Homeschooling Decisions

Prince Charming and I have decided that we are going to teach our kids from home.   It is something that has always been at the back of my mind.  I have also dreamed of teaching and having kids now I can pull them both together.  I don't really know what I am doing or what I am in store for but I do know we will all be learning together.  So far the kids have really grown together they are getting along so much better.

We start Classical Conversations next week.   CC is a group of parents and children that meets weekly in the community.There is a tutor that teaches material and guides the child.  It meets once a week.  There is a group of kids 8 is the max I think.  In the first group/ class they are ages 4- 4th grade.  This was the main reason we joined.  I wanted my little super hero to meet some kids his age and since we are new to the area I wanted to meet like minded moms.  I was also sold on the weekly presentations, science experiments, fine arts, and memorizing facts with songs and dances.

I look forward to this group as a tool to complete our homeschooling curriculum.      

Pillow course

Running out of things to do on a rainy day.  

Why not set up a pillow course. I have always been nervous about the kids getting hurt. I over came that today and here is what fun was had.  

Check out the popcorn :)  

C decided to come and join the fun.

I did have the girls stop and watch while the older kids played. I did not get any pictures of that because I was keeping the younger ones safe.

What indoor gross motor activities have you done that they kids enjoyed?

Montessori Beginnings- Pad locks

Today I got out a new tray. First they got their carpet square. Then brought their tray to it.

I put two pad locks and the tray with keys on a ring. I did not show them how to do this one. They are four so I thought they would enjoy figuring it out. Almost like a puzzle.

C was done with in no time. Good thing I had another tray ready, small, medium, and large.

F took a little longer. She kept trying to pull it open, asking for help ( kept telling her to keep at it, she will get it). She was trying to open it with the small dots on top. She really worked at it for a while.. Then all of a sudden she turned it over and she said with an excited voice, "I think the key goes in here!" I love it when you can hear and see that little light go on in their heads. She did it over and over.

While all this is going on the little ones are in their way. Grabbing and pulling at them as they work. I think it would better if I could keep them occupied long enough to show the older what to do and then go back to them. Okay that is my plan for this week. This can be done.

Best Bubbles

What you need:

1/2 gal of water

1/3 c liquid soap

1/3 c corn starch

1tsp baking powder

What you need to do:

Just them mix together

This made some really big bubbles.

I sent the kids around to gather things they wanted to try. They came back with...

Fly swatter: very cool when they spun around fast and bubbles landed cool

slotted spoon: worked great

spatula with holes: not so well

circle ring: big bubble but did not form to float away

team work. Love it when they work together to figure things out!

pipe cleaners made in a circle: not to good

bubble wands: worked but not as fun

cookie cutters: worked well

Apple slicer: fun

F really like it when they popped on her hand or she was able to hold them.

Montessori Beginnings- pad locks

A few weeks ago I gave F and C some pad locks to use. They got them figured quickly. Today while I was getting things ready R picked up the tray with the locks on it. I just let her as I wanted to get things done before the others woke up.

She worked at it for a while trying different keys and watching it open. I don't know if she completely understood that the keys were different. She just kept working.
We will be playing with these again.

Face painting

Jenea over at I can teach my child had a great post on homemade face paint that she got from The Preschooler's Busy Book. ( which I have order ). So of course we had to try it out on this rainy afternoon.

I grabbed four small bowls. The kids mixed together 1 tsp corn starch and 1/2 tsp milk. I think we added a little more milk. oops. After that was mixed well we added 5 drops of food coloring.

Here is what we came up with. Note: I am not a face painter. We will be doing this again so we will see how I improve. But its a start!!

My attempt for Spider Man.

C doesn't know who the Hulk is. But he wanted green. He was going for a monster.

I later added red lines like his friend with the Spider Man face.

Little miss independent (R) would not let me do it at all.

F wanted blue with red lines.

Note : the boys in the back playing out their new roles.

T sat still and let me draw a sun and a star.

Too cute not to add!

And of course they all wanted to paint me, so there you go.

Note: the rainy-humid hair.

Kisses.....

more kisses.

Wanted to be like her big brother.

It was a great 4th of July part 1

It has been a few days since I posted. We headed to St. Louis for a family gathering. It was great we stayed at a hotel with a pool. We went to Grants Farm, where the kids were able to ride a tram around to see the animals almost in the wild. There were no fences. They were able to roam free. The next stop was the kids favorite they were able to feed baby goats. As you know we do this a lot but this time they were able to do it with at bottle. At first it was a little over whelming. It was first things so the goats were crowding the entrance. R of course was hugging them all. C even had a chance to brush them.

The kids were watched an show that they called animal encounters. They tried to make it like the reality shows on TV. After the show during lunch C was making his own show with a piece of mulch, as a monkey and it was doing tricks. I love his imagination.

They were able to touch Clydesdale Horses. These horses were so sweet. They appeared to enjoy all the people touching them. They were so laid I moved one of their mouths as if it was talking. R laughed and laughed. She kept asking for more.

What a great day. When I find the cord to the camera I brought I will post pictures.

Signing

Oh how I love it when the little ones can tell me what they want instead of making that awful sound when they want some thing. We have come along way. I started with C when he was young and we pretty much skipped the terrible twos. We are heading toward awful fours though :( I began using with R right after 6 months I think and I use it T. We started out with milk with R. Then moved on to more, eat, all done, please, thank you, sorry, cat, bird, brush teeth, shoes, and sleep Below you will find the signs we use. Here the site these came from 100 first signs. I know that the girls mom has been reading my blog so this should help her out too. What is so exciting about this is she said that just this weekend T has been using her signs up a storm and talking. So excited. Our little people are growing up. I am happy I started this blog and their mom can follow our days.

Milk Thank you

More Sorry

All done

Cat

( the girls do it with all fingers)

Please Bird

Brush teeth Shoes

( we rub fists back in forth )

Sleep

Learning/exploring room

I have decided to make a room for learning, exploring, and play. Thinking that I maybe able to contain some of the randomness and keep us all focused. I find them wandering around looking for something to do. If I give them something or we start playing then I wander off to work on house work.. This will keep all of us in the same spot for a while to learn.

So here is my issue-- This is the layout I was thinking about a corner for older and younger. A corner for reading. A wall for the calendar stuff. But where do I put the tables and shelves. I was thinking about a table under a window so they can sit and look outside at the birds. I just want the all to see.

Or does it not matter. Just get it set up. This is where I am heading and if it doesn't work or I don't like it then change it.

The kids and even M ( my dear hubby) are looking forward to this room.. So I ready to get started.

This room was R but I moved her stuff in with C and they like it. Thank Goodness. Loving it!

Montessori Beginnings-preschool

Today we got out the Legos. While everyone was building and playing I began to make patterns. I started talking about the pattern and singing. Soon F was right there with me finding the next block. C was watching from a distance still flying and crashing but would stop to watch. R came and sat on my lap and T next to us. I think I found my way to get them involved when they don't want to. We made an AB and ABB pattern today.

Now to figure out how to keep me interested.

Montessori Beginning- toddler/ preschool

While the older ones where working on their stamping we did a transfer with the young girls. I Gave them a spoon, egg cartons, and Lima beans. They did great. F wanted to get in on the action and T didn't want to work long. R stayed with it for a long time. She did not use the spoon the whole time though changed and used hands. Then laid them on the table. Almost in a line

We are getting there. More to come. I am making a plan. Thinking about posting it so you can and tell me what you think too!

Montessori Beginnings- Preschool

Today was the first day they were able to get out a tray with an activity. I am going to have to find something for the younger girls to do they were all over their activity, crying that they wanted to play too. Any ideas. Would be great. I know we will get the hang of it.

They both took turns. I think I rushed when demonstrating. I had to go back and explain. F did really well with the nuts and bolts. She spoke out loud to herself as she put them in there places. C just liked pouring the water everywhere. We finished up that one. I should have been nicer. He was just goofing around. He wanted to pour milk. I told him he would have to show me he knew how. He did and then did a great job with the milk. I explained when he does it correctly he is showing me he is ready for bigger. He smiled and liked that.