Joy Boys

I got to finish up the unit on Individual Confidence and Uniqueness. What a great unit. I really think the kids caught on, this time around, that we are all different, and that is great! I loved watching them do their books, and was impressed at their growth and improvement from last year.

We missed Elise on our first lesson, but the boys did have a fun boy day. They made sure to get lots of wrestling and "boyness" in, and were just so dang cute! They even had a spontaneous singing of "My Eternal Family" at snack time. Ches also gave a very thorough and funny tour of his home as part of the lesson. He still gets a big kick out of how Mark always comments on how stinky the kids room is (can't get that diaper smell out, sorry Mark).

On the last day of the unit we put our books together and looked at all the different pages. I finished asking them a couple of questions for their information page. It was fun to see that Mark and Ethan's best friends are their brothers (Ethan said, "Isaac is actually my brother, but a brother can be a best friend, too.") and Ches and Elise's best friends were the same as last year, Annika and Damon. After they put them all together, we sat down and took turns looking through each one. They were so excited and happy at the end. I fully intended on getting a picture of all of them with their completed book, but was distracted by the many spontaneous group hugs they were giving the teacher. Mark really is quite the hug giver!

Elise informed us that she is moving to Hawaii (is this definite Jackie?) and Ches was so excited to show off his new skeleton (which the boys were fascinated with, and Elise tried hard to not be creeped out by).

I am Unique!

("I love to paint" craft)

I loved this unit, and like so many have mentioned already - it's great to see how the kids have grown and are able to accomplish more than when I taught this last year. For our first lesson, we were lucky to have Damon with us. For our second, we missed Ethan, who was sick, and Mark. However, we loved having Ches's cousin Aubrey join us for our little talent show.

Take the macoroni necklaces for instance:

Last year, I think I ended up making the necklaces for the kids... This year - they were awesome! Look at those long strands.

Our talent show was fun. Aubrey is a sweet-tempered girl and so fun. Ches would say the beginning of a joke and Aubrey would finish it. It was pretty funny. Here's a little video I pieced together of the kids' performances. Enjoy!

Credits: Aubrey "I am a child of God," Elise & Elijah, "Apples & Bananas" (first line only : ), Ches - Stripling Warrior scripture and thought, Elise "Mama Mia! (first line), Ches "Apples & Bananas."

All sorts of fun with green and kites!

I have to admit I loved these lessons! I think the kids were especially excited to be together since this winter has been so long and they've been inside so much. They really have a great time together.
We were supposed to read Green Eggs and Ham and since it was St. Patrick's Day, it worked out just perfectly. The kids thought the book was hilarious and at least the boys enjoyed the food. Elise was a little put off by the color I think (she's smarter and realizes green usually means you should NOT eat that food). Ethan loved the green milk so much that he asked for it at every meal for the next week. They were all so cute in their green shirts and Elise's little Scottish green dress.

The highlight of our other day was making and flying paper kites. The kids were so excited and walked so slowly and carefully down to the field that I had to keep turning around to make sure it was our kids (they usually have a hard time not running to get there). They loved running and "flying" their kites in the wind and we finished our time with a good game of duck-duck-goose.

U-neek to take a Peek!!

Who else wonders what the second Unique song is all about?? Weird.

I got to start the kids on the unit of being unique! I think this is a great unit, because kids often copy eachother, so it is great to celebrate our own uniqueness.

We missed having Ethan on our first lesson, but had Damon fill his spot. I did this lesson last year where I traced the kids and they colored them, and then drew self portraits. I must say they have improved. The biggest change was the time they were willing to spend on it, and the fact that most of them could write their names on the drawing. It is so much fun to watch these kids grow up.

We missed Elise on our second lesson, and had a boys day. They were very well behaved, so we got through our activities very smoothly. They really had a great time with the "5 little buns" finger play and action. We also did our names to the beat, and here is a little video of that. (Funny note on the names- the kids remembered this from last year, so picked up on it really fast. Except Ethan who when it came to his name sometimes said "Ethan Sister Woodbury" Obviously Sarah taught this last time. We really had a lot of fun exploring all of their names, and why we have different names.



I must add, that Ches and I are enjoying JS so much. Ches often likes to play Joy School, and he is the teacher. One time when we were doing it, I started imitating all of his JS peers, and he quickly got who I was imitating. Mark- I'm tired, I'm too tired to do that (he really likes to lie down). Ethan- Hey guys! Hey guys! (always with that big bright smile). Elise- We never hit or kick or push! (Ches got this one the fastest).

Puppets & Peeling Apples & Poop

This class was an extention of the last one about building trust and confidence. We had a great time gluing puppets together. They were seriously having the funniest conversations and were generally a little more wired than the last class. They mostly just wanted to pretend fight with each other using the puppet as a weapon - good thing they were soft!Then we tried something new: peeling apples for snack. They were determined, but it's a hard skill to master!

We practiced singing, "Spring is Coming" and read, "When the Earth Wakes" by Ani Rucki.

It's so funny how their conversations start one place and end up in an entirely different place! Has anyone noticed a general shift toward bathroom language when they get together sometimes? Suddenly it seems they are obsessed with poop! I don't mind if they talk about in general terms, it's only when they call each other bathroom related names that I ask them to stop.

So after I asked them to stop (because they think it's so hilarious), Elise started out like she was going to quote that song, "We never hit or kick or push," and instead said, "We never... (pause) poop on the ground."

Then Ethan piped up, "One time when I was eating breakfast, a dog pooped on the ground... in a stadium!"

Then Ches got really animated about a rocket ship that took off from a stadium!

I thought it was funny. And that was just one conversation.

I think I can...

These lessons were on Trust & Confidence and learning to understand that everyone is good at many things, but that we are not all good at the same things and that's okay! We learned to say, "I think I can," like the Little Engine that could instead of "I can't."

I got to praise each child's gifts "lavishly" and it was so fun & easy to think of many things our kids are good at! After we sang our welcome song we had each child come to the front and hold a picture I got off our computer and blogs and then we took time to compliment them.

Mark is good at catching BUGS and giving big HUGS. He's very loving and affectionate. He mediates arguments by having "conversations" with those that are fighting. He's good at sports like soccer and is a good brother to Christopher and Anna. He's also learning how to read and is awesome a cutting shapes out!

Ethan is good at SMILING brightly and at being a KIND and forgiving friend. He is is good at so many SPORTS, including mini-golf. He is great older brother to Issac. He says really grown up phrases. When I read "The Little Engine that Could" I'd ask, "What do you think is going to happen?" and he'd always reply, "Let's check it out!"

Ches has a good IMAGINATION, and is good at making "merry-go-rounds" out of play dough and toys (I asked him what this picture was about and that's what he said.) He has an amazing MEMORY and is good at memorizing long scripts and saying big words like, "thicket." I forgot to write that he is really good at moving his EYEBROWS!

Elise is good at PAINTING, drawing, and SINGING. She is a good helper and loving older sister to Elijah. She is really good at writing her own name and is getting better with other letters.

Elijah is good at smiling and giving great HUGS, and he's great at mimicking. He tries to say new words and phrases all the time.

Everyone did such a good job on our train art activity! They did it all by themselves - I just gave them the pieces in order and they figured it out.

Love those big, cheesy smiles! Here the kids are trying to cut out their shapes...

Little Nature Walk

Finally I am getting these pictures on. We had a chilly but fun little nature walk during our interest and curiosity lesson. The kids were really taking notice of things, and asking questions. We were finding all sorts of sticks, leaves, and the big one was the worm Mark found. Then we went to the park for a little bit, but we all quickly chilled out.

Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of our Valentines day party, but the kids had a great time. It was fun to watch the different ways the kids handled their cookies. Elise was very particular with the frosting, and I think almost afraid to eat her masterpiece. Ethan loaded up the cookie with frosting and candy hearts, though quickly discovered that the candy hearts aren't so good, and licking the frosting knife is much better. I think Mark probably had the most frosting and hearts and sprinkles on his cookie. Then Ches was probably the first to decorate and then quickly eat his all up.