First Two Weeks

After a summer of reading, reading, reading, and with a general plan, we started our homeschool week.  What can I say?  It was both exciting and scary, with successes and dissapointments.  Actually, I've had much trepidation leading up to the start, and some of my fears were not unfounded.   As most children are starting the school year, riding buses, buying backpacks and toting lunches, we stay at home.  I felt some fears that I was keeping Gabriela from something wonderful and grand, but in the end I know that being home with me is a rare and special treat as well.  I can tell Gabriela is soaking up all the attention.  Of course its shared with her siblings, but mommy is now dedicating at least 3 hours to activities and teaching in a day and I can tell she loves it.   (I obviously have been doing things with her all her life, but this feels different) It wasn't all sunshine and daisies mind you, and some lessons were learned on my part that will continue to help me evolve my execution of our home school. 

Since I'm trying to do the full range of montessori exercises with Annalise, Gabriela is also getting to do practical life, sensory, and numeracy activities that she finds a bit easy, but that is good for her confidence.  We will move into the harder stuff in due time.

 

Washing Hands

                                                                          Sorting

 

 

Number rods and Numerals

 

 

 

 

 

Tying Shoes

 

 

Making Cupcakes

 

 

Washing Dishes

 

 

Polishing shoes, this was a favorite activity, they have asked to do it again.

 

 

Sewing

 

                                                        Fine Motor skills and sensory play

 

I inadvertantly made a sensory bin, it was actually Gabriela's idea.  We have been using a pan of rice for Annalise to practice writing, and Gabriela asked if we could add beans to sort, scoop and pour into our jars.  They had a blast with it, I am going to make a proper sensory bin soon.

Practical Life:  Helping to clean up the beany mess!

 

 

 

 

Cutting and gluing practice for Annalise

 

 

Prepared environment

 

 

Choosing their work

 

 

 

 

 

Word building with our homemade movable alphabet.  I bought the foam letters at the The Homeschool Room and bought a plastic container at Walmart.  Its a bit rigged though, because W and X and Y and Z share a compartment, but it works for us!

 

Little Julienne playing on our rice container as a drum.

 

 

I've showcased most all of the Montessori stuff, I also do a lot of reading aloud, we are reading "living science" books, The Burgess Seashore Book for Children has been a favorite.  I knew it would be since the girls love going to the beach when we visit Grandma and Grandpa's.  I'm reading Bible stories, and we are doing phonics lessons/drills.  Lots of free hand drawing and painting as well.