Not two thumbs up...

Two FINGERS up!!

We're doing the USA for most of our Geography and History through the year, from Galloping the Globe, and also a little from Expedition Earth by Erica @ confessions of a homeschooler. As we're just beginning our lessons, it made the most sense to start the kids learning about where they live, their address, and finding it on a globe and atlas.

So today as we expanded our learning about North Carolina to begin studying the states, the state bird is the Cardinal, and we had a fun little activity to go along with it. The poem is originally about just birds, but we said it like this:

Two little cardinals sitting on a hill

One named Jack, one named Jill.

Fly away Jack, fly away Jill.

Come back Jack, come back Jill.

This Kindergartener was definitely more enthusiastic to do his worksheets with his red birds holding his pencil!

And this little guy was occupied for quite awhile too, checking out his red little fingers. I colored his on the front of his fingers, so that every time he grabbed an object, it would catch his attention more, and he'd sit and just stare every time.

We just used washable crayola markers in red on their fingers, and also black to draw 2 eyes and a triangle for the beak. So simple, and so fun.

A clean slate

Here's a fun idea that we will be doing to help the kids see their progress with the work they have to do for the day, and transition from the mindset of being able to do things at their own agenda around the house. I think they'll work much better when they see they have a list, and a finished piece when school day is done.

I got 3 metal clipboards from Office Max (one for baby too, to keep his little hands busy, when he'll stay put that is!)

I purchased wooden shapes from Hobby Lobby (a craft supply store) 2 pieces of scrapbook paper, matte finish mod podge, and magnetic strip/roll.

Cut the scrabook paper to fit the size of the wooden shapes, and secure with a glue stick. Then cover with mod podge using a sponge brush or paint brush. After they dry, take the peeling off of the back of the magnetic strip that you cut to fit and stick it on. It's a good idea to lay a heavy box on top of them over night to make sure they stiffen flat, and tightly secure the magnet strip.

We'll be using these metal clipboards, and magents for lots of things like Bingo Games, or 1-100 counting chart to demonstrate different counting patterns by 2's, 5's, 10's, etc.

But most importantly we'll be using it daily with their agenda, and a magnet will be taken down in order down the column as they are ready for another task until they have removed all of the magnets, which indicates a clean slate to be ready for the next day of school.

(yes, I know the second picture is rotated, and no matter what I did, it still uploaded it rotated like that, sorry!)

Math + Folders = Fun!

One of the things I'm adding to our supplies are folder games, so I've been busy laminating and cutting more things than I ever thought I would do in my life- talk about an initiation, whew!

I've got a schedule for our days I'm going to stick to for the most part, to make sure we get through each subject (and to keep myself on track!) but when there may be times that the toddler is grumpy, or I need to spend one on one time with each of them, I want something that I can say "here, do this project for a minute" and they'll actually have fun when they do it.

So here's a few of the file folders that I've made!

Fishing for numbers (K-1st Grade) The inside of the folder is boats with the spelled number for reading recognition, and each fish has a matching number digit to correctly match up. I found some clear stick-on velcro at Walmart, so it doesn't cover the picture of the boats.

Gold fish Subtraction has math problems to solve the answer for by placing each gold fish on the correct numbered gold fish bowl. (These also have the velcro pieces on the back of the fish to place on the bowls.)

You can find the pattern to download both of these games over at Homeschool Share's website! I laminated the folders after I glued the pictures to it, then placed the velcro on the pictures. For the game pieces, I glued them to cardstock to make them more durable, and then laminated them, and applied the softer piece of the velcro set on the backs.

Happy cutting!

Walking a new path

I decided to start a homeschooling blog as a way to scrapbook our adventures, to network with other christian homeschooling families, and also to be a resource for other people feeling like they would want to homeschool but might feel inadequate (as I did!)

As I've been preparing my daily schedules with the lessons and manipulatives I plan to use, I've had a few thoughts I'd like to share.

I was putting Kellan in bed last night, and as I was praying over him as I do every night, I included in my prayer for creativity and enthusiasm to inspire within him an excitement to learn. I was struck with the thought of the alternative of sending him to a public school, and wondered how often children come across a teacher who would also pray about them individually? A teacher who would try to reach them in their own personalities, to tailor their learning for their individual needs instead of requiring the child to tailor to the group. I felt thankful that I have the mind, the ability, and the desire for my children to develope their potentials to the fullness of Heavenly Father's will for them.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not doing this because I feel capable. It's the opposite! But I trust that my Heavenly Father will equip me as I continue to listen to the spirit speak in my heart about raising them upright before the Lord.

So welcome to my blog. I'm jumping in with both feet as I do with everything I feel inspired to do, I'm not a lukewarm kind of person. I over share. And I always hope for the best. Let's do it!