Platt Discovery Cottage

Cottage moment

Taking a cue from the wonderful Soulemama, Fridays (or thereabouts) consist of a single photo, no words, capturing a moment of time during our week.

Add comment May 12th, 2012

Cottage moment

Taking a cue from the wonderful Soulemama, Fridays consist of a single photo, no words, capturing a moment of time during our week.

Add comment April 14th, 2012

Waldorf badges!

Since her programme is essentially a Waldorf Boy Scouts, I thought needle felting would be just the thing. I’ve not done a lot of needle felting, but I wasn’t too sure what else to do!!

The theme for this round of badges is maple syrup. The group went to a maple sugar farm and learned all about sugaring and were given a list of ideas for earning a badge.

I’ve got my fingers crossed that the kids will be pleased with their first badges!!

Enjoying the (crafty) journey! Amanda

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Add comment April 4th, 2012

First dance exam

Bug likes her ballet class, but she loves her highland dance class. Today she had her first dance exam - and I had my first go at putting her hair in a bun. Luckily her teacher took over as it was a bit of a disaster. Her studio loaned her a cute kilt and off she went!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Add comment March 30th, 2012

Bug turns 6!

Happy Birthday to my little girl who is growing up way too quickly!

Enjoying the journey, Amanda

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Add comment March 30th, 2012

Monarch Butterfly Farming

The last two years we have picked up a butterfly rearing kit from the local butterfly conservatory.  The activity is popular amongst local homeschoolers and classroom teachers.

Last year, all but one of our caterpillars died.  The one that did survive fell as he came out of the chrysalis and had a crumpled wing since we were not home when this all happened.  Fuss was devestated.

This year, we were pleased when we picked up our kit to find that they had provided us with four chrysalys in addition to the caterpillars.  We were not the only ones who had a poor outcome last season.   Here is our milkweed plant when we first brought it home.

We (read: I) had to pin the four chrysalis onto the top of the cage.  I’m not a bug person, so this was a huge leap for me.

Fuss was so pleased when the first butterfly came out and was perfectly healthy and ready to go.

What was really nice was this one spent probably about 45 minutes hanging out on fuss’s hand.

He finally decided it needed a bit of a push to leave the nest, so he put it on one of the flowers in our butterfly garden.

You can see a tag on this one.  The kits we pick up are part of Monarch Watch which is dedicated to the study of migratory Monarchs (early season Monarchs are non-migratory, late season are migratory).  We tag them right before they are released.  It’s actually not overly easy to do, so one didn’t get a tag since it was a bit too active.  Hopefully this one gets to enjoy it’s journey!

We still have two chrysalis left and they are looking pretty healthy so fingers crossed they do just as well.

Add comment October 6th, 2011

Little Learner

Even Missy gets in on the school day with some suggestions from Slow and Steady, Get Me Ready.

The kids helped her build this, Missy’s specialty is knocking it down.

Enjoying the journey, Amanda

Add comment October 4th, 2011

Cottage Moment

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from our week a la SouleMama.

Add comment September 30th, 2011

Start of “school”

What a great start to the new year.  We seem to have a handle on our rhythm and Missy just fits right in.

I’ve started using a block format to our day.  We get up, have circle time, brekkie, language arts and then snack / free time.  Then we have a science block followed by lunch and free time.  Math is first up in the afternoon, again free time and snack and last we do social studies.  It’s really working nicely for us and the kids have been so excited to start each day.

This is Bug’s first year of doing any formal schooling.  She was beside herself she was so excited.  She’s so happy to do any work.  I’m going to take advantage of it as long as it lasts.  I wonder if we could do two math lessons a day?????

We are using Oak Meadow again this year as it really lends structure to our day but it is on the gentle, nature focussed side.  We use The Rhythm of Childhood for a wonderful circle time and to help organize our daily rhythm.  It includes verses, menus with recipes, crafts, and more.

We do not do the Waldorf math anymore, however as I just don’t get it.  I’ve read so many books on it and received a lot of advice on the various waldorf boards, but I’m still not feeling it.  So, after a DISASTEROUS foray into Jump Math, we are absolutely loving Right Start Math.  They both run to the table for math lessons.  Phew.

Bug’s week started with the Tale of Peter Rabbit and the letter A.  We read that for Monday morning.  The next day we woke up to this going on at the bird feeder.

He was such a lovely guy and spent much of the morning hanging out in the backyard while the kids watched from the window.  We finally figured out that the birds were being so incredibly messy because they were spilling feed down to him!

He did finally hop away and we carried on with circle time.  Everyone was involved and really enjoyed it!

Lessons went well.  Fuss is very excited about grade 3 and very focussed.  He’s quite excited to learn cursive this year.

Sometimes Missy gets in the way, but that’s what baskets are for!!!!

She’ll last about 15 minutes in here, and then it’s back in arms.  That’s just long enough to help with a stuck lesson, or get a meal started!

Hopefully the rest of the year goes as smoothly as our first week did.

And….now that I’ve figured out how to blog with my mac (soooo much easier), hopefully I’ll be able to keep up a bit.

Enjoying the journey!  Amanda

Add comment September 28th, 2011

Thank you Isabel Wyatt!

My daughter is not one to sit and listen to a book. My son, however, is. So, its a real push and pull. Ive finally just given in to the whole circus. I read to Fuss whilst Bug flings herself around the room at breakneck speed, careening off all the furniture. Slightly maddening for me who tends toward overstimulation in short order.

I have to hope that some of what Im reading gets in there, and this is just her. I strongly suspect this is the case.

The other day, I realised that Fuss and I had not finished (read: barely even started) The Seven Year Wonder book by Isabel Wyatt. I decided to have a go at it even though Bug was in the room. I would normally read something a bit more her speed, like the Magic Treehouse Series, saving the more mature books for when shes otherwise engaged or sleeping.

img class=alignnone size-full wp-image-526 title=wyatt src=http://plattdiscoverycottage.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/wyatt.jpg alt=wyatt width=115 height=115 /

I finished our selection and then noticed that the room was startlingly quiet. Thats certainly never status quo at our house. Never. I looked over at Bug who was sitting close to me, arms folded on the table, head resting on her arms. Not a peep the entire time I read. Its the first time Ive ever had her sit still for a non-picture book. Wow.

I went on to Amazon and ordered the rest of Wyatts books!!!!

The books are lovely for any type of reader. I could read them to myself, actually. They are captivating, wonderful, and adventurous. Each story is suited for both boys and girls. My seven year old loves it as much as my four year old.

Enjoying the journey, Amanda

Add comment January 28th, 2011