Riva

Conversations

Reading

Berenstain brothers, we’re trying to read one page a day—video for progress. todo – upload video.

She has been reading words with long vowels(magic Es) more comfortably.

Learning about diagraph sounds- ea, au, aw

Activities

We used the Lego Maze to learn how to code without using a screen. We used the template in this blog post, and Riva chose the instructions to help the ghost captain move step-by-step from start to finish.

Riva then went on to create digits from 1-6 and used a die to go the same number of steps. Then she wrapped around the number set to reach the finish. She created the correct number of repeating digits to match them from start to finish. This is already an advanced coding problem that we have done with algorithms before.

I want to create a game using this number-wrapping idea.

Next, I will teach Riva how to use a For loop to reduce repeated instructions.

School subjects

Riva worked with the division board. It was incredible to see her thought process in action as she did the entire table of nine on the board. I gave her a writing pad to write down the pattern. As we went on writing, she noticed that the numbers reversed and she could just write them in that format.

Games

Catan Junior continues to be a popular choice. The kids play almost every day and learn some new strategies. Vineet helps Riva backtrack when a game is over to see if the choices she made led to a win or a loss.

Word Pop game to read words and score points. This was a fun activity to do when friends visited.

Snap circuits were a big hit. Both the kids and the parents are learning about how the current flows.

Battleship board game

On the way(Car or routine conversations)

Household Tasks

Cutting mangoes: the slices are getting straight and neat. Riva also cuts bell peppers and started working on onions.

Laundry: The four of us fold clothes together. The kids choose 5 items each of their liking and fold with us. Riva usually folds and puts her clothes away.

Harvesting serrano peppers to help me make hot sauce.

Spontaneous learning

Riva does a lot of self-starter projects. She gets an idea and starts crafting right away.

• Swing for her toys
• A paddle for playing ping pong

Things she built

Field Trips

Macadamia Farm tour- learned about different parts of the plant and got macadamia nuts home to crack open. They learned to use the nutcracker at the farm.

Golf – Maui Driving Range in Wailuku with the homeschool group- the kids learned to hit some balls.

Saturday 07/13 – Riva enjoyed the morning surf session along with her friend Anika.

Reyan

Conversations

That’s 2 against one

Reading

I have asked Reyan to read the bob books, but he hasn’t picked it up by himself. I will need to create a better environment.

He is curious about words on practical items like the Soy milk box etc.

Reyan also asks about how to spell a few words here and there.

He is starting to understand words with long vowels(magic Es)

Learning about digraph sounds- ea, au, aw – Reyan knows the word digraph

Reyan finished reading the first set of the Bob books.

Activities

We used the Lego Maze to learn how to code without using a screen. We used the template in this blog post, and Reyan got distracted after Riva finished working on it and she introduced a die roll to the project.

School subjects

Reyan has been working with the addition board with Dad. The division board is a bit advanced and we will start work on it when his addition concepts become stronger.

Games

Catan Junior continues to be a popular choice. The kids play almost every day and learn some new strategies. Vineet helps Riva backtrack when a game is over to see if the choices she made led to a win or a loss.

Word Pop game to read words and score points. This was a fun activity to do when friends visited. Reyan was able to read many words.

Snap circuits were a big hit. Both the kids and the parents are learning about how the current flows.

On the way(Car or routine conversations)

Household Tasks

Cutting cucumbers and mushrooms: Reyan is a confident knife user.

Laundry: The four of us fold clothes together. The kids choose 5 items each of their liking and fold with us. Reyan has a harder time pitching in, but I try to do it as a routine so he can help consistently.

Spontaneous learning

Reyan saw a big military helicopter(CH-47 Chinook) and tried making its Lego model at home.

• A fat tanker with Lego to fuel the plane/helicopter which fuels directly to the plane so that it’s faster. The tanker can fill up in the middle of the road where there is no gas station.