We've been working on our +2 family this week, and I wanted to help the boys find a pattern to quickly answering the problems. So before explaining the "secret pattern" to answering the +2 family I wrote the problems on our white board like this. Then I told them we were going to answer each problem and then we'd notice a pattern to help us.

I specifically used a different marker color for answering the problems on the left hand side of the board vs the right hand. Once all our answers were written down we then looked at those numbers and decided if they were odds or evens. They had no problems remember which numbers were odd and which ones were even, all though we did demonstrate how 11 was odd with a few linking cubes.. Once the kids realized that each side had all evens or all odds we labeled the top of the board. Then, we discussed quick ways to find the answers, which drew upon their ability to count by 2's and their ability to count the odd numbers from 1 upward. So we circled the addend and then discussed what the next closest odd/even number would be.

Then I gave the kids their hundreds charts which they'd started coloring odds and evens on last week. They were able to use the hundreds chart if needed to work on their math sheet. After we play Joey-Joey, especially after the kids know their facts I usually print a math sheet off from The Math Work Sheet Site. While we don't do a lot of math sheets, the kids enjoy these and they love trying to beat their best times.

This little number line is a "cheat sheet", but it works like a game. To be sure Jayden is understanding the concept of adding I gave him the number line and game piece. I called a number, 2 (see top picture), and then I had him add 1 (see bottom picture). Where his playing piece lands is going to be his answer. Funnily enough, when he was given a larger problem like 2+9 he said how he wished it had been 9+2 instead. It was a great opportunity to point out that 2+9 and 9+2 are going to have the exact same answer! This number line was also a great way for me to remind them both that they were looking for the next odd or next even number too..

We had ourselves a fun little pizza party with foam and glue sticks. When we were all done we sat there looking at our pizzas topped with all our favorites and then the boys said, "Mom, I'm hungry.." They were only slightly disappointed pizza wasn't on the menu for dinner..

Saturday was haircutting day.. you know while it was also bird evicting day..

The boys and I were actually outside on the deck attempting to do haircuts when Mr Scarecrow kept shouting down things to us. First he needed a net, we didn't have one. Then he needed the broom, next some bird seed was called for, a smaller pole, and eventually a scoop. I didn't have a smaller pole so I sent up my dyson retracting pole. Nor did I have some scoop, and at this point I was covered in hair and getting quite sweaty so in total desperation I sent up a roll of tape and an empty cream container. Jayden kept playing messenger and he came running down the stairs at this point shouting (quite loudly I might add) "Everyone be quite and get out of the way quickly!" Thankfully I wasn't mid-snip, and as I turned around and saw Mr Scarecrow coming down the steps with a baby black bird perched on the end of my straw broom I picked Morgan up of the stool and ran off the deck with him.

You see, Morgan has a morbid fear of birds ever since the Momma bird fell through the chimney and attempted to tangle itself in my hair, so I knew if he turned around and saw a bird next to himself he'd panic. Yes, that's the baby bird sitting on my broom! However, he took to this little one so quickly we had to warn him several times not to touch it. This little fellow was so very grateful at being freed he sat right next to all three of the guys as they took his photo, offered him seed, and left a bowl of water for him. Funnily enough the bird seed attracted ants and the bird ate the ants instead of the seed. We had great fun watching him hop around as he called out for his parents, who'd answer him back but only swoop overhead as we stood by watching. When the guys all got up to walk away that funny little bird followed them! It was so very cute we tried to get it on video, but the battery was flat. We finally came inside for a bit so the parents could calm down, all though we had our doubts that this little fellow could fly.

Can you see him sitting up near the fence? His parents often sit up there while they watch us and wait until they think we're not looking before they snitch a bit of seed from the bird feeder we have hanging in that area. They were sitting in a tree on the other side of that fence and so the little one hopped over and fluttered up where he called out to his parents who were very riled up and squawking like crazy. In the end while we were double checking that our dog was inside the happy family made it back to the roof. We were quite surprised because we really didn't think that little bird could fly, but I suppose there's no time like the present to learn!

We're still focusing on Thanksgiving this week, and will be for the rest of the month. So all of our crafts and activities for our workboxes are based on Thanksgiving. This week we'll be using the book Cranberry Thanksgiving for our unit study. This is a book we rowed once before a few years ago, but that was while we were preparing for a move across the world. Thus, the boys don't remember much of it. They've been peaking through the book (Thanks Kim!) this weekend and have many questions about it all ready. Hopefully once we read the story it will all be answered.

My word count is about 8,500 or so words short right now to finish my 50,000 on time. I'm slow, mostly from lack of time, but hope to get caught up through the weekend. We shall see, we shall see.. You'll have to excuse the lack of blog posts while I attempt to get caught up!

Sunday Update: I'm now 82 words ahead of myself, but I fear I advanced too quickly and may struggled to fit in all that I need. Not editing as I go is about as painful as poking myself in the eye!