The State Fair

We went to the "Homeschool State Fair Day". Jeffrey earned a cubscouting patch for his attendance. The kids rode a few rides, went on the bumper cars, we saw calf judging, and spent some time in the garden produce area. Now that I know what to expect, we'll have even more fun next year!

Riding the Helicopter

Before the ride went too fast and they turned green

Confessions of a budding math junkie

I'm sure you've noticed that I've been a little quiet lately, a little preoccupied putting together spring and summer plans for homeschool. I must confess, I've gotten carried away.

It started with purchasing new math cirriculum for the kids. When it arrived, I realized that I had ordered material that was too easy. So, I let Brooklynn do Jeffrey's. But, hmmmmmmm, what to have Jeffrey do?


I was introduced to Right Start Math when we lived in California. I really loved how the course was put together ( it's Montessorish). Brooklynn enjoyed it, although Jeffrey only like the games that went along with the cirriculum. They sell a math games kit with 300 math games and several decks of playing cards. So, I bought it.

Brooklynn's favorite is "Go to the Dump". It's like goldfish, but instead of finding pairs you're looking for two numbers and equal your predetermined sum. (Yesterday it was 10. Today she wanted 11.) Jeffrey's favorite is multiplication solitaire. I have to say that mine is money war. You use the money deck and flip over 2 or 3 cards (how ever many the group decides) and whoever has the highest amount takes the hand. It's been great to get them to quickly add money. Jeffrey wakes up first thing in the morning to play solitaire and he's actually memorizing the multiplication tables without knowing it!

I've also found a few great math websites:

Mathtv.com I've been trying to get Jeffrey to 'see the light' on the importance of borrowing and carrying over for sometime. A few 50 second videos with Mr. McKeague and he can't get enough adding and subtracting into the millions. The site looks like a great resource all the way through high school math.

Let's Play Math has some great math ideas. I especially like her posts: "20 + things to do with a Hundred Board" and "The Game that is Worth 1000 Worksheets."

Math Playground has math videos and games the kids have enjoyed playing.

This Year's Top 5 List

Here are some of our favorite school things for the year:

1. "Equate" it's like scrabble but with equations. (We like the junior tile set- no fractions yet please!). It gets you thinking algebraically. You have an answer and a number and need to come up with one more number to get the answer you're looking for.



2. Another math game- roll the dice and either add, subtract, multiply or divide to get a number from 1-10. The first one with all of their numbers flipped up wins.



3. Brooklyknn's top choice- this craft book has ideas for hours of no cost fun. All you need is construction paper, fabric scraps, paints, glitter, etc and you can turn egg cartons, toilet paper tubes and Popsicle sticks into works of art.



4. This is a Lego's product from their educational division. Follow the simple pictures (no reading required) and you can build windmills, race cars, cranes, egg beaters, etc. Jeffrey and Brooklynn have spent countless hours following the instructions and/or creating their own inventions.




5. We really enjoy reading about science. This series (you can find it at the library) "Let's read and find out about science" is great. There are books in a variety of subjects: human body, animals, plants, outer space, etc. Each book has a simple experiment that goes along with the topic of the book!




6. We can't leave out the "Little House on the Prairie" series.



7. Or Jeffrey's favorite chess, backgammon, and checkers 3-1 set.



8. Or "Settler's of Catan" an early settlers trading, settling, and strategy game (another one of Jeffrey's favorites)



Okay, so it's the top 8 list!

Last day of school

Friday is the last day of school! Today we met with out homeschool supervisor and I gave her our report for this past month and turned in a few supplies. It's such a relief. One more thing marked off of my to do list before the baby comes:) Just a little bit more to do for primary and I'm good to go! I'm sure the next few days will be alot more relaxed on the homeschool front. Maybe a few art/nature days:)