Teacher of Two

Teaching moments...

Yup, we did it again!

So that's my excuse for not blogging lately.  Everyone has to have an excuse, right?

The Non-Traditionalist - Me????

One of the biggest things I struggle with is how to balance everything.  I am more of a traditionalist.  I think part of that comes from going to a public school growing up.  So for me, school "feels right" when it involves textbooks.  If we don't work in our books, I feel like we didn't "do school" that day.  But where is the "law" that says only by being buried in books for hours at a time are we learning?  The last two days have been non-traditional in our house, and that little nagging voice keeps saying: "now you're behind, you'll have to catch up tomorrow".  But how can we be behind when we set our own schedule?  And, aren't there things to learn that are not in books?

Last Friday we had our "Not-Back-to -School Party" and then gymnastics class.  So by the time we got home it was 4:00 and too late to even think about doing bookwork.  I was talking to a friend later and she asked what we had done that day.  When I told her what we had done, she said "and you can count that as school?"  For once I was quick on my feet "Yes" I said, "I count it as socialization and PE".  She laughed and agreed with me.  I find it odd though, that everyone is so worried about HS'ing kids being "socialized", yet when we get together, we get criticized for not doing "school work". 

Yesterday my husband and I celebrated our 8th anniversary.  I realize that most people were not celebrating yesterday, but it is still our special day.  So since he took the day off of work, it threw our whole routine off.  The girls wanted to watch movies (imagine that).  Since I was cooking a late breakfast, I let them watch 2 Leap Frog video's.  They played with their Leap Pads in the afternoon and we went to the park as a family (something hubby's schedule rarely allows).  So was this a traditional school day?  No.  Did they still learn?  Yes.  Proven by the fact that my almost 3 year old already know most of her letters?  

Today we "broke the mold" again.  We had a prearranged park date with some of our HS'ing friends this morning.  I decided that since the park we were meeting at was next to the library (which is closed for renovations) that I would take the girls bikes with me so they could have a big place to learn to ride better.  Then came our trip to the pet store.  I got a small beta fish tank off FreeCycle on Tuesday, thought it would be fun for the girls to have a fish.   So today we went and picked one out and brought him home.  We named him Rainbow because of all the different colors on him.  He's mainly red, but has a lot of other colors depending on the angle you look at him.  The girls and I did some research on how to take care of one, then went and set up his tank and put him in. 

Tomorrow I do plan to return to the books.  I just have to keep reminding myself that not all learning comes from books, and that it's ok.   Remembering what M said today will help:  "Mom, this was the best day full of surprises!  We got to play with our friends, learned to ride our bikes, and we got Rainbow and learned how to take care of him!" 

Is it really Monday???

Can it really be Monday?  With the reputation Monday has made for itself, this must be Tuesday or some other day.   We have had a great school day.  Not sure how we managed it, but if I ever figure it out, I'll be sure to copy it EVERY day!   We got started around 10:15 and was done by 12:30, including taking time to ready 7 library books! How in the world???  Last Thursday we were still not finished with school after 3 hours of struggling.  We didn't do anything different or special today.  M did a page in her math book, did her spelling test from last week (since we skipped work on Friday), we did Bible, phonics, and history.  I kept thinking we were missing something, but everything on my plan is marked off.  What can I say?  Then at 1:30 we were off to gymnastics class.  It was so hot in there again today (they do not have air conditioning).  I just keep telling myself that summer is almost over... 

Hopefully we're in for a good week...

Back to Reality...

Yeah, I knew yesterday was too good to last.  We did manage to get most of our work done today, but it was a struggle.  Spelling/handwriting seemed to be our big pitfall today.  We went over M's spelling words, and she was to write them one time each on a piece of paper.  It took her almost an hour to write 20 words and I could not recognize the majority of them when she was done.  I think I'll have to go back to what I did on Tuesday and have each word already written on a page for her to just copy, that way the correct formation of the letters is on the page for her.  She has a letter chart on the wall right in front of her, but for some reason, it isn't as effective as I would like it to be.

On a more positive note, I was able to get the Leap Pad Jr working today for A.  I took a can of air to it and the cartridges and it works again! Yeah!  A had a good time with that.  I even got the Leap Pad Writing out and let M use it for a while.  So we ended school on a positive note at least.

Tomorrow we are going to a Not-Back-to-School Party.  I debated about whether or not to go because it is from 10:00-1:00, which is our school time.  Then we have gymnastics at 1:30.  So this will mean no actual "work" will get done.  But I decided that since one of my main goals for this year was to find more kids for the girls to play with, that going would be in our best interest.  So tomorrow will be a different kind of school day, but hey, it still counts!

Before I forget...

Yesterday, while working with my 2 year old, A once again gave me one of those moments that reminds me just how different each kid is.  One of my favorite things to say is that she is her father in a skirt, and things like this only reinforce that.  She just thinks differently then her older sister and I do.  We were working in her school book, practicing drawing lines between two points.  On the page we were on, we were suppose to be connecting a cat to a bowl of milk, a rabbit to a carrot, etc. One of the pictures was a cow and a tuff of grass.  So, I ask A to show me the cat.  That part goes well.  Then I ask her to show me the milk that the cat wants, expecting her to point to the bowl of milk about 4 inches from the cat.  Nope, not my sweet little A.  She points to the cow on the next page, and not just the cow, but the udders on the cow.  "There's the milk, Mama".  Now, two things come to mind when this happens.  1 - We live in a city, this 2 year old has never even seen a real cow, but she knows how to get milk from one.  And 2 - At the age of 2, this little angel is already outsmarting me!   This is not the first time this has happened, oh no.  One of my favorites from here is her reply to this question.  I learned a long time ago that a good way to make sure M is listening to me and not just saying "yes ma'am" to get me to leave her alone is to ask her if to repeat back what I've told her to do.  I have just started this with A since she is almost 3.  So, the other day I told her to do something, she says "yes ma'am" like she's suppose to, and I said "A, Did you hear me?  "yes ma'am"  "What did Momma say"  "Did you hear me".  UGH!  I almost lost it in front of her that day laughing.  She is such a literalist, just like her father.

I have SO got my work cut out for me...   

Now that's what I'm talking about!

Today was one of those days you dream of happening.  To start it off, we got to stay home all day!  I know that may not seem like such a big deal, but to me it is.  We get SO MUCH accomplished when we don't have to go out running errands.  And after yesterday’s messed up start of back to school, it was refreshing to have a "normal" day.  We got started with school at 10:00 this morning and finished up at 1:05!  I was so happy to see things work like they should for once.  And yes, I'm not naive enough to believe that this is going to happen every day, I know today was just lucky.  I guess God knew I needed a day to show me we can do this. 

Subjects we studied today:  Bible, spelling (including handwriting), reading, math, phonics, science, history, and making butter.  Yes, you read that right.  We made butter during school time today too.  With our curriculum this year, I purchased an Art textbook that gives us a different project to do each week.  This weeks project was to make butter.  Since I couldn't find a quart jar around here, I posted on Free-cycle that I needed one to show my kids how to make butter.  One lady answered that not only did she have a jar for us, but that she lives on a farm and could bring us fresh cream to use!!!    She dropped it by this morning and today we made butter.  The kids had a blast!  If I could figure out how to post pictures, I would.

Then, get this... after lunch I told the kids it was quiet time.  They know that this means that they can read a book quietly in their room, or M can play on her computer in the schoolroom.  Just as long as they are QUIET.  Well, I finished my lunch and came back up here to the school room/my office and found both kids in here, coloring at their desks.  Didn't they get enough school this morning???  Seems not, they colored for about 15-20 minutes before M put hers away and got her computer out.  A colored a bit longer then went to watch M play her games.  And, amazingly enough, I only had to remind them a couple of times that it was "quite time", no noise time. 

Wonder how many more days like this we can get?

Here we go again!

Yeah, ok.  I was a complete slacker last year with keeping this blog up.  Here's the readers digest version of what has gone on in the past 8 months.  In January we decided it was time to get out of the townhouse we were renting and buy a house.  We spent February house hunting.  In March we closed on this house and started renovations.  We have had to put all new flooring and all new paint throughout the whole house. Tear out one wall and replace the studs and drywall in it.  The list goes on and on, and on, and on...  They don't call it "sweat equity" for nothing! LOL   Finally this past weekend we finished all the major stuff and actually have all the furniture in the correct rooms and even put pictures on the walls!  I know it's a little thing, but I haven't pictures up in almost 2 years!  Then we had some friends over for a cookout Labor Day.  I'm tired now just thinking about it all again. Oh yeah, we also went to CO in July for two weeks to visit family.  Driving for 2 solid days with a 2 and 5 year old is an adventure.  Thank God for portable DVD players!  LOL 

Oh yeah, in the midst of all this we somehow finished Kindergarten with M.  I feel like I left so much undone because we were so busy with everything else.  But I am just amazed at how much she learned, even during that time.  She has access to a laptop computer with educational games on it that she plays almost every day, and I believe that has a lot to do with all her progress. 

Anyway, the reason for this post...  School resumed today at our house.  M is now doing first grade work.  A is starting K3 this year.  I have decided we needed a bit more structure with M's curriculum this year, so I ordered the 1st grade books from Christian Liberty Press.  Our subjects this year are: Bible, reading, phonics, spelling, math, history, science, handwriting, art, music, and gymnastics.  So far I am really impressed with the way the curriculum is laid out.  Most subjects are divided into 36 units (for 36 weeks of school) with suggestions for daily lessons for each unit. The books are well laid out and each lesson is short and easy to understand.   A wanted to have school books to be like her big sister.  So I purchased her a copy of the PreK Comprehensive Curriculum book like I used with M. She is tickled pink to have her own books this year. 

So, today was our first day back.  And as usual, it was crazy.  I have decided that we should change our gymnastics schedule from T & TH mornings to M & F afternoons based on the fact that on days we are out of the house in the mornings, we rarely get any school done that day.  Today though, I had to make an exception (on the first day of school no less) and do the Tuesday morning class.  This definitely reinforced for me that I have made the right decision in moving the class date/time.  By the time we went to gymnastics, came home and ate lunch, it was 2:00 before we got to even start school.  By 4:00 we were ALL worn out (and only about 2/3 of the way through what I had planned), so I just called it a day.   Starting tomorrow we will be home in the mornings so things should go smoother then. 

Enough for now,  if you made it this far, congratulations.  I'd give you a prize, but my brain is too fried to come up with one right now.  Hopefully, I will do better about keeping this up this year....

Must be doing something right

The past few weeks have been crazy around here.  We left the day before Thanksgiving to go to NC for 1 1/2 weeks for vacation.  I took our basic school books with us and even managed to use them!  Things got even crazier once we got back home, getting ready for the family Christmas parties, which were this past weekend.  So formal teaching once got put on a back burner.  Now Christmas is fast approaching, and my husband has that week off work, so it will be hard to do much next week.  I guess this means winter break has arrived.    Anyway, I do have a point with all of this.  Yesterday, after we were finished eating breakfast, my 2 & 4 year old's cleared their dishes and went straight to their school boxes and started getting out their books and crayons.  I had not planned on teaching, but they knew the routine that we have on our stay at home days, and they were ready to go.  How could I turn them down.

Also, I decided it was time to do mid year reviews with my older daughter.  I got my goals for the year notebook out, and started asking her questions.  The results are that we are well on our way to accomplishing the math goals for the year.  Science on the other hand has a long way to go.  We have been doing unit studies for science/history so far, and she's learned a lot.  But we have neglected the exploratory part of science.  Reading I think is going well.  She can read basic Dick and Jane books.   So, overall I think we're at a good place for midway through the year.  This is one of the reasons I made the list of goals, to give us a check point and see what we needed to work on.  Overall I'm happy with our progress.  Many times during the day to day stuff, I start feeling like we're not getting anywhere.  This tells me we are on track, and doing fine.

Wonderful Wednesday!

Ok, that may be a bit of an overstatement.  But, it is a good day around here.  No, we haven't stuck to the schedule, but we're still getting things done, so that works for me.  Today we have read books, M read 7 stories in her Dick & Jane book.  Then we started our new History/Geography unit.  We're starting out with the Geography side then will work our way to the pilgrims by Thanksgiving.  Then M did her folder work (various worksheets, addition practice) and 2 pages in her math book - subtraction.  She does very well with simple subtraction.  Addition still needs some work though.  While M was at the table, A was at the refrigerator playing with her new birthday toy - a Leap Frog Word Whammer (got that one so both girls could use it).  Now, I have both of them watching the Leap Frog Math Circus video (you were wondering how I had time to do this, weren't you?)  

I know they are learning.  Even on the days I don't sit down with them and actually do things.  Because on the days we do, like today, I am amazed at what they know.  Like M reading 7 stories in that book and A knowing many of her letters (she just turned 2 last month).  Speaking of which, we went to the Dr on Monday for her 2 year old appointment.  On the handout they gave me, it said she "may start speaking in sentences now and should know 25-50 words".  25-50 words???  More like 200-300 words here.  I'm sure it helps that she has an older sister to keep up with. 

Organization is the key for me.  Being ready so that on the days we are home, we get the most accomplished (which should be 3 days a week, when Dr appointments and life doesn't get in the way).  I am also starting to follow the "What Your Kindergartener Needs to Know" book.  I believe it is a good supplement to our other work.

'Till next time!

Another week is gone...

Wow, another week is gone already?  Why is it I can't keep up???    We had gymnastics three days this week.  Had to do a make up day for the one where we were out sick last week.  Somehow, days we are out just really throw us off schedule.  Speaking of schedules.  I've started making a new schedule for us to try to help us stay on track.  So far I've done the "at home" days schedule.  The "out" days schedule is going to be harder since the amount of time we are out varies.  One step at a time I guess.

We also finally had A's birthday party today, only 3 weeks late...  I make her a cat cake and we had cat decorations.  She loved it.

Hopefully next week will go better...  I keep saying that, I know.  But with the schedule, maybe this time it will happen!

Weekly update

Seems the time is just flying by right now and before I know it, another whole week has gone by and I haven't kept up with this.  I'm not even going to pretend I'll do better, at this point I'm just going to resolve to make sure I get over here at least once a week.

Not too bad of a week here.  Hubby was out of town again to CA.  The girls and I had our usual routine.  We went to the library on Monday to take back the dinosaur movie we had borrowed.  M wanted to keep it.  Funny since we only watched it once and she lost interest about 3/4 of the way through.  Picked up some new books, went and got haircuts and came home.  Tuesday was gymnastics.  Then we went to Target to finish getting everything for the girls Halloween costumes.  M will be Cinderella again this year (since her costume from last year still fits) and A will be Sleeping Beauty.  Both girls are beyond excited about wearing them.   We also picked up some new beads for stringing while there and worked that into our school day later.  Wednesday, both M and I came down with a cold and have been fighting it ever since.  It's so bad that M didn't even want to go to gymnastics on Thursday.  She never misses that!  Hopefully over the weekend we'll improve so we can go out for Halloween.

School has been slow this week.  We're continuing to review simple addition with M.  She's doing well with it most days, as long as she takes her time.  Also introduced subtraction this week.  She does quite well with that.  The challenge will just be learning to keep the two kinds of problems straight.  Her reading skills are picking up.  She can pick out by sight a lot more simple 3-letter words in books we read.  She still loves to sit and "read" her books in bed for a long time after she's put to bed each night.  I still fear that she'll never sleep again once she really learns to read.  We worked on dinosaurs some this week also.  We'll wrap that unit up in the next few days so we can switch to history for the month of November and talk about the early settlers, pilgrims, thanksgiving, etc. Since that is only a few days away, I guess I better start doing my "homework" and get ready.

A knows most of her colors now.  She gets confused once in a while on a couple, but for having just turned 2, I think she's doing very well.  She is also beginning to learn shapes and letters.  She can identify many numbers from 1-10 and can almost count to 10.  She is definitely my little artist though.  This week, while I was on the couch feeling resting, the girls asked if they could color.  I said yes, but they must stay at the table (house rules).  Next thing I knew, M was running in here telling me that A was coloring on the walls.  Sure enough, she had her pencil and was making her own version of the alphabet on the wall where our alphabet chart is.  Needless to say, mama was not impressed.  I'm all for creative expression, but not on the walls!  I keep them well supplied with paper and coloring books for that.

Be back next week! (if I don't make it before then) ;)

School? YES!

Yeah!  It's Friday and we ended the week on a positive note!  Believe it or not, we actually had a good school day, and we never opened a text book! (an accomplishment for me!)  We started off with a little math drill sheet for M.  It has about a dozen simple addition problems.  Then we got out some dice and practiced adding the numbers we rolled.  Also introduced adding more then 2 numbers together (rolled 3 or 4 dice).  Then we moved on to geography.  We put together a small puzzle of the US.  Then glued it to a foam board, put magnets on the back and hung it on our freezer.  We talked about the two oceans - Atlantic and Pacific.  Then talked about how many states there were, where we live, where grandparents live, and where daddy has been traveling lately.  Then we made foam door hangers.   Yesterday we read several books, so I don't feel bad that we didn't do that today.  Also, both girls have story time before they go to bed.  A chooses from a selection of Dora books she keeps in her bed.  M is read a chapter from a book out of the Little House series and a Bible story.

Dinosaur Day

Today we took it easy.  Just seemed like we needed to chill.  So today we watched the dinosaur DVD we checked out at the library. It was pretty good.  It was informative but not boring like I remember those kinds of things being. It was a little over the girls heads, but I think they still learned something from it.  Tomorrow we're off to gymnastics!  M loves that.

Monday

Actually managed to get school work done today.  We did math, read several books, talked about dinosaurs and fossils, and went to the library.

A week later...

Wow.  A whole week has went by since I posted.  It's just been crazy around here.  My baby girl turned two on Thursday.  We did a small family thing that day for her.  We were supposed to have her party today, but our friends are sick and can't come over. We'll try for next weekend. 

School was hit and miss this week.  I think we probably got 3 days in.  I am going to have to figure out how to get us on a schedule.  I think that is going to give us the structure we need.   Outside errands and my work are what is getting in the way and I have to figure out how to balance it all.   Something to work on this weekend...

Slacker... Circus

Boy, I've been slack this week.  Only one entry so far.  Monday and Tuesday were good school days - mainly because we were home all day (warranty work being done on house).  Wednesday it was back to our schedule of running around, gymnastics, grocery shopping. etc.  Thursday was the same, gymnastics, work on truck. 

Today though, we went to the circus. The girls had a lot of fun.  It was a small circus, only one ring.  And the only animals they had were some dogs and horses.  The rest of the time it was people doing tricks and swinging.  It is also rainey and cold here today.  So we had to walk in the rain from the tent to the parking lot (about 10 minutes). I think we were all glad to get home after that.

Next week will be better...  next week will be better... next week will be better.

Another new week, Another new month

Are we really in October already? This means we've been back to school for a whole month already.  Have we learned anything?  I think we have.  We haven't followed my "plans", but we've learned at our own pace and that's what it's all about.  I'm going to be making some changes to our schedule. I've decided we need to slow down some on the bookwork I had planned.  I had planned for 2 pages a day, every day in Math.  But I think I'm going to cut it down to 2 pages, 3 times a week and do other activities the other two days.  I have some flash cards we can do, and find other stuff to reinforce.  She knows how to do the work, just needs more work on it.  Same with phonics.   I also have the "What Your Kindergartener Needs to Know" and I'm going to start working it into our studies as well. 

Anyway, today has gone well.  We had people here working on the house, so we had to stay home.  That's a good thing though, gave us the opportunity to get our work done early.  Math flashcards, sight word review, made a couple of dinosaurs, and read a book about them. A surprised me.  We were talking about the dinosaurs, and I asked her what the dinosaur she was holding would eat.  She said "meat - teeth".  So she has learned that dinosaurs with teeth eat meat.  I didn't think she'd have caught on and remembered that.  Her second birthday is in 10 days.  She amazes me at what she knows.  She already knows most of her colors as well, can count, and can say much of the alphabet. 

Best get some work done now while it's quiet time in this house.  Need to make phone calls today.

Field Trip Day

Today has been one of those days that just makes your heart smile. 

We started our day with the usual math and phonics.  Then we "hatched" dinosaur eggs.  Ok, so they were those little sponges you put in water and wait for them to get big, but it was still fun.  Then it was a scramble to get everyone dressed and out the door for the "main event".  This afternoon we went on a field trip to a farm out by Winchester (over an hour from here).  They had several apple orchards and pumpkin fields.  We went for a hayride and got to pick our own apples and a pumpkin for each of us to keep.  We also got to visit the farm animals.  There were cows, horses, pigs, chickens, goats, and peacocks.  A had a great time chasing peacocks.  She was so upset when I told her she couldn't chase them.  She kept saying "A chase peacock".  We also got to sample some apple cider.  M really liked it. There was a hay bale maze to go though and a silo playhouse with about 6-8 inches of corn on the bottom and toys in it for the kids to play in.  M said that was her favorite part.  They also had several old tractors sitting around that the kids could climb on and pretend to drive.  It was really a great time.  A made it about 10 minutes down the road before she fell asleep.  M managed to make it home, but didn't fuss at all about going to bed tonight.  As for me, I snuck away and got a 20 minute nap while waiting for dinner to get here.  I was THAT tired!  But we all had a great day, and the last thing M asked before I turned out her light was: "Mommy, can we got back there again tomorrow?"

Thursday

Sorry, no catchy title today.  Brain not working I guess.

Today we did:

gymnastics

math

talked about how dinosaurs are born, and what other animals are hatched from eggs

made bead necklaces

computer time

Also went sock shopping again.  Found one package for M.  Was missing a sock, so they discounted it.  I was going to get the same size socks for both girls, but could only find the one package (got to have COLORED socks), so I guess I'll keep looking.