Summer days...

It has been really hot the last few days! Thankfully it seems cooler today, at least so far. The kids have weathered the heat by spending lots of time on the Slip-n-Slide Double, and by devouring homemade popsicles. We also spent some time watching movies to stay out of the heat - namely the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Inkheart. We've been reading (well, I have been reading) a lot too - we're wrapping up Gone Away Lake, and in the car The Reptile Room - as well as history read-alouds, in which we're finishing up cave people and getting ready to start the Gilgamesh trilogy. Elf has been doing bits of his summer math book with no trouble, and is researching dinosaurs, while Fairy plays around with Starfall and math games. Still haven't opened the giant tub of phonics activities we were given, but we'll get to that eventually! I can't get Elf to do much writing though, and I am trying so that he'll be more prepared for 3rd grade, in which yes, I will expect him to do a fair amount of writing.

I was having personal debates as to grammar for him. Writing Tales 1 does cover some, but I wanted to make sure he really "gets" it, so I spent hours researching, looking at samples, etc., before it hit me... let him choose! I pulled up a bunch of samples on the internet, showed them to him, and he chose G.U.M. by Zaner Bloser. It looks very simple and straightforward. And it's relatively inexpensive, always a nice bonus! I already have a copy of First Language Lessons someone gave me, so I may use that with Fairy, or I may not - I need to finish looking through it.

By the way, our backpacking/camping trip was fantastic! We were out at Point Reyes National Seashore for 4 days, 3 nights. The hike into camp was about a mile and a half, and the kids did it, with packs, without too much complaining. During the remainder of our time there, we hiked a lot. Up to the mountain peak, down to the coast, around on various trails... about 45 miles total during the time we were there. And the weather was perfect. Sunny, but not too hot, and not too cold. We saw all kinds of animals, ranging from hawks to deer to chipmunks, visited a Miwok village (reconstruction), and in general had loads of fun. I'll have to upload pics off my camera.

A couple of recommendations from recent reading and purchasing...
Siblings Without Rivalry - I am rereading this after skimming it last week, and I think it has a LOT of valuable info in it. Mostly common sense stuff that makes me say, well why didn't I do that already? But still a good read

And these dresses from Land's End. I have been looking at these for some time, and finally just bought Fairy one, and she loves it, plus it's just roomy enough that she'll wear it for quite some time without it being too big now. I was quite horrified that I had to shop the "big girls" section for her, as she's between a size 6 and size 7, so I went with 7 to be on the safe side. I may buy her a few more by fall for her fall/winter wardrobe. I figure in cold weather she can layer them over tights and long-sleeved t-shirts!

How it all fits together....

To see a larger, and therefore legible, version, click on the image below...

A whirlwind of activity...

I had to just sit and relax for a while. Today is the last day before our first backpacking trip with the kids, so naturally there are a million and one things to do. We have finished shopping, finished laundry, assembled backpacks, sleeping bags, and more... now for the actual packing!

We have been taking it very, very easy as far as schooly stuff goes. Elf continues to comparison shop and keep a running total at the grocery store (math), and reads everything in sight (reading), and in quizzing the Fairy while driving, I found that she really does know all her letter sounds! PHEW! We're listening to A Series of Unfortunate Events: Book the Second: The Reptile Room whenever we are in the car, and at bedtime we are reading one of my personal favorites, Gone Away Lake, which the kids like so much that they asked me to bring it on our campout, to read in the evenings. And, for a slightly embarrassing confession, I have decided it is high time I read Tolkien's books. I love, love, love Lord of the Rings, and can't believe I have never made time to read any of the books, so I am bringing The Hobbit to read early in the mornings while the oatmeal cooks.

I am toying with joining edhelper in the fall, and using their (teacher) lit guides for some of my book choices over the next school year. They have them for nearly every book I want to read with/to the kids next year (or in Elf's case, books I would like him to read). Then I start thinking that none of this is necessary - I have a good, solid plan in place already, even without reading comprehension, etc. Has anyone used any of the teaching guides, and are they useful, or just more clutter?

Anyhow, I must run off and pack. I made packing lists yesterday, and now Elf is very eager to read his as he packs, and Fairy is eager for Elf to read hers aloud as well. Have a good weekend!

Our official academic year...

is OVER! As of today, I have a 3rd grader and a 1st grader. We have some light summer plans, education-wise, but mostly we'll be taking it easy, and the kids will be exploring a lot of their own interests.

Here's a quick re-cap of recent weeks, followed by some pics of our many adventures...

Fairy danced on stage, in front of about 200 people for her first recital. The theme of the ballet was Candyland, and she was a Lollipop. Her brother gave her flowers after the performance. She had a lot of fun, but says she still wants to go to a "real" ballet school in the fall!

We participated in the annual science fair at our charter school, which was both a lot of preparation, and very enjoyable. The kids' displays were fairly interactive, so they attracted a fair amount of attention. Elf also helped out at the (older kids) smoothie booth, which was bicycle-powered.

Our most recent field trip with the local homeschool association was a trip to a local honey farm. We learned a lot about bees - their life cycles, differing types within a hive and the roles they play, how honey is made and harvested. The kids wore beekeeping hats and got to go right among the hives. Fairy hung back a little, as she was nervous, but Elf got right in their, holding a drone bee, leaning over the open hive, and so forth. Continuing with the kids' interests in bees, we have signed up for the Great Sunflower Project, counting bees in urban areas.

Yesterday, M, the kids and I headed off to a day at Golden Gate Park. We took a picnic lunch with us, and went early enough that we had most of a day to explore. While it stayed overcast and chilly, we were really warmed up by a trip to the Conservatory of Flowers - we saw many, many incredible and beautiful plants, plus outside we saw a group of Morris dancers. After lunch, we headed off to the Japanese Tea Garden, wrapping up our studies of Japan in style! The kids loved the Moon Bridge, and the Tea House, as well as just exploring in general. We came home with lacquered chopsticks, which they attempted to master the use of at dinner time. Overall, it was one of the best days I have had in a long time! The kids were absolutely well behaved (they even spent 15 minutes picking up all the garbage in a meadow as they found it offensive), we had loads of fun, and there were so many beautiful things to see!

In costume for the ballet

Among the bees at a local honey farm

At the charter school science fair. Elf did a project on taste that seemed pretty popular among visitors. Even though his allergies were really bothering him, and he was getting a cold, he had a great time.

Fairy did a display on Touch, with lots of things to feel, including the ever-popular cornstarch-&-water mixture.

Playing on a bridge in the Japanese Tea Garden

Under a Pagoda (Japanese Tea Garden)

Having tea in the Tea House

Checking out tropical plants in the Conservatory

Smelling a Buddha's Hand (citron) in the Conservatory