The Nutcracker, Take Two

I, like most teachers, and many moms, am a book club, used book, library sale junkie.  I do try each year, though, to buy one nice hardback book for our Christmas collection.  I found this one yesterday (with my 50% off one item coupon!)  and it was worth it - even without the discount!

We read it cover to cover 4 times.  I love 2 things about it: the text isn't too wordy, which is hard to find in a Nutcracker book, and it is almost an illustrated version of the ballet.  Many of the characters are ballet dancers, and I think for a kid getting ready to go see it (which, sadly, we are not this season) it would be excellent.  Plus, her hair is glittery.  I should have led with that.

So we read the Nutcracker and then went to You Tube.  I was amazed at how interested they were.  We watched almost all of the major scenes.  They loved Mother Ginger and all the children emerging from her big skirt, but then who doesn't?  Zoe was humming along to much of the music - that kid is a music sponge.

Then on to less spongy topics - like math.  We had a big discussion about whether the top line and the bottom line had the same number of stickers (they did).  We also practiced making "one less than" a number.  So if you have 6 stickers and want one less than, can you look at a number line or use your fingers to see how many you would have?  Can you count to check?  Tough work.

We haven't yet showed off our awesome new classroom furniture.  My Gran, an avid supporter of Smithey Science Academy, gave these desks (and matching chairs) to the girls for Christmas.  Adorable, yes?  We have one in the hallway for working privately. 

Lucy worked on the bird puzzle and sensory bin while Zoe finished her math and read to me.

Then, to finish up, we did some fun Christmas activities.  We decorated a tree with stickers.

We strung giant jingle bells onto shoestrings for necklaces.  

More is always more when it comes to jingle bells.  They didn't get lost all day!

Can you find the busy student trying to spell "Merry Christmas" with letter tiles?  

Can you find the grumpy, pouting 3 year old who is not allowed in the school room with "that attitude"?

Ah, all better now and back to her old self. 

The Nutcracker

We were back in the homeschool saddle today.  The girls woke up to full workboxes and handwriting waiting with breakfast on the school table.  Lucy made letters while Zoe worked in her journal.

Then, Lucy and I played in the sensory box.  Here, we made a penguin birthday party.  There are 3 red candles on the cake, and the jewels on the outside make an A B pattern.  There are 3 penguins at the party (same as the candles) and 1 birthday penguin which makes 4 penguins total.  Plus they are funny singers.

I am not loving our Saxon math right now, so we are switching things up a bit.  I am using this for Lucy and this for Zoe.  I have used them both supplementally but am phasing out Saxon for now.  Both of these emphasize mathematical thinking, estimation, predicting, real world application, and just generally a more mathematical way of thinking instead of just learning skills.  Not sure it's a long term solution but I'm liking it for now.

Then, we were off to dance class.  The last day before the holiday is always fun because they reenact the Nutcracker.  Today, Lucy and Zoe's classes did it together.

Lucy finds the broken Nutcracker after the rat attack

The toy soldiers marching to fight the rats

Lucy admiring the Barbie tree.  The Christmas she was 1.5, we battled that tree for an hour a week during Zoe's class.  It was exhausting.

Zoe performing her Santa Tap number

Then we had our sweet new friend Anna over to play and do science with us.  I had a great magnet painting activity planned.

Lucy helped me prep the paints

While the big girls found proper science attire.  

Are these two peas in a pod or what??

 Here Anna demonstrates how a washer dipped in paint will move across the paper when a strong magnet is moved underneath the washer.  Except it really didn't work.

So we turned it into a fun art activity.  How many rainbow paintings can we make in an hour of painting?  More than I can count.

After a brief rest, Carson and Ella came over for our annual Christmas party and gift exchange.  We ordered pizza and decorated cookies.  A good time was had by all - this is our 5th Christmas together!  They were our family in Mexico and are in Allen as well.  We are lucky to have them.  We realized the other day that Ella was Lucy's age when we met her.  Hard to believe!

Practical Life: Wedding Week

Here at the Smithey Academy, we try to prepare the students for life.  This week, we haven't updated the blog, but we have been busy learning lessons (with a few boring phonics worksheets to appease mom/teacher guilt thrown in)

We learned to sit like a lady 

(though before the choir concert might have been better timing for the lesson)

On Tuesday, we traveled to Snyder to help the Robertsons with final prep for the wedding.  We had a fun and special time with them.

We learned how to make red velvet cake balls.  Yum!  

We aren't sure how many Lucy ate - she is fast -  but more than 5 is a safe bet.

We learned all about You Tube and how many amazing princess resources are available there!

We learned "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and many other classics from the village of animatronic Christmas friends at the Robertson house.

We learned how to bowl!

We primped with the big girls before the big day!

We showed Uncle Gary our favorite iPad apps

We learned that Craig is a monkey and that even if he says it's OK, Mom says it is NOT OK to throw flowers on his head during the wedding.  We chose wisely and listened to Mom.

We learned how to be flower girls and learned all about true love and how to begin a great new life!  

We love you Blake and Aaron!

Project Linus

It's hard to believe, but today was our last Fun Friday of 2010!  We wanted to do something fun and celebratory but also find a charity project that they could understand.  Our sweet Avery just had a 10 day hospital stay, and her mom said that one of the bright spots was when Avery got to choose a new blanket and help make a pillowcase.  So we decided to make blankets for Project Linus.  They collect and distribute blankets to hospitalized children.

Before everyone arrived, each activity was nicely organized and labeled.

...but the chaos soon set in.  We had 11 kids for Fun Friday!  Here Olivia, Chloe, and Alyssa practice writing their names and coloring Christmas trees.

Kate and Ava made jingle bell necklaces.

The moms cut and knotted 8 fleece blankets while the kids "helped."

We decorated some yummy homemade sugar cookies.  Too bad Avery didn't enjoy it.

Zoe and her new sweet buddy Anna eating some lunch

The whole crew with our finished blankets.  Even though they weren't able to physically help much, even the youngest ones were able to understand why we were doing it and to hand over a cute blanket with a big smile knowing it would help someone else.

A good time was had by all.  We have the best friends and neighbors!

Feliz Navidad!

We started the day with some journaling and math.  Then, it was time for science!  Lucy investigated with the magnets...

 And Zoe and I did an investigation.  We wondered if all the magnets were the same. So we chose 3 different ones and counted how many paperclips each one would hold.  We had a good discussion about why it was important to test each one with paperclips instead of choosing balls or discs for some.

Here is Zoe's report.  The u-magnet held 3, the big horseshoe held 32, and the bar magnet held 6 paperclips.

Then, they opened workbox #4 to find an ornament!  We got to decorate the tree during homeschool time.  I even refrained from asking all kinds of obnoxious thinking questions about the process!

After we were done with the tree and a snack, we did a fun Montessori activity.  Over the summer, Nonnie found all of her small luggage locks and keys and donated them to our academy.  They had to figure out which keys opened each locks.  Lucy especially loved doing this.  Thanks, Nonnie for being so organized!

Then, Papa Z and Mimi arrived!  We spend the afternoon playing outside with them (and a little shopping of course - purple fur vest - need I say more?).  Finally, it was time for the annual Spanish Schoolhouse Christmas show!  I have been to so many of these, I know the choreography by heart!

Seeing Lucy in the 3 year old silver skirt made me sad because I remember Zoe in it like it was yesterday... I just had to include this.  Look how cute!!!  Hard to believe it was 2 years ago!

There's big girl Lucy.  Not intimidated by the crowd, that one.

 Zoe and Ms. Paulina announcing what song is next.  Zoe was awesome - she knew every word to the songs and danced her heart out.  Amazing how much more confident she is compared to a year ago.

You'll never guess who that is.