IEW Poetry Memorization :: A Curriculum Review

Memorizing poetry is something I have always wanted to do with my children but it just wasn't happening on a regular basis these past few years. I read last year a review of the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW)'s Linguistic Development Through Poetry Memorization on Curriculum Choice. The review was written by Bar from Harmony Art Mom and after talking with her via e-mail and reading the company's website, I decided to give it a try this year.

So far, all three of my children love this. Here are two videos, Adrienne didn't want me to record her, but she is really enjoying memorizing poetry as well.







The program is divided into five different levels, and we started at level one. We aim to practice all the poems memorized so far every day, but some weeks, it has been less than five days.

The poems in level one are short and fun so far. We are planning on going through each level at our own pace, taking longer with the more challenging poems as needed. My youngest, Celeste, who is only six might not progress as fast as we get through the poems, or maybe she will!

The level five in this program gives recommendations of speeches and passages from some of Shakespeare's plays for memorization instead of poetry.

Level five seems far away right now, since we are only at the beginning, but it has been a great start so far!

Lego Quest # 26 :: Playgrounds

Another great Lego Quest challenge! This time, Adrienne had to build a playground.

Here is her description of it:

"This playground has different parts, a merry-go-round, a seesaw, and a spinning ride. There are green areas for running, a black bench, and a snack stand for when you get thirsty or hungry. The snack stand owner keeps a small rooftop garden."

Sam at Lego Quest received so many entries for this quest, you can see more here.
She also mentions a great free unit study "Learning with Lego".

Peace Rocks

After typing my title, I smiled to see it could have a double meaning!

Today is International Peace Day, and the kids and I had a day full of peace.

We completed almost all our school work this morning and this afternoon we spent it reading books on our current world geography country study Mexico (more on that soon) and painting peace rocks.

Here are all our peace rocks:

This is Adrienne's, the reverse side is the one with the tree in the picture above:

Celeste did this one below, writing out peace and making little circles all around:

Andre's peace rock "Live in Peace" :

and finally mine, peace, plain and simple:

I wish you peace today and everyday !

Book Sharing Monday :: Over in the Jungle :: Over in the Ocean

Today I am sharing two books, both from the same author and illustrator. Over in the Ocean and Over in the Jungle are written by Marianne Berkes and beautifully illustrated by Jeanette Canyon. The art in both books was made completely with polymer clay. I am always amazed by the details!
Celeste still loves to check out baby board books from the library, so these two are in that format. Both are counting books and include many animals from each habitat. The story also rhymes, they are both a lot of fun to read aloud. At the back of each there is an activity suggestion to go along with reading the story. The Over in the Ocean includes a fingerplay activity, while the Over in the Jungle has some body movements suggestion to go along the story. You could also sing the story.

"Over in the ocean

Far away from the sun

Lived a mother octopus

And her octopus one."

"Over in the jungle

Where she knew how to wait

Lived a mother ocelot

And her ocelots eight."

Battle of Britain Parade :: Air Cadets

Adrienne's first parade as a brand new Air Cadet was today, for the Battle of Britain 70th Anniversary Parade. She just started last Monday. We all learned a bit more about this World War II battle as part of the homework she had to do.

"The Battle of Britain was the first major campaign to be fought entirely by air forces, and was also the largest and most sustained aerial bombing campaign to that date." (wikipedia)

You can read a lot more about it here.

I think we will be learning more about the Canadian Forces this year!

Adrienne marched along with her squadron:

We couldn't hear much of the speeches, their microphone wasn't very loud, but we sure heard the gun fires, they fired three times:

There was a flypast as well:

I thought this was too cute to not take a photo...

Andre and Celeste watching the parade:

The ceremony is done at that point,

 the Cadets were receiving their orders to start marching back: