Summer School | Goals

Working through more of our weekly curriculum, I realized it would be good to lay down some goals for our summer for reference later. Most of what we are doing this summer is in preparation for the Fall. Getting in the habit now of planning weekly lessons, as well as working these activities into our daily schedule is one of the major goals I have with this summer adventure.

Most of the following goals are meant to foster learning in areas that Miss J is already showing interest naturally:

1. Character Traits (Fruit of the Spirit)

• Basic understanding of concepts 
• Memorize Galatians 5:22-23 (and maybe a couple other verses too like John 3:16)
• Ability to connect the concept to what it looks like in real life, for example:
• Patience: waiting for mommy to finish feeding Miss M, before getting a snack without yelling, demanding, etc.
• Gentleness: playing carefully with Miss M, not hitting or being rough
• Kindness: sharing toys with friends 
• Love/Peace: saying "I'm sorry" when you have hurt someone

2. Letter Sounds 

• Miss J already knows the ABCs and quite a few of the sounds. As a pre-cursor to reading, I want to focus more specifically on letter sounds beginning with the most frequently used. We will also include some daily reading lessons in a limited capacity depending on how she connects with the material. 

3. Numbers 

• Miss J already has a good handle on numbers 1-15, both visual recognition and counting. For summer, we want to work on counting to 20 along with the ability to recognize the numbers when not saying them in order. 

Spinach & Ricotta Stuffed Shells

Public Service Announcement: These are delicious. You should try them. :) Watch the amount of salt you add to the cheese mixture, but other than that...enjoy! Find the recipe here.

In the Morning...

Psalm 5:3
In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;
   in the morning I lay my requests before you
   and wait expectantly.

 Psalm 59:16
But I will sing of your strength,
   in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
   my refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 90:14
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
   that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Psalm 143:8
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
   for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
   for to you I entrust my life.

Lamentations 3:22-23
It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed,
because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning:
great is thy faithfulness.

two :: thirty days of thanks :: memories

I laughed as I perused my pins and came across a quote that accurately described what I was thankful for today.

Source: charmedlifeliving.tumblr.com via Amanda H. on Pinterest

On this day, instead of spending my time focused on tasks that need completed in my home (laundry, dishes, vacuuming, cleaning toilets), I am thankful for the opportunity to:

• go on long walks through the neighborhood
• snuggle on the porch swing
• shovel dirt into pails
• bounce balls across the yard
• laugh until it hurts
• create memories!!

A Marvelous Invention

Sorry to pop in with something so silly, but I couldn't resist showing you this new drying rack I came across last week. For months I have been searching for a drying rack for my laundry room that I could fold up and take down easily in order to hang diapers...oh, and did I mention, I didn't want it on the floor? I already have one of those big ones that stand on the floor and I can't stand how much space it takes. Not to mention, we just put our extra freezer into the laundry room and I would never be able to get into it with the current one we have. My search has been fruitless and I had resigned myself to attempt some kind of DIY rack...

That is, until fate stepped in last week during some random internet searching.



You see, last week, I happened upon this Telescoping Wall Mount Drying Rack and after a day or two of going back and forth, I took the plunge and ordered it. And I am sooooo glad I did!! I put it up yesterday and am enjoy it so much -- it is exactly what I have wanting. My favorite part is how it telescopes out so you only use as many rungs as you need.



The full extension is about 14 inches and then it closes back up to about 2-3 inches, I think. Just right for my limited laundry room space.



If you have limited space and need a place to dry things (b/c let's face it, you can't always dry stuff out on the line), this might also be the drying rack for you. Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday :: Learning Numbers