We took the kids and a friend to Downtown San Jose's Christmas in the park. They got to ice skate and walk around to see all the Christmas displays. We also happened upon a large brass band playing Christmas music outside. Downtown was nice and lots of things to see. We even got to sit with Santa!

Dont Blink or you'll miss the world's fastest ice skater

Best Holiday Movies

This is pretty much what were doing today ....and everyday for the past week. Its been real rainy and dreary and so close to Christmas we kinda just hang out watching Christmas shows. Hannah is all of a sudden into preschool computer games. We got JumpStart preschool and a Dora game for her. Its real simple stuff like just color recognition and putting pieces of things together. But she feels like a big girl. Haley is doing math copywork- gotta memorize those addition facts !

My favorite christmas movie is Jim Carrey's The Grinch I must have put it on a hundred times. We also really like those Rudolph movies on TBS. I should get them all on DVD they're classics !

Haley's been taking painting lessons from a real artist. Ever since we had our field trip to the Merced Museum of Art she has been taking lessons from one of the featured artists there "Bambi". She's learning how to do real watercolor paintings on canvas. Theres technique involved in the whole sketching and painting process and Haley loves it. I feel so fortunate to be taking lessons this artist.

Getting started with French

This week we started learning French. I ordered this "French For Kids" DVD online to get us started, I figured we needed to actually hear and see correct pronunciation first and foremost. Its a good beginning video but kind of hard to hear. I also purchased a few french books and downloaded some French nursery songs from iTunes. I plan to use Homeschoolestore.com to download French copywork books, so we have writing practice as well. I know there are CD Rom programs like Rosetta Stone and the british Muzzy series but they are quite expensive. I know we probably wont become fluent anytime soon but at least I am introducing a foreign language.

Last weekend we went to the Hilmar Cheese factory here in central California. It was mostly a gift shop/deli/coffee shop on the first floor and the second floor had window views of the inner factory as well as educational things about cheese. There was a giant fake cow to demonstrate the milking process and a mini replica of the dairy behind the factory. We got to see the factory workers making cheese and test out the famous "squeaky" cheese. Another good field trip I'd say!

Thanksgiving Break

The kids Thanksgiving break was really good (I least I thought those) I always tell them how lucky they are to have parents who primary goal in life is to make sure their happy and having fun. They'd never dream of complaining right? Im not in the business of spoiling them at all- there definitely not just throwing stuff in the basket at the toy store or anything but I just want to make sure they get to try things. Sooo that being said the kids went roller skating and bowling for the first time. They loooooved skating. Haley rolled around the ring effortlessly (and so did Dad). She even tried roller blades. Bowling was hilarious, Haley took a running start for each throw of the bowling ball and Hannah did the old throw the bowl from between her legs.

The rest of the week was spent playing at parks and jumping in leave piles. Grandma even let the help cook. Aww the joys of childhood.

Egypt Week

This week we are studying Egypt in depth. We made our usual wall charts to illustrate the country and its prominent features. I had Haley color a few printout of pharoahs and the Nile River valley as well.

Another useful resources for things like this is Discovery Channels

United Streaming. For about $129 or a 30 day trial you can access 1000's of educational videos geared towards any age level. I found 3 or 4 on Egypt that were actually animated- so Haley watched those to supplement her book work. We learned about these key points:

1.) Egypt's geographic location and terrian

2.) the ever important Nile River

3.) The Nile River's role in farming and yearly flooding

4.) Egypt's kings as Pharaohs

5.) the practice of mummification and its purpose

6.) The real use of the pyramids, and how they were built

7.) Heiroglyphics- we printed out the alphabet and wrote our names

We also have a few early reader books on Egypt which Im having Haley read to

me.

Field Trips

This week we had an organized field trip to a local pizza restaurant. About 15 or so other homeschoolers were there ranging in ages from 6-14 probably. The restaurant gave us a tour of the kitchen and then had the kids line up to go through the kitchen prep area and make their pizzas.

Haley and Hannah loved this part. Haley lingered around the pizza making area probably a little longer than she needed too. Needless to say it was a tasty trip.

From Nomads to Egypt

This last week in history we studied the early mesopotamian civilizations which started out as nomads. Haley learned that these people were hunters and gatherers, having to wander from place to place as the natural resources (grass, berries, deer etc.) got used up. We made a poster chart of the chapter (I like doing charts) to better visualize the information.

I think its important at this young age to transfer ideas to visuals because their little brains cant yet comprehend it as a big picture. Next were on to Egypt- so after Thanksgiving vacation I plan to get into all the heiroglyphics (?) and pyramid stuff.

For Art our works are being displayed in a small hallway of our house deemed "the art gallery". I like to laminate them first or at least slip them into clear paper protectors so we can keep the good ones. I loove white christmas lights so I've also lined the

"gallery" with those to make it even more special.

CAVA

So we homeschool through CAVA otherwise known as the California Virtual Academy. So far its been really good. They send you all the materials, textbooks, science experient stuff, Level 1-3 readers, paints, musical instruments, a computer etc. And this is all complimentary because it is a public school. The teacher that was assigned to us is nice, easily reached, and actually comes to our house at the end of every quarter to check up with us. The website has the lesson plans already layed out for us so we can see what needs to be done everyday and we check off lessons as we complete them as well as logging attendence. However- I would like to be able to choose my own curriculum (something christian based) and take a language (I'd do French although apparently it would be better to speak Spanish in California...)
I really love the idea of the Trivium or Classical schooling and I am trying to maintain that sort of overall method, by focusing on memorization, handwriting (which she hates) and reading of literature. Check out this site for a brief summary of classical education. http://www.triviumpursuit.com/articles/ten_to_do_before_ten.php

I want to give my kids the best education possible by providing them with as many enriching experiences as possible. Ive heard so many people say oh kids have to learn to be adults by dealing with each other (in public school) but I think thats such a load of bull. Taking abuse from other ill raised kids on a daily basis, trying drugs, and having "relations" does not make someone a better adult. Positive people and experiences is what makes a happy life. Does anyone really look back and say gosh Im so glad that bully picked on me in 3rd grade? But what doesnt kill ya makes ya stronger right? Maybe

Anyway check out this link to a Floating Classroom article about a young homeschooler names Katarina who gets to sail around the Bahamas as she learns! Talk about awesome. Thats what were gonna shoot for! http://www.floatingclassroom.com/interviews/katarina.php

Our next poem...

Im just getting into poetry now that I have a school age child. I dont really remember much of it from my childhood- but I like the whimsical ones. Last week we memorized "How Doth the Littel Crocodile?" from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. It was so cute to see my 6 yr old memorize her first poem. Their brains are like sponges, Im just brimming with ideas of what else I can pack in there!.........Here's the lastest poem I plan for us to read, although its a bit long to memorize.

WYNKEN, BLYNKEN, AND NOD
by: Eugene Field (1850-1895)

WYNKEN, Blynken, and Nod one night
Sailed off in a wooden shoe,--
Sailed on a river of crystal light
Into a sea of dew.
"Where are you going, and what do you wish?"
The old moon asked the three.
"We have come to fish for the herring-fish
That live in this beautiful sea;
Nets of silver and gold have we,"
Said Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song,
As they rocked in the wooden shoe;
And the wind that sped them all night long
Ruffled the waves of dew;
The little stars were the herring-fish
That lived in the beautiful sea.
"Now cast your nets wherever you wish,--
Never afeard are we!"
So cried the stars to the fishermen three,
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.

All night long their nets they threw
To the stars in the twinkling foam,--
Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe,
Bringing the fishermen home:
'T was all so pretty a sail, it seemed
As if it could not be;
And some folk thought 't was a dream they'd dreamed
Of sailing that beautiful sea;
But I shall name you the fishermen three:
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.

Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,
And Nod is a little head,
And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies
Is a wee one's trundle-bed;
So shut your eyes while Mother sings
Of wonderful sights that be,
And you shall see the beautiful things
As you rock on the misty sea
Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three,--
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.

Homeschooling....

I've always wanted to homeschool. not just because of the poor public school system (don't get me started on) or the downward slope of modern society but just because of the freedom. The freedom to learn about what you want to learn about that day, the freedom to get up and go to the park or museum if you want, or take a trip to the beach. Why should the governemnt decide where MY child is going to be 8 hours a day?? I dont think so. If your really interested look up how the school system originated in America- its really eye opening. Do a search on Prussian compulsary schooling. Its just a way for the governemnt to maintain a compliant society. There's definitely a underlying purpose.
Today we went to an art museum/multicultural center and got a tour of the gallery and an art lesson from one of the featured artists. Which was really cool because she told me she gives private lessons out of her home! yea. Its been kinda hard to find extracurricular activities so far for my 6 year old. And somethings are just too expensive. We hope to start a city swim team in the spring and maybe peewee cheer.
Im having a hard time though with my 3 year old as in keeping her busy while I work with my 6. My smaller one is sooo busy she wont really stay with us for very long, ( I try and set up something for her at the same table) but she ends up running off and I feel like Im ignoring her. But its just the age I guess.If anyone has any tips let me know.