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?
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.
the idea that Olia's adorable story would be a perfect Christmas gift for Bea who loves ladybugs!
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.
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.
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.
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
for all endurance and patience with joy."
Colossians 1:11