This month we plan to focus our efforts on learning about responsibility, safety, citizenship, life skills, etc. After February’s focus on all things holiday (with a little money thrown in), it’s time to center ourselves back to being helpful family members. It’s become all for mom to do, and with all the kids home all the time and my husband taking every opportunity to be outside in the nice weather on weekends (and who can blame him), and it being ‘mud’ season upcoming, some of the ‘dump and run’ has got to stop.
I can’t physically do every single chore anymore, pick up every stray sock, toy, fold every load of laundry, unload every dish, and so on. It’s just going to get to be a scary sight in our house, and the kids have taken advantage of my kindness for WAY too long. They finished their Leap Year papers on Monday and celebrated with their dad for his birthday! We started out by learning a bit about all kinds of general safety, inside the house and out! (See our paper trail for the book I read through.) Reminding them about fire safety and picking up after themselves being important is a good first step. Then we read books all about the general theme of being good citizens of the world, family, etc. We took a bit of time out to do some fun Dr. Seuss stuff, and attend “Pre-school” story time at the local library, as well. I tried to find some good opportunities to catch them being good and also to point out when they could be more responsible. Hopefully they kick into high gear, because I am EXHAUSTED.
Themed Snack
Hop on pop(corn)
Media: Theme ‘Responsibility’
Horton Hears a Who
The Lorax
Topical Books
Being Responsible by Small
I’m in Charge of Me by Parker
I am Responsible by Parker
Being a Good Citizen by Small
Paper Trail
We worked orally through the THEMATIC UNIT SAFETY Teacher Created Materials by Hardwick, encouraging street and bike safety, stranger danger, water and fire safety, poisons, when to call 9-1-1, etc. I’m always afraid that they’ll accidentally decide to use the emergency number for non-emergencies.. hopefully not 🙁
4 year old reading together
Piggy Paints by Benton (her!)
James and the Giant Peach by Dahl Chapters 10-13
7 year old’s reading
Emily’s Miracle A Story of Hope by Lombardi (this we won through Goodreads giveaways, I read it before she did!)
Little Farm in the Ozarks by MacBride
Ivy and Bean Bound to be Bad by Barrows
It’s My Birthday Finally! A Leap Year Story (chapter book) by Winfrey
Samantha Saves the Day by American Girl Series
Samantha learns a lesson by American Girl Series
Happy Birthday Samantha by American Girl Series
Samantha’s Surprise by American Girl Series
Meet Samantha by American Girl Series
Join in with the Weekly Wrap up with Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers HERE!
OH yes, I remember those days well; now my boys each have several chores a day and they all are encouraged to help out often. I sat them down and explained that if they wanted to add homeschooling to my plate they had to share in those chores I would have been doing when they were in school. It’s amazing how much more there was to do with them all being home all day long.