Posted by: amber in Home School, family on
Sep 02, 2009
A few weeks back I started Xavier making steps using C-rods (OK on second thoughts it was probably a couple of months ago). He caught on very quickly and was happy to sort anything from shortest to tallest including the cut straws in one of our activity bags.
This week we started to make some connections. I brought out some number cards which we practiced putting in order 0 to 10. Then we built Duplo towers and matched them to the numbers. He immediately made the connection to the steps he has been building for the past few weeks.
Today we built steps using both the c-rods and the AL Abacus which he has seen Ethany using. This was painless. I know he knows that the c-rods represent different quantities and that is a huge first step. Yay Xavier!
Posted by: amber in Home School, family on
Aug 25, 2009
Today we finished up our picture study on Van Gogh. Ethany and Xavier have really enjoyed learning about Van Gogh, both his life and appreciation of his paintings. Here is our Van Gogh wall, we have studied each of these paintings for 2 weeks. We have also completed our own version of several of his works.
Over this time we borrowed a number of books from the library about Van Gogh. The latest one being the one Xavier liked best.
Ethany provided an oral narration about Van Gogh today which reads -
"Vincent Van Gogh only lived for a short time and he only sold one of his paintings. He loved his brother Theo and he wrote a lot of letters for him when he was in London. Theo sent him lots of paint. Van Gogh shot himself that is why he only lived for a short time. He is famous now. Van Gogh went on a job hunt before he went to Paris."
Ethany also completed some copywork about Van Gogh, she was quite fascinated by his job hunt.
Posted by: amber in Home School on
Jul 25, 2009
There isn't a blog yet that I have looked at that has not had a comment on Workboxes and mine will be no different! I took a long time, looking, reading, learning, thinking about workboxes and how they may or may not work for my family. After all that thinking I decided it could work for us, but not how written.
Here are our Family Workboxes.
And this is how we use them.
- We have 1 set of boxes for Ethany and Xavier to use.
- Each box is loaded with 2 activities, one for each child. A lot of the curriculums we use are teacher driven so in every box someone is working with me while the other is working independently.
- We move on to the next box when everyone is finished which means that the person not working with me is usually working on something open ended to allow that flexibility of time.
- We are only working 7 boxes, in the pic you can see above we were almost through our day.
The main reason I feel that workboxes actually work is that everything is carefully planned out and everything is on hand ready to go. Previously if we were having a busy day it was easy to push school to the side because it meant getting things out and ready and working out what the other children would do while I worked with one. Now everything is ready to go, so if we have to go out, we work until ready to leave and then when we get back it is still there all ready to go and we just move on to the next box.
Workboxes are awesome and helping our day to stay relaxed but organised.
Posted by: amber in Home School on
Jul 25, 2009
After much consideration and almost purchasing LEM Phonics I decided to get All About Spelling, and I am soooo glad I did!! We just LOVE it!!
As Ethany is reading fabulously I didn't feel it necessary to put her through normal formal learning to read phonics, and she hated Explode the Code with a passion! So I decided to move on to teaching spelling which provides a backdoor route for phonics and it is a hit.
Today we taught Bindi a few new phrases.
We are almost through Level 1, Ethany doesn't complain at all and we can make it as fun and silly as we like. If you have not already checked it out I can't highly recommend it enough, please have a look.
Posted by: amber in myblog on
Jul 25, 2009
Owing to some changes occurring in our life at the moment we are at present unable to offer Dandy Bumz for sale. We are hoping to release our pattern at some point in the future so you can sew these wonderful one size nappies at home.
We have also changed our shipping policy. As we are homeschoolers and VERY busy during the week we will be posting all items on Saturday mornings. Postage will be on the Saturday following clearance of funds into our account. So if you place an order on Friday or Saturday and the funds don't clear until Monday your parcel will not ship until the following Saturday.
We do apologise for any inconvenience caused by these changes.
Posted by: amber in Untagged on
Jul 16, 2009
It is Ethany's Birthday today and we got her a pet mouse which she has named Annie. She is a very cute little mouse and Ethany picked her out at the shop herself.
Posted by: amber in myblog, family on
Jun 01, 2009
Just wanted to drop in quickly to let everyone know that I am still here. We were having some major internet problems, then my beloved iMac died and we have just been super, super busy!! My Blog was the last thing on my mind.
Things are now getting back to normal so I hope to once again be posting regularly.
Posted by: amber in family on
Sep 01, 2008
We have finally arrived at the new place and unpacked the kitchen (sigh). The kids and I have been in the same clothes for the last 3 days due to traveling and not unpacking clothing yet. Can't wait to get something fresh on tomorrow. Hubby has been living the high life at the inlaws for the week, so no smelly clothes for him.
We have made it just in time for the GDUNH to start, yippee!
Happy hunting everyone!!
Posted by: amber in family on
Aug 19, 2008
I can't believe it! After 2 wonderful years in Dandaragan we are moving back to the big smoke of Perth. How i will miss the quiet of living out here in the middle of nowhere!!
The kids will find it a big adjustment too. Here we know almost everyone. It is a very safe community. We can walk to playgroup, the general store and playground. It is hard to think we will have to jump in the car soon as these facilities wont just be around the corner.
Russell has been afforded an excellent opportunity which we would be silly to pass up, so we are on the move. The exact date is still to be sorted out but will be in the next 2 weeks. Therefore i will be unable to accept or process any orders until we are back online hopefully from 1 September, just in time for The Great Down Under Nappy Hunt.
Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you!
Posted by: amber in family, environment on
Jul 28, 2008
We set off this morning in the fog for an hours drive to a wetland area that is being rehabilitated. The project is an ongoing joint mission by Landcare and the company Russell works for. The kids had a blast and were our little helpers putting the seedlings down the pipes of the planting gadgets. Imogen was an angel, she slept in our Macpac carrier for about an hour. All up the 200 people present planted 20,000 seedlings over a 4 hour period. We had a hamburger for lunch before heading for home. It was a great day and i think the kids got a much better appreciation of our environment.
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