FIAR - Five in a Row

We are using FIAR = Five in a Row Curriculum by Jane Claire Lambert. 

We are supposed to do it Five Days in a Row, hence the name, but for our schedule I chose to combine subjects and do 3 to 4 days a week.  

Monday: Literature/Language Arts and ART! (this day is also our Library Story time with crafts)

Tuesday: Social Studies; culture, history, geography.

Wednesday: Math and Science (we also do Math everyday from workbook and math u see)

Thursday: N/A   This is my day to do house chores, since Hannah goes to a homeschool Options program through the public school. 

Friday: We make up anything we have missed and Review!  Plus they do a page of each subject from their workbook.

 

Extra work that we do every day is our Morning/Learning Board, after FIAR we do math, reading lessons, journal sounds/writing... then either 'music' or 'spanish' depending on the day.

 

I like going to the Library on Monday, since I can pick up any of the necessary books that I need to go along with our reading.

 

FIAR has a selection of children's books and you read one book every day for the week!  I just started having 'Daddy' read the book of the week EVERY Sunday Night.  So, the kids get 'prepared' for the week AND, Daddy gets to know what they are going to be working on!

Chicka Chicka Boom BOOM

This is a very fun book.  At the Library we get it with the read along / sing along CD.  The kids made their own coconut tree, then drew the Alphabets climbing the tree.  Hannah did her letters on her own as a 5 year old, Sarah is 3 so she traced the letters that mommy did, and 20 mth old Brian scribbled a bit...  Same project at different levels!  fun!!!

Story Time at the Library

Well, Hannah and Sarah have been enjoying story time for quite a few months now!  They have completed their 3rd year of Summer Reading Programs!  I am so proud of them!  They really like looking at books and listening when the librarian or mommy and daddy read to them.  They go to the story time for 3 - 5 year olds.  They always do a fun craft after as well!

As for little Brian... that is another story.  For the past two months I have been taking him to the toddler time, but it has not worked out.  He just can't sit still and wants to run around and play. They just made it into the baby/toddler time!  We tried again, but still he just wants to run around the room and touch everything! I was getting embarrassed, frustrated and about to give up...  But, Today we tried again!  IT Went GREAT TODAY!   I am so proud of him!
Here is what I did.  I borrowed a stuffed toy from the library and brought in two board books.  I kept him strapped in his stroller!  He was fine sitting in his stroller, he sang along, listened to the book and loved shaking the little maracas provided by the librarian for singing time!  At the end I had the stuffed animal and let him out of the stroller to go get his participation sticker. Then all the kids can sit and read the provided board books. Brian passed a few books out to the mommies!  After he sat and read for a while I put him back in the stroller and gave him the two board books I brought in the room.  I was able to put back the stuffed animal w/out him noticing!   I was so happy I almost cried!  No kidding!  I was really upset at how the past tries had gone and was AMAZED at how well he did today!  Hope he keeps up the good work!  All from 16mths to 20mths.... try, try, try again! :)

Update on the Kiddos

Bellah (26 weeks in belly)  She is finally moving a lot more to where everyone can feel her. The girls love it... Brian Jr is adjusting.... we have all the baby clothes and such but will get a new infant car seat for her and some other things. 

Brian Jr (20 mths old) is just full of so much energy, it must be a boy thing.  He loves to imitate Puss from the movie Puss n Boots and says' you break me' or something like that, him and his Daddy do it back and forth it is really cute.  He is always on the go and talking so much. He enjoys running, climbing, low crawling and taking naps in the pool.

Sarah (3 yrs 7 mths) is doing very well and learning how to pronounce some letters that are a little difficult for her, but she is talking so much and has a great personality.  I did not realize she would be my little beauty queen, she is great w/ makeup and dress up.  She loves her brother and sister and loves to play with them and insists on getting them a treat whenever she is allowed to have one, so thoughtful. Sarah can count to 12 by herself and is doing well with her ABC's she sometimes struggles a bit with colors but she is very smart and may be a future gymnast! :)

Hannah (5 yrs 4 mths) full of questions that I always try and answer until I have reached my max for the day.  She loves to sing and makes up her very own songs and wonderful stories.  She is an amazing artist.  She is always playing and keeping an eye on her siblings. She likes to write as well, she is doing well at spelling some things on her own.  We hope to learn how to read before Kindergarten is over!

Has it really been so long....

Well, I once again am just posting an update.  We are expecting our baby girl in October around the time Brian Jr turns 2.  I am officially starting homeschool in September and will use Five In A Row. With other things...  I have my schedule and plan to do 'year round' which will make it flexible for me to meet the standards here in Colorado.  I am excited about it.  I have been doing little things here and there with the kids to 'warm' them up to the schedule.  I have decided the only 'extra' things we will do are 'field trips' weekly story time at the public library, but may switch to an english/spanish one... Then ofcourse AWANA on Wednesday nights and most importantly Church Services and Sunday School.  But, for the first semester we will not have the kids in any organized sports or dance. 

Westminster Parks

Squire Park http://www.ci.westminster.co.us/ParksRec/Parks/ParkLocations/SquiresPark.aspx

This park is great. Very large and different play structures for all ages.  A large grass area for running and soccer games.  One of my favorites was the slide to Enter the park, parents can take the stairs and kids can take the slide too cute!

Hampshire Park   a small nice park in a neighborhood. Nice play equpment but has some dangerous features, like the 2-3 ft drop off retaining wall... but, o.k.

Sensory Park   tons of fun!   http://www.ci.westminster.co.us/ParksRec/Parks/ParkLocations/SensoryPark.aspx
Especially for a child that is in a wheel chair or disabled.  Very nice park for all kids!  The only thing odd is that the 'parking' for this park is a parking lot for a business area, it is very hard to find on GPS. But, fun once you get there. Can not wait to go when there is no snow. Kids loved the sea-saw it seats 4 people!!!

Center Park (not to be confused with City park) is one of MY favorits.  Love the soft turf play area, the ship play gym and musical things for the small kids and climbing wall for the toddler/older kids.  Can not wait to have fun with the water features in the summer!

Me and my 3 kids