TIMES TABLE FLOWERS

When it comes to math, one of the most important concepts to grasp for practical life application is multiplication.
I still remember learning them the standard way in 3rd grade. I remember the manila folder, the tests, drills, quizzes.
Having multiple learners with a creative bent, I was really excited when I stumbled upon these Times Table Flowers online.

 

They're a perfect way for us to practice our multiplication while adding a bit of art in the mix.

Thanks to the laminator, they are hardy and usable for drills.

We are careful to keep the corners slightly rounded since they can be sharp.

I love how these flowers leave plenty of room for interpretation and individuality.

The metal ring seems to be the best option for easy keeping.

 

I'm thinking these will become a new staple over the years.

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."
Psalm 90:12

BRODIE'S BOOKS

There once was a little boy who didn't like to spell. Anything that involved non-graph paper and pencil made him squirm...

except for drawing that is. He much preferred art supplies, outdoor activities, or reading. But writing was just not his "thing"...yet.

 

 

It turns out this boy was an artist, the type that expresses differently than average folk, and his artistry was anything but...average. In fact, the little boy had a gift, a gift of creativity bestowed upon him from heaven.

Surely, God's intentions were to use the boy's art to tell His type of stories.

 

And so it goes, the boy was given another gift from home...the gift of TIME, he was given. Time produces wonderful, surprising things like maturity, development, and seasoning. The boy was also given books, good books of the most inspiring kind. He'd read his Bible and his novels. He'd also play his piano hours on end, creating, composing. For, he was allowed to BE.

 

 

The boy loved to create and one day he discovered something new. He had, over time, realized he'd learned to spell.

So he spelled and spelled and spelled some more until he had written a chapter. One chapter gushed into two and before he knew what he'd done, the boy had written a book. It wasn't just any book. It was a book that glorified the Lord, a masterfully written allegory in similar fashion to the ones he'd been reading, the one's he'd been inspired by. It was beautiful.

 

 

One book turned into two. And just like that, we see that this boy who didn't like to spell now suddenly did. TIME had been a friend and the Creator the boy had grown to know was Director of the storyline...the one that He writes so well when we offer ourselves to Him. So the boy wrote and played and wrote some more and who knows how the rest of the story goes. But, right here in the middle it resembles natural overflow of the most creative kind and it's a blessing that warms the boy's mother's heart.

 

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights

with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
James 1:17

THE HURRIED LADYBUG - A LESSON IN PATIENCE...AND WRITING

It's that time of year again when the house smells like cinnamon and little hands make cookies.

 

 

 

All in favor?

 

 

(the masterminds behind the scenes)

 

It's a time to make and bake and we've been doing plenty of both,
embracing the season in spite of being packed up in boxes, ready to move...or not?

 

One of my favorite little blessings this week came in the form of a language arts lesson turned gift as Olia began writing a story.

 

This is how we homeschool...

 

Yesterday morning I stumbled upon the start of a story about a ladybug. Without my knowing, it was half written by Olia the day before and there it was on the table all on her own accord. She just wanted to write it...so she did! It hadn't been an assignment. It wasn't my agenda. But, when I saw what could easily go unfinished or slip through the cracks, I knew it was worth capitalizing upon. So, before Olia woke and before the sun had come up, I corrected her spelling and added a few who/which words here and there. I constructed paragraph format and a few tidbits about story writing that I thought would interest her and make her story all the better. I was excited to teach her when she woke up!

 

As we began to engage about her story after breakfast, full writing mode emerged along with
the idea that Olia's adorable story would be a perfect Christmas gift for Bea who loves ladybugs!

(our favorite little ladybug)

We have a ladybug printable the kids enjoy coloring, so I made some copies and also looked up ladybugs on the children's National Geographic website (insert science lesson here). The little ones colored, Olia too, and we discussed the letter L among other things. As we finished up the ladybug story, Olia and I came up with a creative way to package Bea's special book.

 

 

We traced, cut, and went digging for the laminator in the abyss of boxes in the garage
that have been packed since mid-November. After 20 insistent minutes, we found it! Hooray!
And the stack of other "laminate please" items all filed in line on the counter...right next to Olia's story.

 

 

We discussed through the writing how it's nice to include a moral to a story, a life lesson worth learning and patience became the focus. By the end of her writing, Olia had renamed her story and even went looking for a Bible verse to finish it off. This led to Daddy stepping in to have a talk with her about the concordance in the back of her pink Bible. She looked up the word "patience", found the verse she wanted, and copied it on the last page.

 

 

She dedicated the book to Bea on the back,

 

 

and wrapped it in a box.

 

 

This is officially the first wrapped gift of the season and of course that is very exciting! I know that Bea will love her gift.
It was a multifaceted experience for us to write it, flowing organically from something Olia was naturally inclined to do.
T's were crossed and i's were dotted...but it happened in our own uniquely motivated way.

 

This is how we homeschool. It works wonderfully for us and is such a privilege! The freedom and creativity that exudes from the children and the accountability we feel toward God incline our hearts to honor Him with our lessons and life, both going hand in hand. I could go on about the many character lessons we learned throughout this day as well, those being some of my favorites.
But for now, I'll tuck those in my heart and document here the story of Olia writing The Hurried Ladybug for her sister.

 

 

"May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might,
for all endurance and patience with joy."
Colossians 1:11