we have really been at the grindstone.

My son's handwriting is excelling quickly.  I gave him some harder spelling words this week too, so we will see how that goes tomorrow on test day.  He is doing simple addition & subtraction of dbl digit numbers and next week we will continue on with carrying numbers and borrowing them along with his workbook that will touch on time and measuring.  He can tell time one way, now to teach him that there are other ways, like a quarter til or a quarter after.

Biblically we are doing the story of creation and drawing pictures to represent what we are reading about.  In addition to that is his Proverbs Memory Verse and he is learning the meaning behind the names of the books of the Bible.

So far we are at Leviticus.  He completely understands Genesis and Exodus.  He has proclaimed that Moses is his favorite person in the Bible other than our Lord.

Today we are chillin'.  His sister was real sick earlier in the week and today is the 1st day she has felt 100% and the weather is great, so they are taking advantage of our late 60's weather, then later my son will do his math and review for his tests tomorrow.

but the learning doesn't stop.  My ds is reading pretty good now, as long as he doesn't rush.  He has begun to substitute a and the in sentences and will leave off the ending s on words.  Other than that, he is doing really well.

Our math kind of took a left turn and I am going to reevaluate it. 

Today we drew a map of the bodies of water around/near Jerusalem.  It was cool how I took a story and drew the picture.  Then he drew it and then I explained to him what each body of water was and where Jesus was born and the prophets, etc.  I got my Bible maps out and they really made his map "REAL" to him.  Super cool! 

My dd comes in and out and I don't force her to stay since she is only 4yo.  However my ds is a big 1st grader now and by law has to have his 180 days per year.  So far so good.

His spelling is great and once I figure out what this curriculum did with math, we'll be back on the right path. 

We learn Science and Social Studies together it seems through National Geographic kids magazines.  They are awesome.  My mom gets them for him for his bday or Christmas or sometimes just for school.

In arts and music, we sporadically do them.  LOL  We do them alot actually!  That is what makes it fun!

Where do I begin?

I am getting my feet wet as far as teaching 2 children and not 1.  As the teacher I had to tweak a few things.  1st of all, we said the pledge, had time of prayer requests and we all prayed together.  (We do this every day.) After that, we went over the 10 commandments and did a worksheet together.

Sarah worked on shapes and her writing (A,B,C)

Wilson worked in his workbook for math (addition),  we work on phonics with the writing.  Wilson worked on memorizing his spelling words too.

We got the treasure boxes finished.  I will take some pics for you to see.  They all are so different.  As they learn the Bible verses, Wilson will write the verse of the week and add it to his treasure box.  I will be helping Sarah.

We are constantly working on manners thru out the class. 
Reading--we all enjoyed Dr Suess'--The Cat's Quizzer

We started on the Spanish alphabet and they loved it!!!!    I found a great site where they could her the sounds.  We also began reviewing sign language.

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We aren't through with this week.  On Labor day, Gracie came over and was my asst teacher.  She had a blast.  Wilson didn't like it too well though. 
We did get started on Science and Social Studies this week.   We also played 2 games for PE.  One was very active, the other was unique--we used a remote control to FF, REW, PLAY, PAUSE each other as we told stories.  It was hilarious.  Wilson was rolling!    We both get a kick out of the same things so we both cracked up.  Those are the moments I treasure.

Sarah got sick with a cold this week and was pitiful and had a sick day, the next day Wilson had it too.  So there was another sick day. 

We still have tomorrow and we will have school on Saturday to make up for this week.

I love love love when Wilson says he loves school!!!!

We had a great 1st week.

The 1st day it was alot to digest.  Then on Wednesday we cracked open the Math books, worked on our treasure boxes, Sang the Books of the Bible by Bigsby (VERY COOL), and researched gemstones online.  We learned alot about quartz and the various colors and how an amethyst is a purple quartz.  It was fun, preparing to go to Hiddenite on Thursday.

Thursday morning we got up early and drive to Hiddenite.  It Rocked!  No pun intended!  LOL  It was amazing the things I learned at the age of 34.  Here in NC, we are sitting on 63 different types of gems and minerals.  Gold isn't one of them though, unfortunately.  Shucks!  LOL   We did find some emeralds though.  The largest emerald found in America was found there.  Check it out here and let me encourage you to go!  It is an awesome learning experience, even for adults.

http://www.hiddenitegems.com/

Friday was Media day--or library day.  We went to Gracie's new school first and she toured it, finding her classes that are everywhere!!!  Then we went to the library.  We just lucked out and were there minutes before family reading time.  Wilson and Sarah had so much fun.  They jumped right in and participated and Gracie did too. 

I found some cool books for "Social Studies" that explain that we are all different and that's just fine.  I found another about how God is listening to us and it explains differences that ppl have too here on Earth.  The librarian was awesome and I learned she was in training!  I couldn't believe it.  And she is going to be relocating to the library that we go to alot, and that was a good thing to know for me. 

Even today we went over our Library Rules at home.  I am tired of finding them everywhere.  Now that Wilson can read, he reads anything he can find.  Sarah has always loved books and I do too, so I usually find them in every room.  So I am trying to put all of that to a stop and Gracie helped me with a cool system that I think will work great.

Monday we will start full steam ahead!  I wonder what I will have to tell you then.  We have a tentative schedule, but I am bendable if need be.  It should be an interesting week.

It has been an exciting week. My son is so excited, he told me today that he can't wait until Monday to do MATH! LOL I was in awe. We are using Singapore math and it is neat how they link this to that and so on. Alot smoother than the way I taught last year. But Math? I it!!!

I have alot of updates from our field trip and today's exciting library trip, but it is late.  So I will get it typed out this weekend.  Look for it! 

will begin on 08/18/08.  I am excited and nervous.  I feel good knowing how my son learns so that I can teach him better.

My dd is only 3yo and has surprised me this summer.  She can write almost all of her ABC's and knows most of her phonics.  I am amazed and thankful that I know, so we can already get started with her.

We will have to implement PE outside once it cools off more.

I am using curriculum this year, My Father's World and look forward to teaching it.  I am grateful too that we can say the pledge of allegiance with God included and pray "anytime and anywhere".  That's what I tell my children.

One more week!!  Yay!!!