Pond Observation

For their science, Fionn and Ellie had to observe pond life. They were super excited that Dad took them to the pond and I was super excited he took pictures!

This paper landed in the pond. ;)

Scripture Memory Work

Something new I have added for the youngest two this year is working on Psalm Scripture Memory Cards. I found these on a site I love, Catholic Icing. I subscribe to her emails and got the download for free there. Here is a link to her site and this particular post here.

I absolutely love that they are recognizing these Scripture verses from hearing them at church. I also love that she linked YouTube videos for them. The girls are enjoying reading it together then watching the video of the Scripture in a song they know from church or the radio.

The girls are still doing their normal religion book and Bible study, but these are a fun little addition they are really enjoying. We do a new one each Monday, read it throughout the week, and if they have it memorized on Friday, they get a sticker. I wasn't sure if Fionn, age 5, would be able to do it, but she has! WELL, in Fionn style.... see the video below.... #lifewithFionn



A close up of her card Ellie is doing in the video.

Here is a picture of the YouTube song link we watched after reading the Psalm:

What Fionn is reciting:

Wait for it, SMH... So Fionn. ;)

Zoe attempted to "try again" with Fionn to see if she would do it for her without the "Fionn" ending. Consider this an outtake.

Zoe's 5th Grade Required Reading

Zoe's 5th Grade Required Reading List:

Matilda – Roald Dahl

The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Moffats – Eleanor Estes

Tuck Everlasting – Natalie Babbitt

Hatchet – Gary Paulsen

Bridge to Terabithia – Katherine Paterson

Misty of Chincoteague - Jean Craighead George

My Side of the Mountain - Jean Craighead George

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler - E. L. Konigsburg

 ------also-----

Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts Town Trilogy:

Alice in Wonderland

Peter Pan

Wind in the Willows

Ellie's 3rd Grade Required Reading

Ellie is currently doing American Girl books as part of a Literature/History studies. She will have some other assigned reading books (below), but her list will be a smaller list due to having the 48 American Girl books also.

Ellie's 3rd Grade Required Reading List

• Charlotte's Web
• The Cricket in Times Square
• Little House on the Prairie 
• The Littles
• The Mouse and the Motorcycle
• Pippi Longstocking
• Mr. Popper's Penguins
• Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh
• Ramona Quimby, Age 8
• Sarah, Plain and Tall
• Shiloh
• The Indian in the Cupboard

Summer Fun Goals 2019

Each summer we do a one-on-one summer fun goal with each kid with both Mom and Dad. Here is this summer's list:

Fionnuala & Dad - go get ice cream with eyes ✓ 5/23/19
  


Fionnuala & Mom- Go to the Children's Museum. We switched this to see the Dora movie and get ice cream.  ✓ 8/11/19



Ellie & Dad- Go to the park & get ice cream ✓ 8/11/19


Ellie & Mom- go to Olive Garden ✓ 5/24/19




Zoe & Dad-  7 hills and go get candy ✓ 6/25/19


Zoe & Mom - Go see A Dog's Journey ✓ 5/27/19




Cian & Dad- go get rootbeer floats ✓ 6/30/19


Cian & Mom- go see Spiderman - Far from Home ✓ 7/3/19


Grace & Dad- go driving ✓ (about daily working on hours before her license)

Grace & Mom- go for frozen yogurt ✓ 8/10/19 (and she drove me there!)
   

Family Goals-

AMC Kids Movie Deal for Wonder Park Secret Life of Pets 2 ✓ 6/21/19


 See Toy Story 4 as a family ✓ 6/24/19
 

Mini golf & Frozen Yogurt - Didn't get to this one yet with our busy summer. Will raincheck it for this fall!

Melissa & Brian-

Dinner & a movie ✓ 6/2/19

Date to see the kids in their theatre shows ✓ 6/28/19

Subjects 2019-2020

I saw this hysterical meme on Facebook, but it's not too far from the truth. I LOVE curriculum planning and curriculum shopping! ;)

SO-

Here are our junior high and elementary grade subjects. (Grace will also be a homeschooled sophomore, but I don't have her classes finalized yet.)

Cian – 8^th Grade

Religion – Be My Disciples Jr. High: 1st semester: Liturgy, 2nd semester: Life in Christ 

*Math-  Honors Geometry
Grammar- Easy Grammar Ultimate Series – Grade 8
Vocabulary- Vocabulary from Classic Roots B
Vocabulary- Wordly Wise 3000 Book 8
Poetry- The Secret Code of Poetry
*English/Literature/Composition- Excellence in Literature – English 1 Honors
*Science- DIVE ICP with Physical Science – Concepts in Action with Earth & Space 
History- Light to the Nations I 

History- Story of Civilization 3 (CD only)

Geography- Maps, Charts, & Graphs G & H

Foreign Language- Latin for Children B 

Critical Thinking- Fallacy Detective

Arts Instruction- Drama classes

Music- Piano & Voice Lessons

PE- Tumbling & Dance classes

*High School courses for high school credit

Zoe – 5^th Grade

Religion – St. Mary’s Press Bible

Religion – Be My Disciples 5 (RCL Benziger)

Math-   Math Mammoth 5

Grammar- Michael Clay Thompson Grammar Town & Practice Town

Grammar- Punctuation Puzzler B1 

Vocabulary- MCTLA CE1

Vocabulary-Voc. from Classic Roots 5

Vocabulary- Wordly Wise 3000 Book 5

Poetry- MCT LA – Building Poems

Spelling – Building Spelling Skills 5

Reading/Literature- 5th Grade Reading List 

Literature- MCTLA Classics: Alice, Peter, Mole Trilogy set

Writing- MCTLA Paragraph Town 

Writing- IEW Fables, Myths, & Fairy Tales

Typing- Jump-Start Typing CD-ROM

Science- Behold and See 5

History- Our United States of America

History- The Story of Civilization 3 (CD only)

Geography- Cantering the Country/Road Trip USA

Geography- Map Skills D

Geography- DK 5 & Maps, Charts, Graphs E 

Foreign Language- Latin for Children B

Health- Enjoying Good Health

Health- Health 5 for Young Catholics

Critical Thinking- Building Thinking Skills Level 2 

Arts Instruction- Drama classes

Art- Usborne Art Treasury

PE- Tumbling & Dance classes

Music- Piano Lessons & Music Class

Ellie – 3^rd Grade

Religion – St. Mary’s Press Bible

Religion – Faith in Life 3 & Gospel Treckers books
Math-   Singapore Math 3

Math- Kumon Word Problems 3

Grammar- Easy Grammar 3

Spelling– Building Spelling Skills 3

Reading- 3^rd Grade Reading List with Book Reports

Reading- Portraits of American Girlhood Year 2

Reading Comprehension – Reading Comprehension for Young Catholics

Vocabulary- Wordly Wise 3000 Grade 3

Vocabulary- 240 Kids Need to Know Grade 3 

Writing- IEW – People and Places in Our Community

Handwriting – D’Nealian Handwriting Cursive ABC Book
Science- Magic School Bus Science
Science- Core Skills Science Workbook Grade 3

History- The Story of Civilization 3 (CD only)

Social Studies- Daily Skill Builders 3-4^th grade

Social Studies- Core Skills Social Studies Grade 3

Geography- Cantering the Country/Road Trip USA

Geography- DK Geography 3 

Geography- MAPS, Charts & Graphs C
Health- Health, Safety, and Manners 3

Health- Health for Young Catholics

Foreign Language- Song School Latin 1

Music- Piano lessons
Arts Instruction- Art classes
PE- Tumbling & Dance classes

Fionnuala – Kindergarten

Religion – St. Mary’s Press Bible
Religion- Image of God- Grade K
Phonics/Spelling/Reading/Language- McRuffy Kindergarten

Handwriting- McRuffy Kindergarten

Journaling- August- Summer Writing Prompts & Sept-May from Moffatt Girls journals

Math- Horizons Math K

History- Bede's History of Me
Science – Apologia Exploring Creation with Anatomy and Physiology

Geography- DK Geography K

Geography- Cantering the Country/Road Trip USA

Foreign Language- Song School Latin 1
Art – Usborne Art Treasury

Arts Instruction- Drama classes

PE- Tumbling & dance classes

Music- Music Class

What's in a Name?

I haven't written on my blog much lately. To be totally honest, it's because the pics don't load easily from my phone anymore. However, I was working on Fionn's Dr. Seuss blog post, (so I didn't picture overload my Facebook with them!) and I was looking through all my old posts. I found one from 2013 that I never went back and finished! It was about naming our children and written when I was pregnant with our last and I had completely forgotten I never finished it with her name. 

This is the original here, but I also cut and pasted it all below too. Soooooo, 6 years later, here is the completed post:



I am sure most people put a lot of thought into naming their child.
Although, I wonder if some do. Apple? Really.
 Or how about the names like Female?
I guess to each his own!

For my husband and I, we have always given a lot thought to our childrens' names.

Obviously, we tried the names we liked with our last name (Sorry, I never list it on the blog! You'll just have to take my word that they work. ;-) I also always think about whether the name will fit a little kid, teen and grown up. I also say the name with Dr. in front of it! Hey, a mom can hope! :-)

Even more important to us, each of the 4 children have a name that honors one of the 4 of my husband and I's parents/families. Equally important, as Catholics, we also use a Saint's name or a name from the Bible for their Baptismal name. Here's a great post from Catholic Answers that explains this belief for those of you readers that are not Catholic. Click here to read it.

Finally, my husband is Irish and I felt it was important for their names to honor them being 1/2 Irish. Not in the "I'm Irish too" way where everyone in American seems to think they are Irish, but authentically, one of their parents was born and raised in Ireland, Irish.

So here is a look at our kiddos names and why we chose their names for them.
An important tradition in our family.

Grace Elizabeth:

"Grace" is God's gift to us. We truly felt that she was and is! Her name was chosen for its meaning.

Her middle name is Elizabeth. Elizabeth is the English version of Brian's mother's name which was Eilish. It honored her grandmother Eilish and Grace's Irish heritage both! Of course, we all know of St. Elizabeth and in the Bible where Mary visits her cousin and John leapt in Elizabeth's womb. A favorite Scripture of mine and many is Luke 1:37 "For nothing is impossible with God." Knowing that in her age, Elizabeth had conceived a child. It was especially meaningful for me being pregnant with my first child. What a true miracle of God to have life growing within your womb.

Cian Patrick:

We decided we would like an Irish name for our son. There is a St. Cian, but I don't know anything about him. We did love the name for its uniqueness and because it is very uncommon in America. It was chosen to represent his Irish heritage. It has worked too! We have had SO many people ask us not only how to pronounce it, but its origins as well.

We chose Patrick for his middle name. My paternal grandfather was Patrick. Both my father and brother have Patrick as their middle name. Of course, everyone knows St. Patrick and he is the Patron Saint of Ireland! A perfect fit really!

Zoe Micah:

Zoe means life. My original due date was January 22nd. That is the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. I prayed she wouldn't be born that day as it is such a sad date. However, choosing a name meaning "life" meant that much more to me as she grew in my womb. 

Zoe's middle name is Micah. Her middle name honors Brian's father Michael. Obviously, that is the Irish component to her name as well. My absolute favorite verse in the Bible comes from Micah 6:8. It says, "what the Lord requires of you: Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God." I try to live my life by this and treasured the idea of it being part of my child's namesake.

Ellison Caoimhe:

Ellison honors my mother's family name. Thus, she completed all 4 of our parents/families being represented in our children's names. I have also seen in baby name books that it means "My God is the Lord," so that is cool too!

We chose an Irish name for her middle name. It is pronounced "Kee-va" in case you are still trying to figure it out. ;-) It is a feminine version of St. Kevin. St. Kevin or St. Caoimhin was an Irish hermit who gave up his life of solitude and founded a monastery that was in Glendalough. When in Ireland, we would often go to Glendalough with Brian's parents and even got to take my mother there when she came once. It is just beautiful.

Fionnuala Shealee Anne:

When we chose all the other kids' names, we were not yet homeschooling. Brian really wanted to name Ellison "Saoirse," but I was so worried about teachers destroying the pronunciation. We already hear "Cyan" for Cian constantly and didn't want to inflict that on her. ;) However, by baby 5, we were happily homeschooling and decided we could go as Irish as we wanted! We picked a name not even common in Ireland! We pronounce Fionnuala "fin-new-la". She enjoys going by Fionn "fin" for short.

Also unique with our last child was we decided to use two middle names! I also loved the name Shealee, which honors my two sides of my family and is super adorable. However, since we didn't use Saoirse last time, I really wanted an Irish name to be her first name honoring Brian and his family being from Ireland. So we picked Fionnuala for her first name and then used the other name we liked, Shealee, as part of her middle name.

Anne was always going to be her middle name even before we combined it with Shealee. Anne is my middle name and although not in the Bible, it is the name traditionally given to Mary's mother. So Anne from St. Anne is our Christian component for her name.

Dr. Seuss Week 2019

Fionnuala is in K4 this year. What better time to do some fun crafts and snacks for Dr. Seuss week!

For school this week she will be using the Dr. Seuss packet from Little Monkey Printables. It is preschool and a little too easy, but will make for a fun week and I adore these printables.

For reading, of course all our books will be Dr. Seuss books.
I picked 2 books each day for us to focus our activities on. One will be the book that inspires the snack and one will be the craft focus. We only have 4 days of K4 this week as we have a field trip scheduled and I don't do preschool/K4 on field trip days. I love to get her older siblings involved when I can, so I'll be asking each one to read one book to her. I'm sure they will also volunteer to help eat the snacks. ;)

All of these amazing ideas were Pinterest finds! See my board for all the links and credits to the creative folks who came up with them. Plus- so many are free! The Hop on Popcorn was the only one that was a purchased item. https://www.pinterest.com/gczmom/dr-seuss/

MONDAY:

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish 

  

    

The Foot Book

  
  
 

TUESDAY:

The Lorax

   
    

I Can Read with My Eyes Shut

    

    

    

THURSDAY:

Hop On Pop

 

     

Put Me In the Zoo

  

  

FRIDAY:

Green Eggs and Ham 

   

Fox in Socks