Classical Conversations Cycle 1 week 5

Well to wrap up the week and what we did with our Classical Conversations...I will admit things did not go according to the rough plan.  I am not rigid and am flexibly structured as I've got a general plan of what we are doing and learning and a rhythm for our days and for the week....but this week it was fall break so that threw us off, even though we don't go to public school, all our other activities were either off or rescheduled for odd times we aren't used to.  Add to that a week of pretty dreary weather when we are dying to be outside...things felt random.  We did a lot but also didn't do a lot of the ideas I had come up with to go with our week 5 memory work.

Aside from Math practice and some form of copywork/writing/literature/poetry we spent a good portion of this day working on a diy doll bakery stand and all the goods.  Everyone was into it, even my son made a little cake for his sister.  The boys also are playing pretty well together most the time so they can do their own thing nearby if I'm doing some hands on and perhaps girly project with my daughter.  We had a blast with this.

S'mores 

Cinnamon rolls

Lemon meringue pie

Meringue layer cake with raspberry and lemon curd filling (inspired from Cooking for Isaiah)

Rainbow cake 

My son's cake

Mini macarons

We made everything from materials found around the house like cardboard, craft foam, felt, paper, beads and the glue gun!

After playing bakery all day and making fake baked goods, on Tuesday my daughter wanted to bake REAL cinnamon rolls.  So after she got a few basic things done, some chores and copying a couple more lines from the poem she's working on, read a few fables and nursery rhymes. We set out to make gluten free dairy free cinnamon rolls.  We used the recipe and instructions from recreating happiness and they turned out amazing!!!  I'll make another post about our substitutions to fit our dietary issues but it was a very practical hands on math and science time.  I had my daughter read out the recipe and then dictate the instructions for reading comprehension, we talked about measurements and equivalents and fractions and she was able to figure out if we need half a cup we could use the half cup measuring cup or use 2 scoops of the 1/4 cup and it would be the same.  She enjoyed seeing the science-y reaction of the yeast activating in the milk and sugar and we discussed that process.  Then she was excited to see the yeast at work again when we set the cinnamon rolls in the warming drawer to proof and watch them grow.  She learned how to substitute fats in the recipe swapping butter for coconut oil and shortening.... It was a pretty extensive hands on learning experience for her and thank The Lord I had the patience that day to make the most of it.

Finally we were going to get started on our week 5 CC memory work but the rain had slowed to a sprinkle and my daughter was dying to get her rain jacket on and rainboots and you know what?  I think experiencing playing in the rain is more valuable then some rote memorization so we went outside for a bit.  The kids were exploring nature, building dams in puddles and changing the flow of water, more science and learning was going on all by itself :). I love that children are little scientists when they are exploring and playing outside.  I started pulling weeds from our gravel rock landscape project we are taking forever to finish and the weeds are out of control.  I was happy to discover that pulling weeds in the light rain is awesome because there are 1. no bugs 2. the ground is soft so they pull out easier and 3. it's not hot.  My daughter decided to help me as she loves pulling the weeds out and checking out the roots.  We were shaking the excess dirt off and tossing them to a pile when suddenly I got a clump of dirt/mud in my face!  My daughter was quick to apologize as she missed the pile and thought I was going to be mad at her.  I was a little stunned, and just when I was about to say something like "well pay more attention to what you're doing!" Or something to that effect....I playfully pulled out a weed and tossed it in her direction... Soon we were in an all out weed dirt mud clod throwing war and we were chasing eachother like a snowball fight!  My son got in on the action too but he teamed up with his sister!  When we were done we all had dirt and mud all over our faces, clothes, hair...we went inside to get cleaned up and by then it was time for gymnastics and we did never get to our CC work other than reviewing skip counting while I washed their hair. But my daughter said it was THE best day of her life!  And she couldn't believe we did that.  

After gymnastics she reads for an hour every night more or less, she's a night owl so she devours books after we put her to bed.

Wednesday, we finally got to our CC memory work.  We also did math and worked on her Proverbs in Cursive copywork book.  The frog puppet "taught" them English, Latin and math...I don't know why but they love the frog puppet... He's kinda rediculous and obnoxious but whatever ;) I may have a little fun using him too...

For science we got our nature notebooks and made a page about invertebrates.  They drew the different kinds and labeled them.  I helped my 5 year old with the writing in his book....and spelled it wrong! Lol he asked me to draw me krabs after so that's why he's in the corner.  It got cut off but for his sponge he tried to draw sponge bob...even though they don't like that show that much.

And that was pretty much all we did to expand on our CC memory work this week. I had planned to get a couple library books and doing a project where they designed their own coins with crayola air dry clay after seeing a picture of a denarius (Roman coin) in my art history book.  We also looked at some Roman architecture, looked at the difference between the Greek and Roman columns and then compared the columns on our porch and asked the kids what style of column ours was more like.  We also refered to our MAPS book for geography of Egyptian Empire and got kinda sidetracked for a bit enjoying delving into that and the different animals and features on that page about Egypt.  But that book is so engaging it just draws you in! And it worked because we saw another map today of the Mediteranian Sea and surrounding areas and my daughter quickly pointed out the Nile River and the Nile Delta so that's always a happy thing when you know they got it!  

Thursday...we did some basic math practice ( we finished our Singapore book and I have to order the next one but I'm also looking into switching to math mammoth which is more mastery but still spiral but a slower spiral than Singapore) so while I figure that out we are reviewing and working on things I know she could use more practice with.  Math war is an awesome game for us because she just needs to work on figuring it out faster and my son who is 5 will be on my team and he's just figuring out and practicing these addition facts so it helps them both at the same time.  

Another math game we like is Dino Tracks, it's a place value game and can be made more advanced with the optional playing cards that give lots of word problem practice.  

Thursday we also listened to proverbs from nature and read more Aseops Fables while the kids built with blocks, Legos and megaformers and we ran some errands including taking some of our baby things to a friend who just had a baby and dropping off curtains I altered to another friend.  We ran by Hobby Lobby and that was a mistake, my daughter was excited to start buying fabric for her Leo Shop she wants to start.  She's been up in her bed after reading every night designing Leotards and she's very serious about this plan and even told me she'll cut me 50% of what she makes since she basically needs me to sew them and help her get her business going.  It's really cute and fun to see her creativity and mind going and she has 2 notebooks filled with Leo design sketches and even showing what they look like while in handstand, bridge, etc.  But I was only there to look for a button real quick and when I said no Leo fabric I pretty much crushed her dreams....for the moment. She's over it now and back to her notebook designing more Leos. 

For Friday I already posted about that in the previous post.  So basically yeah...this week didn't necessarily accomplish all I wanted to and I had some good ideas that didn't pan out but at the end of the day the delight centered child led approach balanced out with the structured things we just do as part of our normal daily and weekly rhythm (the three Rs) and overall it was another learning filled week for this relaxed eclectic Charlotte Mason Classical  Conversations family :). I feel like they're always learning and growing regardless of how much or little I plan.  That's where I can nod my head along with Unschoolers and I get it. I feel like an unschooler at times but I know I'm not really truly one because we do math books and practice regularly and I sometimes make them do things even when they complain and I will restrict time allowed playing on my phone or watching tv...not like crazy...but I definitely have some boundaries and expectations for them...things run smoother that way. So I realize we're not truly Unschoolers but relaxed eclectic trying to bring the best of all methods together in a way that works for us and gives us peaceful productive inspiring days...for the most part ;). 

Some final thoughts for the week: What I'm learning through this homeschool parenting journey? Modify when needed, make it hands on as much as possible, consolidate and do as much together with all the kids as possible, follow their interests, don't be rigid, learn by living and have a big picture plan for the day, the week, the year to get things going but be flexible and follow the flow of the day, the week, and pray for wisdom and inspiration in the moment and a gaurd over my mouth...and be a good example of how to be happy, productive, hardworking and enjoy life through contentment, praising The Lord in conversation with my kids, making the moments count, being simple and willing to have fun.  Making sure I'm trying to be the person I am trying to raise my kids to be!  Rather than just focusing on training them, I'm learning to know and train myself!  And being real with my kids. If I'm having a bad day I am honest about it. Apologize for my snippiness and ask them to pray for me and help me out because I'm struggling to be patient and it's not their fault.  Being real goes a long way, they get it.  It's good for everyone's emotion intelligence if we can be real and talk about that stuff and accept that we are all human and we all need some grace!  

Spelling Fun

DWe started out the day with this great idea from The Ultimate Guide of Homeschool Ideas that I shared on Instagram and the kids were enjoying themselves and behaving just fine....

It was ME that was having the issues today...I was just getting stressed frustrated annoyed snippy etc over every little task....so I just stopped.  I didn't like the way I was talking to my children and getting exasperated minor things...so we stopped doing anything. 

Then 

We had fun consolidating learning to read practice for my 5 year old and spelling and word building practice for my 8 year old using the wood slice burned alphabet I made a while back.  My son started getting so excited exclaiming "I'm reading I'm reading!" And my daughter chimed in "I'm spelling I'm spelling!!!"  

This is a day that I had a plan but has gone towards delight centered learning/unschooling.  We started out with my plan but I'm just having one of those days where I'm not feeling patient and I was getting all uptight and snippy so I decided to let it go and stop forcing it today and end what has been a great week on a sour note.  I like having a general plan and rhythm but I won't be a slave to it if it's going to cause me to turn into an unwise woman who tears down her house...so to speak.  I'm not going to undo all the positive we had this week.  So I stepped away, let them play and then came back to them ready to just sit and do something...see where it takes us.  I sat down and pulled out the wood slice alphabet that I made and the kids jumped right in without me saying anything and got busy building reading and spelling.  We worked with word families, phonics, CVC, consonant blends, all of it....my 5 year old made and read so many words he was so excited especially when we would swap out a letter or add a letter and make a whole new word.  Sane with my daughter, she challenged herself to make as many big long words as she could, which was tricky with only one of each letter.  But she did great and solidified some spelling and phonics facts and it was fun and stress free. 

I'm not feeling so stressed anymore, the kids were still learning but it was more self directed and fun with mommy just watching and acknowledging and sometimes jumping in but not too much...I knew if I started to take over too much it would take the fun out and they would lose interest.  

Sometimes the best plan of action is to scrap the plan if it's just not jiving and causing too much negative reactions...mostly from me... I was just having one if those days!

Rather than always follow the plan, I pray for wisdom and inspiration in the moment daily (Lord knows we all need it!) and that while it's good to have a general plan and overall rhythm for the day, I pray I can not hold onto it too rigidly and follow the Holy Spirit's guidance and plan for our day first and foremost....even if that means scrapping my plans.  The end result? Well with my plans today I would have become more and more cranky and unbearable to my kids, ending our week sour and with negative emotions all around but knowing my planning efforts hadn't gone to waste....but instead...some of my plans did go to waste but I'm ending the week feeling more loving towards my children and their hearts seem happy and light.  I had to let it go today but yet other things happened instead that were of great value and I LOVE when that happens even better than a checked off list.

Fox in The Forest

When we were visiting relatives in New Jersey recently, we got to see two beautiful red foxes up close, a father and son.  My husband's uncle saw the fox in his back yard and it didn't look so good, mangy and not healthy.  He researched on the Internet what to give the fox to help it stop itching and get better and saw he could get a pig medication from a feed store and adjust the dose to the estimated weight if the fox.  He started putting the medicine on food scraps he left out for the fox and he slowly got better and now has the most beautiful shiny fluffy coat of fur.  He didn't mention how he had helped the fox until after I kept commenting on how beautiful and healthy it looked for a wild animal that rummaged through trash.  I stood outside in the dark with him and rolled an egg to the fox and he came and got it.  I was fascinated by the creature.  It was so cool!  When we got back inside I commented "who knew uncle b was the real Kevin Costener in Dances with Wolves...except in this case foxes!  This fox is now a wild pet that knows them and trusts them...I just thought it was so cool that it inspired our art projects for the day!  I drew up an unfinished sample picture of a fox in the forest for the kids and then did a step by step drawing lesson focusing on using the five elements of shape.  We used the crayola twistable colored pencils to add color.  In the bottom left hand corner you can see I made a sampe page of things they could add to their forest floor.

Here's is my daughter's version.  She's not quite finished with it, but she liked how her fox turned out.

Our drawing was followed by a handicraft.  I made a template and then cut out the pieces in felt and sewed the eyes on with the sewing machine.  I made the eyes closed like a sleepy fox because it just seemed easiest that way.  Then the kids used needle and thread to sew the insides of the ears and around the eyes.  Then I showed them a different kind of stitch to sew the two sides of their bag together...I don't actually know the names of the stitches other than "up down up down" and "up and around up and around"....lol.  When they got done they stitched a ribbon to the corners of the ears for a strap to wear their fox bag.  I had in mind this might be a cute little pouch to wear on nature outings to collect fun nature finds.  

The extras will be great little handmade gifts J can make for her cousins to send for Christmas! 

And then "What Does The Fox Say" came on the radio and the kids were ecstatic with all the foxiness going on! Lol

Creative inspiration credit for the fox image from the beautifully talented joojoo etsy shop.  I came across her little fox during a google image search when I was looking for ideas for showing my kids how to draw a fox.  You can go right on over to her shop and buy a beautiful print!  https://www.etsy.com/listing/155009705/fox-print-fox-painting-fox-illustration

Classical Conversations cycle 1 week 4

We started the day with everyone getting under my covers and having snuggles and then playing and making a mockery of my bedding but it was a happy slow start to a rainy day.  I put in a short video for them while I got breakfast started, Silvania's Gluten Free & Dairy Free Cinnamon Toasted Belgian Waffles.  When I got near the end of the batter I had the kids set the table nicely and set out water and all the fixings in the center and we lot a candle.  I've been craving something chocolate for days so I made mine fancy with some peanut butter and chocolate chips and then put it back in the warmer to get the chocolate chips melted...added maple syrup and mmm finally hit the spot!  The kids then cleared the table, helped unload the dishwasher and load the dirty dishes.

We then read from our 5 minute book of devotions and learned about rams and how they fight because they get angry if anyone is in their territory and how we should use our words and not act like an angry ram when it comes to sharing or having angry feelings. I could post a picture of them tackling eachother over a triangle magnet but I won't embarrass them that much....after the little lesson

the boys ran off and started building with the magaformers.  J sat on the stairs and did her 3 minute devotions for girls before getting ready for the day.   

The boys are still building with the megaformers...J is copying the wings illustration and verse from the chalkboard. And we reviewed the story of Deadalus and Icarus from our Greek Myths and talked about how one of our recent memory verses came to kind when thinking of the moral of the story.   

We were enjoying the beeswax candle that is shaped like a beehive we picked up on our field trip to a local apiary last week.

We had an unplanned detour in our day that took about an hour or so...J was suddenly inspired to do a science experiment she thought of which involved quite a but of soap.  

Her brother wanted in on the science fun.    He put a piece of plastic in his mixture and for a minute thought he had invented an invidibility concoction because it made the plastic invisible....but unfortunately he realized it was just blending in since it was clear... So we said it was camouflaged.  It made a great sensory activity as they wanted to add a couple drops if essential oil and essential ops always make us happy :). (I mainly use Plant Therapy and get straight from Amazon with free shipping).

Here we put together a model of a plant cell for science made with colored paper craft foam and felt...just mixed what I had on hand to get different colors.  

The only time the cat wants attention today is when we are working with a model of a plant cell and keeps walking over it and we're laughing trying to remember what was what but he keeps messing it up lol even I couldn't get it right and kept confusing the kids calling chloroplasts "cytoplast"...kitty you are distracting but so cute!

After completing the new memory work for week 4 we did a review.  I had Jordan copy another line to the poem she's copying onto a watercolor painting and then we did some chalkboard math practice.

Later the kids played with building toys while listening to Parables From Nature on Audible.  I tidied up a bit, and had a little break then came and sat next to them on the flour with paper and crayons and casually began illustrating the story we were listening too.  I didn't say anything about what I was doing and put out extra paper for the kids in case they wanted to join me but they were enjoying watching me draw and listening while playing with the blocks and megaformers.  No biggie, just a friendly invitation to draw but they were still listening to the story and enjoying what they were ready doing so I was fine with that.  

It had been a wet and rainy day but later the sun came out and we had soccer practice.  The boys and I enjoyed the park trails with their scooters.  I didn't ever think a 24 month old would be figuring out riding a scooter but he's determined to be exactly like his big brother...as you can see here following him around the playground like a shadow copying his every move.

We made our way back to the soccer fields and watched the end of practice and my toddler was getting restless and became obsessed with taking pictures with my phone.  He really liked photographing the wheel on his scooter, his shoes and his brother! I had to delete a LOT!

And my 5 year old asked to take a picture if the tree below so he could study it at home later and know how to draw in his nature journal.

And that was pretty much a wrap for the day! Got home, got dinner and got everyone to bed :).  

Walk to Defeat ALS and Choose Joy

If you are short on time and can't read this entire post please skip down to the very last paragraph!

This weekend we were with my family in spirit as our family team participated in the Walk to a Defeat ALS Evergreen Chapter for my dad. I am so grateful for the amazing parents I have been blessed with.  They are pioneers, they keep on going and don't give up.  They are able to find joy and thanksgiving even in the midst of this battle against ALS....for which there is currently no cure. My parents both inspire me in many ways.  So often we can find ourselves around a Debbie Downer, maybe even being one ourselves!!! Yet with my parents going through one of the worst and hardest things you could imagine going through, they are still amazing to be around. Not that there aren't rough days but I don't hear my dad or mom seeking sympathy or complaining...I do hear them speaking words of gratitude for the tender mercies The Lord and their community has shown them through this journey.  I hear my dad speak of his love for His Savior.  I hear of my dad doing what he can to serve others, with the help of technology, to edit family videos for his dad and brothers and our family, as well as logging genealogy for his church. My dad has always cared about others in his profession as a MD and still helps people when he can in that regard.  My mom still serves in her church as well.  At first I was concerned if it was too much for her with all she has going on but she's happy to serve and says that it's important to do things outside of yourself and your own situation so you aren't just so wrapped up in your own problems.  It's a positive outlet when she is able to serve and prepare a lesson for others.  

My parents speak words of gratitude about the advances in technology and access to medical equipment that makes life with ALS easier, like my dad's chair that he spends most of his time in.  Thankful for access to medical marijuana which is probably the last thing they ever thought they would try but has been the only thing that really helps with his symptoms.  My dad has described the cramps in his legs like being attacked by 40 biting monkeys but CBD oil and medical marijuana keep those "biting monkeys" away.  With a disease like ALS, whe there isn't much that can be done...it is more than a blessing to have something that can help make life more bearable.  

When I was with my dad recently, We were talking about ALS advocate Steve Gleason and how his former NFL teammates helped him get up Machu Picchu and I asked my dad if there was anything he wanted to do. He said he was so grateful for the active life he has lived and had so many adventures and great outdoor experiences in his 59 years of life that he doesn't have a bucket list of anything he wishes he could still do.  Again, his response was one of gratitude and contentment.  Oh if all of us could be a bit more grateful and content!  

As the season changes to fall and we start thinking of thanksgiving, let us remember to be thankful everyday because there is always ALWAYS ALWAYS something to be thankful for.

My parents are such beautiful examples of practicing that!  So wherever you are today or whatever you may be going through, just think of one thing to give praise and thanksgiving for.  Find a quiet moment in the day to rest in contentment with the small joys of living like being able to cup your hands around a warm mug of coffee, to stroke a child's hair and give a kiss on the forehead, to lay on the floor with your kids or a pet and enjoy the moment together!  Oh how nice it feels to easily pick up a hand and relieve an itch on the neck, to simply roll over in bed and fall comfortably back asleep...to hold hands with a loved one...things we do without a second thought.  Maybe you are waiting on an unanswered prayer, maybe you aren't the praying kind but there's something that could be better in your life...either way....if we can find gratitude and contentment in the simple things, we will have a much richer life.  And no matter what age we live to be, whether we are gone tomorrow or live to 100, it seems a much better life to live with the peace that comes from being grateful and content than live a long life feeling jaded, bitter and sorry for ourselves for whatever didn't go our way.  I'd rather try to be a Pollyanna, choose joy and be an uplifting person to be around. It's not always easy but this experience with my dad has helped me to cherish and live in the moment more than ever! As my dad said in his speech in the opening ceremonies for the ALS walk last year "Make every moment count" and sometimes making the most of every moment might mean going on an unexpected adventure, sometimes it may mean resting and soaking up the beauty of the mundane, lots of times I think it's letting go of what we think we want and just being mentally, physically, and spiritually present internally and outwardly and letting God do whatever it is He's trying to do in us to help us be who He intended us to be.  

Today I pray a prayer of praise and gratitude and ask that The Lord help me stay focused on what really matters, that rather than grow up and become hardened and set in my ways, he would continue to always make my paths straight and help me cherish my days.

Here's the awesome dad I'm telling you about...

Visiting Dr. Papa at work about 2 years ago.  He was using a cane to help with balance but was still going to work and pretty much independent and we were all hoping and praying for a miracle that it wasn't ALS or that it would halt and reverse with all the various protocols that others have found success with.  Praying and exercising the faith for a miracle to happen and still watching things progress is not easy to say the least.  The day I found out my dad might have ALS I heard the kutless song on the radio for the first time "Even If the healing doesn't come..." The timing of hearing that song was interesting and that song still helps me now.  Sometimes when we are weary of praying, just being able to think on the words of that or other songs is really helpful.  

My dad has always enjoyed reading to his grand kids and doing other fun activities with them.  Last summer he helped them put together a volcano science kit, and whatever he couldn't do due to ALS he gave directions for the kids to follow.  And up til now one of the kids favorite things to do is play board games with Papa, especially Settlers of Catan.  His arms and hands have very limited mobility now so one of the younger kids will be on his team and move the game pieces for him.

He hasn't let ALS rob him from having fun with his grand kids.  They love going for rides and steering his chair, and he's let them drive around in his older chair with him and race.  He was able to get down onto the beach on our recent family reunion in Lincoln City, OR and zip around on the beach with the kids. We sit and visit and laugh and he's also great at finding great shows for them to watch together on Netflix or planning other fun activities like taking the kids to the trampoline park and enjoying the fun. And he has taught my kids that happiness is a choice.

When we were visiting my parents this past year, my daughter asked my dad "Papa, are you happy even though you have to be in that chair all the time?" And I will never forget what he said to her and I hope she doesn't either. He gently and warmly but with sincere intensity responded to her with this answer..."Well, happiness is a choice you have to make every day.  Sometimes things don't go the way we want or maybe for you your brother might be irritating you, but regardless of whatever is happening to you and around you, you have to make the choice that you are going to be happy.  So yes, Jordan, even though ALS has taken a lot away from me and I have to be in this chair, I'm happy...because I choose to be."

Visiting an Apiary and IT'S FRIDAY!

We finished the week off with a field trip with some of our friends to a local Apiary and learned about honey bees and beekeeping.  After the lecture we got to observe to observation hive and examine all the beekeeper tools and then visit their kitchen where they bottle the honey, make beeswax molds, candles and soap and sample 4 kinds of honey.  We finished with a pollination demonstration using Cheetos and then did a honey bee drawing in our nature notebooks.  It was such a nice way to end our week!  

We got home and early afternoon and had a restful quiet time with the baby napping and my 5 year old worker on laying out some alphabet cards in order and spent time on the Starfall app on the iPad practicing math and reading and my daughter copied a couple of lines for a poem onto a watercolor and did some math practice and then we snuggled in my bed talking about bees, resting, and then trying to help them earn the last 4 stars in the Frontier Heros app to unlock the next era in American History until it was time to go to soccer practice. I had some iced coffee (I make a big pot of coffee and keep it in the fridge!) then met my hubby at the park since he's the coach and once him and my son got started with practice  my daughter (8) rode her bike and I tried to keep up with the baby jogger on the park trails.  When we got home we opted for a campfire instead of a family movie night. 

I had a surprise for the kids I found earlier this week at the Dollar Tree. Glow sticks that were tridents.  We had learned about the word trident in our Classic Myths to Read Aloud book this week in the very first story that featured Poseidon and we used our other Greek Mythology book to reference for pictures.  The Classic Myths book has little tidbits at the end for the parent to read about that can later be worked into conversation with the kids.  This tidbit was about the word trident and how "tri" means three and "dent" means teeth and how those words from back then are in our everyday language today like tricycle (three wheels) tripod (three legs) dentist (there's the word for teeth again) etc.  So I had them recall what we had learned about Posidon until the remembered about his trident and what the word meant and then gave then each a glow stick trident.  Before the glow sticks they could NOT remember the word without my help but after the got their glow sticks and were running around with then in the dark they had non problem remembering what it was called and the meaning of the word.  I just love when we come across easy things that make learning more tangible and concrete for them!  

We also brought out the ukuleles for everyone to practice for fun around the fire.  Even my Hunny is trying to learn it's been fun!