Proud :)

Caitlin wrote this all by herself!

week 10

Week 10! This week we did some things differently. First was a change in our diet. I made the kids a high protein breakfast to start the day. I'm trying to see if it helps on our focus problems that we have around here. Dawson even has a small amount of black coffee. I mean small as in a couple tablespoons, just enough to keep alert for the morning.
We did some changes in our daily routine too. I didn't do a bunch of subjects in a day. I brought it way down. In fact, one day all we did was math. We accomplished so much doing this that I'm planning some math workshops to do every couple weeks. We will do math right up to lunch, and then change subjects. They seemed to soak it all in better this way.
I was thinking about taking a fall break for a week. I know the kids would love it but I have a feeling that when December rolls around we will have enough unscheduled days off. It always happens, might as well accept it.
We did some creative writing this week that turned out pretty good. They still don't like to write, but it's getting a little easier and less painful to complete. :)
Today was a Park Day for us. Our home school group met and put together shoe boxes for Christmas. We gathered supplies and filled plastic shoe boxes with all kinds of neat toys and things for kids overseas. It's always fun to get together with the other moms.
Hope your week went great!

In The Kitchen....

We have read many books this week about apples!

We watched online videos about Johnny Appleseed.

We learned the State Flower of Michigan is the Apple Blossom.

So we had to make an Apple Pie in the kitchen!

Ingredients
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
8 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced

Directions
1.Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add water, white sugar and brown sugar, and bring to a boil. Reduce temperature and let simmer.
2.Place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Cover with a lattice work crust. Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust. Pour slowly so that it does not run off.
3.Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees. Continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, until apples are soft.

Best Apple Pie EVER!

Week 8

We started off Monday with a Columbus Day mini unit. I printed out word searches and coloring pages to keep little ones occupied. We have studied Columbus last year, it was pretty much review. The boys drew a map of the New World on a huge piece of paper. We might get to painting it this week. :)
We are still focusing on writing and math, both are coming along pretty good.


I find myself reviewing the past weeks and wondering what needs to be changed to be more efficient in our lessons.
#1. I need to learn to balance all 3 grades better. It's hard for me to go from fractions to crafts.

#2. I love unit studies, hate to prepare them. I'm never 100% ready, usually waiting for a couple books from the library or last minute printing out a copywork sheet.

#3. Organize! I think I've tried it every way possible. I've put the kids stuff together by grade, I've put it together by subject, I've put things on shelves, I've put them in baskets, I've labeled clear bins, I've used colored drawers! I spent way to much time the other day looking for our stapler in my "craft" section, when I finally found it in my desk drawer with the 3 ring punch and "office supplies". #gofigure


Some things are going great! It's the best year we've had in a long time. I love our History and Geography read aloud time, such great books out there to read to your kids. Of course, Five in a Row is Caitlin's favorite thing to do and the boys like to listen in as well. :)

Hope you are having some great school days too!

review week 7

We rowed The Rag Coat.....once. Caitlin cried with that book because the daddy dies. We talked about wants and needs and moved on to another book! :)
It was Word Problem Week! All math problems were in word form. We struggle with this concept and I thought we should focus more in this area. It's working out pretty good.
We are still reading Paddle To The Sea. Learning about the Great Lakes and the state of Michigan.
Writing, writing and writing some more! Practice makes perfect...right? Indent, margins, complete sentences.....we will get there! ;0)
This is a small review since we are in the middle of week 8 now and I'm a bit behind on my posts.
#gotta get caught up

In The Kitchen.....

Soft Oatmeal Cookies



1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 cups quick cooking oats

Directions


1.In a medium bowl, cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in oats. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour.
2.Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls, and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Flatten each cookie with a large fork dipped in sugar.
3.Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Caitlin's Cursive!

We were practicing our letters and.......

Ta Dah! She learned to write her name in cursive! Way to go pretty girl!