This past weekend was really light on the fiber arts and heavy on the birthday cake, so I don't have new pictures of socks or sweaters or string bags or anything like that to show you. Before I start the first School at Home Report of the summer, can I satisfy your need for illustrations with a picture I snapped of a deer in the neighnbor's garden before mass yesterday morning?
Hexagonal selections:
good for removing junk
in the foreground -
and it is so artsy!
good for removing junk
in the foreground -
and it is so artsy!
School at Home Report
Did I mention that last Friday was Neatnik's last day of school? We are now the proud parents of an eager little second grader! Honoring our annual tradition, today is the first day of School at Home. So far this morning, Neatnik has done math, phonics, and science. Those rolls of motivational stickers from the Dollar $tore are a great thing, by the way!
Mathematics
We have a second grade math workbook which will expand on addition and subtraction by starting multiple digit numbers and continue with the money, time, and fractions work introduced in first grade. I also picked up a pack of multiplication flash cards. These should come in handy on road trips, yeah?
Reading and Phonics
Neatnik brought home two phonics and language arts skills workbooks from school which she has been furiously completing since Friday afternoon. We shall continue to ply the local library for new reading material and we are planning to participate in some summer reading challenges.
Writing
For some reason still unfathomable to me, my child has expressed a desire to learn cursive writing. The second graders begin cursive in January but she was so excited about the idea that I told her I would at least teach her how to write her name in cursive. This will be an on-going process as her handwriting tends to be just as messy as her parents' were at the same age.
Science
I would really like to come up with a few science project for this summer. Still working on this.
Art
Our library is sponsoring a two-session drawing and modeling class this month. A local cartoonist is going to teach the kids about cartoon drawing and how to work with modeling clay. Tomorrow is the first session; the second session is next Tuesday. I'm really glad we found this program since Neatnik's school, while excellent on academics, is a little light on art.
Religion
As every summer, Neatnik is going to go off to Vacation Bible School for at least one week. I am hoping to locate a second week of VBS which will not conflict with our family vacation schedule.
Physical Fitness
This summer, in addition to time at the pool and our long walks, we plan to bring Neatnik to Number Guy's bagpipe band practice. Why do I file this under Physical Fitness? Because Neatnik won't be learning the bagpipes, she will be learning Scottish dance and that is very physical. Throwing, catching, and bike riding are also on the docket.
Posts
10 yarns:
Sounds like a very busy schedule! You are a wonderful mom to keep up her learnin' like that over the summer. Not to mention the wonderfulness of Neatnik to WANT to keep up the learnin' during the summer!
This site looked like it had some good ideas for summer science. The mind boggles to contemplate how many books Neatnik will read over the summer!
We're doing the same thing with our kiddo. She has plenty of things to keep her busy without overloading her and taking away fun play time with friends.
Learning cursive is an important rite of passage for kids. It's like a secret code. Both my kids insisted on learning right around Neatnik's age, even though they don't officially start learning it until third grade.
And take advantage of her enthusiasm for school at home while you can. My kids used to love it; this summer I have to force them just to sit down and work on the educational game software!
I'm sending RB over right now.
The teen needs something to do that is not his mother's idea!
Congrats to Neatnik on finishing up first grade and getting such a good head start on second! And learning the Scottish Dance?
Tha sin gle' math!!!
Borax crystals on pipe cleaners...learn about the physical structure of crystals and make Christmas ornaments at the same time! Of course, this can be expanded into sugar crystals (rock candy) and salt crystals on wax paper. Oh, and if she has not done this one, getting white carnations to turn colors with food coloring. That one is fun also.
You can get wonderful science experiment kits put out by the Smithsonian. There are environmental ones that are grade appropriate and lots of fun.
I think it's awesome that Neatnik is so into summer learning!
Is she too young to build a baking soda volcano (paper mache)? It's arty and sciencey. Or a simple battery and light bulb matching table?
Or how about dyeing yarn - you can cover chemistry and everything. Art and science together! (And heck, I never even learned that sort of chemistry when I was in school - maybe I'd have been more into it.)
Have you considered geometry and engineering as applied to quilting?
Today is the last day of school and tomorrow is field day. Tumblebug and I will be working on the 3 Ses this summer: sucking, swallowing, and sleeping.
Of course, he is only a month old. (And I am on maternity leave from my elementary school.)
I can't wait to have summer vacations when we can do fun things like reading and math and art.
Post a Comment