Homeschooling

Favorite Fall Memories

September 26, 2012 By Thaleia Leave a Comment

First off I am a Fall baby! So I LOVE LOVE LOVE Fall. I love the sound of crunching leaves, the smell of apple cider, and the colors of leaves. I remember raking leaves into huge piles and jumping into them. We have done that but not this year, yet. Too much rain and dog poo in the backyard!

When Eldest and Princess were toddlers/preschool age we would go to the pumpkin patch each year. Usually a mom’s group or preschool group would be going for a hayride, fall playtime, pumpkin picking event. I just realized Lil’ Red HAS NOT BEEN to a pumpkin patch,yet! His playgroup is going next Tuesday evening, but he has not gone for photos or anything like that. Holy smokes I cannot believe it! (And to think I was getting pretty good at this whole tradition thing:)

Here are some of my favorite photos from the past FOUR years of our family’s fall activities:

A Great Day at the Range

September 25, 2012 By Thaleia 1 Comment

The Shooting Range that is!

Since we are a video game loving family and okay with weapons we decided to attend a Family Skills Day at Spring Valley Shooting Range. Our boys often have some sort of gun in their hands throughout the day. Sometimes impeding school work getting done. Eldest was allowed to buy a pellet gun earlier in the summer but was under strict guidance and supervision. When I read about the Skills Day I knew everyone wouldn’t mind the hour drive to get there!

We are so very thankful for a chance to go to a shooting range and shoot bb guns, compound bows, cross-bows, 22, and rifles. Even Lil’ Red got to participate! We will definitely be putting this on our MUST do Fall list for 2013!

Here’s some photos to share just some of the fun we had!
Lil’ Red on the Range

Princess takes aim

Eldest Hits a Bullseye with Cross-Bow!

Pictures were taken by each of us. Picture collages were created by Princess.

THANK YOU ODNR! Your Family Skills Day was awesome.

Disclaimer: we only used weapons with trained professional instructors under close supervision by us and the ODNR staff. We wore eye and ear protection and listened carefully each time new instructions were given. Please do not shoot weapons in town or in an unapproved manner. Always wear safety protection and be under close supervision of trained/certified instructors.

Frugal Homeschool Tips

September 19, 2012 By Thaleia Leave a Comment

or Dad “What is an Adjective?”

So today Princess had a paper that dealt with adjectives. Since we place worksheets on a clipboard at the beginning of the week, we never really know what day a sheet will be completed on. Each child can work as many sheets a day as they want as long as at least 2 sheets are done OR all sheets completed by Friday.

Riley was sitting in the living room enjoying his cup of coffee when Princess brought this question up. His response, “Bring me the tv and PS3 remotes. I know just the thing to help.” I grinned when I caught on to what was up his sleeve.

School House Rocks!! Unpacking an Adjective.

Of course, once one School House Rocks video is played you cannot just turn off the system:) They also watched:

I’m Just a Bill

Counting by Five’s

Electricity

Just some fun Non-traditional ways to learn! The great fun of homeschool is the choice to chose a variety of ways to teach/learn:)

Happy Homeschooling!

10 Busy Bags I Want to Make

September 15, 2012 By Thaleia 13 Comments

10 Busy Bags I Want NEED to Make

Making your own busy bags can save SOOO much money and frustration! If you have a toddler or preschooler who you have to take with you to the doctor’s, ballet class, or homeschool group and they need to be kept occupied, then busy bags are the answer!

I tried to find 10 busy bags that I already had the supplies for, but had not had the time to create,yet. I do use the zippered pencil pouches that fit into 3-ring binder on a jumbo ring for on the go. These are great for in the car or when we have to go somewhere unexpected. I am going to start childcare for a local Classical Conversation group next week and wanted to switch out our busy bags so Lil’ Red would have something new to explore if he got bored with the kids or the selection of toys.

Need some simple yet educational ways to keep your kids busy? #toddler #preschool

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Tot School- 10 Apple Activities plus FREEBIES

September 11, 2012 By Thaleia 12 Comments

10 Apple Activities

1. Counting– real or plastic apples. You can use number cards or just line them up and count them. (linked to my apple pinterest board with loads of apple fun!)

2. Sorting and Matching– by size, color, taste, etc. You can decide which attribute your child should work and create a fun activity to do it in. I found bulletin board strips from Dollar General that could easily be cut up for this. Each strip has 10 apples. You can number them or letter them or use shapes or words. Again create an activity with your child’s skill level in mind.

3. Literature– so many wonderful books to learn about apples! Add a finger play, poem, or story sequence cards to round out your learning time!

4. Transferring/Pouring- Plastic apples or red beads would work great for this. I have plastic apple beads from years ago that I bought at a small hometown bead/craft store. These would be great with a long-handled teaspoon or pouring from a pitcher.

Photo Onceuponadayinpreschool.blogspot.com

5. Lacing- plastic apples, red wooden blocks, or red beads could all represent apples! Use lacing string or bamboo skewers with the ends dulled for this lacing activity. You could make apple-shaped lacing cards on heavy cardstock. Apple Jacks cereal would be fun to lace on yarn and eat!

Photo teachpreschool.org

6. Art- apples sliced and printed or apple-shaped sponges.

photo RockabyeButterfly.com

7. Fine Motor- created an a bare apple tree on paper. Then allow you child to place small pom-poms on the tree for apples. You can glue them, use magnetic pom-poms, or glass gems. Be SAFE and monitor your child with small objects and choking hazards!

8. Science- weighing apples, measuring circumference, or checking density by seeing if your apples sink or float could all be adapted for various ages of children.

photos snippetsbysarah.blogspot.com

8. Math- an apple graph of what you can do with apples or the different colors of apples would be a fun math activity.

Photo icanteachmychild.com

9. Playdoh Mat– simple to print apple mats and making apple pie scented play-doh would be an added bonus.

Photo CountingCoconuts.blogspot.com

Source: childcareland.com via Carolyn on Pinterest

10. Taste Test- go to an Apple Orchard or Farmer’s Market to get a variety of apples that are NOT usually in grocery stores OR try a variety of apple products such as:
applesauce
apple chips
apple crisp
apples in peanut butter or almond butter
apples dipped in chocolate

I got a little carried away pinning apple recipes-oops!

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