First Week of Kindergarten

Our first week went very smoothly. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are our scheduled learning days. The rest of the week is kind of take it as it comes. Our goal per week is to do 20 hours of learning time. That's in order to reach the goal of 900 hours for the school year (PA requirements for elementary grades). In this first week we completed 30 hours of learning time. Now, before you say, "They are crazy!", we include things like, going to the park, zoo, playing with friends, watching educational shows, playing computer games and so on. Anything that is educational we are including. The subjects that we are keeping track of are Bible, Fine Arts, Home Ec., Language Arts, Math, Phys. Ed., Science, Social Skills (sharing and such), Social Studies, Spanish and Technology. Anything else goes into Miscellaneous. Yes, I know, a lot of subjects but we don't do all of them every day. We mix and match.

When I asked Emma what her favorite thing she learned this past week was, she answer the Praying Mantis. Let me tell you about this. Thursday night I came home from MOPS and as I was waiting for Drew to open the door, I looked to my right and saw a praying mantis on our tomato trellis. I was so intrigued. I tossed the idea of waking the kids to see it but I decided to just take a picture of it to show them in the morning.

When I first found the Praying Mantis

The next morning I showed Emma the picture and then I showed her where I saw it. Then I decided to see if it was still around. Low and behold it was hiding in the lily plant just a foot away from the tomato plant.

The next morning in the lily plant.

After we found it again, Emma was asking questions about it. So we did research on the computer and learned all about them. In doing research we learned that they are not protected in the US other than in Connecticut. So, we got a clear container and gently scooped it up with some leaves from the plant and studied it. We kept it for maybe 6 hours. Long enough for Drew to see it when he got home. Then we released it.

In the container that we caught it in.

The kids studying it closely.

  

I never thought I would grow attached to an insect before but I have to say, ever since we released it, I have been concerned for it's safety. Especially since, the very next day after releasing it back onto the tomato plant, the landscapers trimmed down the lily plants. I can't help but think that it got thrown into the trash right along with the trimmings.

Releasing it back onto the tomato plant.

Climbing back up the trellis, free.

We had a great first week. This coming week we'll have guest teachers :). Drew's sisters are coming to visit and they both happen to have their teaching degrees in elementary education. How perfect right?