Typical Homeschooling Day

My fifth grader is homeschooled and here is a record of a typical homeschool day from yesterday.  Yes, it was halloween but we still were diligent in doing our work.  Afterwards, my son went out with his big brother for an hour before he got dressed for trick-or-treating with the neighborhood kids.  Neighbors gathered in our court for a potluck and fellowship.

Religion:  Study and discuss two paintings of the Nativity and Coronation

Math:  Converting Units of Weight and Mass (Saxon 65 - second edition)

English:  Exercise on Nouns of Prepositions

Handwriting:  Cursive

History:  Complete chapter review on Andrew Jackson and Map Skills (Latitude and Longitude)

Reading:  Read stories on the Wright Brothers and the Israelites and answer questions

Phonics:  Work on dipthongs

Science:  Complete review quiz on brain and nerves

Spelling:  Spelling Test

Vocabulary:  Exercises on passage containing words and writing the definitions, circling the correct word used in the meaning of a sentence, synonyms and antonyms

Nucleus of Life (Journal)-picture above: Write first draft paragraph of story about a character who displays virtue.

Science Coop work:  Stinging, Crawling, and Squirming Animals - Read chapter, complete worksheet, and make vocabulary cards

Physical Education:  Patrick has his last soccer game this Saturday.  He will be taking an Upward basketball program over the winter.

Art/Music:  He is learning from some wonderful teachers at his Coop.  We attend Coop once a week.

Wiggly Patrick

With the school year starting up, I'm sharing some of the things I would do with my five year old to keep him busy and/or entertain him.  He occasionally requests to do a science experiment by mixing some odd things together in the kitchen.

Provide ingredients:  flour, sugar, sprinkles, salt, pepper

Food coloring and water

Let them add the ingredients from little bowls and a spoon

Let them stir 'til their hearts content

Patrick's yucky creation

This is Patrick's 'Science Experiment' while I'm attending to other matters to keep him busy.  He loves to see all the ingredients get mixed together for this yucky creation.

We also took time to go to a local pet shop that has little rooms where you can get to meet the pets.  This is not our dog as our dog, Abby, passed away not too long ago.  We went in one of the little rooms where Patrick could play with a pup while my daughter was at a class.

Just some ideas to help your days and outings go smoothly.  Think ahead in your schedules and maybe there is a pet shop near the location you will be while your out and about.  Sparingly use on hand kitchen ingredients to keep your little ones busy if you have to attend to other matters.

I have not enrolled Patrick (first grade) in any sports yet this year but he will be on the swim team next summer.  My husband will be involved in cub scouts with him, and he will be in a music class with me.  He is wiggly and keeping him active is good.  What activities are your young boys involved in this year?

Clingy Four Year Old?

I love to snuggle with my 4 year old.  Nevertheless, he is getting quite heavy lately.  I feel like I'm a magnet sometimes.

Sometimes, when I am trying to relax he seems to be trying to snuggle in a very wiggly way.  For some reason, he likes my stomach and tries to squeeze it a lot (fatso - just kidding).  He piles pillows on me and then jumps on them.  He thinks I'm a jungle gym.

He does have still moments, but these active times are getting harder to put up with the bigger he gets now.  I'm worried that he needs more discipline or needs to be a bit more independant.

When we are at Church, he prefers to be with mommy most of the time.  If dh tries to get him he often fusses.  Other 4 year olds stand nicely in the pew.  My Patrick, oftentimes, wants to be held still.  He likes to be able to see and my family does not like to sit in the front.

He ripped the zipper of my dress at my son's graduation because he was wiggling in my lap too much.  Fortunately, my older son spared me his suit jacket.

Anyway, you can see where this is going.  How independant is your 4 year old?  Also, how often does your dh play with him/her?  Sometimes, I wish my dh could be a magnet too now that Patrick is getting bigger!