Constants that Matter

We were low key in homeschooling today. We've had a lot of fun with all the hands-on activities over the past two weeks, but I'm afraid that burn-out might set in if I don't slow it down just a tad from time to time. So we focused on math, reading, and Bible study. 

For our first year of homeschooling, I chose to use Weaver from Alpha Omega Publications. It's a unit study using the Bible as a foundation for each day's lessons. Social studies, science, and language arts are woven into our daily Bible story. It's the main reason I chose this curriculum- I like the idea of a hands on unit study focused on God's Word. Even though there aren't textbooks with Weaver, we still use lots of books for our studies. I either buy online or borrow from the library. We read science and social studies' material as a family in the morning after Bible time, and then the girls are given reading assignments to complete on their own. Just two weeks into this material, and I can already tell this style is working for us. I'm figuring out that Madeline learns best by reading, and Brooke and Isaac are both kinesthetic learners.  With this type of unit study, I can tie in each of my children's learning styles- and because each subject intertwines, retention will likely be much higher. It may seem like we hop around topics compared to traditional methods, but by the end of the year they will have covered many topics in depth, while remembering the vast majority of material.

Even though today was relaxed and schedule free, I was feeling guilty. I worried about the fact we hadn't covered any social studies or science. Instead it was a laid back day with kids spread around the house reading books. We read our Bible story and casually talked about it, without any visual demonstration. We were snuggled together and bonding, but my fear crept up that it wasn't enough, that the day should have been more driven. Tonight I went to a monthly meeting for homeschool moms,  and heard messages that really spoke to me. One of the ladies spoke to the fear of "is it ever enough? Am I keeping up with everyone else?" While the world is constantly changing with gobs of new information, she recommended we find the constants and focus on them. Constants like God's Word, math, and reading. The other subjects will follow, but those three constants are the most important. I had to laugh inside because those were the exact same subjects that we covered today while I had been so hard on myself. I love how God gives me the exact message I need in perfect timing.

I start each day with the same prayer, aloud so my children hear it too- that God will guide my heart and my words. That He will teach through me what He wants my children to hear. Not my agenda, but His. Because if they leave the nest full of history and geography and science, but aren't equipped to make wise decisions, then I've failed them. I can only teach well if God's grace is living and moving in me. I'm the person who my children see the most, and who models Christ for them on a daily basis. I want them to feel and see my intense passion and love for Jesus, and to see that He is a God worth living for. If we spend a day reading our Bible together cuddled up on the couch and not open a single science book, it's ok. I'm teaching them something that won't ever be destroyed. We're back to a regular schedule tomorrow (that includes science!), but I'm glad I listened to God's voice this morning telling me to slow down and recharge.

Because this?

This is what matters, what moth and rust won't ever destroy.

By His grace alone.

City On A Hill- Day 8 (Vol 1, Unit 1, Chapter 1 Weaver)

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:14

Today we had class on our hill behind the house.

A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

 We bounced around ideas on how to let our lights shine for Jesus in everyday life, even when we're afraid. We should never be ashamed of our Savior. I reminded them what happens to a candle when the light is covered.

Our earth science lesson reviewed plains, valleys, mountains, and hills. 

Inside the house I used clay to show how mountains are formed. (The book pictured below is The Geology Book by John D. Morris.)

Folded mountain.

Domed mountain.

Fault block mountain.

They each made their own.

We further tied in Matthew 5:14 with an electricity demonstration. Over the weekend we covered power plants, and today we learned about conductors, insulators, amps, and circuits. Last night Bill prepared a circuit for the kids. Today they gathered a few items around the house to test whether they were conductors or insulators.

 Recording her method and hypothesis in her science journal.

  

Pretesting.

Closed circuit- exciting!

The cars fooled them. They thought they were metal, not plastic.

Results.

We planned to make clay lamps that Jesus would have used growing up, but we ran out of time. We spent the afternoon gathering more books in the library. The girls read biographies on Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Edison, and their contributions to modern electricity. I read Isaac and Lydia What Do People Do All Day by Richard Scarry to go along with this unit's city theme.

Loving our new routine.

Party in a Box

Last week we celebrated this little girl's birthday! It was a simple backyard party with family and friends. I called it "party in a box". We had school in the morning, then Madeline and I left at noon to shop at the party store. We bought balloons, decorations, and food in under two hours. Then we came home, cleaned the house, and had a party. I did miss baking and decorating her cake, but it was the first week of school and I just had to forego it this year. You can probably guess the theme Madeline chose. She never gets tired of her Hello Kitty. To think I teared up three years ago thinking she'd age out of her at any moment. At this point it's possible that they'll be besties at college.

Lydia wanted to decorate her own allergy free cupcakes.

 For every ten berries she ate, she placed one on a cupcake.

Brooke was our official face painter!

Brooke's paint sampler.

I liked this party in a box concept. So low stress. Handmade what?

Grandmas!

 Wrestling cousins.

Sweaty buddies. 

Lydia and her Gwen.

 The boys snuck inside to play chess. No, really. They did.

Our baby girl! Happy birthday, our love.

Labor Day Fun- Days 6 &7 (Vol 1, Unit 1, Chapter 1 Weaver)

Labor Day weekend was a time for catch up and review, but (hopefully) disguised as play. I've been describing myself as a brand new mother with this homeschooling gig. I want to do everything right- as in "don't let the baby fall asleep anywhere but the crib" kind of thing. In homeschooling, I'm still obsessing over the crib so to speak. I don't want any chance of getting behind; cutting out activities sounds, well, like neglecting my newborn baby. Logically I know that I'll eventually work through this thinking, but it'll take some time and experience.

We spent Saturday at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. We started in the geology section.

The kids had one worksheet to complete inside the museum. They were to find a rock, draw it, and use a list of descriptive words to write about their findings. 

We then walked through the dinosaur exhibit. I had given each child a clipboard with paper in case they wanted to draw anything interesting or write down any questions to look up later. Brooke chose to draw this little cutie.

Lydia recording her findings.

She wanted to climb the wall and touch that dinosaur.

This week's material acquaints the child to their own city. We spent last week learning about ancient Mesopotamia, and this week they will learn that their city has its own past. On Monday, we walked along Main Street of our small town and looked at the original buildings from our city's earliest beginnings. Last month I bought a book with historic photos and facts. Here we stood in front of the city's bank built in 1909. The original photos pictured dirt roads and horses.

Standing in front of what was once the high school, built in 1909.

We're also learning about electricity this week, so after reading Where Does Electricity Come From? by Susan Mayes, we drove to the gates of our local power plant to see how coal keeps our lights on. 

That's a lot of coal!

We've been covering map skills since day one of last week. I wish I'd taken of picture of Bill teaching more map skills last night. He used a road map to show where distant relatives live, and had the kids show him a driving route, and determine the distance from our house to theirs. 

This morning we were back to a regular schedule, combining days 6 and 7 of Weaver's Chapter 1 Day by Day plan. Our Bible story covered Noah's Flood. We then switched topics and discussed electricity in more detail. Tomorrow we'll make a homemade circuit, and read biographies of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Edison. The girls have been writing daily in their creative writing journals- they are such good story tellers. Math is going well- I absolutely love our Singapore Math curriculum. Madeline is speeding through her workbook, and will already be moving on to the next book next week. I'm guessing she'll slow down as it gets progressively harder. Brooke is moving along at a more steady pace- math isn't her favorite, but she's learning without frustration. Isaac is moving along in his math workbook and activity book as well. He's gaining confidence in his reading lessons. We used this method to teach Brooke and Madeline and had great success. It's helping Isaac with his speech as well. He hasn't qualified for speech therapy in over a year, but still struggles with several sounds. I love that Weaver also incorporates speech therapy with Kindergarten Wisdom Words. 

Brooke started flute lessons last week and is loving it already. Isaac is still active in karate, and earned his first new belt a couple weeks ago. Ballet starts up next week for Brooke and Madeline. I'd like to find an art class soon for all four of them. Slow and steady has been my motto the past couple days. It's not been free of occasional frustration and stress, but really- what in life is? So thankful we are doing this!