Sep. 5, 2008 - I'm a Very Bad Blogger

And that's as much of an apology or explanation as I'm going to give. 

Okay, so we started school August 4th.  I gave Nathaniel the choice to start then or after Labor Day and he wanted to start as soon as we could.  I love that kind of enthusiasm!

He is four, won't be five until January and Seth is only three so we didn't buy a formal curriculum since it is basically preschool and some kindergarten thrown in for some challenge.  He is rising to the challenge though!  I never imagined the kid who is a bundle of energy would want to sit down to do worksheets.  Yet he does and almost daily asks to do more.

I knew he wanted to write letters and I printed out tracer pages but then he saw workbooks in Walmart and asked if I would buy one for him.  Well okay then. 

We are reading through their Bible story book and a kids' devotional book my aunt gave them.  Let me tell you, these kids have amazing retention!  I shouldn't be surprised given who their father is, but I am.  They are remembering names and keeping them straight!

We are also making sure we know the alphabet and letter sounds.  Nathaniel continues to sound out some words and is always asking me what something says or how to spell something.

We are doing basic math: which is greater, number order, one to one ratios, simple addition and subtraction.  One huge breakthrough is that he can now count to 20 without skipping numbers!  He had developed the habit of skipping 15-17.  He even counted up to 65 only asking for help 3 times. 

What else...Oh we have nature notebooks and I try to get out to a park or something once a week in order to have a nature study.  Of course we are outside more often than that, but at least once with our notebooks.  It is so much fun.

We are currently reading The Chronicles of Narnia:  The Magician's Nephew.  I must get to the used book store for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe soon as we only have 2 chapters left!

Let's see, oh I have found so many good books lately and I don't dare list them all.  My favorites are 4 different Hardy Boy books, Charlotte's Web, Little House on the Prairie, a book of science experiments, children's stories by Charles Dickens, picture book of World History, picture book about Abraham Lincoln (Nathaniel is obsessed) and also one of George Washington, the sequel to My Side of the Mountain (we already have it) and A Wrinkle in Time. 

Oh the places we can go and the things we can learn from books!  It's so exciting!

We had a park day today even though it rained a little.  We didn't let it dampen our spirits. 

Tomorrow we are going to get together with several families from church and have a blast.  I can't wait!