More Flat Ella

  Another text from Memo...

Riding a tractor....

Smelling the flowers with Memo

Just hanging out with Papa.

Flat Ella travels to Florida

    Flat Ella's aventure begins with Memo and Papa...on their trip to Florida...Papa is a truck driver and heads to Florida a lot...Memo went with him this trip...and so did Flat Ella...

Flat Ella at Ella B's...I cut Memo out cuz I think she wouldn't have been happy with this full picture on the net! Love you mama!

Papa and Flat Ella...having breakfast!

I guess Flat Ella likes her coffee!

   I'll let you know where she heads next!!!

Coins

   Well Ian has pretty much got clocks down...we are still working on it here and there but we have moved onto COINS! I once again go to the internet and find something awesome! This time it's "Donna Young" and there are some great work sheets for money...now I just need to find some of my own money for an ink cartridge for the printer so I can get these printed out clearly! LOL 

   She has printable money:

There is "paper" money too

   Printable tags for a "store":

   And a video game...it doesn't have ANY bells or whistles...it's kinda boring...but it would get the job done...

   I'll let you know what else I find!!! :D

Day 13...

   Wow...we are up to day 13 already...things have been going well...someone asked me yesterday if I regret anything about home schooling him...and I honestly said NO...God has REALLY changed my spirit...it's awesome! HE is amazing! I love being home with them...I hate having to go to work...there are times that Ian whines and says he hates school and he wishes he was back in Kindergarten (aka Public school) but I just tell him that this is what Daddy and I have decided for him right now and that's the way it is!   In short...thank you for all the prayer...it is working well! :D

   Now today's fun tip about school...Ian did a color by number today...he thought it was really cool...so I thought I would look on the net for some more to print out....and what I found was better...it's a website that has a TON of computer "games" that teach TONS of things...I knwo that doesn't sound like much but go check it out HERE...it's free and it has all grades...starts really easy and get harder...it perfect!!! Can't wait to show Ian!!! Good luck and happy teaching!

The flats have left the building

   Well we got the journal, the letter and the little people all ready to go...each child is sending one to their grandparent...Ian's is going to G'ma Janice who is currently many states away...and Ella's is going to Memo who lives a couple hours away! Here's what they look like...

 Here's Ella's...

The journal and Flat Ella

 

 

climbing in....

Ella...ready to mail...

   And Ian's...

The journal and Flat Ian....

Climbing in...

Ready to be mailed and on his way...

   So now we will see what happens!!! Thank you to all who help with this!!!

Pledge Allegiance

   So I told Ian that I wanted to start doing the Pledge of Allegiance every morning but that we would need to get a flag for it...and he got all excited and said "hold on mom" and ran off...came back a few seconds later with this...

  

   He had already drawn one...so that's what we say our Pledge of Allegiance to!

Flat Stanley

   So since my mom home schooled (and is still home schooling) my little brother...I remember she did this with him....and at the time our big brother was in Iraq and Hawaii...well that big brother is about to head over to Afghanistan soon...so we might be able to send one to him but I am going to start somewhere else I think...

   I found these Flat Stanley dolls online somewhere ( I looked at lots of sights) and wanted to do a girl one too...so I made up my own girl one...please feel free to use these if you can!

A boy and girl version of Flat Stanley!

  

 I'm going to hand color them...because my kids are a little young to color their own yet...Ian really isn't but Ella is!

 

   Here is a letter I made up to go with it...I still have to make the journal...but I think it will just be a few pages stapled together folded nicely and ready to mail!

     And I will keep you all informed as we hear back from HIM!

Ear Tubes

   On March 12th Ian is getting Ear Tubes...so I am making it a learning experience! So here is a video I used to show him what would happen...I paused it during the computer generated parts so I could explain better! And I found a couple cool pictures online of some different things relating to it! He is a lot more calm about it now...but I'm sure that day will be a lot different...
   I explained that the hole they have to cut is tiny...and then I showed him my c-section scar...and he laughed at how big it was...and I explained that his was the size of a pin! Just tiny!

   Here is the video I found...I'm sure there are other ones out there that are more detailed...but this one worked!

This is how big the "tube" is...it's SO small!!!!

                                 

Our crazy weekend

   Well it's been a few days...and there's good reason...after school on Wed. one of my girl friends and I were headed to some quilt shops...just a fun day away...and after we had been driving for a couple hours and got to the farthest away one the car started acting up...over heating...running it self out of anti-freeze/coolant...so we continued on our "adventure"...because the car needed to cool down in between shops and we were the farthest away that we were gonna go...so after all of that we DID finally make it home! But it was already 11pm by that time!

   So that night my hubby and I talked and decided that the kids and would "limp" it to our home town to get fixed...I ONLY trust the guys down there...they are WONDERFUL!!!   So Thur morning we got in the car and headed down...made it about half way and the car wouldn't go anymore...it over heated...so my mom then had to drive an hour to come get us...then we waited a few more hours at her house and when my little brother got off work we went with his truck and a car dolly (that my LOVELY Uncle paid for...as a Christmas present he said) to pick up the car...got it to the shop by 5pm...

   The next morning (Fri.) I ran over (with some fresh baked Chocolate Chip Cookies) to see what they thought was wrong with it...and told them I needed to leave that night because I worked at 9am the next day (Sat.)...they thought they knew what was wrong but had to do a couple more things to it first...so my mom and I ran about 45 minutes away to some stores she needed to go to...and we got back about 2pm...and I had wanted to get on the road about 3pm...so we stopped back at the shop...and they hadn't worked on it! Normally I would be PISSED...but they had a bunch of other cars scheduled and I had just brought mine in without notice!

   So thankfully my in-laws are away on vacation at the moment and one of their cars was available...so I ended up leaving Paul's car (the gimpy one) in my home town...packed up the kids in my in-law's van...and came home...then worked all day on Sat...was SUPER tired on Sunday...and now I am trying to get the kids to clean their rooms a little...before we start school.

   We are still working on Clocks...and while we were in my home town my mother gave me some of the things she had used for my little brother (who is also home schooled) and my little brother worked with Ian on Fri. while my mother and I were shopping...they played with Technic Legos...gears and stuff...Ian LOVED it...he cried when I said it was time to go!

   So sorry this was a long winded thing...but it's been a VERY busy weekend...and I am VERY happy to be back home..though we dont have our car back yet...it's good to get back to the "normal" daily stuff! :D

   Have a great week...and there is more to come!

Ian's Story

    I told Ian that he had to make a story up about our trip to the dentist and the DMV and it kind of turned into a STORY instead of something REAL about yesterday...but I love where he went with it! And his drawing is great!!! :D

The words are... We wer going to the dantist and a pink angry brd was folloing us. ...so he meant We were going to the dentist and a pink angry bird was following us.  I helped him when he got frustrated with words but for the most part he wrote it all by himself...and sounded out the words all by himself! I'm so proud!!!   To explain the picture...our car is the colorful one...and he is driving toward the dentist (far right side) the black thing on it is a tooth...he has also been learning time so he wrote that on there...and that pink angry bird is toward the left there.   (You can click on the picture to see it better)

Time to tell Time!!!

   As I was going through Ian's upcoming Math worksheets I saw that he would be tested on CLOCKS and TIME...well he said he has never learned them in school and so I found some great websites and ideas to teach him that before we TEST on it! :D

   I found this clock and thought...what a GREAT idea...

   So I went ahead and made my own out of a clock we never used...

My picture isn't amazing...and I know it's HANDMADE looking but it gets the job done! It's so confusing teaching the whole 6 really means 30 when it's the minute hand...this should help!

   I also found a website that has free printables for time learning...and many other things!!! Check them out... Clock Printable ...thanks for stopping by!

First Home School Outing/Valentine's Day Party

   Today was a BUSY day...first we had to get a little school done then is was off to the bowling alley for some bowling then Pizza Hut for lunch!!!

   We had a GREAT time...there were a couple times Ian had to sit down and calm down because he was getting a little disobedient but otherwise it was a GREAT time!

   I did get some photos but they are with my phone so the quality isn't the best...

Ella getting ready to roll it...

It's going...slowly but surely!

She is STILLLLLLLL waiting...LOL

He could sure throw a ball!

I guess it helps to stand this way!

Showing me the ball! And how to hold it!

I'm tellin' ya..you gotta tip your head!

Boy that ball takes a while to come back...notice the hands on the hips?! :D

He wanted to catch it...I'm SHOCKED he didn't stick his hand in there!

Throwing again!

   They both did great...got kind of bored by the end but over all it was good...

   My mom reminded me that I didn't post yesterday...and I can't remember why...but either way...I have already noticed a BIG difference in him...he is listening better and WOW does this kids like to learn! I can't give him enough...he is picking up little kids books and READING them...like REALLY reading...and he is about a quarter of the way through his 1st Grade Math book...I think we are gonna do a little more school tomorrow just to make up for the lack of it today and yesterday with getting ready for the party and having the party!

   I have never really been one to say "I'm so glad to be a mom" (unless I'm looking at my angels sleeping...then isn't every mom happy?) But this last week...God has really put it in my heart to teach this little boy and I love it!!! Thank you again for all the support! PLEASE pray that God helps me keep up this motivation and that Ian keeps getting better and better! THANK YOU!!!

Day Three...half done...

   We started later today...we had church group last night..and usually we leave at 8pm so the kids can get to bed cuz of school the next day...but seeing as how they didn't HAVE to get up at any certain time we stayed late...Paul stayed with the kids til like 9 and I didn't get out til almost 10...it was VERY nice visiting! 

   But because we were out so late...mama is dragging a bit this morning...the kids seem ok...though I'm sure nap time is gonna go over well...cuz I think they will be tired!

   At the moment they are outside playing...it's only 17 degrees out but they wont be out long...just a little fresh air is ALWAYS good! If only I didn't have to work form 1 til 8 tonight....I could take a nap too and then my life would be better...but oh well...such is life!

   When they come back in I have a surprise for them...we are going to paint Valentine's boxes...we just joined a homeschooling group and they are having a Valentine's Day party at a local bowling alley and then Pizza Hut for lunch...so I thought we would make up a cute couple of boxes to keep all the Valentine's they get! :D

  I just peeked outside at the kids...Ian is sitting in a stroller watching Ella pry up ice...way to be a "boss" Ian...at least he is telling her good job! LOL

Ian working on Math!

 

Map Quest

   On our way to the Library I thought of a fun idea...why not let Ian tell me how to get there...when we go for walks I usually let each kid take a turn telling me which way to go...and then we walk that way...why not let Ian do that to get to the library...so here's what I did...I went to www.google.com and went to MAPS and typed in our address and then the Library's address...and made a map...I used a random place on here..NOT OUR TOWN...so that we don't get any WEIRDOS coming to our house! But anyway...it shows you which way would be the quickest...but it also shows roads near by...so I printed out the REAL one...and I think I will do a few copies...and then let Ian use a marker BEFORE we leave...mark how he wants to get there...and then tell me where to go...I think this would work to go to Wal-Mart and other places too...the Library just happens to be closer and where we went today!!! I'm SO excited! Hope he likes the idea...I'm sure he will!!!

This is NOT our town...for safety reasons I picked a random town and area!

 

Day two...DONE!

Well today didn't go as well as yesterday...there was a little more whining...but not bad...though we REALLY need to find something for Ella to do while I'm working with Ian! Tomorrow I think I will have her sit down and watch Sesame Street in the bedroom while we are doing school! 

   Also...just so you know...when I say we are DONE doing school...it means with the book part...there are still other things we have to do that day that go along with SCHOOL...today we are heading to the Grocery Store and I made a shopping list for him using pictures and numbers...now this trip we are only grabbing a couple things we need for a dessert tonight at our church group...but I will do this with bigger things too so he can help...and after he gets into money...you can BET I will make him help me budget it too!

   Then we have to go to the Library...where I have a few books on hold and I also planned on letting them pick out as many as they are old...so Ian get 5 and Ella gets 3...and Boy wont Ian have fun right after his birthday in March when it goes up to 6!!! LOL

    I work this afternoon so it will be up to Paul to let them go outside and to read to them before Group tonight! Should be a GREAT day!!!

Gotta let him start sometime! I can't wait to teach him how to find store brands and how they are cheaper! :D

 

Reading Time

   One of Ian's "chores" for the day is to read to Ella...I thought they would just look at the pictures and make it up...and they might at some point but since Ian KNOWS his sight word books...he is "reading" them to her!!! LOVE IT!!!

I LOVE seeing this!!!

Sight Word Books

I found this GREAT site... SIGHT WORD BOOKS ...it has TONS of sight word books...check it out!!!

 

First Day

If everyday was like today...EVERYONE would be home schooling!!! 

  

   We woke up...after a LONG night of friends and a football game...and right away Ian and Ella did their chores...clean rooms...dirty laundry in basement...then at 8am we started school...Ella went upstairs and Ian and I sat at the dining room table...in Math I decided to do the "tests" in the book first to see what he knew...and if he stumbled on some then we would go back and work in that section...well after 4 tests and he was still doing WONDERFUL we moved onto a different subject...cuz he was getting bored of Math...LOL...so we worked on some words...then he read me a "sight word" book...which he got from the Public School...and already knew the words...so I'm gonna have to print off some new ones! LOL

    Then we read a chapter in his new Phineas and Ferb book and now he is taking a break with his sister...he is "technically" done...but I'm sure Daddy will have stuff for him this afternoon!

    Tomorrow...we will start the same way...and I'm hoping to start the same way EVERYDAY...we will see! LOL

Assessment

Ian's teacher did an assessment of him...he did some things to see how much he knew at the beginning of the year and then a couple months later then again in Jan...so I thought I would make my own copies of them so I can make sure he knows them by the end of the year...it wont let me upload them as pictures...

I can name these numbers.

15            12            14            18            20
13            16            19            17            11
25            22            27            23            29
21            24            26            28            30
31

I can READ these words

I            see            my
like            a            to
and        go            is
here        for            have
said        the            play
are            he            it
no            she
dog        from        you
mom        dad        love
yes        me        cat
by        look        find

The numbers and words that are highlighted in green are ones he knew as of his last day of public school...check back to see if I manage to get him to know MORE by the end of school!!!

Reading Level

   Ian's last day was today...his teacher did an assessment of him...which I will post about later...but she also told me the reading level he is at and stuff...I found a website that you can look up some books that match the DRA level a teacher says your child is at...here's the link... DRA LEVEL BOOKS

The adventure begins...

He isn't choking the cat...just trying to get her to look at the camera! :D He loves his Shuggy! (that's the cat's name)

  

   Our son is 5 years old (going to be 6 at the end of March)...he has been to 3 year old Preschool...and 4K...and this year he started Kindergarten...and was SO excited...and the first half of the year went WONDERFULLY! 

    But then a little bit after Christmas Break he was starting to get into trouble...getting notes written by the teacher about him not listening more than usual and then the REAL notes started...we got one from the bus driver stating that he wasn't listening on the bus and then a few from the school stating that he was doing certain things wrong at school that were not huge things but he was being destructive and not showing any kind of remorse...matter of a fact...his teacher said he was smiling the one time he was getting "talked to" about his misbehaving...that's just NOT my little boy!We had also heard that he was "bullying" some kids and then he told us some kids were "bullying" him...they were calling names and hitting him is what he said...

   He has always been a "testing" type of child...and always liked to push the limits and see how far he could get...but this seemed EXTREME...so after MUCH thought and PRAYER Paul and I decided to pull him out of Public School and Home School him...we are starting on Monday! And we just feel like this is the BEST option for us for now...we haven't decided if he will be home schooled for more than the next few months but for now it will be through May.

I have ALWAYS been the type to say I wouldn't have the patients to teach my own child at home...it's great for some people but NOT me...and I knew the WHOLE deal...I was home schooled for 9 or the 12 years of school and my baby brother who is 10 years younger than me has been home schooled his WHOLE school career and I have friends that home school their children...

   Well we will see if I was right or not about the patients but I have to tell you...I have this overwhelming CONFIDENCE about me being able to do this...and it make my little boy a HAPPY little boy again...NOT an angry... mean... disrespectful... rude... little boy!

 So this Blog will be for ideas I have found or heard about and how everything is going with the process!!!

 Wish us luck and please pray this is what 

God wanted for us!!!