Happy Father's Day! Last Minute Gift Ideas

The kids on Friday spent their day making various gifts for their Grandfather, Great Grandfather and Father. You won't see any gifts that they made for their father because they have sent it to him and just in case he reads this post they want it to be a surprise.

                           

Ken hand sewed a wallet for Gramps, using the style of how I make wallets for three part cards. 

 Wood burning done by DJ.

                  Block painting.

Using Legos, superglue, and watercolors DJ created a canvas art.

 Michelle used a manikin and made a superhero and then wrote "My Superhero".                        

                                                                              

Using fabric,felt letters,and glue Ken made a banner.

These are all of their ideas and I had fun watching their work unfold.

Happy Father's Day!

Our Weekly Wrap Up: Summer Learning Week 1

I have officially nominated this week's learning Review Week (especially with the Montessori math materials), probably next week's learning will look the same.

                                                                           

In Math Ken needed me to give her another introduction presentation with the Checkerboard. I am glad that it was her that said "if you don't use it, you may lose it", it let's me know that some things that I say they are listening to. LOL. In her defense the materials were not accessible to them for about a month. Never again will I put them away, to make my life easier for the moment. On one hand I am glad that we are not slaves so to speak to the materials, but if you need them and have them you should be using them:)

DJ and I spent a lot of time with the Large Bead Frame I think he remembers now(fingers crossed). He asked if I could show him something new with the Stamp Game, luckily I had some equations using the distributive property. He absolutely loves this work, and I was pleased because in reality I was flying by the seat of my pants this week.  Our Summer goal for math is to focus on Geometry and Operations.            

                                                                             

We have been reading a lot! DJ is just about done reading the Jungle Book and Ken and I are still reading Grimm's Fairy Tales. We have replaced Montessori Grammar materials for now with our new Latin Program that we were able to review, you can learn more about this curriculum tomorrow when I share our review. The work above is Michelle doing some Latin work of her own.

                                                                               

In our cultural subjects they have been learning more about how to forecast the weather.
                                                                       

DJ did this canvas painting of the Parts of the Frog. The art supplies have been used a lot! I appreciate their use and didn't realize how much they enjoyed Art until now. There was no down time, just only when we made trips to the park if  you can consider that as down time.

                                                                       

Ken spent quite a bit of time using fashion plates to create some fashion designs for her her latest project.

                                                                               

DJ tried wood burning for the first time now he is hooked!
                                                                           

                  Microscope work.

                                                                           

                  Lego building.

                                                                           

                         

They left United States History and went back to Africa. DJ did the King Tut tracing, and Ken did the Animals of Africa work.

They have done a ton of research finding names of host plants to butterflies. Which reminds me that I need to  print the parts of the caterpillar that Ken requested. 

All of the kiddos have done a tremendous job introducing new children to the environment and setting great examples, plus helping me out with chores at the Studio and at home. In the Summer we don't do "school" on Friday and this helps me to keep organized, do a bit of planning. For the kids they feel like they are free to explore. I wonder what they are going to do tomorrow.

I would like everyone to know that I appreciate all the supportive comments you have left here, on the other blog, and on Facebook. Well I am on my way to read some blogs that I have missed. I am down to just three more must do tasks and then let the summer begin! 

Well enough about us! How has your Summer been? Any vacations planned? Please share with me in the comments.

I am linking this post to What's New hosted by Vibrant Wanderings.             
                                     

                                                                                                            

                                                                         

Just My Opinion On Technology In the Classroom

I received a couple of emails asking for my humble opinion on using technology in the classroom.

                                                                               

First, I strongly believe that children should not use a computer until they know how to READ, again this is just my opinion. I know there are a lot of "learn to read" computer programs out there I don't know if they work or not because I have never used them before, but I have taught  a lot of children how to read without using the computer. I like computer devices to be available in the classroom for research work, and learning computer related skills like power point presentations,learning about digital photography,computer programming, etc. These are skills that I feel are necessary to know in living in a technology based world. I promote real life learning where a child must use all of the five senses to learn and being on any computer device all day prevents this from happening. With that being said anything that is overused turns out to be a bad evil, limiting what they use the technology for in our classroom prevents the technology from being this evil. Again this is just my humble opinion.

P.S.

As a parent it ticks me off when I see my kids on the computer when it is a beautiful weather day outside when "school" time is over. Being 40 I appreciate play time, computers hadn't taken over outside play time when I was growing up.

We Did It!

We had the Grand Opening of the Studio on Saturday and had major fun! Now it's all about routine! It has been over ten years since I had to actually leave for work. It hasn't been all that bad considering the Studio's location is less than five minutes from home, still in the neighborhood. 

                   

 After working in the basement for so long, I bet you can imagine my new interest in windows. LOL. We are able to actually observe birds effortlessly.

The kids have also been interested in knowing more about the weather, thanks to to the weather stick that was purchased from Imagine Childhood.

You can expect to hear more from us now that things have settled down. I have an awesome review coming your way, and something to share that has helped DJ master those multiplications in such a fun way. If you are interested in seeing our new learning space click here.

From Shelves to Workbench

If you are wondering why I haven't shared any photos of the girls recently it is because they have been going through I don't want any pictures taking while I am lifting, moving shelves, and putting things together mood. Which is understandable. So as soon as things settle done in that department I will be given permission to snap away again.

One of my first post on this blog was when I was assessing/observing DJ while putting together his first bookshelf if you missed it you can go here. Well yesterday he accomplished a great task that has made him to promote himself to the Maintenance Man.

                                                                           

It took him a week to put it together and he is so proud.

When Report Cards Really Don't Matter! Part 1

It is that time of the year when I take a few days to reflect on the kids' school work. I love doing this it is so motivational for me, especially when I browse through all of the photos that I have taken while they were in action. I know for some homeschoolers, and those who attend traditional schools that the school year is coming to an end. Not for us! We march on and continue to become life long learners. I tend to think of our schooling in a calendar year from June- June. In June we get inspired by the beauty of the season and I like to take full advantage of all of their energy, and as the seasons unfold we wind down, and this year I found out that March is a good time for a break, at least for me:)  The kids ask me every now and then what grade work they are doing in various subjects. It is often a difficult question for me to answer, because truthfully they are all over the place in subject areas. Sometimes to make things simple I will give them an answer according to the last grade they completed when they attended school. When I know that I am offering them a challenging work I may say after they completed the activity something like that was just eighth grade work, way to go. The bottom line is when I am able to observe them and properly guide them by offering the right materials at the right time they are successful! 

One way that I am able to stay on top of their academics is by this blog. Using the following pictures in regards to DJ's Zoology/Biology studies for our calendar year I will attempt to share why report cards really wouldn't work for us. 

March of 2012 DJ got the spring bug and became very interested in learning about frogs. I unnecessarily had a personal agenda with his interest and put together a work that can be found at Montessori Print Shop. It was a language work that was incorporating his interest. It was too easy for him and it was an activity that was completed in less than 5 minutes and DJ never returned to this work again. If I was to put a grade on this work DJ would of gotten an A for knowing how to do something he already knew how to do, and I would of gotten an E for meddling and for not offering materials that would enhance his learning.

I learned something that was very powerful and it was best that I learned it from DJ. What he wanted was to observe and get close with frogs. He wanted to go to the Nature Center and visit the pond. I put in much work juggling my schedule and observing DJ that luckily that E that I earned didn't hurt my spirits, which would of hindered DJ's self guided studies. 

Instead of printing and laminating more materials that interfered with the learning process, we went to the local pet shop and brought a frog that was six dollars that gave him the opportunity to learn observation skills.

This time he asked me if I had anything that he could record his observations on. This printable came from the same frog study packet from Montessori Print Shop, it was perfect and right on for his skill level at the time. 

I eventually gave him the printable packet and he chose what he wanted to complete. One of my weaknesses is wanting the kids to know what other kids know that attend traditional schools. Shame on me! Isn't that one of the reasons that I homeschool, so I can guide them at their own pace? Yes!  The first work that is pictured was offered to him, because I stayed up late one night looking at state standards and became worried that he wasn't doing enough language activities.  Looking at the photo reminds me of how neat his work is when he is able to follow his interest in a way that increases his knowledge. The above activity definitely incorporates language skills and a couple of other skills as well. I am so happy that in March I didn't give him a report card with an A under language skills, he may have interpreted it as why do I need to write I just got an A. 

From studying the frog he became interested in learning the parts of the fish

                            
 DJ really does enjoy using the nomenclature cards, and it especially goes over well when he has a real fish to study.                  

                                                       Dissecting a goldfish!

Here it goes again my personal agenda, learning the parts of the animal cell.

What grade should I give this? The work was done neatly and without hesistation, but  DJ really doesn't know this stuff. This was done sometime last year, not sure when. Somebody said that in Michigan all fourth graders should meet the state standards and know the parts of the animal and plant cells. Well they don't know my DJ and I am not giving him an E for not knowing it either, he'll get it, when he is ready! After all he wants to be a Vet when he grows up:)

                                                                                            

            

Besides DJ sets high expectations for himself. He is so into the Backyard Safari kits that you would think that he is turning his field work into a professor. He is honest and never rewards himself the badge until all of the requirements are fulfilled. 

I found another great work from Montessori Print Shop that was right on time! See I am learning too, which makes homeschooling so much fun then following a set plan. I learned to be more observant and stop comparing them. Yes, as a mother of three I sometimes compared them to each other. Not out loud to them, but to myself. I am so glad that I am finally over this! It has freed my mind, and given them the respect that they deserve.                      

                                                                             

 The work above that I introduced DJ to inspired him to make work of his own.                            

Oh! and he plays games that go along with his zoology studies even when "school" is over. 

He role plays often. I particularly like this photo of him actually reading a college level book about animal health.

In the Fall our school time was just perfect and once again DJ was able to dig deeper in his studies of animals while doing work with our Timeline of Life. 

By December he was a proud owner of a Ball Python and other reptiles. He continues to give them daily attention and makes sure their physicals are up to date. Can you understand how difficult it is for me to give a grade, especially since none of this is considered school to DJ anyway? DJ zoology/biology studies continue to get deeper, especially since we are now in the end of May pop over here to see his latest biology work.