Here's what "table work" looks like at our house:

If I were fancy and actually  knew how to use the Photoshop 4.0 that DH so generously bought for me, I would cover this picture with arrows and circles to point out all the interesting things going on. But instead, you'll just have to read this part, then go back up to the pic and play I Spy. This shot is from when we were between math books;  Arianna is working out addition problems on her chalkboard (this is apparently a treat, and much cooler than plain old paper-and-pencil) with the aid of an abacus. Can I just pause a moment and point out how great an abacus can be? There are 100 manipulatives right there on that frame - and they ain't going nowhere. They will not be lost, stepped on, vacuumed up, or swallowed. They are already in tens for those place value lessons, and of course are perfect for counting, skip counting, adding, and subtracting. Considering purchasing one if you have young'uns (it was way less expensive than those tubs of counting bears) because manipulative are the name of the game in early math.

The little yellow book is her handwriting book, and it doesn't get any simpler than this. She does a page a day, which probably does not take more than two minutes. If it strikes her fancy, she'll ask to do more, and I usually agree  I expect her to use her best hand writing for her weekly copywork and/or written narration too, not just for the book.  See the pattern blocks? Those are for the child who had finished her work already or is waiting for me to start with her. At four and five, they are so not at the independant study age yet.  

Noelle is working on one of those big workbooks of "pre-school comprehensive curriculum."  Blech.  I am so not a fan of these things: it is 540 pages and 500 of them (I'm not exaggerating) are just wasted trees. But I bought it for her last year when she was itching to "do school" and I did not think she was ready for much else. At the time, I figured it was worth my $8 to keep her quiet and me sane(er), though in retrospect, I can think of countless other activities that would have been a better use of our time, even if it had cost me some prep work. But it keeps her busy and the math sections are actually decent.

And where is Zeke all this time? 

Staked closely to the table too; with a couple cars, a bowl of Cheerios, and your family nearby, who needs to go anywhere else? 

Have I mentioned how much I love the ages my kids are at right now? I am having so much fun with them! I will be sad when there are no longer any preschoolers in my house...

Posted by SchoolinRhome

Glad you are having fun being a mommy!
I wanted to let you know that I am hosting my first giveaway over at my blog! It is to celebrate Mother's Day! Stop by and tell me why you are happy to be a mother and you could win an awesome devotional book, a journal and a cooking with kids CD-Rom.
Enjoy your weekend with your family!
SchoolinRhome
Here is the giveaway link:
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SchoolinRhome/525838/