School News

All I can say about schooling four children at different grade levels is ahhhhh! It took a bit to get used to, but after a while you find what works! For me it is keeping them busy with activities appropriate to their age. Shelley (16 mths) pretty much runs around and gets into trouble. I give her 'special' things to play with and sometimes put her in a high chair with activities, but being an active little munchkin, she just wants to move around. She is a very happy child who is able to amuse herself easily, so no real dramas there. Alesha (3 yrs) has an excellent attention span and wants to join in the schooling activities. She soaks up everything I can give her. She does pre reading skill activities, coloring in and Reading Eggs. She is no trouble at all to keep happy. Isabella (5 yrs) started school formally this year and that was a challenge trying to juggle her schooling and the boys. You have to spend more 'one on one' time with them in the early stages of leaning to read, so was hard getting interruptions when the boys needed help. Things smoothed out and I have found that I can juggle things but it is not always easy. I like everything organized and scheduled, but that just doesn't happen anymore. I have had to learn how to 'go with the flow' - very hard for me, but good for me! It is a big learning curve and I don't think it ever stays the same. As they grow their needs change and so does the routine. I think for me, I just need to try and lighten up and be more flexible! Despite the challenges, schooling my kids is the greatest thing I have ever done!

55 Reasons to Homeschool

Academic Achievement Celebration!

We are very proud of Eric & Byron for doing so well in their school again in 2011. Eric got another Academic Achievement Award for an average result of 98.6% in all subjects and Byron got the same for scoring 98.7% average in all subjects.

We celebrated with a cake and a couple presents!
Good job boys!

Giant Cupcake Cake

Well Done!

ERIC'S NEWS

Two of Eric's science experiments this month taught that air has weight and that air takes up space. This was demonstrated by some very fun activities. 

AIR TAKES UP SPACE EXPERIMENT

You will need these things: 

A drinking glass, a dry handkerchief, a bucket of water.

Ready!

  

Put the dry handkerchief in the bottom of the glass. 

Wad it up so that it won't fall out.

Turn the glass upside down and put it into the bucket of water. 

Make sure the glass goes all the way under the water.  

Now lift the glass straight up out of the bucket.

  

Remove the handkerchief.

Cool!

 
Q. Is it wet or dry? It was dry.
Q. Why did this happen? Because there was air trapped inside.
This demonstration shows that air takes up space! All the kids got in on the action and took turns at doing the experiment.

AIR HAS WEIGHT EXPERIMENT

You will need these things:

A ruler, two balloons, some string, a pin

 Blow up and tie one balloon to each end of the ruler.

 

 Tie  a string around the middle of the ruler and hold the ruler
in the air by the string. Slide this string until the ruler is balanced.
 Tie the string to something or have someone hold it.

 Now use a pin to pop one of the balloons.

What happened?
Did your ruler look like this after the balloon popped?
Why did this happen?
This shows that air has weight




BYRON'S NEWS

Byron was very excited to be starting his times tables. He has learned his 2 times tables, and is starting on his 3 times tables. He was also very excited about learning cursive writing, so I took a picture of his work - he was very proud of himself (and so am I!).

One of the things Byron has been learning about in Science this month is plants and their seeds. He started a project, where he had to plant a seed and help it grow. Hopefully it will be a success and we can share the results of that with you next month!

The beginnings of Byron's science experiment "Plant a seed and help it grow"

ISABELLA'S NEWS

Isabella adding the finishing touches to her dot-to-dot

Isabella is still working through her learn to read program and is getting more confident at blending sounds. 

In Maths she has started learning subtraction, and is doing well with that.

ALESHA'S NEWS

Some of the things Alesha has been doing...

Which picture is different? Something is missing from one picture in each row. Draw a square around the picture that is different.

Shapes and Colours: 
Trace the squares and color them blue
Trace the triangles and color them green
Trace the circles and color them red
Trace the rectangles and color them orange
Trace the ovals and color them purple

SHELLEY'S NEWS

Shelley still loves to take her older schooling siblings pencils and erasers when they are not looking, causing them all kinds of grief. She thinks it's great! She likes to join in occasionally and likes to say some of the alphabet sounds. That's fun! But she especially loves it when we listen to alphabet and number videos on YouTube. Here is one of the many videos she likes...

NEW GLOBE

A much needed addition to the school room!

Australia!

I had to laugh when I came across "The Bitter Homeschooler's Wish List." 

I am definitely not a bitter homeschooler and to be honest have not run into anyone that has given me a hard time about it. Despite homeschooling's fast growing popularity, I know misconceptions still exist so I can see the funny side of the list!

The Bitter Homeschoolers Wish List (Click Here!)

That is all for now.

I hope you enjoyed February's School News!