New Beginnings

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

New Beginnings is right

I'm resuming blogging. When I feel like it... I'll try to back post pictures at least... but for now....we'll just move forward. I now have 6 kids to blog about.

An ending and a beginning

My sister's battle is over. We buried her this Saturday. A & A will start their fall semester September 5. We're here in N.C. for good, I think. Aidan will also be starting gymnastics next week.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Cool Link

While playing on the computer, I came across this neat website for kids...

www.ABCya.com

It's great! There are a lot of engaging, free games for young kids.

On another note: We're here in N.C. The older cousins will be starting school next week. I'm planning on starting school with A & A a week later. My Mother is living here as well so she will be helping me out in the mornings so that we can get some work done.

Crossing fingers here

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

My sister's battle is ending. School is again on hold for now. We're moving to N.C. this week.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

What we're watching..

A new favorite!

I put about 14 of these on hold at the library. A & A are sick this week so they've been hanging out on the couch watching them. Aidan especially likes them.
"Science is cool!" she says.

Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Teaching Ainsley

Keeping it fun: Reading a home-made book.

Keeping her engaged: Circling the words as they're played on Meet the Sight Words.

Keeping her active: I call out a word and she must be the detective and find it.

Monday, August 01, 2011

Our Schedule

(well, at least for a few weeks....)

Monday- Thursday

Aidan

9:00-9:15 Brainteaser

9:15- 10:15 Math

10:15- 10:45 History

10:45- 11:00 Writing/Copywork

11:00- 11:15 Spelling

11:15- 12:00 Language Arts

12:00- 12:30 Art (drawing)

12:30- 1:00 LUNCH

1:00- 2:00 Computer

2:00- 3:00 Reading

Ainsley

9:00- 9:30 Video

9:30- 10:00 Math

10:00-10:30 FREE

10:30-11:00 Reading

11:00-12:00 FREE

12:00-12:30 Art (drawing)

12:30-1:00 LUNCH

1:00- 3:00 NAP

**Science is on Fridays with Daddy**

Some of My Favorite Things......

I LOVE these velcro coins! I have found them to be super useful with many things.

This is a little folder game I made for the girls. (well... I guess really for Ainsley) The time cards are removable with the velcro coins. I can either set the clocks to a time and they have to match the card to the time showing or I can show them the card and they have to make the clock reflect it.

The calendar on our school wall uses them.
Each number is detachable.

I also use them for various other things like this poster that Aidan helped to make. When we change our subject, we just replace the paper strip.

(The mini clocks, the paper strips, and the calendar were all found at Dollar Tree. They carry a lot of good stuff.)

Now YOU post some of your favorite things!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Summer Break

Well, it looks like we had a Summer break after all. My sister's illness has put a lot of life on hold. We have 3 maybe 4 weeks until we'll have to move permanently to N.C. I've given up on elaborate plans. There is no point to them. Everything will be done one day at a time.

Presently....

Aidan is reading through at least 5 different series concurrently. (Much to my ocd induced consternation) I've started collecting books on cd for her to read along with since I don't have the time to always read with her anymore. As I type this, she's listening and reading along with another Magic Tree House book. I've allowed her to stop taking naps so while Ainsley sleeps, she reads. She also uses T4L and Dreambox sporadically. However, she is still on track with the goals I set for her so that she'll finish 1st grade in December. On her own she's advanced in math and in language. I'm quite confident she'll be ready for second grade in January. Really, I'm wondering why I ever buy curriculum. A piece of paper and a pencil seems to be all she needs.

Ainsley has finished half of her reading chart. I haven't sat down with her to read in 3 weeks so it's been slow going. She is, however, with her imagination, humor, observations, and general logical sense showing me that when we really do get down to schooling with her... she's going to be a fast learner.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

A Peek

Proof that I am, indeed, a curriculum junkie!

Yard Sale finds this week!

One of the games I play with Ainsley. After she learns a certain sound phonetically, I then show her the word family. I like using word families as long as they understand the phonetic rule first.

7 Days!

I have officially made it through my first week of my 60 day challenge! I did O.K. 2 days this week I made bad choices with eating and I only exercised 3 days... so hopefully I can get myself together and do better next week.

Weight Loss? 4.5 pounds!

Yay!

Surprisingly, the exercising wasn't all that bad. The 3rd time, my legs hurt but otherwise I actually enjoyed it.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Stepping Up

Notice that awesome 1930's bed?

Aidan's bed was put up tonight.

She's officially graduated from the toddler bed. We did, however, take the box-spring off because it was too high for my comfort. They still only have a concrete floor.

Happy Girl!

Soccer Star!

Ainsley finally has started her soccer! She has been asking about it for over a year and the whole time Aidan played baseball... Ainsley kept talking about soccer. So, for 6 weeks, she gets to "play."

The first class was a little crazy. One kid wouldn't stop picking the balls up. One kid wouldn't stop crying for his Mom. Another kid (the only other girl) wouldn't play at all. Ainsley was nervous and didn't want to run out there at first. She kept turning back to give me a hug or a kiss. I just encouraged her and told her that she was brave and I was proud of her and I knew she could do it. So, she finally joined in and contented herself with waving madly at me and Aidan. After a little while, she did really well. Only she and two other little boys seemed to be able to follow directions.