Castleberry Academy

Things have been going really well here at the Castleberry Academy. :) I am still in awe of how much Ella Beth has learned in just the past 4 1/2 months, and Landon is really starting to show interest in doing "lessons" just like his big sister. I can't believe Ella Beth is just about finished with Kindergarten. We have been stretching our lessons out because no one is quite ready for the end of this school year to end. But, we will be doing some school during the summer because Ella Beth just doesn't want to stop. I'm sure that will change as she gets older ;), but for now we'll be doing some fun outdoor science experiments a couple times a week. You know, when we can fit it in between going to the pool. Hey, I'm thinking we could do lots of experiments AT the pool - buoyancy, the effectiveness of sunscreens, etc!!!

Here are a few pictures from a day-in-the-life of school...

We did our first science lesson last week. The kiddos LOVED it. Sometimes I tend to forget that even simple activities can be a lot of fun. The was one of those.

I gave each of the kiddos a sheet with different things on them. They had to cut them out, and then decide if they were Living or Non-living things. I helped Landon with cutting because there were a lot of "things" to cut, but they both cut, glued, and placed things on their charts.

Both of my kiddos are very hands-on learners, so they really like doing activities they can touch and move around. Ella Beth l-o-v-e-s to play the Banker's Game (a Montessori game) with our manipulatives.

Basically, I will ask Ella Beth to bring me a certain amount from the "Bank" - I always write the numbers on the board for her so she can visualize the number first. Here, she's sitting with the manipulatives spread out on the floor. (We have a Thousands cube, 10 Hundred squares, 30 Tens rods, and 100 units...not all are out.)

 

 Ella Beth brought me 1,497 from the bank. She just LOVES this game, and asks to play every day!

Right now, Landon and I are working on number concepts. I will give him a number, and he has to count out the correct number of objects.

Here, he is using the Farm Boards. He is counting his animals and placing them anywhere he'd like on the farm.

Good job, buddy!

Ella Beth usually wants to begin each day with math because it is very natural to her right now, which means we tend to end our days with phonics and reading. There are some days that I will have her switch it up because even though she is reading very well, sometimes it's easier to end the day with a more hands-on activity than to end being confined to her seat. If she knows she has an "activity" to look forward to instead of just "being done" she tends to concentrate better. Typical human behavior I think. ;)

I love how sweet her mouth looks here sounding out a word. She really does try hard; well, when she wants to.

And, oh, I just love that little finger moving along as she reads.

It's not always picture perfect at the Castleberry Academy, but school has been going really well lately. I think it's all the prayer that's been going before it lately. :) I'm just so thankful for this time to teach my children. I even went yesterday to a curriculum sale and purchased everything for 1st grade and K4. Ella Beth asked when I came home, "Mama, did you bring me home some homework to do?!!!" Love that girl's enthusiasm!