1st Day of 1st Grade

 

In September, Miss Alyse started the 1st grade.

She loves school and has done a great job.

 

This is the curriculum that we are using this year:

 

Bible - Bob Jones

Phonics and Reading - Horizons

Math - Horizons

Writing - Writing With Ease: Level 1

Handwriting: A Reason for Handwriting A

Spelling: A Reason for Spelling A

Science: We were given the Abeka Science and Health books.  Right now we are working our way through those with some extra little experiments and studies that Alyse has interest in.

Social Studies: We were given the Abeka book, but she flew through it.  We are now working on learning the states.  She has a USA coloring book.  Everyday she learns about a state.  When we are done with the US, we are going to move onto other countries.  Of course we also do themes for the months and holidays.

Extras:

She does a few journals... 1 for her spelling curriculum, 1 for any activities, field trips, or experiments we do, and then a journal prompt book I got at the teacher store.

She also does a daily comprehension activity.  Each week she reads a story and every day she answers different questions about it.  (Again, a teacher store find.)

I created a morning math meeting that she does everyday. (Time, money, facts....)

She does a sight word page everyday.

We are reading chapter books and using Confessions of a Homeschooler's Literature Pack.

We are also doing Explode the Code once a week.

 

She's a busy little thing!

 

We have had a great start to the year!

 

 

Alyse's Birthday Questions - Age 6

20 Birthday Questions

Alyse's answers

1) How old are you?

I just turned 6

2) Who is your best friend?

Jaelyn

3) What is your favorite thing to do?

Play with my sister and Ellie (our dog)

4) What is your favorite color?

PINK

5) What is your favorite food?

Chocolate

6) What do you like to do with your family?

Watch movies and go on trips

7) What is your favorite toy?

Pink E.

8) What do you want to be when you grow up?

I haven't decided that yet, but maybe a teacher.

9) What makes you happy?

Being with my family

10) What makes you sad?

When people don't want to play with me.

When Daddy has to go to work.

11) What is your favorite show to watch?

Martha Speaks

12) What is your favorite book?

Berenstain Bears. Fancy Nancy. 

13) What do you love to learn about?

Art.  I like to read.  I am good at math.

14) What was the best part of your birthday?

Going to get my doll and the fancy hotel

15) Where do you like to go?

Church, our friend's house

16) Who is your teacher?

Mommy at home

17) What is your favorite treat?

Ice Cream! Chocolate.

18) Was there something you wanted for your birthday you didn't get?

A sewing machine

19) If you could meet someone famous who would it be?

I want to talk to Martha. (The dog from Martha Speaks)

20) What was your favorite birthday present?

My doll and all her things,  But I liked my gift card from Mrs Holly!

 

 

A Special American Girl Birthday

March 1st, I became the Mommy of a big 6 year old.

 

We did a lot to celebrate.

 

It started off with a little cupcake party at SAS with her friends.

 

Later that day my parents and our family took off to Atlanta.

We checked into our hotel room and went to go get some sleep before a very busy birthday.

 

On the way up to the room the girls rode on the luggage cart.  Breeley was so excited and said, "Aweese!  We staying at a hotel just like Eloweese!" (Breeley loves Eloise!)

 

The next morning the birthday girl woke up to balloons in her bed.

 

She got dressed up in her birthday outfit and we were ready for the big day.

 

First we went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast.... cake for the birthday girl

 

 

The Big Stop - The American Girl store!

 

She had already picked out Caroline from the AG catalog.  She was very excited to get her.

 

We then moved onto the American Girl Bistro for some lunch and her second helping of cake for the day.

 

We walked around the mall for just a little bit and rode the carousel, but we had other places to go and things to do!

 

Poor Breeley was very sleepy, so a car ride was good for a little nap for her.

 

The next big stop was the Georgia Aquarium.

 

 

 

 

Breeley insisted upon taking her new Ariel doll in with her so she could "see all her fish friends!"

 

Both of the girls loved the big fish, especially the whales.

(Breeley was a big fan of the Beluga whale.)

 

And Alyse was so excited about seeing penguins!

 

 

Our trip there was a little short because they closed earlier than I expected, but they had a fabulous time. 

 

We headed back to the hotel and Alyse got to check us into her special birthday American Girl room.

 

The room was all pink.  Pink beds, and a little bed for her doll, some pink furniture, pink towels, etc.

 

 

Then she and Caroline got dressed up in their matching robes and got ready to go to the pool.

 

 

Then she got some cookies and milk in bed.

 

The next morning her and Caroline got their matching shirts on and we went to a special American Girl breakfast at the hotel.

 

We then had to head home but I think we all had a great birthday trip!

 

 

1st Visit from the Tooth Fairy

 

Wed, January 23rd.

It was a normal morning.

Josh got up with the girls, fed them breakfast and went to work.  I was getting ready for the day when Alyse walked in and said "Mommy!  Look!"  When I looked at her she was holding a tooth in her hand and had a big gap in her smile.

I screamed and started to cry. 

(If you know me, I have a huge tooth issue.  I hate teeth!  I have literally been dreading Alyse loosing her teeth for years and praying she would maybe never have a loose tooth.)

 

She had this worried look on her face so I had to switch gears really fast and try to be excited for her.  (I mean, there was no turning back.  The tooth was out.)

 

I didn't even know she had a loose tooth (Thank you, God cause I would have not been able to relax.)  She said she didn't really know either.  She said it felt funny so she touched it and it just came out and didn't hurt at all.

 

 

That afternoon we went and picked out some fabric and I made her a Tooth Fairy Pillow.

(Was not planning on that anytime soon.  Also I didn't have any type of pattern or demo.  I just kinda made it up as I went along.)

 

I also created a Tooth Fairy Receipt.

 

Once everyone was asleep, the Tooth Fairy came and left the receipt and a sparkly dollar bill (hairspray and glitter) in her new pillow.

 

Alyse had asked if the Tooth Fairy would let her keep her tooth, and really I don't think that the Tooth Fairy needed it, so now it is in Alyse's little treasure box.

 

The Tooth Fairy job is kinda fun, but I do hope that it is a while until she has to come back.

 

And I am still getting use to that gappy smile.

 

 

School: These are the people in our neighborhood

For the first few weeks of school, we learned about community helpers.

 

First up was firefighters.

 

We read a few books and we practiced what we would do if there was a fire.  We tested our smoke detector and then learned about stop, drop, and roll and how to check for smoke, a hot door knob, and covering her mouth if there was smoke.

 

We dropped by the fire station.

 

 

And we did a science experiment.

She put out candles by blowing one out, pouring water on one, letting one burn until it burnt out on its own, and covering one with a glass so there was no oxygen.

 

 

Next we learned about police.

Of course we had someone here who helped us.

 

Alyse dressed up like her Daddy and played with some real handcuffs.

 

She also played in his car and we went to his office for a quick visit but I didn't have my camera with me....

 

For her science project we learned about fingerprints.

Josh fingerprinted us all and we dusted for fingerprints.

 

 

 

We also learned about writing letters and the Post Office.

 

We wrote a thank you letter to my Aunt, Uncle, and cousins who we visited while in Canada.  Then we took it to the Post Office to mail.

 

 

For her science project we talked about how things weigh different amounts.  My parents have a scale that measures mail so they let us borrow it.  We estimated what would weigh the most and what would weigh the least.  She thought that was tons of fun.

 

Our final week was Dentist/Doctors.

 

We didn't visit either but we did do a few experiments.

 

For the dentist we learned how to take care of our teeth.

We put hard boiled eggs in a cup of milk and soda.

 

The egg (which represent teeth) in the milk came out nice and white.

The one in the soda turned brown.

 

This reminded us that we need to eat/drink healthy things.

We also learned why it was important to brush our teeth when we brushed the brown egg, which turned back to (almost) white.

 

When we talked about doctors we talked about germs.

She learned why it was important to cover her mouth if she coughed or sneezed because germs come out and spread like when you push the button of a spray can.

 

But then we learned that you have to wash your hands really good with soap and water to wash the germs away.

We put some lotion on our hands and sprinkled some glitter on to represent germs.

 

Then we washed our hands to make sure all the glitter was gone.

It showed how she really had to take the time to wash all the glitter/germs away.

 

 

She also told me she was learning about being a teacher and a mommy from me.  And we went to church and saw Pastor who tells people about God.  She also talked about people at stores who help us buy food and clothes.

I think she gets it that there are lots of people who have jobs that make our community work.