my sweet Little Man.
