Boo hoo for me.
It seems like just yesterday that we started out on this homeschool adventure. It seems like one day String was my preschooler then in the blink of an eye he was a Kindergartner, and now I turn around and we're beginning third grade.
Surprisingly enough, we're switching some things up this year. I've always been drawn to a curriculum called
Sonlight. It's a literature based approach that has always appealed to me. For one reason or another it's something that I've always put aside in favor of other curriculum choices. As String gets older, however, I've been really wanting to find the curriculum that's "The One"...perfect for us and something we can stick with for a long time to come. Well, I may be jumping the gun folks, but I think that we may have found it! So far we are really enjoying Sonlight and are looking forward to the year ahead.
This year we're also using:
Sonlight Core 1+2 with readers 2 advanced (Bible, history, geography, literature, readers)
Sonlight language arts 2 advanced (spelling, writing, grammar, vocabulary)
Growing With Grammar Level 3
MCP Phonics C
Math U See Gamma
Singapore Math 3
Singapore Math: Challenging Word Problems
Horizons 3
(I know, I know...isn't 3 math curriculums the teensiest bit excessive? Maybe. Give me a month and then ask me again.)
Artistic Pursuits
Considering God's Creation (science)
Logic (Sudoku, Logic Links, Building Thinking Skills, Venn Perplexors, puzzles, games, etc..)
Piano lessons
Chess
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Checkmate!
String loves to play chess. I'm not sure what the appeal of the game is but he's positively passionate about it. For Christmas, right before he turned 5 he received as a gift a computer game called "Fritz and Chesster Learn to Play Chess". From the moment we popped the disc into the computer and started it up he was hooked. While he seemed to pick up on the game and have a knack for it right away for the longest time he only played recreationally..a little on the computer here..a game against the Old Man there..a once a month, informal chess club at the local library..etc.. Something happened in the Fall of 2008 though that ignited a chess fire within him..lol. Maybe it was the homeschooler's chess group we joined but suddenly he ate, slept and dreamed chess. There were folks involved in our local chess community who were really encouraging us to enter him into tournaments right away and I had no doubt that he played well enough for tournaments..I was just not sure if he was emotionally ready. String's a sensitive kid and I was worried that the pressure of a tournament might crush the love he had for the game. String however, really wanted to give tournaments a go and eventually I relented. We signed him up for the United States Chess Federation and registered for a local tournament.
As I sat and watched him play this past weekend I was really taken a back by him..my suddenly grown up little String. His opponents are almost always at least twice his age and size yet he sits down across from them without so much as a blink, smiles and extends his hand for the traditional handshake and "good luck" wishes before the game begins. At this past weekend's tournament when one of his opponents saw him they said "Oh great..I have to play a baby". String smiled off the comment and went on to a fairly effortless victory. He gets comments like this quite a bit but usually after playing a game or two there is a mutual respect between him and his opponents.
It sounds boring...watching a room full of kids play chess but to the parents and kids there it's really unlike any other competitive game. The only sounds of the room being the distinct noise the pieces make as they hit the board, the hitting of the clocks and the occasional "Checkmate!". Some parents hover over their kid's games..anxiously watching each move. I usually stay in another room and peek in occasionally to see how things are going. I can always tell how a game is going by String's position. If he's doing well he's standing up, moving confidently, hitting the clock with confident force. If a game is not going so well he's usually slumped in his chair..head in his hands with his fingers stuffed in his ears. His moves are much more hesitant and unsure...he'll just lightly push the clock button down.
I'm not sure for how long he'll want to play or to what level he'll compete, but for now this is what he loves and I love that homeschooling allows him to dive into that passion!
~Jenn~
As I sat and watched him play this past weekend I was really taken a back by him..my suddenly grown up little String. His opponents are almost always at least twice his age and size yet he sits down across from them without so much as a blink, smiles and extends his hand for the traditional handshake and "good luck" wishes before the game begins. At this past weekend's tournament when one of his opponents saw him they said "Oh great..I have to play a baby". String smiled off the comment and went on to a fairly effortless victory. He gets comments like this quite a bit but usually after playing a game or two there is a mutual respect between him and his opponents.
It sounds boring...watching a room full of kids play chess but to the parents and kids there it's really unlike any other competitive game. The only sounds of the room being the distinct noise the pieces make as they hit the board, the hitting of the clocks and the occasional "Checkmate!". Some parents hover over their kid's games..anxiously watching each move. I usually stay in another room and peek in occasionally to see how things are going. I can always tell how a game is going by String's position. If he's doing well he's standing up, moving confidently, hitting the clock with confident force. If a game is not going so well he's usually slumped in his chair..head in his hands with his fingers stuffed in his ears. His moves are much more hesitant and unsure...he'll just lightly push the clock button down.
I'm not sure for how long he'll want to play or to what level he'll compete, but for now this is what he loves and I love that homeschooling allows him to dive into that passion!
~Jenn~
Friday, December 19, 2008
Addicted
We are officially addicted to this game.
I was introduced to it by some fellow homeschoolers last week at our weekly co-op and fell so in love with this game that I ran out (okay...drove out) and bought it that same night.
Since I bought it I've been systematically forcing my family and friends to play it too...thus passing on my addiction to them.
The great thing about Set is that it's an equal playing field game for all ages which makes it a fantastic family game. Either you're good at it..or you're not. I'm average at it...String is really good...the ol' man fluctuates between awesome and really stinking bad.
~Jenn~
I was introduced to it by some fellow homeschoolers last week at our weekly co-op and fell so in love with this game that I ran out (okay...drove out) and bought it that same night.
Since I bought it I've been systematically forcing my family and friends to play it too...thus passing on my addiction to them.
The great thing about Set is that it's an equal playing field game for all ages which makes it a fantastic family game. Either you're good at it..or you're not. I'm average at it...String is really good...the ol' man fluctuates between awesome and really stinking bad.
~Jenn~
Our Christmas Card Photo
Well, here it is. Nothing special this year..just kind of going for a nostalgic Norman Rockwell-ish feel.
Due to the low lighting this photo did require String to hold verrrrrrry still, which he did like a holding still champ (the prize being an extra hour of Wii time and a piece of peppermint ribbon candy).
~Jenn~
Due to the low lighting this photo did require String to hold verrrrrrry still, which he did like a holding still champ (the prize being an extra hour of Wii time and a piece of peppermint ribbon candy).
~Jenn~
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Arrrggghhhh...Treasure Soap
Each year I try and have String make something handmade for his friends. This year we made treasure soap. This was surprisingly inexpensive and easy to make. The idea is simple...homemade soap with little "treasures" hidden inside to discover as the soap is used.
Most craft stores carry soap making supplies. We chose white goat's milk soap for our soap. There are a variety of soaps, dyes, molds and fragrances to choose from.
After all was said and done each bar ended up costing approximately $2.00. Most of our local craft stores have coupons in the Sunday paper....if I had taken the time to cut some out I could probably saved some money on the soap and supplies.
Here is what a finished bar looks like and a sample of some of the treasures we put in our soap.
The first step is to carefully cut the soap into the size you'll need to fill your mold.
Next you pop the soap into the microwave for about 45 seconds to melt it.
When your soap is melted you add in your desired color and fragrance. We chose to keep ours white and used honey almond for the fragrance.
Then you pour the melted soap into a mold.
Next you add in your "treasures". Most of the stuff were things we had around the house...plastic gold coins, neat looking marbles, plastic jemstones, little rubber animals..etc. We were able to stuff between 6 and 8 things in each bar.
The ol' man made up a nifty little label.
I found these cute little bags at the craft store as well. They made for a nice finishing touch and I figured that the kids could keep all their treasures inside them when they're done.
So there you have it..our handmade gift for the year!
~Jenn~
Most craft stores carry soap making supplies. We chose white goat's milk soap for our soap. There are a variety of soaps, dyes, molds and fragrances to choose from.
After all was said and done each bar ended up costing approximately $2.00. Most of our local craft stores have coupons in the Sunday paper....if I had taken the time to cut some out I could probably saved some money on the soap and supplies.
Here is what a finished bar looks like and a sample of some of the treasures we put in our soap.
The first step is to carefully cut the soap into the size you'll need to fill your mold.
Next you pop the soap into the microwave for about 45 seconds to melt it.
When your soap is melted you add in your desired color and fragrance. We chose to keep ours white and used honey almond for the fragrance.
Then you pour the melted soap into a mold.
Next you add in your "treasures". Most of the stuff were things we had around the house...plastic gold coins, neat looking marbles, plastic jemstones, little rubber animals..etc. We were able to stuff between 6 and 8 things in each bar.
The ol' man made up a nifty little label.
I found these cute little bags at the craft store as well. They made for a nice finishing touch and I figured that the kids could keep all their treasures inside them when they're done.
So there you have it..our handmade gift for the year!
~Jenn~
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Catching Up...
Wooooooooooow. Long time, no update! I know, I know...I'm a bad blogger.
To make up for my neglect I'm posting a big ol' update post complete with a massive photo overload.
We've had a uber busy few months. Work and homeschooling have kept me busy. We've been blessed with beautiful weather this Fall and have been taking full advantage of it.
Well, first of all, my sister got married!!!!
Of course we began our homeschooling year..
We've also been busy hanging out with local homeschoolers. So far this year we've gone on a Nature Walk to collect Fall leaves, seen a local production of "The Boxcar Children", gone on a tour of our local "Red Robin", participated in a game day and made some new friends at a local assisted living facility and have been attending a wonderful new homeschoolers Chess Club.
We also went to a local fort..
Picked appes and pumpkins..
And just enjoyed the season and eachother..
[
So that's our past couple of months in a nutshell! I promise I won't let so much time lapse before my next update!
~Jenn~
To make up for my neglect I'm posting a big ol' update post complete with a massive photo overload.
We've had a uber busy few months. Work and homeschooling have kept me busy. We've been blessed with beautiful weather this Fall and have been taking full advantage of it.
Well, first of all, my sister got married!!!!
Of course we began our homeschooling year..
We've also been busy hanging out with local homeschoolers. So far this year we've gone on a Nature Walk to collect Fall leaves, seen a local production of "The Boxcar Children", gone on a tour of our local "Red Robin", participated in a game day and made some new friends at a local assisted living facility and have been attending a wonderful new homeschoolers Chess Club.
We also went to a local fort..
Picked appes and pumpkins..
And just enjoyed the season and eachother..
[
So that's our past couple of months in a nutshell! I promise I won't let so much time lapse before my next update!
~Jenn~
Monday, August 25, 2008
Scott Kelby Photo Walk 2008
I know, I know..another photograpy post. I do promise however, that as Summer draws to a close and the start date for our homeschooling year is ever encroaching there will be more diverse subject matter soon!
This past Saturday was photo guru Scott Kelby's first annual Photo Walk. The idea is simple. In cities all across the world, photographers get together and head out on a photo walk. The photography part is great fun, but coming together with and getting to know other photographers in your city is the real fun.
We had about 15 folks in our group. Everyone was really friendly and the weather was gorgeous! I have to admit that I was a bit anxious and feeling out of my element however the challenge of photographing outside my typical genre (adorable little kiddos) was a breath of fresh air. We walked the city for about two hours...taking photos, comparing equipment and chatting about lenses, apertures, bokeh and shutter speeds. After the walk we headed to a local coffee spot to gush over each other's photos and exchange information.
Our group organizer set up a Flickr site so we could all share our photos..it's been really neat to see everyone's creative interpretation of the same scenes!
Here's some of mine from the walk..I apologize in advance for the photo overload!
The Photo Walk will be an annual event...so if photography is your profession, your hobby or your passion (or if you just like to take photos and get to know some new folks) then I'd highly suggest marking next year's photo walk on your calendar!
~Jenn~
This past Saturday was photo guru Scott Kelby's first annual Photo Walk. The idea is simple. In cities all across the world, photographers get together and head out on a photo walk. The photography part is great fun, but coming together with and getting to know other photographers in your city is the real fun.
We had about 15 folks in our group. Everyone was really friendly and the weather was gorgeous! I have to admit that I was a bit anxious and feeling out of my element however the challenge of photographing outside my typical genre (adorable little kiddos) was a breath of fresh air. We walked the city for about two hours...taking photos, comparing equipment and chatting about lenses, apertures, bokeh and shutter speeds. After the walk we headed to a local coffee spot to gush over each other's photos and exchange information.
Our group organizer set up a Flickr site so we could all share our photos..it's been really neat to see everyone's creative interpretation of the same scenes!
Here's some of mine from the walk..I apologize in advance for the photo overload!
The Photo Walk will be an annual event...so if photography is your profession, your hobby or your passion (or if you just like to take photos and get to know some new folks) then I'd highly suggest marking next year's photo walk on your calendar!
~Jenn~
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