Pre-homeschool winter chat

[meetoo]

has requested but never started

What was everyone up to today?

We are sick again! . So home all day again.

We did have fun making pretty SPRING colored rice to play with and doing some 3d art with these.

[justthinkn]

We had a fun playtime with 2 sets of friends (moms and little boys) over in the morning...

One new thing we're working on is Spanish. DH is bilingual, and we tried One-Parent-One-Language - couldn't sustain it. But I'd still really like for DD to get lots of exposure while she's little... So I'm working on Rosetta Stone myself, with the dream of having all-Spanish evenings at home eventually, and DD occasionally requests to do a few minutes of Rosetta Stone with me. She's been into that for a week or so, and she's started asking spontaneously at times what to call something in Spanish. So we're trying to find a few other resources to mix in sometimes, keeping it short & fun, of course, to maintain the interest. I'm looking for some good, simple Spanish picture books to read with her - many seem too complex to start! We just found some picture flash cards that I use in little games with the oh-so-simple Spanish sentences I can form so far

[kgianforti]

My older dd walked away from our lap book activities today! LOL! Definitely not a hit!!!

So we started some Valentine crafts and baby dd wanted in on the action! So I set up a craft for her to do and she liked it!!

[kittie313]

Can't remember if I joined in on the last one or not, but I have a 2yo and a just turned 4yo doing the pre-homeschool thing. We're doing our own thing right now, until the AOP sale that will enable me to buy Horizons preschool for my 4yo. We're learning our letters, numbers, colors, and stuff like that.

Today though, we took a day off to go play in the 13 inches of snow in my front yard LOL The big kids got that time too, although I insisted on a couple lessons before we went out. We learned to make snowballs, we caught flaks on black paper and used a magnifier to look at the pretty patterns, we even went "snow diving" off the 2' wall around my patio into a HUGE drift. lol Tomorrow we may do the same or we may actually sit and do lessons, this week we're doing the letter Bb and I have a craft for the kids to do (we're gonna make paper bag puppet bears and then put on a puppet show for daddy that night) We'll also make some valentines to mail out to the grandparents in TX tomorrow if we remember (we live in OH)

[Stacey B]

Busy, busy A day, as in ds got to choose the majority of what we did. There were science experiments (soap bubbles that led to vinegar and baking soda that led to pennies and vinegar). A long walk to his favorite coffee shop to draw. A short stop at the library that turned into two hours and 17 books coming home with us. Finally a major detour across downtown to his favorite sculpture, just 'cause I miss it Mama.

[nov05mama]

Yesterday we had our weekly story time/craft at the local bookstore. Followed by letterboxing/nature walk in the afternoon with friends.
Today, we had a play date at an indoor play place. This week (well, and last week) we have been studying about Our Bodies (mostly bones) since DS was wanting to learn more about skeletons and our bones.
Tomorrow, we have library story time/movement and we were supposed to go to a puppet show, but I am not 100% sure if we are going or not! We have co-op on Friday which is actually a mammals class this week at the Science Museum

[Momma Aimee]

Yesterday we PAINTED -- hand prints and free painting. Theodore is ALL INTO mixing colors to see what you get. and I loove 4 yo's he is actually impressed by my limited creative skills and my "swirl" paint

we are starting to read Paddenton the Bear -- and do realted stuff --

but he doesn't seem to be folowing with no pictures

Also Theo doesn't seem to really "connect" some activities -- like a snack to a book -- at least not most of the time

Yesterday we drew a big city scape on teh esale -- and Theo added Curious George and the man with the Yellow Hat ... then he made on of the buildings on fire ... i added a root top garden

[onyxravnos]

we are slowly getting back into the swing of this post baby got some plastic shelf things that the 'homework fairy' comes and fills with projects at night.

Yesterday we told the story (ish) of saint valintine and painted with red paint. we looked through his new high five magazine, and played with all red sort a shapes. also did some 'one for you one for me' with red cubes.

[meetoo]

We were stuck inside again!

my preschooler had fun building with trio blocks, making ice art, and making dip candles.

[LuxPerpetua]

We're buried in snow here and I'm sick so we didn't get out at all today. This morning we spent a couple of hours building structures with pillows and cushions and doing pretend play. This afternoon, I cleaned while dd made 2 valentine cards. You know it's a bad omen when you hear your child say from the other room, "Well, at least the silver didn't go everywhere like the red did!" On the upside, I now have randomly sparkling carpet. After she did the glitter she mixed up several dipping concoctions for her valentine cards (she's SUCH a chemist like dh)--some kids glue puffballs and hearts on valentines, mine mixes cocoa, pepper, and cornstarch solutions to dip them in. Dh got to come home early because of the snow, so we made pizza dough for tonight's dinner. We also got a bead set from grandma today, so dd made a necklace. After dinner dd was building a hoist and doing some pretend play with dh. She currently LOVES pipe cleaners and constructing things out of them. That's probably her top toy at the moment. Today we read Minerva Louise Finds a Hat (or something like that) and several Pooh stories. At dinner we all made up poetry about our food. We also squeezed several oranges for homemade OJ with dinner. YUM!

[meetoo]

glitter is EVIL!

[kittie313]

Originally Posted by meetoo

glitter is EVIL!

Yes it is! That stuff is perma-banned from my house when it comes to crafts........................

[Momma Aimee]

Originally Posted by LuxPerpetua

We're buried in snow here and I'm sick so we didn't get out at all today. This morning we spent a couple of hours building structures with pillows and cushions and doing pretend play. This afternoon, I cleaned while dd made 2 valentine cards. You know it's a bad omen when you hear your child say from the other room, "Well, at least the silver didn't go everywhere like the red did!" On the upside, I now have randomly sparkling carpet. After she did the glitter she mixed up several dipping concoctions for her valentine cards (she's SUCH a chemist like dh)--some kids glue puffballs and hearts on valentines, mine mixes cocoa, pepper, and cornstarch solutions to dip them in. Dh got to come home early because of the snow, so we made pizza dough for tonight's dinner. We also got a bead set from grandma today, so dd made a necklace. After dinner dd was building a hoist and doing some pretend play with dh. She currently LOVES pipe cleaners and constructing things out of them. That's probably her top toy at the moment. Today we read Minerva Louise Finds a Hat (or something like that) and several Pooh stories. At dinner we all made up poetry about our food. We also squeezed several oranges for homemade OJ with dinner. YUM!

you are an amazing momma

1. my children do not know glitter exisits at all much less that they might be able to touch it. And they won't. there is still glitter in my folks house from when i was little -- not happneing here.

2. we do not independant creating like "creating dips" I think i would stroke out. GThey do art and cook -- but with my egal eye on them and NO expereimenting. LOL

3. I do not walk away from art at all -- ever -- LOL

Gee I was all proud of letting them paint twice this week. LOL

tomorrow i am going to tape a big peice of paper to the basement (not yet finished) floor and let them hand paint on it ..... then when it is dry we will use it to cover out glass storm door -- I am pretty proud of myself -- being ok with messy is new for me.

[skueppers]

Originally Posted by Momma Aimee

we are starting to read Paddenton the Bear -- and do realted stuff --

but he doesn't seem to be folowing with no pictures

Also Theo doesn't seem to really "connect" some activities -- like a snack to a book -- at least not most of the time

Not all kids are ready for longer read-alouds at Theo's age. I know my daughter only developed the focus/attention for chapter books around 4 1/2, and plenty of kids don't have it until later. So I'm sure it will come eventually!

As for connecting themed activities together -- is it really important that he do so? I mean, what do you think the benefit is? Just some food for thought.

[Red Pajama]

I don't think I joined in on the last pre homeschool chat. My boys just had their 5th birthday.

They've had quite a bit of time out in the snow, and our typical once a week story time at the library.

One has become fascinated with space, so we've had books and movies (as well as nova programs) about the planets, stars, and the hubble space telescope. It's fun to watch them learn about this stuff. Then there was the painting and coloring of space themed pictures.

They were given pattern blocks for their birthday, so we've had some time working with those.

I try to practice letter formation a few times each week.

And that's about it so far.

[LuxPerpetua]

Originally Posted by Momma Aimee

you are an amazing momma

1. my children do not know glitter exisits at all much less that they might be able to touch it. And they won't. there is still glitter in my folks house from when i was little -- not happneing here.

2. we do not independant creating like "creating dips" I think i would stroke out. GThey do art and cook -- but with my egal eye on them and NO expereimenting. LOL

3. I do not walk away from art at all -- ever -- LOL

Gee I was all proud of letting them paint twice this week. LOL

tomorrow i am going to tape a big peice of paper to the basement (not yet finished) floor and let them hand paint on it ..... then when it is dry we will use it to cover out glass storm door -- I am pretty proud of myself -- being ok with messy is new for me.

LOL! My mother likes to torment me and buy dd glitter and glitter glue and all kinds of messy things that I would prefer to live without. I guess it's payback time, LOL.

I got lucky with dd in that she's actually VERY careful and hates making messes. She isn't the kind of kid who would intentionally throw or shake glitter or flour everywhere. We cook a lot together and she's used to how ingredients are treated I guess, plus it's just her personality--not really laidback so much as just "careful." She has a friend who is the same age who I would not let near flour to save my life. He just has a very different temperment.

As for chapter books without pictures, if I were you, I'd just wait a few months on that. My dd is VERY big into reading--like will sit still for 2 hours and be read to kind of reading--and she still isn't ready for non-pictured books, I think. The closest we're doing to a chapter book is Winnie the Pooh, which she loves, but our edition has colored pictures. I can tell she gets more restless on the non-picture pages. By age 5, I'm going to try out a chapter book without pictures and see how we do, but I doubt before.

My dd is also very resistant to too much themed activities. I've finally just let her take the lead. If she wants to have bread and honey for a snack and read a Pooh chapter, fine, if not, fine. I think curricula just suggest doing this as a way for kids to have extra sensory ways to experience a story. However, sometimes you can just let it go, or maybe just suggest acting out the story or do something relating to the story that seems less planned. I dunno. My dd can smell "pre-planned activity" from a mile away and she hates them.

And yes, glitter is evil. Totally.

[onyxravnos]

Mmmm we love glitter at my house. we frequently are sparkly all day long due to glitters never ending reproducing abilities.

[meetoo]

Aimee, my 6 yr old still isn't a huge fan of non pictured books. She can understand and follow them but she would rather me read her picture books. I think picture books have there own advantages. They are made for an adult to read, so often times they can have more vocab in them then early chapter books. They engage children (what is more important then that. ). I also found they help improve reading. My DD can go back and read the picture books we have already read, so she has help with words that might be to difficult. If you want him to listen to books with no pictures, what about reading it during lunch, or using books on tape?

[Momma Aimee]

Originally Posted by LuxPerpetua

LOL! My mother likes to torment me and buy dd glitter and glitter glue and all kinds of messy things that I would prefer to live without. I guess it's payback time, LOL.



I got lucky with dd in that she's actually VERY careful and hates making messes. She isn't the kind of kid who would intentionally throw or shake glitter or flour everywhere. We cook a lot together and she's used to how ingredients are treated I guess, plus it's just her personality--not really laidback so much as just "careful." She has a friend who is the same age who I would not let near flour to save my life. He just has a very different temperment.

THAT is cool -- Theo cooks with me -- but careful he is not, he can be fore a SHORT time, like to pour flour to cook, but not long term like to do glitter art, yk?


As for chapter books without pictures, if I were you, I'd just wait a few months on that. My dd is VERY big into reading--like will sit still for 2 hours and be read to kind of reading--and she still isn't ready for non-pictured books, I think. The closest we're doing to a chapter book is Winnie the Pooh, which she loves, but our edition has colored pictures. I can tell she gets more restless on the non-picture pages. By age 5, I'm going to try out a chapter book without pictures and see how we do, but I doubt before.

This IS Theodore -- he will read for over an hour or more -- as long as we can last with little brother's help. I guess he just isn't there yet on the lack of pictures. it is not the complex story issue or the lenght of the book ... i am glad others are the same.

we will put chapter books away again.

and no the connected activities aren't importnat -- jsut something i feel like i should be doing.

My dd is also very resistant to too much themed activities. I've finally just let her take the lead. If she wants to have bread and honey for a snack and read a Pooh chapter, fine, if not, fine. I think curricula just suggest doing this as a way for kids to have extra sensory ways to experience a story. However, sometimes you can just let it go, or maybe just suggest acting out the story or do something relating to the story that seems less planned. I dunno. My dd can smell "pre-planned activity" from a mile away and she hates them.

And yes, glitter is evil. Totally.

[Stacey B]

We actually went and got some new glitter glue today for Valentines. I'm okay with it as long as we have the table set up for it.

It the science experiments that are major around here. I got two hours of cleaning done while ds did experiments. He's exploring bubbles with straws and strainers and other implements. We're stuck in bubbles right now because I need a little planning time for any other sort of project, and I'm not the best prep person (must get better).