Even- keeled (in all areas of my life).
and would it be asking to much if it was even-keeled on a high level?
Sigh... I am still working on this happy stuff.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Term A, Week 4
Last week was more exciting- thankfully!
The typing program, (Typing Instructor for Kids) is going well, the kids "save it" for the last thing they do at school, as a treat. I think the voices are annoying, but the kids seem to not mind.
In the program, you are trying to find all the treasures on Typer Island, so that you can be the ruler. They take you through lessons, and then games that reinforce the lessons to win the treasures. It seems pretty fun.
We started a new reward program where if the children complete their work without having to be reminded to stay on task, they get a sticker for the day. When their chart is filled, they get to buy a book from the Half- Price bookstore. (Which is an awesome place.) This has helped with the motivation part of things, and I haven't had to remind/ask/beg/cajole/badger for them to get their work done.
This was our "art and craft" for the week. Although we did have a formal lesson in art about outlines and shapes, here is the other project we did- leaf rubbings with pastel chalks:
We read the Mad Hatter Tea Party chapter in Alice's Adventures this week. I decided to forgo a tea party, as I just put one on for Princess in the Spring, but we did make these fun Mad Hatter hats.
On Friday, we decided to go camping, so I abbreviated school that day. I had the kids help me make a list of things we needed to camping. We went through each "activity" that we would do and made our list that way. I wrote most of the list, but I should have had the kids write it, as it would have been a great spelling/writing lesson. Oh well. I'll do better next time.
I also had the kids look at a few websites that explain how and why leaves change color in the fall. They can explain the process fairly well now and even have a few new stellar vocab words.
While camping, we collected leaves and a bunch of hickory nuts. The nuts are on the deck drying and I am hoping to use them in some fun recipe this week.
The typing program, (Typing Instructor for Kids) is going well, the kids "save it" for the last thing they do at school, as a treat. I think the voices are annoying, but the kids seem to not mind.
In the program, you are trying to find all the treasures on Typer Island, so that you can be the ruler. They take you through lessons, and then games that reinforce the lessons to win the treasures. It seems pretty fun.
We started a new reward program where if the children complete their work without having to be reminded to stay on task, they get a sticker for the day. When their chart is filled, they get to buy a book from the Half- Price bookstore. (Which is an awesome place.) This has helped with the motivation part of things, and I haven't had to remind/ask/beg/cajole/badger for them to get their work done.
This was our "art and craft" for the week. Although we did have a formal lesson in art about outlines and shapes, here is the other project we did- leaf rubbings with pastel chalks:
We read the Mad Hatter Tea Party chapter in Alice's Adventures this week. I decided to forgo a tea party, as I just put one on for Princess in the Spring, but we did make these fun Mad Hatter hats.
On Friday, we decided to go camping, so I abbreviated school that day. I had the kids help me make a list of things we needed to camping. We went through each "activity" that we would do and made our list that way. I wrote most of the list, but I should have had the kids write it, as it would have been a great spelling/writing lesson. Oh well. I'll do better next time.I also had the kids look at a few websites that explain how and why leaves change color in the fall. They can explain the process fairly well now and even have a few new stellar vocab words.
While camping, we collected leaves and a bunch of hickory nuts. The nuts are on the deck drying and I am hoping to use them in some fun recipe this week.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Term A, Week 3
This week seemed to be one that we just got through. We did have school everyday, which is great. We accomplished much. I did realize that we will need a little change-up now and then, as I already feel bored with the same system we have been using for a while.
A few successes: Princess loves reading Half Magic and Mr. Man is reading Dinosaur Hunters. They are both doing well and often read past the point that they are required because they like it so much.
Alice's Adventures is going well, also. We are taking an accelerated pace with it, so we can start Little House in the Big Woods before Christmas.
Mr. Man is writing so much better this year. We have started doing daily journal entries. He is still working on lots of things, but it is much improved. He loves that in his journal he doesn't have to worry about spelling.
Next week we will start a typing program.
A few successes: Princess loves reading Half Magic and Mr. Man is reading Dinosaur Hunters. They are both doing well and often read past the point that they are required because they like it so much.
Alice's Adventures is going well, also. We are taking an accelerated pace with it, so we can start Little House in the Big Woods before Christmas.
Mr. Man is writing so much better this year. We have started doing daily journal entries. He is still working on lots of things, but it is much improved. He loves that in his journal he doesn't have to worry about spelling.
Next week we will start a typing program.
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