not posting much here

i am still tossed.  i am not putting much here as I like how my www.homeschoolblogger.com/grannyteacher page works so much better.....except for the times they are down and i cannot get on.

Some photos of our year so far

 So here are a few pictures of our homeschool experience this year. It is the first year we have done this and sadly we cannot capture every moment or that-- OH I GET IT  --moment we enjoy.   I may never get my other blog over here so at least the pictures are here and I can move on.
  

 

G is inside of a bubble


 

Trip to Giant City State Park in Southern Illinois. Nature center and lots of history. Here they put their hands on the corner of the stones in the lodge that the CCC workers did diligently by hand


 

Walking Stone Fort trail




CLiffs past the stone wall



F comes to class dressed up as a puppy. AND still did her work

 

On of the items that struck the eye of F and the Art Museum




G liked this piece of Contemporary art as it was "real"

   

G did not enjoy much of the contemporary art as this one was "NOT REAL" and she enjoys art about real things





F has a ballet class in a co-op program they call "Master's Lyceum"




F is following her fish that she put in the pond as it travels downstrem, part of the Magic House in St. Louis




St Louis Art Museum




Touch topic of solar system as we prepare for a Solar Eclipse. Only to miss it due to cloudy skies.




G and F (grades 1st and K)




Watercolor paints done on the first day of school




Just because I like this!











Final result and it was a bit hit at Great Grandma's house





G and F making bread for Thanksgiving Feast





It has to rise more again





Still more bread





Kneading time before making the loaf



OK so the old blog site is down AGAIN.

I had dual posted for a while but then kept up better at the homeschoolblogger site as I liked my page and how it all works so much nicer. I try to get on it and again it is not available. Sure I know it is free to me but if one is going to offer a service like that then keep it up or tell me I need to pay a fee to help keep it up. Enough said.
When I can get back on I will copy and paste again the other post and keep it up here instead I suppose.  I sure with I knew how to import and export.

First time for G and F to see the art museum

Blogging at Monkey Joe's

So today K went with her dear friend to try to walk in the friend's labor after a MD appointment. That meant it was just me. WOW I do not recall how we did so well with just one teacher but I sure missed K today. I know the girls are getting a lot more done and improved understanding having nearly 1:1 attention all during lesson time.

SO how, you ask, did I end up at Monkey Joe's and blogging?  We it is winter here in Southern Illinois and the girls clearly need some good activity time. So we will have a PE afternoon jumping in the structures and sliding down slides, climbing up inflatable walls.  They were looking forward to coming but have never been here with there are few children and lets face it, G does not have anyone her age here as there are all still in school.  It is a treat for them, this place is a 45 minute drive from home and although we are now in the "big" city I might be able to stop by the parent-teacher tool store and see what tickles my fancy today.

I class we are still struggling with the fact that G has an immediate stress and --can't do it-- feel to her math.  She had new addition family added today and felt like she could not do it right away....told her of course not that is why it is new. Now get the hair out of your face, stop squirming in the desk, look at the board and the problem and say it with me.  WHAT?  I can't heare you, as a matter of fact the only one who heard you was the Lord.  Let's look again at the magic of math.  HAhahaha she just does not take to this well.

F took a little advantage of the fact that I was teaching two at one time today.  No worry she is way ahead so far anyway. One day will not make a difference. I just wish she was not such the manipulator that she can be. I must say it is getting better.

So that is all for today. yesterday they got to paint and tomorrow is the Art Museum. G plans to take her painting and donate it to the museum. We will see how they respond.

Eager beginning to new semester

I was so shocked. It is hard to put into words. I was concerned about their ability to kick right into gear after a two week break.  Now I feel foolish for doubting their seriousness about success in school.
F, the 4 year old, sat down right away and said  "come on, let's begin class".  G, the 6 year old, moaned at having to begin class with he math lessons but she had already sat back in her recliner (in the reading corner) and read half of a Little Bear book independently before the Pledge was done.
Math is G's least favorite as she lacks confidence in it but she scores very well when test time comes.  F is really progressing in the K5 A Beka curriculum and she was little eager beaver today.
We began the first lesson at 0955 and finished every lesson by 1145. Headed to lunch in the kitchen then off to the Monday Bowling activity.  Finished by 1515 and headed home again. It was a day filled with fun all the way around. I honestly believe they enjoyed the lessons as much as the bowling today.
The most fun of the day was G's excitement to write 2011 on her papers today.  The calendar made lots of changes this morning as the season changed to winter while we were on break, the month to January and finally the year as well.  Plans of extra-curricular activities this month will include a field trip to THE CITY MUSEUM in St. Louis, the return of Home-school Monday at the Magic House, also in St. Louis and this month a new home-school program at the St. Louis Science Center begins as well.
Future field trips will include the Butterfly House in Chesterfield, Missouri and a trip to the Botanical Gardens as spring arrives. Ha ha, spring is a whole three months away but I am a planner.
Art projects seem to be on the mind of the girls as they received some new classroom paint and paint brushes for Christmas.  They also liked the beading sets that I found on clearance and want to know when they do that.  I had to laugh at them today very openly and ask them if they think all we plan to do are projects. I only got one smart face look and the other one ignored my comment.
So all in all, the idea I had that we would be in full swing by Wednesday is tossed out the window.  They hit the ground running.  Gosh this is fun!!!!!

Eager learners first day back!!!

I was so shocked. It is hard to put into words. I was concerned about their ability to kick right into gear after a two week break.  Now I feel foolish for doubting their seriousness about success in school. 

F, the 4 year old, sat down right away and said  "come on, let's begin class".  G, the 6 year old, moaned at having to begin class with he math lessons but she had already sat back in her recliner (in the reading corner) and read half of a Little Bear book independently before the Pledge was done. 

Math is G's least favorite as she lacks confidence in it but she scores very well when test time comes.  F is really progressing in the K5 A Beka curriculum and she was little eager beaver today.

We began the first lesson at 0955 and finished every lesson by 1145. Headed to lunch in the kitchen then off to the Monday Bowling activity.  Finished by 1515 and headed home again. It was a day filled with fun all the way around. I honestly believe they enjoyed the lessons as much as the bowling today.

The most fun of the day was G's excitement to write 2011 on her papers today.  The calendar made lots of changes this morning as the season changed to winter while we were on break, the month to January and finally the year as well.  Plans of extra-curricular activities this month will include a field trip to THE CITY MUSEUM in St. Louis, the return of Home-school Monday at the Magic House, also in St. Louis and this month a new home-school program at the St. Louis Science Center begins as well. 

Future field trips will include the Butterfly House in Chesterfield, Missouri and a trip to the Botanical Gardens as spring arrives. Ha ha, spring is a whole three months away but I am a planner.

Art projects seem to be on the mind of the girls as they received some new classroom paint and paint brushes for Christmas.  They also liked the beading sets that I found on clearance and want to know when they do that.  I had to laugh at them today very openly and ask them if they think all we plan to do are projects. I only got one smart face look and the other one ignored my comment.

So all in all, the idea I had that we would be in full swing by Wednesday is tossed out the window.  They hit the ground running.  Gosh this is fun!!!!!

Hooray for Monday!

So in just two more hours I will begin the routine of class again but better than that it is Bowling Monday. A local bowling alley has an agreed on price through our co-op for homeschoolers during their non-busy time of 1pm. The price for both girls will be a total of only $7.00 and includes two games and their ball and shoes.

We did this in the beginning but the weather has been so nice that we did not travel to the alley to have this PE activity. So today I think sounds like a good day to hit the books a bit then hit the road. Get us all into the groove gradually and be full speed by Wednesday. 

I cannot express enough the comfortable atmosphere that homeschooling provides for everyone. 

During break G asked me if she asks to many questions. You know that not matter how it feels to us at times there was only one way to answer that question.  I hope it encourages her to continue but not increase her frequency. Gosh she is an inquisitive soul.  It encourages little sister, F, to be the same way although F also likes to tell me how it is most of the time.

BTW, F has been fighting sleep lately. She does not want to be older or bigger. She tells us that if she sleeps she will grow. I think I managed to stop that the other day. It dawned on me to tell her that she will grow anyway because that is God's plan for all of us. I then told her that she has the choice to either grow weak and sickly or strong and healthy. She would grow no matter what but she needed to eat better and sleep better to be strong and healthy.  The next night she gave me no issues and ate well all day.  I hope this sticks, she is a bit on the petite side anyway.

Additionally, away from the homeschool topic. Please pray for the health of MawMaw Jean.  We are very concerned about her and all prayers are heard. Thank you!

My approach to history

Just as any other subject is progressive so is history. I read a blog recently where the mother questioned the subject overall for her young ones.

I believe that within the context of HISTORY falls all matters of Social Studies. History itself is progressive just and the instruction of social science. Eventually it will include sociology and deeper studies of historical events. It even builds a child to better understand psychology when in high school. 

As I see it, we learn from the past. So here is my approach and future plans for teaching the overall concept of social science:

• begin at the start to learn about where you live and your community and family


• teach family history and correlate it to a map of where you live now and where you came from (we are in the USA and most came from someplace else)


• next take that map of your state and make it one of North America then the world. Keep it simple with colorful separation of states and continents


• now they understand that the US began and take the East coast in general to teach the beginnings.

I cannot begin to tell you how disappointed I was when G, who was in public Kindergarten last year did not at least know that George Washington was the first president. (sure some day she will learn about the first Continental presidency but one step at a time)

• make small introductions about our founders that are notable in history that they will come across again and again....see how it becomes progressive.....


• I mean why in the world should you expect or what to learn everything about Ben Franklin at one time. Add to it over the years


• gradually add the history of America before progressing to the history of the world....WHY?   because you learn best about what effects you first such and grandparents and parents, your own community, then reach out as it will be relevant and they will want to understand how it is all connected


• also because young students do not have the ability to grasp some of the time frame issues of world history yet


• eventually a greater understanding of the world will produce a greater understanding of mankind over all


• they are now ready both academically and developmentally to learn psychology, sociology, political science

This takes years and years of preparation. One cannot just decide to begin teaching this subject when they are in 8Th grade.  Use this time to teach and learn about citizenship and encourage the same just as you encourage your child to pray and to be faithful.

Back to class in the morning and making plans for growing season

I was so excited when I was browsing in the grocery isle. They had a huge clearance of Christmas items and such on clearance. So I bought two puzzles that we could use in school for $0.74 and beading sets for only $1.00.  I had to grab them as they have such useful purpose in extra activity time in school.
I know the classroom was left with some matter on the desktops. I will get there early to organize for the day.  I hope the girls are as eager to get back at it and pray that K puts them to bed early today.
They have begun to enjoy a little snack break so I will surprise them with a salad tomorrow as they LOVE to eat a salad. Then the next day it will be some strawberries.  Sounds crazy since school is not that long but a snack in the middle is enjoyable and allows a regroup for me, not to mention that good nourishment promotes good learning.
Our break time has been enhanced with the development of those hens finally getting happy in their new coup and the laying and gathering of eggs. The area that we have chosen for the LARGE garden this year. It has not been in till for two years now and the last crop from it was corn.  We will plan to till the area in the next few weeks and then in the early spring till in some organic matter with it as well.  This will be the year with a lot of big plans of becoming a bit self-sufficient.
I sure with K and M would consider a few windmills in the back part of their property. I know the initial expense is high but I have heard of some grants to help as well. On the warmest of days when the air is still they always have a breeze coming across.  In the spring and fall the winds are so high that I am not sure a mill could withstand it.  Talk about self-sufficient, they could sell back the energy produced.

Back to the classroom in the morning.

I was so excited when I was browsing in the grocery isle. They had a huge clearance of Christmas items and such on clearance. So I bought two puzzles that we could use in school for $0.74 and beading sets for only $1.oo.  I had to grab them as they have such useful purpose in extra activity time in school.

I know the classroom was left with some matter on the desktops. I will get there early to organize for the day.  I hope the girls are as eager to get back at it and pray that K puts them to bed early today. 

They have begun to enjoy a little snack break so I will surprise them with a salad tomorrow as they LOVE to eat a salad. Then the next day it will be some strawberries.  Sounds crazy since school is not that long but a snack in the middle is enjoyable and allows a regroup for me, not to mention that good nourishment promotes good learning. 

Our break time has been enhanced with the development of those hens finally gettting happy in their new coup and the laying and gathering of eggs. The area that we have choosen for the LARGE garden this year. It has not been in till for two years now and the last crop from it was corn.  We will plan to till the area in the next few weeks and then in the early spring till in some organic matter with it as well.  This will be the year with a lot of big plans of becoming a bit self-sufficient. 

I sure with K and M would consider a few windmills in the back part of their property. I know the initial expense is high but I have heard of some grants to help as well. On the warmest of days when the air is still they always have a breeze coming across.  In the spring and fall the winds are so high that I am not sure a mill could withstand it.  Talk about self-sufficient, they could sell back the energy produced.