The Last Few Weeks

Getting back into the swing of things after being sick for so long has not been easy. I have a hard time getting into a routine.  Once I am in one, I am fine, but when life throws curveballs (which it always does) and that routine gets messed up, it takes me FOREVER to get back into it.  But finally, I think we are back in a good groove with schooling and we are all still really enjoying it.  We have tweaked a lot here and there and I think we have found the balance in time, subjects, fun, "book work", working together and working alone, and all the other little things in homeschooling that can be pushed too far in any direction.

Here are a few (okay, a LOT) of pictures from the last few weeks!

Caleb's "passport" for our trip around the world (the passport was created by me -- I didn't like any of the ones I found online) -- Social Studies

The front of Levi's world scrapbook -- the kids all did watercolor painting on a lightly sketched world map.  We will keep all our pages from our "world" travels in one binder. SOCIAL STUDIES & ART

This is the first page inside the kids scrapbooks (all made with doodles by Katie Hadfield)  -- SOCIAL STUDIES and LANGUAGE ARTS

Working on handwriting -- teaching for the boys and re-teaching for Alaina.  I *LOVE* the Handwriting Without Tears program! -- HANDWRITING

Passports and tickets for our first trip.  Levi thought it was hysterical that I had them line up like they were buying tickets and saying, "Hello sir, how may I help you?"  He just giggled and giggled and finally Caleb just said, "He's with me!"  -- SOCIAL STUDIES

Learning about different kinds of animals and their characteristics.  When we read about a new animal in a book, it goes on one of five posters -- mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, or fish. If we have a picture, we add it.  If not, we write it on the poster.   SCIENCE

Lots of play with shapes and rods -- MATH and MULTI-SENSORY ACTIVITIES

Learning about Indian money and how it compares to 1)US money and 2) Indonesian money.  It is amazing how real a color copier makes things!   SOCIAL STUDIES

 

Coloring pages of an Indian woman making a rangoli pattern -- ART and SOCIAL STUDIES

Then creating our own Rangoli patterns -- ART

Water play -- MATH and MULTI-SENSORY ACTIVITIES

A pumpkin party!

Learning about mountains -- the tree line, the snow line, and the animals and plants that live there. SCIENCE

Cuddling on the couch to watch our Bible/songs on DVD

Coloring their names in "Hindi" (Samarkan Font) -- SOCIAL STUDIES

Helping Moses and the Israelites cross the Red Sea -- BIBLE

 

Finding out just how LONG a sari really is  -- SOCIAL STUDIES

Block building

Lots of "20 Questions to guess the Flag" (I love how Alaina always asks first, "Is it a rectangle?" When we say yes, she says, "Well, I guess it's not Nepal!" (which is the only non-rectangular flag).

Mundane (but necessary) tasks like learning to write numbers -- MATH

Finding letters of their names in Alphabits cereal -- Sensory Activity, language arts for Levi

Learning about Jungles and the creatures that live there -- SOCIAL STUDIES and SCIENCE

Becoming a Jungle Creature

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So, as you can see,  routine or not, we are having a lot of fun and hopefully learning something in the process!

Comments

[jenny]

busy indeed!

[Heather]

I absolutely adore the Moses and the Red Sea activity! Is that something available on the Internet?

[Vera]

It looks like SO much fun! I really wonder whether I will have the skill and resources to homeschool my future children when the time comes.

[Rebecca]

I am so sad to see you stepping down from The Daily Digi owner. I love your work and creativity and I hope that you will continue to show us your creative ideas!

[Judi Weston]

Love your passport idea. It inspired me to get us started on a weekly travel to a specific county. I usually do a letter a week for my little guys and try to coordinate a country to go along. Are you willing to share your template for your passport? I couldn't find too much online either.

You look like you are having a lot of fun and I'm glad you are feeling better.

Judi :)

[Ashley]

ooh yes, if you wanted to share that passport template that would be amazing!

[Marsha]

I stopped by to tell you that I LOVE the HOTM Mag layout that you did! It looks sharp, professional, clean and just plain beautiful!

And then I see your travels around the world and wish that *I* were in *your* homeschool-- what FUN memories and information you are cementing in their minds! Awesome.

[Christine (CoCo)]

Wow! School at your house looks like so much fun! My kids would really enjoy it! I found a lot of inspiration in this post. Thank you for sharing.

[Cultivatedlives.blogspot.com]

Where did you get those cuisinaire rod sheets? My 3yo LOVES using these while I'm working with my 5yo on math. He especially loves making shapes and would just flip over this... (cultivatedlivesATgmail.com)