"Favorite Things": counting chart

 A couple of weeks ago, I shared how our girls had fallen in love with science through the use of Apologia's Elementary Biology Curriculum.  You can read about it here.  You may also enjoy seeing what we learned about cell anatomy with this picture:

 

Today, I'd like to share with you another "favorite" of mine - the counting chart!  I purchased this a couple of years ago and it has been an invaluable tool. Prior to purchasing it, we were using the 1-100 charts that come on the back of the student textbooks.  Learning skip counting was difficult.  This chart takes the difficulty away.  Here is a picture of ours:

 

There are several great things about this chart (besides that it's inexpensive!).  The numbers 1-100 are all in black writing.  Then the numbers, counting by ten, can be slipped into the appropriate pockets and they are a different color. Of course, this makes the "tens" very easy to see. When your child has learned them, there is another set of cards for the 5's and the 2's.  As you can see, we have skip counting by 2's in the pockets right now.  I can't tell you how much easier this system has made my life!   I found one HERE that is very similar to ours, only the other side of the cards is red, so you would only need to turn over the appropriate cards for skip counting vs having four sets of differently colored cards, like mine.  I thought this might help someone out there! 

We are nearly done our third week of school and it has been oh-so-much fun!  Next week, we'll be leaving on a ten day trip to NC...which of course means a two week school vacation!  I'm already praying that our efforts thus far won't be totally derailed by our vacation. Of course, this is the beauty of homeschooling...is it not?  I love that we can take of when we need to and make it up later!  I hope that your school year is going well too!  Until next time...

© Adorning Grace 2010

A Tribute to Grandma

I love her so much that my heart aches when I think of the day I will no longer have her.  Her 80th birthday is Friday and the girls and I have put together a big box of goodies to mail. We're also having flowers delivered.  As I sat, thinking about why she's so special to me, a sort of tribute came about.  Here is what I've written her and why she's so very special. 

 An 80^th birthday is certainly a time to celebrate! In planning for your special day, it has also been a time for me to reflect on all that you mean to me. I have so many wonderful memories stored away that I couldn’t just pick one, so here are some of my favorites!

I remember….

Looking out your kitchen window, into the darkness while you spun tails of the Easter Bunny's helpers watching me from afar. I was absolutely convinced they were out there!

The box of toys, kept especially for me, in the corner of your kitchen. It reminded me that I was loved and wanted around.

Hiding under your kitchen table to ‘surprise’ you (every day!) when you came home from work and the fact that you acted surprised every time! 

Taking walks in the woods to look for bunny and squirrel tracks, and how you’d walk slow enough for my little legs, never growing impatient because you had something better to do.

Walking in the fields to the strawberry patch.

Waking up on the morning of my brother’s birth, to find you in my parents bed, waiting for me to wake up.

Our first morning in Manchester, looking out the big windows at the unfamiliar streets and wanting to go see Grammy.

Summer visits and walks to the beaver dam, playing dress-up & laying in front of the fans together to cool off.

Winter visits of sledding on wooded paths.

Having early Christmases before you left for AZ and missing you the entire winter. I waited eagerly for your letters!

All the help you gave me through my teenage years. Being my lifeline, always listening and never judging, your concern for my safety. You helped me through some rocky roads.

How you always invested in my interests, like when I wanted to be an exchange student to Russia. You were the first to pitch in and help. 

I remember….all of your love, your patience, your kindness. I remember how you’ve always been my biggest cheerleader and my strongest supporter. When we had to say goodbye after Christmas, I whispered “I don’t want to go!” and though your heart hurt as much as mine, you didn’t tell me not to leave, you simply said “I know”. Instead of guilt for leaving, you gave me strength to do what I had to do.

For all these things and more, I love you! Happy 80^th birthday Grammy!

© Adorning Grace 2010