Impromptu Science

I was very happy this morning when the kids eagerly chose to read/browse their new library books.

 Taven wanted Eaden to be his "teacher" and when I tried to help he told me "no! You are not my teacher!" Okay. Fine. Eaden is quite capable anyway.

 We had not planned on doing any science today, but as homeschool here often goes, the kids found a dead gecko outside and investigations ensued.

 Boys looking for snails.

 Eaden outside reading her Geronimo Stilton comic book. Susan Wise Bauer (classical homeschooling guru who I very much respect) warns against letting kids read comic books. However, I am pretty sure that Eaden will live, and learn, and thrive, despite them.

 Inside learning about lizards (geckos to be specific).

Library Rules

We have not been able to go to the library lately because our fines have exceeded the limit. I had $55 on my card and $35 on Eaden's card. Since fines do not simply disappear, I finally brought myself to pay $40 on my card.

Our problem is that we always have the max amount of books out on my card (75) and more out on Eaden's card. Then, when 75 items are even one day late, it adds up. Plus, if you have a certain amount overdue, none can be renewed. Ugghhh.

So I established some rules today.

The three oldest kids choose 10 items each and then they are responsible for what they choose. If an item is lost or late, they pay the fine.

We will go to the library either every Thursday or every other Thursday. If a book (biography, for example) is returned, then a new book (biography) can be checked out. I haven't figured out how I want to handle holds yet. I guess I will allow myself 15 homeschool related holds and I will be responsible for those (sigh).

Otherwise, I allow myself to check out two items (one fiction and one nonfiction) and then I check out five books for Mirek.

We still have 37 items out (plus any holds), but this is surely better than 100 right?

A Typical Day

We had a pretty typical day today.

We usually start with folders where the kids write the day and track the weather. They also put a sticker on a chart for each day we meet. We used to do daily math but it got too repetitive.

Sometimes we skip folders and work on writing/memorizing poems or do some other activity.

Today I added a little creative writing. I thought it was very clever for the girls to connect their stories. This activity came with some pre-writing as well (not shown).

 Writing = hunger.

 On Fridays, the girls always want to do spelling first because it is test day. So exciting right?

 On other days we do math first because it takes the longest.

 Friday is a science day so we learned about turtles.

 Phonics and reading were last today. We did a couple of phonics lessons and then reading. The girls are making their way through Robinson Crusoe.

Today we homeschooled from about 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. There are long breaks in between each subject. Lately, during "free time," the kids play with walkie talkies or play hide and seek. There is always music and dancing as well.

In other news, Naia has started reading! She was never interested in reading much so I was pretty surprised. I was resting on my bed reading Game of Thrones one night last week (rare moment) when Naia walked in and asked to "do reading." We completed a little of her Horizons workbook and the reading just clicked. Then she picked up a Bob Book and read it too! This is one of the most awesome aspects of homeschooling. Waiting until a kid is ready and then watching everything just come together is the best. Amazing!

Gymnasts and windows don't mix

The Rainbow Loom is still going strong in our household.

 We love these First Discoveries books! Typos and all.

 Mirek and I do really weird stuff together. He likes to lick my face and so I lick him back. Don't judge me.

Naia is still not interested in anything "school" related. No reading. No math. Just art, dolls, pretend play. She is my little radical rebel unschooler and I love her for that.

 Taven, on the other hand, loves math workbooks (and is at the same level as Naia) and also loves his Rainbow Loom.

 Experimenting with various soaked and unsoaked beans in light and darkness.

 Circuits were a hit!

So far, having Lynni over to homeschool has been a success. She seems to like it besides the occasional headache from all of the noise. I am sure the constant screaming takes some getting used to.

Oh and yesterday Eaden and Lynni were doing gymnastics upstairs (I had already kicked them off of my bed for doing back handsprings). Well I heard a huge crash and then Eaden yelled "Lynni did it!!" Lynni started crying hysterically saying "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to" and I carried her downstairs to look at her foot. She had kicked up into a handstand off of the window and her foot went straight through the glass. She had a pretty deep cut but all is well and the window can be replaced.

Home Sweet Home - Balance

I have been thinking a lot about our home lately. The state of our home. The cleanliness of our home. The amount of time we spend in our home.

We are reading Little House in the Big Woods as a family and this really struck a chord with me.

What a simple life! Could we ever really be THAT simple? Only one day per week doing laundry? Only one day of cleaning? A day of rest! How relaxing.

So I cleaned the upstairs. Where the kids' rooms are. I gave away many, many things. Some I had to throw away. I think there are now so few toys that it will be hard to make substantial messes. A weight has lifted. 

The laundry once a week is a bit easier. Perhaps that is all I was doing anyway (except cloth diapers). But we do always have a huge pile out in the garage. I think giving away or recycling some clothes and turning them into cleaning rags is in order. 

This morning my kids asked me why we didn't bake yesterday. It was Saturday after all. I said because we went to the creek for hours and were in the sun all day. By the time we got home I was tired. Really tired.

The big question is should we stay home more? The kids need to be outside and I do not think our tiny backyard is going to cut it...

We are working on finding a balance.

 The weather will start to change but really that only means we will be outside more...

I am also starting to think about the upcoming homeschool year. There will not be much change in what we do, but co-op classes will start up, we are enrolling for homeschool P.E. class at the YMCA, I will need to get new binders for the kids' work, art, etc., and maybe a new binder for our pictures.

Here are some pictures from the first meetup for a group I created called the Rainbow Warriors. I'm not sure if the group is going to work in the long run or exactly how it will work. It takes commitment from other families and I'm just not sure how committed other families are. Also, I am almost positive that once school starts (this is not a homeschooling group), involvement will drop. I guess we shall see. I wish everyone was as excited about getting kids (and ourselves!) outside as I am. I see an awesome bird, plant, or insect and take a picture thinking it's the greatest thing ever. But no one else cares. It makes me a little sad I guess.

And here are pictures from my family's trip to the creek yesterday. It was a lot of fun and the water was really nice. We stayed for a long time.

The park was having a program on stream ecology.

After the program, we hung out at the creek for a couple of hours.

We picked up trash. I just cannot understand why someone who enjoys the creek (they spend their time there) would leave garbage everywhere. It doesn't make sense.

 We ate.

And we enjoyed ourselves..

The kids made up a game where they sit in the stream and wait for leaves to float to them. 

Mirek was so cute. He would get a leaf, let it float away in the water, wave and say "bye bye," then all of sudden run real fast and catch it again. He did this over and over. I could have watched him for hours.

We observed this little guy inch along for some time. Very neat.

 And then we headed to check out the Nature Center which is usually closed when we visit.

Maybe our balance is off. Maybe we spend too much time outside of the home. Maybe it is not. Can we ever spend too much time outside? If only our little house was in the big woods...