Term Four: Week Seven

Hmmmm... no idea what happened photographically speaking...

Monkey diligently worked on his maths workbook. He knows that once he finishes it he is finished with structured maths for the year. We will sneak maths into our everyday learning through the summer (games, cooking, etc) but the written work will be done.  This was another hands-on page and he LOVES those! 

 I asked Munchkin if he wanted to try some cutting practice pages and he eagerly agreed.  I will plan these regularly for him next year, as it is clear to me that he needs practice holding and using scissors.  Despite his unorthodox method of holding and using them, he is quite good at cutting.

Our local library has been ordering in new books again, so we found some science books that looked ever so interesting to us. 

 Independent reading...

Term Four: Week Six ~ Self Directed Learning

Munchkin LOVES this wonderful learning toy that was my brother's decades ago.

A great way to practice shape recognition and enhance creativity. 

The older boys LOVE our natural learning days when they can play a mammoth Pokemon card game. 

We ended the week with a trip to Carrss Park with our homeschool group. There is a beautiful new playground and a place to swim.  The boys were in HEAVEN and it was a hot day too so the perfect way to stay cool. 

The older boys independent reading.

For some reason we didn't read any picture books this week. 

Our read aloud books that we finished... Monkey's on the left, Monster's on the right. 

 I finished the last book in the Matilda Saga (my 2nd reading through all the books) now I just wait for the sixth book to be released in December.

Term Four: Week Five ~ Photographic Focus on Munchkin

It seems this week my photographic focus was on Munchkin.

Rather fitting actually as he is starting to show an increased interest in directed learning activities.

 He rather enjoyed putting together some little puzzles that focus on the alphabet (above) and counting (below).  I'm not particularly happy with the quality of the alphabet puzzle as I thought some of the picture/sound combinations were unclear and confusing, but with some discussion Munchkin was able to match them.

The number matching game (1-10) is really too simple for him since he can count to 30 independently, but again, he enjoyed the "learning activities" and the one-on-one time with me.  He will definitely be ready for a focused period of structured learning next year. 

This was my shock for the week.  While I was working in the office, the boys were playing together in the playroom.  It turns out Munchkin (4.5 yrs old) asked his Monkey (7 yrs old) to write some simple words down on a piece of paper so he could copy them (by sight only) onto his own piece of paper!  His (Munchkin's) writing is shown above and it blew my husband and I both away!  Munchkin has done a handful of worksheets that focus on writing (tracing sheets) and most of those were simply of his name! 

Monkey's evening read aloud continues to come from the Ramona series! 

Meanwhile, Monster and I are working through the Narnia books. 

 Our collection of independent reading and read aloud books for the week!

Term Four: Week Four ~ Lapse in Photography

It seems I'm struggling to pick up my camera these days.

Not just for the purpose of recording our school adventures, but for other things as well.

So please accept my apologies as it seems photographs will be lean... but I will work hard to mend my ways.

The term (and the year) are winding to a close and with it our motivation is waning as well. We are working hard to finish up our maths and handwriting workbooks, and still doing our read alouds, but the rest of our day is dedicated to free time and free play.

Monkey and Munchkin decided to do some painting one afternoon.  The top painting is Monkey's picture (he is 7yrs old) and the bottom painting is Munchkin's painting (he is 4.5yr old).  He wanted to "copy" his brother's painting so it had to be on display on the table while he worked on his.  I'm quite interested and impressed with his "adaptation" of his brother's picture.

Hands-on maths pages in the workbook are ALWAYS a hit.  Monkey was THRILLED to be able to use the pan balance and some Legos to weigh a variety of household items. 

While the two older boys worked on their book work, Munchkin got busy creating with the Legos.  He was enjoying building robots - you might be able to see one near his leg in this bottom photo. 

Monster was just as thrilled as Monkey to find a hands-on maths page for one of his assignments this week as well.  He had to create a tree diagram to show all the different combinations possible for various extra options on a purchased car (colour, type of wheel, etc) 

Friday we attended homeschool group and the boys enjoyed digging for dinosaur bones in the dirt with some new friends who just joined.  It was a great and relaxing way to end the week. 

Our books for the week...

The Beast Quest obsession continues... though it is slowing!! 

A fun adaptation of a classic story. 

Yes, one of the books is the same from the above picture, simply because both boys read all the books, but at different times and in different order. 

The boys are LOVING all the Ramona books - they are GREAT for reading aloud!

I love that I now sympathise with the parents more than Ramona these days! But the boys can't understand why I laugh at things in the book that they don't see as being funny! 

The Wombat books are a HUGE hit with Munchkin so each Thursday we have to scour the picture book section of the library and take ANY wombat book that is available. 

For our English (Grammar) this term we've been reading The Word Spy and The Return of the Word Spy and they have been FASCINATING.  A bit over Munchkin's head really but the other two LOVED these books.