Our First Attempt Making Dried Cinnamon Sugar Apples! Yummy and Nutritious to Boot!
Today marked our first attempt using the new food dehydrator and I’m happy to say it was a success! We made dried cinnamon sugar apples and they were great. Not only that, they are super nutritious and perfect snacks for little hands.
Hubby ordered a food dehydrator last week so that we can make healthy snacks for home and especially for camping trips. It arrived earlier this week and we picked up 3 bags of apples on sale yesterday at the commissary. This morning while the kids did school at the table, I brought over my cutting board, a bag of apples, a bowl, and a knife and began cutting the apples into thin strips. Holy cow… I need a cutting and paring device. It took me 2 hours to go through the bag!
Soon (relatively) the large mixing bowl was brimming full of sliced, cored, and peeled apple slices. The children’s tummies were brimming full of all the apple slices that fell apart. I soaked them for 10 minutes in a mixture of lemon juice and water to maintain the apple’s color and prevent browning. Next, I spread them out on a clean, large cutting board and sprinkled the apple slices with sugar and cinnamon. Into the dehydrator they went, 7 hours at 135 degrees.
Apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar before dehydrating
My Helpers
The apples finished dehydrating shortly after dinner. They were amazing! I’d say they beat store-bought dried apples. In fact, this is what happened to our bin of apples before I could grab the camera:
Going... Going... Gone!
Our first experiment with the food dehydrator was great. I can’t wait to try something else. I’ve got a pineapple and a pineapple-corer. Well, that and the other 2 bags of apples yet to be peeled, sliced, and cored. Hmmm… I really need one of those apple-peeling/ coring things. 
Wipin’ Out The Shelves at Our Local Library– Read, Discover, and Support Your Local Library!
Our local librarians know us by name now and always ask what our topic of the week is when we walk through the doors of the children’s library. They are so helpful, and we never walk out with less than 30 books. That’s about 120 books a month, give or take. I’m really thankful for the amazing library system we have in Jacksonville and am nervous about orders partially because not many places in the US are quite as well-stocked as Jax. Our weekly library trip is an important part of our education.
Derek is learning to read too!
In addition to the random books the kids choose off the shelves and our theme books, we’re speeding along through our Mensa Kids Challenge. Join us at: http://mensaforkids.com/school_template.cfm?showPage=school_readeraward.cfm.
We’ve read so much more as a family since we started the challenge! It’s really quite amazing. The kids have been introduced to so many great classic children books that I loved as a child but had forgotten. Here’s a link to our reading list for K-3rd Grade- http://mensaforkids.com/ReaderAward/k_3.pdf. We have rediscovered books like Ferdinand and The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Mouse and the Motor Cycle and Mr. Popper’s Penguins, just to name a few. We’ve always been a family of readers, but this challenge has helped us take it to the next level! We’ve bonded and the kids have been introduced to many new ideas. I’ve really noticed a difference in Derek. That kid’s vocabulary has absolutely exploded!
It makes me sad to see our library’s budget slashed year after year. I think many people have forgotten how vitally important a well-stocked, well-staffed library is to our community. Not only does it offer free Internet and computer-training to those without, but it’s also a huge educational resource. Libraries introduce us to endless ideas. Where else would we find scores of books about butterflies, bears, beavers, kangaroos, deserts, or any other topic we would like to learn about? How else would the kids be able to read through 120+ unique books per month? It would be unaffordable. Libraries are available to our entire community and offer the same opportunities to people no matter their race, income, educational level, age, or affiliations. Libraries provide us access to all the information in the world… and it’s free.
Closing libraries closes opportunities for many people. Closing libraries tells people that reading isn’t important, and reading throughout a lifetime keeps the brain strong and the mind active. I think that libraries are vitally important to modern, civilized society.
Each time we visit, we pick out some books from our reading list and some related to our weekly topic. Alex has developed good library skills and is able to locate books based on their author and ask the librarian for help looking up a book she’s interested in. We try to get a good combination of fiction and nonfiction and also love books on tape. We grab a few classics each time as well as new picture books. We get books in English and books in French.
Reading is fundamental to modern society, and the more you read the better you get at it. The mind is a muscle and it needs exercise. The more you read and exercise your mind, the stronger it gets! Reading with children not only helps them learn to read, but it also teaches them to listen. It teaches them to think critically and develops their language skills. Reading educates us and introduces us to new ideas and concepts. Reading opens doors and broadens our horizons. Reading develops creativity and allows us to use our imaginations.
Take your kids to your local library and let them begin their journey of discovery. Check out the story times and free classes. Participate in summer reading programs this year and fill your bags with books to enjoy at home. Turn off the TV and read. You’ll be amazed at how much your children will grow and learn. Books are to children as miracle grow is to plants. It’s miraculous.
Baby Art! It Doesn’t Get More Adorable Than That :-)
22-month-old Isabella frequently reminds us that she’s “no baby.” She adamantly wants to get involved with school time rather than just play and will force herself upon the other children’s projects if I don’t set her up with something to do. If Alex is playing the piano, Bella must play too. If Ethan is reading, Bella must read that book. And if Derek is trying to do his animal habitat sticker book as he was yesterday, she must push her way in and rearrange his stickers. Needless to say, the other kids aren’t overly thrilled about this. Time for some baby projects!
We read scores of books. We sang and played with instruments. We went through dozens of colorful flashcards. Finally, I got out the foam farm stickers and construction paper and she went to town. I would pull the backing off and she would carefully consider where to put it, then apply it to the paper. Markers and gem stone stickers came out next. Isabella is definitely a creative child! She loves a project to occupy her.
I rather miss the days when she would nap while we did school, but those days are definitely gone. It’s time to look for more and more ways to involve Bella in school time. What should we call it? Baby school? Pre-pre school? Either way, she’s talking up a storm and determined to learn and explore. I don’t mind. I think I’ve got a smart cookie on my hands.
At this moment, Alex is practicing the recorder and Bella is following her around with another recorder, making noises with her mouth and pretending to play. “Bella, stop copying me!” Alex says in exasperation. “Why are you always copying me? You’re ruining my symphony!” Little sisters are pesky like that. At least she’s learning, though, right?
Bird Watching Adventures Throughout Africa and Wild Florida
While we did go bird watching yesterday, we didn’t have too much luck finding a variety of fowl. That’s largely because the kids are so loud. This morning we decided to go birding somewhere where we were guaranteed to see some birds: the zoo! Ethan brought his sketch book and Alex brought the older camera. Derek scribbled in his drawing pad during the drive and tired of it before we even reached the zoo. Bella brought herself and her dolly. Our mission? Find some interesting birds, preserve their portraits in either pencil or by camera, and talk about all we’ve learned about birds this week.
Although cloudy and breezy, it’s 84 degrees today in Jacksonville. It’s February. Strange, but I don’t mind. The kids were excited to go on a little safari and I was anxious to get some exercise, both for myself and for them. All in all, we walked the zoo for about two hours! That’s a lot for little legs!
We love the African Birds exhibit right inside the zoo. There are so many interesting birds to see and all in one spot. Ethan really likes to draw and was happy to have so many specimens. He was so cute standing there studying the birds, drawing on his drawing pad. Alex was excited to learn to use the camera better. She took about 300 pictures today! We talked a lot about how to zoom and come back to normal, how to hold the camera steady to take a picture, and how to use the flash. She’s a budding photographer!
Here are some random non-bird shots that I thought turned out nicely:
Our little adventure provided us with lots of opportunities to review things we’ve learned this week. We pointed out nests and talked about what they’re made of and what they’re used for. We saw that different birds make different kinds of nests. We talked about the purpose of feathers and how birds fly, their talons and beaks, and the way their bodies look. We talked about their different sizes, shapes, and colors. We discussed what they eat and how they take care of their babies. The kids were actively involved in the discussion and really learned a lot this week. Mission accomplished!
I brought my telephoto lens along today and had fun snapping pictures along with the kids. I’ve posted my favorites. I really never enjoyed bird watching before, but now it’s interesting to me. I guess I really just had to learn to slow down and smell the roses. Having a nice camera to capture the birds with helps. This is my type of “hunting.”
Nature observation is fantastic for the kids because it gives them a greater appreciation for living things. When we learn about how their bodies work, how they live and care for their young, and watch the interesting ways they move, eat, catch food, and sleep, they’re more than “just animals.” They’re living beings that share this great planet with us. The kids are learning to slow down and take in the world around them. Derek has a very long way to go with this, but Alex and Ethan are pros. Alex captures everything on her camera, and the most interesting things too. She was enthralled by different plants and how they contrasted with the sky behind them. She loved the plant and animal track impressions in the sidewalk and took some interesting photos of them. I love seeing the world through her eyes. It’s so fresh and new.
We’ve definitely been getting in our 10,000 steps per day lately! PE: check. Art: check. Science: Check. Plus, we listened to and sang along with our Classical Conversations memory work on the drive. Did I mention that Bella loves Latin conjugations? She sings along every time (to the best of her ability). It was a pretty multi-purpose school morning.
After a nice, healthy lunch, Ethan and Bella fell fast asleep. Alex listened to a Magic Treehouse book on tape about Mozart and Derek played with his animal stencils. At 3 pm, I need to get Ethan up and engage the kids in some book work time. The great thing about homeschooling is that our schedule is so flexible. If school lasts until 5 pm, so be it. It doesn’t mean that we’ve been slaving away over textbooks all day. The world is our classroom, and it’s brimming with exciting new things to see, do, and experience.
Before heading home, we walked through the front-gate gift shop. We found a colorful book about Florida birds and grabbed it. It’ll be great to learn what sort of birds are in our area. We already spotted a few in the book that we see regularly in our yard. I also found a habitat sticker book and some zoo animal stencils for Derek’s science time. There are so many cute things in that shop! Dangerous.
Another day done, another outing accomplished. The kids and I are both a bit sleepy. I think that’s the mark of a good day, don’t you?
Little Hands + Bright Paint Sets= Colorfully Unique Birdhouses!
Bird houses are adorable symbol of spring, don’t you think? Our flower bed birdfeeder is brimming with activity, hosting a wide variety of wild birds throughout the day. I thought it would be really cute if each of the kids decorated their own birdhouse for the flower bed too. I picked up some adorable, small wooden birdhouses at Michaels over the weekend for only $1 each. Today we got out the paints and brushes and got busy painting!
Each child had their own paint set and a variety of brushes. Alex chose the cottage birdhouse, Derek the plain birdhouse, and Ethan the barn. Bella didn’t get one this year as she’s still quite young and more likely to paint herself than the birdhouse. I had Derek take off his shirt and don a painting apron instead. As expected, his entire work area as well as part of his arms, face, and hair were covered in paint by project’s end.
Each child’s creation was vastly different. Derek mixed brown, yellow, and green together, splashed it onto the wood, and finished his birdhouse quickly. Ethan chose two colors and painted steadily. Alex took a very long time, adding lots of detail. I think that says a lot about each of their personalities!
Here are our birdhouses after hours of drying:
Derek's Birdhouse
Alex's Birdhouse
Ethan's Birdhouse
This was a very fun and inexpensive project that thoroughly occupied my little learners for the better part of an hour. Tomorrow we’ll see if the globs of paint are dry and apply a protective coat. Then we’ll set them up in the flower bed to enjoy. I’m sure they’re much cuter than they are functional, but it’s the thought that counts, right?
I love it when the spring birds come out in force. There will be plenty to look at right outside our little window.
I Spy a Cardinal! Bird Walks and Forest Adventures in the Florida Wilderness
It was unusually warm outside today, even for Florida. At 9 am, the temperature was already above 70 degrees. It is technically still winter, right? We began our school day with a “bird walk.” Drawing pads and pencils in hand, we headed out to the NAS Jacksonville nature trails.
As we neared the trails, we spotted a jolly red cardinal! The bigger kids began drawing to the best of their abilities. Derek scribbled a bit, then threw his drawing pad under the stroller. I told them to stand quietly a moment and listen to the different bird songs. There were many varieties!
We saw surprisingly few birds out and about, probably because Derek was so darn loud. I reminded him that if he was loud, he would frighten the wildlife away. There were plenty of butterflies, though! They really liked Alex’s hair flower and flittered and fluttered about her head.
Alex and Ethan drew lots of birds, plants, and butterflies throughout our walk. After about 20 minutes or so, all the drawing pads were stored under the stroller and the kids ran, explored, and frolicked along the trail. They got a lot of exercise!
Our forest adventure lasted an hour and a half. The kids got in some great science time, a bit of art, and lot of physical fitness time too. They were all quite tired by the time we meandered home, ready to focus on some school work. Bella was ready for a good, long nap.
We love exploring and spending time together in the great outdoors. Perhaps eventually I can even convince them to tone down the volume and we’ll see some interesting Florida wildlife. Besides for gators… I really don’t want to see any gators. A cardinal or two will always do.
Sigh- Our Last Jacksonville Zoo Homeschool Class!
Although we’ve been there at least 100 times, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is still one of our favorite places to go for a walk. Alex and Ethan had their very last homeschool class at the zoo this morning. Sigh. I wish the classes went longer! By the time classes start back up in September, we should be moving or already relocated to our new duty station. Although exciting, it also makes me pretty sad. We’ve been in Jacksonville for so long that I consider it my home. I’ll really miss all the things to do and the great friends we have here.
While the bigger kids learned all about animal tracks, snakes, and other interesting animal facts, the younger children and I walked the zoo with some friends. We all got plenty of exercise and lots of visiting time too!
Derek was a stinker at the zoo, refusing to talk and not listening to a thing I said. He was mad that Ethan was able to go to class and not him. They are the same size, after all. However… they are for ages 5 and up for a reason. Poor guy doesn’t understand that. He felt that his rights were violated. After all, Ethan shouldn’t be able to do anything he can’t do, right? Sibling love.
Bella loves running through the zoo with her dolly, exploring and seeing everything. She was so funny when we stopped to play near the squirrel monkeys. She didn’t notice them at first and climbed all over the ropes, then suddenly , “Ew! Ew! Ew!” She ran to the glass and pressed her face against it, pointing. “Mom, Eeeeew!!!” She was very concerned. “Am-im-ows!” she proclaimed. “Eeeeew!” (PS: That’s baby for “animals”).
I was debating whether or not to take the kids out today since I haven’t been feeling that great this week, but I’m glad I did. They had a blast as always. By the end, though, Derek was being even more rotten. He found his “missing” voice, but everything he said was contrary.
“Look, Derek, the rhinos are lying in the grass!” I told him.
“Seen it before,” he said, not bothering to look.
“Look, Derek, that bird is stretching his wings!” I said, “Do you see him sitting up there in that tree?”
“Seen it before,” he said.
“Derek, look at the zebra!”
“Seen it.”
“Derek, look at the elephant! He’s eating with his trunk!”
“Mom!” Derek sighed, “I have seen it all before. I not liking animals.”
Oh well. Maybe it is time for a change of scenery. We went to the front of the zoo and shared a pretzel snack, watching the crowds of people and talking about the things we had seen. Food is one thing that never ceases to interest Derek.
The big kids had a blast in class and got to meet some komodo dragons, snakes, a porcupine, and more. They both told me lots of things they learned about animal tracks and how snakes eat.
Now the bigger kids are resting quietly in their rooms. I am ready for a nap too. How come the little kids are still roaring along as if we didn’t spend our morning walking the zoo? Crazy children.
Bye, Bye, Butterflies, Bye!
Our butterflies have set out into the world, soaring into the sky above Jacksonville and into the great blue yonder. It was kind of sad to see them go, but wonderful too.
Our last chrysalis hatched on Sunday and we’ve been enjoying our four active painted lady butterflies. We gave them a piece of orange to suck the nectar. It was really interesting to watch! The weather warmed a bit today and although it’s cloudy, it’s not raining. It was time to let our butterflies out into the world to enjoy the rest of their short lives. We read that an adult butterfly lives for 14-21 days. Rather sad, isn’t it?
As soon as we unzipped the butterfly habitat, the most anxious butterfly fluttered right out. The remaining three were not so interested and needed some urging. Each eventually flew carefully out and landed not far outside of the habitat, testing their wings. One of the butterflies kept landing on us, as if he didn’t want to leave at all. Bella squealed with delight each time one of the butterflies moved. The butterflies left one at a time, giving us to time enjoy each one individually.
Eventually, each of the butterflies took off and fluttered into the sky.
Our butterfly and ladybug experiences were phenomenal learning experiences. We released our ladybugs into the flower bed today as well. They are crawling merrily about the bushes, looking for an aphid snack. The children learned a lot about how things grow and change and gained a greater appreciation for living things. No matter how small, every life is worth something.
We’re keeping our butterfly habitat in case we decide to do this again. I definitely think we will. This is a project we could enjoy year after year as the younger kids grow up and begin to learn more about their world. Derek learned so much from our studies. Just this morning he was explaining to me how a caterpillar grows and changes into a butterfly…. for the millionth time. It sure made an impression on him!
Bye, bye, butterflies, bye! We will miss you.
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American Parents Are Losing Their Rights… And Don’t Even Know It
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This is just a short post to share a video a friend of mine posted on face book. Most American parents believe that they should control how they raise their child. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Check out this 36 minute video to learn how much government encroaches upon your rights as a parent:
http://www.overruledmovie.com/
American parents are losing their rights, and they don’t even know it. Stand up for what you believe is right.
I am completely in support of a Constitutional amendment protecting the rights of parents. Are you?
Sign a petition at:
https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/385/personal2.asp?formid=signup
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The Butterflies and Ladybugs Have Hatched!
Exciting news! Our butterflies and ladybugs have hatched! The ladybugs have been breaking free from their pupa throughout the week and emerging full grown. Their spots emerge over a day or so and their shells harden to protect their soft, filmy flying wings. I haven’t been able to get a super great picture, but here’s what they look like today:
We studied lady bugs last week for science, but I figured I wouldn’t post pictures until they actually did something interesting. The larva turned into stationary pupa about a week ago and just sat there, transforming on the inside. We read books about the ladybug lifecycle and found some great related printables at www.enchantedlearning.com. Learning about ladybugs from our books and literature really added a lot of depth to our experiment, and the hands-on aspect of our science experiment made the project very meaningful!
Look what we made!
Learning About Ladybugs
Alex got a shot of me reading to the crew
The butterflies have been resting within their cocoons for about a week or so too, peacefully sitting on the desk and nearly forgotten. I was gathering the children’s drawing pads this afternoon, looked up, and this is what I saw:
Two tiny butterflies fluttered their colorful wings from within the mesh habitat! Two more cocoons are yet to hatch. The kids ran over to see the new butterflies. I gently set the habitat on the middle of the table and all four kids crowded around to see the miracle.
Our fun insect experiment is coming to a close. The kids have learned so much about how living things grow and change. The child who got the most out of it was Derek, I think. He talks about the insects a lot and also compares their changing forms to how he is changing and growing up. Score!
We’re going to release our insects early next week when the rain stops and the sun brightens beautiful Florida once again.
I think we’ll miss our little friends. It has been an eye-opening experience and I’d recommend it to anyone with little kids.
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Alex’s Adventures in Art! Today’s Lesson: Shadowing
Every Friday afternoon, the children all gather around our dining room table for an art lesson. Last week we drew geometric animals, turning basic shapes like circles and triangles into birds and caterpillars. Today the boys practiced drawing shapes on their drawing pads and Alex moved on to something more advanced: shadowing.
We’re working through the text Art Basics for Kids- The ABC’s of Art by Sharon Jeffus and really like it. I wasn’t sure how to help the children take their drawing to the next level and this really helps guide the way. Today’s lesson was A is for Apple. We transformed a basic circle into an apple, learning how to shadow with a basic pencil to add shape and depth. Alex drew numerous apples and honed her shadowing skills on her drawing pad. Then, when she was ready, we got out a piece of construction paper for today’s challenge: draw an apple on a table and add shadowing to bring the picture to life.
This is what we got:
Alex's Apple on a Table
I was beyond thrilled with the results and Alex was too. She drew numerous other pictures throughout the evening, experimenting with shadowing in new and exciting ways. Hubby was really impressed with Alex’s drawing when he came home from work. She’s only 7 and can already draw better than him. Now… does that mean she’s good or he’s really bad? 
Help! We’ve Got a Bad Case of CPS (Crazy Preschooler Syndrome)!
Help! We’ve got a bad case of CPS, or Crazy Preschooler Syndrome! I believe it’s also known as MPHWTMFE, or My Preschooler Has Way Too Much Freaking Energy. Symptoms include: bouncing off the walls day and night, rarely sleeps, often up till 11 pm if napping quota was met, crazy sense of humor involving bodily functions, laughs like a maniac at the slightest provocation, and possesses more pent up energy than a boiling kettle. Have you heard of it?
I’ve always heard that boys are constantly on the move but never knew exactly what that meant until we had Derek and he turned three. This boy seriously never stops moving! In order to get him to concentrate on a little preschool work, I’ve got to let him run wild and expend a ton of energy outside. This means three hour-long outside periods. That is three hours of our day walking about, riding bikes, running around the playground, chasing and kicking balls, etc. I took him outside one last time before baths and bed for a nice long walk and he ran the entire time! This way and that, here and there, discovering rocks, acorns, sticks, tree stumps, and anything else that captured his fleeting fancy. I took the camera along to capture our crazy walk.
Derek insists on jumping over every single crack in the sidewalk. Alex is an extremely accommodating sister and plays with him. Derek pretends that there’s an alligator hiding in each crack and if you don’t jump over it you get eaten. He ran, jumped, and squealed for the entire walk. He amassed a collection of pine cones and flowers, rocks and sticks, forgetting the last treasures every time he found something new and exciting.
Derek: Alex, Alex, guess what?
Alex: What, Derek?
Derek: The alligator is gunna eat you! You had better run faster! If he come after me, I am gunna kick him. I can kick him and run cause I am really fast and strong. I am gunna get that alligator with my stick. Plus I has rock. Lots of rocks. Alligators not like to eat rocks.
(Pause)
Derek: Alex, Alex, guess what?
Alex: What, Derek?
Derek: The sun is going to bed and the owl is coming out of his home. When I was a mouse, I was really scared cause the owl was going to eat me! I ran and ran. But I is not a mouse, I is a Derek, and I can kick owls. They not want eat me. Cause I is a Derek.
(Pause)
Derek: Alex, Alex, guess what? I is going to walk over that bridge (pointing in the distance) and I is going to walk and walk till I get to the store. Then I is going to get us a birthday cake.
Alex: It’s not your birthday, silly.
Derek: I is needing a birthday cake cause I like them. We can have a picnic, but not at night. At night there are raccoons and bats, and those is scary. But I can get my stick and hit them. Cause I is a Derek and I am not a baby.
On days I am on top of it and get Derek outside numerous times a day, he’s a pretty manageable little boy. He went to bed so nicely tonight and is sleeping soundly! It only took three long play breaks: morning, noon, and night. Yesterday we missed our morning playtime AND he took a short nap. Guess who was running around the house like a crazy person until nearly 11 pm? Yes, Derek. I am not ready for him to give up naps completely. I need a little down time and he is a very intense, in-your-face kind of child. On the other hand, I really don’t enjoy him being up so late either. Which is worth more: an hour of peace in the afternoon or quiet time all evening? It depends on how tired I am, I guess.
As crazy and over-the-top as he is, I adore Derek at this age. He’s so inquisitive and full of wacky ideas. He talks my ears off and tells me lengthy made-up stories that take a great deal of creativity. He still loves cuddling too, when he isn’t beating up on his brother or running from one end of the house to the next. He asks “Why” at least a hundred times a day and wants to know everything about the world around him. He wants to hit every tree we walk past with a stick to hear the sound it makes, step on every acorn, run through every mound of grass, and jump in every puddle. Everything is interesting and worth investigating.
I’ve read that boys are really being left behind in today’s schools because they’re not prepared for the amount of energy these kids have. Modern kids in daycare and preschool spend 95% of their day sedentary. Kids like Derek don’t sit still. They need a serious amount of play time outside, climbing and running and exploring. He won’t get that at a traditional school. I’m glad that we can work around his style, providing him with both the exercise and activity he needs as well as a great education. Walking Derek definitely wears me out too!
Do you have a crazy preschooler at home? I think one day I’ll look back and miss this phase. He’ll have outgrown it (hopefully!) and be embarrassed by the crazy stories of his wild antics and crazy aspirations. As his mom, I’ve really had to learn to let things go. Does it matter that our walks often have no real direction and take 10 times longer than I’d like? Not really, in the grand scheme of things. I think that watching him discover his world and laugh like a mad scientist at everything that he finds hilarious is much more valuable. I don’t think I really mind having a kid with CPS after all….while he wears me out, breaks things, and has caused his fair share of headaches, he certainly keeps things interesting.
“Parents Don’t Know What’s Best For Their Children”– You Must Read This!
Image via Wikipedia
I came across two articles this week that really scared me regarding the direction of the American education system.
First, let me tell you about the little girl in North Carolina whose lunch was taken away from her because it was “unhealthy” and was given cafeteria food instead. What was so unhealthy about her lunch? The preschooler’s mother packed her a turkey and cheese sandwich, a banana, apple juice, and potato chips. Her lunch was inspected at school and “didn’t meet USDA requirements.” The child was given a tray of cafeteria food and ate only three nuggets off the tray. Her perfectly-good lunch was sent home… with a bill for the cafeteria lunch.
What on earth??? What is wrong with a turkey sandwich, fruit, juice, and chips? I think it’s pretty scary when society gets to the point of examining our children’s lunches and deciding that parents aren’t capable of packing their children’s food. I think that the girl’s lunch was perfectly fine! It’s not like she had a coke and a twinkie for lunch! Wouldn’t her turkey sandwich have been a lot more nutritious than the three processed nuggets she ate?
According to the following article, the state is allowed to come in at any time and make sure that schools are in compliance with USDA guidelines, which includes something as minute as the contents of a preschooler’s lunchbox. If the teacher feels that the child’s lunch doesn’t meet guidelines, they are required to supplement it. In some states, children are not allowed to bring lunch from home at all.
Check out this article: http://myfox8.com/2012/02/15/usda-meal-was-not-replaced-mom-was-never-charged/
More info: http://myfox8.com/2012/02/14/nc-preschooler-fed-nuggets-because-packed-lunch-wasnt-healthy/
Image via Wikipedia
If you haven’t read the news at all in the past decade, you might think this is just fine and dandy. For those of you that do read the news and keep up on current events, you likely know how unhealthy cafeteria food really is. Dateline investigated the quality of public school cafeterias and found many of them to have serious violations. They commonly serve hamburgers, pizza, and chicken wings and food is often not kept at a healthy temperature (this leads to bacteria growth and consequently food poisoning).
There have been efforts to clean up school cafeterias, but it’s still not that great. We let our daughter buy lunch every Friday when she went to public kindergarten, and what did she choose? Pizza, tater tots, chocolate milk, and jello. I was unhappy with her choices, and even more so that this is what was offered.I’m sure there where also fruits and veggies, but how many children choose these over tater tots and jello? Is this school lunch more nutritious than something I could pack at home? Not a chance.
Here’s an article discussing this issue:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6430258/ns/dateline_nbc/t/how-safe-school-cafeteria-food/#.Tz1UyYem92A
Also, 50% of elementary schools still have vending machines that offer unhealthy snacks. 3/4ths of American schools serve entrees that exceed recommended levels of fat. A la carte lines brim with unhealthy treats. And the problem is the parents? I think not.
Education Nation (Photo credit: Gates Foundation)
To understand how school and state officials come to believe that they know best and have the right to dictate every detail of a child’s life, check out the following article:
Debbie Squires, associate director of the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association, explained to members of the House Education Committee why her association opposed allowing more cyber (or online) schools to operate in the state: “Educators go through education for a reason,” Squires said. “They are the people who know best about how to serve children. That’s not necessarily true of an individual resident. I’m not saying they don’t want the best for their children, but they may not know what actually is best from an education standpoint.”
When asked to clarify, she said “I said they may want what’s best for their child (but) they may not know.”
So… parents don’t know what is best for their children? Interesting. How did the human race survive for millenia if parents were so incapable of caring for their offspring? If cave parents didn’t know what was best for their children, they would have been eaten by predators. If our recent ancestors didn’t know what was best for their children, would they have survived the challenges of their time and grown to be successful, educated, and happy people (all without the government to spoon feed them a false sense of security)? No? If our ancestors had not been capable of rearing their young, you wouldn’t be here. Think about that.
What happened to this country? Wasn’t the United States founded on principles of freedom? Didn’t our ancestors leave Europe to escape the control their governments had on their lives? Didn’t our pioneer ancestors head west for freedom and unbounded opportunities? We’ve come a long way since then. Now, government intercedes into every aspect of our lives… right down to the contents of our children’s lunch sacks. Wake up, America, before the last of your liberties are gone. Our inalienable rights are being threatened. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, right? Your liberty is being taken away and you might not even know it.
When will it be time to say, “Enough is enough?”
Related articles
- ABC, NBC Skip Food Police Confiscating Preschooler’s Dangerous Potato Chips (newsbusters.org)
- State employee replaced preschoolers “unhealthy” lunch with chicken nuggets (winteryknight.wordpress.com)
- Preschooler Forced to Eat Chicken Nuggets After Bag Lunch Fails State Inspection (outsidethebeltway.com)
- School forces preschooler to order cafeteria lunch because mom’s isn’t healthy enough (hotair.com)
- North Carolina – Schools Hired a “Lunch Inspector” to Inspect Our Children’s Lunches in Public Schools? (bonjupatten.com)
- Preschooler’s Homemade Turkey Sandwich Replaced With Nuggets (huffingtonpost.com)
- Preschooler’s Homemade Lunch Replaced With Nuggets (seedtosalad.wordpress.com)
- Liberty Alert: Protecting Preschoolers By Feeding Chicken Nuggets? (claimingliberty.wordpress.com)
- Your Nanny State Intrusion of the Day! (thedaleygator.wordpress.com)
- School Lunch Uproar in North Carolina Preschool (eatdrinkbetter.com)
- Nanny state report: NC school officials confiscate preschooler’s homemade lunch – The Daily Caller (gds44.wordpress.com)
- Wake Up Amrica! (wdednh.wordpress.com)
- Lunch Bags Inspected for Nutrition (neatorama.com)
- The Food Police Order Parents to Pay for Replacement Lunches (trutherator.wordpress.com)
- Government agents now searching sack lunches at schools (aboundingwellness.wordpress.com)
Birds of a Feather Make Messes Together– Preschool Feather Art Fun!
My Oriental Trading Company order came in this week and the kids were excited to rip open the modest cardboard box and discover the treasures inside. If you’ve ever seen their catalogue, they’ve got some weird stuff! The craft supplies are a great price, though, and I stocked us up with buttons, pipe cleaners, stickers, buttons, sequins, stencils, and… feathers. Why feathers? We’re talking about birds this week, and feather art is a fun sensory activity for little hands.
I asked Derek, “What kind of animals have feathers?”
“Giraffes,” he stated, matter-of-factly.
“What? Did you say giraffes?” I was pretty confused. I thought this project would be a bit more straightforward.
“They has feathery tails!” he said.
Good observation… although I did explain to him that a giraffe’s tail is fringed with hair, not feathers. It’s interesting to look at the world through the eyes of a 3-year-old. I suppose a giraffe’s tail does look something like feathers.
We talked about birds a bit and I filled a bowl with colorful feathers. Derek loved grabbing handfuls and feeling them. I also provided him with glue, a paintbrush, and some construction paper and showed him how to smooth some glue onto his paper and stick a feather to it. Today’s project: feather collages.
A bowlful of feathers!
Derek's "Bird-brain" look
And this is what happens when you give a 3-year-old a bowl of feathers...
Derek's feather collage
By project’s end, the feathers were all over the dining room floor. Bella wanted to play with them too, so I scooped them into a large mixing bowl and placed the bowl in the middle of the living room on the rug. I gave Bella and Derek an extra bowl and tongs to pick up the feathers and play with them, scooping them from bowl to bowl.
Bella delicately scooped her feathers and placed them neatly in the smaller bowl. Derek scattered them around the entire living room. Wow. That boy is something else. This would have really gotten on my nerves a year ago, but now it doesn’t even phase me. I guess that’s what happens after having 4 messy, creative little monkeys and homeschooling them. Things like that just aren’t a big deal anymore. I did make him clean up all the feathers when he was done “decorating.” I’m rather thankful the neighbors didn’t come over at that moment!
These things are tricky, mom!
Play is vitally important for preschoolers and it’s amazing how long they’ll play with the simplest things. It just has to be novel and the fun can last for an hour (an eternity in my house!). Play is the foundation for learning, and giving kids a variety of things to play and experiment with stimulates their imaginations.
One of Bella’s favorite things to do is to play with an assortment of dried pasta, sorting them between various bins with spoons, tongs, and her hands. The feathers added a bit of freshness to this activity. The feathers were soft and light, colorful and interesting to touch. The kids liked sorting them and throwing them into the air, watching them fall slowly to the ground. Bella was interested for about 20 minutes and Derek played with the feathers for about an hour. That gave me a lot of time to focus on the other kids’ lessons. I’d say that was a good morning all around!
Now, I wonder if Derek will make a connection between this project and birds? I think we need to take a trip to the library for some age-appropriate bird books. After all, I don’t want him to grow up convinced that giraffes have feathers.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Happy Valentine’s Day! No matter where you are in life, single or attached, Valentine’s Day is a great chance to show those around you a little love. The holiday isn’t about over-the-top romance for us. It’s about telling our family and friends that we love them. In our house, this seems to involve lots of construction paper, stickers, glitter, and candy. Nothing wrong with that, right?
The kids were anxious to check out their Valentine’s bags this morning! Derek was up before dawn to retrieve his valentines. They were in for an even bigger surprise than expected! Our amazing XO’s wife, Cindy, made adorable candy bouquets and brought them to last night’s OSC (officer’s spouse club) meeting. I got one for each kid and they love, love, loved them! I need a dose of her creativity!
Aren't these adorable?
Wow! Candy before breakfast!
Valentine's Bags Hung with Care
After breakfast, the kids dug into their cards with gusto. Each had several sweet treats, which is a pretty big deal considering we never have candy in the morning! They really loved the cards their siblings made for them. I loved the adorable little messages them wrote for each other. Bella loved dumping everything on the floor and trying to eat all the candy. So sweet.
What's all this?
Mmmmm! I got the wrapper off!
Now this is what Valentine's Day is about: love!
Awwwww.
My beautiful valentine from Alexandria
We met with our homeschool group for a valentine’s exchange and craft day. It was awesome! There was a massive turnout! Alex handed out gummy gorillas (interesting story there!) and Tinkerbell cards to all of her friends. The kids got so many Valentine’s cards! That made me so happy. I was kind of sad that they would miss out on that since they’re homeschooled and it turns out they didn’t miss it at all!
Each of the kids made some cute Valentine’s crafts. Bella helped “unmake” the crafts.
Alex and her friend Sophia
Bella being a stinker
Look what I made!
Me too!
Ethan and his friend make crafts!
My crafty kid!
Next, we headed outside, past a duck pond and to a new park to play with our friends. The kids ran and ran. I’m so happy that they have so many great friends! They certainly got tired! We made some new friends today as well and are looking forward to getting to know them better. I enjoyed hanging out and talking with the other moms as our kids played together so nicely!
I think this was our best Valentine’s Day yet. It may not be seeping in rose petals and chocolates, but I don’t need those things anyway. My construction paper hearts are so much more meaningful and will last longer too.
Happy Valentines’ Day!
(PS: It's a heart, not a pretzel
Valentine’s Day Preschool Math!
Valentine’s Day is a fun time of year full of sweet cards, cute hearts, and sugar-high children running around like maniacs. Is it crazy that I don’t really associate the holiday with romance anymore? My husband and I exchange cards and small gifts, but it’s really about the kids. Each of the kids made cards for the other children, telling them something they like or admire about them. Not only do their creative juices flow, but it feels so great to hear people tell you what they like about you. Plus, it’s proof that they like each other in some way or another, right?
Valentine’s Day is also a fun opportunity to incorporate cute treats into learning math. How so, you ask? Quite simply, conversation hearts make wonderful counters for preschool hands. I picked up several boxes of conversation hearts at the commissary yesterday. Derek was so excited for his project. He was asking to do it before breakfast. He had no idea what the project was, but he wanted those candies!
I split a piece of paper into 10 sections and asked him to put that number of hearts into each box. For example, one heart went into the 1 box and 8 hearts went into the 8 box. He did awesome up to 5, then got sidetracked after that. With a little bit of urging and several attempts, Derek mastered the concept and had a good time practicing his counting! One-to-one correlations can be hard for preschoolers to grasp and this is an easy activity to strengthen those skills.
Next, we worked on color patterns. I began a pattern for him and he completed it. He wasn’t sure exactly what to do at first. With some practice he got the hang of it. We’ll definitely continue working on patterns.
The conversation hearts mysteriously disappeared throughout the project. Hmmm…. I wonder what happened to them?
Derek also practiced his fine-motor skills today, cutting out heart-shaped valentines (with mom’s help) and decorating them with stickers. I loved it because it kept him actively engaged. He had fun too. My Derek Valentine is covered with lots of bright stickers and crayon pictures. Ethan’s is brown with one sticker. At least he expresses himself right? Derek was thrilled to put his cards into each child’s valentine’s bag.
I love holidays of every shape and size. They provide us with constant inspiration, project ideas, and preschool themes.
Happy Valentine’s Day!!! I hope you get a bug-sticker-covered Valentine from someone you love too.
5 Reasons I Love Homeschooling My Kids
Every day is a new adventure at our house, full of learning, laughter, and a little squabbling too. Homeschooling has been on the news a lot lately, even making it into Newsweek magazine in a positive article. Homeschooling is thriving across the nation, growing at 15% annually. More parents than ever are looking for an alternative to the public school system. Yet considering homeschooling can be scary. I know. I was in your shoes a year ago. We began homeschooling Ethan last march and have learned a whole lot through the process. There have been moments of sheer frustration and moments of joyous triumph. Overall, it has been an amazing and life-changing experience. Here are the top 5 reasons I love homeschooling my kids:
1. They Get a Solid, Well-Rounded Education
Academics are hugely important to me, and as a homeschooling mother and teacher I have the ability to make sure that my kids are learning everything. I want them to be familiar with all the classics of children’s literature. By the time they graduate high school, I want them to have a grasp on the best classics of the English language and to be able to discuss them intelligently. Reading is a vital part of every day in our house. We’re making our way through more books than we ever would have had time to read together otherwise. Not only are they learning, but we’re bonding and making memories too.
We study history and science with a passion. Math is practiced daily and each of the kids is at least a year above their grade-level. Foreign language, music theory, art, geography, religion, life-skills and more fill our days. I want the kids to have the best possible education, something they won’t get at our local public schools and something that can be tricky with our mobile-military lifestyle. Did I mention that I tailor our curriculum after the best prep-schools in the US? It’s true. We may not live in New York City or be able to afford to send each of the kids to a $40,000 per year prep-school, but we can teach them the same subjects and do the same projects at home. The Internet provides amazing connections and resources. Why shouldn’t my kids have the best education available?
Our curriculum has vision and focus, and also room to explore the children’s current interests. We do more hands-on-activities and go on more field-trips than any school I know of. I want the children to gain a solid, well-rounded education. I want them to have a grasp on the world around them and to be thoroughly prepared for college and real-life. Our version of homeschooling is a lot more academic and rigorous than some, but it suits us well.
2. Each Child’s Education is Tailored for His or Her Level and Learning Style.
Alex is an auditory learner who can hear anything and remember it months or years later. She quotes books we read months ago! For her, I’ve discovered that reading aloud really helps her retain information. This is an awesome tool! Ethan, on the other hand, is a visual learner. He has to be shown exactly what to do numerous times before he grasps something new, but once he has it down he’s great. Because we have freedom and flexibility, I can tailor how I teach to best suit each child. They learn more this way.
Homeschooling allows us to teach each child at his or her own level as well. Alex’s classmates are in first grade, but she’s cruising through second grade with flying colors. In public school, she was frequently in trouble for talking because she was so bored. She was simply not challenged. At home, I can make sure that there is a constant challenge. When things get dull, I shake them up a bit. She loves a challenge and is always rising to meet it.
Ethan also does well working at his own pace. He too was in trouble in school largely because he wasn’t challenged. While his peers are in preschool this year, Ethan is doing first grade work and is excelling. He reads with ease and has a true gift with numbers. Homeschooling gives us this flexibility. By tailoring curriculum to a child’s academic level, not their age, they can excel at their own pace. It works really well for us!
3. We Can Focus on Academics!
My neighbor has a sweet third grade son. He’s one of the best kids I know, yet instead of worrying about learning he’s worried about having a girlfriend, because everyone in his class is obsessed with who is going out with whom. The kids at the park talk constantly about “dating,” despite the fact that they’re in elementary school. Homeschooling allows my children to have an actual childhood that involves playing, exploring their passions, and learning. Boyfriends, drugs, sex, alcohol, and political agendas are not a part of our educational life. This lets us spend more time learning.
When Alex is much older, we’ll discuss boyfriends and those other issues. However, there’s no real place for that in elementary school. This is the time for kids to develop a basis for their education. This is time for laying down educational building blocks. It’s not the time to worry about which boys like her and which don’t and what the other girls are wearing. I’d much rather she gains a solid understanding of multiplication. Which will serve her better in the long run?
I also don’t have to worry about perverse teachers such as those recently on the news from Los Angeles. I don’t have to worry about school shootings or abductions. I don’t have to worry about bullying or cliques. That is simply not part of our life. How nice is that?
4. Our Family is Closer Than Ever.
I was once one of those parents who enjoyed sending the kids to school because it gave me free time. I wasn’t all that thrilled at the prospect of being together 24/7. What happened? I learned to truly enjoy my children. I learned to have more patience than I ever thought possible. I learned to listen to them and to love spending time with them.
Now, I can’t imagine not being with them. What amount of free time would be worth missing those triumphant smiles when they master a new skill? What amount of free time would be worth missing cuddling and reading a classic novel? None. Our family is closer than ever. I enjoy my children more than I ever did before. That is a true gift.
5. The Kids are Thriving!
Each of my children is thriving in their own way. This makes me so happy I can scarcely express it in words.
Alexandria discovers more each day about who she is and what she likes. She has become an accomplished piano player and tears through chapter books like they’re going out of style. She’s an excellent writer and a sweet little girl. She’s up for any adventure and loves going out into the world and pursuing her interests. As homeschoolers, the world is our classroom. When something new and interesting tickles her fancy, we go out and learn about it.
Ethan is a smart, studious little boy who has emerged from a cocoon of behavioral issues into an inquisitive, intelligent, and interested young man. This transformation has been spectacular. He still has issues, but we’re moving forward.
Derek is a ball of energy, but learning so much. He knows all of his letter names and sounds and is learning to write them too. Because of the freedom and flexibility homeschooling offers, I can make sure that Derek gets all the active play and exercise he needs to focus. Between lessons, we take long breaks for play and running around outside. Once the energy is out, he’s ready to curl up in my lap to read or steady himself at the table for some cutting practice.
Bella is a smart little cookie too, always ready to try new things and copy the older kids. She gets up at the table too and wants to “do school.” I let her color and participate just as much as she can.
Yes, there are moments when it’s hard. There are days when I don’t really feel like it. Then I look at how far we’ve come and the great times we’ve had. Each child is learning in the way that comes easiest and most naturally to them. They are smart, polite, creative, and capable children. I am thankful for this opportunity. I am happy that we have the resources available to provide them with this education. It has been the journey of a lifetime.
Related articles
- Watch Out, Fashionistas! Homeschooling is Now the Hip Thing to Do! (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
13 Year-Old Girls Given Contraceptive Implants in Schools… Without Parent’s Consent!
London at War - Birth Control (Photo credit: brizzle born and bred)
Here’s a story I came cross today that got my blood boiling: Across the pond in England, 13-year-old girls are being given contraceptive implants in schools without parental consent and without consulting their doctor. 13-year-old girls.
Check out the story from Education News at:
The reason behind the move is noble enough: providing children with birth control decreases unwanted teenage pregnancy. Sure, that may be true. However, there’s a whole lot more to the issue than that.
Is it the school’s place to provide medical procedures without parental consent? I don’t think so. Is it the school’s place to tell 7th grade (American equivalent) girls that it’s okay to do things without telling their parents? That’s exactly what they’re doing. They’re also giving these children the go-ahead to engage in sexual behaviors. After all, there are “no consequences.”
While I don’t agree with abstinence-only sex ed, nor do I believe in this trend of “no-consequences” promiscuity. Do you think teenage boys won’t be pressuring these girls to have sex? They will. After all, “nothing bad can happen.” While there may be fewer pregnancies, this move can easily fan teenage promiscuity and the spread of STD’s.
What happened to the days where a man felt obligated to care for and marry a woman he slept with? What happened to the days when a woman’s virtue was something worth protecting? We are more evolved than primates, people. We have morals and we can realize and recognize consequences. While birth control is a great thing, it should never be used as an excuse to engage in immoral behaviors.
I think this decision is morally wrong. People send their children to school for an education. They don’t send them there to receive unwarranted medical procedures, to be taught to hide things from their parents, nor to be taught that it’s okay to be sexually active because they’re protected from unwanted consequences. Teaching children about contraceptives and sexual health is one thing. Implanting them with birth control is something else entirely.
How about health officials look for ways to teach children to respect themselves and each other enough to avoid sexual promiscuity in the first place? How about a cultural movement telling kids it’s not the “cool” thing to do and that they’re better than animals. It is possible to wait until you’re in a committed relationship to have sex. It’s possible to wait until marriage to enjoy sex in a safe and committed manner. It’s also possible to focus on EDUCATION as a teen schoolgirl. Now that would solve a plethora of issues.
What the heck is this world coming to? Do you think it is okay for schools to give 13-year-old girls birth control implants without consulting parents?
More resources
Related articles
- Girls, 13, get secret birth control implant at school without parents’ knowledge (mirror.co.uk)
- Girls, 13, given ‘secret’ contraceptive implants (telegraph.co.uk)
- Six-fold rise in underage girls given contraceptive implants in the past five years (dailymail.co.uk)
Early Morning Adventures! Donuts, Daring Escapades, and Chilly Nature Walks Too!
My kids have always been early risers, and while I would like to sleep past 7 am once in a while their laughter and loud running and jumping wakes me even on Saturdays. Today was no different. The early morning sun peered through my window and Derek’s loud songs involving pirates and monsters filled the air. Another day, another adventure, right?
I was determined that this morning should be special, not just another Saturday morning doing nothing. How about crack open that Entertainment Book we desperately need to use before we move? Derek confirmed my thoughts, dancing into my room, “I have an idea! I have an idea! Daddy won’t be home till tonight, right? How about we go to Dunkin Donuts right now and I can eat 5 donuts?” He’s so crazy, I love him so much. I agreed that we could go out for breakfast, but that he could not eat 5 donuts because that wouldn’t be healthy.
The kids scrambled to get dressed and head out for an adventure. We loaded into the Armada, pulled out the Dunkin Donuts coupon, and fetched a box of chocolate-frosted donuts. Clarke House Park was practically deserted so early in the morning (8:30 or so) and we had our choice of picnic tables for our breakfast-on-the-town. I’m glad I remembered baby wipes for frosting-coated faces!
We very rarely eat pastries, so this was a real treat for the kids. I can’t seem to eat them without gaining 5 lbs. Our coupon was for 6 donuts for $3, just enough for us to split between us without going overboard. The kids finished quickly and were anxious to run into the park. Derek calls it the “Pirate Park” because there’s a large wooden pirate ship inside. Alex was so sweet as she finished up her treat, “You’re the best mom ever! You plan the most funnest trips!”
Only 10 minutes from NAS Jacksonville, the Clarke House Park on Kingsley Rd is one of our favorite hang-outs. It has been a few months since we’ve been there, but as soon as we pulled up Derek hollered, “I know this place! This is my most funnest park!” I love how much energy the kids expend, climbing, running, and swinging. It was surprisingly cold out and I’m glad we remembered our jackets. It must have rained last night too, as the slides were damp. Derek ran and zoomed down the big slide, then ran around yelling “My butt is wet! My butt is wet!” He worries me with his constant, daring escapades: running full speed ahead at all times, diving down slides head first, and jumping from too-high places. It is amazing that child has never broken any bones. Life is never dull.
Eeeew! They have dirt here!
After an hour of play time, we hit up the nature trails behind the play area. The trail is pretty short, so we did it twice. I love seeing the kids run and explore, walking along logs like balance beams and finding “treasures” among the pine cones and leaves.
“Why we need so much nature-y walking?” Derek asked. “I want to climb and play.”
“It’s good to walk and get some exercise,” I replied.
“Why you needing so much walking?” he asked, famous for his constant “why” questions.
“Mommies need exercise,” I told him. “Lots of exercise.”
He accepted that and ran after his sister. Alex and Derek get along so well. They are very much alike, constantly curious and up for anything. Ethan kept close to the stroller. He doesn’t like things that are new. Bella ran and had fun too. She kept tripping on her little feet, though, and ended up back in the stroller. We definitely got in some steps today!
Derek and Alex are great buddies
Exploration
We love nature walks!
We walked through the butterfly garden and explored the early spring roses and peonies. They were gorgeous! Alex picked up plenty of flowers from the ground and brought a couple of them home.
We spent another 15-20 minutes at the play park before calling it a morning and heading home for Bella’s nap. Our adventure lasted a good 2 hours! I’m tired and could use a nap now. Why is it that Derek still has tons of reserve energy and is running around like a wild man? That boy is C-R-A-Z-Y! And I love him every day for it.
Symmetrical Cutting Valentine’s Heart Collages!
Preschool time was fun and full of learning yesterday morning. After two lessons in our Horizon’s Preschool Curriculum (which we love!!!!), it was time for some extra scissor practice. Derek’s scissor skills have improved dramatically over the past few months and it’s possible for him to cut for longer periods of time (more than 2 seconds). I let him choose two colorful sheets of construction paper and we folded them, then drew half-hearts along the seams. I taped the edges closed so he wouldn’t get confused and helped him get his scissors in position correctly. Cutting time!
Cutting is definitely a skill that requires patience to learn, on both of our parts. I find myself getting frustrated after telling him for the 50th time, “Don’t cut the heart in half! Cut around the lines!” He gets frustrated having to slow down and cut careful, concerted lines. He did it, though! Derek was so excited to unfold each new heart! Once they were all cut out, it was time for some gluing! Derek made a lovely symmetrical cutting Valentine’s heart collage!
- Gluing is so fun!
Ethan joined in the fun once he finished his penmanship and phonics lessons. He’s a much quicker and more accurate cutter than Derek and loves rubbing that in. Stinker.
When Derek finished cutting, he wanted to paint. That boy loves to paint EVERYTHING. I got him his paint set and a variety of brushes, rolled up his sleeves, and let him at it.
This was a fun and easy project that kept the boys engaged while also honing their fine-motor skills. Who doesn’t love a little Valentine’s Day art?
So proud!
What Happened to Our Caterpillars? We’ve Got Chrysalises!
Our butterfly adventure has hit a new high! After 1 week and 3 days, our first caterpillar turned into a chrysalis. By 2 weeks, all four caterpillars turned to chrysalises, hanging upside-down from the top of the container. It was really neat to watch them transform. First, they would hang motionless from the top of the container, twisted rather like candy canes. Next thing we knew, they were rock-hard cases. While the caterpillars were hairy, the chrysalises were smooth and gray.
The caterpillars attached themselves to a paper sheet when they turned into chrysalises, and I attached this sheet to the top of our mesh habitat. One of our chrysalises fell to the bottom of the container as soon as he transformed and I put him on a napkin at the bottom of the habitat.
Now we wait. It will take some time for the caterpillars to turn into butterflies within the chrysalis. Our booklet estimates 7-10 days. We’ll watch them and wait patiently. The kids have really enjoyed this experiment and have learned a lot about how living things grow and change. We’re excited to watch as our beautiful butterflies emerge sometime later this month!
Related articles
- This Week: Butterflies and Caterpillars! (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- We’ve Got Bugs! ((Don’t Call The Exterminator)) (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- Crawlin’ Creatures Update! (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
February Homeschool Classes at the Jacksonville Zoo
Love Is In The Air
This morning we went to the first of our first two homeschool classes at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens this month! Alex and Ethan both participated today and had so much fun. They learned all about habitats, including the jungle, the Savannah, and Florida. There were three animal encounters per class, for a total for nine animals! Two happy, smiling kids came running back to me after their third class was complete, homework packets in hand. We love the zoo’s homeschool classes and will be sad when they end this month.
One of the best parts of homeschool class is that after I drop Alex and Ethan off for class, I have just two kids to take through the zoo. Our neighbors Jordan and Evie came along with us for some exercise and exploration. It was the perfect day for some walking: temperatures in the mid-60s, sunny, and not too many other people. Here are some of my favorite photos from today’s adventures:
This is Derek's "I'm being a stinker" face
Derek, Age 3 1/2
Checking Out the Animals
I asked Alex what she thought about today’s classes:
Me: So, what was the best part of today’s classes?
Alex: Petting the bunny. I like the bunny. It was black and white and it was a shy bunny.
Me: What did you learn about today?
Alex: I learned that many species of animals that live in the rainforest could get killed cause we cut down too many trees. Lots of our food comes from the rainforest, like chocolate, nuts, and some oranges. Isn’t that weird?
Me: What other animals did you see?
Alex: I saw three snakes, a dove, a hedgehog, and a live armadillo. It was kind of bumpy and furry! We touched its shell. We couldn’t touch its face.
Me: Did you touch any snakes?
Alex: I touched all the snakes! Every single one.
Me: What did they feel like?
Alex: They feel kind of bumpy. One felt like a football plus a basketball plus it was soft and squishy.
Me: Okay, then. What was the most interesting thing you learned?
Alex: The most interesting thing I learned is that toucans can hear their friends from very far away. It’s hard to see other Toucans through the rain forest, I suppose.
Me: Did you have a good time?
Alex: Yeah, I had a really good time!
Love!
Our friend Evie loved the animals!
Look at that!
My cute little monkey!
I want to do it too!
The animals were all very active this morning. The Kudus ran and frolicked about their habitat, chasing birds and having fun. The monkeys made all sort of racket. The lions roamed their den and birds and small creatures were abundant. I love taking the kids to the zoo because it’s a great chance to get get some exercise, connect with nature, and gain an appreciation for and understanding of the vast world we live in.
I’m kind of sad we won’t be here to take homeschool classes at the Jacksonville Zoo again next fall. We still don’t have orders, but should PCS out of here in September. It’s a bittersweet thing to look forward to. I hope wherever we may end up will be as educational and fun as Jacksonville. This duty station has been good to us.
Eating Evie's snacks
Jordan and Evie
Snacks are always better with friends
My learners!
Love Is In The Air!
Freckle Juice by Judy Blume
Ethan with "Blue Freckles"
The kids and I are participating in Mensa Kids Reading Challenge and are slowly making our way through the quite-extensive reading list. I’ve enjoyed rediscovering childhood classics and sharing some of the best in kids’ literature out there with Alexandria and Ethan. What childhood is complete without a thorough dosing of the classics? We’ve read Mr. Popper’s Penguins and Millions of Cats, Charlotte’s Web and The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses. The list goes on and on. Today, the kids and I read the story Freckle Juice by Judy Blume.
I don’t remember reading this book as a child, but it was certainly amusing. Basically, Andrew spends his class time counting another child’s freckles and desperately wishing that he too had freckles. A scheming little girl offers him the recipe for freckle juice for fifty cents. He takes her up on her offer and prepares a disgusting concoction, drinks it, and gets ill. No freckles. When he heads back to class, he gives himself “freckles” with a blue marker in an attempt to fool his class. His teacher isn’t fooled surprisingly and gives him the “secret recipe” for “freckle remover”… aka, washing and scrubbing.
After the story, I handed Alex and Ethan their new creative writing notebooks, which are blank at the top so they can draw a picture. Their goal was to write a brief summary about the book to help them remember the story. Ethan has a hard time recalling anything from stories, so we spent some time discussing the book. He still didn’t understand why it was funny that Andrew gave himself blue-marker freckles. The solution seemed clear. I grabbed a washable blue marker and gave Ethan his own blue freckles.
He ran to the bathroom, climbed atop the toilet, and looked in the mirror. The laughter came quickly and uncontrollably. The other kids ran to see that was going on and also began laughing hysterically. Ethan started crying. When the kids stopped laughing, Ethan stopped crying… and it started all over again. Ethan burst into laughter, the other kids laughed, Ethan cried, the end. Oh bother. I got a quick picture before handing him the secret freckle remover (a wet towel with soap) and telling him to scrub.
Believe it or not, he was able to write his summary and draw a picture much easier after having a visual reminder of what the story was about. Everyone learns in a different way. Some of those ways involve blue marker freckles, evidently.
We are going to finish up Charlotte’s Web this week and then start The Mouse and the Motorcycle. This challenge has really gotten us to read more together as a family. That’s a good enough prize as any. I hope that the kids remember these stories as a fun part of their childhood. And if anything… I’ll bet they remember the blue marker freckles.
Crawlin’ Creatures Update!
Our caterpillars and ladybugs have absolutely exploded in growth, so I had to post a photo update. It’s really insane how quickly they grew! Today there is a silky nest in the habitat and one of the caterpillars is now hanging upside-down from the top of the habitat. I think they’re about to turn into the chrysalis phase!
First, the caterpillars:
1 week, 2 days ago-- newly hatched caterpillars
Last week
Today! We've had them for 1 week, 2 days
The kids have really enjoyed watching the caterpillars grow and change. Derek loves talking about “his” caterpillars. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve read his favorite book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar lately! We read it over and over four times this morning alone and then Bella ripped the cover to shreds. Derek broke down in tears and mommy had to tape it for him. Poor guy. When is this toddler going to tire of ripping books? I am sick of taping everything!
Here’s how the ladybugs are progressing-
Our ladybug habitat, 1 week 2 days ago
Ladybug Larvae today!
Our earthworms have still not hatched. Oh man. The literature says that some eggs take weeks to hatch. I think we got a bunch of slow hatchers.
We’re continuing our study of living thing this weeks. We’ve learned so much thus far. I’m sure this week will be a blast.
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