Lapbook catch-up Post

Sorry for a few blurry pictures, Ugh!

Here is what the crew has been working on the last 2 weeks along with their Alphabet Notebooks.

The 1st book is The Carrot Seed ... a real classic. The other is Owl Babies. The boys are really enjoying working on the lapbook pieces and learning little tidbits of info as we enjoy the great stories.

Also, the lapbooks are now being used for quiet time while lunch prep is going on. Each boy will go and choose something quiet to do ... among the choices are puzzles, books and lapbooks ;-)

Alphabet Notebook Cc Dd

Here are 2 more pages that we have added to Charlie's Alphabet Notebook a little while ago.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

We finished our lapbooks for Brown Bear Brown Bear a little bit ago and it was more of a review of colors for Charlie but it also helped A and J learn their colors. Inside there is some memory game cards and some matching color words/color animal cards. There is also a picture of a real brown bear and one of what the bear tracks look like. The round pocket holds a "sewing" card for fine motor practice lacing around the brown bear.

Alphabet Notebook Aa Bb

Here are our 1st pages for our Alphabet Notebook. Letter Aa page has apple prints on the front, and on the back there is some colored apples with Aa words on them and colored Aa art book and some apple stickers.

The Letter Bb page is colored with blue and has buttons glued on it. On the back you can see the What begins with B wheel and Charlie's Letter Bb Book.

The Apple Pie Tree lapbook

We finished our lap books for The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall. We worked on this book and the related activities and lap book components for 1 1/2 weeks. Thanks to HSS for all the ideas and activities.

Inside our lap books there is a What begins with A wheel, a pocket containing related opposite cards, a counting apples minit book the boys glued apples to, a petal minit book about how bees help make apples, an apple tree they made, and a "recipe" for apple pie they dictated to me. We assembled the lap books today and tomorrow we'll bake our apple pie to finish off this unit.

Naptime ... Oh What a Relief it is!

BFS #101 - Plop, plop, Fizz, fizz; Oh, What a Relief It Is!
Assignment: This would be a good week to tell about your worst struggles with a lifestyle of homeschooling. Share any curriculum/home school methods that have been a relief to you, i.e., a particular Teacher’s Manual or Homeschooling method that’s been easier for your family. Talk about how you felt when the burden was lifted and Oh, What a Relief it is!

This year there are 2 major reliefs for me regarding homeschooling three preschoolers and a 1yr old.

1st) I love this site and group http://www.homeschoolshare.com/ they have been a saving grace for me! Go and check them out, you'll love 'em.

2nd) Nap time between 12:00 - 2:00 when all 4 children are sleeping. ;-D

BFS Assignment #100 - Oh What a Feeling!

I had a hard time figuring out how to write what I feel about homeschooling and then the parent of the almost 4yr old I care for took care of it for me.

When her older 2 boys were getting ready to start school there was a lot of talk between the boys about being "old enough and ready" for school. The older 2 were often teasing the A(3) that he wasn't old enough to go to school and he needed to talk better before he could. Here, http://stephaniefurness.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html#426696042707402987 , I mention that this little boy was denied admittance to the sped. ed preschool in this city, and we were all really surprised. I told all the boys that we, their Mom and I, decided that A will be having preschool here with me and the other kids.

Yesterday after our 1st day of preschool, here, A's Mom picked up and was very excited for her little ones. Apparently 1 of the older boys told her that it wasn't fair that A and J got to have preschool at our house while they went to school. The boys showed her their 1st day of school papers, talked about Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and both her and the kids were very happy. To see the look of pride on both A's and his Mom's face was priceless. It was something that was very seldom there.

Self-confidence and pride in your accomplishments is something I always felt was very important while educating my older children. They have gone on to be great adults. This is a character that I also want to see in my son and will be happy to help instill it in any child's heart.

1st official day of school.

Today the older boys went off to school so with A(3), J(2) and Charlie(2) we officially were able to start preschool. It was nice to be able to get back to a "school" routine.

We colored out "1st day of school" papers, attached pictures of each boy to them and they dictated to me a few bits of info about themselves. As a group we read Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom by Bill Martin and glued pieces of a coconut tree onto the cover sheet for our lapbook.

We spent lots of time outside playing and "helping" Chuck who was finishing building the deck. The afternoon will be spent playing in the pool and yard. It was a very good day.

Back to square 1

Hail, hail, the gangs all here .... Everyone is back from the unexpected week off we just had. The boys are in "rare" form as I expected they would be, oh well.

I think school will be put on the back burner as I try to reign in the troops again. That's what so hard with a break in schedule. It seems, every time the boys return from a week in Maine with their Dad the same problems occur. Dylan's ego is shot and he either is saying he's stupid, or he's trying to control all the younger kids and being bossy. Tyler comes back way to full of himself with an attitude that he's always right no matter what and constantly tries to irritate his brothers and get them riled up. Austin returns very whiny and out of control but once he settles in seems to improve quickly, liking the stability. Justin always comes back, back to square 1 with potty training and baby talking and just plain "baby" habits.

This week, as far as schooling goes, is shot. Too bad because Charlie was really doing well and enjoying it.