Sparkle Poetry

May was poetry month at our local library. The librarian put together a poetry contest, so naturally I had Sparkle enter. We looked through the poems she has been writing each week for the past few weeks and she selected her favorite. I typed it for her and she made a few more changes. I printed the updated version and we delivered it to the library the day before the deadline. Sparkle's entry was the first and only entry that day. However, apparently a few more entries trickled in the following day.

A few weeks later, the librarian asked if they could read Sparkle's poem at the family storytime when they announced the winners. Sparkle got really shy but gave permission. We couldn't make it to storytime, but the next afternoon we got a message on the answering machine to call the library. Sure enough, Sparkle had won.

Sparkle got her picture taken in front of the kids poetry section of the library, and she received a $25 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble. She also had to sign a photo release and she freaked out because she couldn't remember how to write her middle name in cursive. However, all was well.

Today I took her to Barnes & Noble to spend her gift certificate. Turns out Barnes & Noble sells lots more than just books. It also has Lego, games, journals, toys, note cards, and gadgets. It also has lots of books with colorful pages and comfy chairs. Sparkle would pull a book with a catchy cover off the shelf and start reading, as if she were in the library. However she agreed that most of the books she saw weren't worth spending the money on. She knew that we had many of the titles at home or could borrow them from the library. I started browsing for her and suggested different titles and toys, but none that she was willing to spend *her* money on.

As I reshelved the books and toys that didn't past muster, I saw a book by Shel Silverstein that I had never heard of before: Everything On It. I showed the book to Sparkle, and her eyes lit up as her arms automatically reached out for the book. Yes. this was what she wanted. She didn't even flip through the pages.

As soon as we got home we had poetry teatime. Sparkle read from her new book.

I thought, how appropriate. Sparkle wrote a poem for that won a poetry contest, and she used the gift card she won to buy a book a poetry!

homeschooling science

I've long maintained that I don't do science in my homeschool.
However, today I realized just how much science my kids are involved in even though I don't do science.

1) Both kids are now taking a weekly classes in science at a local science academy. Each class is two hours long, and the kids do a variety of hands on demonstrations / experiments and some "challenges" which are usually of a build something that does this or that.

2) Both kids go take classes at the downtown science museum once a month. Each month the kids have two  one-hour classes in the morning, followed by a special exhibit at the sciences, and then wandering the main exhibit halls.

3) Both kids participate in once a month classes at our local nature center. The kids (and Wander!) are good friends with the staff. Each class is one and half to two hours and usually involves a nature walk with a very knowedgable and kid friendly guide plus some hands-on activities.

4) Both kids are in a three times a month co-op which happends to include a science component. And to top it all off, I'm the science teacher.

And that's not counting what Wander tells them, or the critters that they encounter on their nightly walks with Wander, or the monarch caterpillars that Sparkle found in the back yard and turned into pets. At one point we had at least eight caterpillars in the house, and eventually almost as many pupas. Wander even had to go out and buy more Butterfly Weed to feed the caterpillars. (We since gave most of them to the science acadamy.)

I don't know how much of this we'll continue next school year. We'll see.

Glitter normally does her school writing in a primary rule composition book. Today she begged me for a wide rule composition book with a pretty cover, like her older sister's. So I dug one up and she promptly began to write in it. Here is a little story she write. I think the weird capitalization is the result of trying to write on wide rule paper instead of primary ruled paper. The story is a total rip-off of a story that Sparkle is writing. For some reason Glitter is really into BFF's.

***************
The Mrmad Story

Once ther lived a fary named Ros and ther was her B-F-F named Joly the wer siting on a Rok tgether and as they sat a men Mrmd Poshd Ros and Joly into the woder at lest the men Mrad held them tit. so tit that wen She let thim go they olmost dide. Entel the men mrmads sister She Put them in a Jar and Put it on the hiyist Shelf.

*****************
Translation:

The Mermaid Story

Once there lived a fairy named Rose and there was her B-F-F named Julie. They were sitting on a rock together and as they sat a mean mermaid pushed Rose and Julie into the water. At last the mean mermaid held them tight, so tight that when she let them go they almost died. Until the mean mermaid's sister, she put them in a jar and put it on the highest shelf.

***************

Butterflies

Sparkle collected caterpillars and pupa from the back yard. One butterfly already hatched.

[insert photo someday]

Paragraphs by Sparkle

We're taking a break from a formal writing program and to write random paragraphs. I talked her through the idea of a topic sentence and supporting sentences. I gave her extensive coaching on organizing her paragraphs. (Lack of organization is one of my pet peeves.) After she composed the paragraphs orally, I had her write them down. She made minor revisions as she transcribed the words.Here are some of the results. Each selection is about an hours worth of work, split evenly between discussion and handwriting.

*******
Ballet Positions

There are five basic positions in ballet 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th. To get to 1st position stand
with your heels together and toes pointing out. Tendu by pointing one leg and toes to the side. Lower the working heel and you're in second position. Tendu in and put your heel in the arch of your other foot and you've got 3rd position. Tendu forward and lower your heel, a perfect 4th position. Place your heel in front of your supporting foot's toes and a beautiful 5th position is
formed.

**********
The Dolls

There are 5 dolls living in a corner. They are Elizabeth, Clare, Julie, Ethan, and Rose. Elizabeth was for Christmas. Clare came for Christmas too. Julie was originally an American Girl doll called Kit. Ethan was from Michael's and we stuffed him and sewed him up ourselves. Rose my Mommy bought online.

The dolls have lots of acessories. They sleep in a trundle bed, and sit at the table with chairs. The real looking bench they relax on and the morror, bathtub, and shelves serve them well.

************

Butterfly Metamorphosis

The complete stages of butterfly metamorphosis are egg, larva, pupa, and adult. First, the butterfly lays the egg on a leaf or flower. After a while, the egg hatches into the larva or caterpillar. Then, after eating and eating and getting fat, the caterpillar spins its pupa or cocoon. In a few weeks, the adult butterfly emerges, dries its wings, and flies off.