Memorizing Scripture

We did not choose to homeschool our children because we wanted to keep them away from the world for religious reasons. We began homeschooling because we knew our child would better thrive educationally with more one on one attention. Also, we wanted to homeschool because we enjoy being with our child, and we wanted to leave our life open for travel and for real life experiences. We wanted to free him to learn in his unique style and address his particular need. wE know over time this will fluctuate, and we want to stay open to that.

Nevertheless, one great benefit of homeschooling is the option to teach faith in God, in conjunction with secular education.

One feature of our curriculum that we  simply love, is scripture memorization.
When I was young, I thought it was so cool that people could memorize large passages of scripture, or Shakespeare, or verse of any sort. I wanted our kids to be able to do that.

So we embarked on teaching and memorizing scripture;
an entire alphabet of scripture.

You ought to hear this Lil' Monster go through the alphabet, singing a scripture per letter.
I love hearing him singing these verses during his play time.

©Mamma Sass

Here Lil' Monster is playing and

learning the 10 Commandments, 

©Mamma Sass

by pretending to be Moses.

©Mamma Sass

The benefit of homeschooling, is that we can help our child be educated in all subjects; not just secular, not just religious, not just worksheets, not just daily activities, etc - but a well rounded knowledge. We believe Homeschool is about learning to learn.

But I do love that we are free to teach faith.



Make the Date with Money

For several years, each day we have done calendar time. You have probably seen in a number of our homeschooling photos, our lovely and large green calendar.

This year, we are going to spice it up and make it a little more challenging by adding new features and activities.

I found a great idea from Carisa at "1+1+1=1" blog to use money to "Make the Date."

Money is a concept that Lil' Monster doesn't know much about, making it a new challenge.

First, we did our typical calendar work of putting up the day, date, month, weather, etc.

Then we discussed the different coin names.

Using counting blocks to show value, we counted out how much each coin was worth, in columns of 5.

 Then we discussed the date (yesterday was the 9th) and counted out how many blocks we needed = 9.

We formed columns of five.

Then we placed a nickel on the top.

We discussed the remaining four blocks as singular units (as they can not be grouped in 5s) and then placed a coin on each of those.

 I was surprised at how quickly he picked it up.

As Lil' Monster begins to remember the value of each coin, I will begin to phase out the counting blocks.

This is a great way to mix up our calendar time and teach new skills.

The Gymnast

It is fun to watch Lil' Monster grow up.

There are so many "firsts."

Today was the first time that Lil' Monster was signed up for a regular activity outside of our home.

Gymnastics.

He is a bundle of energy and is often found, leaping around the house, throwing himself off of things and tumbling on a regular basis.

We thought, it was high time for him to do those things with a goal, as well as to learn to do them safely.

Luckily, through our district homeschooling program, we are able to sign Lil' Monster up in classes in our community that address school courses. Gymnastics is a P.E. credit.

What luck.

Today was the first class day.

© Mamma Sass

 He was very excited to get ready.

Shorts and T-shirts are required gear.

But Lil' Monster begged to wear his beloved track suit on top.

© Mamma Sass

He looks like quite the professional.

After class, he was so happy AND thoroughly worn out.

I am thinking Gymnastics is not only going to be very good for Lil' Monster,

but for this Mamma! 

Baked Alaska

What could Lil' Monster being smiling about? 

 The weather!!!!!

 

 And the fact, that he FINALLY gets to use the "HOT" tag for our daily calendar.
Several months ago, Lil' Monster complained because we 'never' could use the HOT tag on his daily calendar. He kept asking when we could. I explained, up here in AK we might not ever use it.
Boy, am I glad I was wrong!

 Right now up here in Alaska, we are cookin'.
We LOVE it.
This is our third summer here and we are toasting at lovely mid 70's temperatures. The past several years we were lucky to get into the 50s and 60s. The rain poured and poured.
Summer Solstice meant more daylight - it sure didn't seem like it with the grey skies. We were told that was the norm. How sad it made us. Then we have had two long, snowy, and bitter winters. In fact not 4 weeks ago we had snow and temps in the 20s. For the last several weeks we have had constant sun and temperatures that have been utter bliss.
This Summer Solstice we might just have to stay up all night to see that the sun really does give us 20 hours of sunshine!!!
We have been truly blessed!

Feels like heaven.

Don't you just love he is wearing a long sleeved sweater still? He doesn't own many "warm weather" clothes. The summer clothes he does have, he has already worn and I am currently washing them.

Which Way Does the Wind Blow?

Preschool Graduation

We are a homeschooling Family.

We LOVE it.

Lil' Monster is about to graduate from Preschool course to his Kindergarten course.

We have moved at a leisurely pace throughout the Pre-K Sonlight course,

as we believe every day is an education,

and

we fit our education around our life experiences;

which over the past couple of years has had numerous changes with lots of ups and downs.

We love the Sonlight program for its flexibility to accommodate families and their lives.

.

Today 

Lil' Monster finished off one of his last "assignments."

Over the past year, as we have studied the Alphabet using Dr. Seuss,

I noticed that Lil' Monster was able to recite the words.

This made him feel as if he was reading.

What a glorious skill reading is.

He kept this skill a secret from Mr. Elskan.

He wanted to surprise him.

Surprise him he did,

when he 'read' the WHOLE book to him.

What a proud moment! 

Post Update:

Here is Lil' Monster with his diploma

Soon, we will begin his year of kindergarten.

Lil' Monster can't hardly wait!



Nammi Numbers

An activity we did today

(idea borrowed from My Montessori Journey)

Using cheap dollar store ice cream bowls, spoons, with some fuzzies (pom-poms).

We practiced matching numbers with 'scoops' of ice cream.

Lil' Monster counts out scoops into the bowls: 0-6;

Then mixes up some flash cards;

than matches the flash cards to appropriate bowls.

Some eating pretend eating happens along in the process.

Learning new numbers, I leave the cards in order (7-13).

He uses his memory of how to count orally 1-20,

to match up with what he sees.

Then he counts the right amount of scoops into bowls.

He takes the flash card and bowl and lines them up off to the side when completed.

Then I 'check' his work and encourage him along.

It's an easy thing to do, and makes a big impression.

It is a far cry from just learning to count pictures on paper in order to learn numbers.

For a more hands on child, this really helps to cement his knowledge.

And it is soooo

DELICIOUS!

P.S. Nammi means yummy in Icelandic

Little Ray of Sunshine

Today's activity was based on the story "Stealing the Sun" a story from Africa found in our copy of Stories From Around the World.

 First, begin with a black piece of construction paper

- faded in the sun and some crayons.

Next, mix yellow and orange to make a sun. Draw some lines for the rays.

It was great to see how straight Lil' Monster's lines were for the rays.

 Then put the paper on the floor and then hand a push pin to your young 4 yr old.

He really likes this - such concentration.

Finally, put your picture in the window to see the suns rays shine through.

with flash

without flash

I didn't think it was a phenomenal project,
but Lil' Monster was ecstatic to see the sun cloudy light shine through.
It's a quick, easy, and satisfying!
Makes it a hit with Mamma and the little one.

Turkey Tails

I borrowed this cute idea from Laura at My Montessori Journey.

She has the greatest ideas and many are seasonally inspired, which is right up my alley.
It was easy to make with some felt and buttons I had already on hand.
Whipped it up in a night.
And he can play with it year after year.

 This is a great way to build skills
and
have fun at the same time.

This was also good practice in dealing with frustration.

Lil' Monster doesn't have much patience and quickly jumps into fits or avoidance.

But he persevered and look at him!

Proud as a Peacock....

I mean Turkey!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jack-O-Lantern's Many Faces

This is actually a project I did last year with the Lil' Monster. 

I borrowed the idea from Laura at My Montessori Journey.

This is a great way for children to make their own Jack-o-Lanterns without knives or mess.

It is easy to make and provides hours of fun.

I took orange felt and cut out a pumpkin pattern, then drew some crease lines.

Took black and yellow felt and cut out different shapes for mouths, eye, eyebrows, and nose.

Made a little stem and a couple of leaves.

 (Mamma Sass's example)

Enjoying the fun.
He can't remember the fun from last year,
so it feels new and exciting this year.

Creating his own Jack-o-Lantern.

With so many pieces,

there are so many possibilities

'Tis the Season.

Happy Autumn!

Happy Halloween!

School Days

This year Lil' Monster is

education is coming from our favorite curriculum:

We are doing the P4/5 (Pre-Kindergarten):

Exploring God's World

  It is very exciting.

In addition,  

to a more focused homeschooling for our dear little preschooler,

he now has his

own special space

right in Mamma's office/schoolroom.

In our loft there are two large but odd sized closets under the eaves.

We transformed one of them into a play room just for Lil' Monster.

It will be nice, because he can be close by while Mamma does her work without being on top of everything or anyone.

 Also, there are doors that can be shut to block some of Lil' Monster's noisy distractions. Nevertheless, he is not sequestered so far away that he feels isolated and lonely.

He' has no idea what is behind those closed doors.

Shocked to know this space if just for him!

Lil' Monster was thrilled to show off his new space to Pabbi.

Here is my bucket of cars.

Yay!!!

I think we have a happy camper on our hands.

May the new School Year Commence....

POST UPDATE: (August 29, 2011)

I am thinking Lil' Monster really loves his new space.
While I was working, it went quiet in Lil' Monster's play space.
This is what I found:

 
Sleep Sweet Baby!