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I am going to finish Psalms between now and Tuesday morning and flow right into this challenge with whoever else joins in! Visit Mom's Toolbox to learn more!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
My next attempt at a Bible Challenge
I didn't complete the 90 Day Challenge. In fact, I am about half way through Psalms. Perfect timing to join in with Amy @ Mom's Toolbox again for her next challenge -
I am going to finish Psalms between now and Tuesday morning and flow right into this challenge with whoever else joins in! Visit Mom's Toolbox to learn more!
I am going to finish Psalms between now and Tuesday morning and flow right into this challenge with whoever else joins in! Visit Mom's Toolbox to learn more!
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Destination Disney ~ the letter *R*
Harambe Reserve
Rafiki!
And REALLY? A walking tree?
Friday, October 28, 2011
Going for *relaxed* this year!
Crew Blog Cruise ~ What does your lesson planning look like?
Lesson planning... isn't it every teacher's worse enemy AND best friend at the same time? I am a planner by nature... so, one would think that lesson plans would be more of my friend than not... but... not so.
When I was a preK teacher at the day care center, lesson plans were essential and you followed through with them, usually no matter what. Same thing when I had the older kiddos in the summer - you planned it and you did it... whatever 'it' was! Coming home, I tried to follow that as well, but over the years, I am finding out life just happens...
I have always, ALWAYS, made out detailed lesson plans. I have gone through tons of planners, calendars and pages to find that *perfect* one! A couple of years ago I found it. It was a monthly/weekly 8x10 planner that had vertical weekly instead of horizontal... loved it! Used it the last half of their 3rd grade year, all of their 4th grade year and most of their 5th grade year. When LIFE started happening during the spring of their 5th grade year, it ended up being easier for all of us (me, kiddos & my in laws - who were helping out) for them to keep up with what they were doing.
After the spring we had, full force into a busy summer, the pre-planning just wasn't there. They went with me and picked out their own calendar and we started out their 6th grade year without written lesson plans... I had looked over all of their books and lessons and knew what we needed to be doing, but I didn't write anything down.
With some of their lessons, we aim for a lesson a day - like with our Language Arts - we are using Spectrum & there are 5 books - one lesson in each of these a day (don't freak, they are only one page!). Same with Math. If we are home, then I expect these at minimum completed each day, if we have field trip or if something else comes up, then they get what they can done. These are workbooks, so they travel easy, so they get Math done no matter what & usually most of their LA books as well. They just have to keep up with what lesson they have done in their calendar. Sometimes they end up on the same lesson- but this way, they are able to work at their own pace.
Science & History, we are working through together, so we just work on things a little each day. I know where we stop and where we pick up the next time we get to that subject. They are also responsible for keeping up with this in their calendar!
With Roger's schedule, we are finding days are no longer normal around here... we love being able to just go with the flow of things and not worry about what's on mom's lesson plans for the day or having to work extra hard to make things up or catch up. It really makes for things to be much less stressful around here and they are getting to spend time with their dad-do! In addition to going with the flow, they have been learning just how much they are learning. I try to catch them each day, but it is usually a couple times a week, and ask them - what did you do today. This goes in their calendar - they get to decided what subject whatever they have done - fits in! This has been pretty beneficial to us, I have them coming to me all the time now and discussing what they have done and where that would fit into a subject and why.
By doing this, it does give them the freedom to learn what they want to learn, to work in scout stuff and to chase more rabbit trails - because we know that there's nothing on the calendar that we have to get back to! I am thinking I like this relaxed route much better!
Lesson planning... isn't it every teacher's worse enemy AND best friend at the same time? I am a planner by nature... so, one would think that lesson plans would be more of my friend than not... but... not so.
When I was a preK teacher at the day care center, lesson plans were essential and you followed through with them, usually no matter what. Same thing when I had the older kiddos in the summer - you planned it and you did it... whatever 'it' was! Coming home, I tried to follow that as well, but over the years, I am finding out life just happens...
I have always, ALWAYS, made out detailed lesson plans. I have gone through tons of planners, calendars and pages to find that *perfect* one! A couple of years ago I found it. It was a monthly/weekly 8x10 planner that had vertical weekly instead of horizontal... loved it! Used it the last half of their 3rd grade year, all of their 4th grade year and most of their 5th grade year. When LIFE started happening during the spring of their 5th grade year, it ended up being easier for all of us (me, kiddos & my in laws - who were helping out) for them to keep up with what they were doing.
After the spring we had, full force into a busy summer, the pre-planning just wasn't there. They went with me and picked out their own calendar and we started out their 6th grade year without written lesson plans... I had looked over all of their books and lessons and knew what we needed to be doing, but I didn't write anything down.
With some of their lessons, we aim for a lesson a day - like with our Language Arts - we are using Spectrum & there are 5 books - one lesson in each of these a day (don't freak, they are only one page!). Same with Math. If we are home, then I expect these at minimum completed each day, if we have field trip or if something else comes up, then they get what they can done. These are workbooks, so they travel easy, so they get Math done no matter what & usually most of their LA books as well. They just have to keep up with what lesson they have done in their calendar. Sometimes they end up on the same lesson- but this way, they are able to work at their own pace.
Science & History, we are working through together, so we just work on things a little each day. I know where we stop and where we pick up the next time we get to that subject. They are also responsible for keeping up with this in their calendar!
With Roger's schedule, we are finding days are no longer normal around here... we love being able to just go with the flow of things and not worry about what's on mom's lesson plans for the day or having to work extra hard to make things up or catch up. It really makes for things to be much less stressful around here and they are getting to spend time with their dad-do! In addition to going with the flow, they have been learning just how much they are learning. I try to catch them each day, but it is usually a couple times a week, and ask them - what did you do today. This goes in their calendar - they get to decided what subject whatever they have done - fits in! This has been pretty beneficial to us, I have them coming to me all the time now and discussing what they have done and where that would fit into a subject and why.
By doing this, it does give them the freedom to learn what they want to learn, to work in scout stuff and to chase more rabbit trails - because we know that there's nothing on the calendar that we have to get back to! I am thinking I like this relaxed route much better!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Branson Trip ~ October 2011
Started off early Monday morning loading the car and then headed to Class Day... it was photo day and Miss Ginger made arrangements to get the kiddos group done first so we could be there and still head out fairly early... it worked out great and we were on the road by 9:30 that morning... The drive up was beautiful ~ trees have changed colors and are so pretty driving through the mountains. We stopped at our favorite stop on the way up ~ the Buffalo River ~
Monday afternoon, we arrived at the cabin and unloaded and headed into town. We hit the blacklight 3D mini golf and played a round ~ Roger won... Spaghetti for dinner and then the World Series game!
Tuesday morning, we got up and headed into Springfield- mainly to go to Wilson's Creek & Bass Pro Shops, but also to hit a couple of thrift stores for Halloween Costumes ~ $7 later, we are ready to go! Bass Pro was fun for the kiddos as always, we were there for the fish feeding time and they love hanging out and watching the turtles!
After a long day out, we headed back to the cabin for grilled chops and roasted taters! Yumm-o!
Wednesday ~happy 15th Anniversrary to us ~ we dressed up in matching clothes and took some family portraits on the grounds at Big Cedar... that will be a whole nother post! Kiddos surprised us with a couples manicure- done by them... and that will be a whole nother post! Dinner out at Charlies Steak House for us ~ kiddos went with Gramma to eat and then swim!
Thursday ~ breakfast, nap by fire, lunch, nap by fire, dinner & then get ready to come home... that was my day! Kiddos went with Roger and Gramma to the arcade on the grounds & then after lunch, Gramma took them swimming... I hung out at the cabin in front of the fire ALL DAY LONG and did nothing (well, updated my blog!). We are headed home tomorrow and back to crazy busy life as we know it!
Thursday ~ breakfast, nap by fire, lunch, nap by fire, dinner & then get ready to come home... that was my day! Kiddos went with Roger and Gramma to the arcade on the grounds & then after lunch, Gramma took them swimming... I hung out at the cabin in front of the fire ALL DAY LONG and did nothing (well, updated my blog!). We are headed home tomorrow and back to crazy busy life as we know it!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Anniversary Pedi's ~
A surprise from the kiddos!!
For our 15th Anniversary, the kiddos (with Gramma's help) surprised us with a couples pedicure. They practiced hard the night before - pedis on Gramma, then on each other. They were so excited and it was so fun!
For our 15th Anniversary, the kiddos (with Gramma's help) surprised us with a couples pedicure. They practiced hard the night before - pedis on Gramma, then on each other. They were so excited and it was so fun!
CREW: Excellence in Literature
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Wilson's Creek Battlefield
Since we have been studying the Civil War this year, we decided to head to Springfield and visit Wilson's Creek Battlefield.
In addition to the 4.9 mile battlefield tour, there was also a pretty neat museum. Here are few pics from the trip there:
In addition to the 4.9 mile battlefield tour, there was also a pretty neat museum. Here are few pics from the trip there:
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