WATER COLOR - HALLOWEEN

Halloween
Verse & Story
Verse: Red in Autumn by Elizabeth Gould

Tipperty-toes, the smallest elf
Sat on a mushroom by himself,
Playing a little tinkling tune
Under the big round harvest moon:
And this is the song that Tipperty made
To sing to the little tune he played.

“Red are the hips, red are the haws,
Red and gold are the leaves that fall,
Red are the poppies in the corn,
Red are the berries on the rowan tall;
Red is the big round harvest moon,
And red are my new little dancing shoes.”

The water color from Kristie Burns' story from Earth Schooling.

Adding pencil sketching Ryder's current medium of choice - 

OCTOBER 4th SAINT FRANCIS

Inspiration: Saint Francis loved the animals, especially the birds…
Verse: Four Scarlet Berries by Mary Vivian
Four scarlet berries
Left upon the tree
“Thanks” cried the blackbird
These will do for me
He ate numbers one and two
Then ate number three
When he’d eaten number four
There were none to see!

The NERVOUS SYSTEM

Introduction of the nervous system.

Relflex responses of the body:
sneezing
Hiccup
Yawning
Shivering
Shaking
Pupil Dilation
Plantar Reflex
Patellar Reflex
Loud Noise/Clapping =Eye blinking
Goose Bumps

Drawings of nerves and  spine - brain response

GIFT OF THE CODE

I love the variety of ways letters can be introduced. Many read books like ChickaChicka Boom boom, and sing the ABC song. In the Waldorf approach, letters are introduced through stories. In the first grade with Ryder we have introduced all of the Consonants with a story. It looks something like this:
MONDAY - Story (The Willow Wren and The Bear).
Introduce Letter B - through the day we uncover words with the sound B - whether it begins, ends or is throughout the word - we listen for the sound as a point of discovery. We "walk" the letter B. We run the letter B. We use our legs from our knee down to draw the letter B. There are many more possibilities here but you get the idea. Perhaps we'll make Blueberry cobbler (we actually did that today).
Form Drawing

TUESDAY: Retelling and living out the story - this is takes the form of a dramatic play, baking, or water color. (With water colors I am usually introducing color and integration and sometimes we even bring in the numbers). The letters are no longer something abstract but something fluid and full of potential, full of living energy.

Today is Wednesday and for us we've completed all of the consonants. We are doing riddles and Roman Numerals 1-10. And introducing the Math Processes. But the greatest adventure of today has been the discovery of the CODE! The VOWELS! Integrated very loosely, my son's love of the mummy and Egypt. We looked at the consonants and letters as hyrogliphics. We learned how the Egyptians of ancient times had codes and they didn't have vowels. We have vowels and it's how we break the code.

BLOCKS Unlimited

One of my favorite books in my home education library is The Block Book by Elisabeth Hirsch.
I've come back to this book often for inspiration - reminders, to listen and let my children unfold. She says "Blocks offer an almost infinite variety of expressive opportunity, from simple designs to veritable engineering feats of bridge building." There have been candy villages, farms, airports and so much more. Letting them work through their connection with each other and their own imagination and development. I heard diplomacy, strategy, confidence and frustration today (among others) - it is fascinating to observe.

If  on a tight budget, see if it's in the local library (*perhaps a home education/home school co-op can create a lending library, I plan to use this idea for our area with my extensive book collection as my boys grow).

OTHER WORK:
MATH: PAIRS, ODD, EVEN

Language Arts - Consonants: B, H, P, M, Vowel Sounds, Blends CH, FL, SH
Vocabulary Adapted From Hap Palmer's Bop 'Til We Drop song - we continue to create our own songs from words. (Hap Palmer One Little Sound Fun with Phonics and Numbers - this is a fabulous CD to utilize, easy songs you can make your own and expand on for learning.

We have a lego play date at the Vancouver Community Library this afternoon.

Right now the boys are continuing with their individual experiments from the kitchen - spices are the theme.

Sensory Activity Invented by RKJ

I've been working on different sensory activities with the boys - especially Ryder. We do a velvet, lavendar and flax seed "bean" bag, and a chamomile bag with rice in velvet material as well. A knobby ball and a smooth ball of different weight. We do this among other things every single day.

Today Ryder pulled out the pipe cleaners I have in the ART box (was for a project). He and Dax proceeded to bend and twist and connect into various animals and people. Then he had them wrapped around each one of his fingers, each of his toes and his ear. It was quite interested to me to observe the enjoyment experienced in what I consider an excellent sensory activity.

* I also want to note for the record today. Both boys are doing exceptionally better without the media. DH and I have HUGE differences of opinion on this topic. I indeed could be Amish and live happily as I blog away (I'd probably just be writing in my journal by my bed with candle light - sounds heavenly!) So today, note the date - 24 hours free of TV and games - calmer, happier, creative, connected souls. Thank you very much!

Felted pumkins

We've spent the last couple of weeks on harvest and fall colors, with water colors, hand work and baking. (pumpkin muffins, Yellow & Red Leaf Water color, etc)

 Felting pumpkins and apples was our first felt project (more for Ryder). Ryder decided to expand the project to make a scare crow to go with the pumpkins. It was delightful to discover how the story had resonated with him and the scarecrow clearly made an impact. Christopher's Harvest Time by Elsa Beskow

What Do You See?

From moment to moment I have observed the discrepancy of my outer world based on what is happening inside me.

This subject has been a key focus of mine since the beginning of this "school" year with the boys. As I was preparing in August I made the conscious choice to do the inner work so necessary for teacher/mother/parent. This was based on what I feel is vital for me personally to truly have "home school" succeed. It's so raw, so visceral, this experience of thinking, feeling and willing - the concepts I am exploring as I enrich my own life through the Waldorf approach to learning.

In each moment, when I am present with myself, in the absence of judgment and self worth issues (my life lesson) I see beauty, love and light in every nook and cranny of this universe.

Awakener of Limitless Possibilities and Potential - New definition of Teacher

I've discovered a resource I wanted to share with fellow parents and home schoolers. I haven't been through everything but I really love their mission and purpose. The Natural Learning Centre

The Natural Learning Centre Believes 
Learning Should Be Fun, Interesting 
and Relevant to Life.

Mission
The Natural Learning Centre's mission is to provide the latest innovative educational tools, scientific research and learning strategies available. Techniques that honor the unique, creative and natural intuitive learning style of each student. 

We believe that every child has an inherent genius waiting to be uncovered. 
Through collaboration with experts willing to share their wisdom, 
and encouraging a passion for inquiry-based knowledge driven by the natural curiosity
 all children are born with, children can be guided to discover the genius they were gifted with. 

To this end, the Centre partners with experts to provide connection, 
exceptional resources, 
products and services designed to empower all.

Purpose
The purpose of The Natural Learning Centre is to:

• Provide educational information & tools that are fun, interactive, experiential and relative to life;  
• Deliver high quality informative resources from experts that are aligned with our mission.
• Create a transformational community that is passionate about empowering children with relevant life skills that enable them to be happy and enjoy life. This community creates awareness of ideas, information and tools designed to help guide students to discover their life purpose, and become the self-confident, inspired, creative and fulfilled individuals they were meant to become.