The Bumblee Craft and Math Photos

Thank you for all the nice compliments on the bumblebee craft! Here is where we found it: The Bumblebee!

Here are some pictures of Squeak working in Singapore Math that didn't make the other post:

Weekly Report 8/23 - 8/27

This was our final week of "summer" school before we start official Kindergarten on Monday!  Praise the Lord!

Bible -  We are continuing with the Bible Stories and Coloring until it's complete. Both girls work on these coloring pictures. I have also been reading for the Jesus Wants All of Me devotional. That book is a great find! What a blessing!

Art Project - Squeak made a paper plate bumblebee and between painting and drying, this took three days!

I didn't realize that we did not have black for his stripes! So Squeak just painted him whatever colors looked nice to her.

Science- Mammals and baby mammals were the topics this week. We completed two days in Sonlight Science K covering mammals and baby mammals. Additionally, I found a few pages in the Singapore Science book that corresponded well. Here is our science wall so far:

Math - We are still waiting to begin the final chapter in Singapore 1a. I did order 1b textbook and Intensive Practice books today. Tonight we will work with subtraction and number bonds more.

Other - Squeak also whizzed through a bunch of MightyMind puzzles. I can't believe they are for kids up to age 8.

I made Squeak some "activity drawers" - similar to a workbox system except I keep the stuff in clear plastic drawers and it doesn't include any of our official curriculum (minus handwriting stuff). I plan on using these the nights we don't have math planned yet Squeak wants to do something. I'm trying to keep on top of having things ready for my aggressive learner.

We have also been watching various Leap Frog DVDs as well.

Squeak is doing really well with JumpStart - she is already half way through Unit 2!! Looking ahead, I think unit 7ish will actually have new material for her.

Here is Squeak listening to an audio book:

Packy is also doing well. I had to put all the chairs up because every time I turned away, she would  climb up on the counter!

My Shelfari Bookshelf

I just added this widget. The books I am posting are the ones we read the most. I couldn't imagine trying to post every book that is in this house!!

They are listed in alphabetical order. They are a mix of read alouds and books Squeak reads.

JumpStart Advanced: 1st Grade

At recreation this past summer, Squeak had computer time among other activities. The school had something called JumpStart Advanced but for whatever reason, the program didn't work. Squeak was just able to see the very beginning of it and thought it was great. So I decided to surprise her and purchase it for home!

So I ordered JumpStart Advanced: 1st Grade. Squeak hasn't been able to use it much because we've had cousins coming and going for the past two weeks. But she is really enjoying what she has done.

It came with 4 disks: 1st Grade Essentials (downloaded into computer), Math Booster, Reading Booster and Spelling Expert. Squeak has worked with the Essentials and yesterday I introduced her to the Reading Booster. She is almost to Unit 2 on Essentials and completed a few Levels on the Reading Booster including getting 100% on two levels of Spelling!!

I figured this will be nice tool for her to review skills and learn some new stuff on her own.

Another Week WITHOUT school!!!

This was the final week of having cousins coming and going. And I picked a day to officially start Kindergarten: Monday, August 30th! Next week will be another "light" week before we start K.

I need to buy Singapore Math 1b soon and was thinking about trying the Intensive Practice book rather than the workbook. The IP book doesn't include all the beginning "fluff" problems that Squeak normally skips when working in the workbook. I'm not sure yet. We are at the last chapter I plan to complete in 1a and hope it lasts about a month before I need to use 1b.

We don't really have a schedule of subjects for Kindergarten either. We'll just kind of flow like we did last year. What we pretty have been doing is:

In the am, Bible and science then right before bed, math. With read alouds and crafts sprinkled throughout the day. I am thinking about utilizing some time while Packy is still napping. Both girls go to quiet time about 1pm, Squeak lasts about 30-45 minutes before coming out. Packy still sleeps for another half hour to hour so I figured that could be bonus time in case we don't finish everything in the am. Or I could have Squeak do some of the other things I have to fill her time. This, of course, is optional time and depends on my own motivation! I asked Squeak what she thought of the idea and she thought it was a great one! LOL!

NON-weekly report

With cousins coming and going, the girls have been busy playing outside all week!

Squeak did do a page in her Singapore Science book and enjoyed it. This particular book in the 4 book set is biology oriented. So this will go well with our Living Things unit. And I figured we can just work on pages when Squeak asks to do more and I'm too lazy to get another Sonlight lesson ready!

More cousins next week as well. So this is a nice break!

Piglet changes to Packy

Piglet was really never her official nickname...it's usually "Pack" or "Packy".

The story behind it:

When she was about 15 months old, her favorite thing to say was "backpack" - from Dora the Explorer. So I started calling her Pack or Packy because of her saying backpack all the time.

So I decided to get my blog up to speed on nicknames!

Busy Girls!

Weekly Report 8/2-8/6

Bible- We have been reading some devotionals from our "Jesus Wants All of Me" devotional book.

Math -  Math has been low key this week. We've been reading through the MathStart Story books. I don't want to start the next Singapore Math chapter until September.

Science-

Squeak recreated plant and animal cells for our "living things" science unit.

Here is the start of the wall. I didn't take a picture of the wall as of today - we added another poster about the catagories of living things: mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, creepy crawlies, water life. We talked about each classification and will look in depth at each in the upcoming weeks.

Other:

Packy enjoys sticking stickers on her over sized coloring books!

Squeak is also participating in the Applebee's Bookworm Club. When she reads 10 books, she can get a free kids meal. She is reading one book a night for this goal.