Showing posts with label 2016-2017. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2016-2017. Show all posts

Thursday, August 31, 2017

School Year Recap

A Brief Update/Reflection

 

My how all three kids have grown since August 2016!! Growth comes in ways other than physical, but that is where it is seen the most. 

Miss E is now sporting braces along her top teeth. We are patiently waiting for one of her bottom teeth to erupt to avoid oral surgery. She is still a gymnast and will be competing level 4 again in the fall. She upped her hours in the gym to 16 hours per week in July. She is still our avid reader. She independently read over 10,000 pages this past school year. Daddy does not like books at the dinner table so we are often telling her that she can continue reading after she eats. She has learned that reading can be used as a procrastination tool, too. She has a very compassionate heart and loves serving the Lord through song. She helps lead worship in one of the children’s classes at church.

Little Man is definitely building arm muscles with gymnastics. It is pretty impressive if I do say so myself. He had a great time competing for the first time this past winter and is looking forward to the next level and competition season. Gymnastics has been really good for him and he works really hard in the gym. In school he grew a lot in reading. With a little bit of help, he read 10,000 pages. He read over 5,000 pages independently. For this guy, this is pretty impressive reading. He is our active child. Always busy doing something that involves movement; be it handstands in the living room, climbing trees, making forts, wrestling with his sister, playing soccer in the road, or just running to chase Dad as Dad leaves for work, this kid is never still. He has a sweet spirit and a heart to talk with the Lord about everything. He blows me away as he brings his requests to our Father.

Baby E is a charmer. He has pretty much everyone wrapped around his little smile. He distracts the girls at the gym, even coaches, as he flirts with them or back at them. He has friends everywhere; young and old. He is two, so he is testing his independence and will let you know what he wants. Baby E is very physically active. He rides scooters, peddles a bike with training wheels with very little help, and pushes himself around on the plasma car. He can pull his legs up to his chest while hanging on a bar, has mastered jumping, and loves doing push-ups. He spends a lot of time watching gymnastics so maybe that will be in his near future, too. He truly is a joy and I can't wait to see how the Lord shapes his little personality.



Blessings,
Elizabeth

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

October Book Shelf


Miss E's Book Shelf

1. Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
2. Pippi Goes on Board by Astrid Lindren
3. The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket
4. The Fast and the Frozen by Geronimo Stilton
5. The Rival Detective by Walker Styles
6. Pippi in the South Seas by Astrid Lindgren
7. Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
8. Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon
9. Meet Me in Horrowood by Geronimo Stilton
10. Telescope Troubles by Nate Ball
11. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka

Little Man's Book Shelf

1. Meet the Knights by Julia March
2.Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel
3. Finn & the First Order by Elizabeth Schaefer
4. Henry and Mudge in the Green Time by Cynthia Rylant
5. Henry and Mudge and Annie's Perfect Pet by Cynthia Rylant
6. Henry and Mudge and the Tall Tree House by Cynthia Rylant
7. Henry and Mudge Under the Yellow Moon by Cynthia Rylant
8. Meet the Justice League by Lucy Rosen
9. There was an Old Lady who Sollowed Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
10. Mr. Putter and Tabby See the Stars by Cynthia Rylant
11. Super Animals! by Rico Green
12. Tribes of Chima by Ruth Amos
13. Smash Trash! by Laura Driscoll

Read Alouds and Audio Books

1. The Hostile Hospital by Lemony Snicket
2. How to Be a Pirate by Cressida Cowell
3. Ragweed by Avi
4. The Carnivorous Carnival by Lemony Snicket
5. How to Speak Dragonese by Cressida Cowell

Saturday, October 1, 2016

September Book Shelf


The kids have a challenge with their school to see how many pages they can read in the school year. There are little prizes for different levels. The highest level is 50,000 pages which awards them a trophy. Miss E has her eyes set on that goal. At 10,000 pages they get a medal, which both kids have earned the past two years.

Here is what we have been reading this month.

Miss E's Shelf

1. The Christmas Toy Factory by Geronimo Stilton
2. Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro by Geronimo Stilton
3. The Mouse Island Marathon by Geronimo Stilton
4. Otherwise Know as Sheila the Great by Judy Blume
5. Key to the Treasure by Peggy Parish
6. Fudge-a-Mania by Judy Blume
7. The Treasure of Easter Island by Geronimo Stilton
8. Rider Woofson: Undercover in the Bow-Wow Club by Walker Styles
9. The Search for Sunken Treasure by Geronimo Stilton
10. The Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
11. Attack of the Dragons by Geronimo Stilton
Independent pages read: 1294

Little Man's Shelf

1. Ted and Friends (12 phonics readers) by Phil Roxbee Cox and Stephen Cartwright
2. Ice Age Collision Course: Scrat's Space Adventure
3. The Crimson Dynamo Returns! (Iron Man Story)
4. Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel
5. Pup and Hound Scare a Ghost by Susan Hood
6. Carnival Capers! by Eric Esquivel
7. Star Wars At-At Attack by Calliope Glass
8. Star Wars Death Star Battle by Trey King
9. Hiccup the Hero adopted by Catherine Hapka
10. Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
11. Poppleton Everyday by Cynthia Rylant
12. Poppleton and Friends by Cynthia Rylant
Independent pages read: 658

Read Alouds and Audio Books

1. How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
2. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
3. The Vile Village by Lemony Snicket 

Elizabeth's Shelf

1. Just Friends by Jenn Faulk

Saturday, September 3, 2016

August Book Shelf



I thought it would be fun to track our reading for the month. Here is what we have been reading. What are you reading?

Elizabeth's Shelf

1. Bill O'Reilly's Legends & Lies The Real West by David Fisher

Miss E's Shelf

Age 9, 4th grade, avid reader

1. Silver Pony Ranch: Sweet Buttercup by D.L. Green
2. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
3. Superfudge by Judy Blume
4. Greetings From Somewhere: The Mystery of the Forbidden City by Harper Paris
5. Special Gifts by Cynthia Rylant
6. Geronimo and the Gold Medal  Mystery by Geronimo Stilton
7. Soup Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One by Judy Blume
8. Thea Stilton and the Spanish Dance Mission by Geronimo Stilton
9. Cool Zone with the Pain and the Great One by Judy Blume
10. Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
11. The Karate Mouse by Geronimo Stilton
12. A Series of Unfortunate Events A Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
13. Grizzly Trap by Justin D'Ath
14. Phantom of the Subway by Geronimo Stilton
15. The Hunt for the Secret Papyrus by Geronimo Stilton
16. Following the Trail of Marco Polo by Geronimo Stilton
17. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
18. Who Was Ferdinand Magellan? by Sydelle Kramer
19. Flight of the Red Bandit by Geronimo Stilton
20. Complete Adventure of Olga da Polga by Michael Bond
      The Tales of Olga da Polga, Olga Meets Her Match, Olga Carries On, Olga Takes Charge


Little Man's Shelf 

Age 7, 2nd grade, emerging reader

1. Charlie the Ranch Dog:Rock Star by Ree Drummond
2. How to Track a Dragon adapted by Erica David
3. Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble by Cynthia Rylant
4. All About the Dragons by Judy Katschke
5. Charlie the Ranch Dog Stuck in the Mud by Ree Drummond
6. Poppleton Forever by Cynthia Rylant
7. The Amazing Adventures of Superman! Creatures from Planet X! by Yale Stewart

Read Alouds

It is very important that Daddy gets involved in our reading time. I want my kids to know that reading is not just a 'girl hobby'. Daddy reads the bedtime story while I start our day with Bible reading and a chapter book.

1. The BFG by Roald Dahl
2. The Secret of Pirates' Hill by Franklin W. Dixon
3. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
4. More About Paddington by Michael Bond
5. Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures The Intrepid Canadian Expedition by Sara Pennypacker
6. Matilda by Roald Dahl

Audio Books

We have started the habit of listening to books in the truck as we drive around town. It has been fun to listen to other people read to us.

1. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket
2. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket
3. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Miserable Mill by Lemony Snicket
4. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Austere Academy by Lemony Snicket
5. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Ersatz Elevator by Lemony Snicket

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Socialization...classroom experience...break for mom...BSF


Today is the first day of C'lectives for the big kids. What are C'lectives? They are classes that are offered by our Charter School. Some of the classes are core classes while others are more elective or enrichment in nature. Why are my kids in C'lectives? This question is always funny to me. I get asked and then people give me their replies. I've heard, oh, you have them in these classes so they get socialization; oh, you want them to have that classroom experience... the honest, real answer is that I am a BSF lifer.

Now, what is BSF?? BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) is a wonderful Bible Study that I've participated in for over 10 years. On Tuesday mornings, Buddy E and I will be at our local BSF class. BSF has a wonderful, the BEST, children's program. The only problem is that there is only room for children from birth to Kindergarten. The big kids are too old to join Buddy E and I. So, what is a mom to do? I could ask for help from Daddy. Daddy could stay home with the big kids on Tuesday mornings and then go into work late, then he works late, and then Wednesday he tries to get back in the groove and then, and then, and then... you get the idea. For the past three years this is how we have tried to make Tuesday mornings work and it just didn't work. So, I found some classes for the kids to take. More on that in a minute. What is a BSF lifer? A person who will stick around BSF as long as they are welcome. As long as I have a child under the age of 6, I'll be at BSF Tuesday mornings, Lord willing. Then after the kids outgrow the preschool program, Lord willing, I'll move to the evening class which has a school age program. Side note: Eric takes the big kids to BSF on Monday nights. He is in a men's class which has the school age program. It is the BEST!! Let me know if you are interested in BSF and I'll get you some info.

Back to C'lectives. The big kids are taking a full day of classes on Tuesdays this year. They both woke up really excited this morning. I hope the excitement lasts at least through December. Miss E is taking PE, Art, Primary Writing, and Spanish. Little Man is taking Spanish, Art, PE, and Computers. I'm losing a day of instruction, but Tuesdays will be an important day for us.

Upon picking the kids up this afternoon everyone was pretty happy. Miss E is not excited about her Primary Writing class, but writing is something we need to work on so she will need to get over it. Next week in PE the kids get to go swimming so they are looking forward to C'lectives next week.

What are you adding to your week to help with instruction or give a creative outlet?

Blessings,
Elizabeth