Goals for 2013

2012 was quite a year of surprises for us.  Our year started out very differently than it ended.  (Considering homeschooling wasn't in our plans...)  I've quickly learned no matter what plans you make, life has a way of changing them.  Still, having goals set out in black and white helps keep me from forgetting what I eventually need to accomplish, even if it doesn't happen in the time I have hoped it would.

Now, for the planning!

2013 Goals for Jude:

-Reading by fall.
This is most definitely a long-term goal, and timing just depends on how well he absorbs what he learns. Fall is specific in a vague sort of way, right? He's slowly getting there with knowing his letters.  It's been almost a full year that we've been homeschooling, and he's knows most of the alphabet, but not all.  I think it's possible that he will be able to read by the end of 2013 - even if it's just high-frequency words.  My goal isn't fluent reading, just "being able to pick words off the page." 

-Better social skills.
This means finding a way to provide opportunities for interacting with others.  Once the weather warms up, we will be able to hang out at playgrounds a bit, and I hope to maybe get him involved in some activity (be it an art class, or a low-key sport, or I don't know what).  Jude is still very much a lone wolf, so I don't expect him to find a friend and be inseparable, but I'll settle for "well-mannered and doesn't throw a tantrum" in social situations.

-Better language skills.
Things to work on:
-articulation and being able to understand him.  Some is actual letter sounds, some is just slowing down.
-"basic" skills like - learning full name (and agreeing that it is his name!), address, phone number, parent's names, etc.
-pragmatic skills (ie, behave in "You need to behave" is one word, and the promise answer isn't "I will have." (long A). 


2013 Schooling Goals

-Sort through the curriculum items we have, decide what is working and keep it, and pass on what isn't.
 The stuff is taking over the house!!  I have a couple of shelves in the basement that I can rearrange and then put "out of season" stuff (like the Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas books that we don't need at Easter) so we're not tripping over it.  I also need a better way to store art supplies.  What I thought would work did work -- until we had one more box of google eyes and everything started exploding!

-Start looking at "First Grade."
Since it looks like we are in this for a long haul, I need to start with making sure I don't run afoul of homeschooling laws.  (That's kind of a biggie!)  Then I need to look at what "equivalent education" means  and figure how we are going to get to it.  I'm not worried about if we *meet* it in all areas (since we have the evaluations from the docs to prove he's not on par), but just that we are moving in the right direction.  Finally, I want to start figuring out curriculum (once I figure out what is working and what isn't),  so I have plenty of time to get books and supplies.  If we can make it happen, I'm considering going "year round" with Jude.  Since it seems like we wind up taking off unexpectedly with mid-week appointments, etc., this would be a good way to not feel like we're chronically playing catch up.

-Not be putting things together at the last minute
I know we are going to need some flexibility with reviewing items for the Homeschool Crew, but I want to try to always have a week or two of lessons planned ahead.  Because when we are at the end of our "current" plans is when everyone needs help and I fall behind.

-Start teaching Damien a little bit.
I don't expect him to do a whole lot (I don't expect him to know his letters and be reading by next winter!), but I want to try to involve him more when possible. I also think this would help Jude become more independent.  (He's constantly looking to me for input - while he does need help reading directions, etc. he is anxious to have the right answer.  He needs room to fail a little.)  Damien's getting into the "monkey see, monkey do" phase, so might as well capitalize on it.  He also needs some occupational/fine motor skills worked on, so this would be a good time for them.

-Get a better grip on co-schooling 
Things like big kids' homework and projects -- while they need to do the work (obviously), we need to better manage time so it isn't all one crisis after another.  (And I don't wind up needing to help them with their science project when I need to be gathering materials for Jude's.)

2013 Blog goals

-Blog here at least 3-4 times per week, not counting Crew Reviews.

-Blog at least once/week on our family blog (The Falciani Kids) with updates on the entire gang.

-Organize the memes I enjoy posting to, so that I don't miss the link windows.

-Often, I am taking pictures with my phone, which is fine, but I really enjoy photography as a hobby, so I want to learn more about how my camera works and do some creative things with it.  I also need to gain more confidence toting my camera around, given it's a bit more "obvious" what I'm doing than having my phone.  I don't feel a need to capture every moment on film (or SD card!) but I sometimes miss some great opportunities for playing with my camera because I don't want to stand out.




What are YOUR goals? Join in the discussion! Here's to a year where most things go as planned!!

The righteous are bold as a lion

The wicked flee when no man pursueth but the righteous are bold as a lion.

Prov 28:1

This is our craft project from our study of Deborah.  She was brave and bold - helping Barak and the Israelites defeat the Sisera and the Caananites. Listening to God and following His word helps us be bold, too.

The Year in Pictures - Wordless Wednesday

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The Best Christmas Gift

The best Christmas gift this year was not under the tree. Jude stayed downstairs the entire afternoon and evening, even with 16 other people here. Not only that, he talked and interacted with nearly everyone. Last Christmas, he hid in our bedroom for the entire day. (I even tried to lure him out with food. He asked if people were still here, and when I said they were, he said, "No, thank you," and slammed the door.)  Usually when we have even my mother-in-law to babysit, he hides.

I didn't have high hopes for today. He was adamant that he did not want visitors.  He did not want to have a party.  He wanted to hide in my bedroom. I told him he was allowed to hide, but AFTER he said hello to his grandparents, AND he had to come out and eat when I told him dinner was ready.  He did not have to talk to anyone else, and he could even take his plate to my room. (I figured the lesser evil was having to wash my comforter.)

Maybe it was feeling like he was in charge of things.  Maybe it was that he took his ADHD meds a little later than usual.  Maybe it was just a Christmas Miracle. 

He not only said hello, but even brought out his new toys to show off.

Showing Grammy his airplane

He then stayed in the living room, sometimes playing with his cousins, sometimes retreating to a corner of the couch with an iPad. When it came time to eat, he came out to the kitchen after everyone had passed through the buffet line and sat down to eat (and ate a full plate).

After dessert, Grammy (Meg's mom) passed out gifts from her and Poppy. Jude sat and opened his gift, then chased her and Poppy around the house to give them their gifts. He insisted I help him open his already-unwrapped gift from them (a color-by-tile sticker mosaic project) so he could dive right in.

Helping Grammy open her present

Helping Poppy, too. 

 

 Jude even ran after his little cousin to give him a present too.










I am amazed. So was everyone else -- it was such a change from his usual behavior.  I opened some wonderful gifts this year, and I am grateful for each of them. But what I know I will remember most is this that year, Jude not only didn't hide, but PARTICIPATED in the festivities of the day.  When I tucked him in tonight, I told him how proud I was of him for not hiding, and that being so good was the best present I got today.  He told me he had a wonderful Christmas.  Me too, kiddo. 

The Light Shines in the Darkness

He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.

What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;

the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 

John 1: 2-5 

This Is the Stable - Nativity Book and Craft

This is a a story-and-a craft heavy week here in preparation for Christmas.  On Monday, we made ornaments to go with our stories.  Today we made a Nativity scene.  (Part of me was excited to do this -- I've been planning this activity since early November.  Part of me is relieved it's done - I've spent the last two weeks rescuing the saved paper towel rolls from the pirates, sword fighters, etc. who keep "borrowing" them.)





This is the book we read.  I ordered it through Celia's teacher's link at Scholastic Book Club.  The book itself was discounted, plus purchases through the club would get bonus books for the classroom.  However, it can be purchased directly from  Amazon, and is well worth the full price cost. 






The body of the craft is recycled things: a small box (some of my friends may recognize it - yes, it's a Neocate case box), and cardboard paper towel rolls.  We also used craft felt, pipe cleaners (chenille stems), wooden craft sticks, and glue.  LOTS of glue.

And a Sharpie.  I think that was Jude's favorite part.  Sharpies are generally VERY well guarded in this house.  (I wonder why?)










First, we built  "...the stable, dusty and brown, in a quiet corner of Bethlehem town."








Cut one of the box flaps so it is a triangle shape.










 Glue on the craft sticks. We started out with a herringbone pattern, but they sort of eventually slid into just touching.  Jude didn't care for overlapping -- then they didn't lay perfectly flat.


Set the stable aside to let dry.










 Next came "...the mother, her manner so mild, singing and rocking her newborn child..." and "...her husband, patient and wise, guarding his family with watchful eyes..."

  

Cut a paper towel roll in two.  If they're uneven, that's perfect -- the smaller one can be used to make the Blessed Mother and the taller one for St. Joseph.

Cover the smaller roll in felt.  We used blue, the traditional color for Mary's garments, but the beautiful illustrations in the book dress her in purples and oranges.

Add her face.

 Glue on another piece of blue felt for her veil.  A thin yellow pipe cleaner doubles as a way to hold everything in place as the glue dries AND as her halo. Once you tie the halo, trim the end and save it to use to make Baby Jesus' halo.

Repeat for St. Joseph, this time using brown and orange felt. He has a blue headband AND a yellow halo.

You don't have to vary the halo thicknesses -- we just made Mary's thinner and more dainty, and St. Joseph's thicker and masculine.

 Tidy up as necessary.  Jude doesn't like any left-behind glue.

Next:

"...the baby born that night

in the stable marked by the star so bright,

A baby boy, who cooed and cried

and looked around with eyes so wide.

Then, cuddled and swaddled, he laid his head

on the soft, sweet hay in his manger bed

and slept in the stable in Bethlehem town,

the quiet stable, dusty and brown."

Cut another towel roll in half (or use a toilet paper roll).  Cut this in half lengthways so you have two half circles.  Glue the pieces together "back to back" - so that one forms the base and the other the cradle of the manger.

Cut a craft stick in half. Wrap in a small piece of white felt. Add Baby Jesus' face.

Line the manger with a scrap of yellow felt, add the Baby's halo, and lay him in it.









By now the stable roof should be fairly dry, so you can go back and finish the stable.






Cut out a felt star, and place it on the peak of t he roof.


"...the star whose light shown down on the quiet stable, dusty and brown..."









By now, your stable is complete. Unless your child looks at it, decides they need more light, and add...

...windows ...

...and skylights.














A sharp knife is easiest for cutting out these.  (Unless you have a big kid, this is a job for a grownup.)

Can you see Mary, after a long trip and in labor?

"Honey, I know you're probably tired after the journey, but it's a bit dark in here. Could you hop up on the roof and add a skylight or two? And maybe a few windows? After all, you're a carpenter..."

(Sorry.  I couldn't resist.)







Of course, every Nativity set needs some angels. Use uncut paper towel rolls (this makes rolls number 3 and 4, if you're counting) covered in white felt, add faces and halos.  Wings optional. (Unless you have Jude.  Then cut yellow triangles and glue to their backs.)


We set up our Nativity scene on the top of the piano.




Ladies first...

















Mother and Child.
















Angels stand guard...

"With the coo of a dove, for a lullaby,

the little one slumbered, with barely a cry,

safe in the warmth of light and love,

while all through the night, in the heavens above,

the angels sang and the star shown down,

on the quiet stable in Bethlehem town,

the quiet stable, dusty and brown."

Jude and I pray you have a Blessed Christmas 

and the world finds the peace that was born so many years ago

 in Bethlehem town, in a quiet stable, dusty and brown.

If you are celebrating Epiphany, or Three Kings' Day, you can find a materials list and instructions for building Magi to go with your Nativity set by clicking the photo at the left.

Christmas is for sharing.  Linking up with our friends at: