The Great Backyard Bird Count...

We had lots of fun counting the birds in and around our backyard for 

The Great Backyard Bird Count.

We placed a feeder on our clothes line post at the beginning of winter.

We also made bird cupcakes and have kept one on top of the post.

We are able to see the birds from out kitchen window as we are eating breakfast.

This has made for some fun mornings of bird watching.

Here is our official count...

Cardinals-9

Bluebirds-2

Mockingbird-2

Song Sparrows-12

House Finch-2

Robin-1

Crow-31

European Starling-1

Dark-Eyed Junco-2

Tufted Titmouse-2

Buzzards-5

Red-Bellied Woodpecker-1

Dove-2

Brown-Headed Cowbird-1

 

 Tufted Titmouse

Mockingbirds

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

and this guy....he doesn't qualify for the count...

Truthquest...

 This year I decided to combine the boys for history and science.

I had always planned to keep them separate, but combining them just felt right.

After talking to daddy and praying over the decision,

I began searching for a history curriculum that we could use together.

Having someone to share learning with is so much more fun.

projects...re-enactments...cuddling for stories together...

After a lot of searching, a friend suggested Truthquest.

I immediately knew this would fit us!

our love of history...our desire to acknowledge God as the author...our love of literature...

We began our journey through Truthquest in August of this year.

We are in no hurry...we like to take our time...to savor the books...working on our notebooks as we go along.

This week we began Jamestown.

We started with a documentary on Jamestown.

This is the first time we have watched a documentary before our new topic.

I really liked doing it this way...the boys seemed so much more excited.

My favorite part of all is watching the boys go dress up and re-enact what we read.

They even built a model Jamestown Fort out of Lincoln Logs

The Pilgrims at Plymouth are up next.

I wonder if we'll get there by Thanksgiving?

The Fort at Jamestown

Jamestown Explorers

Honoring The Last Of A Generation...

For the last couple of years Veteran's Day has been a special day here at our house.

We have chosen to make cards and deliver them to the local nursing home in honor of the last few

men and women of the WWII generation.

We began the day with a story form the newspaper...a local veteran was a spy...

We'll read about a couple of more local veterans in the paper this afternoon and tomorrow...

real men...with real stories...

That's why we go to the nursing home to shake the hands of the men who fought for our freedom.

This is Mr. Ward...he spent two years in active combat..he was awarded the bronze star 60 years after he served.  We met Mr. Ward last year and have visited him on several occasions since...

We also met Mr. Ponder...he was stationed in Korea...he told us he was just thankful that he survived...

We had one card left...we were asked to visit "Etter"...she doesn't have many visitors...she's sad a lot of the time...

This was one visit that made my day...she reminded me of my MaMaw who passed away a couple of years ago.  She hugged all of the little ones...she was so happy with  the card LouLou made for her.

She told us she was 96 years old born in 1914...she served in the Navy.  Here she is showing the littles how she would crank the planes by spinning the propellers...

We left the nursing home with a smile on our face and plans to visit our new friends soon!

We decided to finish the morning with a trip to Veteran's Memorial Park.

Beginning Apologia Science...

This year I have decided to combine the boys in as many subjects as possible for school.  One of the subjects that we have decided to combine is Science.  I purchased Apologia Zoology I and we began the book a couple of weeks ago.  The boys love doing science together and I think I get as excited as they do because I am learning so much that I never learned in school.


I love the experiments throughout the book and the boys love working in their notebooking journals.  The first experiment was building two different types of gliders and making a guess as to which wing style would fly the fatherest.  We did the this experiment when daddy was home so he got to participate too;-)

1.  Assemble the gliders.

Materials

pizza box

straws

modeling clay

tape

scissors

measuring tape

I outlined the glider wing and tail on the pizza box.  The boys and daddy worked to cut them out.  We worked together assembling the gliders.

Bo working on his gliders

Daddy helping Boo

2.  Next the boys guessed which glider would fly farthest.

Boo making his prediction...Long, thin wings

Bo predicted...short, wide wings

3.  We took the gliders outside to fly them.  The boys threw the gliders.  Mommy helped the boys measure the distance and daddy recorded the distance in the notebooks.

finished gliders

throwing the gliders

measuring the gliders

4.  Results...the glider with the long, thin wings flew on average about 25 inches farther then the short, wide wings.

School Pictures 2011-2012

Bo...2nd Grade...7 1/2 years

Boo...Kindergarten...6 years

Reading Lessons...Rewarded

Almost two years ago, I started beginning reading lessons with Bo.  He had been eager to learn to read, asking every few days from the time he was about 4 and 1/2.  I held him off from reading until 5 and 1/2 by making an alphabet book and working on phonemic awareness activities with him.

We began our reading instruction in September of 2009.  It was a learning experience for me as well.  I am a former Kindergarten teacher in the public school system and I decided to teach Bo using Charlotte Mason's suggestions in Home Education rather than the way I was accustomed to teaching reading.

 Tommy is to learn to read today-

"I like little pussy,

Her coat is so warm-"

and he is to know those nine words so well that he will be able to read them wherever they may occur henceforth and forevermore.

We write in good.big print hand 'Pussy'.  Tommy watches with interest:  he knows the letters and probably says them as we write.

Interest at once;he knows the thing, pussy, and the written symbol is pleasant to his eyes because it is associated with and existing idea in his mind.
He is told to look at the word until he is sure he would know it again.
Then he makes 'pussy' again from his own loose letters.
Then the little bag containing our two bags is turned out and he finds the word...lastly,
the little sheet with the poem printed on it is shown to him and he finds 'pussy'
Coat, little, like, is, her, warm ,I, so are taught in the same way.
He knows words now, but he cannot yet read sentences.  Now for the delight of reading.
Tommy uses the loose words cards to make sentences and then the poem is revealed to him.
His next reading lesson consists of making word faimilies with the words from the poem.

-Home Education, pages 217-219

The biggest difference I noticed in the methods was the very large reading vocabulary the Charlotte Mason way provided early on.  The stories I chose to begin reading instruction with were rich and interesting, not like the decodable readers I was most familiar with.

Miss Mason sums up the difference best...

Today he is to be launched into the very middle of reading, without any 'steps' at all, because reading is neither an art or a science, and has, probably, no beginning.

We began with the Treadwell Primer from Mainlesson.  We mixed those stories up with some science readers I had on hand from my time as a teacher.  I also purchased McGuffey's First Reader for some structured practice.

He flew through McGuffey's and we moved to some more  easy readers that I had purchased at the thrift...Frog and Toad...Little Bear...etc.

 He recently finished reading Christian Liberty Nature Reader.  I tried to preview each reading and pre-teach any words I thought he would have trouble with.  I ended up reviewing any difficult words after the reading.

Our reward after almost two years of reading instruction...this common sight...

Have You Been Cackling?

They must be let alone, left to themselves a great deal, to take in what they can of the beauty of earth and heaven;  for of the evils of modern education few are worse than this-that the perpetual cackle of his elders leaves the poor child not a moment of time, nor an inch of space, wherein to wonder-and grow.

-Home Education, pg.44

As I read this passage in Home Education, I couldn't help but reminisce about my three years as a Kindergarten teacher.  This passage rings so true to me because I have been the one cackling and feeling guilty about that cackling all at the same time.  As a new teacher under observation by the administration, I felt the pressure to check off of my list all the children were supposed to be learning.  The list of requirements for a five year old was quite long. I never truly understood how long it was until I had my own children.

Many a days as a teacher, I was rushing to get the lesson plans completed.  In the end, there was not any time left for a child's sense of wonder.  I was required to teach all of the five year olds in my care to read...and progress was monitored three times per year.  Reading is a very necessary part of education, but I wonder if it is so necessary to teach a young child to read at the expense of time alone in nature. Miss Mason thought that cultivating in a child a love and appreciation for nature prepares that child for more formal schooling as they grow older.  A child who has spent time outdoors examining flowers, insects, and animal life are learning the important skills of attending to detail, classifying, and observing.

These skills are all but lost in modern education.  Miss Mason talks of what usually happens in the Kindergarten...

Indeed, I am inclined to question, whether, in the interest of carrying out a system, the charming Kindergartnerian is not in danger sometimes of greatly undervaluing the intelligence of her children.

Everything is directed, expected suggested.  No other personality out of book, picture or song, no, not even that of Nature herself, can get at the children without the mediation of the teacher.  No room is left for spontaneity or personal initiation on their part.

Let him go and come freely, let him touch real things, and combine his impressions for himself, instead of sitting indoors at a little round table, while a sweet-voiced teacher suggests that he build a stone wall with his wooden blocks, or make a rainbow out of strips of paper, or plant straw trees in bead flower pots.

I know all to well how easily these things can happen in the Kindergarten.  I well remember the little girl who could read on a fourth grade level being very intelligent.  But the little boy who could barely read a word was undervalued in his intelligence, although he could have told me anything I needed to know about farming and gardening.

These things Miss Mason warns against could very easily happen in a home if we let them.  As moms, we sometimes prefer to check off items on our to-do list for each child, rather than let them explore outside.  We look and see lots of cute ideas that we want to incorporate...letter of the week, unit studied, lapbooking, etc.

These are all tools that we can use,  but if we are not careful we will become that cackling woman.  Let's not plan activities to take up all of our children's time.  If we have to, we may have to write in a quiet growing time on our to-do list.

The Ground-Plan for Education...Narration

As we began our Year-1 in January, I could hardly wait to see how Bo would do with narration.  According to Ms. Mason, narration is the ground-plan for education.  It is the foundation on which our homeschool years will be built upon.  I suppose preparing the ground for the foundation begins as soon as a young child begins sharing episodes that have happened throughout the day.  When daddy arrives home, our little ones delight in sharing with him about their day.  From what they played outside to where they went with mommy episodes are shared with great animation and surprising detail.

  

Narrating is an art, like poetry-making or painting, because it is there, in every child's mind, waiting to be discovered, and is not the process of disciplinary education...This amazing gift with which normal children are born is allowed to lie fallow in their education...Whereas here if we have eyes to see and grace to build, is the ground-plan of his education.  Home Education, pg 231

Once the ground has been prepared, Year 1 is the perfect time to lay the foundation.  A properly built foundation will take time and attention.  Beginning to narrate stories can be a difficult task.  Learning how to summarize important information can be confusing to a little one.  Our oldest, Bo thinks all information pertaining to battles in Our Island Story is important.  

  

The points to be born in mind are, that he is to have no book which is not a child's classic;and that, given the right book, it must not be diluted with talk or broken up with questions, but given to the boy in fit portions as wholesome meat for his mind, in the full trust that a child's mind is able to deal with its proper food.  Home Education pg. 232

We began narrating slowly.  Some days he would narrate sentence by sentence.  We are now in our seventh week of Year 1 and we are narrating paragraph by paragraph, or several sentences at this point.  A small paragraph seems to be the fit portion for Bo.   Occasionally he will still narrate the last half of the paragraph and forget to tell what happened in the first part.  When this happens I take a turn narrating, hoping to model the correct way.  Because narration is the key to a successful Charlotte Mason education, it is important to take it slowly and build the proper foundation.

Year 1...on the horizon

 Bo previewing his Year 1 books.

I can hardly believe that our extended Year 0 is quickly coming to a close with Bo.  Back when he turned five he began asking me to do school with him.  I satisfied him with making our own alphabet book on the days he just had to do something.  After the book was finished he kept asking when I would teach him to read.  So since August of 2009 we have been doing a Year 0.  I began teaching him to read sometime that September.
 He has done so well.  I gave him a brief BRI (Basic Reading Inventory) test.  This testing book was left over from my time as a school teacher.  His instructional reading level was 3rd grade.  I am so proud of his progress.
He loves reading!
He loves history!
He does well with handwriting.
He loves art and nature study!
Now if I can just get him to love math.
He seems to like it some days when he can count with his soldiers...

 Other days, he insists on figuring things out his way, even though he gets the wrong answer.  Needless to say, we have had a few talks about heeding instruction, and mommy has had to apologize for impatience.

I am looking forward to Year 1 with Bo and beginning an extended Year 0 with Boo.  I have many things I intended to accomplish before this time arrived.  Like pre-reading all of our Year 1 books.  Well, I have only pre-read about 5 weeks worth of material.  I still have to order Right Start Math.  Yes,  Chris and I have decided to use right start and I am nervous, I feel like I will be learning things right along with him.  I purchased Quiet Time For Kids Volume 1 for Bible Time.  I am looking forward to January when we began Year 1, but I am enjoying the last few days of Year 0 with him now.

Yes, I know we are beginning Year 1 in January, but this is our little school house on the mountain...right?

Oh and I started reading Fables, by Arnold Lobel about a month ago to practice narrating.  He loves narrating!  I am so excited, since the Charlotte Mason method is all about narrating to assess learning.

Remembering Our Veterans

Bo, our oldest can't seem to read enough, watch enough or play enough about army men, battles and wars.  He is so interested in this part of history.  Last week we studied World War II.  We used a couple of great resources that I would highly recommend.

We began the week by watching The League of Grateful Sons.  This is a documentary put together by Vision Forum.  It was a wonderful reminder of the sacrifice that so many families have made for our freedom.  I shed a few tears...and daddy was holding them back...seriously worth watching.



We then read a chapter each day from Coming In on a Wing and a Prayer.  When I would take this book out each day to read Bo would cheer.  He absolutely loves history.  I am so thankful he is getting to experience the many wonderful stories of people throughout history and not just memorizing dates and places.

At breakfast this morning I explained that today was Veteran's Day.  We discussed what being a veteran means and after breakfast we made some thank you cards to carry to our local nursing home and give out to the veterans there.  As the boys worked on the cards, I read The Wall by Eve Bunting.

We were able to hand out five thank you cards at the local nursing home.  There was one man who really talked to us a lot and he showed us a picture of himself and a friend in World War II.  He was finally awarded the Bronze Star last year.  Our local paper is supposed to have an article about him on Sunday.  We were very blessed to be able to visit with him for a little while today.

Duty is the most sublime word in our language.  Do your duty in all things.  You cannot do more.  You should never wish to do less.  -Robert E. Lee

 

After our visit at the nursing home, we went to the local Veteran's Memorial Park.  Here are the littles around the monument.  My great-grandmother's uncle's name is on the monument.  He was killed during World War II.  Bo wanted to find a piece of paper and make a rubbing of his name, but we did not have any.  I told him we would come back and do it another day.

And just so you know how much Bo really loves anything that has to do with wars and battles, here is my latest purchase...

He spotted this lovely jacket at the thrift store about a month ago.  He desperately wanted me to buy it for him that day because he could wear it as an officer's jacket and pretend he was Stonewall Jackson.  I didn't buy it that day because it wasn't on sale.  So when we went back this week, he remembered that jacket had a blue tag and when we walk in the door he says, "Mom blue tags are on sale today!"  I told him to go see if they still had the jacket...and of course...they did.  So he is one happy boy now.  Either Bo or Boo has had that jacket on since we bought it.

Nature Study Unplanned

While outside playing, Miss LouLou spotted this beautiful spider on the fence.  The boys ran in to tell me I had to come see the most beautiful spider they had ever seen.  I grabbed the camera and they grabbed their nature notebooks.  We marveled over the lovely design and bold colors.  We talked about our Creator and how awesome is His creation.  The little began drawing the spider.  They wanted to get the colors and design just right.

marbled orb weaver

(the pic is blurry, I can't get my video/camera set to focus on small objects)

We learned that these beautiful spiders weave webs in new places every day.

little drawing the orb weaver

I was so excited that the littles took the initiative to investigate this beautiful spider and draw it in their notebooks.  Spending time outdoors and teaching them to observe their surroundings is beginning to pay off.

 Boo's orb weaver

Bo's orb weaver

LouLou cut her drawing up with the scissors.

The Trials and Triumphs of Nature Study With Young Children

Boots drying on the back stoop...reminding me of our adventure today. 

I had big plans...big nature study plans.

Our school work had been finished for the week...bread had been baked...

weather perfect...creek low...time for some wading and a picnic.

So, I ready the clipboards, camera, field guide, bug bucket and net.

We head out the door for a 20 minute drive to our property on the creek.

Well, getting out the door wasn't quite that easy.  

Little Bitty crying in her crib...deciding not to take a morning nap.

We're going anyway.

Boys arguing over rubber boots...tears...mommy intervenes...showing mounting frustration

I'm determined to go...

Littles guessing where we could be going all the way there...

Cheers when they finally figure it out...

We gather our loads from the van and set out on the short hike to the creek.

Trees ablaze with color...fallen leaves crunching underfoot.

I love being in Nature...surrounded by His glory.

Arriving at the creek we have to climb down a steep embankment and cross a little water...

Pregnant mommy crawling down...Little Bitty crying as I set her across and go back to help the others.

We make it across and find a place for our blanket...boys set off exploring...girls cling to mommy.

LouLou finally ventures away to find brothers...

Little Bitty wants to eat the picnic food.

I walk down to the edge to see what treasures the boys have found.

LouLou and Boo walking along the waters edge get into mud almost up to their knees.

"You have to crawl out!", I say..."I'm not coming in to get you then I'll be stuck!"

Muddy littles crawling out of mud...little girl...tears streaming..her first time stuck in the mud.

In my mind the whole time I am thinking...

there will be muddy feet

there will be wet clothes

there will be frustrating moments...

because they are little and I am learning to patiently deal with the frustrating moments

Our picnic was delightful

We watched a Kingfisher swooping around the water

Little Bitty filling her bucket with shells

LouLou reading the field guide

The hike back to the van was anything but pleasant.

Pregnant mommy...heavy backpack...carrying toddler...LouLou crying the entire walk back

I told myself I will not try this again by myself...But the truth is...I will...

Because the anticipation of the wonders of nature will call...and I will load them up...and try again.

Little Bitty eating shells...as she fills her bucket

 looking at a field guide on a rock

looking for crawfish

 Bo's drawing of the Kingfisher

He was so excited about seeing this bird he had read about