The last week or so was less exciting than the previous. . . not so many parties (ok, none actually) and more time spent staying warm, indoors, reading by the fire.

In Math, Caleb learned to read hours on a clock and practiced telling time.  As usual, the lessons include story problems and practice of skills he has previously learned.  Smiley practiced addition, counting, and writing numbers.

We read from Doctor Dolittle together, and also started reading On the Banks of Plum Creek, which is the next book in the Laura Ingalls Wilder series we started reading last year.  Caleb copied poems, paragraphs, and wrote in his journal.  Smiley practices writing letters and working with sounds of letters.  In the picture below he was matching photos he cut out of magazines with the letter they start with on his letter poster.

We had a few cold, but clear, days to go hiking (before the snow hit hard again a few days ago).  Caleb brought his journal and wrote in it when we made it to the top of a very steep hill.  Outside, we looked for signs that spring is coming and talked about nature stories we've been reading.  Caleb is working on making animal cards.  We talk about different characteristics of animals and he makes a drawing on one side and writes about the animals on the back. 

Caleb got to bring his wooden flute home to practice.  His teacher Janelle knitted a carrying case for the flute and Caleb finger-knitted the handle.  He wrote out directions to remind himself how to properly care for his flute while it was at home.

The boys worked on other art projects at their weekly class, enjoyed stories and songs, did plenty of coloring and pictures, read lots, helped clean up, make pizza, practiced with their bow and arrows, played board games together, and lots more!

The kids have had a fun week, with lots of celebrations in addition to schoolwork.  Their dad's birthday celebration included a trip to the pool in Colville where Caleb practiced swimming across the pool by himself and Smiley made some big steps dunking his head underwater.  A Mardi Gras party included dancing and visiting with friends and making masks.  And two Valentine's parties (one at Riverwood School and one at Greenwood Institute d'Art) included more crafts, games, friends and fun.  We still had lots of time at home to work on other things.  Here's a bit of the fun and learning we've been up to:

In Language Arts, we are all reading Doctor Dolittle together, Caleb practices reading aloud, and we read from a variety of other books too.  Caleb practiced writing paragraphs, including a page he did about Doctor Dolittle; he made a list of sight words (words that cannot be sounded out), and has been writing in his journal.  In his journal he gets to write about whatever he wants; the emphasis is to enjoy expressing his own thoughts.

Smiley continued to practice recognizing and writing letters.  Alot of what we do is oral, for example making up rhymes and playing games to lear the sounds letters make.  He also began putting letters together to make words.

Caleb finished his math lesson on subtraction with borrowing.  As with everything he has done in math so far, he became quite proficient once he learned the concept.

Smiley's math work was done mostly on the whiteboard, adding and writing numbers.  The kids together continued to work in their cultural coloring books and we read some stories from Africa together.  The kids worked together with an insect kit, identifying the parts and different types of insects.
The kids also did lots of crafts this week.  They learned about Cajun music while making Mardi Gras masks, decorated cookies, made Valentines with markers, stencils, and marble painting, played games, took walks and exercised on trampolines, made birthday cake, and lots more!

I'm so behind on the schoolwork updates . . . I'll just jump right into what we've been doing the last several weeks . . .

Caleb made lists for all the vowels (and Y) and the different sounds they make.  He also writes in his journal regularly, copies and makes up poems, and wrote paragraphs about the stories we are reading.  He is reading aloud from a short chapter book and we are reading The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle together, in addition to lots of books the kids pick out from the library.

This poem Caleb and I made up after we spent a week playing "store".  The kids took turns selling goods, bartering and trading, and having lots of different community jobs like farmer, librarian, and veterinarian.  Caleb was responsible for making store signs and price lists and even Smiley helped count the bills that were being used for dollars.  

In math Caleb has gone through several lessons.  He has learned to read minutes on a clock, and has gotten lots of practice subtracting.  He recently started a new lesson learning subtraction with borrowing (regrouping).

Smiley continues to practice writing numbers 0-20 and has started adding numbers together.  He uses math blocks to help with counting and adding.

Smiley has finished learning the alphabet.  Together we are making a big alphabet poster with cut-out fabric letters.

The kids have been doing a variety of projects at their classes at Riverwood.  Caleb is working on knitting with his handmade needles, finger knitting, and making gnomes out of wool and fabric.  They have both been making valentine's cards and coloring lots.  We have been taking hikes, observing the changes in winter and nature, and reading nature stories.  The kids have full days crafting, reading, drawing, cooking, singing together, telling stories, and lots more!