Learning with her Baby

I just love watching Megan when she plays. First thing this morning, she was playing with her dollies.  She was talking to them and putting pretend lotions on them.  She was playing on her own, not having to be entertained by other children or the television.  Her imagination could grow without a school or a scope and sequence.

Other than reading to Megan, we haven't done much for preschool.  I don't want to yet.  She has games and toys and she plays.  That is how children learn and discover at this age.  They play and explore.  We go outside and play in the yard and at the park.  We look at bugs and she "helps" in the garden.  She swims in the kiddie pool with her ten year old sister.

I want my kid to be a kid.  I don't want her pushed into learning, only to have the joy of learning sucked out of her.  She is going to learn.  Learning is what kids do!!

VBS Love

Every day Megan cries... when she has to leave VBS.  She wants to stay, which is an awesome thing.  Oh, having her cry isn't awesome.  But the fact that she loves Vacation Bible School so much that she wants to stay for more is wonderful.

Jasmine snapped a picture today of Megan and me when I arrived to pick them up.  Megan was unhappy already cause she knew that, if Mommy had arrived, it was nearly time to leave.

The leaders and helpers work so hard to get the children in our community excited about Jesus.  One week a year is not enough.  They know this, but they do what they can with the time they have.  Oh, there are kids classes and things weekly, but so many un--churched children will never go to something like that.  They will go to VBS with friends and because it is so fun.  Parents that don't attend church even seem to like sending their children to VBS but wouldn't consider sending their children to a weekly program.

Tomorrow is the last day of the local VBS.   Laura is insisting she wants to go to a different one too.  I might just sign her up and let her go, even if it means driving to a different town.  The fact that she is hungry for a little more of Jesus is a blessing to me.

Megan is in Rainbows

Now that she is three, Megan is officially in Rainbows, the preschool part of the Mpact Girls/Rangers programs.  The program is a combined boys and girls program for three to five year olds that haven't begun kindergarten. 

We don't have her an official t-shirt yet.  She has already earned two badges.  I give credit to my friend Pam that recently took over the younger children.  She has her hands full with the younger kids.  They don't rest much.

Megan is learning about God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit every week as she works to earn badges.  She memorized simple verses, hears Bible stories, plays games, and eats snacks.  Each badge in Rainbows corresponds with an animal.  For instance, she could be working on her Bear badge.

Megan loves going every Wednesday evening.  I am glad that she is able to be a part of such a great program.

Library Tuesdays

Tuesdays are library days.  While I don't often get to see the older kids, I am with Megan during Story Hour.  Today they read Dr. Suess.  Then they danced, which Megan really enjoyed.  After that they made frog puppets.  Megan is very independent with her art work.  She doesn't want help, even if Jasmine and Mommy did sneak in and give her a hand.  At the very end is a small snack.  So far, she loves going.  In fact, today, she didn't want to leave.

Here's where Jasmine lended a hand.  Gluing is a new skill for Megan.

Playing with Dishes

A preschool website I visited suggested one activity to let your child do is to "wash dishes".  I put some lukewarm water and soap in the sink with three plastic bowls.  Megan spent thirty minutes playing with the dishes in the water.  She had a blast!

I realized that this is an educational activity, not just early chore training.  Gross motor skills are being utilized.  Plus, for a preschooler, it's just plain fun to play in the water.

Needless to say, I had to rinse these dishes well, but they were very clean.

Story Hour

Today was Megan's second story hour at the library.  She had a good time.  She still had some trouble sitting in one spot for the story.  I guess I never realized that, when I read to her, she is on my lap and can't really roam.  During story time, I just held her today to keep her in one place.

She did do very well with the activity time.  She liked the dancing.  She giggled through the silly songs.

Megan's favorite, however, was craft time.  Today they painted clown fish after a story about a clown fish.  Of course, Megan called the clown fish Nemo.

She started out with stripes the way a clown fish looks.

It didn't last.  She ended up painting the entire fish in a mix of orange and white.  She loved painting a lot!

I'll probably stick with her for story time.  She is still pretty young.  I'm hoping that next year, since she'll be older, she'll be more apt to listen to directions and sit still when she needs to.

Time for a Story

Story time is always so precious.  I'm trying to get everybody into the act of reading to Megan.  Tonight I got her sister Jasmine to read to her.

The First Library Program of the Summer

We attended our first program at the library for the summer.  All I can say is that I am glad I had help from my step-daughter for my youngest.  Megan didn't do well.  This was all very new to her.  She kept changing seats.  All the other children were older than her.  She didn't understand what was going on most of the time.  In the end, she had fun, but I think I'm going to have to be beside her at these things for awhile.  She's not old enough to truly understand the group activities.

Luckily, from here on out, the story hour is separate from the older kids. I'll be able to help more. Only the big kick-off was combined, leaving me running from upstairs to downstairs to help in both places.   Eventually, in confusion, Megan just wanted to be held by her big sis.  Sorry to say that the kick off was run by a couple parents that weren't overly concerned about the scared, new girl.  The librarians will run the program from now on. This is too much pressure to put on a girl barely three years old, surrounded by kids a year or two older.

Downstairs, Laura didn't have many problems.  If anything, she was bored because nearly all the kids were younger than her.  She did her crafts without much help.  Laura is at the age where she isn't a little kid but she isn't a middle schooler yet.  She's ten, and that is a tough age.  Her friends couldn't go that day, so Laura was left feeling a bit out of place.

She was proud of her projects, however.  She did a nice job.  Of course, this wasn't overly challenging since it was something kids from Kindergarten through fifth grade could accomplish.

I am praying that the rest of the summer program goes smoothly.  Sadly, in this area, there aren't many homeschool activities for kids.  That means Laura is left feeling left out often because so many of the kids are public schooled.  I may have to research some support groups, even if I have to drive a little ways, just to find some kids with homeschooling in common with my daughter.

Just a Little Math and Reading

Summer vacation has officially begun.  I gave Laura a week off with no school work at all while I prepared for Kim's graduation.  This week is a different story.  I am not pushing her too hard though.  She is to work on math for a half hour and then read at least a chapter of a book per day.   I don't think that is overwhelming.

There was a study yesterday on the radio that stated that over summer vacation students can lose up to 60% of what they learned the previous year.  I learned that from experience this past fall with Laura.  It felt like starting over.  She'd lost a lot of what we studied in third grade in just the short time of summer before fourth grade started.

I bought a Developmental Mathematics workbook from Christian Book.  I was looking for something that would take Laura step by step though concepts.  This program was recommended in a review.  It's affordable.  We'll use it over the summer and see if it helps Laura or not.  At the very least it will help her to keep her skills stable and maybe building.  The last thing I want is for fall to come around and Laura to have lost 60%  of the math skills she's worked so hard to gain.

We've only done the workbook for a day.  I started a little easy with Laura, so she finished ten pages in the thirty minutes she worked.  However, it gets more challenging further into the book.

Today begins the summer library program.  We'll begin reading today with whatever book Laura picks out for Accelerated Reader.  My step daughter comes to stay with us for the summer in a couple weeks.  We're going to read some of the Chronicles of Narnia when she gets here.  We are going to read it as a family... at least with the younger kids.  It's the first time that we've ever done something like that.  My husband has read bible stories to the kids periodically, but we've never used fiction.  I am excited.  I've wanted to do something like this for awhile, but don't have my step-daughter here enough throughout the school year to get much accomplished.

Megan gets to start the library program too. She will go to her first story time today.  I am going with her.  I love things like this.  Any activity that might help instill a love of reading is something I am glad to have my girls participate.

A Quick Review of our School Year

A homeschooling mother's job is  never done.  I have learned this.  We have finished up the school year and I am planning and buying supplies for next year.  I wanted to recap the year.

For Laura, my fourth grader, we started out the year trying the Charlotte Mason approach.  We stuck with it for half the year, using Heart of Dakota.  I liked the program, but for Laura, it wasn't working.  I think it was just too different from what she was used to.  She just didn't like the approach.  We switched to ACE after Christmas break.  She liked that much better.  She did nearly a year of work from January until mid-May.  For math, she actually did a lot more than a year's worth.  I worried that it was too easy for her, but we supplemented with lots of reading.

Laura read or had read to over 70 books this year.  Her favorite read aloud was George Mueller.  She couldn't pick a favorite book.  She loved Little Women and the Dear America book.  I laugh cause I know how tough it can be to pick a favorite.  Laura covered a lot of material this year.  Next year, as we prepare for the Middle School years, things may be a bit tougher.  I'm not overly worried, however.  I think Laura can handle the challenge.

We would stick with ACE next year, just because it worked for Laura, except that cost is a factor.  For the price, I just can't see using a consumable product for EVERY subject.  I want to be able to use products with my younger daughter.  I don't mind consumable workbooks or worktexts here or there, but not for every single subject.  Some books, like readers and certain texts, can be used over and over.   Next year I am looking into a bit of a traditional program that contains more books instead of workbooks.

Tasha worked through two years of English in one year, on top of her other subjects.  She finished it all with flying colors.  I was very nervous to bring home a high schooler to homeschool.  Yet, she has done amazing.  She says she has learned a lot more than she would have in public school.  That says a lot for my girl that has spent the majority of her school time on honor roll.  I was quite angry at first at the bad teacher that caused so many problems for my daughter that I felt I had to pull her from school.  Now, I think it is a God thing.  She has excelled in homeschooling.  She has started to like reading again.  She is not nearly as shy as she used to be.  She is happier and more sure of herself.  She is also closer to God.  Her favorite subject this year was her Bible class.

Next year we are debating between staying with ACE or switching to Alpha Omega.  The teacher that runs the Christian school that we are going through for Tasha's homeschooling is setting it up to do both.  We may end up with a hodge-podge of stuff.  I feel that Tasha will excel with either choice.   She is very independent in her studies.  I don't think she scored less than a 92% on any test.

  We didn't do much with Megan this last year.  At two, I saw no point.  This year I looking into doing a bit more.  We read to Megan, but I think that will increase.  I think we may begin some other activities as well.  I had debated sending her to preschool for a year or two, but I don't think I will this year.  If I feel the urge to do so when she is 4, I'll cross that bridge then.  Right now, I think she'll do much better at home.  She is a bright girl.  She's already wanting to 'do school' like her sisters.  I think we'll just put together some easy, fun activities and do LOTS of reading.  Megan is still young.  I don't want to pressure her.  Right now I am just happy when she goes a day without a potty training accident.

Officially, Laura is now a fifth grader.  Megan has gone from toddler to preschooler.  Tasha is now a senior in high school.  Kim, my oldest, graduates in days.  Jasmine, my only public schooled child left, will be a seventh grader.  It seems that my girls are growing up fast.  I am glad that I get to spend the time with my homeschoolers that I would miss if they were in public school.

This summer my husband and I are planning some outings for our family.  We want to be able to get away here and there.  We are planning some day trips to various places.  Finances are tight, but there are a few free things that we can enjoy together.

Megan's First Zoo Trip

We went to a small zoo today about an hour away.  It was Megan's first trip to the zoo.  It was quite hot outside, but we still had a great time.

We met my sister, her husband, and son there.  We had a picnic lunch and then walked through the zoo.  I took a LOT of pictures.  I wanted to share some of them.  Laura said her favorite part was seeing the eagles.

Our picnic was in a very pretty gazebo.

The butterfly garden was beautiful!

Megan and Laura

Tasha

Okay, we are officially on summer break.  However, as homeschoolers we can take field trips any time we desire. 

Mommy's Little Helper

Megan is at that wonderful age where she wants to help.  The other day when I was vacuuming the rug in the living room, Megan went and found her play vacuum.  She 'helped'.  Okay, Okay, she was in the way more than she helped.  I didn't have the heart to make her move.  I just vacuumed around her.

The Bug

Megan is noticing everything.  She found a bug the other day.  It is one that rolls up in a ball when she feels threatened.  Tasha was showing this to Megan when I grabbed the camera.

Like the earthworms, Megan is interested until it moves in her hand.  Then, she tosses it to the ground.  Right now, it just isn't her thing to have something crawling on her.

The Princess Phase

All my girls have gone through it.  Some of them have never really outgrown it entirely.  Others, the phase lasted merely days.

For Megan, I think the phase is not going to be a short one.  I'm talking about The Princess Phase.  It's the phase my girls go through where all they want to wear are frilly, girly dresses.  They realize they are girls.  They realize they like spinning in the dresses.  The like feeling like a princess.  Megan LOVES wearing dresses.  She would wear one every single day if I would let her.

For her birthday, many people bought lots of dresses for Megan to wear this summer.  Then, I found a bunch of Laura's old dresses with the clothes storage.  Megan is well stocked.  She could wear a dress every day for over two weeks and not have to repeat. 

I am trying to just enjoy the phase.  Right now, being Spring, it isn't always warm enough to play outside in a dress.  I let her wear one as often as is convenient because I know this phase won't last forever.  Next might be the tomboy stage, where dresses will be a thing of the past.  Who knows?  For now, Megan is a princess.

Foto Friday

Megan got a new toy.  For a dollar at a yard sale, Megan got this wonderful artist chalkboard.  She loves it. 

Pretty Plastic Dishes

How much can a toddler learn from a set of play dishes and water?  Apparently a lot.  Megan received these dishes as a birthday present.  She loves them.  A few times we have let her use water.  What A Mess!  However, she has a very good time.  A change of clothes and clean towels on her table are usually in order after she finishes playing.  Hopefully it will be warm enough soon to take the water play outside.

Foto Friday

My favorite photo this past week was this one of Megan in the yard with a stray kitten.  We've been feeding the poor little thing, and now he thinks he belongs here.  Megan loves him.  He chases her through the yard, and she chases him right back.  I would keep him if we didn't already have two other cats.

The Worm

I was outside working in my garden when I found a worm.  I put the little thing in Megan's palm.  She looked at it curiously for a few moments then threw it in the grass.  The rest of the time outside, when I would tell Megan I found another worm, she would tell me, "I don't like worms!"  Guess they aren't her thing.

Learning Through Play

Is there any better way for a toddler to learn than through play?  Not according to Megan.

She had such a good time outside in the sunshine with her kitchen set that still needs some cleaning from winter.

Greeting a Guinea Pig

 

Megan met this furry female at church.  She was being given away, and my kids begged me for a bit to get her and her sister.  I said no.  I did let Megan pet the guinea pig.  She wanted to hold her too, but she isn't very gentle yet.