My one worry over hosting a blog site came true...that I would get so busy that I would not have time to post on our homeschooling experience blog. That's exactly what happened. We did our full year of kindergarten, took tons of pictures using my cell phone, and trying to get all the pictures moved over to my computer. Plus church activities, play dates, living on a farm...I did not keep up with this blog like I wanted to. My old computer was a headache to work on because it just kept getting slower and slower with all the "new" updates and once I finally got a new computer (which wasn't until April, it took me a while to get used to and figure out Windows 8 and Word 13 after having Windows XP and Word from 2004. I apologize for failing so miserably!
I'm going to try very hard this summer to get some of our highlights from our 2012 - 2013 school year on here. Bear with me. Lots of different projects going on at Poor Ways Farm!
Thanks, for being patient with us. We are looking forward to a better blog year in this upcoming school year!
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Teddy Bear Care Fair Today
Just because it's the weekend, doesn't mean "learning" is taking a rest. No, we don't "hit the books" on the weekends, but the process of learning goes on. Today, it took on the form of a field trip to the Teddy Bear Care Fair.
Maddy, Kenna, and I had fun at the Teddy Bear Care Fair this morning! Thanks to Harrisburg Medical Center and WADI for sponsoring such a great event! Upon arriving, the girls "registered" their stuffed animals (Maddy took Ellie the Elephant puppet and Kenna took Honey the Bear). We then proceeded to the nurses station for a check of vitals (where we saw our friend Naomi Hall working), to X-ray where our friend Jennifer (Darnell) was working, to the lab where "blood" was "drawn" from the patients, to surgery where corrective procedures were performed, to respiratory therapy for a breathing treatment, to physical therapy where both patients received a leg splint, and on to be discharged. The kids were lavished with stickers, copies of their animal's X-ray (complete with their heart showing), lab reports, coloring sheets, get well cards, a variety of healthy snacks, a bottle of water, a tongue depressor bookmark, a woven bracelet, and this was all in addition to the little goodie bags they were given. What a terrific program! I can happily report, though returning home with lots of stickers, band-aids, med-wrap, their admission bracelets, and a splint on their leg, both Ellie and Honey are feeling much better after their visit to the Teddy Bear Care Fair!
Maddy, Kenna, and I had fun at the Teddy Bear Care Fair this morning! Thanks to Harrisburg Medical Center and WADI for sponsoring such a great event! Upon arriving, the girls "registered" their stuffed animals (Maddy took Ellie the Elephant puppet and Kenna took Honey the Bear). We then proceeded to the nurses station for a check of vitals (where we saw our friend Naomi Hall working), to X-ray where our friend Jennifer (Darnell) was working, to the lab where "blood" was "drawn" from the patients, to surgery where corrective procedures were performed, to respiratory therapy for a breathing treatment, to physical therapy where both patients received a leg splint, and on to be discharged. The kids were lavished with stickers, copies of their animal's X-ray (complete with their heart showing), lab reports, coloring sheets, get well cards, a variety of healthy snacks, a bottle of water, a tongue depressor bookmark, a woven bracelet, and this was all in addition to the little goodie bags they were given. What a terrific program! I can happily report, though returning home with lots of stickers, band-aids, med-wrap, their admission bracelets, and a splint on their leg, both Ellie and Honey are feeling much better after their visit to the Teddy Bear Care Fair!
Friday, September 21, 2012
Day 13 Of K Homeschooling
I take the girls to the library each week. They each choose and check out 4 books and 1 movie. This week, one of the books Maddy checked-out is a Step into Reading + Math book for Preschool - Grade 1. It's called "A Dollar for Penny" written by Dr. Julie Glass. We read it today and I do recommend it. It covers coin recognition and value.
Each morning, after breakfast and before the official homeschooling experience begins, we have family Bible study. Our goal is to read the Bible, cover to cover. Anyone want to tag along? Day 13 of school found us in Genesis 12:1-8, about the call of Abram. Bear in mind, we are reading from the NIV Kids New Adventure Bible by Zondervan so that a kindergartener and preschooler can understand the content. So far, so good. Maddy always has lots of questions and she remembers what we talked about from the previous day. As we do our Bible study, we are charting the genealogy of the ancestors of Adam and Eve. It's the parents' responsibility to teach their children about God; attending church (while a very good thing) only is intended as a supplement to your home teachings, not the other way around.
We also discovered a wonderful, free art software program called Tux Paint. Our kindergarten computer book, Kindergarten Technology, suggested it - along with Kid Pix, which we have ordered and should be here next week. Both are geared toward the younger children.
Each morning, after breakfast and before the official homeschooling experience begins, we have family Bible study. Our goal is to read the Bible, cover to cover. Anyone want to tag along? Day 13 of school found us in Genesis 12:1-8, about the call of Abram. Bear in mind, we are reading from the NIV Kids New Adventure Bible by Zondervan so that a kindergartener and preschooler can understand the content. So far, so good. Maddy always has lots of questions and she remembers what we talked about from the previous day. As we do our Bible study, we are charting the genealogy of the ancestors of Adam and Eve. It's the parents' responsibility to teach their children about God; attending church (while a very good thing) only is intended as a supplement to your home teachings, not the other way around.
We also discovered a wonderful, free art software program called Tux Paint. Our kindergarten computer book, Kindergarten Technology, suggested it - along with Kid Pix, which we have ordered and should be here next week. Both are geared toward the younger children.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Art & Math Can Go Hand-in-Hand
Today's art was necklaces and bracelets made from wood beads. The girls chose their beads, laid out their pattern, and then had fun stringing them. Learning about patterns and sorting the different types and colors of beads also tied our art time into math time.
In math today, the "official" kindergarten lesson was to work with linking cubes to count to 5. Before we got started, Maddy asked if she could write her numbers of the chalkboard. Well, we never did get around to the linking cubes to 5. Maddy started counting and writing her numbers on the board and went all the way to 22 before her hand got tired! Kenna joined in and drew her first perfect square on the board (with the motor skills difficulties she has you would know was a huge deal for her!), which then led to a shapes lesson and the board being filled with circles, squares, and triangles.
In Spanish, Maddy learned her numbers 6 - 10.
Since school began, we have been studying "Children Around The World", focusing on a different country each month. National Geographic for Kids' website has been a tremendous help. The girls have enjoyed watching videos (the volcanoes and acid waterfalls in Russia and the Canadian Rainforest, Home of the Spirit Bear have been their favorite "destinations" so far).
In math today, the "official" kindergarten lesson was to work with linking cubes to count to 5. Before we got started, Maddy asked if she could write her numbers of the chalkboard. Well, we never did get around to the linking cubes to 5. Maddy started counting and writing her numbers on the board and went all the way to 22 before her hand got tired! Kenna joined in and drew her first perfect square on the board (with the motor skills difficulties she has you would know was a huge deal for her!), which then led to a shapes lesson and the board being filled with circles, squares, and triangles.
In Spanish, Maddy learned her numbers 6 - 10.
Since school began, we have been studying "Children Around The World", focusing on a different country each month. National Geographic for Kids' website has been a tremendous help. The girls have enjoyed watching videos (the volcanoes and acid waterfalls in Russia and the Canadian Rainforest, Home of the Spirit Bear have been their favorite "destinations" so far).
Monday, September 17, 2012
School Day #10
Today is our 10th day of our homeschooling experience, and we are loving every minute of it! I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to be able to homeschool my children.
People ask sometimes what a day of Kindergarten homeschool is like. Here's how today went:
1) Up at 6 a.m. to do some housework before time to get the girls up at 6:45 a.m.
2) Sit down to breakfast at 7 a.m. As we are nearing the end of our meal, we had Bible Study (Gen. 9:18 -28, The Sons of Noah). While I do breakfast dishes, the girls get dressed and ready for school.
3) "Morning Meeting" at 8 a.m. This included time for each: attendance (I mark our chart), calendar (day of the week, month, date, year, and "Count the School Days So Far"), weather (we have a weather chart), Pledges (American, Christian, and Bible), opening prayer, then "A-Manner-A-Day".
4) Art - Today they used markers, glitter glue, and "gemstones" to decorate a wood plaque (Maddy's was a pile of candy and Kenna's was a cupcake).
5) Math - We used the pictograph we had made earlier in the week and practiced reading a graph. We also explored with Teddy Bear counters (we used Teddy Grahams and snacked along the way, too) and Pattern Blocks.
6) Handwriting - Practiced printing the letter "E", in both upper and lower cases.
7) Science - Observing everyday, familiar things. Today we took note of "Same and Different".
8) Reading - Read "Marie, Simply Adorable", "Rat-a-tat, Cat", "A Frog in the Bog", and "Let's Eat". We usually only read two books aloud, but the first two are about Disney's Marie from Aristocats and they were very short. "Let's Eat" also helped us explore some new Spanish words. We then worked on labeling objects around the classroom (family room) and living room with those items that begin with the letter we are working on. Also worked with our Leap Frog Word Whammer ( an educational phonics toy). We work on sounding out words and recognizing "sight words" all day long.
9) Spanish - Continued to practice on the color words.
10) Social Studies - Studied about the children of Russia. Watched a National Geographic Kids video on Russia's volcanoes, and later in the day Maddy sent a postcard depicting a scene from the Russian culture to 6 of her friends/pen pals she just hooked up with this afternoon (all people I know and using our homeschool e-mail account).
11) Computer - Learned more about digital pictures. Once school is "out" for the day, Maddy practices her mouse skills by playing about 30 minutes of educational computer games.
12) Music - We did "strike up a note" off and on throughout the day. Singing "Days of the Week" and "Stars and Stripes" during "Morning Meeting", playing children's favorites during lunch break, and listening to music during P.E.
13) Maddy journals each day in a Primary Journal. She draws her favorite part of the day and then signs her name to the page. I "transcribe" any notes she wants added.
14) P.E. is the final subject of the official school day. Outside whenever possible, today was drizzling. We used the giant balance ball indoors.
Seems like a lot to fill the day. But remember, I am not having to corral and help a dozen or more children with their worksheets and lessons. Kenna joins in class when she wants to - usually for Bible Study, Morning Meeting, Art, math (especially when there are Teddy Grahams to eat!), reading aloud (takes place in Dad's recliner with the girls on each side snuggled in), and P.E. (good for her balance and legs). Sometimes, computer (she's very impatient and gets frustrated easily because she doesn't have the control she wants to work the mouse, but it'll come). At other times she either does her own playing but comes to me often with "dishes" she's made or to help her with whatever she is playing with. I don't mind the disruptions. Although she is always welcome to join us, I don't push her to do it all...after all she's only 3 and will be doing all this when it's time for her to start kindergarten. She has her own student desk, and her own supplies. Sometimes, she sits at her desk while Maddy and I are doing a subject and colors or plays quietly. Her "school job" right now, as far as I'm concerned, is just to be a kid.
People ask sometimes what a day of Kindergarten homeschool is like. Here's how today went:
1) Up at 6 a.m. to do some housework before time to get the girls up at 6:45 a.m.
2) Sit down to breakfast at 7 a.m. As we are nearing the end of our meal, we had Bible Study (Gen. 9:18 -28, The Sons of Noah). While I do breakfast dishes, the girls get dressed and ready for school.
3) "Morning Meeting" at 8 a.m. This included time for each: attendance (I mark our chart), calendar (day of the week, month, date, year, and "Count the School Days So Far"), weather (we have a weather chart), Pledges (American, Christian, and Bible), opening prayer, then "A-Manner-A-Day".
4) Art - Today they used markers, glitter glue, and "gemstones" to decorate a wood plaque (Maddy's was a pile of candy and Kenna's was a cupcake).
5) Math - We used the pictograph we had made earlier in the week and practiced reading a graph. We also explored with Teddy Bear counters (we used Teddy Grahams and snacked along the way, too) and Pattern Blocks.
6) Handwriting - Practiced printing the letter "E", in both upper and lower cases.
7) Science - Observing everyday, familiar things. Today we took note of "Same and Different".
8) Reading - Read "Marie, Simply Adorable", "Rat-a-tat, Cat", "A Frog in the Bog", and "Let's Eat". We usually only read two books aloud, but the first two are about Disney's Marie from Aristocats and they were very short. "Let's Eat" also helped us explore some new Spanish words. We then worked on labeling objects around the classroom (family room) and living room with those items that begin with the letter we are working on. Also worked with our Leap Frog Word Whammer ( an educational phonics toy). We work on sounding out words and recognizing "sight words" all day long.
9) Spanish - Continued to practice on the color words.
10) Social Studies - Studied about the children of Russia. Watched a National Geographic Kids video on Russia's volcanoes, and later in the day Maddy sent a postcard depicting a scene from the Russian culture to 6 of her friends/pen pals she just hooked up with this afternoon (all people I know and using our homeschool e-mail account).
11) Computer - Learned more about digital pictures. Once school is "out" for the day, Maddy practices her mouse skills by playing about 30 minutes of educational computer games.
12) Music - We did "strike up a note" off and on throughout the day. Singing "Days of the Week" and "Stars and Stripes" during "Morning Meeting", playing children's favorites during lunch break, and listening to music during P.E.
13) Maddy journals each day in a Primary Journal. She draws her favorite part of the day and then signs her name to the page. I "transcribe" any notes she wants added.
14) P.E. is the final subject of the official school day. Outside whenever possible, today was drizzling. We used the giant balance ball indoors.
Seems like a lot to fill the day. But remember, I am not having to corral and help a dozen or more children with their worksheets and lessons. Kenna joins in class when she wants to - usually for Bible Study, Morning Meeting, Art, math (especially when there are Teddy Grahams to eat!), reading aloud (takes place in Dad's recliner with the girls on each side snuggled in), and P.E. (good for her balance and legs). Sometimes, computer (she's very impatient and gets frustrated easily because she doesn't have the control she wants to work the mouse, but it'll come). At other times she either does her own playing but comes to me often with "dishes" she's made or to help her with whatever she is playing with. I don't mind the disruptions. Although she is always welcome to join us, I don't push her to do it all...after all she's only 3 and will be doing all this when it's time for her to start kindergarten. She has her own student desk, and her own supplies. Sometimes, she sits at her desk while Maddy and I are doing a subject and colors or plays quietly. Her "school job" right now, as far as I'm concerned, is just to be a kid.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Maddy's First Library Card
While Maddy and Kenna have regularly participated in Miss Alice's Story-Time for preschoolers since August 2010, this year only Kenna gets to attend the Story-Time group.
Maddy, though, spent her time at the library while Kenna was in Story-Time doing her computer lesson. When she went to check out her 4 books, Miss Betty (our head librarian) told Maddy could have her own library card as a kindergartener. Maddy loves reading and was thrilled! She took her new card home, found a purse to "keep it safe in" and we now have a wallet on our shopping list so she will not lose it.
Maddy, though, spent her time at the library while Kenna was in Story-Time doing her computer lesson. When she went to check out her 4 books, Miss Betty (our head librarian) told Maddy could have her own library card as a kindergartener. Maddy loves reading and was thrilled! She took her new card home, found a purse to "keep it safe in" and we now have a wallet on our shopping list so she will not lose it.
We Pledge...
As part of our "Morning Meeting" time, we cite all three Pledges...
Pledge Of Allegiance
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Christian Pledge
I pledge Allegiance to the Christian Flag and to the Savior for whose kingdom it stands, one brotherhood uniting all mankind in service and love.
Bible Pledge
I pledge allegiance to the Bible, God's Holy Word, I will make it a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path and will hide its words in my heart that I might not sin against God.
Even Preschooler Kenna joins us during our "Morning Meeting." She loves "pledging her allegiance", too!
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