Elementary Round Up: Week 18?

School was pretty light this week, with plenty of fun moments. 

Like a memorable trip downtown to see the Superbowl 46 festivities . . .

And a field trip to celebrate Groundhog’s Day . . . with Gabe’s cousins.

Though I must admit, seeing a puppet emerge from the ground to discover his shadow just isn’t quite the same as a real animal.  But I suppose you do what you gotta do when the groundhog decides to stay in hibernation on his one famous day of the year.

In the classroom,

Yes, in the real classroom . . . we did school.

For starters, Gabe and Ezra got back to basics by learning some new vocabulary with Wordly Wise.

The boys made squids to send off to Jelly Telly.

We studied some history. And colored Babylon.

I cleaned our white board.  Here is a trick for you.  If your dry erase marker has become so dry that it won’t erase . . . ahem . . . then scribble over the old marking with a fresh pen. 

The result is a white board.

I was surrounded by Indians and knights this week.  The costumes were pretty amazing . . . and all made out of paper and tape.  So they were kind of delicate.

By the way, this is Gabe’s “new” smile.

And of course, Bible with Grapevine Studies . . . (four more days left to enter the Grapevine Study giveaway!).

And you can see what Naomi did here.

There you have it for Tot School, Preschool, Kindergarten and Second Grade! 

Joining in with:

• Preschool Corner
• Weekly Wrap-Up

What did you learn this week?

Elementary Round Up

The newness of our curriculum switch has worn off . . . but not the fondness.  Because I want to update our curriculum page, this will be a week reduced to pictures.

• Rosetta Stone Spanish
• Wordly Wise
• Teaching Textbooks 3 (an improvement – Asher “allowed” the boys to stand beside him!)

• taking notes with Apologia Flying Creatures of the 5th Day using A Journey Through Learning lapbook.

• Handwriting Without Tears Get Set for School

• More Handwriting Without Tears using wood shapes and Stamp and See Magnetic Screen
• All About Reading Pre-Level 1 (Oh how Gabe loves to do his letters . . . so much so that he will lay out all the books for me . . . and anxiously wait for me to return to the school table.

• Memory Cross ABC Flash Cards

• Abeka Math K
• Oragami Alphapets
• A Reason for Handwriting Cursive Book C

I have way more pictures containing Ezra and his All About Reading Level 1.  It is easy to snap photos because his excitement and feelings of success create the most captivating and precious photos to this proud mom.  (And to those of you who have used my affiliate link . . . I thank you so much.)

• Even Nana’s can jump right in to All About Reading!!!

• Finishing our seals from The Story of the World Activity Book

And some silly moments . . .

Linking up with

• Homeschool Creation Preschool Corner
• Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers Weekly Wrap-Up

Elementary Round Up

Week 16.  72 days into the school year.  Hot chocolate. 

Fires in the fireplace.  Snuggling.  Reading.  Copious learning.  Leaving the Engineer’s head spinning at the dinner table with all of our excited newfound knowledge.

You sure can get a lot done when you stay home!  {grin}

This week June, my Kindle Fire, entered the school room, ready to assert the claim that though she is still mine . . . I am sharing.  (Notice the pink cover.)

I love how such a fun gadget can become such an educational tool (besides the fact that typically June lures me into staying up late to read books!)  Some fun apps that we discovered this week are:

•  Connect the dots (free)
• Kids Match’em (Free)

• Let’s do the math (free)

• Letter Tracing

While finishing up some Story of the World activities, June joined us and helped to understand what seals were used for and looked like. 

And we then did our best to mimic Sumerian seals to be used in modern-day-times.

This project has yet to be finished as it is taking a long time for the clay to dry.

Additionally, I wouldn’t recommend having snack at the same time you work with clay.  Three year olds will accidentally eat the clay instead of their snack. Just saying.

We can now say goodbye to Sargon!

Asher left Saxon Math . . .

and entered the world of Teaching Textbooks . . . which he has been L.O.V.I.N.G.  This curriculum has worked well because Asher watches and interacts with his learning on the computer first.

Ezra is only allowed to stay behind him . . . looking on from a distance.  Anybody have this happening?

Once Asher finishes the lecture portion of the interactive DVD, then he can complete the practice work and homework either on the computer on in his textbook.  We have actually done both to reinforce the concept.  (Thanks for this recommendation, Jolanthe!)  I am enjoying this curriculum because it give me time to work with one of the other kids while Asher learns independently.

Other learning for Asher includes:

• A Wrinkle in Time read-aloud (I’m also reading it for book club).

• A Reason for Handwriting Cursive

• All About Spelling

• Rosetta Stone Latin Spanish

• Wordly Wise

• and some pretend bird watching with Apologia Flying Creatures of the 5th Day . . . lots of birds have been placed in random places in our house.  Gotta watch out for those bird droppings!

Phew!

And Sir Honey Ezra . . .

• All About Reading Level 1 (if you missed the set-up post, click over there!) I have been blown away by how quickly he has picked up on reading, after only using AAR for 2 weeks!!!

• Abeka Math

• Awana verses

• playing (and a few more school things that I don’t have pictures of)

Gabe was quite delighted to once again learn with his furry Zebra.

All About Reading Level Pre-1 continues to challenge Gabe and feed his brain with a desire to know and learn more.

He also piggy backed off of a few lessons, namely Worldly Wise with Ezra.

And Naomi . . . that girl is busy! 

She has been read to . . . (see the fingers?)

Protected by Ruth . . .

Helped with the dishes . . .

And has been signing,

• change diaper
• music
• car
• train
• more
• all done
• please
• night night

Like all of our children, Naomi is a TALKER.  A big talker.  We just don’t know quite all that she is saying.

What did you learn this week?

Linking Ezra and Gabe’s school with Preschool Corner over at Homeschool Creations.

And joining Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers for Kris’s WeeklyWrap Up.

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