Starfish Study

Starfish Beach is one of the boys' favorite spots to go on any given day on the water. If we're heading out in the boat and aren't going toward that beach they'll say, "Hey, this isn't the way to Starfish Beach, I faught (thought) we were going to Starfish Beach!" When we go sailing, Joss likes to sit way up at the front of the boat and count all the starfish as we come up to this beach.

 I've been learning more and more about Homeschooling lately. Apparently there are all sorts of different techniques and methods and ways to do it. I guess I just sort of thought that 'homeschooling' was a method and you found the right curriculum, the right materials and the right schedule to fit your family's needs. And that is right to a certain extent, but there are tons of methods. To name a few, Traditional, Unit Studies, Unschooling, Classical, Charlotte Mason, Child Led.... all sorts of methods. It is interesting to read how different people do things different ways. I know, some of you are probably thinking I should have looked in to all of the before we got going...but oh well. I am constantly reading things on it and following blogs for it and trying to get the best structure for us. I have a feeling it will be a constantly revolving activity around here.

All that said, Joss asked me the other day if we could study starfish in school. Of course, I will study anything they want at this point :) We did! And he totally surprised me after we were finished and Dallas asked him how his school went and what all he learned. He started telling him all sorts of fun facts we learned about these starfish. I didn't even think he was listening to most of that :) but he rattled it all off like he had been learning it for years!

And after we studied them he asked if we could go over to Starfish Beach to watch one turn itself over. This would be part of the "Child Led" learning. I was all on board with that plan, so we paddled over to Starfish Beach for some hands-on learning. I wanted to get some extra kayaking in before my trip too, so they were all game for kayaking as well. Made for a fun afternoon!

It was really cool watching this thing flip over. I'm pretty sure it was trying to suck my hand into its stomach, but I was finally able to pry my hand off without breaking off too many of these 'suckers' (aka Tube Feet).

I love this photo of Emit! He was exploring it and checking things out. It amazes me how they never get bored of looking at these things.

Granted, we don't do it everyday. But anytime we are around them, they get just as excited about them as the first time. It will be fun to study about all this sea life and really learn about our area as they get older.

I find myself really amazed at how fast Emit is picking up on EVERYTHING. He is only TWO and he can do so much. He is 90% potty trained with the naps and night being the only time he uses a diaper. He can count to 12 (at least). He can say most of his ABC's. He knows all of his colors. He carries on grown up little conversations, he's almost swimming, he's jumping off docks & boats (with his life jacket on), snorkeling, closing his eyes and being really quiet when we pray....I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm bragging, but I guess in a way I am. He just truly amazes me with all he can do. Having a big brother to influence you and keep up with really makes a huge difference with some of this stuff!

My little stow-away! Emit loves kayaking now. After we got over our first capsizing experience he really took to it. Or maybe Mommy's just more confident in one now... either way, we're a pretty good team.

Joss won't even hesitate when we're getting ready to 'team up' on anything with the boys. We'll say "who wants to go with Daddy?" and Joss is always first to say "I DO!!!!!!!" Daddy is his hero :) And I think it's precious! Emit still likes mommy, but I'm sure my days are numbered and they'll both be fighting over Daddy and Mommy will be the odd 'man' out.

These didn't turn out great. I had a lot of smudges and water on the lens... but Joss wasn't quite as bored as he looks here. He was pretty pooped though. But he kept playing a game where he was pretending like he was falling asleep. I think they both almost fell asleep on us on the paddle back home though. Such a peaceful outing!

Another fun picture for our Praise music slides. Look close on the starfish and you can see his little suckers waving good-bye :)

Our school area is changing :) My mom gave me this great map when I was over there for Xander's big day and I think it adds just the right touch to our little 'class closet'. I didn't have any real flags to use, so we printed out the Bahamas flag and the American flag and colored those in to use for our pledges.

Joss already has the Bahamas pledge down pat. Well, pretty much anyway. He usually says:
"I pledge my allegiance to the flag and to the Commonwealth of the BEhamas for which it stands, one people united in liberty and justice for all." Instead of the underlined part from the US pledge it  is supposed to be "love and service" But hey... I think he's doing pretty great! And even though Emit won't say it with us most days, he's picking it up too. One day we were saying it together and we did the Bahamas pledge and Emit said, "Hey, you forgot to say Under God." I love these little moments with the school stuff. Makes me want to have a video recorder going the whole time so we don't forget any of this :)

I've been working with Joss on things outside of his Pre-K workbook for a while now. He's writing lots of letters and number and doing really good with his lessons. I took a little 'assessment test' for him the other day for Kindergarten and we were able to check everything off the list except for reciting his address. He knows 'where we live' but our address is a little trickier. So, with that... I think I'm going to start him in Kindergarten this fall. I think it will be a little more of a challenge for him than the Pre-K and be a really good thing too.

Playing a parking game with our letters and numbers. They liked this little activity a lot. I need to get a bigger poster board and put a little city on it with letters and numbers and roads that lead to all of them.... that could be a big hit I'll bet.

Emit working on his letters too :) I'm so proud of my boys!

Learning is a trend around here for sure. We've been working on this Bible study with our small group on prophecy and end times, and all I can say is WOW! I don't even know how to get caught up on 'knowledge' that I want to have, but nobody should ever be bored with life. There is so much to learn and explore and discover. And add the Bible in to that mix and the lessons are endless for sure. We are about to start a study on Revelation next that I am totally thrilled for. I've never done a real study through that book, and to be honest it pretty much intimidates me. However, the first few verses grabbed me the other night and I am really looking forward to diving into this book: 

³ Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.-Revelation 1:3