Sunday, September 13, 2015

Slow Cooker Whole Chicken

I just made a whole chicken in the slow cooker for the first time and it was the best chicken I have ever made, ever.  So moist and so easy.  I normally brine a chicken for 24 hours before roasting it in the oven and it still isn't as moist as it was when made in the slow cooker.  If you like a crispy skin on your chicken though, you won't get it in the slow cooker.  My family usually just removes the skin so it wasn't a big deal to us.
Forgive the bad picture. I wasn't planning to blog it until it came out so yummy!
First, before you doing anything with the chicken or spices, grab some foil and roll 4 balls of foil to put under the chicken.  She shows you how over at No. 2 Pencil and trust me, she's right.  I chose not to follow her recipe because she used a pre-mixed spice blend.  I have found that the spice blends at the store are often not friendly to the Elimination Diet restrictions and I prefer to balance spices myself.

Spice Blend - Mix together in a small bowl.

2 t. salt
1 t. paprika
1 t. garlic powder
1 t. onion flakes
2 t. black pepper
1 t. red chili flakes

Chicken
1 whole chicken, 3.5-4.5 lbs.
3-4 T. EVOO or butter
1 medium yellow onion
3 cloves of garlic

After mixing the spices, grab your chicken.  Don't rinse it.  If your chicken came with the neck, I recommend placing it on the bottom of the cooker next to the foil balls for later use in making stock. Place chicken in slow cooker atop foil balls.

Rub the chicken with oil or butter. (I use EVOO.) Then rub the chicken with spices both on top and under the skin for extra flavor.  Chop the yellow onion into 4-5 wedges.  Roughly chop the garlic cloves.  Place onion wedges and chopped garlic into the bird's cavity.

Cook the chicken on low for 4-5 hours.  (Time and temperature will vary by cooker type.)  Use a meat thermometer to check if chicken is done.

What I Learned Week 1

Reflection.  It's a good thing, necessary for growth, both personal and professional.  It's an indispensable tool for teachers of all types.  It comes naturally to me but I don't always remember to write it down, which isn't helpful.  This past week was our first week of homeschool for the 2015-2016 school year and I have learned (or was reminded) of SO many lessons from my children.

What Did I Learn?
  • Spreadsheets are Helpful but Simple is Best - I had a huge spreadsheet for Week 1.  I mean HUGE, about three times what is shown below.  I had it divided up by day and subject, including page numbers and references.  It was super organized.  Did I use it?  Some, but I kept simplifying it to a little daily checklist.  
  • Calendar Time is almost useless as long as it remains in their room (with all their toys nearby). Do the routine and picture books but notebooking is pointless.
  • Quiet Boxes - It's pointless to plan what goes in them ahead of time.  
  • Reading - Picture book reading works best as part of Calendar Time; Read Aloud time works best during afternoon snack time.
  • Phonics - It either clicks for my girl or it doesn't.  If it doesn't then there's no use dwelling on it.  It will frustrate us both.  Keep practicing reading skills and eventually it will just click.
  • Handwriting - My girl needs practice, practice, practice until all those old bad habits from public school are gone. My boy isn't ready - color and trace, color and trace.
  • Fridays are for review.  No one feels like sitting and concentrating on something new by that point in the week.
  • Feedback from the kids - Craft projects. More music time. Don't leave Science until last.

What Did We Do?

Week 1
Subject
Activity
Field Trips
Beach; Six Flags; Library
Routine
Bible Verse, 100 Days, Letter, Number, Pledge, Weather
Reading
Hot air : the (mostly) true story of the first hot-air balloon ride Marjorie Priceman.
How do hot air balloons work? Buffy Silverman.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper
The Cheese by Margie Palatini
Activities
A Year of Playing Skillfully
Sensory Box
Sand & Seashells
Literacy
Phonics - CH/SH; Phonics Review; Phonics Review; Writing - All About Me; Sight Words - First Grade
Math
Singapore Math - Go Fish, War card games
Science
Bible
Bible Sketchbook - God made Heavens & Earth, Eve and the Serpent, Rules - Fruit of the Tree
Music & Art
Combined with Science and Writing
Spanish
Combined with Calendar time

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Play-based Scope and Sequence - THP Giveaway

So many people expressed interest in a Scope and Sequence for A Year of Playing Skillfully (AYPS) that I thought I would give it a shot! Below I provided an example of how I organized the first month, September, which you can receive as a free trial from their website, isn't that fun? [September Free Trial]

And in publishing it I decided there could be no better time for a book giveaway.  Now I realize that most of you who are navigating to this post already own The Homegrown Preschooler - and know how awesome it is - so this is your time to share it with your friends! 

By "Scope and Sequence" I mean a simple outline set up by week that gives a suggestion of what activities to complete together.  I did my best to group activities by a logical theme and order.  If you have purchased the entire curriculum and would like assistance putting together a sequence that works for your family, please feel free to contact me.  I am happy to help.

Click the link or the picture for your own PDF that outlines the first month of AYPS.

A Year of Playing Skillfully

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MDfKJ73cYhkfIoxhwJ16RIg4uc2qTP1boZCfyQo9NeY/pub?output=pdf

 The Homegrown Preschooler Giveaway

 
Now for the added bonus - don't have your own copy of The Homegrown Preschooler yet? Leave a comment below telling me why you love Play-Based Learning or a suggestion of how to improve the Scope and Sequence.  I will draw a winner and ship out the book to you in time for the new school year.

As mentioned previously - I typically post our week's lessons here as a reference point for myself and my husband, like this: Week at a Glance.  You are welcome to follow along.  And I am slowly but surely getting back to crafting, sewing, and knitting so a few of those posts will hopefully come along too. Enjoy!

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Scope & Sequence (In Progress)

For this year we are preparing for First Grade (6 y/o girl - G) and Preschool (almost 4 y/o boy - J). We are now officially required by Texas to include Reading, Writing, Spelling, Math, and Civics lessons into our schoolwork, not that we weren't including this previously, but now we have to be able to prove it.

G is reading right at a Kindergarten level and loves the Hooked on Phonics program.  She is a Math whiz and Singapore Math works well for her.  She enjoys seat work that "feels like school".

J disagrees.  He's very active but has just recently taken an interest in his sister's seat work.  He plays well on his own, which is good because sister likes to have absolute silence when working on seat work, but unfortunately brother's independent play time does not always coordinate with her desire for silence.  Handwriting has also been a challenge so we took some time off and will be returning to letter formation this year.

In an effort to address both their needs and integrate programs I am working on a Scope and Sequence for our activities and lessons.  It also helps should I ever have to present our curriculum to the state. Brother wants to do anything that sister does, but sometimes that interferes with both of their learning.  I plan to use a Quiet Box to keep him learning in a separate space from his sister when she needs to focus.

We are using:
I supplement from a number of sources, such as Sid the Science Kid coordinated Science lessons and Doodles Ave Lonestar State coloring books for Civics lessons.

I split the organization into three pages:
  • First Grade (items only G completes; J joins for Shared Reading)
  • Preschool (items only J completes, G joins for Literacy at her choice)
  • Combined
These are a work-in-progress that I will update with additional activities and links over the next week or two.  We intend to start after Labor Day with our new school year.

A few things to note - since we live in Texas certain activities are earlier/later than may be usual in other parts of the nation.  For example, we have to pick apples early, but our foliage won't change until very late.

Very shortly I will also post a weekly outline similar to what we used last semester: Week at a Glance



Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Sight Word Notebook


I recently stumbled across a great notebooking mini-lesson for sight words, but it was $10 and it wasn't exactly what I wanted.  I knew I could make one that's similar, it was just a matter of the time investment.  So last night when everyone else went to sleep I used my precious "alone" time to put one together (okay, and catch up on the Next Food Network Star).  And when I make something that could be helpful to others I feel it's only right to share since so many others do the same for me.

Right now the file only contains two sight words but Lil' Hoot loves it so I will add two more each week.  Currently I cut out most of the sections (except the letters of the Build It section of course) as we go then she pastes them into her notebook and completes them.  She then reviews her notebook with her dad each night for extra practice.




Sight Word Notebook

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Organizing Homeschool

It seems like organizing homeschool supplies and how we set up our spaces is a common theme so I thought I'd take a few minutes and post our space. This is (at least) the 4th different method we've had and it seems to be working the best (so far). We are renting so everything you see is mobile, nothing permanent and nothing adhered with anything more than nails or screws. 

You will notice a lot of Ikea, because it's affordable and it works. None of the links below are affiliate links because this blog isn't a business. It's mostly just a way to keep my ideas organized and share homeschool plans with my husband.

Right now our calendar time board is in the kids' room. Most of our schooling takes place in our dining room but since we also entertain in that space we didn't want this on the wall in that room.  This works okay, but ideally I'd separate it from their sleep/play space. They're easily distracted when we are in there.

Cork Boards*- Jo-Ann
Calendar, numbers, and months - hand-me downs from my mother
Spanish months - Mardel
Book holders - spice racks from Ikea

*Cork boards are expensive and I am "frugal" so instead of buying a 4' board, I bought 2 smaller unframed cork boards on sale at Jo-Ann's (looks like they are currently on sale again). The cork is really thin and peeled easily so I covered them in a cheap neutral fabric from Wal-mart. The sticky pieces to adhere them to the wall didn't work and peeled off the drywall texture (at our old house) so it was better to just nail/screw through them into the wall.


For independent work time:

small "desks" - side tables from Ikea
Little Tikes plastic chairs - consignment find
art easel* - Ikea

*I wish it was magnetic so we could use it for magnetic numbers and letters. I think I'm going to add a magnetic board or cookie sheet to the wall for that instead.  

Paw Patrol back drop is left over from her birthday party - totally not permanent. I got some large maps for free before I left teaching at my high school. They're nice enough to go up permanently but I'm waiting until we start our "new school year" in the Fall.

 

Art/Office Supplies, Small Activities, Tools - Shoe Organizer from Wal-mart

I totally stole this idea from Pinterest, and I love it a little too much. At one point I had two of these used in this manner in our house in addition to two in my kids' rooms for shoe storage. By the way, there's a cheaper version in-store at Wal-mart for about $5, or at least there used to be.

We also have a drawer for art supplies we use regularly in what looks like a sideboard in our dining area but actually serves to store my sewing/craft supplies. It's the stuff we use most often like crayons, paints, markers, colored pencils, and glue. For my mental health I really wanted it with everything else but it works really well being right next to the tables where work is done so I left it alone.

  
This is our main closet for homeschool storage and supplies. (I guess most people use it as a linen closet.) The clear bins and white buckets are organized by month/season or by subject. Each month I take out what we need from the appropriate bin/bucket and put it on our cart (shown below) or in our sensory bin for the month. Inside the month/season bin I include everything that is specific to that theme - like books, sensory bin supplies (in a large zip lock bag), and anything we do only in that month. For ongoing subject activities (like Math and Reading) I keep it grouped by subject.  

Monthly/Subject supplies - Clear bins from Ikea 
This cart is how we honor my husband's request that the dining room table is still usable for meals.  When we are done for the day we can load our things from the dining room table into it and roll it back to the closet.  It also serves as a symbolic "start" and "end" to "school."

The bottom shelf holds the month's bin (except for the two seasons that are too big - Christmas and Valentine's). Since most of the supplies are set out in their "home" for the month (sensory bin items in that bin, books on the shelf, etc.) this bin now only holds extra activities and supplies that I know we need for specific activities or projects. The middle shelf holds workbooks, chalk boards, white boards - basically anything we write on. The top shelf has become a catch-all for the stuff that doesn't fit elsewhere but that we are using that week - a "junk drawer" of sorts that lets us clean up quickly.

Weekly supply storage - Rolling Cart from Ikea

 
Emphasized play and frequently read books. Animal bins hold toys for homeschool play in rotation - puppets, musical instruments, soft balls, etc. Free play toys are stored in their room. Yes, this is in my living room. And don't you love the picture frames I got for Christmas but have yet to fill?


Storage for unit studies, workbooks, leveled readers, teacher manuals, and unit studies. The magazine files hold books and activities by theme (insects, civics, reptiles, ocean). Within the magazine files the themes are separated by file folders.

Honestly, it was a fair amount of work to get everything sorted out this way but it was so worth it. I was so sick of knowing I had supplies or books but not knowing where.  Or worse, completing forgetting what we had because it was buried in a box.  So far keeping it this way has been easy because the kids are trained regularly to pick up what they get out.  Also, they helped me organize the things that mattered to them (like their toys) and now they are pretty picky about where things "go."

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Week #7 at a Glance

Wednesday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time - Supply box, dry erase board
Bible - Practice verse; Bible page
Literacy - Explode the Code
Math - Singapore Math 
Reading - My Friend is Sad; Are You My Mother? (Have G read too.)
Science - Peep Experiments (2) Peep Science (Document in Science journal.)
Field Trip - Pool
Computer - Sight Word game; Animal Lost & Found; Peg + Cat Chicken Coop

Thursday
Activity             Supplies
Calendar Time - Supply box, dry erase board
Bible - Practice verse; Bible page
Literacy - Explode the Code 
Math - Singapore Math 
Reading - Are You My Mother?; Horton Hatches an Egg (Have a debate giving reasons why Mazie should get the egg and reasons why Horton should get the egg.)  
Science - Life Cycle of a Chicken book
Computer - SuperWhy (Pink iPad); Splash Math (Pink iPad)
Extra: Gymnastics

Friday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time - Supply box, dry erase board
Bible - Easter books and video:  Easter for Kindergarteners
Literacy - Explode the Code
Math - Singapore Math; Practice Greater than/Less than
Reading - Are You My Mother?;  (Book Report; present to Mom)
Science - Peep Experiments (2) Peep Science (Document in Science journal.)
Art - How to Draw series - Butterfly
Computer Sight Word game; Handwriting Without Tears (Pink iPad) ; Peg + Cat Chicken Coop
Field Trip - Bluebonnet field


Saturday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Math - Peg + Cat: The Chicken Problem
Reading - Horton Hatches an Egg (Discuss: (1) Why do you think Horton stayed on the nest? (2) Would you have stayed on the egg? Why/why not? (3) What might be a better title for this story?)
Science -  Peep Play Dough

Art - How to Draw series - Flowers

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Week #6 at a Glance - Easter, Spring & Chickens

Monday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time - Supply box, dry erase board
Bible - Practice verse; Easter books and video:  Easter for Kindergarteners
Literacy - Explode the Code (pp. 37-38); Preposition game (p. 222)
Math - Singapore Math (p. 24); Add up the cash from her art show. Talk about the money.
Reading - My Friend is Sad; Are You My Mother?
Science - Magic Schoolbus Cracks an Egg
Art - Dye Easter Eggs
Computer - Sight Word game; Animal Lost & Found; Peg + Cat Chicken Coop

Tuesday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time - Supply box, dry erase board
Bible - Easter books and video:  Easter for Kindergarteners
Literacy - Explode the Code (pp. 39-40); Short 'i' wheel houses
Math - Singapore Math (p. 26); Number cards
Reading - My Friend is Sad; Are You My Mother?
Science - Life Cycle of a Chicken
Art - How to Draw series - Rabbit
Computer - SuperWhy (Pink iPad); Splash Math (Pink iPad)
Field Trip - Library (Pick up Horton Hatches an Egg.)

Wednesday
Activity             Supplies
Calendar Time - Supply box, dry erase board
Bible - Easter books and video:  Easter for Kindergarteners
Literacy - Explode the Code (pp. 41)
Math - Singapore Math (p. 27); Number Cards
Reading - Are You My Mother?; Horton Hatches an Egg (Have a debate giving reasons why Mazie should get the egg and reasons why Horton should get the egg.)  
Science - Peep Experiments (2) Peep Science (Document in Science journal.)
Art - How to Draw series - Baby Chick
Computer - Sight Word game; Animal Lost & Found; Peg + Cat Chicken Coop
Thursday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time - Supply box, dry erase board
Bible - Easter books and video:  Easter for Kindergarteners
Literacy - Explode the Code (pp. 42-43); Egg sight words
Math - Singapore Math (p. 28); Practice Greater than/Less than
Reading - Are You My Mother?; Horton Hatches an Egg (Discuss: (1) Why do you think Horton stayed on the nest? (2) Would you have stayed on the egg? Why/why not? (3) What might be a better title for this story?)
Science - Peep Experiments (2) Peep Science (Document in Science journal.)
Art - How to Draw series - Butterfly
Computer - SuperWhy (Pink iPad); Splash Math (Pink iPad)

Friday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time - Supply box, dry erase board
Bible - Easter books and video:  Easter for Kindergarteners
Literacy - Explode the Code (pp. 44-45); Life Cycle of a Chicken book
Math - Singapore Math (p. 29); Peg + Cat: The Chicken Problem
Reading - Are You My Mother?; Horton Hatches an Egg (Book Report; present to Mom)
Science -  Peep Play Dough

Art - How to Draw series - Flowers
Computer - Sight Word game; Handwriting Without Tears (Pink iPad) ; Peg + Cat Chicken Coop
Field Trip - Bluebonnet field

Happy Easter - An Eggstraordinary Easter Giveaway

 I finally finished my second "from the stash" project of the year.  It ended up being a challenge to finish because I ran out of elastic thread halfway through the bodice.  Our local Jo-Ann's was out, Hobby Lobby does not stock elastic thread, Amazon was expensive.  After two weeks of waiting for it to come back in stock I decided to just drive the extra 20 minutes to another Jo-Ann's store that had the thread in stock - and I bought two spools.  

The fabric I bought a year ago, and in hindsight I remembered that my original intention was to cut each strip of color in half then sew the ends together in order to make a much fuller skirt. I kept taking the layers up because it was soooo long, but I didn't remember why until I was too far into the project to change it. 

Regardless - Grace likes her "Rainbow Dress", mostly.  She likes the aesthetic but she's not big on how the shirring feels on her skin. But I'm not big on trying to line shirring, so this dress will primarily serve as her swimsuit cover up for the year.  And given that we have moved to central Texas, I imagine it will get a lot of wear for that purpose.

I first tried shirring a few years ago.  This is my favorite tutorial: Made by Rae Shirring Tutorial
The fabric is from Jo-Ann Fabrics Tutti Frutti collection.  Straps are a random rainbow ribbon. 

A giveaway, in celebration of Easter Sunday.  The Pinkalicious series of books is a favorite around here with both kids, and that includes the Eggstraordinary Easter book.  We enjoy the colors, the clues, the creativity.  I wish I had a homemade giveaway for you, but until school releases for summer that may not happen.  In the meantime I have this fabulous Pinkalicious book! 

Just enter in the comments here (not on Facebook) with your favorite Easter activity.  I will let a random number generator chose the winner then notify you by email.

http://www.amazon.com/Pinkalicious-Eggstraordinary-Easter-Victoria-Kann/dp/0062187724/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1428265209&sr=8-2&keywords=Pinkalicious

In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” (Luke 24:5-7 NIV)


Sunday, March 29, 2015

Week #5 At a Glance - Easter & Springtime

*Still Under Construction*

Monday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time - Supply box, dry erase board
Bible - Easter books and video:  Easter for Kindergarteners
Literacy - Book of Choice at her level. Practice the pink sight words; sight word sentences book.
Easter crosses at sunset - Paint the sunsets and we will add the crosses later.  There are two canvases for it.

Tuesday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time  - Supply box, dry erase board
Bible - new memory verse                                                        
Art Show prep
Wednesday
Activity             Supplies
Calendar Time - Supply box, dry erase board
Bible - Read one of the the Easter Story books & talk about the real meaning of Easter.
 Literacy - Book of Choice at her level. Practice the pink sight words; sight word sentences book.
What Color is Black? (p. 196) - Black marker, coffee filter, jar, water, pipe cleaner; Review primary and secondary colors.  We talked about them on Tuesday.

Thursday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time - Supply box, dry erase board
Bible - Easter story
Playdate

Friday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time - Supply box, dry erase board
Bible - Read one of the the Easter Story books & talk about the real meaning of Easter.
Sight Word Book - Help her read it, then finish illustrating, and practice the pink set of sight words.
Read Easter books. - In the racks in the bedroom.
Field Trip - Garden

The playlist: Kids 1 YouTube Playlist

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Change is the Only Constant

If you've been following along here then you've noticed the lack of pictures and the repetition of "At a Glance" weeks.  Well - things have changed (again) here at the Hoot's Nest.  We got all settled into a pattern and were set to homeschool for the long haul with me as the kids' primary teacher.  But boy does God have a sense of humor.  We once joked that Big Hoot could never be a stay-at-home dad and guess what?  As of mid-February, he's a stay-at-home dad.  His contract ended early at just the same time that I was offered a position at a local high school.  So for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday he teaches homeschool using our "Week at a Glance" blog posts as a guide. I was able to work out a deal so that I can be home on Tuesday and Thursday so I can still be a part of our kids' education.  We don't know what summer will bring, let alone the fall - so keep us in your prayers.  Big Hoot is working on a career shift but the process for that is slow - November at the soonest.

In the meantime - I really do have giveaways coming - TWO in fact.  And even a crafty blog post, if I can just get my hands on some more elastic thread!

Week #4 at a Glance - Easter & Color

Monday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time                                            Supply box, dry erase board
Bible                                                          Crayons, Bible page
Sophia books & Chapter book of choice
Easter postcards*                                       White postcards and markers (Oval stencil if necessary)
*Show her the steps on the website. Discuss foreground, middle ground, back ground.

Tuesday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time  - Supply box, dry erase board
Bible - new memory verse                                                        
Short vowel sounds - review
Books of choice 
Shaving cream eggs
Color Mixing - Color Mixing Kit
Field trip: Play for All Abilities Park
*Gymnastics

Wednesday
Activity             Supplies
Calendar Time - Supply box, dry erase board
Bible - Read one of the the Easter Story books & talk about the real meaning of Easter.
Sick Day
Crayon Light Ray Cross - Use the ruler and help Grace draw her own cross template.  Then she can trace it onto a piece of cardstock.  Use the "Twistables" crayons instead of pastels.  They smudge easily.

Thursday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time - Supply box, dry erase board
Bible - Easter story
Sight Word Book - Practice the pink sight words (inside the book on the window sill) and then use them to create sentences. Have her dictate the sentences to you.  Encourage more than one per sentence in some cases (like his, her). Write them in the book I laid out.  She can then illustrate it and read it back to you.
Make Number Post Its - Post Its, Stickers

Friday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time - Supply box, dry erase board
Bible - Read one of the the Easter Story books & talk about the real meaning of Easter.
Sight Word Book - Help her read it, then finish illustrating, and practice the pink set of sight words.
Read Easter books. - In the racks in the bedroom.
What Color is Black? (p. 196) - Black marker, coffee filter, jar, water, pipe cleaner; Review primary and secondary colors.  We talked about them on Tuesday.
Number Memory Match Up  - Match Up Cards; Try just with looking at them, not an actual memory game and have J help.  Grace needs to work on 1-to-1 correspondence and he needs to work on number recognition.
Modern Easter Rabbit - She will probably need help.  Have her pick 3-4 colors for the rabbit, a different set for the background, and another set for the edges.  Help her color - it's a lot and if she does it all herself then her hand will hurt.

Saturday
Easter crosses at sunset

This week's playlist: Kids 1 YouTube Playlist
Easter video:  Easter for Kindergarteners

This month's 'extras':
  1. How Legos are Made
  2. The Lego Story
  3. Rainbow Loom bracelets (craft cabinet)

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Week #2 at a Glance - Lego, Noah, & Rainbows

Sunday
Ikea trip
Make a light box

Monday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time                                            Supply box, dry erase board
Bible                                                           Read - The Early Reader's Bible (p. 19-33)
Noah's Ark carrier                                      Paper plates, crayons, stapler, animal crackers
Explore: How do computers work?
Freeze Dance

Tuesday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time                                            Supply box, dry erase board
Bible                                                           Read - The Early Reader's Bible (p. 19-33)
Field trip: Play for All Abilities Park
Colors Book (p. 191)                                  Blank book, magazines, scissors, blue, markers
Lego Marble Maze                                     Lego board, legos, marbles
Father May I

Wednesday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time                                            Supply box, dry erase board
Bible                                                           Read - The Early Reader's Bible (p. 19-33)
Noah's Ark Rainbow                                  Paper plate, cotton balls, streamers, hole punch, yarn
Kinetic Sand                                               Sand boxes and molds
Lego Patterns                                              Lego bricks, pattern cards
Family Rhythm Game (p. 191)                  
Dance Party                                                Playlist 

Thursday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time                                            Supply box, dry erase board
Bible                                                           Read - The Early Reader's Bible (p. 19-33)
Sight Wordle
Rainbow Rice (p. 196)                               Rice, freezer bags, gel food coloring, rubbing alcohol
Color Mixing                                              Color Mixing Kit
Make Number Post Its                                Post Its, Stickers

Friday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time                                            Supply box, dry erase board
Bible                                                           Read - The Early Reader's Bible (p. 19-33)
Letter Sounds Race (p. 192)                       Metal box and letters
What Color is Black? (p. 196)                   Black marker, coffee filter, jar, water, pipe cleaner
 Number Memory Match Up                     Match Up Post Its

This week's playlist: Kids 1 YouTube Playlist

This week's book list:

  1. What's the Weather Today?
  2. Weather
  3. The Rainbow Fish
  4. Max Found Two Sticks
  5. The Jazz Man
  6. Jesse Bear What Will You Wear
  7. The Early Reader's Bible (pp. 19-33)


The week's 'extras':

  1. How Legos are Made
  2. The Lego Story
  3. VeggieTales Noah's Ark
  4. Rainbow Loom bracelets (craft cabinet)

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Week #1 at a Glance - Noah's Ark, Rainbows, & Rhythm

Sunday
Ikea trip
Make a light box

Monday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time                                            Supply box, dry erase board
Bible                                                           Read - The Early Reader's Bible (p. 19-33)
Noah's Ark carrier                                      Paper plates, crayons, stapler, animal crackers
Explore: How do computers work?
Freeze Dance

Tuesday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time                                            Supply box, dry erase board
Bible                                                           Read - The Early Reader's Bible (p. 19-33)
Field trip: Play for All Abilities Park
Colors Book (p. 191)                                  Blank book, magazines, scissors, blue, markers
Lego Marble Maze                                     Lego board, legos, marbles
Father May I

Wednesday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time                                            Supply box, dry erase board
Bible                                                           Read - The Early Reader's Bible (p. 19-33)
Noah's Ark Rainbow                                  Paper plate, cotton balls, streamers, hole punch, yarn
Kinetic Sand                                               Sand boxes and molds
Lego Patterns                                              Lego bricks, pattern cards
Family Rhythm Game (p. 191)                  
Dance Party                                                Playlist 

Thursday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time                                            Supply box, dry erase board
Bible                                                           Read - The Early Reader's Bible (p. 19-33)
Sight Wordle
Rainbow Rice (p. 196)                               Rice, freezer bags, gel food coloring, rubbing alcohol
Color Mixing                                              Color Mixing Kit
Make Number Post Its                                Post Its, Stickers

Friday
Activity                                                       Supplies
Calendar Time                                            Supply box, dry erase board
Bible                                                           Read - The Early Reader's Bible (p. 19-33)
Letter Sounds Race (p. 192)                       Metal box and letters
What Color is Black? (p. 196)                   Black marker, coffee filter, jar, water, pipe cleaner
 Number Memory Match Up                     Match Up Post Its

This week's playlist: Kids 1 YouTube Playlist

This week's book list:

  1. What's the Weather Today?
  2. Weather
  3. The Rainbow Fish
  4. Max Found Two Sticks
  5. The Jazz Man
  6. Jesse Bear What Will You Wear
  7. The Early Reader's Bible (pp. 19-33)


The week's 'extras':

  1. How Legos are Made
  2. The Lego Story
  3. VeggieTales Noah's Ark
  4. Rainbow Loom bracelets (craft cabinet)

Friday, February 27, 2015

Homeschool Schedule Reworked

More of a General Guide than a real schedule.  I had a very crammed schedule written when Lil' Hoot first came home from public school.  It didn't work.  This schedule is closer to our natural pattern but it's so easy to slip off of it as "life happens."

until 9:00a - Breakfast, News, PBS, Chores, Get settled
[Potty Break]
9-9:30 - Calendar Time*
9:30-10 - Bible Time then Books (Grace reads one, Parent reads one)
10-11:30 - Literacy Activity, Math Activity, Skillful Play
[Potty Break around 11]
11:30-12 - Lunch
12-1 - Outside or Music time
[Potty Break]
1-2:30 - Movie/Quiet Time
2:30-3 - Something Active (Outside if possible)
3-3:30 - Snacks and Books
[Potty Break]
3:30-4:30 - iPad (Learning games first)
4:30-5 - Dinner Prep

*Calendar Time

  1. Put up new date and weather cards.
  2. Say the memory verse and the pledge of allegiance.
  3. Sing a song or two. (ABCs, Months of the Year, Days of the Week)
  4. Write name and phone number on the white board. (Say phone # together. Watch pencil grip.)

+ Park play or library once a week.
+ Field trip once a week.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Playing Skillfully in January and February - At Home Edition

We took about a week unofficially "off" this month for a convention and a visit from Grandma and Papa Hoot.  Even still we packed in a lot of activities.  In fact, I had to split up the photos in two posts because we had so many.  I guess next month I will have to post more often. How did y'all learn this month?

Making Porcupines

Sword fights.

Lego Castles

Block Castles (with Shopkins)

Newspaper Word Hunt

Play ball!

Havin a "parade"

Mud.

Brownies

Looking for a cool spot in the shade.


Pretend puddles & rain showers

Melting crayons into hearts

Valentine's Day paintings

Teaching Daddy Math

Making muffins

Making Valentines

Chocolate-covered marshmallows

Writing Books