Veterans Day and the Zoo!

We had a very fun week! We kicked off the week learning about Veterans Day.

The little girls enjoyed learning about the states of matter at our co-op.

The big girls made some Thanksgiving art. 

We ended the week with a trip to the zoo. This was very exciting because MK and H had just been learning about monkeys and apes in zoology. We got to see a mommy and baby orangutan. 

I just have to say that I LOVE homeschooling! 

Little E continues to read!

Little E continues to read and amaze me! I've noticed she gets stuck on words starting with vowels because she often adds in a beginning consonant sound. I'm not worried one bit though, because she's doing GREAT!

Veterans Day

There are many free Veterans Day printables on www.teacherspayteachers.com but below I have linked directly to a few that I have decided to use this year.

PreK-K:
Numbers Counting Clip Cards
Number Order Puzzles
Word Work
Early Learner Book
Veterans Day Booklet

Elementary:
ABC Order
Veterans Day Timeline
Booklet
Reader's Theater

Middle School:
Differentiated Reading Passages
Quiz

Websites:
Kids Konnect
Veterans Day
The Home School Coach
VA.gov (link to teacher guide towards bottom)

Thank you to all the Veterans for your service!

Usually, not always...

I was inspired by this blog post I saw the other day to make my own "usually, not always" list. I'm finding so much freedom in homeschooling. Yesterday I over-heard a group of ladies discussing how you know if you are really doing enough homeschooling. I will admit that the thought has crept into my head a few times, because we sure seem to be having a lot of fun (and fun could not possibly equal learning, right?). However, I'm not stressing if we are doing enough. Life happens, opportunities arise, and if we want/can/are able, I love to experience new adventures and not be bound to school all day, every day. We are still on track to finish all curriculum "on time" (which is my self-imposed schedule, so really, "on time" means little to nothing). When my kids grow up, I won't regret that on October 31st, 2014 we didn't do any school work. I might regret not having fun, happy memories though. So...

• We usually, not always, start school at 9 each day. I don't think we started on time once this week.
• We usually, not always, do school Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. We skipped Friday this week because we were too busy having fun and going around town to gather free goodies, running necessary errands, attending a church festival, and dinner with friends.
• We usually, not always, go to a co-op on Thursday's from 9-12. We only went 10-12 this week.
• We usually, not always, do All About Spelling at least twice a week. We didn't do it once this week.
• We usually, not always, finish school by 3 each day. Wednesday we didn't finish until 3:40.
• I usually, not always, go thrift shopping at least once a week. I didn't go at all this week.
• I usually, not always, drink Diet Dr. Pepper every day. Who am I kidding? I do always drink Diet Dr. Pepper every day. 

Each week I make each girl a grid of each of their lessons for each day of the week to be completed. Guess what? We didn't check off all the boxes this week. That's okay. This Sunday when I make the grids for next week I will simply move the uncompleted assignments over and we will pick up where we left off. But you know what we did do? We spent a lot of time together. We cleaned the house (with a clear island to prove it), we caught up on laundry, we cooked, and we had a whole lot of fun. Little E read more this week than she ever has before (I still am having a hard time believing my Little E is READING). T told me her favorite subject was reading, H was excited to begin the second book in the Circle C Adventures series, and MK did great with all her work this week without complaint. I call that a successful week.

Unit 9-O for Octopus!

For unit 9-O for octopus-we read these ocean themed books. 

Truth be told, after we read these I got rid of The Rainbow Fish books. They have an all-knowing octopus in them which bothered me. I find myself reading books with a critical eye lately. 

At our co-op we learned about the life cycle of a chicken.

Little E continues to sound out words! 

Short post, but more updates to come!

Weeks 9 & 10

We are into our second quarter now! The girls continue to make amazing art at our co-op. I'm so thankful for the art class. I'm not very artistic, so I love that they get an outlet every week to be create beautiful masterpieces.

(sun in T's eyes)

H finished her first book of the year, The Long Ride Home. She also wrote a book report. I emailed the author to tell her how much we are enjoying her book and H was very happy to read her reply. I love it that an author took the time to write us back.

We also went on a field trip. The girls and I had so much fun. I love spending this time with my girls.

I got a bit behind in my posting because we took an impromptu fall break between weeks 9 & 10. Now that we are back in school mode I will stay on top of posting. I'm primarily using this blog to document our year so that at the end of the year I can turn the blog into a yearbook of sorts. I am loving this whole homeschooling thing even more than I thought I would. We have our good days and our bad days, but being able to do the thing I love most (teach) with the girls I love most just can't be beat. I am so blessed. God is good. All the time.

Unit 10-W for Water