We played school this past July . Yeah, DS8 decided to use his mathematical skills to teach DD6 multiplication. Of course, she is not there yet. But he tried! :)
July was crazy busy and as I type this to publish this post I am worn out. I need a vacation. :)
We did lots of outings, play dates, reading and activities at home. We haven't started "school" yet. We are just doing our normal summer routines: Bible, math and reading everyday. I think I might skip school this year.
A Bible study on obedience was key this month. Out of my mind was an amazing book. Opportunities to be with friends were priceless. I hope you find some useful links below. :)
Read aloud Books
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This month, DD11 and DS8 are reading the Proverb of the day on their own. I asked them to highlight one verse that spoke the most to them. DD11 is writing them down on a PostIT and posting it on her bedroom wall. DS8 is just sharing the verse with me and telling me why he liked or thought it important.
* Together we did this Bible Study on Obedience. We read passages throughout the Bible and completed the study. It was very illuminating and even I found out things I didn't know. I highly recommend this Bible study on Obedience created by Kim Sorgius. I bought the combo pack and I used them at the same time with my children ages 4 to 11 y.o. The little ones listened and drew or colored on their individual worksheets and the bigger ones listened and wrote/ completed their worksheets. We had great discussions, prayer times and breakthroughs. Praise the Lord! :)
* Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology - We took a break and didn't do any of this book this month. We still did science though. :) Check out the rest of the post.
* Caleb's Story by Patricia MacLachlan - the 3rd book from the Sarah Plain and Tall Saga.
* Stupendous Sound - Science Rocks! by Nadia Higgins
* Hospital - That's Gross! A Look at Science by Julie Murray
* Paradise Island - The Little Mermaid's Treasure Chest
* Skippyjon Jones Lost in Spice by Judy Schachner
* The Watcher - Jane Goodall's Life with the Chimps by Jeanette Winter - DD11 read aloud to DD4 and DD6.
*
Out of My Mind - Sharon M. Draper - This is one of those books that the kids ask you to NOT stop reading. We finished it in August because we were so busy going places.
* Castles in the Sand - The Little Mermaid's Treasure Chest
* Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan
* The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack and Kurt Wiese - a book about spanking, listening and obeying.
* Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett and Kevin Cornell - Some books are just not worth writing. :/
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| A day's harvest from our garden! |
Audio Books
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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 and Story Nory (lots and lots of FREE audio goodness: Bible stories, Classics, educational stories even ones for non-English speakers wanting to improve their English. We love this website!).
* DD11 listened to Rush Revere at night.
Not much listening to audiobooks this month. Instead lots of reading.
DD6 independent reading list:
Continuing
this month, DD6 is reading by leaps and bounds. With ease she is
reading through her phonics books stories as well as keeping on reading
her 100 books. This month we discovered compound words and homophones while reading the books. As well as contractions.
Talking
to DD6 one day in March, I asked her if she was happy to be reading now. She said
she was. Then I asked her if she wanted to read Calvin and Hobbes. Her
answer: "you can only read Calvin and Hobbes after you read 100 books."
So we came up with a plan to list all of her 100 books, because
according to her once she reads 100 books then she will be able to read
any book. :) How smart is she?
48) The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? by Mo Willems
49) Surprise! by Mercer Mayer
50) All by Myself by Mercer Mayer
51) Grandma, Grandpa and Me by Mercer Mayer
52) Our Friend Sam by Mercer Mayer
53) Norma Jean, Jumping Bean by Joanna Cole
54) Planets Around the Sun by Seymour Simon
55) Little Critter's These are My Pets by Mercer Mayer
56) Just For You by Mercer Mayer
57) Johnny Appleseed - My Story by David L. Harrison
58) How Do Dinosaurs Say Good NIght? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
59) Too Many Dinosaurs by Mercer Mayer
60) Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett
61) Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Nancy White Carlstrom
62) You Read to Me, I'll Read to You - very short stories to read together by Mary Ann Hoberman - This book is filled with short stories to be read together. We read it in a span of a week.
63) Animals in the Great Outdoors by Delores Shimmin - 1st grade reader from A Beka Reading Program - this also is a book with short stories. Great vocabulary and stories portraying strong values and morals. DD6 is really enjoying these books. I will be buying the 2nd grade readers too.
64) Open Windows - 1st grade reader from A Beka Reading Program - Stories portraying strong family values. Another great reader that DD6 is enjoying.
65) I Just Forgot by Mercer Mayer
66) A Big Guy Took My Ball! by Mo Willems
DS8 independent reading list:
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Reading a chapter of Proverbs everyday and highlighting and copying the
verse that spoke the most to him. He is practicing narrating what he has read.
*
Calvin and Hobbes - We have now a collection of Calvin and Hobbes books. DD8 routine before drifting off to sleep is to read a few comic strips. The books are also in the car, so when we go places he reads some more. Although Calvin is a little devil, DS8 is learning new vocabulary, World History, current issues as well as what not do or what not to say.
* The Mystical Pencil - A Medieval Mess by Dustin Evans
* The Mystical Pencil - Costume Craziness by Dustin Evans
* The Mystical Pencil - Dinosaur Drama by Dustin Evans
* The Mystical Pencil - Raging Robots by Dustin Evans
* Hospital - That's Gross! A Look at Science by Julie Murray
* Crazy Concoctions - A Mad Scientist's Guide to Messy Mixtures by Jordan D. Brown
* Space Exploration - Eyewitness Books
*
Ten Boys Who Used Their Talents by Irene Howat - finished it this month.
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Ten Boys Who Made History by Irene Howat -
* Robots and Rovers by S.L. Hamilton
* Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales - One Dead Spy - A Revolutionary War Tale
* Blueffton by Matt Phelan
DD11 independent reading list
* Reading a chapter of Proverbs everyday and highlighting and copying the verse that spoke the most to her. She has now a wall covered in post it notes.
* The 39 clues - Cahills vs Vespers book #6 - Day of Doom by David Baldacci
* The 39 clues - Unstoppable - Book #1 - Nowhere to Run by Jude Watson
* The 39 clues - Unstoppable - Book #2 - Breakaway by Jeff Hirsch
* The 39 clues - The Black Book of Buried Secrets - Introduction by Rick Riordan
* The Mystical Pencil - A Medieval Mess by Dustin Evans
* The Mystical Pencil - Costume Craziness by Dustin Evans
* The Mystical Pencil - Dinosaur Drama by Dustin Evans
* The Mystical Pencil - Raging Robots by Dustin Evans
* Rascal by Sterling North
* The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald
* The Samurai's Tale by Erik Christian Haugaard
* The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
* The Great Turkey Walk by Kathleen Karr
* Belle The Mysterious Message
* The Time Garden by Edward Eager
* A to Z Mysteries - The Quicksand Question by Ron Roy
* Hospital - That's Gross! A Look at Science by Julie Murray
* Great American Artists for Kids - Hands-On Art Experiences in the Styles of Great American Masters by Mary Ann F. Kohl and Kim Solga
* The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland - Wings of Fire series - Book #1
* The Lost Heir by Tui T. Sutherland - Wings of Fire series - Book #2
* The Hidden Kingdom by Tui T. Sutherland - - Wings of Fire series - Book #3
* The Dark Secret by Tui T. Sutherland - Wings of Fire series - Book #4
* The Brightest Night by Tui T. Sutherland - Wings of Fire series - Book #5
* Trainee Handbook - Spy University by Jim Wiese with H.Keith Melton (spy expert)
* Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales - One Dead Spy - A Revolutionary War Tale
* Rump - The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff
* Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George
* Blueffton by Matt Phelan
* Blue Bay Mystery - The Boxcar Children #6 - by Gertrude Chandler Warner
* The Mystery at the Alamo - The Boxcar Children series y Gertrude Chandler Warner
* The Canary Caper - A to Z Mysteries by Ron Roy
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Ten Girls Who Made a Difference by Irene Howat -
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Ten Girls Who Changed the World by Irene Howat -
** Take one or two or three (i.e. reading these yet again!)
*A New Friend for Eddie Eagle - part II of the Adventures of Eddie Eagle by Margaret Ann Smith
* Bartleby of the Big Bad Bayou by Phyllis Shalant
* Judy Moody Girl Detective by Megan McDonald
Activities at Home
* Swimming, swimming, swimming.
* Pool Playdates at our house. More swimming playdates. Did I say swimming playdates yet? :)
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Gardening; harvesting okra, cucumbers, yellow squash, greens, herbs, green beans, tomatoes and more.
* Making kimchi for the first time.
* Making cards for OWH.
* Cleaning, decluttering, and selling our stuff on Ebay.
* Making videos for YouTube
* A girly birthday party for DD6 who is now DD7. DD11 got to help decorate and plan the party. We made a chocolate cake with crooked neck squash and pink icing.
* All the girls are wanting to help more with cooking, cleaning and just taking charge. I need to let go and let them do it all. :)
* I have become the official hairdresser at home. I am trimming the guys' hair and dying the girls' hair pink. :)
Field Trips/ Activities Outside Home
* Lego Club
* Summer dance classes for DD4 and DD6 - they are enjoying tap, ballet and tumbling together. So sweet to watch!
*
Summer Reading Program at our local Public Library - It's all about
science this summer.
Animal Tales came to visit. WE always enjoy the presentations. The kids learn so much. The
Coosa River Science School came too and again the animals were the stars. And
McWane Science Center could not be left out during a program where it was all about science. They talked chemical and physical reactions. The kids had a blast!
* Birthday party at our local Water Park. It was so much fun.
* A Nerf gun birthday party.
* ARt classes at the library.
Websites/ Links we found and used/ Apps
TV shows/ Videos/ Movies/ YouTube
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| Kimchi made with Yellow Squash |
Books, blogs and other things I am reading...
* Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers - Martha's Legacy Part I
* Her Daughter's Dream by Francine Rivers - Martha's Legacy Part II - another great read from Francine Rivers. I love the depth of her characters. These two books were so eye opening to me.
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Stepping Heavenward by Elisabeth Prentiss - Audiobook for FREE on Books Should Be Free Website.
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Faithfully Frugal: Spend Less, Give More, Live More (Sacred Mundane) by Kari Patterson - What does it mean to live frugally to a Christian? Where are your treasures? Where is your heart? This book was very short but very inspiring. I am enjoying reading Kari Patterson' blog too.
* Damaged by Cathy Glass - The Heartbreaking True Story of a Forgotten Child - Inside look at how foster care works in UK. Very sad story.
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A Lineage of Grace - Five Stories of Unlikely Women who changed eternity by Francine Rivers - Last month, I read Unveiled - the story of Tamar. This month, I am reading Unspoken - the story of Bathsheba. I love the way Francine Rivers writes. I love how well she develops her characters thru the story timeline. I would love to review each one of these stories in a blog post.I also read the story of Ruth in this same series. There are two more to go: the "lady" in Jerico and Mary.
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The Waiting by Cathy LaGrow with Cindy Coloma - The true story of a lost child, a lifetimes of longing, and a miracle for a mother who never gave up. I love biographies. Love true stories with triumphant endings. This is one of them. The book tells the lives of the biological mother and the child put up for adoption. Years later, both over 70 years of age, God orchestrates their encounter and the realization of a dream. If you can get your hands on this book, it will bless your heart!
How was your July? What new things did you learn?
Blessings,
Tereza
