Kickin' It Home-School!: Well, Helloooooo Stranger!

So, it has been a while. What can I say except I have been busy, as you will see through my photos. I'll do my best to walk us through them.

As part of the program for her charter school, our home-school program is part of a charter school, I can enter my child into a program to replace P.E. and file for reimbursement for being able to use their facility. We have yet to see that end of it, but we joined the Y's gymnastics! We also go swimming on Fridays at the Y (it is a retractable ceiling that allows for both indoor and outdoor use of the pool, and the pool is nice and warm - therefore it is awesome!)

Kelsey on a trampoline run. These pictures were actually taken at a family open gym, but this is the same facility we use for her class. She loves it.

Kelsey and her little cousin.

Keira climbing a rope. Everyone had a great time!

So the next few pictures are taken from The History of Man Museum in Balboa Park, San Diego. Kelsey's history lesson has her learning all about Egypt, and as her packet came to a close, I thought she might want to see some Mummies, so we went on a Saturday. Imagine my surprise when once again I found out I did the all school field trip ahead of time! Apparently we were continuing Egypt in the next packet, and that was their planned field trip. I guess at least we are on the same wave length!

Tools for mummification. Notice the "I'm not so sure about this!" face.

My two Egyptian Princesses.

And my awesome hubby-Pharaoh!

Queen Cleopatra, herself in her usual non flattering pose!

This was about what determined where you would go in the afterlife. If your heart was heavy with bad deeds then it would weight more than a feather and you know where you're going.... aren't we all by those standards? Reminds me of a Monty Python sketch about witches.

Hubby - Pharaoh also moonlights as a museum tour guide.

Since the museums are in the same place as the zoo, and we had the afternoon, we headed on over. The kiddos love Polar Bears, but they weren't so active, however my two knuckleheads were.

That was the end of that day.

Her field trip for the end of the packet was the Discovery Cube in Santa Ana, CA. Here are pictures from that.

I would like to question the legitimacy of educational value of Dora and Diego, especially in a science museum, but that was one of the exhibits. The biggest irony was that it was all about getting your kids out to exercise..... this....... in a MUSEUM!!! Am I the only one head scratching???

More gymnastic pictures, now from class.

Keira front and center, pink pants.

Kelsey either starting or coming out of a somersault. Front center, purple pants.

Next up, multiple lessons over a few days time.

Above is a science lesson, which actually looks kind of like it could be about E coli, but it is really about where our energy comes from when we eat food.

Our New Packet has selected "The Cat in the Hat" for our literature lessons. These posters are about what you do on rainy days, and predicting what will happen based off of the cover and title.

Here is a snippet of our Language Arts lesson, today was about superlatives (i.e. adding er or est to endings to show more or most) Language Arts is actually where Kelsey drags her feet. She just couldn't really care less, so I try and make it at least silly.

This was a mini government lesson for history. We are still in Ancient Egypt, and more specifically will be talking about Ancient Civilizations. We had been talking about Sargon, and Hammurabi - possibly the earliest record of the birth of laws. By extension we spent a day to talk about how our laws are made. Kelsey also got to make a list of laws she would like to see in our home. They mostly included ideas about personal space from her sister. I guess she has had enough of her shadow lately.

Math facts. Doubles, and doubles plus 1.

Other stuff we are doing in math.

Our Morning routine.

Another day of "Cat in the Hat."

This one was about her favorite part of the story. I love her picture.

Science - we are still on physics. We do mostly hands on stuff, but this was a little worksheet she did.

Finally, Kelsey's report card. Yes, yes, I know, since I am her teacher what difference does this make? Well I will tell you. I strive to be very honest about this. I want her to have a good education, not just great grades, because mommy thinks her little Napoleon is a genius who will conquer the earth, and we are just minions awaiting his lead. The truth is Kelsey has come really far, and I am very proud of her, but I think she really is right on target with where she should be, so she got satisfactory. I know many other parents fill it our to say shows strength on everything. I doubt that is honest for most of the kids, and there really is accountability, because I do have to go and turn in samples to the school to hand over to the government, as well as the fact that they go through her whole binder full of work from her packet to check up, and ask probing questions. I assume if your kid doesn't show "demonstrates strength" in their work as well as the questions the report card is probably revised with the parent and the teacher who is ultimately responsible for your child's education.

She does a Lexia program. This is the print out. If you are thinking about subscribing, I would recommend it. The only thing on there showing that she is needing more work is on the silent "e". She knows them, she just doesn't like those games as much as the others, so she doesn't do them until last.

Literature comprehension for last packet. 10 guesses what this story was.

What we are reading right now. I have such a great plan for comprehension in our next Junie B. Book, we're almost finished with this one. Stay tuned for that!

Junie books we have read. I highly recommend "Jingle Bells" It gives a great cause and effect example that drives the point home about making a bad decision and how it impacts you.