Roy G. Biv

It WILL be stuck in you head so listen at your own risk!!

Recently while looking for a multiplication chart to print I happened across a great site! 

Dr. Mike's Math Games For Kids

In the multiplication area of his site he says, 

"When I was growing up, my dad hung a huge periodic table of the chemical elements on the wall. It was in the dining room, and it was so big, you couldn't miss it. It listed all the elements, and their names, and some of their chemical properties. Now,

• My dad never drilled me on it,
• I never studied chemistry beyond high school,
• I never made an effort to memorize it.

Nonetheless, years later, I can still remember the names for the symbols, and the symbols for the names!"

So two things happend 1. I printed out the multiplication tables (as a rainbow), laminated them and turned our hallway into rainbow mathematics land. And 2. I started looking for a huge periodic table to put above the piano!!! Makes some serious sense to me!!!!

I also wanted to share a couple links:

Blessings from reading aloud!

&

Experiences vs. ______________

Happy January!!!!

Lantern Walk

 

 

The stars alined (& the rain paused) so we got to use the lanterns we made for the lantern walk. It was beautiful to see all the kids walking with just their lighted lanterns and then to sit around the bonfire and sip warm apple cider. What a beautiful night!

Bierstadt

I am always excited when I find out something has stuck in the kids brains, to me it means they are enjoying or find our studies interesting!

We continue doing Artist Study even though I do not put the pictures up on the side bar any longer (it was a pain to get up!). This last trimester we have been looking at paintings by Albert Bierstadt, the intrest was first piqued when they learned he was German the second because of his subject matter.

Bierstadt was an explorer and in the 1800's where was the frontier? Right here in our back yard! The Sierra Nevadas were a large portion of his paintings. Plus he is a beautiful artist, he paints in the romantic style but was also considered an luminism because of the use of light in them.

The fun came when during our trip down the 395 last month, we stayed overnight in a hotel with the usual hotel furnishings. But then Riley noticed... above the beds were prints of what appeared to be Bierstadt's paintings! Riley pointed out why he thought they were his and my proud homeschool mama heart swelled!

It is the sweet days that make it all worth it!

My Riley who has never enjoyed reading is today finishing the first book in the Wimpy Kid Diaries. 200 some odd pages... get this... in 2 weeks! It is not my first choice of books, but if it can give him confidence and desire in reading then well who am I to say. We all enjoy different genres.

With this new confidence it did not take too much for me to get him to read his science section on his own. I enjoy reading to my kids but it is very nice to have the ability to ask Riley to read something and then discuss it! He read a bit about what all is contained in a seed and then we talked about the amazing-ness of God's creation. So Riley and I did a little art project, it is so nice to get to paint! He is old enough now that we can paint side by side where as everyone else is still small enough that I don't actually get to sit down and paint. We decided to mix mediums, we used wax crayons and water colors. I love Riley's sun and my roots.

Now if only I could get him to write without a fight...

This is Miss Fern's picture from the story we read yesterday about a screech owl, she also practiced her O & o's! I just LOVED her owl!

And Jake has been listening to Solomon Owl by Aurthur Scott Bailey (out of the Animal Stories book on the carousel on the right)! I LOVE his owl too!!

~

Just sharing today!