1+1 math fun

  I don't post alot of what we are learning or working on but occasionally share some pictures of our day.  Today I am dedicating this post to Math.

  No matter how good or bad you are with numbers.  No matter if math is your least favorite class from school.  Math is in everything we do and is vital to our daily functions.  You need math when you make a purchase, sew clothes, buy a couch and need to fit it in you door or installing wall to wall carpet.

  You have to know numbers to tell the time, read a date on the calendar, count your money, for your clothing or shoe size. Its in your address and phone number. You also use it in cooking or baking.

  Math as much as I hate to admit it we need you.  So math lessons are an important part of our daily lessons.  We embrace math in all its glory everyday.

We are currently working on some of these math areas.
               
                     Telling  time.

                     Adding.

Money identification.

I am homeschooling my youngest daughter. She is not recognized as such because she is a newly turned 5 year old.  She is working on a mix of kindergarten and 1st grade work.  

In addition to hands on learning we use workbooks, computer programs, make crafts and take field trips.  We cook in the kitchen, have physical education and play music.

Everyday is full of new adventures.  All days are not always good.  Sometimes we don't accomplish as much as other days.  while some days fly right by.  It is a struggle but it is nice to have the ability to teach my child.  It feels enormously great to know I am responsible for what she has learned so far.

Monticello Review

  Virginia is the hot spot for past presidents. Several of them were born here, lived here and died here.  Virginia is one of the best states pertaining to the history of our country and the presidents.  These historic homes are open to the public providing a glimpse into the past.  They hold some of the original artifacts, plants and along with a great guide your trip through history is both intriguing and entertaining.

  Monticello the home of Thomas Jefferson resides near Charlottesville, VA.  The ride alone provides a beautiful scenic view of mountains.  Thomas Jefferson had the right idea when he choose the location of his home.  The sights are amazing from this level.

  We decided to explore today as it was a special Home Educators Day.  There were a lot of learning and entertainment along with different experiences for the kids.  When we arrived my kids were excited at the entrance to the Thomas Jefferson grounds.

  We parked and picked up our tickets at will call.  Our first stop was the house as we had a 12:30 tour time.  We took a shuttle to the top of the hill and waited our turn for the tour.  This gave me more time to prep my children on proper behavior, not to touch anything and be quiet while someone else was talking.

  The tour through the house was about 45 minutes.  Our guide was fantastic.  I don't think she left out any details.  She mentioned the pictures on the wall and it seemed to create a realistic story around it.  Each room we went in brought us closer to the lives of the past family.  You even wanted to dine in the yellow room.  It was so bright and inviting.  A game of chess sat waiting for someone to play with or a game of hide and seek would have been unimaginable with 11,000 square feet.

  The house had so many current features. Ideas and concepts he created to make his life easier and more functional.  Skylights, dumbwaiters in his fireplace and a system of pens writing at the same time to make a duplicate copy to list a few fascinating facts.

  The kids were able to write with an ink quill,

play hoop games in the back lawn,

and gather seeds for future gardens.

  

  Different areas set up for kids to explore including checkers, a chocolate tasting and even an archeological dig.

  This was a great field trip for everyone in my house.  My daughter is able to relate what she saw and is a little more knowledgeable about Jefferson and of course we can always build on that but I appreciate the stepping stones in making it a reality.

  We had great weather and it was an overall great day for our tour of Monticello.

They have more special events planned.  Different programs available, plenty of add on to make your experience even better.  Plan a trip to monticello.

First week of school

  I homeschool!  It may not be official but that doesn't stop me.  I have been teaching my daughter for the past 3 years.  This year due to her birthday being a week late she is granted another year of school with mom.

  You may think 2 years old is too young to start teaching your child and for some children yes it is.  For mine not so much.  I can remember when we started I had opened a whole new world for her and she loved it.  She asked for school at night on the weekends and any time she was actually bored.


  We went through all the important points like: abc's, numbers, shapes and colors.  We cut and colored.  We glued and taped.  We made crafts, went on field trips and explored our neighborhood.  We talked about everything and anything.  I printed off papers from various fellow homeschool sites and professional teaching moms.  I even used good old pinterest!

  I am proud to say that just about 3 years later she has learned an enormous amount and I sit back proudly and say I did that.  This year we are working on small areas that she may not quite understand and will work in some serious areas like: time telling, math, writing and reading.  For some fun we will add music, a foreign language and maybe some typing.

  The thing with her this year is she's consistent.  We just started this week and she has still asked for school in the evening or more school after I am finished teaching.  I'm so proud of her and hope this attitude will continue.

  As I juggle two kids this year.  I am still finding what works for me as.  Sometimes they are both distracted by what I am telling the other but it's got to work itself out, right?  My son knows a surprising amount of things despite my not directly teaching him so as soon as I figure out how to teach them both things may go very smoothly.
 

  This journey with my kids has been a great pleasure and I'm happy I had the opportunity to have it.  This year I will not say I am seasoned (I don't know how many years maybe graduation) However I am getting more creative at how I am teaching her and what I'm using to help reinforce what we are learning.  This momma is evolving with her children!

Throw back Thursday

  I don't usually participate in the throw back Thursday hype but today I will.  I have reflected for months on what I could have accomplished.  In 1994 I graduated high school without a direction or organized set goal I choose to join the military.

I joined the Air Force months after I graduated at the age of 18.

  I joined so uneducated as most of the military.  I had no idea about the better jobs coming from more education or experience.  If you were fortunate to have an ROTC at your school you could have come into basic training and graduated with rank.  I was not one of them.  Not to even mention if you attended college you could have been an officer.  I am so much wiser now.  If I could rewind time a few things would change.  Surprisingly I would still go in but I would do things a little bit different.  I would like to think I am better capable of setting my children up to succeed if they choose that direction.

  I spent 4 years in the military.  Learned some great skills, made some loyal friends and gained more about life experiences in those 4 years then I'm sure I ever would have learned outside of the military.  I got the privilege of seeing a few places and experiencing winter conditions no one should voluntarily experience (North Dakota).

  This year most of my peers retired.  It makes me wonder if I could have played "the game" and made it 20 years.  Everyone does not have the same mentality  (or maturity) that others have.  I have always been a runner (if the going gets bad I go) and maybe that's why I didn't stay maybe that's why I didn't fight harder to stay in.  Or maybe it was my not my life's path.  Instead for the last 16 years I have accumulated 4 children and raised them, held down a few jobs, earned 2 Associates Degrees and a Bachelor's.  

I am not going to be too hard on myself.  It is what it is.  Things happen for a reason and maybe I have done what I was supposed to do or maybe I needed to get out 16 years earlier to accomplish something 16 years later.

No regrets, keeping my head up and moving forward!