Back to school back to planning.

"Big Guy" sporting his new mohawk.
"Little guy" hanging on to summer w/ his tye die.

Here's our 1st day of school pics. We started our school year later than usual this year. I was really trying to give us a chance to get settled. We're still working out the scheduling kinks that come with homschooling & me working outside the home. So far our weeks have went really well. The days still don't look like I pictured them. (Not that I thought they would.) But it always helps me to have a picture in my head. One thing is that I have yet to have a week where I feel like I've really developed my lesson plans. We're still using FIAR. One of the things I love about FIAR is it's simplicity. I know that I can just pick up my manual and go. So much of our learning has been conversational this year. Their notebooks look kinda bare. I also like to plan and have lots of hands on activites for them. This stuff provides a visual reassurance of what we're doing each day for me and built in review for them. So I 've been wanting to get more of that in. Next week I'm going branch out a little. I've been in the mood to do something w/ a fall theme.

We've done leaf units before and my pumpkin books haven't come in yet. So I decided to do a unit on trees. We'll be using the book, The Big Tree and this lapbook from HSS. We'll start our thankful tree. I'm looking forward to this project this year because I'm intrested to see how what we've been through this year will effect the guys responses. Plus I want to do some fall crafts. I like this wreath . Crayola has some great printables. Mabe make a nature print shirt. Then Round out the week w/ a hike at on of the state parks.

Homeschoolshare Blast 2008

When you read my posts about my lesson plans there are 2 abbreviations that get repeated most often FIAR (Five in a Row) and HSS (homeschoolshare). One of the reasons that I chose FIAR is because of my love for stories. So it made sense that there were books that I loved & wanted to row with my guys. I was so excited when I learned about HSS because I found out there where lots of other moms just like me. HSS gives us a place to find even more great units to experience w/ our children. These great units are written by other homeschoolers and they're all free.
These ladies are already gearing up for next year w/ HSS Blast 2008. This is a contest to gather new units for next year. So go on over check out the site. Then find your favorite book and start writing. I know this is one mom that will be thankful for all your help.

I need a plan

I've spent my last Monday morning throwing together a plan for the week or looking back on the week to fill in my lesson plan based on what we did.Over the last 3 months I've grown to greatly appreciate the the ways of unschooling. However it's just not for me. I can embrace the idea that living is learning. I can embrace the idea of looking for teachable moments. But for my sanity I need a plan.
I would like the next couple of weeks to focus around God's creation. ("106 Days of Creation" is a part of the plan but I just can't go that deep right now. I think I might use next year as something I'll do once a week. But, for now I'll just keep it simple by rowing through the days of creation.)

This week we looked at Day 1, God made light. We rowed Storm in the Night. I chose this book because the story takes place in the dark. We used mostly activities from FIAR vol 1. I also did some basic light actives from books at the library.

The next 2weeks we will look at Day 2. God made air/ water. The first week we will look at weather. Our book will be Thunder Cake. We'll be using the unit from HSS. This is a one that is requested every time there's a storm. The second week we we will look to the sky & row Glorious Flight.

The next 2 week we'll look at Day 3, God made the plants. Week 1 we'll row The Gardener from HSS. "W" will get his own book the week, The Carrot Seed from B4FIAR.

This is the week we 're planting our container gardens. I hope to elaborate on this more in another post. Week 2 we will continue to work on our gardens & read books on planting & Spring.
I'm not done w/ the rest of the plan but' this at least gets me started.

Andy & the Circus

One of my biggest uses for my blog is as a lesson planner. It's just so much easier to organize my thoughts on the screen. I can search for links and find printables all at the same time.
Monday- Finish the Circus poster project. Tuesday- Discuss & list Andy's Family & friends Match them to how Andy helped them. Talk about sacrifice. Wednesday-Math lesson from Ringling Bros. Thursday- Science/balance (FIAR pg24) & circus works. Friday - LA sayings (FIAR pg 22) Shape book w/ fact about P. T Barnum. Optional activities -Kids can draw Circus pictures book from the library (Negative effect) Thomas tracks & plastic animals to make a circus train. Frogs .
I am making a purposeful effort to include W in school by finding a go along book or doing a unit plan for him from B4FIAR. Last week we found Louella & the Yellow Balloon. So this week we will read this book and do some activities from the preschool activities at the Ringling bros. site At least this is the plan anyway.