NBC Interview

Carl Linnaeus

Today during CC art the kiddos learned about Linnaeus, who was most famous for his work in taxonomy (the science of identifying, naming and classifying organisms.)

He would spend hours, week and months intricately drawing and painting different plants and identifying their parts.  He went on to create a system of naming plants and animals that we still use today and is known as the "Father of Taxonomy."

This was Abby's interpretation of what Linnaeus' work may have involved:

Impressionism

During CC classes this week, the kiddos learned about Edgar Degas, one of the founders of impressionism.  This was Lincoln's interpretation.

Continents and Oceans

This kid could teach me a thing or two.

Saturn Has Rings

Lincoln did a presentation for us today during our school time.  "Saturn has rings.  The rings are made of dust....but they look like they're solid."  Nice job, Linc!

Sir Cumference

Reading aloud is one of the greatest things you can do for your kids.  I didn't make that up, my mom told me.  And she knows everything.  Truth be told, my parents read to us all the time growing up and I do the same for my kids.  We just finished a biography on Corrie Ten Boom and my kiddos were literally begging me each day to continue reading!

I was reading this book to my boys this morning and it reminded me what a huge fan I am of the series. Set in the times of King Arthur you get to know Sir Cumference, his wife, Lady Di of Ameter and their son Radius.

Each book focuses on a different math concept and is certain to inspire your young mathematician!  Plus, it keeps them sitting still for a few minutes.  ;)

(thanks Amazon for letting me borrow your picture.  I was too lazy to take my own!)

7th Annual Sun Party!

When I was growing up, my mom's best friend Connie used to throw a "sun party" to celebrate the end of the school year.  I adopted the tradition when Madeline started school and my kiddos look forward to it each year.

We always ice sugar cookies with yellow (sun!) icing and drink lemonade.  This year we spent the afternoon swimming and lunching at TCC.

Welcome Summer '13.  We have been waiting for you forever.

Also a Math Club

This is not a typical day of homeschooling.  Ok, it is.

They've been up there for several hours though so I'm assuming it's a productive one.

Screen Time

This is screen time I can live with.

Ski Day!

Thanks to my amazing cousin, Brit for taking the girls to their homeschool ski trip.

(Lauren's 2nd trip this week!)

Happy Valentine's Day

They were taking pictures at our homeschool Valentine's Day party today.

(Kendall, we only got 1 shot - so sorry!)

Fine Arts

Lincoln's interpretation of Fra Angelico's work with gold leafing.

Victory Garden

We are talking about Victory Gardens, circa WWI, and ran across this advertisement today. 

The Littles Kitchen

To read Madeline's latest article in Edible Columbus, click here.

I walked into English Essentials as my girls were diagramming sentences with their classmates.  This was one of my kiddos' sentences.  Hilarious.  And excellently diagrammed.  

A beautiful book that sparked a touching conversation around the breakfast table this morning.  

Mapping

One of the things we work on are map skills.  Not me though, I already know it all.

Last year the kids learned the United States.  Gabe (then PK) would trace the outline of our country and try to identify Ohio, while Madeline (then 5th grade) could outline the US and label each state.

This year we are working outside our country and one of my goals is for the younger ones to be able to identify each continent and place it (somewhat) appropriately on a sheet of paper.  Above, you will find Lauren's current rendition.  Not too shabby for 2nd grade.

My best investment was to hang a world and US map on a wall near our kitchen.  Whenever a country or place is mentioned, I have the kids run and find it on the map.  They now tell me, from memory, where places are located without even referring to the map.  And I am trying my best to learn along with them!

A Mother & Daughter's Food Journey

To read Madeline's latest article in Edible Columbus magazine, click here.

First Day of School!

Middle school.  Yes, that's right.  6th grade.  I could cry.

4th grade, I'm going to blow through it!

Couldn't-be-sweeter-2nd-grader

1st day of Kindergarden.  Ohmygoodness, I can't believe it.

My little preschooler.  Yep, he's yelling, "PREEEEESCHOOL!"

Today starts our 5th year of homeschooling. I honestly thought I would be transitioning Madeline over at this point but this spring she emphatically said to us, "Why would I go to traditional school?!"  

And off we go....

Cell Anatomy

What?  This looks like a big glob of processed, non-food?

No, silly, it's mitochondria, ribosomes and golgi bodies inside a cell.  We're studying human anatomy this summer!

(incidentally, I was wondering if my kiddos would want to eat their non-food cell but didn't say a word.  They ate a couple bites of the candy then tried the pudding and said, "What IS this?!")