Teaching Time

The big kids and I are looking forward to winter break starting tomorrow.  Dave even has Friday and Monday off with us.  Sierra still has school, which I am hoping will enable me to get several big projects completed during our time off.  But, in the meantime, we have been plugging along with school.

Alexa was working on measuring and adding to find perimeter, so she measured the kitchen rug.

Jordanna working on a sock sorting page for "S" week

When Sierra gets home from school each day, first she likes to drink her juice and watch a show.  Then she often sits right here in front of the bookshelf and pats the floor for me to sit with her.  We build blocks and string beads and read books before she goes to take her nap.

Here is Jordanna with a city that she made this week.

Alexa typing her spelling words.

And Caleb practicing piano.  He does most of his work upstairs in his room, so it's hard to catch a picture of him.

Teaching Time

Caleb and me working on science.  I have no idea why he is wearing his hood.  It's not THAT cold in our house.

Alexa working on 3 digit, 5 column addition.  Hopefully both of us will survive this week of math.

Jordanna playing the train game to work on her phonics skills.

Teaching Time

I think we are finally into the swing of things for this semester.  Just as a reminder, Caleb is technically in 4th grade but is doing 5th grade level work, Alexa is in 2nd grade, and Jordanna is in Pre-K.

Alexa practicing her spelling words by writing them in rainbow colors.

Cold day, indoor PE - Just Dance Disney Edition

Even Silas got in the middle of things

And then Sierra started dancing, too.

Alexa was studying snakes in science, and one of her assignments was to attempt to slither in the 4 main ways that snakes slither.  It was pretty funny, especially since Jordanna and Caleb got in on it.

And finally, Jordanna reading her very first book to Dave.  I started teaching her phonics last week.

Teaching Time

Caleb was watching his Latin DVD last week (which, by the way, was money WELL spent), and Jordanna wanted to watch it with him.  I told her she could as long as she was quiet.  So sweet!

Latin teacher

One of the ways we study Alexa's spelling words is for her to give me a spelling test.  I spell many words incorrectly, but I try to use common misspellings.  Then Alexa has to grade the test.  Apparently I did so poorly that I got a G.

Another way we practice spelling words is using these letter tiles.

Jordanna had to make a quilt out of paper for a literature unit she is doing.  We (very loosely) modeled it after the quilt that Grammy made her when she was born.

And if you are wondering by now where Sierra is, she now goes to special needs preschool at the local public elementary school.  The bus picks her up around 6:55 and drops her off around 12:25.  She get speech and occupational therapy at school as well as just general educational experiences including playing hockey in PE last week.  There are 10 students and 4 teachers.  We miss her while she is gone, but it gives us wonderful uninterrupted time to home school.

Teaching Time

Both Alexa and Jordanna have been studying fish in science, so one day, we made sharks, fish, and rays out of playdough.

Sierra really LOVES reading lately.  Here is Jordanna "reading" to her.

And here is Jordanna watching a video about cotton to go with her study of The Rag Coat.  She was mesmerized the whole time.

Still Frozen

Not the movie this time.  Us.  We woke up one day this week to 9 degree weather.  In Georgia.  After we dropped Sierra off at school, Alexa continued to wear her hat while she did her school.  Here Alexa is doing her math test, and Jordanna is making a letter "O" book.

They also made underwater pictures using Goldfish.  Both Jordanna and Alexa studied fish in science this week, and this was a cute, fun, and easy craft.

When Sierra got home, she brought me her hat because she wanted to wear a hat like her sisters.

Sweet, snuggly warm sisters.

December Photo Project Day #19

Santa and Sierra and her new Elsa doll at her school this morning

December Photo Project Day #17

My class at our Christmas party today

December Photo Project Day #10

Caleb at school today in his new Veritas hoodie

December Photo Project Day #8

Alexa and Jordanna working (somewhat) diligently on their school work.

2014-2015 School Year

The 2014-2015 School Year is off to a good start around here!  If you go all the way back to when I started preschool with Caleb at home, we are on our 7th year of homeschooling or 5th if you start counting when he was officially in kindergarten.  Anyway, here is what school looks like around here this year.

Sierra goes to Mother's Morning out each Thursday to give use four glorious hours of homeschooling without crying or Elmo in the background.  I love this girl SO much, and I wouldn't trade her for the world, but she sure does make school interesting.

Jordanna is in K-4, and she is SO excited to be in school this year.  Here she is on our first official day at home this year.

And here she is on her first day at Veritas, where she goes with us one day a week.

And with her teacher Mrs. Wilfong.  She was Alexa's teacher in 1st grade last year.

Jordanna's curriculum:
Five In A Row - I've used this with the big kids before, but it was probably not nearly as fun then as it will be for Jordanna since Mrs. Wilfong is planning the activities for her not me.  We will be studying a picture book for two weeks and using it to discuss character traits, geography, history, art, math, science and more.
Letter of the Week
My ABC Bible Verses
Skill Sharpeners, Spell and Write, Pre-K
Mind Benders
Kumon workbooks for math and scissor skills

Here is Alexa on our first day at home.

And at school with her teacher, Mrs. Crump.  She will also be going on another day for a science class with Mrs. Wilfong.  I'm sure it will take some adjustment to getting ready and out the door for classes 2 days a week now.

Alexa's Curriculum:
Story of the World Volume 4 and associated literature
Art and music appreciation
Piano
Phonics Pathways
First Language Lessons
Wordly Wise 3000
Math U See Beta
Map skills
Critical Thinking Skills
Life Science
Biblical character traits

Caleb on his first day at home.  I didn't take a picture of him at school with his teacher (me).  Our school had no other 4th graders this year, so he is going to be  in my 5th grade class.  While this will be a challenge for him, I think he can do it!  He is also taking math and science classes on a 2nd day.

Caleb's curriculum -
Mystery of History Volume 4 and associated literature
Piano
Prima Latina
Saxon 6/5
Physical Science
Christian Studies Book 4
Shurley Grammar
Vocabulary From Classical Roots
Jump In Writing

And me, (mostly) ready to start another crazy school year!  I'm teaching a full day of 5th/6th humanities classes, plus 5th grade math and a middle school writing class.

Teaching Time

Caleb and Alexa making American flags with only 13 stars.

December Photo Project Day #11

Jordanna playing with the nativity scene craft she made in school today

December Photo Project Day #9

Alexa dressed up like a Sikh warrior for history today.

December Photo Project Day #6

Alexa working on spelling words

December Photo Project Day #3

Alexa and a friend from school

School Pictures

We had school pictures made recently by Amy, the same lady who has made our family pictures previously.  I think they turned out great!

Alexa - 1st grade

Caleb - 3rd grade

What We've Been Up To

 In no apparent order.

We had a church picnic at the outdoor YMCA.

We went to the fair two weekends in a row.  The first weekend was rainy, but the kids still had fun.

We had friends over for lunch after church; we have 11 kids between us.

We  dressed up like pirates to get free donuts.

We've been working hard on school including this fun science experiment.