Thursday, September 16, 2010

WEEK IN REVIEW

We have managed to get through our second week of school!! School this year is looking MUCH different than it did last year. Last year I was concentrating on 9th grade and 4th grade - this year, it's 5th grade and kindergarten. Quite a change. We have transitioned into our routines now and it is going better and better every day. This week in Bible, one of our scriptures was "The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of the Lord stands forever". We decided to see that in action. The girls picked flowers and grass out of our yard and we taped them onto our papers.
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A few days later, the flowers and grasses were most definitely withered.
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We enjoyed an art project using leaves and pastels. We learned about lines.
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We began our Geography studies this week - we love these Geopuzzles to supplement what we study in Geography and History. Each puzzle piece is shaped like the nation or state it represents. This week we focused on Europe. We love listening to Geography Songs while we do these puzzles. The girls enjoyed working in their workbooks learning about how maps work. For Banana - learning about longitude, lattitude, the hemispheres, equators, and such. Boo learned about how maps work, maps of bedrooms, and maps of towns. She is a map-lovin fool!!
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This weather has been beautiful here - our windows have been open day and night for weeks now. Banana decided to do her math outside one day, and suddenly spotted a bald eagle soaring overhead!!
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Of course, math was set aside for a while so that we could do some nature observation. Banana was just about beside herself with watching this incredible bird. We have seen a bald eagle in our neighborhood before - but we only spot him once every few years.
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(I did not take this picture - but this is exactly what it looked like through the binoculars). The girls enjoyed sketching the eagle after their observations.
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The same day Banana spotted the eagle, she also discovered this little baby bunny living under the steps of our front door. She has enjoyed leaving carrots out for him - we wonder how many are under there. I think we have filled our quota on "nature observation" this week! :)
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The boys have enjoyed hanging out in the school room with us lately...
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and enjoyed their bones too!!
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Bailey gets completely worn out after listening to so many school lessons... :)
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Our fall schedule is back in full swing. I try to fiercely guard our family time, and not be too busy running everyone in different directions, but once our fall schedule picks up - it's gets so difficult! We are committed to having dinner together every night as a family, sitting down at the dinner table, and it has been wonderful to really connect each evening. The younger girls are getting much better about self-control and manners, not interrupting each other, and waiting to be excused. Punkin is busy on Mondays and Wednesdays with choir after school, Tuesdays Banana has girls chorus at church, Thursdays are really tricky - we school in the morning and the girls have homeschool co-op from 12:45 to 4:00. I have been using this time to schedule my newborn photography sessions. Then Boo is off to ballet - Thursday's are a little crazy - but we are all back home in time for dinner together. Fridays are horseback riding after school for them all at the barn, with Saturdays full of Boo's soccer and Punkin volunteering at the therapeutic riding stables. We are staying busy, but I think it's not too much at this point. So far, our transition has been a smooth one - our girls really thrive on order, structure and routine - so getting back to that has been a good thing!
I'm linking up over at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers!! (love that name)



15 comments:

Karen said...

So fun to hear about your routine and week! Sounds like it's going really well - I love the laptop in the ol' red wagon! Tell H that bald eagles are some of my favorites, and we see them here quite often. They always steal my attention because they are so majestic and beautiful!

Nana said...

I have been waiting to see a picture of the baby bunny. He looks just like the one I had for awhile. You will be surprised how fast they grow. They are so cute. And the eagle. What a majestic bird. Love them. Glad school is going well. It is funny to see how differently girls do things than boys. The flowers and pretty art work. We are more into trucks, cars, bulldozers. For nature we love to see the birds and look for certain bugs and turtles and stuff. It is all fun though. We still see our bunny around every now and then. He hangs out pretty close to the house. These will probably stay close by if the dogs don't scare them away.

Alice said...

sounds like a fun week and your nature studies are just what kali and i love - hands on and in the moment :)

Cindy said...

Visiting from weekly wrap-up. LOVE, love your photographs!!!!

-Cindy @ http://love2learn2day.blogspot.com/

Carrie said...

Wow, Heather! Looks like you get an A+ in nature study this week!! I'm jealous that your weather is already changing ... we're still sweating in TX!! ;)

Love the flowers with the Bible verse ... what a great idea! Have a blessed weekend!!

Ritsumei said...

That looks like a fun week. I just love the pictures you've shared, particularly Banana in the wagon with the binoculars.

Ritsumei

Caseybumpinalong said...

Wow! Great pictures!! Looks like a fun week!

Mary Prather said...

I just found your blog - it is beautiful, and I love your pictures - especially your children's Bible copywork with their artwork. I may have to steal that idea. :-) I look forward to following you. Blessings!

Mary Prather said...

I just found your blog - it is beautiful, and I love your pictures - especially your children's Bible copywork with their artwork. I may have to steal that idea. :-) I look forward to following you. Blessings!

Unknown said...

We saw bald eagles twice this year! One time there were five flying overhead and I was able to get pictures. The second time I saw it out of the 2nd story window and we ran outside and got to see it before it flew off. They are AMAZING!

That bunny is just the sweetest little thing! We have bunnies around us too and we just love them when they come out every evening and hop around!

I have a 5th grader too and she just loves animals!

Sherry

Theresa said...

I look forward to my Saturday morning cup of coffee and reading your page.
What a great week with the kiddos..you are an awesome mom, teacher,wife and of course...friend. I can sit here for hours and look at all your pictures...and speaking of pictures...you need to get these children into some kind of upscale art school..if the can draw a bald eagle like that in K and 5th grade..they should be using these talents elsewhere..not for art class in school...lol

Autismland Penny said...

What a great week! I love the bunny and we have bald eagle nests all along a back road here that we love to observe. Fun!

My son takes therapeutic horseback riding so it was such a pleasure to read that your Punkin volunteers at one. I look forward to reading more of your blog!

Sharla said...

What a great thing for your daughters to have been able to experience the beauty of an eagle and a cute bunny while doing their "schoolwork"! Homeschooling offers opportunities that just wouldn't be possible in a classroom.

Love the fall drawings!

Jennie said...

I love seeing the projects ya'll do, they look so fun. Must be nice to have the great weather to enjoy nature.

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