April 2015

Ha! I hardly took any homeschooling type pictures this month! Oh well, I guess that's how it goes sometimes. Pictures, or no pictures we had a great month.

Math
We kind of lacked this month in the math area, to be honest. We've always been at least a month ahead in our math curriculum, so I wasn't really stressed about it. We just did the typical things that came up for the month, nothing fancy.

Reading
Since Gwen was catching on so much to what I was teaching Miles, we decided to start officially incorporating her into learning how to read. Instead of just doing "Explode the Code", we started integrating, "The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading." The first 1/3 or so of the book is a total review for Miles, but still very beneficial. It's largely a review for Gwen too. She catches on so quickly. We also ordered the first few sets of the "BOB books" so that we wouldn't have to wait in line for them at the library. I made little charts so they could check off the books they'd read. Since Miles had read a bunch of them before we learned about his eyes, he cruised through the first set in no time. Gwen is about half way through the 1st set, and isn't super challenged. We probably should have started her reading sooner. She was so ready.


Science
We learned about our integumentary system this month! We learned there are 3 basic layers to our skin and their functions. We talked about fingerprints and their uniqueness, we demonstrated how germs spread by using hand sanitizer and glitter. After they rubbed it all over their hands, they were amazed to see how the glitter got onto everything they touched! Just like germs! We made a model of our skin using a paper towel roll, bubble wrap and an old sock. Make do with what you have, right? We also made an edible model of our skin out of Jello, marshmallows and a fruit roll up. Looks totally unappetizing, but the kids thought it was awesome.


We also have been observing some caterpillars we ordered through the mail. They started out SO tiny. In this picture, they are getting ready to make their chrysalides! So we've been reading a lot of books about butterflies, learning their anatomy etc. It's been so fun.


Field Trips
Gwen's joy school group has been learning about animals this month. So for our field trip, we went to Wheeler farm. What a cool place! I can't believe we haven't been there before. The kids were so sad to leave.