The Library...

This week we finally got around to picking up 'A's Grade 1 library bag. Anyone who has just finished grade one can claim a prize bag from the library for free. They have been available since some time in June but we hadn't had a chance to go in and spend the time to go through one.

So this week we had the time and we took her in on Monday to get her bag. Inside the bag was a coupon for $2 off her very own library card, a bookmark, a booklet full of games, colouring pages and a a quiz that sent her on a hunt around the library for points. She had to go on this treasure hut and work out the points and then go back to the information desk when she had the answer. It only took her a few minutes and when she went back she won a stamp and a chocolate! Then she was also given a big poster of a dragon and the dragon has 24 scales to colour in - she gets to colour one in for every book she reads during the holidays - and when he is all coloured in she can take him back to the library and she gets one big scale to write her name on and put on the wall and he name ges into the draw to win the prize of having the librarian come to her class (or homeschool group) to read stories etc etc.

'A' LOVED her goodie bag and came straight home and read three books! She has since read lots of books to me and to herself and lying on my bed and her bed and on the sofa and on the porch and in the car....

This morning she was reading one of the Animal Ark books that Susie used to love.

While at the library on Monday the children also signed up for the annual Summer Reading Game - this year it has a space theme. Sam is taking part too and they each got a pencil and a tattoo.

The children all decided it was time for each of them to have their own library cards too so we did that too (no idea why as they only ever go to the library with me) but now they all have their own cards....now instead of keeping track of just my one card I have 4 cards to keep track of!!!

We went to the library again today and I got out a couple of books on magnets so 'A' could get a head start on reading about that and she can colour in a scale on her dragon at the same time! They got to roll the dice on the reading game too AND I ran into a homeschooling friend too - Jennifer!!! Not Jennifer from drama but Jennifer from 'The Trees' who I haven't seen for a couple of years and it was sooooo nice to see her! Wow have her children grown and we stood and chatted for a while and it was nice to catch up - hopefully we will run into each other in the Fall!

I thought I'd ask if they had any spaces left in any of their classes in August but to be honest I expected them to say no because they started taking bookings in June. I was shocked when I managed to get places in ALL but one of the classes I wanted!!! So 'A' and 'Su' have plenty of workshops to take part in before September arrives! Some of them sound so much fun!

I am a total bookworm - I LOVE to read, so I must admit that I LOVE that my children love the library. Going to the library is one of my favourite childhood memories - I remember it so clearly! And now I love to see how excited my own children get about our trips to the library! I love how quiet our house is after a trip the library because the children disappear to different parts of the house with their piles of books to curl up and read.

I love that our library is in the mall right now - its so convenient - I wonder how things will change when it moves across the road to the 'centre in the park'. I wonder if things will improve or if it will take time for us to get used to the change. I wonder what the childrens area will be like. I wonder how 'family friendly' it will really be!

Libraries are such wonderful places - I hope they are a regular part of YOUR family's life too!!!

Art class in the garden!

Drawing flowers in the garden! We took blankets into the garden and drew flowers and coloured them in! 'A' drew a Phlox and a Foxglove.

Registered!

We finally registered this week and are now officially homeschooling for the upcoming school year. I've had a good look at what A would be doing in school over the next year if she was in school for grade 2 and this is basically it:

Math:

recognize and apply whole numbers up to 1000, and explore
fractions (halves, thirds and quarters)
• apply a variety of addition and subtraction strategies on whole
numbers to 100, and use these operations in solving problems
• use an appropriate calculation strategy or technology to solve
problems
Patterns and Relations
• identify, create, describe and translate numerical and non-
numerical patterns arising from daily experiences in the school
and on the playground



Shape and Space
• estimate, measure and compare, using standard units for
length and primarily nonstandard units for other measures
• name, describe and construct a variety of 3-D objects and 2-D
shapes
• apply positional language, orally and in writing, to
communicate motion



Statistics and Probability
• collect, display and describe data, independently, based on
first-hand information
• use simple experiments, designed by others, to illustrate
chance


Science:


Exploring Liquids
• observe that liquid water can be changed to ice or to steam,
and back again, if heated and cooled, and that wet materials
dry out when left open to the air
• learn that water is our most important liquid, that we use
water in many ways, and that water is essential to life
• describe some properties of water and other liquids, and
recognize the importance of water to living and nonliving
things

Buoyancy and Boats
• learn about balance and stability and about different methods
that can be used in propelling a watercraft
• explore the concept of density
• construct objects that will float on and move through water,
and evaluate various designs for watercraft



Magnetism
• learn to distinguish materials that are affected by magnets
from those that are not
• learn how magnets can be used in sorting objects, moving
things and holding things together
• describe the interaction of magnets with other magnets and
with common materials



Hot and Cold Temperature
• observe that temperatures can go up and down, including the
temperature of their surroundings and the temperatures of
particular objects within it
• learn about methods that are used to control temperature in
buildings
• learn how insulation is used to keep things hot or cold



Small Crawling and Flying Animals
• learn about where small animals live, what they eat, and what
they are eaten by
• learn features of the animals that suit them to their particular
environment
• describe the general structure and life habits of small crawling
and flying animals; for example, insects, spiders, worms, slugs



They also have a social studies project to do which I plan to change to something more relevant to us, and also art which they have no specific projects to do. Drama again no specific projects. Health studies the same - and physical education the same. these are all things that can be covered by our extra curricular activities.

I didn't add Language arts to the above list because 'A' has already covered everything that is listed in the LA topic for grade 2 and so our year will be spent continuing to enjoy LA...reading, writing stories and letters, poems and just enjoying the computer and writing for what it is - rather than making her DO anything...she can just enjoy her writing and reading.....

So if THAT is grade 2, it makes you wonder what on EARTH kids go to school for a WHOLE YEAR for lol!