Math Class

When I received the handout from school describing the enrichment classes that the teachers were offering after school... I immediately wanted to sign up my kids. Then, looking over the Math Manipulative's class offered to the first and second graders, I reconsidered and decided to jump in and do it myself with my kids. This is my speciality... I should be the one teaching and helping them learn to love math.

So, every Tuesday, right after school we have math class. It consists of solving word problem stories, addition and subtraction games, flashcards, and any math manipulative's that I have from my teaching days. Today Daniel made difficult patterns on the geoboard while Samuel and Kaylea worked on making numbers using the base 10 blocks. Samuel surprised me with how fast he is counting and learning numbers past 20.

Daniel has already put in a request that I buy more pattern blocks... as I don't have enough for him to build his shapes. What he doesn't realize is that you just can't go to Target and buy these things. I have to order them.

Now, I do have to say that this is only the second week and we have many more to go but, so far... so good. I am hoping we continue this for the remainder of the year. We will see.

Right now I will enjoy it while it lasts.

Centers...

These kids were so cute today while working in their centers.

An evening run with a biker

What better way to ride your bike... than ride while dad runs!

making ice cream with kids.

This week we talked about ice cream and how it is made. The kids were fascinated by the fact that it is made of milk which comes from cows. So on Friday we made ice cream.

Here is the recipe if ya want to do it with you kids...

Churn Freezing
to make 8 small, individual servings, you need:
1 1/2 cups chilled heavy cream
1/2 cup cold milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla for flavor
use a small Ziploc bag... a snack bag will work too.

1. Mix the cream, milk, sugar, and vanilla together in a bowl
2. Fill each baggie with a spoon full of ice cream mix. You can also pour equal amounts into the number of bags you have of kids.
3. Set the baggies in a bowl of ice. (I put them in a bowl in the freezer.)
4. Continue to check on the ice cream about every 30 minutes, have the children squeeze the baggie and then place back into the bowl or freezer.

I didn't start the ice cream making soon enough... so the kids had to wait over the long weekend to eat their ice cream on Monday. It was a little challenging for them to eat the creaming stuff out of a baggie... but there weren't any complaints!

I think they liked it... tongues licking lips, along with smiles, and heading for more, mmmm!

afternoon playdate...

It's great to have great friends come over and play.

Favorite Things Party

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Totally recommend that you and your friends put one together!

activity day

This week was Tye-dying t-shirts... we have to do some exciting things to start off the new year! These will be their activity day shirts.

So SAd... GrandMA leaves!

This was our house this morning at 6:15. Everyone was sad to see Grandma go home... but great news, she will be back in 2 months.

Love ya mom, see ya soon!

(now the kids have to go back doing their chores by themselves... no help from Grandma!)

shopping at REI

Yes, I was amused at what I was watching while sitting in a comfy sports chair waiting for Scott as he was shopping at REI.