Big Brother Reads

Elijah has gotten to a point where he can sit with his brothers and read stories to them. We attempt to have independent reading time for 20 minutes everyday as well as reading picture books, supplemental school reading (mostly for history and science), and family read alouds. But I think Isaac especially loves it when Elijah reads to him.

Elijah reading "This Train" to Isaac.

Franklin stories are some of Luke's favorites.

Cuneiform Tablets

We are using The Story of the World for our History studies this year. It presents a chronological study of history in four volumes. We are really enjoying this curriculum for it's interactive nature, the way it links to our studies of people in Bible times (currently reading through Exodus), the use of supplemental reading and the great activity suggestions for each chapter. I love that we read about a topic then Elijah narrates back to me about what he remembers. Of course, I help him by asking questions to discover what he's retained. Then we (I write for now) write a few sentences about the important facts of our study for that day. Elijah usually draws a picture depicting the narration we've just written. Currently, we are learning about the Egyptians and Sumerians and their discoveries of the first forms of writing, hieroglyphics and cuneiform. One of the suggested activities was to make our own cuneiform tablets.

Daddy helping Elijah in forming his name and initials on his clay tablet.

The top row spells "ELIJAH" and the bottom row spell "EMF."

Luke usually participates in all our history studies and was very excited to make his tablet...though I ended up creating his name and initials for him.

The top row spells "LUKE" and the bottom row spells "LDF."

In case you've ever wondered what Isaac does when I am teaching...he loves to join in at times and I highly encourage it! Often he plays with blocks, puzzles or cars on the floor nearby or colors pictures or scrounges in the cabinets for something to eat...Today though, he definitely wanted to join in on the fun. He loves playdough and daddy's screwdrivers.

It looks like a cookie...sort of!

RPO OrKidstra Concert

Elijah, Luke and I went to an OrKidstra concert performed by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra this past Sunday. This series of concerts is geared for ages 3-9. It was phenomenal!

Prior to the concert there was an activity time where we were able to participate in several workshops...creating our own composition then having the RPO pianist play it for us, violin and cello petting zoo where Eli got to play "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" with the help of a Hochstein music student and circle time playing with small percussion instruments, parachutes and scarves. Much to my boys dismay and at the same time pleasure that I didn't make them participate, there was also a ballet class...they peeked in the door and immediately asked to go to another activity. Too many tu-tus!

Once the concert started, the conductor was so adept at explaining the various styles of music, engaging the children in question and answers, and making it fun! It was an interactive, noisy, relaxed, superb concert. We arrived early enough to secure front row center balcony seats for the best view. I loved seeing Elijah and Luke leaning at the edge of the wall caught up in the music. The best part was Eli pretending to be and mimicing the conductor. Arms flailing with crisp, although late cut-offs.


The music selections were from Copeland, Pachelbel, Gershwin, Stravinsky, Piazolla and Bartok. My favorites were from Aaron Copeland, while the boys both loved the Stravinsky because "it was loud and sounded like a lion!"
We will definitely attend the remaining three concerts!

Van Gogh's Sunflowers

As I mentioned in a previous post, I purchased Discovering Great Artists to use this year with the boys. There are so many neat projects to choose from. Seeing this particular project completed by another homeschool family sold me on the book, so I chose to do it first.

Here are our paint color concoctions...tempera paint mixed with flour for a thicker consistency

It was such a gloriously sunny day, we moved class outside under the shade of our trees.

Elijah's interpretation

Luke strayed from the intended painting idea...but I did tell him that since he was the artist, he could do it any way he wanted.

"See mama moe pait...I do it, mama...see...I pait wed...moe wed...moe wed, mama..." He sat for atleast 1/2 hr. painting with us. Impressive!

Mama painted, too...I didn't want to miss out on the fun!

All in all, we spent over 2 hours outside painting over 20 pictures. The boys loved it! I had to make them stop in order to finish other school work for the day. Can't wait to tackle the next project!

Books! Books! Books!

I love buying books for my boys. I have a long list of books I'd like to purchase from a variety of subjects...but this shopping spree was an effort to help us with our study of Fine Arts.

For Art this year, I am using How to Teach Art to Children published by Evan-Moor. The first few lessons have been about Line - recognizing and drawing vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines in varying widths thick, thin and dotted. After each lesson, we've looked around our house to find the different lines and follow that up by looking at examples of artwork through our borrowed library books Museum ABC, Museum Shapes and Museum 123 (all published by the Metropolitan Museum of Art). I love these books because they are appropriate for ANY age - everyone in our family can look at these books and come away a little more knowledgeable. They were number one on my shopping list and I'm sure the other patrons of the library will be thankful that I'm not holding those copies hostage any longer.

Can You Find It? is a search and find book using art work. Elijah and Luke love these types of books, so that was a extra purchase. It's turn out to be a treasure as well.

I am planning to study a different artist each month. I found Discovering Great Artists many months back, but wasn't sure about it. Then I happened upon a blogging mom who is using it with her little ones and I loved the projects her children were doing. Check out this Van Gogh project that finally sold me. Maybe it's just because I love sunflowers...

The rest of the stack is for Music. Both Elijah and Luke will be taking piano lesson together with Miss June. They will focus on the piano as the main instrument, but will try a variety of rhythm instruments and music "play." I am hoping to teach them about the different sections of the orchestra and listen to a variety of classical musicians. Again, I've borrowed these Classical Kids CDs from our library and love them. We occasionally watch Little Einsteins on TV and the first time I put in one of the new CDs, Elijah said, "Hey, I like this music...it's from Little Einsteins!" He then proceeded to "fly" in his rocket around the house, joined within seconds by his brothers, humming along with the music.

This treasures below are a stack of well loved books I picked at my local library sale. My favorite of the bunch is Jamberry. I love the rollicking flow of the words about a little boy and a bear picking berries for jam...

"One berry

Two berry

Pick me a blueberry...

Trainberry

Trackberry

Clickety-clackberry...

Raspberry

Jazzberry

Razzamatazzberry

Berryband

Merryband

Jamming in Berryland..."

Of course, you can't beat classics like Madeline and Babar, too! My only problem now...my only problem always is...I NEED MORE BOOK SHELVES!

Good Start

We've had a great first week of school...lots accomplished and a great field trip, too!

Elijah working on copying his spelling list

Field trip to Brown's Berry Patch to pick apples, take a wagon ride, and play!

There's nothing as tasty as a NY State apple

Isaac on the Jumping Pillow - a trampoline type activity that's connected to the ground on all four sides. Isaac loved sliding down the sides into the sand below.

Elijah and Luke on the big slide


A dear friend Shannon and her boys, Luke and Jadon

A new friend, Wendy and her daughter, Abigail, from our homeschool co-op. (And little Peter...my friend, Carole's youngest)

One week down, 35 to go...

First Day of School

First day of school smiles from the whole gang...so far, so good! It's only been two days, but I am even more convinced that I've made good curriculum choices this year. It's not been hard to get the boys going each morning...they've been asking to start school for several weeks now. The only tough thing is feeling a little more tired out from getting back into the school routine again.


Here is our shelf of notebook binders for each subject we're studying. Luke has one notebook for the various things he joins in on with Elijah. I have one acting as my lesson planner, grade keeper and idea file. The rest are Elijah's. I'm sure I'll be thankful to have a place to file papers as the year continues. It was fun to get these ready...the boys chose scrapbook paper from my stash and I printed the subject name on each of them on the computer.


With one year under my belt, I am more confident and relaxed in our homeschool endeavor. I am thankful that Mike wants to help out more this year than he did last year. I am hopeful and excited about the year to come!