Pioneer Farms

This week we went to Pioneer Farms. The kids had a great time exploring this living History Museum. They got to see the early settlers houses, a Tonkowa Indian campground and a German homestead. They were amazed that 15 people lived in one tiny house.

Matthew LOVED looking at all the old vehicles and would ask me to take his picture with them. He also liked asking the "workers" questions. Some they could answer and some they just could not. We had lots of fun walking, exploring and learning about Texas History.

A few of our Favorite things

Shelby was talking to me today about all of her favorite places to get stuff for school. I thought I would post them here.

1-Library- Almost free! We do not live in the city limits so it does cost us $40 a year but we get 45 books out at a time and during the summer 50 books due to Shelby getting an extra library card for being over 5. Next summer it should go up to 55 books since Matthew will turn 5. We go through a LOT of books, movies and CD's. Without the Library there is no way we could afford to homeschool.

2- Paperback swap! We love to put in our wish list workbooks, reference books and pretty much any book we can't get at the library. We have been averaging 2 books a week as far as what is granted. If you are not a part of Paperback swap click my link on the left and join today!

3.MamaCents Childrens Consignment Sale. Yes I have to brag about the sale I manage. I have gotten a LOT of our puzzles, games, books and even our microscope/science set at the MamaCents Sale. Shelby is already making a list of things she wants me to look for at this next one. It is a great perk to get to be in the first group of shoppers. If you live in the Austin Area you should definitely check out this sale. It is HUGE with so much to choose from.

4. The park .... yes apparently the park is a great place to spend the day and learn.

Weekly Report -4

Better late than never ... right
This week was a busy week for me with all my jobs. I had meetings at the Palmer Event Center for MamaCents, a workday at church for Mothers Day Out and I had bookkeeping work to do ... plus keep up the house and homeschool. I will be glad when September is OVER.


Field Trips-
Monday we went to the Not Back to School Party
Friday- Shelby and I got some art supplies and went to the library. We now can get 45 books out at a time and we DID!

Living books -
From Head to Toe (mainly for Abigail)
Aesop's Fables
Could a Tyrannosaurus Play Table Tennis?
The Impressionists
What did you put in your pocket?
Mummies Made in Egypt (and watched reading Rainbow Video)
Bill and Pete go down the Nile
You can't see your bones with binoculars


Shelby read to me
I like Stars
Zip and Zoom
Run and Jump
First 1000 words - cast,cap, eggs, back, cut and chin
Did 4 lessons and one quiz on Reading Eggs online
Learn to Read in 100 Easy Lessons-Lessons 22-24

Matthew Read to me
1 Bob book
Learn to Read in 100 Easy Lessons Lesson 5
Reading Eggs online -Completed 1 quiz and 8 lessons

Explode the Code
Shelby book B pages 40-52
Phonic Card Game

Copywork-Memorization
Shelby- "I am Fearfully and wonderfully Made"

Handwriting without Tears
Shelby orange book pg 17-27

Journal work
Shelby- wrote a lot about tree's this week in her free writing and illustrated them
Matthew- practiced writing name, letters and numbers

Spelling-Shelby
short i words
test on both scored 6 out of 6

Math
Rightstart math lessons 14 odds and evens
Kumon Addition book lesson 11 and 12 writing numbers 1 to 100 - Shelby
Singapore Kinder book b- Shelby lesson 18 pgs 18 to 24 tens and one
Both helped me bake a cake. Shelby read what was needed and they both measured and mixed it together.

Math Centers
Dot to Dot book- Matthew numbers 1 to 20
Dot to Dot book - Shelby 1 to 40
Sticker Math-Shelby pg 16-22 odds and evens
Cuisenaire rods with cards
Games- domino war, bingo and RS math card games

History (mainly Shelby except for readings and activities)
Story of the World Lesson 2

Science (both)
Living books and reference books
went over Skeleton- we will cover this over three weeks
Games- Skeleton puzzle, Apron Organ game, Built machines with Lego's

Music
Only in Grace Harbor

Art
Impressionist - Read book and viewed artwork
Created our own painting based on Van Gogh's Starry Night

Shelby-
Also got Character Building, Spanish (working on letters), Music (hymns), Art (cutting and writing), Public Speaking (introducing yourself) and PE (endurance and running) at Grace Harbor

Abigail-
Is currently working on her colors.

How He Loves Us - Kim Walker / Jesus Culture

This song was shared by a friend on Facebook. The kids and I have NOT stopped singing it since. Even baby Abigail is singing with us. GOD is good. HE LOVES US, SHARE IT WITH ALL ....

My Kindergarten girl

My baby girl started her first day of school today at Grace Harbor Learning. Grace Harbor is a Christian one day a week program where she will get Spanish, Public Speaking, Character Building, Music, PE and Art. She was SO excited to go and was ready for me to just leave. There are 10 kids in her class, 4 girls and 6 boys.

Shelby with her homeroom/PE teacher Mrs. Turner

Not back to School party

On Monday we went with a friend to a Not Back to School Party at one of the City pools. This party was for homeschool kids. Public school went back to school on Monday in Austin so we had the pool to ourselves (and the other homeschool kids). Shelby and Matthew really enjoyed seeing how many other kids homeschool too. We have another big group Homeschool trip planed next Friday and the kids can't wait.

They also took a group photo of all the kids that came. I put a few that I took up.

Sitting for the group picture

My little fish Matthew. He needs Swim lessons. I think he would do great.

Shelby with her vest. She still refuses to put her head under the water. Two times at lessons and two times wasted money.

Enjoying the water

Abigail showing us what she can do.

Two Hands!

Weekly Report -3

This week we did better at staying on target. We had a great week filled with lots of fun activities and wonderful books.

Living books -
I know how my cells make me Grow
The Amazing Human Body
My Amazing Body
The Philharmonic gets Dressed
Lentil
Seeker of knowledge
First Painter
Aesop's Fables
Archaeologists dig for clues
Max's Math machine
Little Grunt and the Big Egg Prehistoric Fairytale
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom -plus they watched a movie with this on it
The Impressionists
An Expedition on this Spot back through time

Shelby read to me
2 stories out of her Early Reader book
First 1000 words - ax, jars, bus, net, fish, ship, shell, crab, pin and map
Did 4 lessons on Reading Eggs online
Learn to Read in 100 Easy Lessons-Lessons 16-21

Matthew Read to me
1 Bob book
Learn to Read in 100 Easy Lessons Lessons 1-4
Reading Eggs online -Completed 1 quiz and 12 lessons (He LOVES this online program and does not even know he is doing schoolwork)

Explode the Code
Matthew book A pages 23-36
Shelby book B pages 29-40
Phonic Card Game

Copywork-Memorization
Matthew- Complete name
Shelby- Complete name (still working on last name spelling) and phone number

Handwriting without Tears
Matthew green book - pg 44-53
Shelby orange book pg 7-17

Journal work
Shelby- wrote at least two sentences a day and illustrated them
Matthew- practiced writing name, letters and numbers

Spelling-Shelby
short e words and review of short a words
test on both scored 22 out of 24

Math
Rightstart math lessons 12 and 13 (both)
Kumon Addition book lesson 7, 8 and 9 writing numbers 1 to 100 - Shelby
Kumon Addition book Lesson 7 writing numbers 1 to 60- Matthew
Singapore Kinder book b- Shelby lesson 17 pgs 1 to 18
Singapore Kinder book b - Matthew lesson 17 pages 1 to 9

Math Centers
Dot to Dot book- Matthew numbers 1 to 20
Dot to Dot book - Shelby 1 to 40
Sticker Math-Shelby pg 10-16
Cuisenaire rods with cards
Games- domino war, bingo and RS math card games

History (mainly Shelby except for readings and activities)
Story of the World Ancients Intro and Lesson 1
Lots of living books (see above) and reference books
Completed an archaeological dig with map of findings and discussion of the people who would have lived there.
Made a Cave Drawing
Mapwork- Fertile Crescent, city of Jericho
"Shaduf" discussion and color page
Map-Floor plans
Completed Family book as project

Science (both)
Cells and My body
Living books and reference books
Experiment- skin cells
Experiment- Why do our fingers have ridges?
Started body book and filled in vital organs
Games- Skeleton puzzle, Apron Organ game, Built machines with Lego's

Music
Conductor
Carnival of Animals
Philharmonic Orchestra- discussion
Played with instruments to keep a beat

Art
Impressionist - Read book and viewed artwork
Created our own painting

Bible
Focused on lying this week and what a lie is.
The Serphants Lie (The First Home) Genises 2:8 to 3:24
Aesops Fable- Boy who cried wolf- Colored picture

Field Trips
Bowling - Both with friends from church
Library- Both
Open house for Grace Harbor Learning - Shelby
She met her teachers and has her first class next Wed. She is very excited to take Art, PE, Music, Spanish, Public Speaking and Character Building at this school. There will be 9 children in her class. This is just a one day a week program but I think she really is going to get a lot out of it.