Forget that it's been a long time and read on

We are almost done reading book 1 The Sisters Grimm. It rocks! We are all enjoying it. No time for a story recap today but even dad has read some. Terje even stays nearby to hear!

Time for a review

Ezra has been playing massive amounts of Over the hedge computer game. He is very dedicated and rarely asks for my help. I am glad to see such a commitment and dedication to something. He has also been more and more willing to sound out/read words. It is coming along. I have noticed multiplication creeping into his thoughts. I did introduce it last year so it maybe time to go over it again.

Terje is been coloring A LOT! He used to hate and refuse to color. He found some superhero coloring books and now he is a fiend. He is still enjoying coloring Manga characters. I hope this develops into a desire to learn to draw. He has been practicing letters on his own and with me. I try not to interrupt his letter learning because then he stops. He is also completing rhyming and non rhyming sentences in books we are reading. He signed his name on his Kings Island pass with no trouble! Last year it was a struggle to get 3 letters out of him.

They unloaded the washer/dryer yesterday. I know they can do more chores than i have them do and I believe we will get back to kids helping out more.

Dad took them to the Raptors (birds of prey) show at the library. they were high strung and only slightly interested in the birds. mostly they wanted to be the center of attention.

Also while watching Justice league this week they have been getting more into the plots and characters. They are learning their names, powers, and weaknesses.

Learn to Read

I was laying on the couch reading and I took a break; rolled over and asked Terje if he was ready to learn the ABC's like other kids his age (in Kindergarten). He said he knew his ABC's. Yes that is true but only to sing them. He can't id them all on paper, let alone write them down.
I said he needed to be able to do that so he can learn to read someday.
Ezra pipes in with Mom you said one day it will all just "POP" and I will be able to read. That's how it happened for you.

True again, however, I had people offering basic information to me along the way.
Ezra "Well why hasn't anyone given me that information?"
I have tried but you didn't want it.


Anyway the conversation continued and we went off to the library with the intention of getting hooked on phonics again(it was out). but perhaps the I will try to read bug is back in his pants. Terje let it all go. He might be the one to get it by watching.

Frogs, well Toads

We have been reading a lot of factual frog books, as well as folk tales and fiction. It has been a fun experience to growing our toads.

We collected some tadpoles from a local pond. We set up their home in a 10gallon tank. It had rocks, sand, a live plant, and creek water. We watched them grow and develop. Then they started dying. We read more. Turns out they were toads. Well also tadpoles eat plants, Frogs and toads are canivoruos. So the fat in their tail stump sustains them from the time they get out of the water until the time they start eating meat:)

Once we learned that we let them go as soon as they would hop on the rocks. We are hopeful for their survival. They eat a lot of insects. MAybe they will eat some aphids from the garden. THe boys put several in the shady spots of the garden.

We need to build a toad house for the garden.

Thursday May 10, 2007

Our garden is growing so well. we have eaten spinach and 1 strawberry.
The pole beans and teepee are set to go. So are the sunflowers and the raspberries!
lots of herbs too. Now it is time for momma to weed and mulch.

The tadpoles are getting active. they are swimming all over the tank. we can see little leg sprouts forming!

Ezra read Brown Bear, Brown Bear today! Little to no problems!

Terje is starting to really recognize beginning sounds. He continues to rhyme words. I can hear Ezra trying to join in on the rhyming. Progress!!!

Terje finally stopped and listened to directions today! Can this please continue. a lot of our differences are over his in ability to listen to the WHOLE directions 1st.

Ezra and I set up a rope in the tree. Then we used the ascenders to climb a little way up. E flew up no problem. Terje had problems until he listened to the full directions.

They found all sorts of snails, slugs, and bugs in the neighbor's wood pile.

Ezra and I started to build, actually formulate a plan for a container water feature. We will get Dad's help with the logistics:) I think we may already own many of the parts. That's always good!

Thursday April 5, 2007

Aquarium with a plan.
We took notebooks and crayons so the boys drew fish/animals. Then we wrote their names down. I'd like to take this a step further and locate there homes on a world map..problem is i need a world map:) Terje also drew a picture of Jared. He is starting to add detail to his artwork.
Also Sharks and Starfish


The notebooks actually caused them to slow down and look at the animals. it gave me some time to read about a few of them.

Ezra is reviewing the 100 chart.

We read What is God? Terje wasn't interested but I can tell Ezra feels the feeling of God. It is kinda a segway into Easter.

Terje glued some work/pictures into his portfolio. Now I need Ezra to catch up on his portfolio.

We discussed the guinea pigs and how they depend on E and T to tke care of them. Which then led to the ? of who will care for them when we are gone? glad to see they get the point.
Getting them to pick up their legos was a struggle that tried my patience. They did it..then i taught T how to wrap up the vacumm cord. Meanwhile Ezra unloaded the dryer and washer! I was thankful for the help at that point. Slowly but surely I will get the boys to help around the house.

George's Marvelous medicine

by Roald Dahl
Oh my what a hit!
They had me read the book in one sitting:)

Now ezra wants to make a "medicine".

remember to trust not doubt

Today was one of those days. A day I doubt my home school approach. Only because I want to sit down and do some "work" but they are too busy "working" outside. We watched a reading video, The Electric Company, we read books, we played a round of the Amazing Race Game (geography), and they played outside. I know they will become readers and writers. It's just some days I want it to be NOW! The ability to express their energy, openly explore the world around them, and interact with kids of different ages is perfect but not when i want worksheets:) They played with boys, girls, babies, preteens, and peers today. Whew!

Together Ezra and Terje cleaned the guinea pig cage! That is a lesson in itself.
Ezra wants to study geography in the morning.

Library

Terje got his first library card today. He choose 4 books and 1 movie. All Dora the Explorer books. He didn't want to watch Bob the Builder with Ezra instead he wanted me to read his books to him!

Last night he "read" Blue Hat, Green Hat by Sandra Boynton.

He is generally listening to the chapter books I read aloud. However he never seems that interested. He is into short books like Dora, comic books (but only certain pages), and batman books!

flew by

this week has flown by! it was beautiful weather that was warm. it called us outside. the nature center, building stories in Abner's Cabin, staying the night at Jacob's house, playing, investigating, and exploring the creek, the woods, and our yard. digging in the dirt, seeing flowers spring up, digging up bulbs just to see what they look like, snakes, dirt bikes, building a raft.

Last night we had our water tested. Terje lay in the bedroom "reading" cat woman. Ezra joined the adults for the experiments. a few drops of this and that in our water and her purified water...what water would you want to bath in? drink? our water is horrid but it's not great. Ezra finished the evening by creating his own samples and experiments using healthy liver tonic, soap, and water. he actively participated in the conversation. the sales woman was amazed by his ability to communicate with her. I use the word communicate because that is one of Ezra's favorite words right now!

Today we got 2 guinea pigs. after considering and reading about hamsters, turtles, chinchillas, ferrets, lizards, and hedgehogs we went with the guineas. although i plan on getting a hedgehog. Their names are Linny and Ming Ming! The wonder pets!

We finished reading Stuart little. Terje was only half interested. Ezra listened intently until the last chapter. i think, I'll ask tomorrow, he was slightly disappointed by the ending. It had no closure. Now we must make something fun to show that we read and understood Stuart little. a discussion for tomorrow.

Make time for 1 on 1 conversations with each boy.

Also the boys were making music on multiple instuments this afternoon. Ezra wrote down the music, in his own way. He also had Austin draw pictures of the instruments he used.

A few days back the boys were doing yoga and Ezra drew poses and had me write down the names. I have got to can those. they were cool.