Time is really flying by, here it is the last day of May  

The kids keep asking when we'll be "done" with school. I'm just not sure yet. We still have much to accomplish but I do want to take a break before fall so we feel like we're had some time to just rest. We started our new Math U See program with all three kids and really like it. Possumgirl (dd#1) was struggling terribly with the program we were using. We've liked it up until now but...the algebra was kickin' our fanny!  Self directed math is just not for her and I've missed teaching her these past two years. Bub (ds#1-second child) struggled with the self directed aspect so I just taught him like I had a teacher's manual. It worked fun but MathUSee is much better at explaining the concepts as the children get above 4th grade and I love the DVD aspect of the program. We watch the lesson on DVD together then work through the lesson, then practice. Math is fun again!!! Wahoo! Bub & Lou (ds#2 child #3) still need to reinforce their reading skills so we'll just keep practicing our little hearts out.

As a former elementary teacher I've always believed that kids need to keep "doing" something to keep thier minds fresh. The beginning of school was notorious in having to "catch up" all the children and I had to literally drag them through using their brains again! One summer we listened to our skip count tape on the way up and back from swimming lessons (a 30 minute drive each way). Boy can we skip count and the kids still "sing" their way through the times tables, very cute! Other things we hope to accomplish this summer: using our garden as science, putting up the garden produce as applied math and home ec, starting nature journals for science & art.

I've rambled on enough for tonight...Blessings from our little farm,

Jenny