Knights-in-Training

(photo courtesy of my sister!)

I love those times when you stumble on a good idea.  We chose to study the middle ages for a variety of reasons.  First, our curriculum, is based around character traits and I felt the need to emphasize OBEDIENCE this semester.  Inspiring them towards obedience instead of merely addressing disobedience has been delightful and worked well for ALL of us.  (Yup, I've been challenged on the whole obedience front as well.)   Second, given my boys desire for bravery and battles, I knew it would be a highly interesting topic for them to study.

The deeper we delved, the more inspired they became. They wanted to emulate knights in every way...  So I decided to have them 'train' to become knights.  The training was rigorous (for little boys), including daily running, archery practice, sword fights, stick horse rides to the park (in full armor - you should have seen the curious looks of our neighbors!) to stage mock battles and learn the art of warfare (high ground is a plus), jousting practice, shining my silver (since their armor consists of cardboard, foam and paper mache), etc.

But we didn't stop there...  No, I decided in the name of seeking to raise modern-day knights, that I would introduce them to the idea of chivalry!  Did you know that the medieval idea of chivalry involved more than simply how a gentleman treats a lady?  It is a far-reaching code of overall character.  As I read, I just knew that my boys would be drawn to this and so I decided to take some extra time in their knighthood training to include talking about, practicing and rewarding chivalrous behavior!

I printed off the list on paper, burned the edges to give it an 'authentic flair' (that made me happy more than it did the boys, but whatever) and posted it up so we could review it daily!

My boys are also big chart kids.  They just love to chart progress and see it visually, so we printed off charts for the two older boys.  Stars were bequeathed when I spotted heroic feats of chivalry!  It was fun to watch them step in and defend their baby brother against 'injustice' (warring other brother), see my boys race out to open the car doors for Aunt B, see the son who has been struggling with lying, fess up and speak the truth (even though it meant facing consequences - a true sign of bravery and strength I told him.), and have boys eager to carry groceries to the car and then into the house! 

Even now that we've moved on from our unit on the middle ages, they are still eager to grow in strength and valor on these areas.

At the end of our unit, we had a dubbing ceremony where the boys were each knighted by the 'king of the house.'  They were quite serious about it all, preparing the throne room and kneeling so reverently.  Even the three year old slowed down from his frenzied running (that is the norm at the end of the day) to watch and participate.

I've come to realize that this training in chivalry is only the beginning.  I pray they will continue to grow in strength, love for the King of kings, defending the weak and taking stands for what is right and true!

Related Post: Knights-in-the Making
                            King Focus

{Free printables} Knights Code of Chivalry and Knight Training Log 

And because I just love books and sharing book recommendations, here are some of our favorites from this unit!  (Apologies: the Amazon book widget is not showing up in Google Reader...)

Knights-in-the-Making

The boys and I just loved our adventure studying the middle ages. (You can read about our previous adventures here, here, here, and here.)

But I think one of the highlights was the focus on knights. My boys were inspired.  They wanted to dress like them, fight like them, behave like them.  Really, they wanted to become knights.

Now I knew this had potential.  We could use more modern day knights these days...  So we took a couple of extra weeks and dove in to pursue the transformation.

First step: getting outfited as knights! Cowboy boots doubled for riding boots, our bow and arrow sets from our study of Native Americans last year came in handy and we added some fun homemade armor to the mix!

We cut out cardboard shields, spraypainted them silver and then painted them with their favorite design. Our tempora paints didn't work, so we had to use {stain prone} acrylics - hence the boys being shirtless.   What did we do before the internet????  I found a great video tutorial on making shields that I watched before we embarked on making our own.

They all wanted to be George, the red-cross knight and to reduce bickering, I allowed them the cross, but had them paint their shield in their signature color.

Our curriculum had a great idea for making helmets.  Unfortunately, I didn't really think it through and it ended up being far more mommy intensive than I like.  (I don't consider it the kids project unless they can do most of it themselves.)  It would have been great if my boys had been just a few years older.  If I had to do it over again, I would have just covered their bike helmets with aluminum foil! :)

Inspite of that, Keegan enjoyed the paper-mache part...

All the boys liked playing with tape.  And of course they all LOVED the finished product (minus the visor because I just didn't feel like adding that part).

Now that they are outfitted, I'll fill you in on their 'training' next time!

Part 2: Knights-In-Training

Trey-Trey

Don't you just love those weeks where you just pinch yourself to make sure you aren't dreaming?!?!? This last week was one of those! 

So I write again this Monday and record more gifts...

679. celebrating our youngest son, Trey (or thanks to my niece, affectionately called, Trey-Trey).  We cannot imagine life with this little spitfire.  He is 'the dangerous one' and life is always an adventure with him around.

680. Trey waking up declaring to the world that it was his birthday.

681. unbridled boy enthusiasm.

682. candles in this yummy Blueberry Buckle.

683. watching him run after his big brothers and play as one of them.

684. his delight when Mima and his cousin called to sing to him.

685. grabbing his {free} birthday lunch at Joe's Farm Grill.

686. boys playing in the sunshine.

687. remembering back to his birth.

688. long-anticipated confirmation from the midwife that our new baby is alive and right on track.  Hearing that heartbeat is always heavenly.  After a loss, it is indescribable... 

689. this appointment landing three years after she had been over for Treyton's speedy arrival!

690.  afternoon naps - for me!

691. boys practicing their big brother skills with 'heavy baby' (The weighted doll that I used when I had my baby carrier business.)
692. finding my first published magazine article in our mailbox! 

693. hiking with friends.

694. ...all the way back to find thousand year old Hohokam petroglyphs.

695. nothing worse than scraped knees afterwards...

696. boys that are very concerned about what the baby eats.  I can't get away with anything! ;)

697. green smoothies - upping our fruit AND veggie intake!

698. boys that are thrilled, despite the color.  Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Anticipation...

There is some big time anticipation mounting over here.

The boys were excited to wake up two weeks ago to a breakfast of cinnamon rolls (reserved for only special occasions) and this centerpiece.

Even after Xander read the word and counted the candles, it still didn't sink in right away.

But now the house is in a flurry of excitement.

An ultrasound and midwife appointment this week confirmed that everything is going smoothly.  There is nothing quite like hearing that heartbeat for the first time...

We are breathing a happy sigh of relief and looking forward to welcoming a new baby around October 1st! 

Easter Prep

I love Easter.  From when I was a young girl, it has always been one of my favorite holidays because of what it represents.  With a little over 6 weeks until Easter, I find my mind going there once again.  For anyone who has been around for a while, they know how much I enjoy preparing our hearts for this celebration in the weeks leading up to Easter.

There is something so special about taking time, over a period of time to prepare.  I find that by spreading out our activities and preparations that it allows for these incredible truths to really sink into minds and hearts (for both the kids and for us) as we percolate and slowly absorb.

I did a post last year on the {possible} how's in anticipating and preparing for this time with young children.  It is chock full of ideas on how to make it hands-on, real and special for our children.

Julie over at Faith-Filled Days has posted some ideas that she has done, both when her kids were younger and now that they are upper elementary/junior high age.

I certainly don't do every idea, every year.  There are seasons that are busier than others.  Two years ago was a season of lots of hands-on activities, last year was a more reflective year where we read, prayed, but didn't do a whole lot of activities.  So as you look forward to Easter, pray about how God would have you prepare and go with His leading. 

Here is a peek at what we are tentatively planning on doing this year:

Since we just did a unit on Kings and Queens, we are going to build on that and read through the book of Matthew and focus on Jesus as King and His kingdom.  I'm very excited and working on fleshing out a few activities to go along with this.

My Trey-Trey just turned three yesterday.  For his birthday, we gave him this incredible little Resurrection scene toy set.  I didn't know what to expect since it was only $5, but it is just perfect for some hands-on re-enacting of the story.  (Oriental Trading Company is always sending out coupon codes for free shipping.  I recommend finding a friend or two to go in on an order together and saving on shipping! Coupon code: WCE1579 gives free shipping on orders over $49 until 3/22.)

Trey isn't super familiar with the account yet, but his brothers have been snagging the set and retelling the story.

Trey is sure there were some squabbles amongst those guarding the tomb.

And the angels came with 'trumpeting' sounds...

And seriously, I have some major issues with keeping the house tidy.  So I'm excited that when they are done, it is super easy to put them all away in this nifty little box.

Taking a Snow Day!

We don't get those here in the Arizona desert, so we decided to create our own - using shaving cream!

I usually teach to the oldest and let the youngers pick up what they pick up (which is usually a surprising amount).  But sometimes I like to 'take the day off' from our normal routine and just have some good ol' open-ended play specifically geared towards my youngest! 

So after piling on the couch and reading classic kids book, The Snowy Day we made our way to the dining room table to play with shaving cream.  I let the kids pick out toys that they wanted to bring to our 'snow play' and turned them loose.

Sensory activities are so important for little ones.  Exploring new sensations teaches kids a lot about how materials work and sharpens observation skills.  It is amazing how long they will focus and play when there are no expectations and their imaginations can run wild.  These kinds of open-ended imagination inspiring activities are essential and I love incorporating them into our days...

The older boys enjoyed spreading out the cream thin and tracing designs.

Driving thru this kind of snow proved to be a favorite activity...

While it looks messy, it was surprisingly not!  The clean-up was considerably easier than paints or playdough.  Now I just need to make it to the store and stock up again...

Looking for some other fun sensory play ideas?  Check out this link for inspiration!

 

Linking up with:

Fruit of Gratitude

For the last year and a half I've been recording God's everyday gifts to me.  Some I print here, others are for my eyes alone.  I'm so thankful for the benefits of taking my eyes off of myself and intentionally focusing on God and all that He's given.

This last week, I realized that I focus less on my husbands faults because I've been recording how God has used him in my life.  I spend more time thinking about the gift of marriage than dwelling on how it isn't meeting my {sometimes too high}expectations.  Life with young children is not easy.  But as I record the beautiful moments, it helps me retain perspective more often when it isn't ideal and I'm having those "I didn't sign up for this" moments.   As I called my dad, to get insight/encouragement on being more faithful with morning devotions, he reminded me that it is about relationship and I realized that I am communing with God all day long as I thank Him for the little (and big) things in life.  And even when life throws difficult curve balls, as it did for us last October, I find myself fighting to see His gifts, even amidst pain and struggle.  Life and how I react, is far from perfect.  But there is progress - bit by bit.  My spiritual eyes and ears are tuning to recognize His work around me and in me.  Faith is growing, intimacy fostered, peace enjoyed and joy bubbling over.  So thankful for grace.

And so I continue to count...



658. glimpses of growth.  He is in the business of changing me!

659. A God who wants to relate to me, to each of us - personally, moment-by-moment.

660. little boy chairs with a long history...

661. spontaneous worship songs made up by eldest son.

662. grandmothers sharing of new family additions.

663. boys eager to help.

664. golf tees that keep globes spinning.

665. fresh patience when asked for.
666. new mercies each and every day.
667. wide-eyed looks from a nephew.

668. oldest tenderly helping toddler cousin.
669. getting a peak at a new baby.
670. wild newborn hair.
671. playing pretend with my youngest. 

672. remnants of exuberant child play.

673. lingering memories of youngest boy proclaiming, "I Robin Hood."

674. my monthly 'retreat' with other Jesus loving momma's.

675. a husband who willingly releases me for one Saturday morning a month!

676. difficult days that remind me how much I need Him. 

677. weaknesses revealed.

678. opportunities to turn to the One who is strong.

Special One-on-One Time

Everyone needs a one-on-one attention, don't they?  I've found that although my boys LOVE doing things together, there is also something so very special and emotionally necessary about getting personalized attention.

For my middle son, this is critical.  When discipline and defiance issues flare up, it is always a clear cue that he is in need of some special time with me.  I've noticed this with him more than the other two so far.  Has anyone else experienced that with one of their children?

'Special time' can take various routes.  We prefer to keep it simple over here. 

• Special mommy-child walks.
• Running errands without siblings.
• Being read to in another room, apart from siblings.
• Playing a game - uno, go fish, candyland, etc.
• One-on-one pretend play.
• New Montessori game or other sorting activity.
• Special meal-prep helper.  (Everybody rotates doing this, as long as I have the patience and time that day.)

My middle child THRIVES on walks.  I wrote about it before when I ended up backpacking him around the neighborhood after a particularly rough week.  He not only looks like me when I was that age (with shorter hair and a little more meat on his bones), but also has my same need for the great outdoors.  For him, special walks -just the two of us, works wonders.  It doesn't even have to be long: fifteen minutes and we're golden.  He opens up, communicates more and responds better to my leading and direction at home. 

For Treyton, I usually put him down for his nap before the other boys go down.  (Everybody rests for at least an hour each afternoon over here.)  While the older boys clear the table and play, I take Treyton upstairs and we read a book.  I don't think he minds going down before his brothers because he anticipates our special reading time.  It is fun to talk to him and interact without the other boys 'helping' him out.  Trey also thrives on having me join him in his imaginative play from time to time.

Each child is unique and finding out what 'special time' really rocks their world is a delight and well worth the effort to discover!

Part 5/6 in my series on Integrating Little One's into the Learning Journey.

Occupying the Little's: Special Toys/Activities

In this series on Integrating Little One's Into the Learning Journey, I've talked about how we include everyone in our morning start with Circle Time and how we approach most learning with a multi-level/ everyone included kind of mindset.  But sometimes, you need to get things done with the older one's without the constant input or vying for attention from the younger one's...  We need to occupy them and keep them out of trouble.  Boy do I understand this one, especially since I blink and my youngest has usually acquired a sharpie or lipstick and his working his artistic magic.

My ideal way that things work out when I'm teaching my oldest is that the younger two, would engage in independent play.  When the weather is nice, they oftentimes will simply go outside.  We have a sandbox and in warmer weather I fill up their water table and let them dump and pour water to their hearts content, while Xander and I sit just inside and work on his 'skill building' subjects.  Lately, there have been many brave 'knightly' adventures taking place in our backyard.  I've also been known to give them spray bottles and let them play with those outside.  They have fun squirting each other, watering the plants, doing water-drawings on the walls, etc...

When that doesn't work, either because they just want to 'be' with us or when our weather is too hot  (we never have problems with it being too cold here in the Arizona desert) I have special 'toys' or activities that they only do when we are having phonics/spelling or math time.

During Phonics/Spelling time:

They can have paper and colored pencils, special coloring books for only this time or I have two little white boards that I will hand them and let them draw or 'practice' their own writing...  Treyton is so cute when he yells out, 'talk a me,' wanting me to dictate a word to him.  He then proceeds to draw lots and lots of circles or long squiggles! :)

I'm not an advocate of early phonics instruction.  Until the two hemispheres of the brain have connected it is very challenging for most kids to read phonetically instead of merely memorizing words by sight.  In fact, pushing a child to read too early can have detrimental long-term effects.  And I just see no reason in spending years teaching a child their alphabet and simple letter sounds when in a matter of weeks they will be off and writing/reading/etc with the complete set of phonetic sounds if I just wait until they are ready.  That being said, I don't prohibit them from being present and participating as they initiate.  (Curious about my philosophy on early education?  Check out the links on my Cultivated Learning page.)

We usually play phonogram and spelling word BINGO one day a week and Keegan loves to play the phonogram BINGO game with us.  When he is stumped, his older brother just jumps in to help.  Trey has fun playing with the discs and although he insists on having a sheet, has no interest in actually playing the game...

During Math time:

Keegan is usually excited to pull out "his" math during this time. I found a set of Cuisenaire Rods at a used curriculum fair and he enjoys playing around with them.  I know that as he plays, he is getting an understanding of quantity, greater than/less than and strengthening his visual/spacial skills.  Simply by being in the same room with Xander and I, he's also picked up so much of what we work on and I know he will have a huge leg up when we start doing math together!  Sometimes the younger one's will also play with Pattern Blocks and Boards.  I've found free templates for other designs online by doing a quick google search, so they are never at a loss for new designs to try.

When Trey was younger and still putting things in his mouth, I would do math during nap time because I didn't want him to get ahold of any of the manipulative's.  Now that he is older, I like to set him up with a Montessori activity if he wants to sit at the table with us.  They are immensely enjoyable and usually help increase concentration, fine motor skills, pincer grasp, and concepts of quantity. 

Here are two activities he's enjoyed recently.  I love that they simply utilize things I have lying around the house. 

Inserting toothpicks into a spice jar: develops fine motor skills, the pincer grasp, concentration.  It is a self-contained activity.  He unscrews the lid and shakes the toothpicks out and then proceeds to put them back.  Sometimes he counts, other times he will spontaneously sort the toothpicks into piles (you could even color some of them for a color sorting activity) and then finds new and creative ways to put them back.  Today he 'pounded' them in. :)

Clothspin game: more fine motor skill practice, developing hand strength, pincer grasp, etc... He unscrews the lid, dumps them out and sees how many he can pinch around the edge of the bottle before taking them off and putting them back.  Sometimes he branches out and sees what else he can 'pinch'! 

I find lots of inspiration by doing a search over at The Montessori Goldmine.  That is a blog well worth subscribing too as there is tons of neat ideas all collected in one central location.  If there is any interest, I could flesh out more of the activities that we use and enjoy here in our home. 

And of course the few Lauri toys we own are always a hit and only come out during 'school time.  Treyton loves the Shape and Color Sorter and Keegan is kept busy with the Fit-A-Space shape sorter, threading, puzzle activity.  Puzzles are another option and pulling out our beads for some classic sorting always works well too.

What works for 'occupying toddlers' in your home?  I'm always on the look-out for fresh ideas, especially as we are just months away from our mostly 'indoor' time when the heat soars...