Hello, I know, I know...I keep promising to blog more frequently and then fail to fulfill the promise. Part of the problem truly was that my computer was on the blink...I really should say the "brink" of death...and it finally gave up the ghost as they say. I now have a new computer which eliminates that excuse.
Another problem is that I am the type of person who only occasionally blogs along or writes in diaries, etc, just for myself...or to get things out of my head. I am far more motivated when I know someone else is reading them and hearing me out. And since not very many comments are made, I assume that not very many people, if any, are reading me...thus, I am unmotivated... silly me! (That was a hint!)
Anyway, this is a new year...school year, that is. But since I am homeschooling my grandson and caring for my granddaughter, it is a new beginning for me as well.
Handsome is now in second grade. And I think I am beginning to understand him far better than I ever have! He loves Science...so I am trying to take his weaker areas and enhance them with his Science topics. For example...although we will be using several different Science topics, the main one throughout the year is Zoology 102, understanding the sea and its inhabitants, as well as all swimming creatures, etc. so, we decorated an entire room as the Ocean...painting murals (on butcher paper) and hanging stuffed animal whales, dolphins, sharks, etc. from the ceiling as if they are swimming in the sea. There are lobsters and octopusi, jellyfish and sea stars taped to the mural as well (paper ones, of course!) And nets (from a luau I held last year), and a border of paper sack style butcher paper to depict the bottom of the sea, upon which there is a wrecked ship! Still to come is bubble wrap for the top for air bubbles and foam...and somehow we are going to have some waves....
But I am having him write in a notebook...mostly just copying sentences I write for now...and decorate it with stickers relating to the sea. (Actually, he has a notebook for each topic in which we are doing similar things). Today we did an experiment about the surface currents with Cheerios and hair dryers making gyres in a bowl of water. So, he copied several sentences about the experiment. Funny thing, he doesn't complain about having to write his words or letters, etc. when they mean something about something he is interested in. I also took words that relate to the sea but still meet the level of reading words in his reading workbook for his spelling words. And today, he got 100% without complaining that they were just dumb words. Amazing! I hope he doesn't catch on to the fact that he is actually DOING spelling words and vocabulary words and printing and reading exercises! (Just kidding!)
He is also studying a little tiny bit about astronauts as his history topic for a couple of weeks because the public school he would attend covered Sally Ride and Neil Armstrong last year and we didn't. So, I made that more of a history lesson, but he wrote a few sentences about that too...and looked up some more info on the moon, etc. (We DID study the moon last year...and planets, etc). Next Thursday we are going to the Challenger Space Center in Peoria for a field trip. And we are going to the free aquarium at Cabella's on Wednesday due to our Science topic being fresh water vs. salt water that day...
Just before the start of school, we went to the Children's Museum and the AZ Science Center...on what is called a "Culture Pass"...free passes you can check out at the library...but you have to stand in line first thing in the morning in the heat...because each library has only one for each museum. And you can only get one per week and two per month! But I survived! And it was great fun!
We found out that the Science Center has homeschool classes about every 2 to 3 weeks at a reasonable price. So, the 25th is our first class! The topics vary, but keeping his interest in Science alive is most important. And they will cover the Ocean...in February, I think.
Hunky has started Kindergarten in a public School. We were unsure about the wisdom of that venture, but so far it seems to be positive for both boys.
"Girlfriend", as I am currently referring to her, has definitely graduated to the middle stage of the "terrible twos". I used to shrink at that term, but she has convinced me to renew it. As sweet and wonderful as she is, her opinions are heard loudly and clearly, especially her dislikes. Oh well. To keep her feeling special during school hours, I have created learning centers for her. She LOVES the texture table...Miondays is sand, Wednesdays is beans and macaroni, and Fridays is water!!!!
Tuesdays and Thursdays she gets "dress up" days with makeup and the whole bit. And then there is the store, with gracery cart and "real" food, and the kitchen with fabric textures for food toppings, and then the puzzles, art, stickers, etc. And she also has 1:1 time with me featuring the five sense...one each day...with a snesory bag full of something new to taste, touch, smell, see, or hear...depending on the day.
Well, Monday is Hunky's birthday and though he will be in school, we shall celebrate when he gets home...as well as a family and friends party tomorrow afternoon....
Well, I shall do my best to continue this blog at least weekly...please let me know if you enjoy...or even if you don't but read it anyway! Thanks..
Temporarily no pictures due to new computer needing to be downloaded for the program...perhaps tomorrow!!
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