Abigail’s Work | For my children

Halloween and Fall Fun

A warm Saturday evening for trick or treating.

A “haunted” merry go round that went backwards.

Our first Boo At the Zoo, we’re glad we went because the following weekend it poured on Halloween night!

Pin the Spider on the Web at our Library Halloween Party

Foxy Kitty always in her fall color dress

Costume party at Nana and Papaw’s

Sweet and happy cousins!

Fall Festival Fun

Playing in the lake bottoms

Abigail’s rock collection of hearts

Happy Birthday Aunt Brooke

A meal out with Amy and Stephanie to cheer on the Steelers and Broncos.

My three sweet treats!

Playing dress up in the middle of Target

By Abigail

Abigail decided to climb the wall at Nantahala.

Step by step climbing and pulling

Ringing the bell about 50 feet up!

Nana’s favorite “big boy”

Happy 10th Birthday Jayden Shylee!

Homeschool field trip to Historic Ramsey House

Friendly Letter

By Jackson

Letters for our Samaritan Purse Gift boxes

My baby boy is growing so fast!

Playful pups!

Always finding a heart…

So fun playing with this gal of mine!

Pretend play is the best of imagination time! Youthful innocent energy!

November 4, 2014
Categories: Abigail's Work, Excursions, Jackson's Work, Memories, Photos . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

My silly birds that I love so much.
We completed our fun little interview that we do at the start of each new school year. Isabela didn’t answer some of them so I left them blank or answered a couple with my thoughts. Jackson and Abigail’s answers are evolving a bit more as they mature. I love adding this insight into the story I am trying to tell of their history.

“My name is…”

J- Jackson Sawyer
A- Abigail Julienne
I- Isabela Jolie Hall (Isa-belwa)

“I am…”
J- 7 years old
A- a girl that is 5
I- a baby

“My favorite color is…”
J- dark tree green
A- pink
I- purple

“The best thing about school is…”
J- Math
A- Reading
I- crayons

“My favorite book/s is/are…”
J- “Sports Illustrated Big Book of Who Football” and “Magic Tree House”
A- “The Little Duck”
I- “Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See”

“Something that frustrates me is…”
J- the girls walking over my cars when I am playing with them
A- Jackson being mean to me
I- (mommy says) not getting my way/being tired

“My favorite thing to do is…”
J- ride in the truck to church
A- play with puppy and ride my bike
I- play baby dolls

“The best place to go is…”
J- swimming at deep pools
A- the beach
I- Target

“My favorite foods are…”
J- pizza and carrots
A- peaches and bananas
I- green beans and frozen fruit

“I don’t enjoy eating…”
J- quinoa or mushrooms
A- mushrooms or Bojangle’s spicy chicken
I- meat

“My favorite TV show is…”
J- “Wild Krats”
A- “Peter Rabbit”
I- “Daniel Tiger”

“Something special for me to do is…”
J- kayak on the lake
A- play with my ducks
I- water flowers

“I am really good at…”
J- throwing a football and cooking
A- hoola-hooping and singing Bible songs
I- flipping and playing

“When I was little I used to…”
J- ride on my battery powered four wheeler
A- suck on my pink tiger binkey
I- ………..

“My best friend is…”
J- my sisters and Elijah
A- Isabela
I- daddy

“What makes me the happiest is…”
J- playing Stack the States and Countries on IPAD
A- playing with Mommy
I- holding my blankie

“What makes me the saddest is…”
J- losing privileges
A- not having my ducks anymore
I- not getting my binkie

“My favorite song is…”
J- “Am I Wrong”
A- “All Things Bright and Beautiful”
I- “Fancy”

“Something that scares me is…”
J- tornados
A- bears and other wild animals
I- thunder

“My favorite animals are…”
J- ducks and horses
A- ducks, puppies, and kitties
I- all kinds

“Jesus…”
J- helps me when I’m bad or sad
A- loves me!
I- was a baby

“Three words that tell about me are…”
J- wild, silly, smart
A- funny, happy, and loving
I- (mommy says) sweet, spunky, fearless

“Someplace I hope to visit one day is…”
J- Alaska
A- The Bahamas
I- the beach

“When I grow up I want to be a…”
J- logger and a football player
A- vet doctor and a photographer
I- a mommy that is a mam

“This year I hope to learn about…”
J- multiplication
A- playing the piano
I- (mommy says) being patient and writing an “s”

I can’t believe how fast they are growing!

Football time in Tennessee!
I love to watch them play, giggle, and talk.

True happiness and excitement leading into a new year for learning!

September 14, 2014
Categories: Abigail's Work, Isabela's Work, Jackson's Work, Moments of Joy, School Related . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

2014-2015 School Curriculum

We are starting another year of educating at home. This year will take some trial and error as I decide what each needs. Also it will take a bit of manipulation, teaching, as well as keeping three occupied with substance for learning all that we can.

A second grader, a kindergartener, and a tot/preschooler

Jackson will be registered as a second grader. Since much of last year I exposed him to second grade work, I will start the year out reviewing many of our units in both math and reading before starting third grade level skills. I do not feel as a seven year old he is fully ready for the independence required for all third grade work just yet, however he will need challenged as we go along and I will learn to be more flexible with him.

SPELLING, daily
Scott Foresman Everyday Spelling, Grade 3

READING, daily
All About Reading, level 3
ABEKA levels 2-3
Continue with Magic Tree House Series

PHONICS, daily
Continue Steck-Vaughn level C

ENGLISH, Monday, Wednesday, Friday
First Language Lessons, level 2
DOL

MATH, daily
Harcourt math, units 4-6 grade 2
We will review and finish up Geometry, Time, Money, Measurement, Fractions, and an Introduction to Multiplication Concepts.

SCIENCE, twice weekly
Continue with Biology for the Grammar Stage- Study of the Life of Plants
Harcourt Science-continue with level 2
Little Scientists Hands On Activities
We will continue to observe the life around us where we live and in the vineyard and recognize what things share this space with us.
Jackson will also work to complete portions of the Junior Ranger Program of the Great Smoky Mountains National park ages 7-8

SOCIAL STUDIES/GEOGRAPHY, twice weekly
Investigate the Biographies of Famous Americans
Study Native Americans
Study where things come from. Explore the concept that things we use must be grown or manufactured.
Continue to name, identify, and locate the 50 states and their capitals.

BIBLE, daily
90 Devotions for Kids
100 Bible Stories by Stephen Elkins
We will continue with our character study using We Choose Virtues. Lessons and Vocabulary will consist of PERSEVERANT, PATIENT, SELF-CONTROLLED, OBEDIENT, CONTENT, FORGIVING, ATTENTIVE, DILIGENT, KIND, GENTLE, HELPFUL, and HONEST.

We will be working with Literature Pockets Aesop’s Fables grades 2-3. Fables included will be The Tortoise and the Hare, The Lion and the Mouse, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, The Milkmaid and Her Pail, The Miller, His Son, and Their Donkey, The Fox and the Goat, The Fox and the Stork, The Cat, the Rooster, and the Mouse.

Abigail will be registered as a Kindergartener. Since she began reading this past winter, some of our educational plan will not be the typical kindergarten study. Although we will continue with cutting, coloring, better letter formations, sharing, socializing five year old skills, we will be working ahead in some first grade areas as she needs the challenges.

SPELLING, daily
We will start the year using Zaner Bloser Spelling Connections. There are 35 units I will mix in some of the ABEKA list as well as some sight words from her weekly readings.

READING, daily
Continue using ABEKA K as well as completing All About Reading Level 1

PHONICS, daily
Scott Foresman grade 1 workbook.
Also, finish the second half of the year using The Complete Book of Phonics Ages 4-8 by American Educating Publishing.

ENGLISH, Monday, Wednesday, Friday
First Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind, Level 1
DOL determined by me

Math, daily
Combination of grade 1 Harcourt and Scott Foresman workbooks
Math fact drills numbers to 10 and numbers to 20. Abigail will complete writing her numbers to 1,000 by Christmas and then begin writing backwards to one in the Spring. We will work on patterns, comparing numbers, and simple addition and subtraction.

SCIENCE, twice weekly
Elemental Science Level 1 Exploring Science with Science Play Beginning Discoveries. We will observe the life around us where we live and in the vineyard and recognize what things share this space with us.
This year Abigail will also work to complete portions of the Junior Ranger Program of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park ages 5-6.

SOCIAL STUDIES/GEOGRAPHY, twice weekly
ABEKA K
We will also study the various American holidays and celebrations, as well as start exposure to locate and name some of the fifty states in the USA.

BIBLE, daily
My First hands-On Bible
Playful Songs & Bible Stories for Preschoolers
The Beginner’s Bible for Toddlers
Memorizing The Lord’s Prayer, The Ten Commandments, and other bible verses.
We will also be working on character using We Choose Virtues. Lessons will cover perseverant, patient,self-controlled, obedient, content, forgiving, attentive, diligent, kind, gentle helpful and honest.

HANDWRITING, daily
Determined by me including copy work, dictation, and creative writing.

We will be working with Literature Pockets Nursery Rhymes. Weekly, we will learn a rhyme as well as complete activities with each rhyme. The first 12 rhymes will be A Little Bird, Little Miss Muffet, My Black Hen, Jack and Jill, Little Bo Peep, I Caught a Fish Alive, Pease Porridge, Rub-a-Dub-Dub, Sing a Song of Sixpence, To Market, To Market, One, Two, Buckle my Shoe, and Diddle Diddle Dumpling.

We will complete Draw-Write-Now, A Drawing and Handwriting Course for Kids, Book 1, On the Farm, Kids and Critters, and Storybook Characters

Sweetness here will hopefully continue learning to recognize her alphabet, at least the letters in her full name, as well as her numbers to 5. We will finish writing her first name, work on address and phone number, and continue with life skills. Isabela will join our Science, Art, Nursery Rhymes, Character study, and Bible lessons. She will mostly just learn through playing and watching, experiencing life’s blessings all around her.

September 6, 2014
Categories: Abigail's Work, Isabela's Work, Jackson's Work, School Related . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Duck Play

Love the expression

This was one of the last photos which displays the yellow feathers we love.

Miss Abigail loves her ducks.
She made this drawing and writing for Mamaw Judy.

These ducks are constantly being picked up.

We looked up one day and the ducks were being carted around the yard in the wagon.

They are so innocent in their play. It is always really cute watching them, however the ducks always have the look of uncertainty of what to expect from these two.

Nana even joined the fun, they talked her into holding one. She calls it the Aflac Duck! I know the duck in the wagon is happy there wasn’t an extra pair of hands to hold her.

This photo was taken a few months ago. All three truly enjoy caring and playing with their ducks. Sad to report that one of the brown ducks must have been bitten by a turtle on the pond. An injured leg but it survived! One of the yellow ducks Abigail claims “flew to heaven to be with God”

June 24, 2014
Categories: Abigail's Art, Abigail's Work, Moments of Joy . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

End of the Year Thoughts

Papaw put this inspiring sign up in his building. He asked Jackson to tell him what it meant to him.

He gave it some thought, had a little discussion, and away he went writing.

Very pleased indeed!

I asked this sweet bird what it meant to “not give up”
I also posed the question what was something you once could not do.

Her words! I wrote it down for her and then she copied it.

We have some work to do. He tends to start strong, becomes distracted with a thought, then moves away from the topic.

Hopefully he always learns a service to others.

He chose a president card and had to write something he learned.

Love my worker!

June 1, 2014
Categories: Abigail's Work, Jackson's Work . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Work in Progress

Jackson finished another book in his series.
Moving on now to the final book in Level 3

A letter sent to Amy Jo as part of our thank you letter study.

By Abigail, a drawing of she and Isabela on a spring morning

By Isabela, a flower under rain

I wasn’t too pleased with his first “quick/rushed” attempt at writing a summary. After sitting together and discussing, his next try was much more satisfactory.

Second tooth lost!

Sad that we couldn’t find the tooth but at least I still get my smiley girl.
She was satisfied because the fairy left her a note saying she liked the tooth drawing that was left in place of the real tooth.

Abigail gave these to Papaw

Love Jackson, even though he mispelled “friend”

Jackson chose to describe the steps of planting peppers for a Language assignment.

An example of one of Abigail’s Spelling test.

Photographs by Abigail, enjoying her study/observations of the sky and clouds

Puzzle by Abigail

Proud of his completion to his new Smoky Mountain puzzle. Over 500 pieces, it took him about two weeks to finish. One missing piece…

His idea for playing in Papaw’s building and having cake!

Jackson has memorized all of these prepositions! He can quickly recite them. Now we wait to see if he uses them in his writing.

Happy Earth Day.
We even planted seeds!

Over the past week Abigail had started ABC order as well as trying to put together a sentence with five words.

Spelling test, actually not a 100, Maine is not correct.

Happy Birthday Janice

Papaw gave Jackson the job of finding all of the cities of the March Madness teams.

300-400

By Abigail, she described this as a birthday cake for Jackson. She said she had a hard time getting the seven crayons to all stand as candles.

We took the classroom outdoors working on our Junior Ranger Badges

The ranger signed both of their workbooks at the end of the study.

We learned a great deal of information about the black bear.

April 14, 2014
Categories: Abigail's Art, Abigail's Work, Isabela's Work, Jackson's Art, Jackson's Work, School Related, Uncategorized . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

In Between Snows

“My tooth got loose in my nap!”
Abigail told me this and I almost didn’t believe it. I told her to leave it alone, it would be a while before it was ready. Mommy was wrong! She has her tooth cupped in her hand.

There is her happy smile missing her first baby tooth.
That night as she was eating her salad, it fell out. Without any big commotion she laid it on the table saying, “Here Mommy, my tooth just came out!”

Isabela wonders when her tooth will fall out!

She re-told me what happened and I wrote it down. She copied my sentences in writing time.

Her excitement was sweet. She was happy the fairy thought she had a healthy tooth from eating her crunchy fruits and veggies.

We are proud of her patience waiting on her first tooth, her bravery to let the tooth fairy come in the night, and mostly just her excitement at recognizing a milestone in her life.

Craft time, decorating snowflakes for the possibility of an upcoming snow.

He’s ran all over the house this month yelling plays and throwing passes. A great smile in his favorite jersey.

Teamwork swinging the little bunny

Knight in training

Love this sweet moment. She is holding her favorite possession, Puppy, and they have matching pajamas.

Warm tea party time

She says she is “doing schoolwork”. This is Abigail’s practice booklet.

Of course it was covered with scribbles but also she had made circles, nice circles, around the numbers. She sat for minutes finishing it.

I’m really proud of Miss Abigail. Finally we are not only recognizing some words, she has completed four stories in the Level 1 Reader. Hoping now to see her confidence bloom!

Our favorite story subject at the moment is anything Biscuit!
The not so good thing here that I won’t show in a photo, Isabela decided those famous circles she loves making would look great around the letters inside this book! I think I’m right in saying, she is the first of the three to scribble inside the pages of a book!

Bubbles, bubbles, and more bubbles for mush beards.

I’m happy with his complete thoughts and structure of his paragraph. The negative…we need to work on our handwriting. Pushing him to slow down and hang on to the handwriting I’ve always liked seeing from him.

We have a new hobby…coin collecting.
Ever since I was a little girl I have watched Papaw shine, sort, and add coins to the booklets. Now Jayden and Jackson are beginning their coin collections. Here Jackson is showing his almost completed state quarters. We have slowly started the National Parks and Buffalo Nickels. I must say, Papaw is thrilled they are showing an interest!

Finally, we are in a new reader, beginning our study of the human body, and starting a new Magic Tree House story “Hour of the Olympics” in honor of the winter games.

February 1, 2014
Categories: Abigail's Work, Isabela's Work, Jackson's Work, Photos, School Related . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Our Santa Meeting

Papaw invited us to Bush’s for the annual Children’s Christmas party. We were so excited to see Santa!

Another opportunity for us to be with our two favorite “friends” Jayden and Elijah

They were very excited that their daddy was able to join us.

The gingerbread cookies were the best.

Jayden and Elijah agreed.

Yummy cookies and punch

Papaw was able to take a break from work to visit with us.

Two of my favorite people…

Finally, we sat with Santa! This was the first year that a Hall child did not cry!

We were super proud of Jackson for not only writing his entire letter on his own, but he also read it to Santa while he was on his lap for the second year. (My photo cut off a couple of the letters.)

Abigail’s Santa letter…she said Santa could just read it later!
(She told me what to write and then she copied it just as we do in our morning writing lesson.)

Isabela told Santa hello and that she wanted a baby doll. She took him a picture of her circles and Christmas stickers on.

Nana with her favorite things!

Santa’s nice list…most of the time!

My girl with her new crafty bell necklace.

The crafts were so fun!

I’ve been taking this sweet man of mine since he was a little over six months. Glad to see him actually enjoying himself around Santa and strangers.

A great Pre-Christmas afternoon for a party. We are feeling festive and blessed!

December 20, 2013
Categories: Abigail's Work, Jackson's Work, Memories, Photos . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Writing/Work Samples

I’ve enjoyed tracking their ever changing writing styles. Sometimes I have been so excited to capture their growth in sharpening proper letter formation. Other times I have had to witness their lazy and rushed attitude for just completing the assignment. Either way, I am happy that technology allows me to capture these moments.

After completing our lesson on letter writing, Jackson had to address and send a thank you letter in the mail.

Our topic was to write about “Girls”

Topic, “write about a time when someone helped you”

By Jackson, simple yet priceless with the conversation between “Jackson and Elijah”

This was what Jackson made for Debbie’s birthday.
He used the lesson of Dogs in our “Draw Write Now” Art activities.

Morning writing assignments for Abigail was to make thank you notes for her birthday gifts.

We also sent letters to Aunt Brooke, Uncle Mikey, Jaydie and Elijah, and Nana and Papaw.
Hopefully hand written thank you’s will be a skill they use forever!

Abigail’s angel

By Abigail, this is her with Jackson and Isabela pretending to be angels

Abigail’s three treasures…her puppy, her bunny, and her blankie

For the past month Jackson has started reading “The Magic Tree House” books by Mary Pope Osborne. He has completed books 1-4. These four books are about the mystery of the tree house where the characters travel to the time of dinosaurs, medieval times with a knight, ancient Egypt with a mummy, and with pirates searching for a buried treasure.

At the end of each book he takes a written test.
We look forward to reading all 28 books in “The Magic Tree House” series.

A sample of Social Studies assessment chapter 4

A recent Spelling test of Jackson’s

Abigail is very proud of herself…me too!

Isabela “plays” school with her circles, letter I and X, and a triangle.

School time is a blessed time! The moments are full of sweat, tears, frustrations, and zapped energies…however we are a little more educated, a little more prepared, and a whole lot stronger for it. I love being the teacher of my three!

December 15, 2013
Categories: Abigail's Art, Abigail's Work, Isabela's Work, Jackson's Art, Jackson's Work, Observations, School Related . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

A Little More March…Waiting on Spring

These COLD spring days are keeping us inside and on most days out of the vineyard. Plenty of time for dress up and pretend play.
A few nights ago while playing in the tub, Abigail asked if she could be a mermaid when she grew up. I naturally said “you can be whatever you want” without giving it much thought. Jackson quickly jumped in the conversation saying “no way Abigail, if you are a mermaid, we will never see you because you will be living far away in the ocean without us!”

Topic: Trains, By Jackson Sawyer

Taking a ride in Jackson’s Tonka dump truck he received on his first birthday, all three have LOVED this toy!
I am so excited about Isabela’s blooming conversation. She is putting words together and speaking in phrases. Jackson and Abigail are noticing it also and cheer her on always with excitement. She came to me with a pouty whine showing me a scratch on her hand and said, “ow, kiss boo boo.” Once I kissed it and put some cream on it she flashed a sweet big smile at me and said, “tink you mom-my!” Those are the new, melt my heart, favorite three words!

In Science we have been studying the concept that dirt is made up of bits of rock, dead plants, and dead animals. For a fun activity we observed the wiggly creatures who live beneath our feet. We filled a jar with thin layers of soil, sand, dead leaves, and then added worms. It was exciting to see our neat layers of soil and sand quickly change from the busy worms.

Abigail sitting under completed pruned vines, with a puppy of course.

Isabela insist on doing EVERYTHING Jackson and Abigail do. I enjoy watching her chase their frisbee, run with it, and then toss it away!

St. Patrick’s Day Pruning

Love this photo, so simple. I have one of all three, this age, standing alone under the long rows facing the empty lake. Photos like these make me wonder what their little minds think as they look at such big open spaces.

Getting a head start on spring seeds…indoors. Isabela enjoying the planting with a mouthful of Goldfish!

This year we are trying a Burpee Self Watering Seed Starting System. The individual cells for holding the tiny seeds are very close together. Very busy hands of my three probably combined many of the seeds. Water, soil, and seeds were everywhere! Should be interesting to see how it grows!

For starters we planted some of our herbs-Cilantro, Sweet Basil, Dill, and Chamomile, as well as the Big Boy Hybrid Tomato. Next month we will start many of our flowering annuals to fill our flower beds.

Isabela happily holding “Ra-toon” up to the front door to watch the spring “sn-o.”

I don’t know who is more excited about this milestone, Jackson, Abigail, or myself! Abigail finally made it to 100 and before the Easter Bunny visits! I love to see her build her confidence by her own hard work! She blooms with pride and excitement, and it feels like magic seeing her learn and actually like it. I equally like her big brother being just as happy and cheering her on…although he quickly let her know he “was way far from 100, he had made it to 1000!”

Although the calendar said the season had changed, for the second day in a row we have snow! Another great opportunity in the study of Science and Weather to prove that we can have winter precipitation even in the spring!