Daily Report: Easing Back Into A Rhythm

Well today was much better than yesterday. They had more energy and less interruptions!! DJ and Ken still aren't feeling so well, but they are realizing it is better to stay busy than to mope around and repeatedly keep saying how sick they are.

DJ read chapters 4 and 5 of Holes. He was able to compare this book to Tall Tales, and learned how to do a Quote Analysis.

Ken finished the first Chapter in Meet Cecile a book in the American Girls Series set in Louisiana. Ken had fun getting to know more about this girl by playing a game on the computer. Ken also learned the meaning and how to pronounce some words in French; A la maison, Rene, Mademoiselle. There are tons of glossary words in the back of the book that allows the reader to really get a great introduction to this language.

They both had fun using the computers to play learning games. Ken is reviewing division, and DJ is working on multiplication. Adding a new outlet today sure did help boost them into gear,they didn't really want to do school today:(

Woodworking

Logical Adverb work.

Working with the Fraction Metal Insets

More work on the timeline

Preparing a special snack to share with her school family tomorrow. Somebody turns 11 years old on Saturday:)

Daily Report: A BIt Of This And A Bit Of That

They are really taking their Work Plans very seriously. I must admit that I am happy that they haven't abandon their "projects" I really want to see them finish, whenever that will be.
It is official that DJ knows all the names of the countries in North America. He will now work on knowing the rivers, plants,etc.

Ken spent a lot of time working with some Botany materials today. She planted carrots, radishes, and onions. Ken was really, really excited about the matching leaves to trees work that I got from Montessori Print Shop. I only put out half the work, she plans on going outside tomorrow and using the chart to find thematching leaves on the trees in the neighborhood.

Dj worked a little on his timeline.

They both worked in their Life of Fred books. It makes me so happy when I hear them smiling and discussing math problems. Ken learned how you can write a division problem three different ways. DJ worked on substracting three digit problems while borrowing.

The Plume pen has gotten much use. I am seriously thinking anout ordering it in every color of the rainbow:) It has inspired those who wouldn't write to becoming writers in a day! I am not kidding. Creative writing is what Ken is doing in the above picture.

Ken also did a notebooking page about a child in Africa. You can find the printable at Homeschool Creations.

DJ started making his own book of drawings of Backyard birds.

See what I am talking about with the pen. DJ is making a sequence chart using the circles in the Geometric Cabinet.

Ken is putting together the windmill in hopes that it will help her measure the speed of wind outside tomorrow.

Check out the labels, I think they put in a lot of work today. Happily!!

Daily Report: Work Plans

Today the kids stayed busy doing various works. They asked if they could use the Work Plans as a guide for their days again. I am thankful that we have discussions about school often. What I got out of the discussion is that they are tired of just researching. Obviously there was miscommunication going on, and they felt that they were suppose to just work on only research projects. On the other hand I was wondering if they were ever going to work on something else:)

Anyway I was able to put one together for both of them using the FREE template avaliable at Montessori For Everyone. The works that are listed are they ones DJ and Ken requested and that were avaliable on the shelf should the interest arise.

Ken worked with a drawer in the Geometric Cabinet. She discovered the Chevron shape and defined the word Geometric on her booklet that she made by tracing the shapes.

The photo above shows DJ trying to match the parts of the brain to the cards. The cards come from Montessori Print Shop.

Making a parts of the bird booklet and painting a birdhouse.

Roman Numerals work and again another booklet:)

DJ had fun digging in this rock dig kit. The loot belongs to a game that you came play after all the objects are excavated. Dj is still working on this.

Music was a choice for both of them today. DJ learned how to play the b note today as well as what a staff and a treble is. Ken worked with her Ukulele.

DJ started creating a timeline of when dinosaurs walked the earth.

Ken had a lot of fun getting some seeds started for her future plants, vegetables. She is definetly looking forward to examining some roots.

We never got lucky enough to observe a bird in our own backyard. The kids did discover that they enjoy learning about the weather and cloud watching. They have set up a mini weather station in the classroom so that they would be able to grab their supplies and run outside whenever nature calls them.

To see other children inspired by the Montessori Method please visit http://www.livingmontessorinow.com for Montessori Monday.