Rejoicing this monday!

Yes!!

School room is together. I will really really try to post up a picture within this next week or two. I need to move out a bookshelf, but the room is done!

Our schedule - is really really finally together!

It is just a finalized version of what we had been loosely doing this year.

Here it is:

6:15 - Wake, sing & pray with Daddy. Personal prayer time.

7:00- Get dressed, clean room, Breakfast. (Thankful journal, Manners, KSV)

8:00- Check-in with kids. Chore Time.

9:00- Bible Time (SOW language arts)

10:00- Break & Outside Play

10:30 - Independent work: Math, Handwriting, English, Spelling or Phonics. Plus any other assignments, like Reports or s/g/h reading, etc.

12:30 - Lunch time

1:00 - Together Time (Daily Lesson) & Check-Out (One on One time with Mom)

2:00 - Done!

This is kind of what we have been doing, but now it has been tweaked to finalization. It feels weird because it is really a hands off kind of approach this year. The kids are working much more independent than last year. I am still directing Bible, but expecting a lot of it to be done on their own. I am working with my 5 year old & I'm available during their independent time, checking on them,etc. It's just very different. But, the exciting part is - it is working!! Which is a miracle for my 10 year old! I think since his sister (at age 5) enjoys working independently, it is motivating him a bit more. This year I really needed to be able to be less tied down though because my 2yo little boy needs a lot of attention. He just has a personality that stays busy, so I need to be available for him. Thank God He knows everything we need before we even ask!!

I have a few other things I am going to discuss here later about curriculum/resource choices & such in some upcoming posts. But, really - my mind is on these upcoming holidays! This is our last week of SOW for the year. Although we are not finished with our Exploring Creation with Botony book, so we will finish reading that through until we are done. But, next week we are off since Daddy will be home all week. Then the following week we will begin our Christmas unit study by Amanda Bennett. I've never done one of her unit studies before, so I'll let you know what we think. Can you believe the holidays are here?!?!?

I'll probably post some fun stuff here coming up. ;o)

Re-arranging...again

Yes, today I am working on BOTH the schedule & the "school room."

I know, I know...

The school room, just seemed too "officey" to me. I wanted it to be more of a play room / kids room. So, I've been thinking about how to re-arrange it to make it more kid friendly.

Yeah, just when I thought it was all together. I should have been taking pictures through this whole process. It has changed so many times since we moved in!!!

I've liked the way that it looked each time, but it just wasn't complete. I think this next one will be perfect! (or as close to perfect as you can get it in an imperfect world, ya know.)

As for the schedule...I've had bits and pieces coming together, but I think we are finally getting close to a Final Draft happening here. LOL! My husband has been doing our "sing/praise/prayer time" with us before he leaves for work, which wakes up the kids - who are incredibly difficult to wake up! And, it starts our day earlier. It's so nice to have him start his day with us too. But, my quiet time is out the window now! So, I need to either wake up extra early...ugh...or figure something out here. So, I'm working on that now. I do have hope in the midst of frustration though. I can see bits and pieces of how to work things out.

After using a schedule now for the past year or so, I can't go back without one! I need that structure to know what & when everything is supposed to happen. It helps us out so much & all of our attitudes are much better. They aren't arguing with me, they argue with the schedule - which is silly of course. Right now, I am cranky mom trying to get everyone do do what *I* want. I CAN'T WAIT until they know it is the schedule talking, not bossy mom. LOL! ;o)

Just wanted to give an update...we will settle in at some point here...really.

Sometimes it just takes trial and error until things are in place, you know?

As far as REAL school stuff goes, we are doing good. I absolutely LOVE the botany book!!!! I cannot believe how much we are learning. Just amazes me how a good book can change your life!

That's it.

I have nothing more to say.

LOL!

Parts of a Seed

We took apart a bean seed today.

Yep, we learned all about the 5 main parts of a seed.

Lots of fun!

Parts of a leaf

By Superkid

Egypt Study

This was an AWESOME resource for studying Egypt!

I am computer illiterate. Or lazy maybe. So just CLICK HERE to go to the book instead.

It came with a DVD that was very interesting. Great arguments about why we should change the traditional dating of Egypt & how he believes the Bible corresponds to Egypt history. Very very neat!!

P.S.

I'm too chicken to take a picture of the school room now. It's a mess!! LOL!

I'll get it cleaned up a little better & post it up sometime this weekend. ;o)

Shoe Taxonomists

This is what my 5yo daughter learned today:

And, here was a fun little thing we did today.

We became Shoe Taxonomists!

We separated shoes according to their Kingdom, Phyla, Class & then we were able to get down to their order. We didn't have enough to get all the way down to species & genus. But, the kids really did have a good time. ;o)

So, first you start with a pile of shoes.

Divide.

Kingdoms: Sandals, Dress Shoes, Tennis Shoes

Take the dress shoes & divide.

Phyla: Laces / non-laces

Divide.

Class: boys / girls

Divide again.

Order: Velcro / Slip-On

So, this is what we come up with...

Kingdom: Dress

Phyla: Non-Lace

Class: Girls

Order: Slip-on

Which shoe is that out of that big pile?

Why this one, of course!

So, then we found ourselves classifying everything!