Kindergarten week 4

This week was pretty lax for us. Our schedule I am learning will change every month. My no-school-Tuesdays is going to be adjusted and for October we have to take Carter to swimming twice a week for 3 weeks during a typical schooling time. But! even though we haven't always been able to school in the morning we have made the effort to catch it in the afternoon. Tho, I still prefer the morning just to 'getter-done'.

We did some minimal stuff this week. Focused mostly on reading/writing skills. Logan has added -g, -e, and -th to his repetoir. He can now sound out simple sentences such as "the cat" "the dog" "get the cat/dog" "mom met dad" "tom mad at sam", etc. He really has a knack for reading. We also did a vinegar/baking soda experiment, and did some painting throughout the week.

I found on a personal level I feel like I can't keep up with Logan's demand for activities. He wants to CRAFT and make things and do EXPERIMENTS all the time and I didn't really have a lot planned for this week. I have a ton of material for things, but I don't want to have it all finished by November lol! Trying to pace ourselves. I need to work on some simple paper crafts on a more regular basis because thats what he's interested in right now. I haven't found the happy medium yet is I guess what i'm saying. Pinterest is awesome but it's also exhausting as there is so many things we could do.

Otherwise week 4 a success! I've adjusted a few of his workbooks - put one away as it was conflicting with another book - they certainly are both great books, just not meant to be done simultaneously! As for the curriculum I purchased, I have a few books that I will definetly use again, and then a few that I won't buy again (as the one specifically is too American).

Anyways, Bly family homeschoolers are truckin' along! :)

(And Carter is enjoying his Joyschool on Fridays)

Kindergarten week 3

Well this was a fun week! We did our first field trip - we went to the telus spark science center. I arranged for carter to stay with my mom so Logan and I could "dig deep" into the world of science. It was really fun!! Im sure Logan doesnt remmeber much, but when something has come up in convo he has been like "we saw that at the science center with the <something> exhibit" so all in all.very successful and very fun! Prob do a yearly trip :)

Logans phonics and reading skills are coming along very quickly - im super impressed with the book we are using "The Reading lesson". His new list of words he can sound out all by himself are: at, sat, cat, rat, mat, am, sam, ram, mom, dad, sad, mad, cot, dot.

Otherwise we did regular math - just starting to get into new material - to this point its been mostly review. We made a family tree and a picture family timeline and tho he kinda already knew aboit it, we are mastering our NSEW directions. Frankly i still struggle with them to this day - id say we probably are at the same level here LOL

The game Logic Street is a fab game! Its a pattern/thinking game and logan loves it and so do I! It was a great investment. Other games weve played this week are Brain Box and with Tegu blocks. We also made a family tree which logan amazed me with his cutting skills. Good week so far

Still.avg about an hour a day. Sometimes 45 mins, sometimes a little longer. We also have been faithful in sticking to our schedule of morning school and I keep my phone upstairs as to not be interruptes. We did one afternoon this week which wasnt my fav but we did it! 

Pic: one is the dome show and one is playing.at one of the exhibits

Kindergarten Week 2

This week has been just as positive and just as fun as last week! We did Math & Science Monday - since it was our first math lesson it was mostly things logan knew already (like recognizing and writing his #s), then a little bit of review Tuesday. Wednesday however was a fabulous day. We did Language Arts and the phonics book we have has us already sounding out words such as AT, CAT, SAT, COT, TAC, SOC (the letters being learned are sounds for C O S A T). Listening to Logan sound out and read a simple sentence like "a cat sat" on week 2 of our schooling adventure was SO rewarding to me :) - by the end he was a little agitated and what I've chosen to do (without his knowing it) is when he is agitated we continue on for about 5 more minutes so he learns to work through the problem and that I won't just 'give up' upon feeling frustrated. It has been a great patience strengthener for me :) Then today we did ART. We did Drawing (in a Usborne book that teaches how to draw things), we did mazes, and we did painting. Today specifically we opened up his school painting kit. I explained to him that -this- kit was for school and we wouldn't only do one project per week out of it. At the end of the 'lesson' then he was welcome to free play and paint what he wants on a different piece of paper. He learned that Blue and Yellow make green - and then proceeded to mix the colors, and then the picture that goes with it has a bunch of white areas meant specifically for the color green - so he completed the picture. It was a really neat little project and he mentioned through the day that blue and yellow make green in various conversations.

Tomorrow we have a really cool history and geography lesson to work through :) I wish I had a printer at work because we are supposed to make a picture timeline - but all of my pictures are now in photobooks so 1. it's already in a timeline essentially, and 2. we can no longer take pics out of an album to create the line.... oh well, we will make due and I've made note to do this again when we buy our new printer.

Woohoo for homeschooling! I am SO converted and loving everything about it! I have to bite my tongue now when I talk to people who are -sending- their kids to school LOL isn't that funny?

First week of homeschooling

So we did three days of school for our first week and it's been AWESOME! Logan has loved everything about it and so have I. We have done about an hour a day, which seems to be ample at this point. I have even done well to leave my phone upstairs while we school. It takes me about 20 mins to 'prep' the night before - basically I just read the lessons ahead so that if I need to do any prep work I'm ready and not scrambling while Logan waits.  I have turned my Bowen room into a homeschool room because I decided I did -not- want to have HS stuff all over my kitchen table. I already hate clearing lego and 3 meals a day and coloring, etc off the table - adding to that would probably drive me crazy! Logan loves sitting down here at 'his desk' and Carter has done well so far to just play nearby.

Carter I have arranged for him to be in a Joyschool group (like Logan did) and it starts next week. After Christmas is over I will probably start working on a page or two of workbooks with him. He is quite immature academically at this point so I don't want to start him yet on things like that.

Anyways, today we made a catapult as our craft: http://frugalfun4boys.com/2010/08/16/marshmallow-catapult/

And I have also attached a questionaire we did on Logan's 'first day' (I am going to get a picture printed and put it at the bottom but our printer is on the fritz) Sorry its sideways! I couldn't figure out how to rotate it :)

I am hopeful that we continue on this path of love and excitement for HS - I know we will have our days, but for now Logan is soaking up everything he learns. I am also practicing patience :) I have to say I feel like i'm being a better mother this week because we have been working together so well and communicating/spending more time -together- AH! I just can't wait for this school year to really get rolling and get past the 'honeymoon' phase of the beginning lol so I can give a true opinion! hehe

Wish us Luck!

Homeschooling - Kindergarten

I am actually GIDDY about this coming 'school year'. Being this is my first time going through this homeschooling stuff, I chose to run a kindergarden program for Logan this year for a few reasons: 1. he's intellectually curious about a variety of things that I figured why wait til grade 1 to start? and 2. I want to be sure we can actually be diligent and committed to a homeschool program.

I searched and searched for a kindergarten complete curriculum because I did not want to be piecing together all the 'subjects' and missing out on things that I may or may not feel important, and just again, being our first time doing this I figured ordering a predesigned curriculum would ease us into things the process :) The other major advantage to ordering a curriculum was that I probably would -not- have ordered some of the "toys" (blocks, games, puzzles) if I were piecing things together because I can be cheap lol

We ended up ordering the curriculum from Timberdoodle. A few cons are that it's an American company so some of the material focuses on American history and such which I will have to adapt, but less than 10% of the material so not bad. And the cost of shipping about killed us. So we won't order from them again likely. Sadly this year is not reimbursable so it was straight out of pocket.

Most importantly, LOGAN is excited! He was a little apprehensive because he wanted to go to school with his friend Lando and after we sat down and explained to him that school is not just playtime with Lando, but rather it involves actual school work while there (and of course some play) then he was okay with the idea of homeschooling. And then he saw the HUGE box of books and toys and games that came in the mail. Oh it's taken everything to convince him we have to WAIT another month before starting :) I know there will be up and down days as far as wanting to learn and participate but that's no different than them being at school.

Anyways, I am so convinced we've made the right decision to be a hs family the closer it gets. I am nervous at moments but frankly, they are good nerves vs bad nerves.

Our schedule looks a little something like this for September (subject to change but I work best off a schedule until we get into a swing of things):

Daily: practice piano and read a chapter in the scriptures (likely our family version of the Book of Mormon)
Monday: Math & Science
Tuesday: NO SCHOOL because we have piano lessons and beavers and I babysit my neighbors 9-1.
Wednesday: Language Arts
Thursdays: rotation every week with some Language work in our 'fun book' and Art/Drawing and games/puzzles, etc.
Friday: History and Geography until the monthly quota is reached then filled in with work from the book "developing the early learner" and such.

My personal goal: To do school work in the mornings between 9&12 for 2hrs MAX. During school I will have my cellphone turned off so my attn can be to the kids. At the same time I will have Carter working on some preschool stuff or he can play quietly elsewhere. It will become 'school time' in our house. It may take some time to create the habit but that's why i'm starting this this year. Of course new baby is in the picture and we will adjust accordingly. I certainly do NOT plan to be rigid, but I do plan to get some work done with my children in as a fun a way as we can :)

Eye exams

Took the boys for their annual eye exams today  and they both have a minor astigmatism. Doctor said  its 50-50 chance that it develops or goes away....but id say those odds are not quite right as mommy and daddy have astigmatism and it is a genetic thing. Right now they both have 20-30 vision and no reason for a cxorrection (aka glasses) but over the next couple years  logan specifically will be monitored to see if it develops or not. Thankfully eye exams are Alberta healthcare covered in Alberta :)

Baby#3 20 weeks

Well 20 weeks officially today! Half way mark - it has taken forever to get to this point! It was just the pick me up i needed to get the ultrasound. Since we were on our way out of town camping for the weekend, michael and the boys and my mom were able to come with me.

I have a few predictions to record:
-Me: im pedicting a boy
-Anna (neighbor): predicting a girl - and she says shes never wrong
-my Grandma Shideler: did the string and needle test and it was an overwhelming BOY. But she is predicting a girl even still cuz she thinks i need one.
-Sandy (neighbor): predicts a girl

Otherwise new symptoms: swelling (or weight gain - unsire) drastically in my legs. I always have cankles but they are especially worsened this pregnancy. Weight gain has subsided to a much slower rate but im already almost to my highest pregnancy weight at just 20 weeks.

Anyways, things are moving along and im excited to meet our "last child" - im treating this pregnancy as our last so i make sure i am enjoying those certain aspects of pregnancy (like the flutters and movements) that i actually enjoy the best i can.

Lastly, i have actually had some nervous feelings about labor this time around. I wasnt concerned that i can remmeber with logan and carters but after carter being 9lb-8oz i am concerber about a natural.birth and a bigger baby! I remember the pain being horendous and that makes me nervous. But on the flip side i am excited to possibly "conquer" labor as far as pushing goes. After carter i figured out that my body does not habe the natural desire to push. In fact, i clench or hold things in when im in pain abdmoninally - so now that im.aware of that i look forward to mentally overcoming that and maybe more successfully delivering.

Otherwise im doing well and counting down the last  20 weeks!