melody*made

.: our typical day :.

 

.:Autumn Natureschooling:.

We're so fortunate to be able to go out into nature whenever we wish to...

Today was especially beautiful as the weather is becoming cooler and the air is crisp~ It is especially heart-warming to see my 4 year old & 9 year old holding hands as we all took a walk in the woods.

So grateful for their close relationship and all that our life has to offer our family.

 

 

 

 

.: Natural Learning & Socialization :.

I'm fondly observing how quickly my two younger ones are growing... Ryker, who turned four this summer, spontaneously wrote his name on a blackboard last week. While I went to get the camera, he drew a border around it:-) I love how he wrote the "E" as it's very organic looking. It's amazing how he's coming into the world around him and naturally wants to understand the written word that surrounds him. I've noticed that his older brothers both wrote their names at age four on their own. If feels good to know that learning happens naturally, contrary to what schools try to tell us... 

We had a couple of friends over (ages 14 and 11) and were about to have snack. Ryker volunteered to pour water for everyone. It's beautiful to observe the pure pleasure he gets from serving his friends... Yes, he whole heartedly believes that they're his friends as he's not segregated by only his age group. He's very blessed in my eyes because I see the love and patience he receives from older homeschooled friends, and in turn, Ryker gets to be kind and gentle with those younger than him. There was no crying over unshared toys or conflicts during this playdate!

Oh and my littlest angel is moving about very quickly and busily;-) He's pulling himself up and following his brothers around. I think he'll be going up those stairs very soon! 

And the cute nakey pic is after a bath where he kept crawling away before I could dress him! There's never a dull moment around here!

 

 

.: Natural Math :.

 

Ryker loves to play with these peach pits. He uses them for sorting and counting. Sometimes they're treasures for his play and sometimes they're money:-) I love how open-ended these natural (and FREE) materials are. 

Hope this will inspire you to look around for some natural materials before buying anything new...or start saving peach pits;-)

 

 

 

:: Waldorf Montessori Math ::

Ryker's been enjoying using these colorful jewels to count and to sort. It's leftover "treasures" from one of our Waldorf festivals. I think he really likes the way it feels on his hands...smooth and a bit of weight to it, too. And it's just oh so pretty!:-)

I've been greatly influenced by Montessori lately and I feel that it's a great fit for our homeschooling. As I once was so engrossed in preparing my home for a Waldorf environment (many many moons ago as it seems), I'm once again inspired to collect some Montessori goodies to incorporate in our homeschooling. Notice the Montessori "mat"? Tee hee;-) 

I've also been busy re-organizing our homeschool area downstairs (it's actually our library and the art studio as I'd like to call it). As my family's needs are evolving with the growing family, I'm wanting to simplify and to be more organized. Having a chubby baby (very cute but heavy;-) to hold and a busy toddler calls for a more organized household.

One of my great finds last month was the Pottery Barn craft table here for $20! It had a broken leg but hubby was able to fix it with a bolt that I had picked up at the hardware store. Score!! And now, little Ryker uses it for all of his crafty, artsy endeavors. Oh, happy!

 

 

 I love that we can utilize what's available to us in this amazing time! We found this great Montessori apps for the iPad. Ryker is really into numbers and counting now days, and really enjoys this app. He also enjoys this app, and I think that it's made really well, and quite pretty:-)

This is really the most amazing part of homeschooling...we can incorporate and adapt any type of educational philosophies to suit us on our journey. We can change and add any way and any time we choose to! So grateful!

 

 

 

:: homeschool groups ::

 

 

 

 

:: homeschool moments ::

Ryker loves building! These Kapla blocks are really great and useful.

Ryker's little reading corner (in my craft room;-) He loves to hang out where mama is~

 

 

Mason giving a presentation in front of a homeschool audience.

We went to a big local homeschool open house recently. We all separated and tried different classes (I stayed with Ryker's class and baby of course). When we met again after 1.5hours, what did I see but Mason in the front reciting something that they learned! I was so pleasantly surprised.

He's not shy, that's for sure;-)

 

 

Just an ordinary day, hanging out together~

Baby Asher observing big brothers and cooing:-)

 

Enjoying Mason's homemade (raspberry orange) natural popsicles ~ Yum~

:: Natureschooling ::

It feels like spring~

It feels so nice to go out into the crisp air and look for frogs;-)

 

 

Little Ryker got to touch a snake skin.... feels rubberrrry!

 

And a turtle shell:-)

 

Asher and mama in wool goodness~

{this moment}

 

{this moment} - A Friday ritual (inspired by Soulemama). A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Wishing you a beautiful weekend!

:: Caterpillar to butterfly ::

Mason found a couple of Monarch caterpillars at the park with a help of another homeschooled friend. We picked a bunch of milkweed leaves to take home with us to feed the caterpillars.

 

A couple of days of munching on the leaves, one caterpillare turned into a chrysalis! It was an amazing

 process to witness... The other caterpillar followed a day later. See you two in a couple of weeks!

  

 

About two weeks later, we noticed that the chrysalis was turning more transparent... we could see the butterfly wings inside!!! I think it's really really close!

 

Sure enough, the butterfly emerged and stayed there to dry its wings. Simply beautiful!!!

 

  

What a remarkable experience this was to witness such a transformation! How abundant our life is! The nature around us is such a great example of this truth!