Whatchadoin? #8, math in action

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was math time.  My kids have a love/hate relationship with the subject.  This year there is more love which means more fun for me.

For the most part our math looks exactly like I had planned. "Life of Fred" is their favorite part of the day.  They love to curl up on their bed and read about Fred's adventures.  I didn't feel Merry was quite ready for multiplication so I had her start the series over.  She is enjoying the second time around just as much as the first.  Charry now has to pass a short test in order to advance through the books, this is teaching her patience.  She has to be careful to get things right the first time.

Their daily math is less enjoyable but gives opportunities to see what we haven't studied yet.  It also encourages the girls to try even if they are not sure.  Teaching them to infer how to do things they have not been specifically taught is a challenge.  They are willing to try because they want to color all the squares.

This year we have been stressing the math facts.  I carry flash cards with me all the time and quiz the girls often.  We also decided to work on money (coin recognition was one area daily math showed was lacking.)

Besides fact drills we are trying to use the flash cards in other ways too.  I have the girls work on fact families by matching the addition/multiplication fact with the correct subtraction/division facts.

With the money cards we work not only on remembering which coin is which but then I have them put the amounts in order.

Absent this year have been the wrap-ups.  We will probably bring them out after facts are mastered to stay fresh.

Wrapping up our math is an online site called "xtra-math."  I'm not sure if it is the novalty of using the lap top or trying to get all smiley faces but the girls enjoy the site.

Math is a bit fuller than I had intended, with flash cards and computer time but I've already noticed the improvements so it has been worth it.

"Insta"-replay #17, indoor fun

Autumn has come and that means spending a little more time inside.

We have been taking an afternoon break to eat lunch and enjoy the JellyTelly daily player.  

Acorns made a cute fall craft.  And busy hands get in less trouble.

We have been working extra hard on our states and capitals.  I'm hoping that combining school and fun will make them more memorable.  Merry let her doll jump from state to state as I called out the names.

After a week of inside at home being inside at McDonalds was a welcome break.  I like having a place kids can play and stay dry.

After the busy week it was nice to spend a day just relaxing at my inlaws, it may look like a lack of interaction but we were all facebooking each other.  

Whatchadoin? #7, staying on track

So I have already shared my lesson planning but the real question is, "Am I actually using any of it?"

Well... Yes and No.

I absolutely love the planners I got for the girls, also using colored pencils to write out the assignments is fun for me.

Ideally each week should be a block of yellow, I use the yellow highlighter to mark off assignments that are finished.

Unfortunately there have been weeks with a lot of pink!  Pink means we didn't quite get things done.  Even worse (to me) is the line of pink meaning I skipped the subject.

When that happens I go back and rework my plans.  I try to keep on top of what works and what doesn't work.

One thing in particular I realized needed reworked was "extras."  I didn't want the girls to think of them as school subjects so I didn't originally put them in the planners.  After a few weeks of being forgotten I decided that we needed a bit more accountability so I stuck them in the planners so they could be checked off.

I'm hoping to share how we are doing and some other schooling changes in the weeks ahead.

"Insta"-replay #16, two long hard weeks

There are two days every year that are harder for me, the day my son was born and the day he passed away.  They happen to be in the last few weeks, which is part of why I haven't blogged, but here is what we were up to...

Grandma Jackie sent cake pops for our small birthday remembrance party, so cute.

Girls spent lots of time playing with Legos.

We went to a pumpkin patch with Grandma Kelly and all the cousins!

The best part was a hay pit to jump into. It took a bit for my girls to warm up to the idea.

Coloring pages are the best thing while waiting for dance class.

Grandma Kelly had a surprise morning off so she showed the girls how to make apple sauce.

I had a sore throat so made sure to drink my coffee iced, which helped.

Even with being sick I managed to let the kids do a small spiderweb art project.  First they drew the web with white crayon then painted the paper with water colors.

Finally we ended doing what most moms do after being sick for a few days, we cleaned house!  Their room still needs a bit of work but it is looking better!

So that was my life the last few weeks, I'm hoping we stay healthy, being sick wasn't much fun .

"Insta"-replay #15, Star Wars Reads Weekend

Some weeks seem so much longer than regular!  Last week was one of those.

I was happy to start it out with a can of Dr. Pepper.  My dear hubby had left me just one, but it was the just one I really needed.

Another thing I needed this week was a trip to Target with just my girls!  We always enjoy time with cousins but early morning and extra kids can be draining.

The extra kids can also add to the excitement.  All of them were excited to learn about blubber.

We had some library fun, they made up a story of Elephant and the Three Frogs.

Finally Friday came!!! Besides ending a long week, it was when we prepared for Star Wars Reads day.  We used the worksheet packs from the official Star Wars website.  I created the light sabers myself from scrapbooking paper.  

The next day we dressed up.  Charry made a fabulas Jedi!!! 

We went up to our local Barnes and Noble bookstore for the event.  The best part was meeting local Emperial forces, including Darth Vader.

Sunday had its own excitement.  Charry learned to separate an egg (with out the force but still.)

With her new skill she was able to help Aunt Katie frost a cake for Papa's birthday!

Last week was a lot of fun but I hope this next one is a bit quieter.  

Fashionista Friday!! All About Accessories

Big sister Charry has been rocking the fashions this last week.

Her look is usually very classic.  A bright sweater to add pizzaz is a common addition.

  She is also known to add a hat whenever the mood strikes her.  But said hat always color coordinates.

A birthday gift card opened a new fashion trend.  A cat eared headband was quickly chosen.  It can be worn with any outfit to add whimsy.

And a final fashion trend hitting our household, character-sweatshirts!  As you can see from the smile, Pikachu is much loved and the shirt much worn.

So follow Fashionista Charry's advise and example; add some fun and whimsy to your wardrobe.

"Whatchadoin?" #6, Kaya American History

I started the year with grand visions of fun and learning as we read through the American Girl books and explored history.  My older daughter had loved it when I used the same ideas for her.

Daughter number two is not the same as her sister and those differences made for poor planning in my part.  The majority of history time during the last six weeks looked like this:

Merry is not the advid reader her sister is.  Instead she waited for history time to pick up the books.  As a result we did not get to many of the activities I had planned.

We did color and cut out Indian paper dolls.  We talked about the different outfits and how there were many types of Native Americans and how they lived differently than one another.

We also did a few mini books for our files.   We didn't do all the ones I had printed because of time and a lack of enthusiasm.

At the end of the unit I did a little reflecting and made some changes to my plans.  With Felicity reading will be done on the weekends, we will also try to have one "artsy" project at the end of the week to encourage her to get the smaller written activities done.