1st Day!! FIRST Grade!!!

**I wrote this Monday night, but got tired before I could finish. Also, a video I was loading would not load. BOO! I finished this up Tuesday evening**

My baby is a FIRST grader. When did THAT happen???

We take a picture on the porch every year (my kidlets attend preK too) so this year was no different as we began the great adventure!

She picked out her own clothes the night before, and got up on her own at 6:30am to get me up for breakfast. We were already dressed and in learning mode by 8am. We did her core work, and then headed to the library about 2.5 - 3 hours later.

We had a GREAT first day, and one on one learning this morning. GREAT. I was concerned how the year would start off, and it went great. It gives me something to cling to when the rough days happen. Everything went well - her favorite subject was Math, and least favorite was handwriting. We got through it with motivators like earning time with the water pistol (on me lol) and stickers. Valiant was great - she just hung out, sang a LOT and loudly (but we don't hear her anymore....I took some video clips for me to watch to hear my tone and style and was shocked at how loud she was HAHA) and Gift slept all morning (he tends to sleep for a long stretch after his breakfast - such a plus at this stage for schooling!).

Here are some pics, and I have 2 video uploads too!

Phonics work

She got a little tired of phonics, but I told her if she could show me a second page with handwriting work - she could attack me with a water fan - I think it worked, I had to run for cover!

I'm getting chased and doused!

Here are two of the video clips I took to see how annoying my voice was, and to see how I came across/delivery style. Lovely is the one who shines to me, but I'm just a proud momma!

The above was us working on her text book with word problems and subtraction on her magnetic board and manipulatives. Below is her working on her workbook for more practice.

(ok, this video seems to not be loading. Bummer)

After we finished her core lessons, we went to the library. There we got some fun books to read that covered our study areas, and she spent time with some friends there. When picking her books, Lovely picked a children's version of Gilgamesh (This one is called The Revenge of Ishtar which I did not realize was the last of a trilogy, so we'll have to get the other two) and sat raptured listening to me read it to her today (Tues), looking at the words, and pictures, and then redrawing them in her journal book. She would not let me turn the page until she finished a quick pencil sketch. 

After the library, we tried to look into getting a family pass at a local fun gym and let Lovely and her sister Val play a while (for "PE" if you will) but the pass was a rip off, so we decided to skip the gym for now, and go get the family pass at the local museum of natural history and science center. It was SO fun. We focused on things she'll be learning about the next few weeks in both history, science, and living books - animals and the rise of civilizations. She even got to take a class on the Food Chain. It fit perfectly without even planning it. I don't think anyone could have had a better 1st day of first grade!!! I certainly could not top it today.  Here are some pics of our first day adventures. 

Here Lovely is with a mink. This was GREAT because we just read in Little House on the Prairie how Pa hunted mink for its prized fur pelt. This was great for her to see.

Want to know about mink too? Read here!

I was trying out the panoramic feature on my camera for this big guy!

HEY!! No sleeping in class!

Oye - I'm too tired still to write captions for all of it. If you have any questions, just ask LOL!! The Gecko Exhibit was great for science/animals/geography, the children's play area was fun, the science experiment room was a great hands on, soapy learning experience (one we'll return to for lessons that match up to later in the year), and the dinosaur fossils were GREAT. We did a lot more, but I'll wait till we go back for specific activities or units to not spoil the fun pictorially!

What a great 1st day. The second day went well too! Any tips for making handwriting more fun?

And, by the way - I'm TREASURING these moments with Lovely. I get to see all the 'lightbulb' moments. Wow. There are no words to describe how this makes me feel. She also gets to see mine as I learn with her. It's great. Tonight as I was purging tons of clothes and clutter from our home, she went to the store with her daddy. She came home and surprised me with white flowers. Daddy said she wanted to get them all on her own for me. We even butted heads today learning! She still wanted to give me flowers? I felt like it was sign we're on the right track. Keep praying!!

I'm pooped. Much love!!

Thanks Sister! Thanks Friends! Thanks Postlady!

My sister sent over some extra materials from her school room. She's been cleaning and organizing her 2nd grade classroom and has been sharing with me. She sent some manipulatives for different areas, including this math one. She sent a Place Value Pocket Chart. I think it was from a former center.

I made this very large example number to see if most of the pieces were with it. It has some missing pieces. I had to make some #'s on the computer because they were missing. It should work fine for the early problems though that don't go too high - though I had to print out the 2's and the 4. It also comes with decimal values too for later as well.

One of my friends from my church who also homeschools and is in the Co-Op gave me these pattern pieces. I am so appreciative. The $1 spot also had these science cards I could use for this year too.

And, books are continuing to come in. I'm now ready for Monday. I just need to see what is what, and when I could use it (a page a day here and there for the subject area to check skill). I'm excited to crack them open, and read them with her!

Some of these books are MINE lol...

So, thank you sister for your help, thanks L for your donations, thanks Postlady for our mail, and here's to a day of rest tomorrow before we see what REALLY will happen Monday morning! So excited!!!

Tentative Schedule

Well, I think we have a routine/schedule in place. One that will probably be outdated in a week or two - HA! But, it is an idea and starting point.

Let's see....

Tentative Schedule for Fall:

Monday - Library visit, Language Arts, Math, History, Faith, Piano and some Art study

Tuesday - Lovely attends her Montessori class, and we do some Language Arts, Math, and has a Piano lesson

Wednesday - Language Arts, Math, History, Science,  Geography, Faith, Piano, something Art-ish or creative

Thursday - Language Arts, Math, History, Science, Geography, Piano, something Art-ish, Faith

Friday - Co-op Day, OR Field Trip day (they alternate), OR Catch Up day, or creative learning day.

All these days can move around (aside from Co-Op sessions) to do a Field Trip anytime, a project, or a sick day(s), etc. I already have one Field Trip per month planned for my family, and the co-op has a field trip planned each month as well for the group.

We'll get active too - walking, and playing outside. In later August, Lovely will get a class at our local Rec Center to help have fun and be active in a sport or physical activity.

The goal is to make it FUN, use living books, a worksheet from each subject area for checking skills/knowledge, learn through play, lots of snuggling and reading, hands on discoveries, getting outside, drawing, etc.  I'll see how much we have to change to make it work for us, but for now - this is how we'll attempt the week.

So - what is your routine? Getting up early? Sleeping in? Learning in PJ's? Clothes? Broken up throughout the day? Advice? Things that have worked or not worked?

(and I'll try to stay away from the $ bin...haha - see below post. Wait...maybe I won't. One never knows what they'll find or come up with!!).

Loving the $ Spot!

I love a bargain! I also love thinking of things on the fly! Yesterday evening we took a trip to Target to get a few needed items for our house. As always, I had to check out the $ bin! I was excited to see some more materials perfect for Lovely and Val to use in our classroom (man, $1 bins can get ADDICTIVE. I'd better pace myself!).

Maybe your Target has these too, but they had GREAT magnetic numbers with signs too for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. 

I noticed a few aisles away there was a $5 magnetic white board with marker. I was wanting to get a little white board to write things on as needed for Lovely (or let her draw on) and my wheels started clicking -  instead of  plain white board, why not pay a few dollars more for a magnetic board and then get the numbers/signs to put on the board too? Lovely could do all sorts of problems hands on. I got 2 sets of numbers so we could do double digits too:

We won't put so many problems on there, this was just to show the pieces. I think the subtraction sign doubles as a fraction bar - it is so long - or visa versa.

With the white board - we can draw the additional signs (or Lovely can) as needed (like I did above). Hopefully this can make math more fun, or just be good practice. It's portable too!

I saw the $1 bin also had magnetic letters. It dawned on me - there was one thing missing from the toddler kit I wanted for Val - letters. I wanted to find something she could use for exposure if Lovely and I were busy that had her playing with letters. Why not get a new set (I have some on my fridge, but many are missing) for $1 and keep them in her kit and let her use them on the magnetic board too during school time?

I'm totally making all this up - I have no idea how successful these ideas will play out - but it seemed like something could work? At any rate, we can also make simple words on the board (or write them too) with Lovely and Val.

I spent the rest of my evening organizing my The Well Trained Mind (link on sidebar) to help me find needed tips fast as well as the state requirement packet I have simply to keep a running tab as I make records for the state. I feel more relaxed now about starting Monday. My plans are coming together. I have so many living books, games, activities, and 'out and about' learning ideas I can't wait to do, with some book based literature to help me stay on track, thanks to the tips and lists in the pic below. I'm getting really excited!!!

I'll try to post later today or this weekend our tentative schedule - which things we'll do every day, or twice a week, etc. Then....bring on Monday!! 1st day!!!!!

$ for your thoughts? :)

Small Sucesses - "Pre-Planning" Edition

Still plugging away over here. I was hoping to have more successes to report on (since I'm not doing a thing to the house so I can't report there lol) in my home schooling prep - but I'll take what I can get. I'm still waiting for some items to arrive, and I still am figuring out my homeschool tracker system - but I'll figure it all out in time I guess.

1. I've been re-reading and planning out our days using my copy of The Well Trained Mind. It's nice to brush up on suggestions for our schedule, routine, etc.

2. My family and I attended the local Homeschool Expo. It was so helpful and fantastic!!!

3. I attended a meeting Wed night with my new co-op and met some wonderful, dedicated home schoolers that want to plan an exciting 1st semester. We'll do a monthly field trip, and 2 co-op classes per month. The focus this Fall will be science and then service projects. They do themes each semester, so this was voted on in the Spring by the members. I'm an assistant teacher in the K-3 science class. Luckily, the lead teacher really will take the lead. She was really sweet (has been doing both homeschooling and this co-op forever) and has all the equipment and plans we need. I'll mostly just help keep kids on track. They like to be easy on the 'newbies' so we won't get overwhelmed and drop out of the co-op (which leaves them in the lurch too - so its a good policy). Science will be the first part of the semester, and service projects the latter part.

That's about all I can report. Goodness....we'll see what happens when we aim to start school Monday. I'll report back on Thurs. EEEK!! :)

Thankful Thursday
This week I'm thankful for...

1. patient members in a helpful co-op.
2. a hubby who helps me find deals online.
3. inspiration from many sources.
4. my girls.
5. the excitement of a fresh new year - unmarred, raw, unwritten, exploding in possibilities.
6. faith.

Much love!!!

Naysayers and Skeptics

So - how do you deal with doubters to one's plan? Especially a big plan like homeschooling which becomes more of a way of life?

People I know, especially certified educators, really question what we are doing. They view Lovely as far too social to be "stripped" of companionship, and in homeschooling, and they think I'm also losing treasured time with my younger two in these adorable years of babyhood. It plants doubts in my ability to try and do this. I already have so many - like how to guard the fragile mother/daughter relationship when the lines blur with teacher/mother/daughter/student and how to create a routine and stick to it. I already worry about how to teach Lovely areas of learning I am not expert in. I worry about having time with Valiant and Lovely while tending to Gift. So, really, hearing it from others scares me more!

I know I joke I would laugh when people suggested I homeschool - but I can also say I supported them 100% or asked a lot of questions. Even as a certified high school educator, I see the value in all learning styles, locations, and methods. I want to be supportive in someone's passion for learning, no matter where they are. I love learning that much.

I know it comes from a heart of concern because they love my kids - but, I don't know....it doesn't help me settle my soul.

Anyways - just wanted to think out loud. Don't worry...I'm not backing down - and I shared my views back - but little seeds of doubt do get planted. It's hard. How do you keep your eye on the prize? How do you use their constructive criticism? I am all about honesty and other perspectives. I just need help balancing them.

Any thoughts out there?

** And, I will add - I do know family life can be enriched by homeschooling. I will have that time with my kids, etc. Families who homeschool with the support of the spouses as a team, and a community, usually seem so happy and tight. So I know it can boost a family, not tear it down....it is one of the reasons I wanted to look into this way of life.

Homeschool Expo

Well, this was one busy weekend! It was fantastic though. We attended a homeschool conference and I came back with some great ideas. I'm super glad my wonderful girlfriend S encouraged me to attend. I was having some doubts, even though I knew the product selling would be good, I was unsure about other aspects. In the end, I found that I witnessed some great classes that inspired me and gave me some great ideas! I went both days with our family. Hubby wanted to be a part of it with the learning and information, so that is why we went as a unit. It was very family friendly, so bringing children was not a huge deal. I highly recommend going to one if you choose to homeschool, or are just trying out the idea. Some classes are mostly product ads, but some are really great info from families who do this everyday and want to share what worked for them!

One of the most affirming things about our two days was the atmosphere. It was so positive. There were so many nice people. Hubby and I could not go 10 feet without someone stopping us to tell us "what a beautiful family" we had. It was such a boost. Hubby was pretty amazed too. Everyone was helpful to each other, and kind. It was really wonderful in that way.

While I decided to stick for sure to the books we've picked out from different sources (see my links list on the side bar), we did see some "food for thought" products. I ended up finding some things to create a "toddler kit" - learning items for one's toddler(s) as you teach elder siblings. Inevitably (from what I hear and have seen), the younger ones want your attention or to be included in all the activities the student is doing. Having some tools for learning can help occupy a little mind and fingers while teaching them skills as well. Along with their own paper and writing utensils, objects that are for the school day only can help them, and your student, learn and feel part of the family unit at the same time.

I found some manipulatives that our younger ones can play with and learn from that Lovely can also use for counting and tactile/visual aids as well. I put them in a bucket little Val can access (Lovely too). Each box of items comes with lesson ideas and plans so when Lovely is occupied, I can use these things for little lessons for Val. They all came in bundle to make a home Toddler Kit with some lesson plans and ideas as well:

These are called Shape and Color Sorters. It is basic pegging and challenges kids to sort by color, shape, patterns and one can use them to practice counting, basic math, and colors.

 

These are also something Lovely can use for math. It's a Tall-Stacker Pegs and Pegboard set. It is used for color sorting and matching, adding and subtracting, counting, and fine motor skills

This is the Number Express. It's a puzzle (the train and #'s all have to be put together) and pegboard. It fosters creative play, problem solving, hand/eye coordination, fine-motor, and counting.

This little bonus is great. It is good for travel (very slim) or for meetings, trips, etc. It has geometric puzzles of different sizes, as well as play items like bears, airplane, boats. It builds on all the previous (we can use the pegs too) to help little ones with concentration, colors, shapes, fine-motor etc.

(These toys are from Lauri Educational Toys - and were used in a bundled kit by "My Father's World" curriculum).

Hubby used his internet phone to compare prices online and such when we went to booths (he could even scan the bar code??? WOW!) and found the bundle price was a good deal (it made the items around $7.50 each vs the prices we found on Amazon).  So, we felt ok with the purchase. There were other offerings of Toddler Kits, etc (deluxe sized and price) but I wanted to hold back and see what else our co-op friends do (I learned about Toddler Kits from them) and what they have in their kits. I'd love something with letters to go in too, but I know I could find something like that on my own. This also came with a DVD on how to occupy little ones (from My Father's World). I'll see if that is any good, or just a product placement item.

Our rule will be the above is only for use when doing school - not just casual play. Aside from trying them out (both Val and Lovely) before school - they will be kept in the kit and only pulled when Val or Lovely could use them, or I can do some learning with Val.  They fit in a little Target bin I got (the pics just look like the are really big or take up space). The kids are welcome to learn anytime, but not turn these into playthings to lose or not respect if that makes sense.

So, with that out of the way, I learned some things too. I went to some classes, and one of the best ones I attended was one on Lapbooking. I wish I had known about these projects when I taught high school. What a great unit project! They are mini "books/folders" that show what you have learned, broken down. They can also make a great study, or writing, aid. It is a little overwhelming to hear about them. I've looked online before and got confused or overloaded at reading the step by step - the folds - the cuts! It reminded me of scrapbooking! But our teacher knew this, and she likes to make her learners create a lapbook instead of hearing about them in a presentation. So we made a simple one step by step to cover the different types of folds. We basically wrote on each thing we made the name of the fold so we could remember what we did. It was really helpful. Inside the pockets she had us write down the most proven ways to use a given fold or "look" with a subject. It was great. See below:

It isn't the neatest job, but I got a good taste of how to put these together. It'll be great for certain lessons and special units. We even were given tips on where to display in our house or local library.

So that was really helpful. We also enjoyed some of the learning areas of the expo. Lovely enjoyed a traveling science trailer that can come to your co-op or house to teach different areas of science:

And here is my fam as we wandered from class to class or expo:

The baby did so well! They all did! The 2nd day Lovely spent the day with her grandparents, just to give her a day of rest after a week of sleepovers, fun, and excitement (and little sleep).

We got some other free samples (like this double sided sight words list - Kindergarten and 1st grade) from Bob Books:

At the end of the weekend, we were tired - but had some ideas to get started. We let the girls try out the materials we purchased:

Organized Chaos? Maybe ONE learning tool at a time...haha!

Trying out the train puzzle

Testing out the Peg board and the laws of gravity

Val did really well with the geometry puzzles - she was SO determined!

It was a successful weekend. Now...onto planning and organizing this week. I want to start Aug 9th in earnest. I'm so tired.....tired now as I write this out so I can remember and share it, as well as tired of thinking of all I need to STILL do!!!

As always - any tips? Thoughts?

Gratefully yours.... :)

** Oh - just in the interest in sharing. In terms of recording needed records for homeschooling - I'm using Homeschool Tracker this year as I am being mentored on it. I find it pretty amazing. It is making lesson planning easy as well as attendance, records for the state, grades, etc. But, the expo showed another similar product. It costs $10 more than the full version of Homeschool Tracker, and seems to be about the same - but has some added charts it can do (perhaps helpful for Montessori or other methods?) with images and such - like chore charts, etc. It is called Edu Track. I just wanted to share in case it helped anyone.