Schooling at Our House

Early American History, Time Telling, Reading Progress

2010-02-14T09:57:00.001-08:00

The boys and I have been reading about early American History and also watching a few movies, too. We've learned about the Native Americans, how they got named Indians, about Pocahontas, John Smith, Jamestown, Christopher Columbus, William Bradford, how Colonial children lived, and on and on. I feel like I'm learning history for the first time right along with them. I just don't remember much of this from my childhood, so it is exciting. We are considering taking a trip at the end of the semester to Williamsburg and Jamestown.

Caleb has been learning how to tell time in Math. As a special treat, we bought a real clock to hang on the wall in his and his brothers' room. We put a sheep sticker next to the 8 so that he has a better idea of when it is time to go to sleep and when to wake up. We have been hearing the older two say, "Oh, its past my sheep!"

Caleb has been moving along with his Explode the Code online game and has been working in his Spectrum reading workbook. Today, we gave each of the older three a Reading Rabbit computer game in each of their own levels. We discovered an author we really like, Mo Willems. Mo both writes and illustrates very funny books. It has caused Caleb's reading to take off. One other thing that has helped is that Caleb found a Transformers book that is beyond his current reading level, but he really wants to read it and so has been working hard to figure out the words. Lots of progress here!

Making Granola

2010-02-02T17:36:00.000-08:00

The boys made crockpot granola today. Caleb figured out how to measure 5 cups of oats using a 2-cup measuring bowl.

Homemade Bingo!

2010-02-02T13:10:00.000-08:00

I made four sets of Bingo cards to help cement what they are learning. The three year old plays along during the first level, the picture level, and then loses interest and goes off to play something else, leaving the older two to finish the game with the numbers, sight words, and phonics words.

Plans Coming Together for Next Year

2010-01-26T17:03:00.000-08:00

I have been doing a lot of researching curriculum for the Fall. At this point, this is our plan:

Family Time Bible in Pictures (I'm still searching out what will follow this)
Math-U-See, again
Considering God's Creation, for Science
Our Nation Under God, for history
A Reason for Handwriting
Explode the Code, online version
Typing With Timon and Pumbaa

I'm currently on the look out for a good time-line, from creation to present day, to hang up. When the boys are a little older, we'll probably do a time-line book.

I'm also interested in finding something for Geography, studying each state. I've been looking at Cantering the Country.

We have considered doing Piano Wizard, but haven't been able to find any reviews on it.

Probable schedule:

Each day we will do Bible, Math, Handwriting, and Reading.

Mondays-History

Tuesdays-Science

Wednesdays-Geography

Thursdays-Typing

Fridays-Music

New Supplies

2010-01-26T16:32:00.000-08:00

What excitement for the boys yesterday. They woke up to their very own school supply bag with a new pair of scissors, a ruler, crayons, a glue stick, and the older two also had pencils, a sharpener, and a big eraser in their's. They used their supplies all day yesterday and today.

I tried to color coordinate each bag with the supplies and label everything I could to help keep the peace as well as clean up accountability.

New Reading Program

2010-01-19T19:31:00.000-08:00

Caleb began the online version of Explode the Code yesterday. Already he is learning a lot and loves the reward system it has. This program allows the teacher, me, to easily track his progress.
He also got a new workbook, Jump Start 1st Grade Reading, which will help with both reading and writing.

Creation Museum

2010-01-19T19:13:00.000-08:00

We spent a full day at the Creation Museum today.

Pasting Hearts

2010-01-15T14:17:00.000-08:00

Our Line of Greeting Cards

2010-01-11T10:57:00.000-08:00

Today the boys pasted together cards for thank you's and pen pals.

Bees

2010-01-10T17:59:00.000-08:00

We learned the differences between the queen bee, the worker bees, and the drone bees, as well as many other bee facts. We also learned what all is involved in beekeeping and may have our try at it when the boys are older.

thousands, millions, billions, trillions and negative numbers

2010-01-04T12:50:00.000-08:00

Caleb has been curious about counting really high, so I showed him on paper what comes after hundreds. And, with the freeeeezing temperatures we've been having, he's also been asking about negative numbers, so I showed him on paper how to count below 0. He also worked on his regular Math-U-See work.

Lewis and Clark

2010-01-04T09:18:00.000-08:00

We learned about Lewis and Clark's Expedition West today. We learned anout pioneers, settlers, and wagon trains. Then we found St. Louis and the Missouri River on our map. We also identified the Eastern USA and the Western USA.

Jumping Jacks

2009-12-22T17:07:00.000-08:00

Caleb and his brothers learned how to do jumping jacks today. Caleb has also been wrapping presents for his brothers and writing labels for them.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-21T11:45:00.001-08:00

We are doing crafts, baking cookies, playing in the snow, and getting ready for visitors this week. Caleb received his first penpal letter yesterday with a handmade card. He was so excited. And now, his brothers really want penpals, too.
Merry Christmas!

Funny Faces

2009-12-16T16:47:00.000-08:00

I gave Caleb a stack of shapes that I had cut out along with a glue stick. And, he had fun.

softening and hardening chocolate

2009-12-16T10:35:00.000-08:00

Today for our science experiment, we softened and hardened chocolate. We made peppermint bark! Caleb smashed up a few candy canes in a sandwich bag by hitting it with a big spoon. We placed chocolate chips in a dish and melted them in the microwave. We then spread the melted chocolate out over a pan. Caleb then sprinkled the smashed candy over the chocolate and then placed the pan into the fridge to harden.

Landforms

2009-12-15T10:12:00.000-08:00

Today is Geography day. We learned about all of the different types of landforms using BrainPop.com. I've considered joining brainpop and am using the 5 day trial right now, but I doubt we will do it. I would love to find something similar, but with a Christian world view.

Caleb actually learned some Algebra today! Math-U-See teaches beginning Algebra right along with addition. He was solving problems like x+3=9.

sick day (just a normal day here)

2009-12-07T10:40:00.001-08:00

Caleb and the rest of the family are sick and so if he had been attending regular school, he would have not gone today, but since he is schooled at home, it was just a normal day.
He continues to do Bible using "Family-Time Bible in Pictures", which the boys and I have really enjoyed. We're only about 1/3 of the way through, so we'll be using this for quite a long time. Each section has a couple questions following.
Then he does his Math U See work. Today he learned how to skip count by tens. We have gotten into a routine of doing 2 pages a day. If he gets anything wrong, I erase his answer and he reworks each problem until he gets each correct. If I notice he's not understanding something, we go back and review. He does one chapter lesson over the course of 3 days, usually.
Today we continued on with our history book, which we really like, as well. We are about 2/3 done with this book and so I'm on the outlook for what we will do after we complete it.

freezing salt water (and pepper water!)

2009-12-01T09:06:00.001-08:00

Caleb is conducting his own experiment today. He is testing which will freeze faster; salt water or pepper water.
All of the boys get to watch "Charlotte's Web" which we're finding is much closer to the book than the "Stuart Little" movie was.

New puppies

2009-11-30T08:04:00.000-08:00

Caleb learned how to handle and bathe puppies today.
Friends of our's gave us the last two puppies of their litter last night. One is the runt and one is very big. They are around 2 to 3 months and have been outdoor dogs up to this point. We're going to keep them between our sunroom and outside. By April, they will probably be outdoor all of the time and we'll build them a dog house. In the mean time, we'll be installing an underground fence to keep them from the road.

Thanksgiving Week

2009-11-25T17:16:00.000-08:00

Mondays are our history days. We read a chapter and answer questions out of History for Little Pilgrims. It just so happened that this week's chapter talked about the first Thanksgiving! I did not plan this and was surprised when I realized where our chapter was leading. After we read our chapter, we watched a small portion of A New World to show what the ships, canoes, log homes, and teepees looked like.
Today Caleb learned how to jump rope with a long scarf. Perhaps we should look for a real jump rope!
We also visited a local farm today that had peacocks, goats, cows, and chickens.

The Primary Colors

2009-11-18T10:16:00.000-08:00

We filled the bottom of a pie plate with milk and then added red, yellow, and blue food coloring and also a little dishwashing liquid.

As the colors began to mix, the boys hunted for oranges, greens, and purples. Eventually, there were browns, too.

Dessert is Served

2009-11-17T18:45:00.000-08:00

Caleb was very excited to help make dessert today.

pen pal

2009-11-11T13:56:00.000-08:00

Caleb now has a pen pal who is also 6 years old and is from Minnesota.
He wrote his very first letter this afternoon.

Opaque and Transparent

2009-11-11T08:33:00.000-08:00

For Science, Caleb tested objects to find out if they are opaque or transparent with a flashlight.

The boys made dinner

2009-11-09T08:38:00.000-08:00

We have dinner cooking in the crock pot. The older two put a family size can of mushroom soup, 2 cups of milk, and 1 lb. chopped chicken into the pot and placed it on low. Closer to dinner they'll add chopped broccoli.
We also learned about Martin Luther in our history book. We added "Luther" to our Netflix list.

What can float?

2009-11-04T06:38:00.000-08:00

We tested several objects to see if they would float. The boys predicted first if each object would, and were all surprised when the apple and foil ball floated while the dime and quarter sank. Some of our objects floated until water got in them.

The days of the week

2009-11-03T12:00:00.000-08:00

Caleb memorized the days of the week today while traveling back from a family emergency. He also learned a song to help him remember the order.

fishing boats and sand castles

2009-10-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

After taking baby brother to a check up, we stopped at a nearby lake. We went to the boat ramp and watched a few fishing boats get launched. Then we went to the beach and the boys built castles. Caleb dug a ditch around his castle and then I let him know it is called a moat. Next time they plan to bring a bucket so that they can make a real moat complete with water.
They also learned a little bit about vitamin D. Three out of the four boys woke up with runny noses yesterday. So, while there at the beach, I explained to them that they should push up their sleeves and take their hats off and maybe the sunshine will help knock out their colds. It was sunny and in the low 60's.

a candle, a jar, and some air

2009-10-28T12:43:00.000-07:00

The boys learned a little bit about how air moves even though we can't see it moving. We placed a box in front of the candle and tried to blow it out, but the air couldn't get to it. When we put a round jar in front, the air went around the jar and the candle was blown out. The oldest understood that the air wasn't going through the glass, but moving around it.

We also put the candle out by putting the jar over it.

We are currently half way through reading Charlotte's Web and will rent the movie when we are done.

Plane Trip!

2009-10-20T15:20:00.000-07:00

How's this for a Geography lesson? We've studied about California and now the older two, along with Daddy, got to check it out first hand!

Leaf Rubbings

2009-10-08T10:52:00.000-07:00

Fall leaves

2009-10-07T10:26:00.000-07:00

We learned how and why leaves change their color in the Fall. Then the boys went outside to find leaves in as many colors as they could.

We have chickens now!

2009-10-01T12:29:00.000-07:00

We bought 7 laying hens yesterday. They are now between a temporary coop (our dog cage) and a pin that my husband put together last night. I had no idea how well the boys would do with these animals. They fed, watered, and rounded them up today, while I'm still working up the nerve just to pick one up! They were on cloud nine when I kept going on and on about how well they did!
(editing to add pictures of our new coop)

Nest Family Videos

2009-09-24T11:20:00.000-07:00

We bought the Animated New Testiment Nest dvds at the homeschool convention we went to in April as part of our curriculum.
http://www.nestfamily.com/24-Animated-New-Testament-DVDs--P131384.aspx
They have been great. Today we have watched three, which we don't usually do. The ones we picked out today have to do with end times, faith in Christ, and the miracles of Jesus. We're feeling a greater urgency to be teaching our boys about these things.

Caleb got to use all of his blocks for Math U See today and he was very excited about this. After he was done with his worksheets, I let him play with the blocks, which I figure will help him continue learning.

Big Boys

2009-09-23T13:28:00.001-07:00

Luke did some workbook pages for math and reading today. He doesn't consistently do work like Caleb yet because he's only four, but when he does, he feels like such a big boy.
We all read several books today. Caleb is definitely improving with his reading. He was really trying hard today and had a good attitude, which I think was because he was still feeling like such a big boy after making everyone lunch- pb&j sandwiches.
Speaking of big boys, Joey is pretty much potty trained. He goes all day diaper free, and now is diaper free at naptime. He's wearing a pull-up at night, but I really don't know if he still needs it. I am a little scared to try going w/o.
And, of course, our other big boy, Micah. He, at 6 weeks old, is consistently wearing 3-6 months clothes now.

Capillary Action

2009-09-21T07:57:00.000-07:00

Although I don't remember "capillary action" from school, I do remember doing this Science experiment in the 2nd grade.

capillary action: the process that allows water and other nutrients to move up
from the ground to all parts of a plant.

The bottom peddles began to change color first and are the darkest now. The red one never did change a whole lot, although you can see the red color well in the stem.

Caleb read Shark in the Park.
All of the boys watched Leap Frog's Learn to Read at the Storybook Factory.

Cleaning Pennies

2009-09-16T09:50:00.001-07:00

For Science, we experimented with vinegar and salt to clean pennies.

We filled a jar with some vinegar and mixed in a teaspoon of salt. Unfortunately, we could not find the white vinegar. It is in a moving box somewhere. So, instead we tried using apple cider vinegar.

We let the pennies soak in the solution for a few minutes. Then, Caleb took out half of the coins and let them dry on a paper towel. The other half of the coins, he washed off with water before laying them on the paper towel to dry.

The pennies weren't too clean after soaking for those few minutes. So, we made up the same solution again and let them set throughout lunch and our movie.

Again, Caleb took half out and let them dry on a paper towel and the other half out and washed them off before setting them out to dry. They were a little cleaner than before, but still weren't clean like our Science book said they would be, so we are going to do it all again once we find our white vinegar. The pennies that are not washed off, still have some solution on them, so when the oxygen in the air hits them, a new reaction is supposed to occur, turning them a bluish-green color and this is what happened. TO BE CONTINUTED.

Caleb read an easy reader out of the homeschool materials we inherited from his homeschooling cousins. The movie we watched was a how to make a tree house documentary called "Measure Twice, Cut Once" by Franklin Springs Media. The boys are always fired up to build something after watching this movie.

Caleb's math took a much more challenging turn today, so I doubt he will be flying through his worksheets as fast now. He is now on chapter, or lesson, number 9. Each lesson has 6 worksheets.

Back with an update: Not much to say. Caleb set the pennies in a jar with the white vinegar and salt solution, and they are still pretty dirty.

Sunday-Tuesday

2009-09-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

Sunday we rented a pontoon boat. We saw a white herring, a blue herring, fish jumping for bugs, and ducks. The boys discovered when they fed a few ducks some cheerios, all of the ducks in the area would fly in from all different directions and surround us. We were out of cheerios in no time.

Monday, Caleb read Hot Dog.

We read the first chapeter of History for Little Pilgrims for our history lesson.

All three boys watched Math Circus by Leap Frog. We bought 5 Leap Frong dvds recently. We used to check these out from the library constantly and knew they would be nice to have. The boys have learned so much from them!

Today, Caleb read My Dog Talks.

For Geography, we studied some things about California. Caleb was born in California and he and his daddy and brother will be taking a trip there soon. The boys learned how to find The United States and the state of California on a map and on the globe. They saw all of the states they will be flying across on their way. They also learned about the Pacific Ocean that they'll be able to see soon.

math day

2009-09-11T10:39:00.000-07:00

Caleb didn't want to stop doing math today and ended up completing 18 Math U See worksheets! Some of them required writing numbers, so we skipped his writing lesson.
He picked Cooking with the Cat to read.

I read 3 chapters in Stuart Little. Then Caleb began an art project, which I'll post pictures of once its done. This was our longest school day by far.

What we accomplished today...

2009-09-10T07:32:00.000-07:00

We started with more Bible, Math, and Writing.
Caleb read Cat Traps.
I read to them the first chapter of Stuart Little.

They are now listening to Devotion and building Legos. We bought this album when the African's Children Choir came to our area last year.

First Day of School

2009-09-09T09:52:00.000-07:00

Caleb...

Luke...

Joey tagged along...

Math U See
First they watched a video and then worked on the corresponding worksheets.

Science
We set up three bowls of water: warm, room temperature and cold. They placed their hands in the warm and cold bowls for 30 seconds and then placed both hands in the room temperature one and noticed how much different each hand felt in the same water.

This is the book Caleb read to me. He surprised even himself with how well he did.

We also read Nate the Great, our Bible story book, and we watched the documentary, A Journey Home.

Our Homeschool Room

2009-08-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

We are so excited about our new homeschool room, which is a large sunroom. It is a multi-purpose room as we'll also have our dining table in there and a place to watch movies. Also, it has places for coats, shoes, and our dog's bed. Once it is all put together, I'll share pictures.

Caleb and I have been organizing all of the children's books into groups to make them easier to find. He really enjoys organizing. I was surprised when he mentioned putting the "classics" together. LOL How does a 5 year old know what the word classic means?

I am trying to figure out how to hang our maps back up. This room has so many windows that there isn't wall space for maps. I may need to save up for one of those classroom pull down map fixtures. I'm sure they are not cheap.

recent favorite activites

2009-08-15T08:19:00.000-07:00

The older two boys spend a good part of their day building with Legos. This past week, Daddy has been home and had them outside learning archery and taking hayless hayrides in the lawn mower trailer. I can't believe how big they look with their bows! They are quite good at this. Caleb loads his bow and fills up his target very quickly. I was able to watch Luke get his first bullseye.

New Baby, New House, and a New School Year

2009-08-11T11:53:00.000-07:00

We have a new baby at our house! Micah was born just 5 days ago. He is a wonderful little baby and I am looking forward to the coming months of taking care of Micah and homeschooling our other three boys. Our oldest, Caleb, is turning 6 soon and so I am starting a real homeschool schedule for September. He is so ready to start learning to read each day and I know he will catch on quickly with this consistancy. We will also begin writing and math daily. Lots of fun things will be thrown in having to do with other subjects like science, history, geography, etc. We have just moved from the city to a country home. That really adds to the excitement of starting this new chapter in our lives.