This is supposed to be a homeschool blog.  Specifically, a Charlotte Mason homeschool blog.  Even more specifically, an Ambleside Online Charlotte Mason homeschool blog.  But summer has obviously distracted me, and what was once 75% homeschool/25% personal has become 0% homeschool/100% personal ;-)

So I decided to get back to blogging about our homeschool journey.  This is a small first step:

Here is Anna cleaning out the aquarium.  We moved our tadpoles into this aquarium several weeks ago, creating a very nice habitat for them.  Two weeks ago, we released the frogs back to the duck pond.  I didn't get any pictures of that.....not sure where my head was.  Watching the metamorphosis of these tadpoles was a wonderful science education for everyone in the house, from Daddy all the way down to little Drew.  I'm sure we'll do it again next spring!

Under the category of handicrafts, Claire and Anna enjoyed an impromtu sewing project a couple of weeks ago.  They took some old rags, needle and thread and created some Barbie clothes.  Here is Claire's proud creation:

I was impressed!

Besides these, Claire is continuing math through the summer, getting "caught up" after our switch to Math-U-See a couple of months ago.  We are also continuing history, so that we can start on schedule next month, when Claire will begin 5th grade (and Ambleside Online's Year 3) and Anna will begin 1st grade (and Ambleside Online's Year 1). 

I'll post more of our schedule and the books we'll be using on another day.

For now, I'll post two fun books I've recently acquired to supplement our homeschool studies.  I found both at Sam's Club.  I don't have time (or patience with kids in tow) to browse large bookstores, so I enjoy the selection Sam's Club offers me.

About a month ago, we found a bird book that even two-year-old Drew loves.  The Backyard Birdsong Guide is part field guide, part audiobook and is truly a wonderful book!  You can actually see the picture of a bird and listen to its song.  I've discovered that we have more birds in our neighborhood than I normally see, thanks to this handy audio field guide!  We are still having a lot of fun with this supplement, even a month later, and I'm sure we'll be using it often in the months and years to come.

Yesterday, we found Then Sings My Soul, a book of "150 of the World's Greatest Hymn Stories."  We learn one hymn a month throughout the year (this month's hymn is "The Sweet By and By," which is why that will show up on our current PlayList), and I'm thrilled to have found this book!  It has a devotional-type history for each hymn.  I'm always trying to find some historical information to go with each new hymn, and this book has just that.  It also includes music and words to the hymns and a CD containing the music to several of them.  I think this will be a good supplement to our hymn study for years to come!

All right, then.  Now I feel like I can justify keeping a homeschool blog ;-)

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Posted by Kayluray

Looks like year-round homeschooling to me. Don't you just love when you can see your kids learning and they are interested and engaged, but they don't know they are learning? Those are my favorite moments. I remember making Barbie dresses when I was little that look just like that. The Backyard Birdsong Book looks great. I ordered one and can't wait to get it. (The closest Sam's club to us is about 40 minutes away).
I enjoyed reading your post.

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