11th January, 2010
Danielle’s folders are still successful..
With one small hitch. I have to figure out how to deal with when I give her time off.
Last week, on Wednesday, one of her PS friends, Seren invited us to go play at the local gym. Afterwards, I had told Danielle she had to to her work folder. Except that after we were at the gym, Jack-Jack had speech therapy, and Seren’s mom offered to take Danielle for the afternoon. By the time she got home it was dinner and late, so we just called the day a wash.
So at the end of the week, I had a folder left over, which we did today. Now I guess I just add it to the next week, and only pack 4 for that week. As long as we don’t make it a habit, it shouldn’t be an issue.
Posted at 8:08 pm | Comments Off
11th January, 2010
We’ve moved on to the letter B!
We took a look at how to make the letter B today, and the kids painted big letter B posters which will be decorated with B things later in the week 
Jack just paints his own thing, it’s all good
Posted at 8:02 pm | Comments Off
5th January, 2010
Our new system, that at least for now, seems to be working..
I talked before about wanting to try a modified workbox system with Danielle. Not having room for a full workbox system, I settled for work folders, one folder for each subject. This had moderate success, but was annoying for me to have to refill EVERY NIGHT, bleh..
Plus, one of Danielle’s biggest issues is she gets overwhelmed. She looks at her reading book and sees this HUGE TOME that she’s expected to read, and can’t get past that to see that she is only reading one story at a time, KWIM? She CONSTANTLY asks me what she has to do next, when will she be done, how much more does she have. The folders for each subject didn’t really help that problem, because until she opened the folder she had no idea what or how much was in it. So it created anxiety for her.
So, on Monday, we started a new system. One folder for each day. In her rack she gets her one folder, plus any necessary books, or supplies to finish the work in the one folder. That way she can see exactly how much she has to do, as soon as she sits down at the table.
Mind you, we’ve only been doing it for 2 days, but I tell you what, it’s been two tantrum free days. There has been significantly less anxiety, and not once has she asked how much she has left to do. She can now see at a glance how many more subject, how many more worksheets or how much more reading she has to go!
PLUS as a bonus for me, I only have to fill them once a week, with minor adjustments during the week! She works at her own pace, and has post it notes to tell her when she needs to come to me for review, assistance or for her to read something to me! MUCH less hovering needed on my part for her to be able to get her work done
Posted at 8:12 pm | Comments Off
4th January, 2010
Okay, it’s the first Monday of 2010!
And we are back to school and back to reality
Danielle had her regular lessons, she’s currently working on adding 2-digit numbers. We studied why plants don’t always look exactly like their parents, and did some creative writing. I have changed up how her work is presented, one folder per day, instead of one folder per subject, so it is easier for her to visually access how much work she has to do. Seems to make a difference in her attitude.
Then the little ones joined us at the table to work on the letter A. I have been seriously slacking with the little ones. Mostly because working with Danielle is sooooooo time consuming. Hopefully with the new system in place for Danielle, I can spend more time with them now. Today we painted the letter A, to use for a collage later in the week, and we wrote the letter A, and colored things that started with A.
Posted at 6:45 pm | Comments Off
5th September, 2009
Been having trouble logging in..
and just moved to a new house, hence my lack of updates here, LOL!!
But, hopefully, as soon as things get settled, I will be updating here more regularly.
DD is slowly getting back into the swing of a new school year. We went to a LOVELY Back to School park/picnic in Kingsburg, and the kids had a great time. All of DD’s books are lined up on the shelf, just begging to be read..
The littles are going to be doing letter of the week, and we started on Letter A, only to be derailed by moving to a new house. Hopefully I’ll be able to get the train back on track soon, and we can continue where we left off
Posted at 12:51 pm | Comments Off
12th August, 2009
It’s been a long hot summer..
and as you can tell, I haven’t been posting much. But I am BACK BABY!
School officially starts next Wednesday. So we are getting in our last minute summer fun, especially since school is starting up for our PS friends too.
Tonight we are headed to a Fresno Grizzlies game! And on Thursday we are going to Wild Water Adventures, probably for the last time this summer.
The curriculum is all picked out, the cupboards are all organized, and we are just chomping at the bit to get started. Okay, well I am chomping at the bit, LOL! The kids maybe aren’t so excited.
Danielle is starting 2nd grade at Central Valley Home School, and for the little ones I am starting a new, more formal Pre-K program at Lesson Pathways.
We already have three field trips planned, Monterey Bay Aquarium in October, The Big Fresno Fair also in October, and at some point we have to make it to the Fresno Met to see the Bob the Builder exhibit 
So, expect more posts and more pics as the school year gets into the swing
Posted at 1:59 pm | Comments Off
28th May, 2009
It’s official :)
DD is in 2nd grade now Guess I gotta make a new category for posts.
I decided to say with CVHS, though I am not pleased with the reading program, she is doing so well with the rest, I guess I just have to work around it. I got to pick up her books early, and the science book and the social studies book look so fun! Plus, as long as there is time to work on our personal projects (which there always is) then I guess I am okay with it all
I have to start putting together something more formal for the little ones. Though of course it’s hard when you have two preschoolers, one of whom is mostly non-verbal. But I think I can find enough to keep them happy and learning too!
Posted at 5:00 pm | Comments Off
22nd April, 2009
More Earth Day fun!
We made Soda Bottle Greenhouses, to grow our sunflowers for The Great Sunflower Project
Here are our greenhouses, soaking up the sun
Posted at 3:40 pm | Comments Off
21st April, 2009
Starting out for Earth Day ;)
A day early I might add
We made I Love the Earth mobiles
Posted at 7:31 pm | Comments Off
6th April, 2009
Recycled cardboard clipboards.
Inspired by Let’s Explore and our trip to the art studio, we made portable art clipboards!
Danielle decorating the front of her clipboard
The back of Jack’s clipboard
Shraddha shows off her clipboard!
We used cut up Puffins Cereal box, I glued to pieces together to make it stiffer. We put stickers on the back and then colored the front. Then I cut blank paper into 1/4s to fit on each one, and secured with a binder clip.
Danielle is already drawing Margaret Hudson inspired flowers on hers
Posted at 4:37 pm | Comments Off