School Report

We are wrapping up week two of our home school this week. It has been a very intense but good two weeks. We are doing work boxes this year which have truly revolutionized our home school days. I began learning about the work box system in the last few months and have done a lot of research online about it. The system was developed by Sue Patrick and has taken the home schooling blogosphere by storm. I am on a yahoo group that shares many wonderful ideas about how to implement this system and creatively fill the boxes each day. The boxes are helping my little students learn how to manage their schedule and keep moving from one activity to the next. It has also helped a great deal to have all supplies placed in the boxes ahead of time. We are getting much more work accomplished than ever before. I am posting some pictures of our meet the teacher night, our work boxes and also some of our first day of school activities. Please notice Abbie Joy studying the time line book. It is hysterical. She likes to crawl over to the book and flip through the pictures. People ask me about when I start schooling the children; as you can see the schooling starts right away. ;) Seriously, the babies just pick up tons of stuff from absorbing what they hear the older children learning. Annagrace is enjoying her own work boxes filled with file folder games, puzzles, simple activity sheets, and read alouds with Mommy. I am impressed with how well she is doing with moving her velcro numbers and placing them on her boxes as she goes through them one by one.

Gabriel's Presentation

Each Friday at Classical Conversations the children have to give a presentation to their class. It is really fun to see them up in front of everyone and how they handle the situation. This past week Gabriel was supposed to give a presentation on one of his favorite Bible stories. So, we pulled out the flannel graph set and he decided to do the story of baby Jesus. I got to sit in on his class and see his presentation. He couldn't quite remember how the angel's visit to Joseph went but fully recovered his thoughts on the journey to Bethlehem. Pretty cute. :) They have been trained to always start with, "Hello, my name is and today my presentation is about......" Then at the end they close with, "Thank you for listening to my presentation; are there any questions?" The questions the other kids come up with can be very cute too. It is good training for speaking later in life. I am glad they have this opportunity.

Loves to Eat

As I said in the previous post, "Abbie Joy always loves to eat." I have been through this four times now, but I still have not figured out how to teach table manners to a baby. Hmm, she may be the messiest yet. :)

10 Months!!!

Abbie Joy turned 10 months on September 11th. She is full of such life and personality and makes us laugh all the time. She is cruising around and getting strong on her legs. She gets excited to go outside and swing in the baby swing and of course loves eating anytime. One thing she started doing this month is trying to sing. There have been a few times lately when I have sat in the recliner and sung to her. Well, I noticed one day that when I sat down she started making this kind've humming sound. It dawned on me that I think she was trying to get me to start singing hymns as I had done the previous few times. It was precious. Sometimes if I am singing she will start that humming sound along with me. Absolutely priceless! She also starts bopping up and down when she hears music. Maybe this girl is going to be musical. Another new thing for her is fighting with Annagrace over toys. Yes, the sibling rivalry has already begun there. Now that she is making her way around and grabbing her siblings things they are getting upset with her. Annagrace and Abbie Joy recently had their first run in over toys. Then it was followed by another run in a few days later. Yes, there is much character training to be done with these little girls. Lessons on sharing and kindness are in full session in the Adams home. :)

Classical Conversations Begins Again

Last Friday we started a once a week home school program called Classical Conversations. The kids and I attend every Friday for a once a week learning with others experience. The kids are studying ancient history, latin, math facts, science experiments, art, music and more. In the afternoons the older children participate in p.e. and art while Annagrace goes into a toddler class that Mommy is teaching with the theme of the Fruits of the Spirit. Annagrace enjoys having her own back pack just like Lauren and Gabriel.

Sweet!!!

Gabriel got a new dry erase board on his wall for his first grade work. Look what he wrote on it. :) It made my day.