Yay!

She can sit on her own! Even with all that hair.

She can sit on her own! Even with all that hair.

I am really happy with how she turned out!

I am really happy with how she turned out!

Her wig is knotted on through her scalp (like blanket fringe) and then tacked around the bottom of her head. It worked great. This one’s hair has three different yarns since I was using scraps, but I’ll find something for the pattern example that will help me get a more accurate idea of yards needed. I’ve also got to locate a line with skin tones (I’m thinking EcoButterfly but it’s floofy so I’m on the fence). What I used for this one (KnitPicks Simply Cotton in Ginger, doubled) has been discontinued. But I looooove her tail (I’m so glad I though about that little picot edging, it’s a great detail) and will use it for the pattern. That one comes in other colors so I’m trying to decide which way to go for he pattern example’s tail.

Two Arms to Hold You

I finished her arm! And then I started messing around with her hair! And THEN I thought, “Argh I forgot to take a picture!” So I took one:

From my phone. Yes, that is a bird's nest on the table behind her.

From my phone. I wasn’t paying attention to my background, but I probably should have been.

I’m trying something different with her hair than I did with the Girl’s hair. So far it’s not too heavy.

Studying China

Rounding out our study of China with Egg Drop Soup and Honey Ficken (‘ficken’ = fake chicken).

It's educational.

It’s educational.

Ellie helped cook.

I promise that I’m working on that second mermaid arm. And a Rooster.

Weekly Wrap-Up: Lesson 1

Best. Week. Ever.

We explored the five senses, talked about territory, started piano lessons,

had cats in the classroom

had cats in the classroom,

played a bunch of games, studied China,

started a mask (expect a tutorial)

started a mask (expect a tutorial),

reviewed word families, sang songs, knit, recited verses,

played word games - the whiteboard was an excellent decision by the way

played word games – the whiteboard was an excellent decision by the way,

read books, composed sentences, had a friend over after school, went to Play Group at the park on Friday, and

worked in the Main Lesson Books

worked in two of the Main Lesson Books.

That’s not even everything. In case anybody is sitting around wondering if Oak Meadow’s curriculum actually has enough to keep the student busy: we could have easily made all of the activities in Lesson 1 last for a week and a half. I sorted out our weekly schedule for Lesson 2 and I feel like the same thing is true. Ellie and I do tend to get really involved in most everything we do, but I have a hard time imagining anyone just blowing through these activities, stories and projects.

In spite of our longer-than-anticipated school days last week, I managed to make all of the Mermaid but one arm and her hair, kept up with the house, fixed all the meals but two*, and read to myself for fun. Oh wait. All the meals but three. I forgot about the donuts on Monday morning. I will also say (lest you think that there is too much Donna Reed over here) that I wrecked one dinner with my illiteracy and had to make Emergency Substitute Dinner from the freezer. I like to cook, but I am not always good at it.

MY POINT IS: It was a full week but not hectic or rushed. It was a full week with a relaxed pace.

I’ve got to start planning for Girl Scouts this week, so we’ll see if I feel as relaxed at the end of Lesson 2.

*That sounds super domestic and like a weird thing to be proud of. If you need to judge me for it go right ahead. When you’re finished, please cross your fingers that Devoni’s Pizzeria reopens in September like the sign says they will…

Kitty Knitting

Just a sneak peek at what went on the first week of school:

teehee

teehee

The little kitty pattern can be found at The Magic Onions. When I saw that post, I knew the scarf would just have to wait a week. Our only modifications were to seam flat across the top of his head (to make ears with the corners) and i-cord on 3 stitches for the tail. Ellie insisted that her cat have eyes.

Also: I totally framed her first knitting.

So fancy.

So fancy.

Ready

I have a little bit of a crush on our school room.

All the right colors.

All the right colors.

Miscellaneous books and craft supplies.

Miscellaneous books and craft supplies. The cats are a souvenir of preschool.

I decided at the last minute that a dry erase board would be a good idea.

I decided (at the last minute) that a dry erase board would be a good idea after all.

Supply shelves. The first one is the everyday materials.

The first bookcase is the everyday materials. Those little things on the wall are Command clips.

Gotta have a motto.

Gotta have a motto. Bonus: self portrait.

The future Nature Table.

The future Nature Table and one of Lucy’s hidey holes. We’re still waiting on the cat tree.

The map and stuff are hung on those wire curtain hangers from Ikea.

The map and stuff are hung on those wire curtain hangers from Ikea.

We’ve been hanging out up here a lot. I hope we like it just as much when school starts on Monday.

Course Work

It’s Meet the Teacher night at our local elementary school. (Look who’s not there!)

I don’t think I ever talked about curriculum.

Here it is:

It came in a big box.

It came in a big box.

Everything for a year.

Everything to guide a year.

The Oak Meadow curriculum materials have just been re-worked and reprinted. The new books are attractive, the teacher books are spiral bound, and the whole system is easy to use even when you need several books to assemble a lesson plan. I’ve seen examples of older versions of the materials since I ordered the ‘Home Teacher’s Process Manual’ before we enrolled to get a feel for the program. The improvement in visual appeal is marked.

New on on top. But I'm sure you can tell.

New one in front. But I’m sure you can tell.

Now known as the “Guide to Teaching the Early Grades,” the new version of the Process Manual isn’t just prettier, there is also an appendix in the back with rhymes, songs and poems.

Pro Tip: When you get your Oak Meadow curriculum, start with the Resource Book. That’s where the introduction is. Nothing makes sense unless you read the introduction first.

The Coursebook contains the outlines for 36 lessons that are to be completed over the school year. Each lesson contains one week’s worth of activities sorted by subject: all of the Language Arts assignments for the week come first, followed by Social Studies, then Math, and so on. As the teacher, my responsibility is to read through the Lesson, sort out how and when we will complete each activity and gather any resources we’ll need for that week. A ‘boxed’ curriculum doesn’t mean that parents can just follow along step-by-step! Especially since this is project-based learning and not a stack of worksheets to complete. There are still lesson plans to make! Schedules still need to be sorted! My personal plan is to stay two weeks ahead with lesson preparation. That’s plenty of time to request books from the library and get any Thriftbooks or Amazon deliveries to enhance the lesson. Social Studies is about China for the first two weeks, so I’ve got a few library books that directly support what is covered by the included projects and stories. In Lesson 2, Health focuses on the systems of the human body and how the whole thing works together. My library didn’t have the book I wanted (it’s got transparent layers!), so I’ve got one on the way from Thriftbooks. I (probably) won’t buy one-time-use-resources, but this particular book is pretty cool and will stay useful later. Plus it’s Thriftbooks* so I spent all of $3.59.

Everything on the shelf.

Everything on the shelf.

I’m not sure how Oak Meadow could have made project-based learning any easier. The Coursebook contains weekly planners, weekly checklists, and Learning Assessment pages for every lesson. Stories in the Resource Book and Readers, and activities in Crafts for the Early Grades are referenced – this makes it extra important to look through the lessons ahead of time so that you can have all the needed materials ready. The craft instructions are detailed and the stories fit the methodology (you’ll have to read the introduction). I feel prepared and supported and pleased.

All that to say: I’m feeling pretty good about our choice.

I’m ready to get this show on the road.

*I have a small Thriftbooks addiction.