Learning Log of December 2013

It's almost the end of January and I am only now posting the Learning Log of December. I have an explanation. We actually spent Christmas day in Brazil and have only been back to the USA a week ago.

After many attempts and cancellations, our trip to Brazil was finally booked. I truly believe that when God wants you to do something He will cause you to do it! 

Our trip there felt like a mission trip. There is so much to share and I will try to motivate myself to make some slideshows and post them on YouTube. Will you help me? If you would like to see more of Brazil, please leave me a comment.

The kids did a lot of learning without books. We went to lots of parks, met lots of people, played with and loved them all. The kids are begging to go back. They enjoyed all the interaction with family that lives far away. Change is in the air? Who know? It's in God's hands. I am trusting that if He wants us to move He will pave the way. 

Read Aloud 

* Bible at meal times - As needed I change our Bible reading around. This month, I am reading the Bible to

them at lunch time. It helps me to eat less and we enjoy reading the Word of God and feeding on Jesus.

* The Hedgehog Boy - A Latvian Folktale by Jane Langton
* How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitz
* Gifts of the Heart by Patricia Polacco
* The Treasure Hunt by A.J. Wood
* God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren 


* DD6 decorating for Christmas >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Audio Books

* My kids, one time or another have the files below in their mp5s to which they listen to every night at their choosing: Fairy tales and classic stories , worship music, Story Hour files, The Piano Guys, Jonathan Park and The Brinkman Adventures, The Chronicles of Narnia.

* Animal Farm by George Orwell - This book was covered in History on DD10's Easy Peasy curriculum. I decided to listen to the audiobook as a family in the evenings. It provided for great conversations of current events as well as past historical ones.

* On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls - the fourth book of the Laura Ingalls series. We enjoyed it as much as the others. Really good lessons on the dangers of disobeying parents.

DS8 independent reading list:  

* The Hedgehog Boy - A Latvian Folktale by Jane Langton
* How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitz
* Every book he can get his hands on of Calvin and Hobbes.

DD10 independent reading list

* How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel by Cressida Cowell - book 10 - How to Train a Dragon series
* The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett
* Santa is coming to Alabama by Steve Smalman
* Home for Christmas by Jan Brett
* Christmas Trolls by Jan Brett
* Trouble with Trolls by Jan Brett
* Trouble-Maker by Andrew Clements - This link contains a good review made by a Christian homeschooling mom.

* No Talking by Andrew Clements - our librarian gave me a couple of books for the kids to read on the plane and this was one of them. Another success with my DD10.

** Take one or two or three (i.e. reading these yet again!)

* Amazon Diary - The Jungle Adventures of Alex Winters

Activities at Home

* The kids get very antsy when the weather gets cold and they can't go outside play whenever they like. So we end up doing a lot of hands-on activites. This month we made Oobleck again and the kids had their fill with this highly sensory playtime.
* A week before we left our only hen, who is a Top Hat breed, begin laying eggs. The kids were excited but concerned about leaving her behind.

* The usual ones mentioned in months past. As well as getting ready for an international trip. Setting up a

caretaker for our chickens. Getting the house ready for winter. Buying gifts, packing suitcases and preparing for the airplane trip.

* In Brazil, the kids did a lot of playing and talking to cousins and relatives in general. They watched too many movies on Netflix and computer devices. Played too many computer games. I think mostly because we were in a small condo and they had to contain their physical energy some.

* Manicures and pedicures. We had a lady come over and do my manicure and pedicure, as well as my Mom's, Grandmother's and the girls' for a mere $20.00. It was an afternoon of enjoyment and pampering.

* Cooking and eating. Lots of cooking and eating. :)

 Field Trips/ Activities Outside Home

 * 4H meeting -We learned about how to care for a parakeet.

* We went to Brazil for 20 days - we left on the 24th and arrived on Christmas Day! Although DD10 and DS8 had traveled by plane before they couldn't remember the experience because they were only 3 y.o. and 4 months old. This time the experience was memorable to all our children. Before we left I explained what would happen in the plane, how meals would be served, how small restrooms and hallways would be etc etc. The children enjoyed the flight and the experience. All in all they all behaved really well and touch pads were very helpful. :)

* Christmas Day in Brazil - it's a big and all day event in Brazilians' households. We gathered together at around noon and eat and play all day long. It was fun to see some of my relatives and the kids got to meet some new ones too.

* The children were recuperating from a cold and due to the trip they got worse, so we got to see a doctor, visit a public clinic and see what medical services and facilities are like in Brazil.

* New Year's Eve found us at my parents' condo celebrating again with lots of food and fun with the family all around us. We got to watch fireworks on the TV and outside our balcony as the neighbors lightened up the sky with explosions of lights and sounds.

* We visited an all you can eat Steakhouse in Brazil and it was a gastronomic extravaganza! We also visited my uncle's homestead and I dreamt away wishing for one too.

* When we first arrived it was raining every day and the kids were still pretty sick to do long trips. We went to an indoor park that looked like a fair ground with toys for the kids to play on, ride in or just climb. It was a great stress relief.

 

 Websites/ Links we found and used/ Apps

* Easy Peasy for school for DD10 and DS8.  Some websites we found on this site are just fantastic like:

* School of Dragons - this site is very interactive but I don't allow my kids to chat.

TV shows/ Videos/ Movies/ YouTube

* Despicable Me 2 - we lost count of how many times we watched this movie. Every time we had friends over who hadn't seen the movie we showcased it again. While in Brazil, we watched it at least 5 times with our relatives.

* My Little Pony episodes on Netflix.

* The Princess and the Frog
* The Little Mermaid episodes on Netflix

* Episodes of How To Train a Dragon, Tinker Bell, Princess Sofia, Ninjako, Doctor MacStuffin, Olivia 
* Amazing Tron Dance
 

Mom's Eclectic Reading List

*  The Power of Right Believing by Joseph Prince - Would you like to see Jesus how He really is? Are you tired of condenmation and guilt? I praise the Lord for the ministry of Joseph Prince. It has revolutionized my life. 

Blessings and Happy 2014!!!

Tereza