Black Kitty Mummified!

Black Kitty has now done it ALL!

Literature For Lunch-New Lunch Read Aloud-Fine Print A Story About Johann Gutenberg by Joann Johansen Burch

FINE PRINT-A Story about Johann Gutenberg by Joann Johansen Burch captivated Daniel. We took three days to read this book and what great discussion we had! Ironically, we finished the book on February 3, 2012 and Gutenberg's "death day" is considered to be February 3, 1468. We finished this book on his "death day" 544 years later!

Literature For Lunch-New Lunch Read Aloud-George Washington by Ingri d'Aulaire

Because we enjoyed Benjamin Franklin, we read George Washington today by Ingri & Edgar Parin d'Aulaire.

Spelling Books

There's debate (and scientific evidence to back up a particular theory) about whether a person becomes a good speller through:
-genes
-spelling tests
-silent reading
-reading aloud
-certain spelling curriculum
-spelling lists
-dictation
-spelling anthologies
-using spellchecker
-copywork
-textbook assignments about spelling
-listening to books being read aloud
-learning spelling rules

Personally, I think it is a combination of auditory, visual and linguistic skills and has a component of "natural aptitude" as well. I've always liked the idea of a personal spelling vault...a place to hold all the words that once were a mystery but now are familiar. I purchased index cards and a pouch but we found that difficult to use. ANSWER-these inexpensive lightweight, thin booklets!

Anytime the kids need to ask me how to spell a word they are expected to write it in their booklet for future reference. Over the past year, there's been complaining about this but as they've started to collect words, they are seeing the benefit! I've even seen them getting their booklet off the shelf to look something up! I like the connections they are making by using these booklets. You can find them here.

Sarah's Comic Book Store

Sarah wrote and published three different sets of comics. She build a cash register out of cardboard and tape for her store. She wanted to "sell something" and this was the result! Fantastically creative!

Daniel's Fallacy Detective

Funny, Daniel flipped through the book and read all the comics!! I'm encouraging him to read the first chapter!

Sarah's Handmade Brooms

Sarah has designed a broom made from tape, twigs and pine needles. She made one for each family at Tuesday Group.  Need a close up shot.