tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14102298065954891982024-03-13T10:31:50.205-05:00Discovery For Lifeour homeschooling adventures filled with living, loving, learning, & laughingCalico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410229806595489198.post-56435862190640098072010-11-16T10:31:00.001-06:002010-11-16T10:32:41.499-06:00Another New Home<br />
<p>We can now be found at <a href="http://discovery4life.info">Discovery for Life</a>, I hope you'll come visit us.</p>
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<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/discovery4life/pinksig.png" width="150" height="150" alt="Crazy" title="Crazy" style="border: 0px;"></div>Calico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410229806595489198.post-64219905797827331072009-10-24T13:53:00.002-05:002009-10-24T13:57:14.703-05:00It's Done...<p>I have moved all the posts on this blog onto my <a href="http://calicocontemplations.info/">Calico Contemplations blog</a>, they are categorized as <a href="http://calicocontemplations.info/index.php/category/discovery-for-life/">Discovery for Life</a>, have a special header, and have maintained their penguin sigs. I will no longer be updating here, all updates will occur on <a href="http://calicocontemplations.info/">Calico Contemplations</a>.</p>
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<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/discovery4life/bluesig.png" width="150" height="150" alt="Crazy" title="Crazy" style="border: 0px;"></div>Calico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410229806595489198.post-74716141704149631362009-10-24T11:04:00.005-05:002009-10-24T13:25:35.999-05:00Wow, It's Been Almost A Month<p>We've come so far in this month, she is back doing math on Time 4 Learning and is really enjoying it, amazing what a little mastery will do for a kid. I hear all the arguments against drilling and memorization, but honestly I don't think a little hurts, at least not my kid.</p>
<p>We have done some great field trips to the zoo for the opening of Teton Trek, to the Pink Palace to see a movie on mummies, and more planetarium show, pumpkin patches to pat animals, pick pumpkins and play with other homeschoolers.</p>
<p>We did a <b>Magic School Bus</b> science kit on <u>Going Green</u>. We created a mini compost tube, compared the decay rate of plastic, styrofoam, and leaves, made paper, and so much more. She loved checking on her experiments each day, and writing up conclusions at the end.</p>
<p>I've seen her joy and love of reading expand as she has more time and opportunity to do it for enjoyment. She has plowed through several Animal Ark books, as well as non-fiction on bats, vampire bats, cheetahs, penguins, hippos, puffins, tigers, whales, dolphins, weather patterns, and so much more.</p>
<p>Artistically we are seeing her get back into the pattern of experimentation and constant creation. During first grade her production of art work had dropped off to nearly nothing, a huge change from the constant barrage we had from the time that she could first hold a crayon.</p>
<p>Guess this is it for now, I won't promise to update too soon as we know I probably won't. Oh well, I'll either keep posting sporadically here, or eventually wrap this into my other blog. Who knows...</p>
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<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/discovery4life/mintsig.png" width="150" height="150" alt="Crazy" title="Crazy" style="border: 0px;"></div>Calico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410229806595489198.post-61778271065817435352009-09-27T11:30:00.006-05:002009-10-24T13:25:51.904-05:00A Sunny Day At The Zoo<p>We hadn't had sunshine in about two weeks and we were getting tired of the gloom. Trips to the zoo had been spent dodging rain clouds, and many of the animals stayed in their night houses. Yesterday however, the sun shone, the sky was blue, and the animals came out to play.</p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/ccphotos/AtTheZoo-01.png" width="526" height="427" border="0" alt="Otters" title="Otters" /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/ccphotos/AtTheZoo-02.png" width="526" height="427" border="0" alt="Black Bear" title="Black Bear" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/ccphotos/AtTheZoo-03.png" width="526" height="427" border="0" alt="Bald Eagle" title="Bald Eagle" /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/ccphotos/AtTheZoo-04.png" width="526" height="427" border="0" alt="Bongos & Gazelle" title="Bongos & Gazelle" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/ccphotos/AtTheZoo-05.png" width="526" height="427" border="0" alt="Ostrich" title="Ostrich" /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/ccphotos/AtTheZoo-06.png" width="526" height="427" border="0" alt="Bee" title="Bee" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/ccphotos/AtTheZoo-07.png" width="526" height="427" border="0" alt="Komodo Dragon" title="Komodo Dragon" /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/ccphotos/AtTheZoo-08.png" width="526" height="427" border="0" alt="Prairie Dog" title="Prairie Dog" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/ccphotos/AtTheZoo-09.png" width="526" height="427" border="0" alt="Chipmunk" title="Chipmunk" /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/ccphotos/AtTheZoo-10.png" width="526" height="427" border="0" alt="Gerenuk" title="Gerenuk" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/ccphotos/AtTheZoo-11.png" width="526" height="427" border="0" alt="Boa Constrictor" title="Boa Constrictor" /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/ccphotos/AtTheZoo-12.png" width="526" height="427" border="0" alt="African Penguins & Handlers" title="African Penguins & Handlers" /></div>
<p>In case you haven't guessed we love the zoo!
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<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/discovery4life/orangesig.png" width="150" height="150" alt="Crazy" title="Crazy" style="border: 0px;"></div>Calico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410229806595489198.post-82331301941893529872009-09-17T00:45:00.001-05:002009-10-24T13:26:01.529-05:00Thursday 13 From The Pink Palace<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thursday-13.com/" target="_blank"><img title="Thursday Thirteen" src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/mememarkers/thursdaythirteen1.jpg" border="0" alt="Thursday Thirteen" width="450" height="300" /></a></div>
<div> </div>
<p>We went to the Pink Palace Museum yesterday for field trip day. There is an IMAX Theater, a Planetarium, a wide assortment of permanent and temporary exhibits and then there are displays in the main house.</p>
<p>The main house was being built for Clarence Saunders, inventor of the self-service grocery, before he went bankrupt attempting to maintain control of his company stock. One of the exhibits is a to size replica of Clarence's first <b>Piggly Wiggly</b>.</p>
<p>What struck me the most as we wandered through was not how small it was, or the lack of choice, or even the way you were herded through like cattle; instead what I was struck by were how many things on those few shelves were things I have in my home today.</p>
<ol><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/13pinkpalacepiggly/cornflakes.jpg" width="350" height="262" border="0" alt="Kellogg's Corn Flakes" title="Kellogg's Corn Flakes" />
<li>Kellogg's Corn Flakes</li>
<li>Cream of Wheat</li>
<img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/13pinkpalacepiggly/quakeroats.jpg" width="350" height="262" border="0" alt="Quaker Oats" title="Quaker Oats" />
<li>Quaker Oats</li>
<li>Gold Medal Flour</li>
<li>White Lily Flour</li>
<img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/13pinkpalacepiggly/floursugarcornmeal.jpg" width="350" height="262" border="0" alt="flours, cornmeal, sugar" title="flours, cornmeal, sugar" />
<li>Domino Sugar</li>
<li>Quaker Corn Meal</li>
<img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/13pinkpalacepiggly/logcabinsyrup.jpg" width="350" height="262" border="0" alt="Log Cabin Syrup" title="Log Cabin Syrup" />
<li>Log Cabin Syrup</li>
<li>Jello Brand Jello</li>
<img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/13pinkpalacepiggly/greenbeans.jpg" width="350" height="262" border="0" alt="Del Monte Green Beans" title="Del Monte Green Beans" />
<li>Del Monte Green Beans</li>
<li>McCormick's Cloves</li>
<img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/13pinkpalacepiggly/salt.jpg" width="350" height="262" border="0" alt="Morton's Salt" title="Morton's Salt" />
<li>Morton's Salt</li>
<li>Lava Soap</li></ol>
<p>Funny isn't it how so much has changed in our world and yet we still use these things. Makes me feel a little closer to the past, if only for the moment.</p>
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<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/discovery4life/pinksig.png" width="150" height="150" alt="Crazy" title="Crazy" style="border: 0px;"></div>Calico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410229806595489198.post-7725764757523034572009-09-15T11:06:00.003-05:002009-10-24T13:26:10.947-05:00So Bad With This...<p>This poor blog really does suffer. I am trying so hard to keep the main one up and get my websites back up and running, add to that the homeschooling and...</p>
<p>Good thing I don't have tons of readers to be mad about my lack of udates...</p>
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<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/discovery4life/lilacsig.png" width="150" height="150" alt="Crazy" title="Crazy" style="border: 0px;"></div>Calico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410229806595489198.post-14464947671370003532009-09-04T15:47:00.002-05:002009-10-24T13:26:21.063-05:00For Next Week<p>My goal for next week is to get an earlier start each day. Somehow, we have traveled beyond the "normal" late start that we were having (between 10am & 11am) and we are now starting between 12pm & 1pm. While it doesn't really matter in the sense that she does the work, I do see it affecting the amount of time she spends playing with friends. So here's to slightly earlier starts and more time outdoors.</p>
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<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/discovery4life/bluesig.png" width="150" height="150" alt="Crazy" title="Crazy" style="border: 0px;"></div>Calico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410229806595489198.post-65266537257108027562009-09-03T13:32:00.005-05:002009-10-24T13:26:31.310-05:00I've Been Lost In Wordpress Land<p>So getting my other blog fully functional on wordpress has been slightly time consuming. I still have some design work to do, but it no longer needs constant attention.</p>
<p>Of course, to celebrate my shared hosting server is screwed and I can't ftp! Somedays I just have to wonder.</p>
<p>"School" has been going well, and I think we have totally turned the corner with the addition & subtraction debacle. I'm trying to decide what 2nd grade math topic I want her to cover next, and whether I will use Kumon (assuming they cover it) or something else. I am still sort of debating investing in Horizons.</p>
<p>Since we are schooling year round I decided to give her a "report card" every 2 months. This is definitely a hold over from her ps days; but not one she is ready to give up yet. She was thrilled with her report card and loves that everything she gets for "school" has penguins on it.</p>
<p>We are continuing weekly trips to the library and zoo, and are trying to add at least one other field trip type event to each week. The Mississippi has won the draw that last 2 and may win again another just for ease and cost ($0).</p>
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<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/discovery4life/mintsig.png" width="150" height="150" alt="Crazy" title="Crazy" style="border: 0px;"></div>Calico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410229806595489198.post-72573733763425074872009-08-21T21:31:00.003-05:002009-10-24T13:26:48.896-05:00A Faster More Focused Day<p>Well, we had a much more focused day today. She finished everything she had left over from the entire week PLUS all of today's stuff. It really was more than I ever could have hoped for.</p>
<p>Of course, there is one catch... I have absolutely no idea why! I wish I did, I really, really do. Then I could replicate today's success and we would all be soooooo happy.</p>
<p>Time for some mindless television view...</p><br />
<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/discovery4life/orangesig.png" width="150" height="150" alt="Crazy" title="Crazy" style="border: 0px;"></div>Calico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410229806595489198.post-32075854354449597622009-08-20T23:52:00.003-05:002009-10-24T13:27:01.656-05:00<p>I really do think we are on the right track now. She is happy to do flash cards and worksheets. Math Adventure is her new favorite game. Now if only it took less than 9 hours to be done with school for the day...</p>
<p>Okay, it was just today that this happened but I swear that each school day seems a little longer than the one before. She's not getting more done, I'm not giving her more work, it's like she has become totally distracted. Guess that's what happens when you live in ADD land.</p>
<p>I need to work on next week's little workbook tomorrow, so it will be time to rethink and revamp. Hopefully we can find something that will keep her focused enough to complete her assignments; but allow her plenty of freedom too.</p>
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<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/discovery4life/pinksig.png" width="150" height="150" alt="Crazy" title="Crazy" style="border: 0px;"></div>Calico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410229806595489198.post-84141692781550959692009-08-19T00:43:00.004-05:002009-10-24T13:27:13.175-05:00Math Meltdown<p>So we had a little math meltdown over carrying & borrowing (aka regrouping). I was watching her last week doing addition on <a href="http://www.time4learning.com">Time 4 Learning</a> and I noticed that she seemed stressed. We talked, did some problems on paper, and off she went relatively happy.</p>
<p>Monday I had to go out and my Mother helped her. The poor kid was dissolving over subtraction, not because she doesn't understand borrowing; but because the computation process is too slow. Unfortunately, <a href="http://www.time4learning.com">Time 4 Learning</a> doesn't have a built in process for catching poor performance and generating more practice, instead she stumbled through a section and then came the quiz! My mother quickly stopped her and got her playing a game and doing problems on paper.</p>
<p>Public school sucks realization #101 - it's not important that you get the right answer, it's only important that you know how to do the problem. I mean honestly does anyone think this really works?!?</p>
<p>We have stopped using <a href="http://www.time4learning.com">Time 4 Learning</a> for math right now (still using it for everything else); and are using flash cards for basic addition and subtraction facts, and tomorrow will start <a href="http://www.kumonbooks.com/home/index.aspx">Kumon Grade 2 Addition</a>. I liked the single topic focus and the fact that there was no huge program commitment to start. If she runs with it we may just work it for the rest of the year and see where we are then. She's already a much happier camper and that's all I really care about.</p>
<p>If you live near a <a href="http://www.dollartree.com/home.jsp">Dollar Tree</a> and you have a youngster learning addition and subtraction I suggest you run and look for the Teaching Tree Math Adventure game. It is a really simple 2 to 4 player game with about 36 math problems and a poster game board. Our girl just loves it and it was a simple matter to cut card stock into rectangles similar in size to the existing cards and add more problems (we're up to 136). There is also a state fact game (The Amazing State Race) and a money game (Shopping Cents), both simple but expandable and lots of fun for kids.</p>
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<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/discovery4life/lilacsig.png" width="150" height="150" alt="Crazy" title="Crazy" style="border: 0px;"></div>Calico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410229806595489198.post-70530149396565795462009-08-12T23:45:00.003-05:002009-10-24T13:27:23.537-05:00So, it's been a long day and I'm off to bed in a few moments. We had a fun trip to the library this morning and then we hit the wall. Adding with regrouping is not her favorite thing. Tomorrow we will work with the manipulatives, and I think it is time to break out the flashcards to strengthen those single digit adding & subtracting skills. On a good note she got to play with another story creater and she loved that. Night Night All!<br />
<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/discovery4life/bluesig.png" width="150" height="150" alt="Crazy" title="Crazy" style="border: 0px;"></div>Calico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410229806595489198.post-77287298854765632112009-08-11T18:08:00.005-05:002009-10-24T13:27:39.574-05:00Two Days In One<p>A little late with the entry today, not that anyone is reading or cares...</p>
<p>Yesterday was a long day; but she really held up well. I need to be careful how much lesson reading I give her to do solo. She was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of the social studies lesson and so fascinated with looking things up that it took forever. I don't want to discourage her or encourage just skimming through and not really learning anything.</p>
<p>Based on what I'd seen earlier I did her last section, Penguins, as a joint read and that really seemed to do the trick. Lesson learned.</p>
<p>Today, based on what we learned yesterday, we started the day together doing her science reading and answering her questions on the penguin reading yesterday. It took just under an hour to do both and then she was off to the computer to do her <a href="http://www.time4learning.com" target="_blank">Time 4 Learning</a> sections. She loves that site and she is so excited to write everyday. Last thing she did was paint the sun for her solar system model, she has been dying to get her hands on that kit and now the project has finally begun.</p>
<p>We still have some reading to do; but for now she is out and about with the neighbor kids having a grand time.</p>
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<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/discovery4life/mintsig.png" width="150" height="150" alt="Crazy" title="Crazy" style="border: 0px;"></div>Calico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410229806595489198.post-69784615091945346402009-08-10T09:45:00.014-05:002009-10-24T13:27:49.343-05:00Our 1st Full Week<div><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/workbookshots/WorkbookWk1Cov.jpg" width="232" height="300" border="0" style="float: left;" alt="workbook cover" title="workbook cover" /><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/workbookshots/WorkbookWk1Bak.jpg" width="232" height="300" border="0" style="float: right;" alt="workbook back cover" title="workbook back cover" />
<p>Today starts our first full week of school! We've done well on the partial schedule that has been in place for the last couple of weeks; but I have to admit it is a bit of a struggle. I would never have guessed it would be this difficult to get out of the summer/vacation mode.</p></div>
<div style="clear: both;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/workbookshots/WorkbookWk1Inn.jpg" width="232" height="300" border="0" style="float: left;" alt="week page" title="week page" /><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/workbookshots/WorkbookWk1Mon.jpg" width="232" height="300" border="0" style="float: right;" alt="day page" title="day page" />
<p style="clear: none;">I think Muffin is in for a little bit of a shock when we start working on this week's lesson workbook, it has a lot more in it for each day than the previous one. The good news is that she wasn't really that challenged by the previous workbook and the time it took her to complete was way less than I expected. I can tell there are going to be a lot more unschooling type activities in our schedule than I originally thought.</p></div>
<div style="clear: both;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/workbookshots/WorkbookWk1TDL-3.jpg" width="232" height="300" border="0" style="float: left;" alt="daily to-do list" title="daily to-do list" />
<img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/workbookshots/WorkbookWk1Zoo.jpg" width="232" height="300" border="0" style="float: right;" alt="zoo sheet" title="zoo sheet" />
<p>My guilty admission though is that I can't wait for Friday, I love going to the zoo! I feel like I learn so much each time we go there, and it is such fun.</p></div>
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<div style="text-align: right; clear: both;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/discovery4life/orangesig.png" width="150" height="150" alt="Crazy" title="Crazy" style="border: 0px;"></div>Calico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410229806595489198.post-3925631770862834002009-08-08T08:50:00.004-05:002009-10-24T13:27:59.060-05:00Photos From The Zoo<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/zootrip2/1-flamingos1.png" width="580" height="463" border="0" alt="flamingos & upside down duck" title="flamingos & upside down duck" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/zootrip2/2-flamingos2.png" width="580" height="463" border="0" alt="flamingos & upside down duck" title="flamingos & upside down duck" /></div>
<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/zootrip2/3-budgies1.png" width="580" height="463" border="0" alt="Muffin and her budgie" title="Muffin and her budgie" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/zootrip2/4-budgies2.png" width="580" height="463" border="0" alt="Touch to Make Fly" title="Touch to Make Fly" /></div>
<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/zootrip2/5-sleepyduck.png" width="580" height="463" border="0" alt="sleepy duck" title="sleepy duck" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/zootrip2/6-sealionshow.png" width="580" height="463" border="0" alt="watching the sea lion show" title="watching the sea lion show" /></div>
<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/zootrip2/7-sealionhabitat.png" width="580" height="463" border="0" alt="a closer look at the sea lion habitat" title="a closer look at the sea lion habitat" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/zootrip2/8-whitecheekedgibbons.png" width="580" height="463" border="0" alt="getting close to the gibbons" title="getting close to the gibbons" /></div>
<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/zootrip2/9-whitecheekedgibbons.png" width="580" height="463" border="0" alt="the gibbon plays peek" title="the gibbon plays peek" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/zootrip2/10-intothewater.png" width="580" height="463" border="0" alt="into the water" title="into the water" /></div>
<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/zootrip2/11-budgiesfromthetram.png" width="580" height="463" border="0" alt="Muffin's photo of the budgies from the tram" title="Muffin's photo of the budgies from the tram" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/zootrip2/12-browneyedsusans.png" width="580" height="463" border="0" alt="Muffin's photo of the brown-eyed susans" title="Muffin's photo of the brown-eyed susans" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/discovery4life/pinksig.png" width="150" height="150" alt="Crazy" title="Crazy" style="border: 0px;"></div>Calico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410229806595489198.post-16093601768094508002009-08-07T06:30:00.003-05:002009-10-24T13:28:20.757-05:00Creative Writing Scores Again!<p>So we were lazy yesterday and just hung out till early afternoon, then we buckled down and did a little <a href="http://www.time4learning.com" target="_blank">Time 4 Learning</a>. I think the easy math is starting to get on her nerves a little; but she also doesn't seem comfortable skipping the lessons and just doing the quizzes, so...</p>
<p>In contrast when we got to the Language Arts unit she just plowed right through it laughing and giggling all the way. She was once again entranced with the creative writing segment at the end and worked with it for over an hour, adding a few more chapters to her penguin story. I think I'm going to have to look at a better method of binding this creation.</p>
<p>Today is definitely zoo day, we haven't been in over a week and I think we are both going through withdrawal. We're focusing on the Slow Loris this time, I'm not sure what attracted her to it; but who am I to argue.</p>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/discovery4life/lilacsig.png" width="150" height="150" alt="Crazy" title="Crazy" style="border: 0px;"></div>Calico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410229806595489198.post-72696005461129221832009-08-06T06:30:00.004-05:002009-10-24T13:28:31.954-05:00The Handyman, The Math Monster, and The Writer<p>So I had big plans yesterday for finding out where we stood with math; but first I had to deal with a handyman who was going to fix a leak in my roof. Thank goodness the leak is in the garage because he really did do his best; but there are just no guarantees.</p>
<p>Then we finally got down to business on <a href="http://www.time4learning.com">Time 4 Learning</a> and boy did she devour the math. She was just plowing through it and while I'll want to keep up with some review, it's obvious that she could, and probably will, do a lot more than what they call 2nd grade. Of course, to me, what this really means is that there is a ton more time for the fun stuff.</p>
<p>She did a Language Arts unit as well and loved the part where she got to do creative writing. She did it not once but twice, without any prompting. Then she went and created a cover for her two stories and turned them into chapters in a book! It's good to see her having fun with all of it.</p>
<p>I'm not sure if we are doing our zoo trip today or tomorrow, as we have a few hot ones on the way. Not that it really matters, whatever day we go, I'll use the other to introduce her to our first science and social studies units. She'll be thrilled when she finds out that she gets to take the <a href="http://craft.dow.com/craft/about/kits.htm">Solar System kit</a> out of the box!</p>
<div style="text-align: right;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/discovery4life/bluesig.png" alt="Crazy" title="Crazy" style="border: 0px none ;" width="150" height="150" /></div>Calico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410229806595489198.post-16221273732400484732009-08-05T06:30:00.002-05:002009-10-24T13:28:43.654-05:00Disney's A Christmas Carol Train Tour<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/ACCtrain/Maquettes-ScroogeCratchit.jpg" alt="Maquettes - Clay models of characters" title="Maquettes - Clay models of characters" border="0" height="300" width="400" /></div>
<p>It was hot, the recorded high 97, and it was humid, and we had to wait in the blazing sun; but we had fun! If <a href="http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/christmascaroltraintour/">Disney's A Christmas Carol Train Tour</a> is coming to a city near you, it is definitely worth it.</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/ACCtrain/Memorabilia.jpg" alt="Dickens Memorabilia" title="Dickens Memorabilia" border="0" height="300" width="400" /></div>
<p>We listened to an audio book for <u>A Christmas Carol</u> I bought at <a href="http://www.dollartree.com/home.jsp">Dollar Tree</a> last year on the way there and on the way home. From comments she made during the wait and in the train it's obvious that she catches everything, even when I don't think she's paying attention.</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/ACCtrain/CarriageHearseModel.jpg" alt="Looking at a model of the Carriage Hearse" title="Looking at a model of the Carriage Hearse" border="0" height="300" width="400" /></div>
<p>There was so much to see and so much to hear that I wish we could go back multiple times, without the heat & lines of course. Based on the stills and scenes we saw today the movie is going to be visually stunning. So much work that you never think of goes into making these motion capture animations.</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/ACCtrain/ScroogeMarleyModel.jpg" alt="Sign on model of Scrooge & Marley Warehouse" title="Sign on model of Scrooge & Marley Warehouse" border="0" height="300" width="400" /></div>
<p>They had information on motion capture, Charles Dickens, the actors & actresses, the costumes, the artwork, and just to much more to even imagine. There were even copies of Dickens' letters, original book printings, play books, and music scores. Then at the end you got to try out the touch screen face morphing. I can't wait to get our free downloads.</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/ACCtrain/MarleyMiniature.jpg" alt="Miniature of Jacob Marley" title="Miniature of Jacob Marley" border="0" height="300" width="400" /></div>
<p>After we finished in the train we went down to see the special trailer included with the experience. We are just so addicted to the Disney 3Ds, I can't even begin to explain it. It was so much the story I know and love, with just enough newness to leave me anticipating November 6th.</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/ACCtrain/MockUpOfTheVolume.jpg" alt="Mock up of The Volume where Motion Capture is done" title="Mock up of The Volume where Motion Capture is done" border="0" height="" width="" /></div>
<p>Now we have to get back to the grind just a little and figure out where we are with <a href="http://www.time4learning.com/">Time 4 Learning</a> and math. Then maybe a trip to the zoo at the end of the week, she interested in the Slow Loris.</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/d4lphotos/slowloris.jpg" alt="Slow Loris" title="Slow Loris" border="0" height="400" width="300" /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/discovery4life/mintsig.png" alt="Crazy" title="Crazy" style="border: 0px none ;" height="150" width="150" /></div>Calico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410229806595489198.post-33717646261756973682009-08-04T06:27:00.005-05:002009-10-24T13:28:58.503-05:00Field Trip Today<span style="font-family:arial;">So yesterday, we really only managed to make it to the library and get our new library cards. There are so many little things you have take care of when you move. Our girl did get her own card for the first time though and used it with glee.
Today we are going to travel to see <a href="http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/christmascaroltraintour/">Disney's A Christmas Carol Train Tour</a>. I figure it's close enough to travel to and it's a good lead in to reading the book. It was a Christmas tradition in our house when I was young to read <u>A Christmas Carol</u> aloud every Christmas Eve.
</span>
<span style="font-family:arial;">Tomorrow I must get her online and work through some of the </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.time4learning.com/">Time 4 Learning</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> stuff. I know we are going to have to make some adjustments to get things hard enough that she's really challenged and not just repeating stuff she's been able to do forever.</span>
<div style="text-align: right;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/discovery4life/orangesig.png" alt="Crazy" title="Crazy" style="border: 0px none ;" width="150" height="150" /></div>Calico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410229806595489198.post-82376910732404598092009-08-03T06:30:00.001-05:002009-10-24T13:29:11.946-05:00Getting StartedI made the decision to homeschool for 2nd grade about halfway through 1st grade. Had I known then how hard the remaining school year would be and just how much time I would invest in getting my daughter through it, I would have just started then.
I'm not sure what else what you could call our proposed style other than relaxed eclectic. I have collected a variety of resources and we will be using <a href="http://www.time4learning.com/">Time 4 Learning</a> since she loves to use the computer. I've put together a couple weeks worth of homemade workbooks that include lessons I created myself, units from <a href="http://www.the-simple-homeschool.com/index.html">The-Simple-Homeschool.com</a>, units from <a href="http://www.homeschoolshare.com/">Homeschool Share</a>, and the units I want her to do from <a href="http://www.time4learning.com/">Time 4 Learning</a>.
We will be covering the basics (math, reading, writing, science, & social studies), penguins (they are her favorite animal), Brownies, and a couple of activities I'll let her choose as we go along. For art and music this year we will stick with fun crafts and learning to play her guitar, as long as it's fun.
I'm sure there will be all kinds of challenges and hurdles I haven't even thought of yet; but I am truly looking forward to the adventure.
<div style="text-align: right;"><img src="http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/Calico_Crazy/discovery4life/pinksig.png" alt="Crazy" title="Crazy" style="border: 0px none ;" width="150" height="150" /></div>Calico Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877107683027950258noreply@blogger.com0