Alex’s Amazing Stained Glass Butterflies!
Stained glass has fascinated people for centuries. It’s so beautiful and intricate, and the way it catches the light is awe inspiring. This evening, Alexandria and I made some wax paper stained glass butterflies out of wax paper and color crayon shavings. It was a colorful and entertaining craft that fit in nicely with our unit on Butterflies.
First, I carefully shaved crayons into tiny pieces in a bowl. Alex cut sheets of wax paper and drew butterfly outlines on them. Once the crayons were shaved, she arranged the shavings on the waxed paper, placed another sheet of wax paper on top, and I ironed them to melt the wax.
Crayon Shavings and Wax Paper
Wax-covered butterfly before ironing
Alex was excited to watch the wax melt and spread, transforming our butterflies into colorful masterpieces. I also managed to get wax all over the ironing board… ooops. Once the butterfly shapes cooled, Alex cut out the butterflies and I punched a hole in the top of each one. We fastened some hemp cord and hung them up to enjoy.
Alex is such a little artist. She’s always creating something new and interesting. She has already hung her beautiful butterflies on her bedroom window to catch the first morning’s light.
Now… off to scrub the rest of the wax off of my poor old ironing board… 
Tiny Hands+ Construction Paper= Adorable Handprint Butterflies!
This afternoon, the little kids crafted some adorable handprint butterflies! What is more adorable than tiny handprints? Nothing much, really. I began by tracing Derek’s hands while Alex worked on her butterfly book and Bella wanted in on the action too. That kid is growing up too fast! She wants to be involved in everything the bigger kids do!
Tracing Hands!
Tracing Baby Hands!
We traced a total of six handprint per child, two handprints per color. I cut them out and made butterfly bodies. Then the kids helped staple their wings to their butterflies and colored them. They had so much fun!
Derek was very proud of his butterfly!
Busy Coloring!
Bella and her BFF coloring
I love seeing the kids so passionate about their projects. Learning can be such fun! Once the butterflies were merrily colored, we taped them to the window for everyone to enjoy. Derek and Bella couldn’t stop talking about their butterflies!
Watch Out, Fashionistas! Homeschooling is Now the Hip Thing to Do! :-)
Watch out, fashionistas! Homeschooling is now the fashionable thing to do. I came across a cool article today about “Why Urban, Educated Parents are Turning to DIY Education” and couldn’t help but sharing:
I remember when my mom homeschooled us, there was very little support. It wasn’t the mainstream thing to do and people could be pretty critical. Today? There are several million successful homeschoolers in the United States and this number grows by 15% yearly. Chances are you know someone who is homeschooling their children. With the Internet and local support, homeschooling is not only easy, it’s a vibrant opportunity for families to grow and learn together.
It’s refreshing to know that more people like us are choosing to educate their own children. We’re not the stereotypical homeschoolers: rural, blue-collar, very religious, etc. Most aren’t. We’re highly educated professionals who live in the 13th largest city in the US. We’re modern parents who realize that factory-style, one-size-fits-all-education doesn’t fit our kids.
What do you think of this trend?
This Week: Butterflies and Caterpillars!
Our Caterpillars are getting big!
Today marks the start of our Living Things Unit, and our first area of study is something that metamorphosizes dramatically over its lifetime, turns into something bright and fluttery, and is the least-gross member of the insect family. Any guesses? Butterflies!
Our tiny caterpillars arrived late last week from Insect Lore and already they have grown dramatically!
Our Caterpillars Last Week
Our Caterpillars Today!
We started our day with Story Circle, reading a selection of books about caterpillars and butterflies, singing a few finger plays about the insects, and discussing the caterpillar life-cycle. The kids then made butterfly art and colored books about the life-cycle.
Derek's beautiful butterfly
Today's Butterfly Book Selection The Kids' Butterfly Books
Derek's Pasta Caterpillars
While the little kids were resting, Alex and I went into further detail. We began studying the difference between butterflies and moths, butterfly body parts, and predators. She started her butterfly lap book, coloring brightly colored pictures and learning lots.
The kids are having fun learning about living things. To make our butterfly unit extra special, we’re heading to the Butterfly Rainforest in Gainesville this week! On top of raising our own Painted Lady Butterflies, the museum will really reinforce what we’re learning and make it memorable. I think we’re going to have a fun month!
Related articles
- We’ve Got Bugs! ((Don’t Call The Exterminator)) (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
Sure, Play With Your Food. Promoting Play in a Fun, Pre-School Kinda Way.
Play is vitally important to a young child’s development, yet is something that modern society pushes to the wayside. Did you see the recent study stating that today’s preschoolers spend 97% of their time NOT playing and running around? Since the 1970s, kids have lost an average of nine-twelve hours per week of free playtime and are spending less free time outside than ever before. Sad, isn’t it?
If you’re like me, it isn’t easy to just let the kids play for hours at a time. I’m a go-getter who is on a constant mission to get things done. I have to keep telling myself that free play is important. Also important is creative play time. What’s a mom to do when the ideas run short on fun new playtime activities?
With Bella and Derek shunning naps, I needed some new creative play ideas to occupy our time and I needed them fast. I picked up some fun books about toddler and preschool games at the library and cracked open “365 Games Smart Toddlers Play” by Sheila Ellison. The first thing I found was “Sorting Pasta.”
I gathered several boxes of differently shaped pasta from the garage and mixed a small amount of each together into a bowl. I set it down in front of Bella and gave her three more small bowls, then attempted to teach her to sort them. That… didn’t work so well. She had a blast putting pasta in bowls and pouring them from one bowl to the next. She was occupied for at least 20 minutes! Derek joined in too and had fun making a big, pasta-y mess all over the rug.
I let the little kids play their pasta sorting game in their way for as long as they liked, biting back any urge to push them on to something else. They didn’t play the way I had anticipated, but they had a ton of fun! Who would have thought something so simple could keep them busy for so long!
Once they lost interest, we went outside for some active play and then had lunch and naps. While Bella took a small rest, I prepared rice for our next creative play activity: “Rice Fun.”
I cooked a large pot of rice and allowed it to cool while Bella rested, then set up a picnic mat with lots of pans and utensils. When Bella got up, we headed outside for some fun. I dumped the rice onto the center of the tablecloth, making a hill. The kids used spoons, cups, and other kitchen supplies to mold and play with the rice. Derek and Bella made lots of rice cupcakes!
The project was messy and sticky, but lots of fun! Derek played for about 40 minutes, a record for him! He ate a lot of it as well and wasn’t hungry for dinner. Once he tired of the game, I hosed the ricey mess off the drive. The kids ran up and down the driveway squealing and shreeking in the water.
Play is essential to a child’s development. It contributes to their emotional, cognitive, social, and physical well-being. Many children today are being raised in increasingly hurried and pressured lifestyles that limit the time available for play. As parents, it’s up to us to bring play back. If you’re like me and run out of ideas, there are many resources out there to help you out! You’d be surprised how many cool ideas you can get from a simple trip to the library. Get out there and let your kids play. They’ll be happier and healthier for it.
Up, Up, and Away! Pilot-in-Training Alexandria Flies Over Jacksonville
My Little Pilot!
If you were in Jacksonville today and happened to look up, you just may have seen our pilot-in-training Alexandria soaring high above you in the crisp, blue winter’s sky. Hubby got a Groupon deal for a flight over Jacksonville a while back and today was the time to redeem it. Alexandria learned all about the basics of flight and took her very first small-plane ride over the First Coast.
“I liked my flight because it was fun,” she says. “We saw Downtown Jacksonville. It looked pretty small from up high! We saw trees and houses, lakes, rivers, bridges, cars, and some big buildings.”
Me: “What did you think of the plane at first?”
Alex: “It was kind of scary because it was very fast and bumpy. My ears were popping lots! But at the end it wasn’t so scary!”
Me: “What was the best part?”
Alex: “The best part was seeing stuff from up high. I mostly liked it when we saw downtown Jacksonville. That was the best thing ever.”
Me: “What did you learn about flying planes?”
Alex: “I learned that they have to fly at certain speeds to take off. VR was 55 and VY was 74 knots. I also learned about the propeller and how it makes the plane go.”
Me: “Do you like flying planes?”
Alex: “Yes! It is so much fun.”
Me: “Do you want to be a pilot like Daddy?”
Alex: “A little bit. I wouldn’t want to be away from my family very much though.”
Me: “What if you had your own plane?”
Alex: “That would be funny, but where would I put it?”
- One of Alex’s pictures of Jacksonville
So, Alex wasn’t actually flying the plane today. Daddy flew. But Lil’ Miss did get to go on her first small-plane flight and learned so much about how a plane works. She’s roaring to go up again. Who knows. Maybe we really do have another pilot in the family. Hubby has her on the flight simulator now, teaching her more. He’s so passionate about it. His passion for flying is rubbing off on our adventurous daughter.
I’m pretty proud of my little learner. I think she’s getting a pretty well-rounded education, don’t you?
Three Kids with Hammers and Nails= Three Unique Dinosaur Creations and a Roaring Good Time
Woodworking teaches kids to follow directions, enhances fine motor skills, teaches patience, boosts self-confidence, and results in a creation they can be proud of. That is why we love Lowe’s Build-and-Grow workshops Today my three little builders created ferocious T-rexes. They had so much fun!
Even Derek is an avid builder!
What do I do next, Daddy?
Look who is building without crying!
My most beautiful builder
Hubby was home today and I talked him into coming to help with the class. He came and tried convincing me he’d be most helpful walking through the store with Bella. That would be helpful, but not as helpful as directing three children with a woodworking project. I brought snacks for Bella and while she wasn’t happy to be in the stroller, she did stay there and eat her snacks. Three young children each building a rather complicated project is quite a challenge!
Each child laid their supplies out in front of them and we all read the steps together, one at a time. Hubby and I helped the kids line up their parts and start the nails, then the kids nailed them the rest of the way. We did one step at a time and made sure everyone was done before moving to the next step. This teaches the kids to work together and also to be patient. They talked each other through the more difficult parts of the project. They also worked on sorting and size comparison to find the correct size nails from their bags.
The project was a bit complicated, but we made it through without having to re-do very many parts. The only child who was a bit to anxious to get ahead was Alex, who nailed the wrong piece of dinosaur onto the wrong side of the wrong part. Ooops. Mom fixed it and told her to listen and wait for the rest of the kids to finish.
Ethan's "Special" Dinosaur
Look what we made!
The kids were all very proud of their dinosaurs and covered them with stickers. Like their own personalities, each child’s dinosaur was all very different. Bella wanted her own dinosaur too. Perhaps in a few months we’ll let her try as well. That seems super young, but Derek began his first woodworking class at age 2 when Hubby was deployed. It’s a fun and important part of all of their educations.
The best part of the class is that each kid comes home with a new, free toy. They’ve been playing with their dinosaurs for the last few hours now, roaring happily and stagingbattles between the warring tribes of dinos. I think it’s a win-win situation. They learned a lot AND they have something new to play with.
If you haven’t tried Lowes’ Build-and-Grow Workshop, you definitely should. It’s free, twice-monthly, and so much fun. Next month we’re going to make valentine’s boxes and race cars. The kids get certificates and badges each time as well. The boys have the bad habit of pulling their badges off their aprons, but Alex has developed quite a collection. You can sign up online for their free classes. It’s so much fun! Perhaps we’ll see you there.
This is so cool!
Our Herd
Related articles
- New Experience #3: Build and Grow (52brandnew.wordpress.com)
We’ve Got Bugs! ((Don’t Call The Exterminator))
The bugs are here! The bugs are here! Those are four words no one ever wants to hear, let alone utter from their own mouth. Then why did that phrase elicit squeals of delight and stampeding children this afternoon when the UPS man rang the doorbell? And why, one might ask, would one be getting bugs delivered via UPS anyway? What is this world coming to?
Next week kicks off our big Animal Life unit, and part of our study revolves around how living things grow and change. What better way is there to learn about science than to see it happening first hand? I ordered Painted Lady Caterpillars, live ladybug larvae, and earthworm eggs, each with their unique habitats, from Insect Lore on Tuesday and they arrived this afternoon! The kids will see first hand how things grow and change and come to understand a bit about how the life cycle works.
The packages said, “Open Immediately” and we did just that. First, we opened the Ladybug kit. The tiny larvae arrived in a plastic vile. We snapped together their habitat and added a bit of water, then emptied the larvae and food into the see-through, domed habitat. We’ll watch the larvae eat, drink and grow as the metamorphosis process occurs right before us!
My little scientist
Ladybug Land
What is this?
The Earthworm Habitat came next. The earthworm eggs came in clay balls, and we had to soak them for 30 minutes. The clay loosened and came off, revealing the earthworm eggs inside. They looked a lot like brown apple seeds. We soaked the dirt brick and put the soft dirt into the Earthworm Nursery, then placed the eggs and water in the Hatchery. According to the pamphlet, the earthworms will start hatching any day! We’re excited to watch the worms grow from eggs and eventually let them go in the flowerbed when we plant our spring flowers.
Our earthworm eggs are soaking
Earthworm eggs!
Earthworm Habitat
Our butterfly larvae must stay in their container until they turn into cocoons in a few weeks. We’ll then place the cocoons in a butterfly pavilion. We’ll watch them grow from caterpillars to chrysalis to beautiful spring butterflies. We can hardly wait!
Caterpillars!
The older two kids will be keeping a journal about the bugs and worms as they grow and develop. They were excited to start this evening, drawing pictures of the tiny babies and writing a bit about them.
Hard at work writing about worms
Ethan checks out the earthworm eggs through the magnifying glass
Alex's Worm Observation Book
The next few weeks will be exciting and brimming with new experiences. I never thought I’d have pet bugs in my house. Homeschooling really changes how you view things, I guess! It’s an awesome experiment and I think the kids will remember it for years to come. We’ll be sure to post updates as our bugs and worms grow and develop.
This will be a month to remember.
Finger Painting Preschool Madness!
Derek’s full Horizons Preschool Curriculum arrived in the mail yesterday, and he was so excited to start that he was begging to get out his books before we had even eaten breakfast! His attention span is really improving, and we figured it was time to introduce him to more formal book work (just a bit). He dug right in. Our lesson ended with a cutting, gluing, and painting exercise. He loved spreading the glue with his paintbrush and carefully added colorful paints with another brush… at first. Every time he got a bit of paint on his hands, he would hold the hand out in disgust until I washed it.
Then…. something happened.
“What will happen if I put my hands in the paint?” he asked.
“Nothing,” I replied. “You are supposed to paint with your hands. It’s finger paint.”
He put one finger in the paint, then two. One hand, then two. A grin spread from ear to ear and the mess began. His hands moved at the speed of light, back and forth and round and round, and the paint began splattering far and near. “I made brown!” Derek exclaimed, excited, painting his newspaper like a madman.
One picture turned to two. Two turned to three until eleven colorful Derek creations covered our dining room table. By the time he finished, the entire Derek side of the table was greenish brown, as were his hands, arms, clothes, legs, and part of his hair. I carefully extracted him from his chair and carried him to the kitchen sink for a thorough scrubbing.
It may have been messy, but I haven’t ever seen Derek that creative. I love how much focus he’s developing. He can actually focus on a project for 30 minutes or so now, something we couldn’t have imagined only several months ago. My little boy is growing up. I love him so much, green-paint-splotched arms and all.
My hard working preschooler
Look what happens!
So happy!
My messy boy!
Derek's masterpieces line our table!
Lil’ Miss Goes Rock Climbing!
Hubby didn’t have to fly until this evening, so he and Alex were able to have a Daddy/ Daughter date and attend a rock climbing class at The Edge Rock Gym with our homeschool group. I was so glad! Not only was it an awesome chance for some bonding, but I didn’t have to chase a crazy toddler around the gym the entire time. The rest of us stayed home and did schoolwork while Bella napped. Hubby and Alex left with some comfortable clothes, the old camera, driving directions, and a roaring sense of adventure. They had an absolute blast!
Alex and her class
Alex and her pal Sophie
At first, Alex wasn’t so sure about the whole climbing thing. She’s used to being the best at everything and wasn’t the best climber. Lil’ Miss started crying. Hubby and some of the ladies cheered her on and encouraged her to keep trying. Before she knew it, she was a climbing machine! Hubby enjoyed climbing as well.
I asked Alex what she thought of rock climbing.
Alex: “That was cool. So cool.”
Mom: “What was the best part?”
Alex: “Oh, doing my super goal.”
Mom: “What?”
Alex: “Super goal. The super goal was to get to the low cliff. I won the super goal. My friend Sohpie helped me. But when I was up there I was a little too scared to come down. I was like, “I am too high.”
Mom: “Did you like climbing?”
Alex: “Yes, definitely. First I thought it was no fun, cause, like, I thought everyone was going higher than me. Well, the truth was that some kids couldn’t get very high. Some kids went really, really high and that was too much for me.”
Mom: “What did you learn about climbing?”
Alex: “I learned that I can lean backwards to come down. I learned the Safety rules.”
Mom: “Did you have fun with Daddy today?”
Alex: “I had a lot of fun. Well, I like climbing with daddy cause it’s very fun.”
Mom: “Is Daddy a good climber?”
Alex: “Yes!
Mom: “Would you ever want to go rock climbing again?”
Alex: “Yes! Maybe with you when you don’t have very much work to do. Maybe on a Saturday or Sunday when Dad can watch the kids. That would be fun!”
Climber!
Today’s school day was a fun and memorable adventure. Alex had the time of her life. Who wouldn’t love a curriculum that incorporates rock climbing as PE? I think that is pretty darn awesome. I would have loved that as a child. Heck, I love it now! Our homeschooling adventure is just that… the adventure of a lifetime.
Art Class at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens
One of our favorite places to hang out in Jacksonville is the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens. We adore their Tuesday evening art class. We haven’t been for a while and decided that art class would be the perfect way to top off our day.
Alexandria was thrilled to be dropped off for art class and the other children were excited to explore the museum. There were three other homeschooled kids in her class. Crazy, huh? She had an awesome time giggling and gabbing with the girls. We headed out to the gardens to burn off some energy. I chased Bella around the gardens for almost 40 minutes. That kid is tireless! Between mad dashes after the toddler, I also enjoyed playing with the new camera.
Follow us on a little adventure through the Gardens…
Exploring the Garden
I was surprised how many flowers were blooming in the garden, considering it is January. It has been a very warm, spring-like winter here in Florida. I’m dying to plant flowers at home and have to keep reminding myself it’s winter. The gardens were lovely and refreshing and the kids really enjoyed exploring them. I let them search every nook and cranny. There were few people around and it was a glorious way to spend an evening! Which shot do you like best?
Alex had a great time at art class and talked my ears off all the way home. She made a landscape with tissue paper. She talked more than crafted in class and had to finish it at home. Here are some shots of art time!
Alex’s Art Class
Alex's final masterpiece. Why she taped a flower on it only she knows...
I hope the kids have fond memories of our time in Jacksonville when they grow up. I’m so happy for all the fun, cultural experiences we’ve been able to enjoy. If you’re ever in Jacksonville, you simply must check out the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens. It’s a true gem.
Celebrating the Beauty of the Seasons Through Poetry
We are learning about the four seasons this week and while it’s a new concept for the boys, it’s old news for Alex. We encorporated our seasons theme into English today by writing poems about each season. I found some great season senses poem sheets at www.enchantedlearning.com and printed them for Alex. I seriously love that website! She not only exercised her creativity, but also practiced her penmenship and spelling. I love her poems!
Alex's Season Senses Poem
Poetry is a treat for the senses. Not only is it fun to read most of the time, but it’s also a unique and powerful way to express oneself. My children love it when I read them poems by their favorite poet, Shel Silverstein. I remember enjoying “Where the Sidewalk Ends” as a child and loving it too.
For Alex, writing her own poetry was a challenging task earlier this year. It took lots of practice and a bit of prodding, but she’s gotten better and better at thinking outside the box. Her poetry offers me glimpses of how her mind works and I plan on keeping her poems forever. I’m glad my mother kept mine!
Spring Poem
Winter Poem
Fall Poem
Summer Poem
So, I evidentially didn’t catch all the spelling mistakes, but that’s part of the cute-factor, right? It’s a good example of where she is right now. I love watching her learn and grow and hope she continues to love poetry for the rest of her life.
I think that most of us love poetry from infancy, even if you don’t realize it. What baby doesn’t love lullabies or nursery rhymes? Mine all did (and do!). Those are all examples of poetry. Poetry soothes us with its rhythm. Its steady pace and predictable repitition speak to a child’s soul.
As we grow older, our definition of poetry changes and grows. Its words can be used in any combination to express your hopes, fears, dreams, and deepest emotions. I find that I can express myself best in free-form poetry when I really need to get it all out. I did not enjoy studying poetry in college and stopped enjoying it for a while, but rekindled my love affair once I had children.
Poetry can be used to teach anything. The rhythm and flow of the words make things easier to remember. Poems introduce us to new concepts and vocabulary. They can be used to soothe a child and lull them to a peaceful slumber. They speak to our hearts and excite our emotions. A peom is wonderful to write because there is not wrong way to do so. Poetry speaks to our souls.
What does poetry mean to you?
Playing Around With the New Camera!
Hubby got me a new camera today and I’ve had a ton of fun experimenting this afternoon. I love how clear and focused the shots are. I have a lot to learn, but here are some of my first shots with my first DSLR!
Alex
Bella
Derek
Ethan
The Jacksonville Zoo Has a New Baby Giraffe!
1-year-old Savannah the Giraffe
While looking through last weekend’s newspaper, we came across an exciting headline. The Jacksonville Zoo had a new addition: a baby giraffe! We simply had to squeeze a zoo visit into our school week!
Yesterday morning we packed up and headed to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens with a great friend. I’ll bet her boys were envious that she got to go to the zoo while they were at school! Not only did we enjoy the regular exhibits, but we also caught glimpses of the new baby giraffe in his enclosure with his mommy giraffe. I couldn’t get a good picture apart from little legs as he ran sporadically about… but I got a few of the 1-year-old giraffe Savannah! She was last year’s Christmas Eve baby. It was so cute how she kept peeking over the baby giraffe’s enclosure as if to say, “Oooh! A playmate!”
Looking for Giraffes
Ethan and Alex
Hey, I'm the baby!
The kids enjoyed running around and seeing all the animals. We shared a picnic lunch near the fountain and walked some more!
Look at me climbing everything!
A beautiful jaguar! Go Jacksonville Jaguars!
Look! I'm climbing more things! I'm a crazy monkey!
Look carefully in the bushes!
Our friend Juanita treated us to a train ride before we came home. The kids were excited. They love trains! Bella kept saying,”Choo! Choo!”
We love trains!
Too cute!
We had a fun little field trip to add some excitement to our week! We always love the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. There’s always something new to do and see. Plus, mommy gets her 10,000 steps in for the day! It’s really a win-win situation. We are going to miss our wonderful zoo when we move!
Painting a More Colorful Future– Drawing Lessons!
Drawing is a great way to express oneself. It’s a fun way to be creative, hones fine-motor skills, and stimulates the imagination. Teaching your child to draw not only increases what they are capable of creating, but it also does wonders for their self-confidence and self-esteem. I encourage my kids to draw often and love helping them improve their drawing abilities. I love it when they proudly hold up something they created and proclaim, “Look what I did! Look how good I am!”
This afternoon, I got three of them to gather around the dining room table for a drawing lesson. Today’s topic? Flowers. I was really happy that Derek wanted to participate today. He’s really matured in leaps and bounds lately when it comes to school. Not too long ago, I could barely get him to participate in any project for more than 1-2 minutes. Today he lasted through 30 minutes of art! Ethan has also matured a lot. When we started homeschooling, Ethan scribbled. He couldn’t make a person to save his life, even the circle or stick variety. He would cry or throw a tantrum if I tried to help him or asked him to draw a particular object. Now, Ethan loves drawing lessons! Not only has his ability to draw improved, but so has his self confidence! He no longer approaches art with tears. Now he approaches it with determination.
My little artists!
I demonstrated each step piece by piece on the easel and the kids each did their best. We took it slowly and before we knew it, cute little flowers started to appear on each child’s paper!
Once we had created fields of flowers, it was time to break out the art supplies. Ethan chose to use water colors and spent over an hour carefully painting his picture. Derek quickly painted his and ran off to play. Alex combined crayons, markers, oil pastels, and paint to create a lovely picture.
My example
Alex's Masterpiece
Derek's "Flowers"
Ethan's Drawing and Painting
Some people say that teaching children to draw stifles creativity. I don’t agree. I think that helping children learn to draw more realistically empowers them. It makes them want to learn more and gives them confidence in their abilities. Of course, lots of praise helps too! Art is an important part of our curriculum. I love their little masterpieces!
Duck, Duck, Goose! Crazy Fowl on the Loose!
After several hours of school work, I asked the kids if they’d like to feed some ducks at the park. They hurried to finish their projects and excitedly gathered their socks, shoes, and sweaters for a little adventure. I filled a plastic baggie with torn bread for each of them and we gathered into the Armada. After being stuck inside yesterday due to inclement weather, I wanted to get outside and stretch. They needed some running-around time in the cool, fresh air. Field Trip!
I remembered seeing a cool gazebo and duck pond in the Argyle area of Orange Park and decided it was high time we checked it out. Luck would have it that there was also a playground! The kids squealed when they saw a few ducks as we pulled up. The ducks started following us to the park. This was hilarious. The kids were practically keeling over with laughter. Then more ducks arrived. And geese. And egrets. And seagulls. Suddenly, we were engulfed in a sea of 100+ geese and other fowl begging for bread! Holy cow! I have never seen so many different kinds of birds gathered on one spot in my entire life! The kids’ eyes got really big and they quickly spread the bread pieces among the masses. We felt like Marie Antoinette’s family staring down at the masses of hungry rioters begging for bread. At least we didn’t say, “Let them eat cake!” I was glad I wore my boots in case I needed to kick a too-eager bird and start running. They were quite crazy and very determined to be fed!
Here come the Geese!
Mobbed!!!! Run!
Once our bags were empty, we high-tailed it to the playground. A small groups of ducks followed us while most of the rest made their way to the pond. Another group waited for the next unsuspecting family to fall into their devious trap.
:-)
The playground itself was rather old and worn, but the novelty of it made it fresh and fun. The kids ran and climbed, slid and balanced on the balance beam. Bella kept trying to chase ducks. “Duckie!” she screeched. “Duckie! Duckie! Quack! Quack!” I spent my time chasing her and rescuing her from herself before putting her into a baby swing with a nice view of the ducks on the pond.
Duckie!!!! Duckie!!!!
Derek the Explorer
Stay, baby, stay!
Next, we checked out the large white gazebo resting over the pond. It offered a great view of the various birds swimming on, resting near, and flying over the water. The kids were contained and liked running from one side of the gazebo to the other to see all they could see. Fortunately we were the only visitors, so I wasn’t concerned about them bothering people with their excited running and noise.
Wow! Look at that, mommy!
My four avid learners on an adventure!
This was the best sort of adventure: close to home, unpredictable, full of interesting things to see, and free. The kids had so much fun. They ran around like crazy and talked non-stop on the way home about the things they had seen. There were of course those moments I feared we were about to be mobbed by water fowl, but fortunately we survived unscathed. Alex says we just need to bring an entire loaf of bread next time. I’m not sure Daddy will agree to that. This was an outing I don’t think they’ll soon forget! Quack!
Get that duck!
Mobbed!!!! Run!
TExt
Bringing Winter to Florida: Homemade Snow and Cool Science
Snow!
All of the snowy pictures from the Pacific Northwest make me long for some real winter weather. Even a sprinkling of snow would be nice. With this 70-80 degree winter weather here in Jacksonville, that’s not likely to happen anytime soon. The palm trees are rustling in the warmish breeze and the robin’s egg blue sky beckons for outdoor adventures… most days. For Wednesday’s preschool time, I thought it might be fun to make some “snow” for Derek.
First, we put lots of ice in the blender and added some water to help with mixing. Derek helped whir the ice into a shaved ice blizzard. It took lots of stirring to get all the big pieces properly shaved. Perhaps it’s because my blender is old and cheap. It works! We drained out the excess water and poured the “snow” onto a large plate for science time.
Derek helps make snow
Derek was so excited for some snow science. He measured and scooped, patted and balled. He separated the snow into piles and into containers of various shapes and sizes. He sloshed it around his plate and made a watery, wintry mess. We had to make a second batch of snow to replace the melted variety and the table ended up covered in towels. He had so much fun, though! He stuck with his project for at least 40 minutes! That’s a whole lot of attention for Derek to devote to a single activity!
Snow!
We talked about the properties of snow while Derek played.
“What do you think snow is made of?” I asked.
“Cold stuff,” Derek replied, swirling his snow into an ever-more-watery circle.
“Do you see how the snow is melting? Do you know what that wet stuff is?” I prodded him.
“Water!” he laughed. “I making it melt by wacking it and stirring it.”
“Kind of,” I answered. “It is water! Snow is made of frozen water. What happens when snow melts?”
“It turns to water!” answered my smart, wet, goofy preschooler.
After the last of the snow melted and Derek ran around for a while to get his energy out, we read a few colorful picture books about snow and winter. We played a few snow-related finger plays too. Here’s one that Derek really enjoyed:
Make a Snowman
Start with a very tiny ball. (Form ball with fingers)
Roll it through the snow. (Push with right hand)
Over and over and over again. (Repeating pushing motion)
Each turn makes it grow.
Now the ball is big and round. (Make ball with arms)
Make it broad and tall. (Indicate with arms)
Add a head and then some arms. (Motion as if setting them on)
Firm so they won’t fall.
Here are buttons for his coat. (Pretend to place)
A broom for him to hold. (Pretend to hold a broom)
Let’s put a hat upon his head, (Pretend to put hat on own head)
So he won’t get cold.
After circle time, I put the Finger Play book on the counter and moved on to help Alex with her project. “Where did you put that book?” Derek asked.
“Why do you ask?” I questioned him. You see, the Finger Plays book keeps disappearing for weeks at a time. I search the house for it and can’t find it anywhere! Then it emerges in odd places, like behind the couch or in the laundry room.
“I pretty much hate finger plays,” Derek replies with a mischievous twinkle in his blue eyes, retreating to the play room to dump his cars and trains all over the floor. Hmmm…. that explains things.
Today’s lessons were really run and got Derek involved in learning. A little homemade snow brings a bit of fun to a Florida winter day. I hope that next year they get to see some real snow. You know, the kind that actually falls from the sky.
This is what happens after a morning full of learning!
Watch Out for Erupting Volcano Potatoes!
Volcano Potatoes!
We checked out a new library after Homeschool Group today and Alex found a new treasure to bring home: “Molly’s Cook Book: A Peek at Dining in the Past with Meals You Can Cook Today.” She loves her American Girls and Molly is one of her favorites. On the drive home, she read to me excitedly about all the recipes she wanted to try. Since Hubby had to fly past dinner time tonight, we decided to try one of her recipes for our own little dinner party. Tonight’s menu: Volcano Potatoes. When Hubby’s away, we love trying quirky and fun new recipes. It’s always exciting.
Molly’s 1944 Volcano Potatoes-
First, I peeled and cut up potatoes. Alex placed them in a big pot and covered them with water and we let them boil for 20 minutes until the potatoes were soft.
Once the potatoes were cooked, I drained the pot and beat the potatoes until they were smooth, adding butter, salt, pepper, milk, and egg yolks. The oven preheated to 350 degrees and we greased two glass baking dishes, then spooned out 10 mounds of 3-inch tall mounds of mashed potatoes into two baking dishes. Alex smoothed them with a butter knife to shape them into volcanoes and we made craters with a spoon. We filled each volcano with a tablespoon of grated cheese and sprinkled them with paprika before baking them for 6 minutes, just long enough to melt the cheese.
Our volcanoes before baking
Watching the cheese "erupt" from the volcano potatoes
The Volcano Potatoes turned out so well! The kids loved their jungle-themed plates: an erupting volcano in the center surrounded by a forest of green beans and clementine orange slices. It was the ultimate mom-and-kid meal. Hubby would call it “Kid Food” and demand his steak. 
The Volcano Potatoes were actually really good and the children gobbled them right up. They even asked for seconds!
A Volcano in the Jungle
Yummy!
Alex was pleased with her project!
Volcano Potatoes!
After dinner, Alex showed me half-a-dozen other recipes she wants to try. “We’re going to be really busy the next three weeks!” she exclaimed. Three-weeks is the length of time we can check out books from our library. She read every recipe over at least twice, her Molly doll in her lap. It’s so great to see her so enthusiastic. It’s fun to make such tasty memories together!
Alex and Molly!
Happy Chinese New Year! Adventures Learning Chinese on a Gorgeous January Morning
What better way is there to spend a sunny January morning than playing in the park and learning Chinese? Sure, that’s not a very normal occurence, but that’s exactly how we spent our morning. We met our homeschool group at Baymeadows Park to learn about China, Chinese, and the Chinese New Year celebrations ahead of the upcoming Chinese New Year. It was a blast!
I can’t believe how warm it was today, mid-70′s and sunny in the middle of January. The kids were excited to get out and run themselves ragged at the park.
Alex was thrilled to show off the Chinese New Year crafts she made last night. She had a red paper lantern, a book she colored and cut out, and two Tangram puzzles she made into a rabbit and a dancing man… as well as a brain bursting with knowledge she couldn’t help but sharing with anyone who would so kindly listen.
Alex's Lantern
Alex's Tangram Puzzle of a "Dancing Man"
Our friend Elyse’s brother just returned from a trip to China and also brought his Chinese wife to the event. They taught us all sorts of great things! The kids learned how to say “Happy New Year” in Chinese and discovered which animal they were for the year they were born. Alex is a monkey, which is a wise animal. Alex said, “That makes sense, cause I’m a smarty pants!” Derek was unhappy to be a rat and spouted, “I not playing anymore!” He spent the rest of the time playing at the park and pouting.
We learned all about the geography of China and Alex was able to share her knowledge of continents. We learned about what it’s like to go to school in China and what daily life is life. Lastly, we learned how to count to 10 in Chinese. The kids each got a packet of worksheets to bring home too.
listening Carefully
So proud!
I was so proud of the kids for behaving so well at today’s class! Ethan and Alex were completely absorbed in it. Derek lasted for about an hour, which is great for a 3-year-old. Bella ran around like the crazy toddler she is. Each of the kids got a lot out of the class and had a blast. I’m glad we had the opportunity to learn so many fun things!
On the way home, Alex said, “I can’t believe Chinese kids go to school from 7 am till dinner. That’s kind of ridiculous. I’m happy I don’t have to do that!” No child, you don’t. You go to school 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. We just don’t have to be sitting at desks in a classroom to learn. Every moment of every day is a spectacular learning experience we can share together. The best part? Most of the time, she doesn’t even realize she’s learning.
Largo, Florida Elementary School Student Sent to Mental Health Facility WITHOUT Parent’s Permission
Image via Wikipedia
Every once in a while I come across a news story that really gets my blood boiling. This is one of them. Check out the article “Largo School Has autistic Boy, 6, Baker-Acted” at http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2012/january/369526/Largo-school-has-autistic-boy-6-BakerActed?cid=rss#.TxF5rsCmsVQ.facebook&mid=57.
Here’s the jist of it:
6-year-old Ryder is autistic and throws tantrums when he’s taken away from his usual routine (I can completely understand this! So many children with special needs do this!). The 6-year-old’s school deemed his outbursts too severe and called in “specialists,” who took him OUT of the school and to a Baker Act Facility. The young child spent the night in a mental health facility. Not only was the child locked in the room overnight, but his mother was only notified AFTER her son was escorted to the facility. The district claims that they’re not legally required to call a parent when they feel the need to Baker Act a child.
No need to notify a parent? What. The. Heck. Are school’s not required to obtain a parent’s permission for something as simple as watching a non-pg movie or to go on a field trip? Yet It’s somehow okay to traumatize an entire family by detaining their son for “bad behavior” without permission or prior acknowledgement?
What exactly is the Baker Act? I thought I’d look it up, because this really concerns me. The Baker Act is meant to provide individuals with emergency services and temporary detention for mental health evaluation and treatment on a voluntary or involuntary bases. For involuntary admissions, a parent or guardian age 18 or older can make an application for a minor for admission to a facility for observation, diagnosis, or treatment. A school is not a child’s “guardian.” I didn’t find a single instance in my research allowing for a school or “specialists” to put a student into involuntary detention.
What aspect of our law allows schools to do this? Doesn’t our constitution protect America’s citizens against involuntary detention? What about these parent’s rights? I am scared for a country that allows this. It. Is. Not. Okay.
Listen, I know that temper tantrums are difficult. I understand that an autistic child can be extremely difficult to control. I’ve seen this. I’ve been through this. Traumatizing a young child by taking them away from their parents and school and locking them in an institution is not okay. That is a violation of human rights. The child does not understand why this is happening and is not learning a lesson of any sort. I’m sure he was scared out of his mind. This was not a case of abuse, where the child needed to get away from his parents. He has a warm, loving home with parents who are doing their very best. If the school cannot handle the child’s special needs, they need to admit this and help place him in a capable school.
I wish the family the best of luck with their case and hope that this issue is seriously looked into. I can only imagine the emotions they are feeling and hope and pray that their son recovers from his traumatizing experience.
Cases like this remind me why we homeschool.
What do you think of this story? Do you think schools have the right to send children to mental institutions without consulting parents first?
For more information about the Worldwide Campaign to End the Institutionalization of Children, check out: http://www.disabilityrightsintl.org/learn-about-the-worldwide-campaign-to-end-the-institutionalization-of-children/
Related articles
- First-Grader Baker Acted After Fight At School (dreamindemon.com)
Everyone Needs a Baby Sister! Bella Turns 21-Months Old
I couldn’t resist sharing these pictures from our impromptu photo shoot this afternoon. As I was working out in the living room, 21-month-old kept running into the room and yelling, “Peek!” and then running away laughing. After the third of fourth time, I grabbed my camera.
Everyone needs an adorable baby sister, right? Bella sure thinks so. I can’t believe she’s going to be 21-months old next week. It doesn’t seem possible. What happened to my newborn? She talks, makes “jokes,” and plays now. She’s turned into a real person with opinions and a little attitude too. I love my little lady.
Peek-a-boo!
I am soooo funny, I crack myself up!
"Hiding"
Mama's Lovey
Lil’ Miss Learns To Sew
While playing on the American Girl website this morning, my seven-year-old daughter managed to design a sewing “sampler” and print half a dozen colorful variants. She arranged them on the table, carefully analyzed each one, and stated, “This is it. Mom, I’m going to sew a sampler.”
Lil' Miss Computer Head
The Sampler
A sampler? Really? “Alex,” I reminded her, “You don’t know how to sew and that looks very complicated. How about we start with something easier?”
“Mom!” she replied with exasperation. “It’s not hard. All you do is pull some thread through fabric and you’re done! I saw it on Tinkerbell!”
After a bit of convincing, she agreed to start with something a tad easier for her very first sewing attempt. We raided the craft closet for a needle and thread as well as a random piece of felt. I showed her how to make a basic stitch and she eagerly took over, sewing all sorts of shapes. The challenge was getting her to pull the thread all the way through to avoid knotting. She had so much fun, she was completely absorbed in her project for most of the morning.
The “sampler” soon became a “pillow” stuffed with cotton balls. And, as no project is complete without hot glue and bright ribbons, the pillow was decked out in no time.
Alex was very proud of her “Doll Pillow” and couldn’t wait to show it off.
Voila!
Alex's First Sewing Project
Sewing is really a lost art among today’s girls. No, it’s not outdated or terribly old-fashioned. Sewing skills are useful. It’s handy to be able to mend your own torn clothes or sew on a fallen button. Taking torn clothes to a seamstress for even basic mending is really expensive! Sewing builds skills as well as self-confidence. Plus, it’s fun. I hope that when Alexandria leaves home, she has a whole variety of life skills at her disposal.
For her first sewing project, I think she did pretty awesome. I remember loving learning to sew when I was a little girl too, even if I rarely do it now. While it may not be a fancy sampler, it’s a start! She’s already begging to make something else. First she has to clean her room. Who know what other “masterpieces” may soon grace our house.
Great News on the Homefront! Ethan has Graduated from Behavioral Therapy!
We got some great news yesterday. Ethan has officially graduated from behavioral therapy! If you know our story, you know this is a huge deal.
Ethan has always had behavioral issues and has been to one specialist after another trying to figure out what’s wrong. He was sulky and had frequent intense tantrums. He disliked people and cried most of the time. Autism was ruled out. Two therapists diagnosed him with “social anxiety disorder” and the school board said a special-ed preschool program would be the best thing for him. I enrolled him while Hubby was deployed and believed it would “fix” his problems.
We got a whole lot more than we bargained for… and not in a good way. Ethan’s behavior didn’t get better. It got so much worse. He because violent. His tantrums explored into screaming, hitting, biting disasters that were so bad, we had to restrain him until he calmed down. He acted out to get attention nearly every day at school, disobeying, throwing fits, and even hitting and kicking his teachers. I was called to the principle’s office several times a week. Things were out of control and we didn’t understand why. I was so embarrassed and mortified. We don’t ever allow behavior like this at home. What happened to my son? The disaster came to a heated head last March when I got a very, very bad call from school. Ethan had been put in time out for misbehaving and had managed to get across the classroom and stick a paper clip in an electrical outlet, severely burning his arm and starting an electrical fire. Oh. My. Goodness. I could not believe what I was hearing and rushed to his school. Not only did the teacher not take responsibility, but she said it was “both of our faults” this happened. I expected him to be safe at school. This wasn’t the case.
After much debate, my husband and I decided to pull him out and homeschool him. I honestly wasn’t so hot on the idea. Ethan’s time at school was a break for me and I wasn’t too keen on giving that up. Still, what choice was there really? We started homeschooling in March and got his pediatrician involved with his behavioral outbursts. She had never before seen a child like him and referred us out into town. We thought we’d continue homeschooling until Fall and re-enroll him in public school. Perhaps in that time we could “fix” him.
We began seeing a great therapist at Behavioral Pediatrics in April or May. Therapy helped almost immediately and both Ethan’s therapist and I was huge improvements the longer he was out of that school. We were doing therapy 6 times a month for quite some time and worked through so many behavioral issues. After initial issues, homeschooling Ethan became easier and easier. He knew he couldn’t get away with that bad behavior at home and instead focused his energy on learning. There were set-backs along the way. However, the child blossomed and started to discover who he was and the amazing things he was capable of. He did so well, we decided to continue homeschooling. We both found a balance and learned so much along the way.
Yesterday was Ethan’s last day in therapy. He was excited to bring a book to read to his therapist and also brought her a story he wrote and a page of addition he accomplished. She was so impressed with him! This Ethan was an entirely different child from the troubled young man who walked through her door months before. This Ethan doesn’t act out much at all, and if he does he’s able to get his behavior under control without it turning into a full-blown outburst. This Ethan is proud to express himself and his intelligence. He doesn’t hide behind poor behavior and try to get attention in negative ways. This Ethan is friendly, talkative, and happy.
“This is the hard part,” she said. “I hate to say goodbye. Ethan, there’s nothing more I can do for you. You’re doing so great. I am so proud of you. Your mom can call me if anything comes up, but I don’t think it will. You are doing so amazing, Ethan.” To me she said, “There couldn’t have been a better choice for you to make than to homeschool him. Homeschooling is the perfect match for Ethan.”
It’s hard to say goodbye to someone we’ve enjoyed confiding in so much. Ethan has transformed in the last year. Not only behavior wise, but academically. I found an ornament he “signed” last Christmas (2010) and you could sort of make out an E and nothing else. Now he’s writing stories in neat handwriting and spelling most things correctly. He’s reading everything and is a little math whiz. We are so incredibly happy with the changes we’ve seen.
Not every day is easy. Sometimes I fantasize about sending the kids to elementary school and having the day completely to my self. Then I realize how amazingly far we’ve come. It’s hard work and some days are really frustrating, but the results are astounding. We could not have made a better decision than to homeschool Ethan. I hope he continues to grow and develop into a smart, well-rounded, and behaved man. One day I’ll tell him his story. I wonder what he’ll think.
Day 7: Unpleasant Frozen Surprises and Alex’s Seventh Birthday!
Seven years ago today, we welcomed a tiny, 6 lb 3 oz bundle of screaming, blonde-haired girl into the world on a cold, icy day in Kansas. She’s grown into a vibrant, smart, funny, and sassy little lady. Miss Alex celebrated her seventh birthday today!
Quite fittingly, it was also a cold and icy day in North Georgia. Quite unfortunately, our fresh and gray water pipes had frozen. What does this mean? We could neither empty our sewer or dirty water (sink and bath) tanks, nor get fresh water in. This is not good. Not only is it highly inconvenient and rather smelly, but it adds a ton of weight to the vehicle and we needed to check-out of Stone Mountain Campground. The RV started smelling like an outhouse and the sink was full of dishes I couldn’t wash. Outside, the frigid air registered at around 22 degrees. Brrr! Alex and I hurried to the campground showers for some cleanup time. A plus was that the hot water there actually lasted longer than it does in the RV! When we were fresh and dressed, we secured everything we could inside the RV for travel and hoped for the best.
We got on the road shortly after 9 am, hauling an extra 600+ pounds of frozen water and sewage. The poor truck was really grumbling climbing those hills! It sucked but we didn’t have a choice. We hoped that the warming temperatures would help everything thaw as we drove. The roads weren’t too bad at all and we didn’t encounter any ice.
Hubby wanted to stop at Bass Pro Shops in Macon, Georgia, for a break about 1 1/2 hours into the trip. We pulled into the back of the parking lot where there was a ton of space, shopped for a while, then made a picnic lunch in the RV. After a bit of air freshener, it wasn’t too bad. I opened the windows for air and made everyone sandwiches, yogurt, and milk. One awesome thing about traveling with an RV is that it’s so easy to stop and have a picnic! All the food and supplies we needed were readily available, as well as a table and chairs to sit and a contained area for Bella to wobble around in like a crazy lady. Once everyone was full and ready for a rest, we loaded back into the Armada and hit the freeway once more.
All 4 kids napped a bit on the drive to Metter, after Bella came to the sad realization that she wouldn’t be let out of her car seat no matter how many times she yelled, “Out!!! Mama, Dada, Out!!!!!” Poor baby. We got into Beaver Run Campground a little after 3 pm and were very happy to find that the nasty, frozen mess waiting for us had thawed! We quickly hooked up to the sewer line and drained everything. Then we ran through lots and lots of hot water to make sure those pipes were cleared of ice. Tonight we’re running a bit of water through constantly to try and avoid the same problem. Live and learn, right? Live and learn.
The kids played outside the rest of the afternoon. Alex’s big birthday bash was yesterday even though today is technically her birthday. She played with her Rebecca doll all day long. The highlight of her afternoon today was helping wash the loads and loads of laundry at the campground laundromat and building houses and castles out of pinecones. Yes, we are terribly exciting people. Hubby made a yummy chicken dinner, we all washed in a working shower, and turned the heat on high. It’s amazing how one takes the small things like running water and a working bathroom for granted… until they’re gone. I am very, very thankful for running water and not having to run through 22-degree-morning-air to use a shower!
Alex’s seventh birthday was full of traveling. I think she’s really enjoying a week’s worth of celebrating. It’s a coincidence that Hubby’s Christmas leave period fell on the week of her birthday, but it has worked out well. She’s already asking to spend next year’s birthday in the RV as well. We’ll see. I don’t think I’m overly fond of camping in sub-freezing weather. I guess it largely depends on where we are in the country next January. Regardless, it has been a birthday to remember… for all of us!
Related articles
- Day 2: Stone Mountain, Georgia! The RV Adventure Continues! (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- Day 6: A Very American Girl Birthday (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- Day 1: Beaver Run Campground in Metter, Georgia! (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- Day 4: A Gorgeous Antebellum Plantation, Long Hikes in the Wilderness, an Awesome New Playground, and Smores in Stone Mountain, Georgia! (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- Day 3: Sledding and Snowball Fights, Perching on a Mountain Top, Exploring Winter Village, and Late-Evening Fireworks! Happy New Year from Stone Mountain! (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
