Letter C

Week three of pre-school. What a busy week! in addition to school, we also visited the York Fair, where the Daleks won... Wait a minute, that's another post.

Here is a sneak peak at The Little Princess's Learning Poster:

This week we learned all about Crabs. Crab's claws are called Pincers, not pinchers. (Side note, we are not crabs, therefore, we do not pinch others!)

Our Bible verse was, "Create in me a pure heart, Oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10.

This week we made a crab using The Little Princess's foot print and hand prints. I know it looks more like a lobster, but we had fun. This was also very messy. That's why there aren't any pictures of the process for this one. (Don't move while I take your picture while you have paint all over your foot! Um, yeah, no.)

We, of course, made our alphabet letters! C is for Crab and c is for chameleon.

We also learned that C is for clock. I found the clock face template here.

And the best kind of ice cream has three scoops!

We also learned that an oval is kind of like a circle. It has no sides or angles like a circle, it just got squished. By what? Well, that depends on your imagination!

For our snack this week, C was for, well, cookies of course!



Until next time!

Bb is for Butterfly

Welcome to another fun week of Pre-School! This week was rather fun.  

Here's a peek at The Little Princess's Learning Poster:

This week's theme was butterflies. Our vocabulary word was not carrots. Everyone who looked at our poster asked me what a carrot has to do with a butterfly. Please believe me that this is a cocoon. (Please?)

Our Bible verse was "Be kind to one another and build each other up." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

We also worked on the letters B and b, the number 2, and the color red. 

This week we learned that butterflies start as eggs, hatch into caterpillars, wrap themselves into cocoons, and then become butterflies. So, The Little Princess used a toilet paper tube to paint caterpillars.

The Little Princess also painted her B's which we placed into her Learning Book and she made a Bumble Bee to go with it. (Sorry, only pictures of the finished products.)

She also made a Bumble Bee out of the letter B.

And a butterfly from the letter b.

Here are the finished products hanging in the kitchen.

The Little Princess also worked on the number two. First she painted her two to be put into her Learning Book. I love that she's starting to paint the number and not just put paint all over the page!

 Next, we made eyes to go into her Learning Book. She decided on brown eyes, like her. Then, insisted on eyelashes, top and bottom! My little girly girl!

We also worked with the color red. The Little Princess finger painted a picture in red.

Next, she glued a whole bunch of red things to another page.

 Both were added to her Learning Book

Finally we made Banana Pops! After peeling the bananas, I cut them in half and showed her how to place a craft stick into each one.

Into the freezer overnight. Then the next morning we dipped half into yogurt and rolled them in coconut and chocolate bits for a very yummy breakfast. The other half we dipped in chocolate and covered in candied pecans and coconut, and put back into the freezer for dessert later.

These were super yummy and I'm sure will be requested again and again. I may have to keep a supply of frozen bananas on hand from now on.

Until next time!

Letter A

Welcome to my very first series! Aren't you excited? I know I am! In this series I will be showing you what The Little Princess and I did for her school time during the week. Please keep in mind, these are only the things she did during dedicated school time. There are a ton of other things she does to keep busy while Bubba is doing his school work. Hmm, I think I am coming up with another post idea...

This is what we did for our first week of pre-school.

First, let's look at her learning poster for week one. If you read my last post, you understand how this works. (I hope.) This week's theme was apples. We also learned that a bunch of apple trees is called an apple orchard. Our Bible verse came from Joshua 24:15. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." We also learned about the letter A, number 1, and circles.

On Monday, we talked about apples. The Little Princess then got to do one of her favorite things, paint. She did apple stamping. Which is simply using an apple cut in half and dipped in paint to make a picture.

 She tried to follow instructions and only stamp, but the urge to smear was too great, and who could blame her?

 She was so proud of her picture she asked to hang it above her bed. I have a feeling this is where a lot of her artwork is going to end up this year. She really doesn't like her "boyish" room, her words.

On Tuesday, we learned about the letter A. I printed out a letter template which she then painted with water colors. The template was nothing more than a word document using "comic sans" font in the size that filled the page when the page is formatted to landscape. I like using comic sans, because the lower case "a" looks like the way we teach to write the letter a instead of type print.

 After the letters are dry, I cut them out and she glued them onto construction paper and I added it to her learning book.

We also did an apple craft from Our Crafts, which I'm afraid I didn't get a picture of the process, but I did take a picture of both pages in her learning book.

Also on Tuesday, we made a capital letter craft. A is for Alligator. I found this over at Totally Tots. I'll tell you now, in case your doing this along with us, we will be doing these crafts every week. 

 Wednesday brought the number one. We made one sun to add to her number book. She also painted a number one, the same way she did the letter A, which was also added to her learning book.

Thursday was lower case "a" day. She made a lower case "a" apple based on Totally Tots. Yet again, I forgot to take pictures, but here are the finished products which are hanging in  my kitchen.

Isn't the wallpaper just fabulous? I am seriously thinking of covering it, at least where I hang her letters. Will construction paper be too tacky?

Also on Thursday, she made her circle crafts, normally these would have been done on Friday, but The Hubs and I actually managed an overnight away, just the two of us, for Friday and Saturday. So the Daleks spent Friday at my mom's house. She painted a circle and made a caterpillar out of circles.

Truth be told, the snack we did on Sunday. These apple tarts were so yummy we had a hard time saving some for The Hubs.

 They were so simple. All it took was a package of refrigerated pie dough, a can of apple pie filling (I diced the apples so they were smaller), and a cookie cutter in the shape of an apple which I happened to have. I cut the shapes out, The Little Princess put them onto the cookie sheet and scooped a spoonful of pie filling onto each one, then covered them with another cut out piece of dough. I pinched the edges with a fork, and baked at 450 degrees for ten minutes. We were able to make twelve and still have pie filling left over for another day.

Phew! What a busy week of school! What are your plans for pre-school this year?

Preschool for The Little Princess

I am so excited to bring you this post about what I am doing for school for The Little Princess. I had so many questions about it, so I know many of you are excited too. This post is going to be a bit long with a lot of information and links to other sites and blogs that I use. Please feel free to "pin" this post for reference later. By the way, you can follow my Pinterest board dedicated to "School for The Little Princess" here.

To start our mornings, we begin with circle time. Bubba usually joins us. During circle time, we sing our "Good Morning" song, "Months of the Year" song, and "Days of the Week" song. We then check the weather and fix our weather chart to match it. Next, we talk about what we learned yesterday, what our favorite thing we did yesterday was, and what our least favorite thing from yesterday was, and what we can do to make it better. Finally, we take some time to pray for a great day ahead of us.

The "Good Morning" song is something I remember from my childhood. I don't remember if it came from my parents or from school, but it has stuck with me thirty years later. Lucky for us, we have this thing called YouTube, where you can find almost anything. Sure enough I was able to find the song we sing here.

The "Months of the Year" song is sung to "Ten Little Indians."

January, February, March and April,

May, June, July, and August

September, October, November, December

Those are the months of the year.

The "Days of the Week" song is sung to "Oh, My Darling Clementine"

There are seven days, there are seven days, 

There are seven days in a week.

There are seven days, there are seven days,

There are seven days in a week.

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,

Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,

Thursday, Friday, Saturday

We use this chart for the weather. I like this one the best because it also talks about the temperature. I printed it out and then faux laminated it and mounted it onto a piece of cardboard. Wait a minute, back up. Faux Lamination? What in the world is that? Well, my friends, that is when I cover what I need laminated in clear packing tape. It works amazingly well to help preserve something, and I don't have to go to a big box store to have something laminated. Necessity truly is the mother of invention!

Where were we before we got sidetracked? Ah yes, the weather chart. *Ahem. We use masking tape to move the arrows, though I have recently picked up some poster putty which I think I will switch to when the stickiness of the masking tape wears out.  We've gone a week so far using just the one piece, but I don't think it will last much longer. I think the Daleks favorite part of the day is going out onto the porch to feel the temperature.

When circle time is over, The Little Princess has a few minutes of play while I get Bubba started on his school work.

The curriculum I use for The Little Princess sounds very complicated, but I promise, it really isn't. It is a 26 week program and we only spend between 15 and 30 minutes on actual "school" time.  The basic behind the curriculum is from Brightly Beaming Resources Preparatory Curriculum and her learning book which will contain many of the crafts she will make.

First, I made this learning poster. It is a poster board which I added colored construction paper and labels to. I then faux laminated the whole thing so it will last the entire year.

It is titled "The Little Princess's Learning Poster." There are six areas we will be focusing on each week. Three on Monday. One on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. On Thursday, there is nothing new added to the poster.

On Monday, I introduce our theme for the week, our vocabulary word, and our Bible verse. On Tuesday, I introduce the letter. Wednesday is the number. Thursday, we don't add anything to the poster. (It's the lower case letter day, which was already added on Tuesday.) Friday, I introduce the shape or color we will be working with.  The pictures we put up remain until the new concept is introduced. For example, in the above poster, the number one will remain there until the following Wednesday when I introduce the number two.

The learning book is a one inch binder filled with page protectors. Admittedly, it should probably be at least an inch and a half or two inches. I think it will be too full by the end of the 26 weeks. It has four sections. One section for letters, numbers, shapes, and colors. I pre-cut construction paper to fit into the page protectors for the entire 26 weeks. I put her book in rainbow order leaving the section for colors white.

The week in a general over view looks like this.

On Monday, I introduce the most things to the learning poster the theme (which in the above picture is apples), the vocabulary word (orchard), and Bible verse. As we place things onto the poster we discuss them. In this case we talked about apples and how a bunch of apple trees is called an orchard. We then read a book (or two) on the theme. We also start to learn the Bible verse. I found a great free download over at I Can Teach  My Child of twenty six Bible verses beginning with each letter of the alphabet. Often I will put it to a song to help remember the verse. Finally, we do a craft based on the theme.

On Tuesday, we review what we learned on Monday and then I introduce the letter of the week. We talk about the letter and what it says. Next, I have The Little Princess paint (with watercolors) an outline of  both the upper and lower case letter. Later I cut out the letters and she glues them onto a piece of construction paper which is then added to her book. Next, we do a craft based on that letter, usually coinciding with the theme, which is also added to her book. Finally, we make a letter craft based on Totally Tots.

On Wednesday, we review what we've learned so far, then I introduce the number of the week. The Little Princess paints the number and it is added to her book just like the letters. We then do a number craft, also to be added to the book.

On Thursday, we review what we've learned so far, then the focus is on the lower case letter. We do the lower case craft based once again on Totally Tots.

On Friday, we review what we've learned so far, then I introduce either a shape or a color. On shape weeks, The Little Princess will paint the shape to be added to her book. We will then do a craft based on the shape. On color weeks, she finger paints with the color. We will also cut out pictures from magazines of things in that color to be added to her book.

At some point during the week, we will also have a special snack that starts with the same letter we are working on. Usually on Thursday, since it is the least intensive craft day.

It sounds like a lot, I know, but you can do it. I will be posting what we've done every week, including the recipes for the snacks we make. I will post what we did the first week of school tomorrow. Then, I expect to make the post every Monday. (Eeek! Accountability!)

Until next time!

Back to School

Well my friends, it's that time of year again, back to school. Perhaps your little Daleks have already started, or are starting soon, or have all grown up and left and now you are waiting for the next generations of Daleks to come visit you so you can load them up with sugar and then send them home, all the while laughing at the frustrated expression on your grown Dalek's face (or is that just my experience with grandparents?)

Where was I, oh yes, back to school. As many of you know, Bubba attends a cyber school. Which means he is homeschooled. So while all of my fellow mommies are dancing with joy and frolicking through the back to school isles at the store, I am settling into my busiest time of year, curriculum prep.

What I love about Bubba's cyber school verses traditional homeschooling is that they send me his curriculum and supplies. I also have a support staff which include his Instructional Supervisor (think guidance counselor), his teacher facilitator who is a certified elementary school teacher, and a tech support team for technical issues. I can call or email each of them and have my questions and concerns addressed immediately. Bubba also gets a one hour session a week online with his teacher facilitator in a classroom setting.

One of the best things that happen in our house about mid August is a UPS delivery containing all of Bubba's school supplies for the first half of the year. In years past it has been three or four boxes. Not this year, this year we had eight boxes! He was so excited to see what was in all the boxes.

Aren't you just a little curious? Good! Because I'm about to show you everything he received for third grade.

First, we received one box. We were slightly disappointed at first. When we dove into the box we discovered it contained only my guide books. Interesting for me, because up until know my guide book was on big book with all the lessons in one spot. Now I have one book for each subject, Math, Social Studies, Science, and Language Arts which includes Reading, Writing, Grammar, and Spelling.

A few days later we received seven, WHAT? Seven boxes! from UPS.

Even The Little Princess was excited to see what was in the boxes! We tore into the first box and discovered, cue the trumpets, ♫dun, dun, dun♫, Math supplies. Bubba really likes math. So, he was excited that this was the first box we opened. Inside we found his workbooks, a clock face, a thermometer, dice, three dimensional shapes, a ruler, and counters to help with ones, tens, hundreds, and thousands places.

 As if that box wasn't exciting enough, the next box contained Bubba's favorite subject, Science! This box included, his workbooks, white construction paper, potting soil, seeds, a pot, modeling clay, a collection of rocks and minerals, a magnifying glass, a ruler, a pulley, and for some reason, a wooden triangle. Not sure why, but we're excited to find out.

 The next box was labeled Language Arts, Bubba's least favorite subject. It wasn't as bad as he thought though. This box contained two different types of writing paper, index cards, a dry erase board, and dry erase markers.

Next, came the heaviest box. Inside, we found the Language Arts workbooks, a dictionary, a thesaurus, Poetry Speaks to Children, Lincoln Interactive Literature Collections: Third Grade, Charlotte's Web by E.B. White, and Latasha and the Little Red Tornado by Michael Scotto. I am very excited to read Scotto's book. He has written a lot of the books we have used so far and they are all wonderful!

 The next box contained Bubba's Social Studies supplies. Inside were his workbooks, an atlas, construction paper, water colors, modeling clay, a compass, a ruler, an inflatable globe, and bees wax. (I have no idea why this picture loaded upside down. I tried multiple time to upload it correctly, it just won't)

 The next box was a mystery box. Inside we found a game, multiplication and division flashcards, and a workbook entitled, Read, Set Go! Which is to help him get ready for tests and improve his study habits.

 The last box contained his PE supplies. This year he receives a back pack, horseshoes, two jump ropes, scarves for juggling, jacks, a frisbee, a kick ball, a basketball, a ball pump, bases for kickball, and his PE instruction manual.

 Bubba was super excited to put everything away in his new school area. What? New school area? You didn't say anything about a major change in your household! Yes, yes, don't worry my friends, that post is coming soon. Also coming soon is what The Little Princess is doing for school this year. I am super excited for these upcoming posts, I hope you are too.

Do you home school your kids? Do they attend a cyber school? Let me know what you like and dislike about your curriculum.

Until next time!

Summer Library Fun (part one)

We have been super busy so far this summer. It's nice to take a few minutes to sit down and blog about what we've done so far this year at the library. I mentioned before how our local libraries have an excellent summer reading program. They also have some great events going on. We recently discovered a smaller library a lot closer to our house than the one we have been going to for the last seven years. We have been spending a lot of time there, however we haven't forgotten our favorite library and have visited there a few times too. 

The first program we went to was "Tracking Dinosaurs." While I was a bit disappointed with the presenter, the Daleks had fun. There were soooo many kids who came to this event (my estimate, a few weeks later, was close to 75 kids). It would have been better with a smaller group. Still, like I said, the Daleks had fun. 

They were able to make their own "face fossils" which involved placing aluminum foil over their faces and trying to get an imprint of their facial features. 

I helped The Little Princess with her Face Fossil

Bubba getting help with his Face Fossil.

 Bubba had a better imprint than The Little Princess, but the pictures of the finished product didn't turn out too well.

After the presentation, they were able to explore a few areas. I think this may have been the best part, letting them explore on their own.

There were dinosaur footprints to discover. The Daleks were encouraged to try to tell the story of what had happened. The Little Princess came up with a great story of two dinosaurs playing hide and seek before they got in trouble for running in the library!

 After the crowd thinned a little we were able to look at some of the fossils and miniatures that were brought.

On our way out the Daleks were able to pick their own fossils to bring home. Bubba picked the largest one he could find and The Little Princess picked the one with the "prettiest" design.

Bubba also got a shark tooth for being a
helper during the presentation.

Another event we were able to participate in was "Digging Into Nature." I was not expecting much due to my disappointment in the other event, but I was very happily impressed. Matthew Dodd talked all about caves, and he was WONDERFUL! He read stories, sang songs, and really kept the kids attentions.

Sorry for the lousy lighting, but it was dark in the
room to give the ambiance of being in a cave!

 After, each story Mr. Dodd would sing a song relating to what he just read. Often the songs were his own lyrics put to the tune of another song such as...

"There was a man who found a cave e-i-e-i-o. And in this cave there was a bat e-i-e-i-o."

Or "Earthworm, you make my heart squirm" sung to Wild Thing by The Troggs.

 Honestly, I think I may have had as much fun as the Daleks listening to all of his crazy songs!

Bubba, Mr. Dodd, The Little Princess,
and Sonic (a friend who came with us)

The final trip I will bore you tell you about was our "Dinosaur Story and Craft Time." I was super excited about this trip for two reasons. The first was we were heading back to our home library which is a lot bigger even if it is farther away from our house. The second was it was story time with Ms. Lisa. We love Ms. Lisa! She is an excellent story teller getting the kids involved and keeping their attentions, even if it's a large crowd, which it was.

Ms. Lisa reading
The Day Dinosaurs Came With Everything
by Elise Broach  

 After the story the Daleks were able to create their own dinosaur story. They each got a dinosaur cut out, crayons, and (to quote Ms. Lisa) "The absolute best thing in the whole wide world, a blank piece of paper!" The Daleks went to town!

This is Baby Dane in her nest.

Silly likes to eat trees!
(He's Silly because he's a T-Rex who likes to eat trees!)

 After story time the Daleks wanted to stay and play. I couldn't blame them, the library has the best toys!

Bubba spent almost an hour playing with
these little animals that you build with.

The Little Princess spent all of her time
playing with some new friends in the play kitchen.

We are now about half way through the library program. (sniffle) Now, we really need to get on the ball with all of the other fun things I have planned for this summer!

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