The Hungry Caterpillar

Since I've had to go back to work part time, we've had to be creative with our schedule and work when we can.  This week we used our Saturday, along with big sister, to work on the letter C thanks to The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Confessions of a Homeschooler.  We did a few activities today, but hope to expand this week.  Enjoy!

Big sis with her graphing project.

Little sis was kinda "done" with it all.  LOL

Letter matching

Our own caterpillar =)

Storyline activity

Little Bit with her letter matching

Random Acts of Learning

One of our new motor skills/color matching games. 

Thought I'd post a few of our recent activities.  We haven't been super consistent with our Hooked on Phonics - she's just not overly interested right now.  I'm really trying to work with her on colors.  She can match colors great!  But, she's struggling with naming them.  Oddly enough, the colors she gets right most of the time are white, yellow, & brown.  Any teachers out there think that's weird?! 

She LOVES music!  And, this is a nifty portable keyboard that daddy bought a couple of years ago.

She really enjoys pouring and playing with beads in her Tot Box activities.

And, writing on her dry erase desk is always a hit!

 

Long Time No Post

One of her absolute favorite projects is finger painting.  And, notice the bathing suit.  This is the first week we have had cool weather and she wants to wear a bathing suit every day.  LOL

I know it has been way too long since I posted! We've lost some of our consistency in Tot School... and by "we" I mean ME. This is one of my greatest weaknesses, sadly. I do so much planning, researching, and thinking, but lack follow through. My apologies. In my defense, we had a road trip a couple of weeks ago and then came back to a two week bout of the stomach virus. We each, one at a time, contracted it... which drug out recovery to nearly two weeks. Yesterday was the first day in a week that I have felt hunger. I think I'm finally better completely. Anyway, the other hindrance to our school has been the decision for me to go back to work. I'm heart broken, but realize it is something that needs to happen. I've spent the last few weeks searching, applying, and interviewing for a full time position. Still no job! In the meantime, I'm trying to get back to some normalcy and schedule. So, here are just a couple of pictures of what we've been up to. Finally uploaded some pics of our first lapbook. We're working on a second one with my kindergartener. Enjoy!

Tot Box

I took a picture this morning of our Tot Boxes.  It's basically the same concept as the Tot Trays, but we didn't have any trays or quite the space for them.  So, I got some small storage containers that I found on sale (school clearance) 6 for $5 at Wal-Mart.  I labeled them on either side with the different skills/activities that we do. (ex.  one box is labeled SORTING on one side and POURING on the other.  Whatever skill we're working on that day, I just turn it around to show that activity and fill the box accordingly.)  We have 14 different skills, but I only put together 6 at a time.  I've made a chart with the skills and ideas of activities to go along with it.  As soon as I figure out how to add the file to a blog, I will.  =)

Hooked on Phonics

We officially started Hooked on Phonics today!  I'm super excited about it.  Maddie did really well with it today.  We actually did both A & B today since we spent all last week on the letter B.  Today was her very first day ever using a computer and she did so well!  She played a HoP letter game on my laptop and she handled it really well.  I was really impressed with how well she did on the games themselves, too.  I think she's going to be recognizing her letters soon.  =)

Since we don't have Tot Trays, I did my own version, thanks to some ideas from 1+1+1=1 Tot Trays.  I found some school clearance items at Wal-Mart this weekend and got 6 storage boxes for $5.  This is where I am storing the activities.  When they are finished, I'll add some pics.  Today Maddie used her first activity "Small Spaces" - the spaghetti and Parmesan cheese shaker.  She did great!  Can't wait to put some more together for her.

Puzzles & Tins

I'm finding that I have to be really prepared and on top of things to keep Maddie interested.  She does really well while we're working on things, but as soon as there is a lull in our activities - she's ready to play and it's hard to get her back on track.  I have to watch myself, too.  I'm finding myself getting so caught up in reading the blogs and "planning" - that not as much is getting done.  BUT... I have a lot done and together now.  What awesome ideas these ladies have.  What did we do before the internet?  LOL  Anyway, Hooked on Phonics came tonight.  Can't wait to get started!!

Here are a couple of pictures of her in action.  She's really enjoying the puzzles.  And, I threw a little "game" together to work on sorting colors/shapes.  We have tons of foam letters and shapes, so I took a handful of shapes and a little muffin tin.  I had Maddie separate them by shapes (small & large triangles; small & large squares, small & large circles; and small & large hearts).  Then she separated them by colors.  She did really well and spent quite a bit of time with it.

Chugging Along

So, our Hooked on Phonics will not be here until Friday, so we're doing our own thing until then.  We're concentrating mostly on colors and shapes.  This week we're doing Blue & Circles and throwing in a little of the letter B.  :)  I am getting together the hand outs and supplies and organizing them in a lovely large 2 gallon ziploc bag.  ;)  It's my condensed version of the Workboxes I found at 1+1+1=1.  As our materials and needs grow, I'll incorporate the workboxes more as the system is intended.

We started our first Lapbook today.  So excited!!  What a neat concept!  I have seen and read about them before.  Today I just watched a couple of videos on YouTube that some homeschool moms have so graciously added to the internet world for the curious minds.  =)  I'll be sure to add a picture of our first one the end of the week when it is finished.

I'm going to have to get some materials together.  Maddie is so excited and getting through things pretty quickly.  We get finished with one thing and she's "Mommy, what do we do next?"  Love to see her so excited about learning.  =)

This week we're focusing on B, the color blue, & circles.