O is for Octopus

Today we finished our study of the letter O.  This means we have done four whole weeks of school so far.  The kids are doing great.  Claire is always sad when her work for the day is completed and usually asks for more.  Aiden is getting excited as he learns new things.  Today he counted and traced from 1- 100.  He was so proud when he got to 100.  He is even learning to sound out short words, and has learned to read the following sight words already: I, a, to, do.

Evelyn and Jacob are doing great also.  Ev loves history.  So far we've studied Christopher Columbus and Captain John Smith.  In science she is studying plant life.  In math, we just introduced the concept of multiplication with carrying.  We are learning the capitalization rules in Language Arts.

Jacob has been mostly reviewing skills he learned last year in math.  He, like Evelyn, also loves history.  We have been studying the Fertile Crescent.  That was also one of my favorite things to study in history.  In science we just finished up insects and are studying mammals right now.  Language Arts is his least favorite subject, but it is mandatory.  We have been reviewing identifying and diagramming subjects and verbs.

Some subjects are studied as a group.  Jacob and Evelyn are both reading Dr. Dolittle right now in their Literature study.  They seem to really be enjoying it.  This year for music, we are taking an in depth look at the composer Johannes Brahms.  Finally in art, we are studying Pablo Picasso.  The kids did their own version of his famous painting The Three Musicians.  I will do a post with our detailed curriculum choices later.

(The middle is what the original looks like.)

Tonight we ended our study of the letter O by eating Orange glazed pork chops (and cabbage) while watching Over the Hedge.  We also had Orange push up smoothies for a snack.  

This is completely unrelated to school, but was too adorable not to include.  Matt had a little helper while he was mowing the lawn tonight.  Aiden was so serious about it.  He imitated everything Matt did.

My babies are growing up so quickly.  It so bittersweet.  I love seeing them learn and experience new things, but I also wish they could stay little forever!  I am really learning to slow down and enjoy the little things.  I am so thankful God chose me to be their mommy.