Bravest of Us All - FIAR Vol 4 Co-op

Our other April co-op was using the book The Bravest of Us All.  As is true of the FIAR books, this was a delightful story with so many wonderful lessons.  I wanted to put in a plug for this unit.  The lessons for this book are available to purchase on the FIAR digital site.  It's just $9 and you get a 69 page book of lesson plans!  It's a great value and full of so many things to learn!

We were blessed with a beautiful day!  We started as always with reading the title.  Notice Daniel in the foreground of the picture.

He is playing with a tin of sunflower seeds.  A neat sensory activity.  I enjoyed watching him though because my sweet boy tends to avoid many sensory experiences (because they overwhelm him).  He had a grand time though sifting them through his fingers and then making designs with them on the table.  He has come a long way and for that I am thankful!

For our co-op, we chose to focus on a variety of science lessons.  For the first, we talked about yeast and its properties and then made a yeast mixture (fed to make it grow). 

Then we looked at the yeast through a microscope.  We used some of the small hand-held ones you can find at Radio Shack.  These are great little microscopes - portable, inexpensive and easy to use!

We also used a larger microscope so that they could see the yeast spores even closer.

We learned about tornados and then made one in a bottle.

So easy to make - just added some food coloring and glitter to the bottles and the kids all had a great time with it!  (You just need a tornado tube - I found mine at a local science store - and 2 2-liter bottles.)

We talked about how pumps work and had a short review of a simple machine.  We also tested out straws and suction to illustrate the pumps. 

We also talked about area and dimensions.  In the picture below, the kids are approximately the size of the horse pond in the story.

We also had rice and various dimensional shapes for the kids to play with.  As you can see, Daniel also had fun with this sensory activity.  He has come a long way!

We did one of the art lessons in the manual which was a calming activity for the children.  I always enjoy seeing their art too - it's always so unique and expressive of their personalities.

We talked about seeds and the children planted sunflower seeds to take home. 

We also had a yummy snack - roasted root vegetables, meatballs, sunflower seeds and bread.

It was another fun morning.  I'm looking forward to our next week.  We have just two left for the year and then we'll have finished volume 4!  This has been a fun way to work through the volume.

More later,

Leslie

Therapies ... Ending and Beginnings

We hit another milestone in April.  We "graduated" from two of our therapies!  This is exciting because it gives us more time in our weeks.  It's also great to know that for now, it's not needed.

Daniel has been receiving Occupational Therapy for about 2.5 years now.  He has made tremendous progress in that time.  He has Sensory Processing Disorder.  This can look different for different people.  For Daniel, he is super sensitive to sensory input (things you see, hear, smell, taste and touch).  It meant that a firm grasp on his arm felt incredibly painful and would cause him to cry out.  Or foods that weren't "right" (and there were just 4 foods he would eat) caused him to throw up.  Too much noise or too many people caused him to retreat and be unwilling to try anything. 

There is a large "play" room with lots of sensory experiences in it.  This has become a fun play space for Daniel.  I so wish we could have a room like this in our home.  With 3 children receiving OT it would have much use (not to mention just be fun for all of us).  There are so many things that Daniel was unwilling to try and that now he enjoys.  Can I tell you that it just does this mama's heart good to see him able to have fun?!  Check out that smile!

This ball pit was something he would not even come close to for the longest time.  It overwhelmed him.  Can you see him in there now?

Or now?  This is huge progress!

He also did a lot of work on eating.  A lot.  He has made huge strides in this area.  Some probably thought he was a "picky" eater, but it was so much more.  Watching him gag or throw up foods that are reasonable to expect a child to eat was hard.  He was able to eat just a few things - homemade pumpkin muffins, homemade bread, applesauce and I think yogurt.  That's it.  Yes, that was all.

Now, he is able to eat fruits, some veggies, meats, pizza, and even things mixed together.  We had a baked omelette for dinner and he devoured it.  This has been such a hard thing to have a child with food issues.  I'm very thankful for the help we have received from his wonderful therapist!  I'm thankful for the improvements he has made. 

I'm not sure if we will be doing therapy periodically for Daniel (though I'm guessing it will be).  For now though, he has no more OT. 

Isaiah has also been going to OT for a couple of months.  It was primarily to help with his handwriting.  He has made a little bit of improvement, but honestly I don't see huge gains here.  He can write, but it is laborious and difficult.  That hasn't changed.  His therapist (who was also very good) just felt like there was no more she could do for him.  So he is finished too (and very glad to be done with it all).

Isaiah has also started "speech" therapy to help with Auditory Processing Disorder.  We've just been twice and I'm not really sure what to expect.  I'd love to hear from you if you have experience in this area.  How long should it take before we see improvement.  The sessions seem short and I don't really get what is going on.  I'm hopefully going to work some of this out with his new therapist via email. 

So, that's where we are for now.  I still have a lot to figure out - even without the therapies to make sure my kis that need it get the input that helps them out.  I'm thankful for the help we've gotten and also grateful for a break.

I know that God has made these children in His image.  I'm thankful for the gifts and talents he has given each one of them.  I'm also thankful for the opportunities to help them gain skills in areas in which they struggle.  I am thankful for the ways that I am learning through all of this too.  God is good.

Blessings

Leslie

Piedmont Wildlife Center - April

One of our April field trips was to the Piedmont Wildlife Center in Durham.  We had programs to lean about birds of prey.  My details on this one are going to be sketchy.  I organized the trip and it fell on the morning of Rebecca's first performance.  It was a beautiful day and a lovely way to spend the morning!

We split into two groups and just alternated activities with the information in each group geared to the age level of the group.  I stayed with the younger group.  We were first introduced to some of the birds.



This bird was named Miracle.  We learned some facts about various the various birds.  Some of the chidlren were allowed to hold this bird as she is very mild.



We also met a couple of owls.  Isn't this one cute?



I loved learning about the details and care with which God had created each bird.  This one was named Christopher which was quite humorous to some of my children. 



We learned about feathers and how they worked and how they are different on various birds. 



The children always appreciate things that are hands-on.



Even the littlest ones. 

T

After the classes, the kids played a predator-prey game in a large field.   Look at the littlest cutie joining in the fun with her big sister.  (Bottom right side of the picture.)



The director then brought out a falcon for us to see.  It is being trained so that it can be a part of these educational programs.



We helped with the training by being still while she walked with the bird through the group.  This was to help the bird become accustomed to groups of people. 



We ended with a picnic lunch at this beautiful (and historic) site.  Wonderful place and great people to work with.  If you are local, I do recommend a visit to this site!

Blessings,

Leslie

Roxaboxen - FIAR Volume 4 Co-op

I know this is Mother's Day and I will hopefully post more on that tomorrow.  My sweet family made this a wonderfully special day.  I am abundantly blessed to be a mom!!!  I can't imagine anything I would rather do than be a mom!  Thank you God. 

I have also been blessed *with* an amazing Mom.  I wish I could have spent the day with you Mom.  I'm thankful for you and for all the things you have shown me and taught me.  You have been a wonderful example and I continually pray for you and thank God for you!

I'm going to be working on some catch-up posts too.  I won't be posting everything, but do want to share our co-ops and field trips as well as some other really neat things God has been doing. 

This was last month.  It was the week before the performances and it was a hectic time - so I'm just now getting around to posting it.  I was co-teacher for this one.  We were rowing the book Roxaboxen.  If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend it.  What a fun story about sweet childhood memories (and its true as well!)  We tried to keep it simple - focusing on two main areas.  We had a blast - and I think the kids did too.  I have so enjoyed this co-op (I know that I say this every time I post about it, but I'm just always very thankful!).  I'm thankful for God providing the impetus to form the group and for placing each family that is in it. 

We started by reading the story and then talking about the colors of the southwest in the pictures.  We asked the children to work in groups and to try to match up some of the colors in one of the pictures with paint chips.  It was fascinating to see what they chose - from a dominant color to one that just added a bit of pop to the picture. 

Next, they brought their paint chips that they had selected and painted a desert scene on the sides and bottom of a shoebox.  We were making dioramas.  Each one was so different and creative.  I so enjoy seeing each child express themselves through art.

One of the sad parts of this day for me though involved Daniel.  I tried to get him to come in and work on this project as I knew he would love it!  He started in the room with picking the paint swatches and soon left.  It was just too much for him - lots of people and the inevitable noise that comes with a room full of people.  It's just overwhelming for his senses. 

Part of what makes me sad though is that this was in *our* home with a group of friends he sees every week.  I'm not sure that the setting could have been any more comfortable or that there was anything more that either of us could have done.  I didn't push it.  When the group left, he immediately asked if he could make a diorama.  He did have a lot of fun doing - as I knew he would.  This is not something I would have done on my own and I'm so thankful that my kids (and I) got to experience this!  Thank you Jen!  For those that read regularly, remember this incident as I will be sharing more about some successes and answers to prayer regarding this.  (I don't mean to leave things dangling, but this post is already really, really long!)

We also learned about the six simple machines.  I found a wonderful book at the library (Simple Machines by Deborah Hodge) which I used for experiements to illustrate the various machines.

We learned about the lever.  It took less force to lift a friend using a lever.

The wheel and axle.  This windmill (the wheel) turned the axle (the pencil) to lift the candy.

The pulley multiplies the force you are using so that you can do more than you could with just your strength.  In this experiment, one child was able to pull the two poles together despite having two children pulling them apart.

Inclined plane.  The force of an egg falling from the height of a can straight down is greater than one falling from the same height down an inclined plane. 

The screw.  Water could be lifted up by using the motion of a screw.

The wedge.  I cut a carrot into slices and also wedges.  The children could see that it was much easier to use a wedge to push into the apple than it was with a circular piece.

Next, we played a game to see how much they knew about simple machines.  I put a card with the name and definition of each machine on the ground.  Each child then picked 3 pictures.  They then tried to pick what type of machine was illustrated in the picture. 

We went around the circle taking turns so that can see all of the pictures and learn together.  Some were easier and others were difficult!  They did a great job!  If this doesn't make sense and you want more details, please ask.  It was a simple game to put together using pictures from the internet. 

For snack time we had several recipes from the FIAR cookbook.  They were yummy.  The green things in a separate dish is cactus (to put in the chicken salad).  I loved it and thought it was very mild.

The children then had time to finish their dioramas.  They could choose from some many things - and add in their own things too.  There were cacti and octillo plants made from pipe cleaners, cotton balls for clouds, rocks (like in the story), lizards and snakes, and even sand.  I just loved seeing all that the children did!  I tried to figure out how to make a collage so I could show more pictures, but couldn't get it to work.  Sorry.

We ended the day with having the children go into the woods in our backyard to make their own Roxaboxen.  They went straight to work! 

I love this method of learning and am thankful to have this opportunity with my children.  I'm thankful for the wonderful memories we are making together.  I'm looking forward to having co-op at my house again so we can continue our fun playtime back in Roxaboxen.

Blessings

Leslie

So much going on ...

and I've found it hard to have time to write - and then just hard to get back to it, kwim?  It's been a couple of weeks - a very busy couple of weeks.  This post will probably either be really brief - or really long.  lol 

We've finished up with the production of Charlotte's Web!  What an experience.  When we entered the play, Rebecca was the only new person to the group.  We live much further away than everyone else and didn't know any of the people.  For the first couple of months, I used the several hours of play practice as time to read or to work on my Bible study.  It was nice to have a few hours to myself.

As we got closer to the play (still more than a month away though), there were more meetings for the moms and more things to do.  I began helping some with costumes and started getting to know some of the other moms.  I have to confess that I didn't really want more to do - but part of signing up for this play was the acknowledgement that you would contribute - and so I did.  It came with blessings that I had not expected.  I understand the need to pitch in and help so that the load is lighter for all.  What I hadn't expected, was the blessings of friendships. 

As I mentioned, I didn't know any of these families, and yet spending time working together gave me time to talk with them, share with them and pray with and for them.  It showed me more of God.  It was a blessing I hadn't expected.

As the play drew closer, the practices were longer and more frequent.  The week of the play was chaotic!!!  All day, almost every day!  Did I say it was busy?  It was also fun.

One of the things I've really appreciated about this group was the focus on God.  Giving Him the glory, learning from and about Him and acting in a manner that showed His love.  The children each took turns leading devotions during the practices. 



I loved that they each had the opportunity to lead and to share.  During the play, the moms were asked to volunteer to lead devotions.  As the week went on, I looked at the list and saw that nobody had signed up.  I told God that I was willing to do it, but that He needed to provide something before I would commit because I didn't know what to share!

That night, I prayed fhis again as I went to sleep and awoke early with a vivid dream.   He also impressed a verse on my heart.  James 1:17.  Every good gift is from God.  (Paraphrase)  I knew then that my lesson was to be on this verse with the focus being on friendship.  The story of Charlotte's Web is all about friendship and sacrifice.  It's a beautiful story (that made me tear up at the end of each performance). 

When I realized that God had given me something to talk about (THAT DAY!), I was excited and began to think more about the devotion.  This was to be a very short devotion, btw.  I didn't have it fleshed out though and needed more to go on.  I started to ask some friends to help me and began writing what  God had given me.  As I started writing, He gave me more.  He fleshed it all out.  He answered my prayer.   Can I tell you that I was so excited?!  And the sweet thing about this devotion that He gave me *for these kids* - was that it also really spoke to my heart!  Isn't that just like God?  I was willing for Him to use me to serve and He took that and used it, but also multiplied it to bless and challenge me at the same time.  He is good. 

The play was wonderful!!!  The kids did an amazing job - as did the many moms working backstage to help pull it all off!  They performed to one sold out show and a couple of others that were very close!  Rebecca was very excited to have friends at all of the performances.  We really appreciate y'all coming out - and especially to those of you that drove a long way to get here!  (Kristina, Sarah and Angela)





I have many, many more pictures (over 2400) which is far too many to share.  For those who are local - or who we will see - we will be getting a dvd of the performance that you can view sometime if you missed it live.  It was truly a delightful performance.  It was a lot of work.  For us, it was also a lot of time and driving.  (We live 45 minutes away.)  One of my friends asked after it was all over if I would do it again.  Yes, I would.  It was worth it in many ways and I'm thankful we had the opportunity to be a part of it all. 

The following week, we had a cast party.  We played, ate and had a rousing game of kickball.  It was just nice to hang out.



I'm proud of you Rebecca for all of your hard work!



Thank you to your director Tiffany, who not only directed, but led, taught and encouraged!



A quick update on other news and hopefully more pictures later.

***Therapy - Daniel and Isaiah have both completed their occupational therapy!  I'm not sure if we'll have need for it again in the future, but it's nice to graduate and have more of our week back.  I'm thankful for the things we have learned and have seen HUGE improvements in Daniel over the last couple of years.

***Christopher is playing flag football.  He also took the SAT last week-end.  He is signed up for a half-marathon later this month and a marathon later this summer!  He has worked hard setting up his own training schedule and I'm proud of his hard work and dedication!

***Joshua is doing pretty well on the pump.  His numbers still aren't great and aren't where I'd like them to be yet.  We've been on it 2 weeks and were told it could take up to a month to get the kinks worked out.  I'm not worried about it and know it will come with time.  We are both enjoying some of the new freedom though!!!  Neither of us are tied down to the shots.  He can give his own bolus which means more independence for him and freedom for me.  It's a good thing! 

***Eliana continues to be sunshine and light.  She continues to talk more and we are starting to work more on potty training.  We bought her a new potty and some potty snacks and will hopefully get going on this seriously next week.

***More to come on co-ops.  We've had two that have been lots of fun!  I was a co-teacher for both of them (did I mention that this month was crazy?!)  We also had a field trip the morning of the first play performance and field days today.  All fun and with pictures to come.

I also want to share more of the neat things God has been doing in my life.  He is answering some of my prayers in very sweet and direct ways.  He is using others - strangers - to bless me, make me feel loved and to show me that He does hear me and care about my requests.  I'll write more later as these times are too neat to keep to myself.  For now though, it is late and I need to get to sleep.

Praying that you are seeing Gods hand at work in your lives,

Leslie