Most of the last week has been adjusting to home school, and getting back into it. We took of until Labor day, enjoying the last bits of summer. Although, truth be told we're still enjoying summer with pool trips, and water parks.
As of today, I officially have 5 days of two kids home schooling under my belt. I think home schooling just Peyton last year is giving me a huge leg up. I've just been doing the stuff Peyton and I used to do, and incorporating Hayden into it. I've also come up with a genius peanut butter, jelly chart to help them go through the day. I have peanut butter and jelly cards laminated, which I post on the fridge. Peyton is always peanut butter, and Hayden is always jelly. When Peyton is doing his pb, Hayden should be doing his corresponding jelly chart. This also really helps me plan the day, because I can pair activities they can do on their own, with an activity their brother needs help through. And if they're doing something together- well, then of course it's the bread/sandwich card.
I've set up a whole calendar with our month all planned out. So far we're on track. The boys only get to take part in Fun Friday and field trips if they stay on track for the week. You want to have your magnet on the Pickle on Friday, not the Ketchup. After all, you'd rather get to pick fun activities than be stuck catching up. Hayden's been in danger of being put on ketchup a few times, but has gotten it together quickly.
I'm trying to separate some things out by monthly themes. September's Reading theme is 'don't judge a book by it's cover' month, so on Monday they were picking books all wrapped up with just a few key words written on the outside.
Our Science theme this week is hygeine and germs. Last week we started our bread experiement. We're still waiting to see what grows mold faster: The bread we didn't handle at all, the bread we touched with dirty hands, and the bread we touched with clean hands. We also made some home made petrie dishes, and swabbed some things around the house. The boys made their predictions, so we'll have to see how they turn out. I know the home made petrie dishes are maybe not the best to start with, but it'll give us an idea. My cabinet under my bathroom sink is just full of bacteria growing projects!
We have our theme night time activities, too. Manners Monday, which this week consisted of learning how to properly set the table. I gathered up all kinds of utensils, cups, and plates and then guided them through how to properly set a table: Soup spoon and salad fork included. They also had some items that didn't belong: note the spatula and ice cream scoops.
Teamwork Tuesday went well last week. Asa and each of the boys had some upside down cups and then a rubber band with four strings attached. They had to work together to pull the rubber band around the cups and move them to stack them on top of each other. It was fun to watch, and they actually did a pretty good job. Tonight we're trying a blind obstacle course. We'll see how that goes!
Hayden has also been wanting to learn how to cook. I thought we'd start with waffles this first semester. There's so much you can do with a waffle iron, and this way he can learn the process. We started last Wednesday with cinnamon roll waffles. I helped him with the first batch, and he did the rest himself. I know it was just putting the canned rolls on the iron, but he did really well with it. Our goal is falafel waffle's by christmas!
Thinking Thursday is just doing some logic puzzles, but I did also order some brain quest flashcards that I think we're going to start doing, in which they can earn some more Plinko chips. They're earning chips for going above and beyond or doing a good job on things. If they're a pickle on Fridays, they get to drop their plinko chips for points. The point system has been in place for awhile now, they use the points to buy cards like getting out of chores for the day, stay up a little later, or have an extra snack.
Calib's been bummed he's missing all the fun; We keep telling him he could be home schooled. He keeps telling us his brothers would drive him crazy. He really wants to earn the plinko chips, and pick out of the ping pong ball jar. I use that jar for when one kid is done with their peanut butter or jelly before the other. Some of them are fun things, like watching a video. Hayden has yet to find that though, he keeps drawing jumping jacks, dusting, or making everyone's beds. I over heard him tell Peyton he wasn't going to draw out of the jar anymore. I'm doubting that'll happen.
Asa did work Saturday in favor of having Friday off. Seeing the Disney crowd calendar at a 3 we HAD to go. So, we might have let Calib skip a day of school. We had to stop first to renew our passes for another year. We were hoping to get the new magic bands, but no such luck. Hopefully by the end of the year. I want to get everyone magic band accessories for Christmas!
We spent a lot of time on Tom Sawyers Island, because we promised Peyton next time we went in the daytime (the only time it's open), we would go there. There was hide n seek, and running around for everyone. We even picnic lunched it on the island. The boys left happy, yet filthy.
After the island we hit some rides, and didn't have to wait in line too long. But, it was SO hot. Like, really really hot out still. So we decided to head out in favor of a water park.
Although, even though it was 100 degrees out, we did note the Magic Kingdom is already decorated for Halloween!
We noticed on the monorail how cloudy it was getting. Asa and I made an executive decision to hit the Polynesian pool instead. We thought by the time we got over to the waterpark, parked, changed, and found a spot for our stuff it'd be pouring. The boys were fine with that, as they were totally wiped (evident by Calib in the Polynesian lobby) and happily swam and went down the water slide. We were totally right though, we were in the pool about 45 minutes before they made everyone get out because of the storm.
We wanted to stay later, but the storm clouds were intense, and it wasn't going to let up anytime soon, so we headed home. Thats the second time in as many visits that we've been rained out of our second half a Disney day. I'm looking forward to cooler (and drier!) October/November weather.
I will note that it was opening weekend for NFL football. But, it was a bad, bad, bad football weekend here. Not only did the Florida Gators lose, but USF hasn't won yet; The Bucs lost to a terrible team on some reallllllly questionable calls, the Falcons lost to the stupid Saints, and the Vikings were beat by the Lions. And to make it all worse, I lost fantasy football to Asa. Ugh. Just a terrible football weekend. We're crossing our fingers next week is better. Peyton was happy with the Thursday night outcome with the Broncos though. I have been told how funny the picture is with Joe Flacco photo bombing.
That's it from here for now!
Next Up: Villians Night if we can make it, and THE FIRST BUCS HOME GAME!
No comments:
Post a Comment