Elementary Round Up

Our school days have been accompanied by copious amounts of tea.  But the reason why is for another post (a weight loss post).

What have we done?

Legos.  When my mom bought the boys’ Christmas presents at the Lego store they handed her two empty boxes.  We took those boxes to the Lego store this week, and the boys happily filled the boxes creatively so as acquire as many parts as possible.  There inspiration came from The Lego Ideas Book.

Little Passports:  Japan

 Save 10% on Little Passports with code "LPJAN10"!

I will be posting about our trip to Japan in February, but here is a sneak peak at what we ate. 

Handwriting Without Tears

All About Reading Level Pre-1

We tackled one of the suggestions in the extension activities and Gabe made letters in a salt box. 

And while I am on the subject of Gabe, he also did a lot of Grapevine Studies Old Testament Bible Timeline lessons with us.  (Giveaway coming soon! Use code  JANFS to receive Free Shipping! ) He is very proud to be a big boy. 

Play Time:  not a spectator sport (in Gabe’s eyes)

And now for Sir Honey Ezra . . . haven’t heard that name in quite some time.  Sigh.  My boy is growing up. 

Abeka Math K

All About Reading Level 1

We encountered our first road block.  After four days of diligent work, sticker rewards,  and snuggles on the couch . . . we finished the reading page.

My inclination was to try and push him through his lesson the day that we initially began this page.  Maybe I should have.  But I didn’t want to risk damaging his love for All About Reading. 

So we stepped back.  We broke the lesson down into stages. 

And we conquered. 

History:  The Story of the World

We saw how Biblical History easily fit into World History . . .

. . . which tied in quite nicely with that new Bible Wall Timeline we are creating. 

Gym:  Basketball

Let’s pass the ball to Asher.

Bible:  This young man is adoring our timeline study of the Old Testament.

It is really helping to organize all the stories that float around in his head.

We have been plowing through All About Spelling. 

We started at the beginning of the program, so that we were familiar with the program and to make sure that we hadn’t missed any fundamentals.  It isn’t uncommon that we do three lessons in a sitting. I imagine once we move to book two that this will change. 

Teaching Textbooks 3

Of course . . . there were some fun moments.  Lots of tweeting moments while we studied birds with Apologia’s Flying Creatures of the 5th Day.  But you would have to follow me on twitter to hear what bird calls we were checking out! 

This little girl is moving!

Gabe has figured out that Naomi likes to push him.

What a patient basketball fan this girl is!

A busy day is ended with a nice nap in a fort before Awana.

What did you learn last week?

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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