J&J Academy Day 1

This is mommy posting. We enjoyed a leisurely morning so the boys could have a little downtime. They were eager to get started. Joel was disheartened that he had to listen a lot today as I explained the procedures for using the Workbox system and Reading/ Writing Workshop. Once we got into generating a list of writing ideas (our "Writing Idea Bank")  he was a lot more excited. In Writing Workshop, Joel started a story about an evil gumball machine that is following an unsuspecting family. Jason began prewriting a story about demons and ninjas. He drew some of the things he will have to describe in the story. (Teaching note: drawing a picture is the best prewriting you can do for descriptive writing!) Apparently, the boys like a little violence with their writing. I journaled about the first day while they wrote. We put together a folder with a copious amount of writing topic ideas. There will never be an "I don't know what to write about" day!

Jason worked on some animation things while Joel learned about "foreshortening" in drawing (3D). Jason and I also discussed some of the topics he will be exposed to in To Kill a Mockingbird. We talked a little about the author, setting, and characters.

My new printer/ scanner arrived and Jason is almost done setting it up. All the math curriculum came in the mail today as well. I am overwhelmed by the sheer amount of books/ information. I need a teacher workday!