Blueberries for Sal

We had a lot of fun with Blueberries for Sal.  This is the first time I've ever read my littles this book and they really enjoyed it.  I  really enjoyed it....what a sweet story.

Letter B sensory bin.

Bear Bingo tray.  I just had Silas match the colors for this. 

Working hard.

Glue the Bs on the blueberry bushes.

He had such a great time cutting out apples and gluing them for the letter A that I printed out this letter B with bears from 1+1+1=1 Animal ABCs series.

He really enjoyed this tray.  Guess I will continue to do this.

Bear Painting.

He enjoyed using a different painting medium other than a paint brush.  Using these little balls also gave the bear an unexpected furry look.  Bonus! :)  Love when something unplanned that is cool happens.

Finished bear.  One of Asa's alphabet sheets....no idea where the big B went......I will probably find it someplace random at some point.

I felt the need to set up the easel one day and let the kids paint. lol  I drew about 5 Bs for Silas to paint.  He had a good time with it.

Asa and Silas helped make Blueberry, Banana muffins.  I have been doing really good on my goal of getting the kids in the kitchen more with me.

Asa is really enjoying his Explode the Code.....what a great resource.  My kids just love doing their ETC pages.

Using our GeoSafari Phonics pad.....learning more about the B sound.

Working on sorting and patterning in our Saxon K.  So far this has been relatively easy for him we've been moving at a good pace through it.  That is nice since it gives me the freedom to not do a lesson everyday.  :)

The kids were being really quiet one day....one of those 'too quiet' moments that kind of strikes fear in the heart of a mom and you don't know what you're going to find as you walk around the corner. lol  I was pleasantly surprised when I found an impromptu art class in session (believe me I was expecting syrup, or hair cutting, or wall painting/coloring).  Straws, glue, and big paper = these creations.....plus cooperation, getting along, and quiet....wonderful combination.

I really wanted to do this balloon activity with them again...they LOVED it, but I just didn't have the time to set it up.  Maybe another time.  Up next is The Very Hungry Caterpillar for the letter C.  Happy blogging!

jess_hak

First Grade Fun

Please forgive me for the lack of posts lately.  We are still in the 'new baby' adjustment phase....how long does that phase last?  I forgot.  We have been really successful at doing school here, there, and everywhere we can squeeze it in through out the day.  Some things are really easy to squeeze in and we are right on 'schedule' (week 5).....other things we are still stuck in week 2. lol  I have been coming to terms with that and realizing it's really ok.  My littles are learning, growing, and thriving.  Instead of being rigid and inflexible I have been learning to let go a little and really just ENJOY them and schooling them.  I have been learning to not wish away the sweet younger years.  I have been learning to let them enjoy each other, learning to communicate and solve problems, learning how to truly care about each other.  It has been a joy to watch them. (I am talking about progress not perfection). :)  Anyway, enough about what I've been learning and enjoying.....

We ventured to Mexico with our geography studies.  I have been trying to be in the kitchen more with all the kids this year.  So far so good.  Annabelle help make quesadillas.  We also discussed that the foods our family likes mostly originates in Mexico (quesadillas, tacos, enchiladas etc).

 She started out to make a yarn bowl (Mexican craft).....she does not like to get her fingers sticky so this craft ended quickly and didn't turn out how it was supposed to. lol

 We have been using the All About Reading curriculum and loving it.  She was getting a little tired of the letter tiles so we took a little break from them and have just been using dry erase markers.  This sparked her interest in spelling.

 Drawing a picture for one of the words she wrote.  She likes to do this a lot.  After she spells a word she will either use it in a silly sentence or draw a picture of it.  Makes for a long spelling lesson sometimes....but she is choosing on her own to apply what she is learning.

 She LOVED this.  Zak noticed we were using dry erase markers for spelling and said something about the window being a giant white board.  I had never thought of that.  The next day guess where we worked on spelling and reading.  Annabelle thought it was the coolest thing ever and was asking for more words to spell rather than 'is this the last word?'. 

 All ready to go to her first day of dance class.  I love that she is wearing cowgirl boots with her outfit. :)

 Finally got around to having her birthday party.  She wanted a Strawberry Shortcake cake.  Her talented grandma makes wonderful cakes!

 Happy birthday 6 year old.

I hope to begin posting more regularly.....we'll see how that goes....no promises. lol  Happy blogging.

jess_hak