Monday January 5th, 2009

Whew! First day back to school is always a hectic one, but we made it through and I think we got everything done that we had planned. Here are the highlights.
We started a new unit today: Rechenka's Eggs. Today we learned all about Russia, where it is, capitol city, flag, continent(s) it is on and it's landscapes etc. The girls started their lapbook with flag, map and landscape minit books. I think this unit will be a good one!
In addition to the unit Circle Time is back by popular demand and we enjoyed great praise and worship with lots of dancing followed by reading our bible and prayer. We are reading in a chronological bible continuing on from the Christmas story and today read about when Jesus was baptized by John. I was planning on adding calendar time to this, but it fell over and all the magnetic pieces which had taken me about 15 minutes to arrange fell off! ARGHHH!
Today Lola decided that Niyi needed to make a colors lapbook and she did this with him while I was working with Tayo on her reading. Both of them were so very proud of their work. It is a very basic mini lapbook with pieces of paper stuck in to show different colors, but their faces were such a picture of delight when they lined up outside the bathroom to show me their work! I'll try and get a picture later and post it!
Other unplanned life learning took place in the kitchen today as Lola pretty much made dinner by herself, all I did was give instructions! She made quiche, salad and bread rolls - today she was an actual help in the kitchen, I was able to concentrate on making the soup and she took some of the load - a taste of things to come maybe! We are back to regular chores and the girls did all of them pretty much without complaining. Tayo needs a few more lessons in how to sweep but that's about it!
Lola: Math was a review of where we were before the break, I eased her into her writing assignment today but getting a verbal narration after the chapter of her assigned reading rather than a written one. Other subjects were pretty uneventful - the usual stuff. She began The Secret garden as her assigned reading.
Tayo: I think we are ready to move on from the +9 math facts - we did a final review today to be sure, but she has pretty much got it! I think this week needs to be review of all facts to date and then we are moving on. Reading was a little slow, followed by a pep talk from me about how smart she is and how she just has to try and then it picked up a bit - half of Tayo's problem is impatience I feel! We reviewed RME and will start back with a new lesson tomorrow.
Niyi: He enjoys our one on one time a lot. I played with his lacing blocks early in the am then later after his lapbook with Lola I spent time reading and he really enjoys the I-spy book I got from the library, great skill building! Pretty full day for him!
Kemi: Is into everything!!!!!! :-)