Extra Fun, Classes, get together and so much more

although the majority of Samantha's learning happens with me at home here are some of the fun things she did outside of our classroom this school year....

• choir
• homeschool ballet and creative dance class
• once a month class at Oak Knowl Sanctuary
• Book club/ creative writing class
• coop science class
• She was in a play with the Calvary Bible Homeschoolers
• States and Presidents class
• The muscle class (how are muscles work and what we need to to keep them healthy)
• Art Class with friends
• Artsy Smartsy
• Stem classes
• Green Light for Girls (one day stem classes)
• baton classes
• Plays at the Ziterian Theater 
• She visits with her great great Aunt in the nursing home a couple times a month
• nature walks
• homeschool ice skating.  
• zoo trips
• visiting down south to be with Mike and his kids
• water obstacle course with friends
• cake decorating contest with a friend
• sledding during school time
• homeschool park meet ups
• she even helped the local public school with their car wash 
• we went to a Christian Concert right here in my city together along with out church
• making jewelry with a friend and her mom
• and so much more

There is so much more we do.  Many question us on socializing.  Yet seems to me many homeschoolers get out in public a lot. 

Enjoy the pictures of all she does....

Nature

I love nature, I grew up exploring nature, Kids have it different today, you need to be intentional living in the city to add nature into their lives.  My solution.. start a nature class.  Join in others when they are going into nature.  Find small and big ways to just enjoy nature.  

My class is called nature in the city, Plus we have joined others on nature walks. Take a class at a nature preserve.  We go to nature and explore and just be.  Sometimes in nature all you need to do is be there.  

Here are pictures of our nature explorations.

This has got to be the fattest pigeon I ever saw.

Glorious Flight Five in a Row

This row will be our longest stretched out row I think.  Its not a long row but we have had a crazy begin of homeschool year.  Last week trying to get in the swing of our new work and outside activities we only did 3 days of school.  This coming week we are going away on Thursday as a family but Steve and I are going away Tuesday as a couple just for the night so only a day or so schooling there.  But this is what homeschooling for us is all about flexibility.  The family vacation will be a mixture of fun and educational fun.

The Glorious Flight

We rowed this book a long time ago.  But a field trip came up that will go along perfectly with it so here we are rowing it again.  Just picking up different points from it.

I have 2 science kits on flying and air pressure.  So we started with that.  

The first kit we started is the Magic school bus kit.  

She started with some simple experiments like blowing air between to suspended ping pong balls to see how air pressure makes them move.  Then we made 4 paper planes all a little different one with no folded wings, one with no weight, the next with a small paper clip and the last with a large paper clip, It was to see which one flew the furthest. How changing the plane effected the flight.  Then we made another plane and used scissors to make flaps on the wings to control where the plane goes.  Its fun.  

We also talked about consequences to our actions and making amends for doing something even when its an accident.  Like in the story the Dad ran into the cart and knocked everything out.  They all ended up in the cafe and the dad paid.  So even when we do something wrong even by accident its always right to make amends.  

We will continue this row next week and then have the field trip to the airplane museum the following week.

the love of a good curriculum

Samantha and I really love Five in a Row.  We enjoy it.  We both learn new things all the time because of it.  But the biggest reason I love it is its instilled a love of good books in Samantha, the love of reading.  Here she is on a Sunday afternoon reading a book.  We bought a few new books at the Dollar book store and a library sale.  Ok I puchased about 14 new books at the book sale and maybe 4 from the book store.   Yes my name is Jennifer and I have a problem I love books and buy many often.  BUT I always buy them at an amazing price no more then $1 each often less then that.

My husband said to me the other day he thinks we have too many books.  A person can never have too many books.  Silly man.  

Build a Bear

So Samantha has always wanted a build a bear.

This summer I promised her one.

We haven't had time to get there.

Last Friday build a bear had a special $5 bears.

Wow I didn't realize how big of a line it would be we waited for what seems like forever.

But Samantha got her bear. 

Here she is making the bear making it special making a wish

Here is her bear. Its name at build a bear is Hazelnut not sure if Samantha is keeping its name.  I all can say she was so happy to be getting this bear. It was so special.

First day of school

First Day of School

It started with our fun scavenger hunt to find all the cool and fun school supplies

Then we did the traditional first day of school pictures

Then we actually did some school work.  We got through almost all the subjects.  We went shopping for some supplies.  Then we went for our traditional Ihop meal.  Normally its in the morning but this day didn't start out normal.  I usually take the first day of school off from work but I couldn't this time.  So we had breakfast for supper

.  

She thought it was funny that I said she was drinking her strawberry shake like it was an IV life line she did

So overall the day was a great success.  

A slight change in curriculum

I decided to take a break from Rod and Staff this year for grammar.  

My daughter has a good handle on diagramming sentences.  

So I decided on trying Fix it Grammar. 

It looks interesting.  

We are starting it today. 

The rest stays the same.