A Moment

Friday morning we decided to start school in bed (why don't we do this everyday??).  I was teaching Jackson how to knit in between reading our book and Grace was teaching Nora how to finger knit in between her own knitting.  It was one of those really good moments.  One of the ones that cancels out all the hundreds of not good moments that may have happened earlier in the week.  So at some point I decided I needed a picture of us.  This lead to more laughter as there was no way to capture us without cutting off someone's head.  Not to mention they were all really just pictures of my seemingly huge arms.











I don't care though.  It was a good moment.  You have to capture those in whatever form you can.

Ski Day

Nora has watched the three of us talk about, plan and then go off skiing ever since she's been a baby.  This year she asked if she could pleeeeaaaase go skiing with us.  I was hesitant about all of it but then remembered Jackson was skiing when he was four so thought maybe she might be ready?



The two big kids were really excited to get her on the hill.  But I could tell once we got there she was feeling apprehensive about the whole thing.  By the time her skiis were on she starting to get clingy and weepy and I just new it wasn't going to go well.  She still wanted to give it a try but when we got to the top of the hill she started crying (but saying it was because she didn't want to hold my hand) and yelling and well, we made it down the hill but then it was time to be done for the day (year).  Thankfully they let both of us return our skis.
 
Later we found that this was just the type of skiing she liked!  Much better.



So for the first time Grace and Jackson went off to ski on their own.  They would check in with me every hour or so letting me know which direction they were going.


{Jackson's in this picture too on the far left blending in with the trees}

And then before we left they decided to give some of the jumps a try.


{Nora and I left our games and puzzles in the warm chalet and went to watch}


{Grace comes down the hill first and the right after Jackson. Also notice how there are NO other people on the hill, we are spoiled homeschoolers!}

They had a lot of fun practicing on the various "jumps" and Jackson especially decided he wanted to spend a lot more time here next time.

Not sure there will be a next time with the weather warming up but we will see.

Swim Day

{Nora swam in the deep end with her life jacket on for the first time!}



This week we opted out of our homeschool group activity and instead Nikki and I took the kids to the pool.  While kids swam happily for 6 hours Nikki and talked happily about books (for 6 hours).  Yes to homeschooling!

Homeschooling

{Working in their main lesson books}

I think we are finally back in the swing of school.  It feels nice.  Oddly there hasn't been the resistance I am use to dealing with after a break.  Maybe they are needing it too.  Either that or they finally learned you're going to have to do your work anyway so why waist time complaining about it.  (seems highly unlikely)



We are only five chapters into this book here but we are all hooked!  It is our read aloud right now.



Some of Grace (below) and Jackson's (above) recent oil pastel and watercolor paintings.





This here might be the best book of fairy tales I have ever read.  I got it because we have been learning about Sweden and I thought it would be fun to hear some of Sweden's stories.  But they are all so good.  I think I will have to keep going with it.


{They have been doing a lot of skating down at the pond during "recess" and after school with each other and our homeschooling neighbors/friends}

Other things we're up to with homeschooling...

Math- (Grace) we just finished a long unit on fractions and now we have moved on to measurement
           (Jackson) we are reviewing times tables and learning division
           (Nora) working on learning her numbers.  She likes to do her "number work" with her big sister.

Geography- (all) we are still learning about Sweden.  I found this great documentary series called Families of the World.  We have only watched the one from Mexico and then recently the one from Sweden but so far they are a great window into the lives of families in other countries.  In addition to learning about the people of the countries we also like to learn about the nature and animals in that area of the world.  Today we learned about Sweden's arctic foxes.

Language Arts- (all) We are reading the above books together.  Grace is also reading Anne of Green Gables.  Jackson is often cornering me with a Star Wars book he wants me to read with him.  And Nora still loves as many picture books as we have time for.  We are always reading poems and learning tongue twisters.  Next week Grace will also be starting a new English curriculum.

Spelling- (Grace) earlier this year I discovered a new program that is proving to be incredibly effective at helping me teach spelling to Grace (a concern I have had as of late).  I do not usually use this type of curriculum and Grace did not like it at first because it was "too easy" (you have to start at the beginning regardless of age as each lesson builds on the previous).  But after working with it for several weeks she is coming around to it (and we've caught up to her level) and her spelling ability has dramatically increased.

Reading- (Jackson) we teach language arts more in the Waldorf style which means reading isn't officially taught until first grade.  And even then it is very slow and gentle.  The main basis of Waldorf reading education in the early years is to provide a substantial diet of high quality literature.  We always have a read aloud book going in our family and we read one on one regularly with our children as well.  But over the past month Jackson is also starting to work through some readers. We love these readers.

Art- (all) We have done some painting and are now starting on some knitting projects.  Grace is working on a small peacock from this adorable book and Jackson is learning to knit.  Nora also has learned how to finger knit.

Spanish- (all) We have been continuing to play our Spanish games (this one, this one, and this one being our favorites right now) and we are always learning Spanish songs as well.  Our Spanish learning is slow but continuous and repetitive.  This is our third year of learning Spanish this way and I'm realizing (at least with my kids) quantity is irrelevant.  Cramming too much Spanish learning in a short window of time has the reverse effect with them.  It's the hearing and using the same words and songs over and over and over again that makes it finally click for them.

I came across this quote the other day that made me think of Spanish, and all of our homeschooling efforts actually- "Success is the sum of small efforts- repeated day in and day out." (Robert Collier)  I think that just might be my homeschooling moto.

Our Felt Books

{Grace's is the one in the middle and not finished yet}





I loved everything about this project.  From the quiet hours we spent by the fire with felt and needles, to the finished product.  The kids were so proud of them too.  I want to do at least one more hand-sewing felt project with them this year.  Grace has a little bit of sewing left to do on hers but is determined to finish it up for a birthday present for Grandma Lee.

Pumpkin Empanadas and Dia De Los Muertos

We have been learning about Mexico over the past month and I was so excited to celebrate Dia De Los Muertos last Monday.  But since I was unable to leave my bed last Monday that obviously didn't happen.  So instead I decided we would do it this week.

I had decided we would make pumpkin empanadas (from this recipe) for our celebration.  Then ironically, just in time to use them, Grace and Jackson uncovered two pumpkins from the garden (hard to imagine we could have missed pumpkins, I mentioned the weeds right?).  This was great news since I hadn't had the chance to bake one pumpkin this year as the only one I found was about the size of a large apple.

These were really fun to make. They loved the process of rolling out the dough, filling them with up and making pockets out of them.  I thought they were really good to eat too but the kids didn't enjoy them as much as I did.  I think we might have put too much filling in them though.  Next time less filling.

I am so intrigued by this holiday.  I would love to learn more about it and even make it an annual tradition.

Unfortunately Grace got sick again today.  She wasn't herself all day and by bedtime she had a fever.  Crossing my fingers it's gone by tomorrow.  We really haven't had good luck with illnesses over the last month.

Let's Stay These Ages Forever

At "recess" today these three decided to see if they could run around the driveway 100 times.  But first- warming up with jumping jacks.

Science Club Beaver Presentation

Field Trip with our Homeschool Group: Oliver Kelly Farm

Homeschool Group: Stone Soup

{Listening to the story Stone Soup} Photo from Heidi


{LOOK, they are eating the soup!!!} Photo from Heidi


{Going for a carriage ride with Heidi's parent's horses}

This is my favorite homeschooling day every year.  Each family brings something to add to our giant pot which we cook over a fire.  There are seasonings set out and children are free to add what they wish to the simmering pot.  Despite the fact that nothing is planned, and usually even when we are eating it no one knows exactly what is in it, it is ALWAYS delicious.

One Last Swim Day with Our Homeschooling Group

Presenting thier Balloon Boat at Science Club

Day 6

{Recess}


{Dogwood tree}


{Working on her map of the neighborhood, she is very into this project}


{My favorite autumn "flower" to photograph}


{Ryan's wool shirts, washed and drying so they are ready for fall}

After 4 blissful days of school our happiness came to a screeching halt yesterday morning (on day 5 of school) as we sat down to do our "circle time".  Circle time for us is a variety of things.  It is singing some seasonal songs along with a Spanish song.  It is practicing numbers and times tables in the form of bean bag games or rhymes.  It is a poem or an outdoor game.  Since we have a preschooler, a 1st grader and a 4th grader it includes things for preschoolers, 1st graders and 4th graders.  However the majority of circle time is for little ones.  This can sometimes be a sore spot for the two bigger kids.  Last week I talked with them about it, reminding them that in circle time we do things for everyone and there will be preschool songs for the preschooler in our family.  Given that there is very little "homeschooling" to do for a 3 year old, and that this 3 year old often spends a good portion of her day tagging along with a class or activity geared toward her big brother and sister, I feel really strongly about making her stuff important too.  Last week they did awesome with this.  And quite honestly, they actually love most of the songs we sing, they grew up learning them and it is not uncommon for one of them to start singing a song we learned when they are off playing on their own.  But yesterday they were not having it.  Resistance quickly escalated into name calling followed by aggression.  Jackson was able to recover but Grace spent the next hour upstairs.  As all of this was happening I realized that my tolerance for the really bad homeschooling days (especially when it is a fight that we have over and over) is less then what it use to be when we started homeschooling two years ago.  Granted the good days far exceed the good days of our bumpy first year but that doesn't outweigh the fact that when things are going horribly wrong I can't help thinking I don't have to do this.  Except that I want to do this, I love doing this.  They love doing this.

So last night we had a family meeting.  We talked about everything and I asked them if they really wanted to keep homeschooling which was met with a resounding yes!  Then I explained my fear, that as much as I love homeschooling, if I ever get to the point where I am feeling resentful, I will have to stop.  So let's not get to that point!  So we decided to make a contract.  Today we had a second meeting.  We made lists of everything we like and don't like about homeschooling.  We made lists of what we have to do as homeschoolers even if we don't like it.  We focused on the fact that like life, there are going to be things you don't like doing when you homeschool, it is okay not to like them!  But you still need to do them and be respectful about it.  Then Grace typed it up and I printed it out and everyone signed it.  I am anxious to see if this has an impact on our days.  I will say that today was awesome, but then again, it's only day 6.