Structuring our day

We are still trying to figure out the best way to structure our day. One of my boys is an early bird and the other likes to take it easy for awhile before delving into the day. At first I thought for sure I would have at least one subject done with my early bird before the other started but it turns out that having a relatively late(8:00) start to the "school" day works for all of us.

Math always is first, I think it's the best to get that subject done when our minds are freshest. We then continue onto read aloud time. Then it's onto language lessons and writing. Any project work or supplemental math & science is(usually) next and then history, which we do as a sit, read, write time twice a week. This all is (normally) done in about three hours or so.

I will think of two art projects per week to get done, which the boys normally do in one sitting. We are now into springtime so baseball and soccer are in full-swing so I have backed off of a regular P.E time, but the boys are outside at least half the daylight hours doing random things like running, playing at the park, practicing sports, or exploring so I am not so concerned with a structured P.E. They also do a home-school P.E class with a trainer every other Friday. This summer I plan on taking them swimming to work off some energy as well. We also have karate, guitar and theater on different days of the week so those extracurricular activities are built into some days of our week. We also try and get some grandparent time in as well.

Soooo, our days are organically structured but not in a by-the-minute sort of way. This has been surprising to me since I had begun thinking that was the healthiest approach but the boys have shown me otherwise. They want to know what to expect but they also don't want me hounding them and they need time to focus on their own interests which makes them happier and everything run smoother.

Overall, I believe that having a plan is a good thing but being flexible with time is important as well. I have begun to talk with them about time management and how important of a skill it is, in order to achieve their goals (and mine;) they have to manage their time, and everyday I think it sinks in a bit more and they are becoming more conscience of it which will lead them to be proactive and independent.

Quick, easy science (again!)

This is a quick science experiment that shows how metals react when put into a bath of vinegar (acid) and salt...

Being positive and staying that way!

I am a big advocate of being positive in your daily dealings with people, especially children. Negativity is such a vile, contagious pest. Of course, you can be a big fan of something and still not know how to put it in action 24/7. I have decided that this blog will not include the daily doses of arguments, laments, and general disobedience or small doses of violence given and received by each brother (no matter how much you love your brother there are some times when pushing him down or pinching him are the only way to convey your utter madness at the moment you find your Lego ship wrecked). So, for all of you who wonder if we have arguments, time outs, or the quiet wish to get a way to far off island my response is a big of course! However, as the days pass we are all finding new ways to deal with our bouts of claustrophobia and frustrations that we don't always want to do the same things at the same time. The boys are finding more cordial solutions to their arguments-for instance, today I hear an argument building in the other room and then M says, "Ok, C-let's just drop this now because if we don't we are going to have a big argument and were both going to get in trouble." "Ok" says C. That simple! A breakthrough, nonetheless. I just wanted to add this tidbit so that anyone reading can be sure that we have our ups and downs throughout the day/week/month but the majority of our time is spent learning, enjoying each others' company, finding interesting and fun ways to amuse ourselves as well as scavenging for educational treasures throughout the community and genuinely having a good time.

To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty,
to find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child, a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed
easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Eggcellent Science Experiment (simple)

We did a super simple but fun science experiment last week. (We try and do one per week so that the boys can work together in the field of science) It shows the effect of acid on an egg shell.
Materials: -a cup or bowl, -an egg, -vinegar

Process: Put egg in cup, add vinegar to cover egg, wait 48 hours

After 24 hours we checked in and wrote our observations
on how the egg had changed. At 48 hours we took the egg from the cup and discovered the shell is gone, it was actually bigger, and it was translucent. The boys loved it and we took some neat pictures of it in the dark with the flashlight on the egg.

Simple, cool experiment for anyone to try!

Sid Richardson Museum Trip

We had a wonderful time at the Sid Richardson museum in downtown Fort Worth over the weekend. The boys had a good time putting together puzzles, doing a scavenger hunt and talking with the docents about Sid Richardson and other artists and their important works. We were thankful that this time dad and grandpa got to join us so that they could be a part of our learning. The boys also got to make cowboy hats, belt buckles and a cowboy drawing. The docents and staff were super helpful and full of information on the museum and works of western art on display.

The Composer is Dead

We had a great time at the Bass Performance Hall yesterday!  We saw The Composer is Dead, a young persons concert.  The conductor, Andrés Franco, introduced the audience to the orchestra, pointing our each section while each played a but from a piece.  A narrator then took us into a murder mystery to solve the puzzle on who had killed the composer.  Each of the sections were given a personality such as, the brass section (strong, patriotic, loyal), the percussion (hip and keeps the beats), the flutes (bird like) and the strings (dedicated and industrious).  The narrator was wonderfully animated and funny, the boys both got a kick out of his story.  He then pointed to the conductor, after all he says “wherever there’s a conductor there’s a dead composer.” :)  Anyway,  it was a super fun time, and a great way to introduce kids to the symphony in a light, fun way.   I loved that it was during the day, 10:15 and only $4 each!

Here are some pictures of the boys at the performance and afterward we had a picnic and played at one of their favorite parks in Fort Worth, Burnett Park. 

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Physical Education

I thought I would make a little entry about ways I have figured out to do P.E with only the two guys and I. First, I went online to see what the president's challenge website has to offer: http://www.presidentschallenge.org/ which has tools and the activities that are used to measure achievements. I figure we can use that as a guide when we really want to work out. Otherwise, we have been dancing (lots of Michael Jackson:), we have done some yoga (mom likes this one:) and outside time at parks. Another thing I did last week and may do once a week is set up obstacle courses outside back, each of us makes up one and we all do them twice. I am trying to get creative and do something everyday. Winter is always a challenge here but coming into spring I won't worry so much about it because they both will be playing soccer and baseball. I am learning what works as we go but we are keeping active for sure!