tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20749422693664942042024-02-06T20:35:46.800-08:00Home is Real SweetJournal of a Second-Generation HomeschoolerAIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.comBlogger221125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-70032048229952262632016-04-28T07:32:00.000-07:002016-04-28T07:39:09.675-07:002015 Recap and 2016 PlanningWow. The end of 2015-16 schoolyear is here. No posts about why we homeschooled this year. No posts on plans. No summer reading challenge reports from last year.<br />
<br />
The fact is, we are so preoccupied with doing our thing that there's no time (or is it energy?) to write about it. Since I don't want to let a year go by undocumented, I will attempt a recap.<br />
<br />
<b>Summer, 2015:</b><br />
<br />
Reading challenge was successful. The boys earned movie and Xbox bucks instead of books, which cranked up the enthusiasm.<br />
<br />
Thing1 (9 years old) wised up to the benefits and chose the books with the highest points first (1. The Hobbit. 2. Johnny Tremain. 3. Jack Plank Tells Tales. 4. Woodrow Wilson) He used the same report form as last year.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkePDertSUIMmzs8r6xSoFk13Qbd68v2lGRpndPjdrHLy2tA83IYIsIsyTzrt4vuSAeSyroHIYAFVS9tkS6IlnBihI8zDf2sJf7gHweBocK0M_ElF07l2eejFcG6w7XdTcWs5raA1zhhr/s1600/book+report.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkePDertSUIMmzs8r6xSoFk13Qbd68v2lGRpndPjdrHLy2tA83IYIsIsyTzrt4vuSAeSyroHIYAFVS9tkS6IlnBihI8zDf2sJf7gHweBocK0M_ElF07l2eejFcG6w7XdTcWs5raA1zhhr/s640/book+report.jpg" width="388" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hobbit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span id="goog_541206733"></span><span id="goog_541206734"></span>Thing2 (6 years old) was still dictating and copying, but his reading abilities were much better!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy53O8G_Hw_Jkr7K5p9b0l36hlwIsVOdTBJ50pLkc_R6pKa2xm80ZPwSCOufcb-vy8LbLMNsgGP5AmsOhlc_z55BrAkcgMRQ8CH6n6LGUg-LYesSMb7ZsnqfzItoGBNu8hDwlXD4i3ZvLe/s1600/isra+report.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy53O8G_Hw_Jkr7K5p9b0l36hlwIsVOdTBJ50pLkc_R6pKa2xm80ZPwSCOufcb-vy8LbLMNsgGP5AmsOhlc_z55BrAkcgMRQ8CH6n6LGUg-LYesSMb7ZsnqfzItoGBNu8hDwlXD4i3ZvLe/s640/isra+report.jpg" width="388" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Long Way to a New Land</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>2015-16 School Year:</b><br />
<br />
<i>Classical Conversations</i>. I directed a new community. It consumed me, but we were blessed. I feel much more prepared to take on this second year. I completed my first year of Essentials, and loved it. I see now that the kids need much less prep than I gave Thing1. I have adjusted Thing2's schedule appropriately. Live and learn.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XdAfRT02Fejxa5dKzAt_sEC5ZLL3x9_UEmMuFH8YPj7Spv45314RASjQCX0c4GpnAN6gWojoOfH_jA34NIIkmwXB4V42ABEf_b3ZvIhAqLboj_95WTQPez9V3qm3CIfDMZGlWduuDndK/s1600/20160412072715_p238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XdAfRT02Fejxa5dKzAt_sEC5ZLL3x9_UEmMuFH8YPj7Spv45314RASjQCX0c4GpnAN6gWojoOfH_jA34NIIkmwXB4V42ABEf_b3ZvIhAqLboj_95WTQPez9V3qm3CIfDMZGlWduuDndK/s320/20160412072715_p238.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rock study at camper school</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>Simplify.</i> I made a conscious effort all year to simplify our plans and concentrate on the important rather than the urgent. We will be completing math books through the summer because of this, but the peace and fulfillment we experienced this year are worth it.<br />
<ul>
<li>We did no formal history or science. Every time we went to the library, the boys could pick books from four categories: History/Geography, Science/Math, Literature/Poetry, and Fun. They could check out as many books as they wanted as long as they followed the "rule of 4," meaning their selections were spread evenly over those categories. They read a lot of interesting material, none of it planned ahead. Sometimes they did a "report" on their library books, which could be a letter to a grandparent (Thing2's favorite), a copy of one of the illustrations (Thing1's favorite), or a traditional report. Interestingly, no one ever chose the traditional report. </li>
<li>We set aside traditional school work when opportunities for learning experiences arose, such as camping trips and speech competitions.</li>
<li>I held a massive notebook purge<i>, </i>and<i> </i>I stopped keeping every paper. If, one day, I need proof that I actually educate my children, I hope their knowledge will suffice. There will also be standardized test results. In fact, we generate very few papers besides math now that we have simplified.</li>
<li>I tried to<b> quit being stubborn </b>about plans that were not working out. For example, I quit trying to do Spelling Power with Thing2 halfway through the year. He was not ready! We concentrated on copywork instead. (He hates copywork! Sit still and pay attention to tiny details? No thanks.) As a result, I see more improvement in his spelling than I was seeing before.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>Success. </i><br />
<ul><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc55IEovxDbUAwI-sm5hq7NGSc0QYhyphenhyphenHCWsIQaDMG18CqcAsycRIelk0qD4aahB6Fi6NpOVKixYubnsMR0qCWxsBBnsbcw1kCh8ZqnAoFFFbca-R6rLJ490T1ekjHNob5-YSsaDjP9kpvO/s1600/20160412072733_p250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc55IEovxDbUAwI-sm5hq7NGSc0QYhyphenhyphenHCWsIQaDMG18CqcAsycRIelk0qD4aahB6Fi6NpOVKixYubnsMR0qCWxsBBnsbcw1kCh8ZqnAoFFFbca-R6rLJ490T1ekjHNob5-YSsaDjP9kpvO/s320/20160412072733_p250.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Henry and Pony Express Rider<br />
CHESCO Speech Competition</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<li>The boys kept "Question and Thankful Notebooks." They wrote something they were thankful for and a question on each page. The goals were</li>
<ul>
<li>to improve attitudes with gratitude.</li>
<li>to develop a question-asking habit so that learning continues as a way of life.</li>
</ul>
<li>Instead of me directing our Bible reading, they chose where they read each day. Each of them read a passage aloud, and this doubled as their reading/elocution practice. We listened to Thing1 read Revelations, Esther, Ruth, and Job. Thing2 read mainly Psalms and Proverbs, sometimes the same one day after day. During the second semester, Thing1 and I combined our sentence diagramming practice with Bible time. That was interesting! It was much more meaningful than diagramming random silly sentences out of the book.</li>
<li>Thing1 completed his third Memory Master. He has done all cycles, so it will not be on my to-do list any more; however, he is welcome to do it on his own. Thing2 made it through three proofings with 54%, 74%, and 77% results. Those last two proofings were cause for celebration! He knows the material, but, understandably, he has a hard time concentrating on it for two hours at a time.</li>
</ul>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5canr3LM5H7_WrsuANr7cin72yT1_7XBuckECXsBR47iWCbtJEx58Nxpu-Z4g-EzAdS-hhQ_Y_KLdYaygN6-_5a5eWWi9o_B659iXXffkCKOQLkav7CAMcOc-XcT0W1cTYPq-uY41_aL/s1600/20160412072742_p257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5canr3LM5H7_WrsuANr7cin72yT1_7XBuckECXsBR47iWCbtJEx58Nxpu-Z4g-EzAdS-hhQ_Y_KLdYaygN6-_5a5eWWi9o_B659iXXffkCKOQLkav7CAMcOc-XcT0W1cTYPq-uY41_aL/s320/20160412072742_p257.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ghengis Khan<br />
CC Faces of History program</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<i>Failure</i>. Will I ever finish reading a book out loud to them within a reasonable amount of time? It hasn't happened yet. We have not quit on <i>The Wheel on the School </i>even though it has sat beside the chair for a year and a half. <i>The Phantom Tollbooth, On the Banks of Plum Creek,</i> and <i>The Castle in the Attic</i> are also unfinished. The amazing thing is that the boys can pick up where we left off months after the last reading. They have to catch me up every time because I cannot remember. We will keep chipping away at <i>The Wheel </i>(we are all hooked), but the others are history. We will try again later.</div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>2016 Summer Plans:</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First we will participate in the CTP4 standardized test. This is Thing1's second time and Thing2's first.<br />
<br />
We will continue doing math lessons as a part of daily chores. <b>Goal: Do an entire math lesson without getting distracted. Be a math ninja.</b><br />
<br />
The reading challenge, which has blossomed into a favorite summer tradition, is on in three days! Again, they will earn movie bucks, which can also be used for Xbox games or books. They both have Kindles now, which makes it a lot cheaper to own all those hard-to-find books that libraries don't care about.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Let me talk about Thing2's reading! He has finally settled into reading as a hobby. He has finally realized that all those books on Thing1's Kindle are actually entertaining (and now the Kindle is his)! He has finally learned how to sit still and concentrate on written words! Truthfully, he has been learning this since he was an infant, but I can see the fruits now. My hunch that even an active, social person can appreciate literature is turning out to be correct. His list is adapted from Ambleside Online with some additional fun novels thrown in. I thought I would just use Thing1's list from when he was 7, but it turns out Thing2 has already listened to most of them. He is a well read young man, thanks to audiobooks. I'm not sure if he is ready to read most of the AO titles independently since many of them are meant to be read aloud, but we will play it by ear. This summer he graduates to the <a href="http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/worksheets/book_reports/book%20report2.pdf" target="_blank">Busy Teacher Cafe report form</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thing1 is transitioning. That middle section of the Well Trained Mind, the one called <i>The Logic Stage</i>, is suddenly very relevant. I have not ignored it, but I have set it aside with the excuse, "It's not time." Well, now it is time. 5th-8th grades is what Ms. Bauer and Ms. Wise call the Logic Stage, and they put together a chronological reading list for these years. Since we have had tremendous success with their book recommendations from the beginning, I'm assigning this list to Thing1. This will be his summer reading challenge that will bleed over into his next two years of reading assignments. Since he has read copiously about ancients this year, I only selected a few titles that fill some gaps for that period, and I would like for him to read them all this summer so that he can start the full list of Medieval titles this Fall. And here's the big challenge: I need to read them, too, so we can discuss them. I have already started. It will take some re-prioritizing to actually get these volumes read...or at least scanned...as he reads them. Another transition is that he will write me a formal critique, as he learned in <a href="http://iew.com/shop/products/teaching-writing-structure-and-style-second-edition-dvd-seminar-workbook-premium" target="_blank">IEW</a>'s Unit 9, for each book. I don't expect a perfectly polished product every time. How's that for alliteration? But I do want him to become so familiar with the process that it becomes a routine task.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>2016-17 School Plans:</b></div>
<div>
<br />
The lessons about simplifying and prioritizing came at the perfect time, right before a transition year for Thing1. That is evidence that it was of God because I was too wrapped up in starting a CC community (urgent and important) to realize the changes were imminent.</div>
<div>
Thing2 (8 years old)</div>
<div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Keep reading, copying, and taking dictation. I have started dictating Dick and Jane to him. It is so simple that it seems silly, but he can take the dictation successfully, which means a lot. We can actually concentrate on periods and commas without worrying about the dreaded spelling aspect. </li>
<li>Keep a relaxed schedule in </li>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://growingwithgrammar.com/1gwgProduct_Page.html" target="_blank">Growing with Grammar</a> Level 3.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Typing-Instructor-Kids-Platinum-5/dp/B002U0L1BU/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1461848661&sr=8-7&keywords=typing+instructor+platinum+21" target="_blank">Typing Instructor</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.zaner-bloser.com/zaner-bloser-handwriting" target="_blank">Zaner Bloser Handwriting</a> Levels 2c/3.</li>
</ul>
<li>Keep a more rigid schedule in </li>
<ul>
<li>Math-U-See Gamma</li>
<li>CC Memory Work</li>
</ul>
<li>Visit the library using the "rule of 4."</li>
</ul>
<div>
Thing1 (10-11 years old)</div>
<div>
From highest to lowest priority:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Math - I'm leaning toward making the switch to <a href="http://www.diveintomath.com/itunes-u-course-download-for-dive-math-6-5-saxon-6-5-homeschool-kit/" target="_blank">Saxon 65 with the DIVE download</a>. The Husband votes we transition before pre-algebra, which means this year or next. If it does not work out, we can always go back to Math-U-See. See? I <i>am</i> learning about how <b>stubbornness sabotages simplicity</b>.</li>
<li>Essentials - Take a step towards independence in writing essays.</li>
<li>Read and report on books from The Well Trained Mind logic stage chronological reading list.</li>
<li>CC Memory Work</li>
<li>Start a keepsake timeline. T<a href="http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/recordoftime.html" target="_blank">his one</a> is my favorite. </li>
<li>Piano Lessons</li>
<li><a href="http://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/latin/latina-christiana-i" target="_blank">Latin Christiana I</a> in preparation for Henle Latin in two years. (What?!?)</li>
<li>Rosetta Stone Spanish. He and his dad want to learn, and we know a few people who can help them with conversation.</li>
<li>Read science-related topics such as the Aviation books a friend loaned us.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Typing-Instructor-Kids-Platinum-5/dp/B002U0L1BU/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1461848661&sr=8-7&keywords=typing+instructor+platinum+21" target="_blank">Typing Instructor</a> - We love this program. He is getting faster! Hopefully by the time Essentials starts again, he can type his own papers semi-quickly.</li>
<li>Handwriting - Practice neat cursive.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Why am I homeschooling again next year? Because it is working and because I do not see any better options at this point. I am thankful to witness slow and steady growth in my children, especially after our "simple year." They can do their chores (the same 5 they have been doing for two years - rooms, beds, dogs, piano, and bathrooms) with less than three demerits half the time. Our afternoon "ten-minute pickup," which has been a daily hour-long ordeal in the past, only takes about ten minutes now. Thing1 has realized the satisfaction of having money in his pocket by doing additional commission jobs with the requirement that he "budget" the money he makes into save, spend, and give envelopes. I watch both of them gradually tackle more difficult literature voluntarily and without dread. The day-to-day is hard, but looking at the big picture while writing a summary like this one convinces me that, by God's grace, we are making a good decision.</div>
</div>
</div>
AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-64637330245393052882015-03-01T14:59:00.002-08:002015-03-01T14:59:55.767-08:00Sweet HomeHome is still real sweet.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCul4noEjIMdC-6sfYSwgP70IC9nCSLxw0pNMnjI6z9HviGnOZTYcFnVzN7-IJruXSbDf_L3kO1tPPxwWttFtywYysFoaNypnsqC08fEo2AgwgDpd6TTdYarfDIEPNsk-pWHpTjzZR0Kbg/s1600/DSC_0517_b&w_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCul4noEjIMdC-6sfYSwgP70IC9nCSLxw0pNMnjI6z9HviGnOZTYcFnVzN7-IJruXSbDf_L3kO1tPPxwWttFtywYysFoaNypnsqC08fEo2AgwgDpd6TTdYarfDIEPNsk-pWHpTjzZR0Kbg/s1600/DSC_0517_b&w_edited-1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
It just gets sweeter.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2s17l168_E371AIe6flrc0hQvDb-q86sL-WfEBiRJDeIwmQVi_BsXmgEdVVxKUEiLX6zP6PvXpTVsu3vpO_6NUUKL6QsN90kYcKvuFlvo71t_XJ9e2CPYVBDHx1atkHZ72TEoNH0ev-J/s1600/DSC_0510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2s17l168_E371AIe6flrc0hQvDb-q86sL-WfEBiRJDeIwmQVi_BsXmgEdVVxKUEiLX6zP6PvXpTVsu3vpO_6NUUKL6QsN90kYcKvuFlvo71t_XJ9e2CPYVBDHx1atkHZ72TEoNH0ev-J/s1600/DSC_0510.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0UkSE14rrGb7i7itCFdajC5h8tfyFOr0i-0eOUIIG3OX5SKwdWNpWQJoqggjY482PfKZJpRlKk56AB_8HZPW90UJwU97cEfSzQKF1pOZU7j0Vr3d0EJs2AUGNTT0t7WHnBkrutPIPM2w/s1600/DSC_0529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0UkSE14rrGb7i7itCFdajC5h8tfyFOr0i-0eOUIIG3OX5SKwdWNpWQJoqggjY482PfKZJpRlKk56AB_8HZPW90UJwU97cEfSzQKF1pOZU7j0Vr3d0EJs2AUGNTT0t7WHnBkrutPIPM2w/s1600/DSC_0529.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-58936992212406784032014-12-26T14:09:00.000-08:002014-12-26T14:09:12.796-08:00Latin? What Latin?In <a href="http://homeschoolalumnus.blogspot.com/2014/07/plans-for-3rd-and-1st.html">this previous post</a>, I said I hoped our new addition of a Latin curriculum would be productive.<br />
<br />
Update: We don't do it.<br />
<br />
We do memorize our CC Latin, though. [Thunderous applause, please.]<br />
<br />
The End.AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-80937983780535002882014-12-04T13:13:00.001-08:002014-12-04T13:13:23.852-08:00Positives, Grace, and AdviceI would hate to focus on the negative happenings since my last post, such as chronic temper control problems, horrendous housekeeping, scanty suppers, fend-for-yourself breakfasts and lunches, lousy Latin, and tears because I can't do it all.<br />
<br />
It's healthier to focus on the positive, such as:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li> 62 days of school completed (it seems silly to count days of homeschool where we learn every day, but we do our best to abide by the law).</li>
<li>One kid who knows the better part of 12 weeks of CC memory work (Latin is lousy) and another who is close behind.</li>
<li>Ever-so-slowly improving attitudes.</li>
<li>An increasing number of friendships here in Oklahoma.</li>
<li>Two days in a row of reading from our Story of the World book.</li>
<li>The ability to sit at this computer at 2:58 p.m. and stay awake (!!) along with a few other results of teeny, tiny baby steps toward better health.</li>
</ul>
<br />
The biggest positive of all is a little epiphany I had recently. I realized that, like a good Primitive Baptist, I am fully confident in God's grace as it applies to my eternal salvation. I realize my weakness, and I rest in His strength. However, when it comes to raising my children, my actions (frustration, anger, hopelessness, perfectionism, imagining the worst possible outcome for <i>every</i> situation) show that I do not believe God's mercy and grace is sufficient for me <i>in the area of motherhood</i>. I conclude that my kids don't have a chance because of me when I should be thanking the Lord that my kids do have a chance in spite of me. I worry that they will "turn out bad" because of my lack of diligence when I should realize that I have never been chastised to the point that I actually deserved. God has been merciful, so I have to believe that he will continue to be. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." Ps. 23:6.<br />
<br />
Paul, after asking God to get rid of his thorn in the flesh, wrote that God's reply was, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." II Cor. 12:9. Oh, man, has my weakness been made clear to me in the last year! It has been ugly, but it has been necessary. I believe it has been providential. Never, until now, have I been able to understand why in the world Paul would glory in his infirmities! Only when I acknowledge my infirmity in a humble way can I recognize God's strength that carries me through one more attitude problem, his mercy in, I trust, allowing my children to "turn out okay," and his grace to cover my motherhood sins every day.<br />
<br />
Advice to myself: Thank God for his grace. Repent and accept forgiveness. Be thankful for the positives and stop dwelling on the negatives. Realize that God didn't make a mistake when he gave you your particular children (Thanks for that, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2gnLXW7X-0">Mom's Night Out</a>).AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-20542748953862932382014-08-09T12:43:00.001-07:002014-08-09T12:43:45.847-07:00Summer Book ReportsI am happy to report that our <a href="http://homeschoolalumnus.blogspot.com/2014/04/summer-break.html">summer book list project</a> was a success! By success, I mean three things.<br />
<br />
1. Thing1, who would have been reading all summer anyway, read some higher quality material than Boxcar Children and Super Hero books.<br />
<br />
2. The boys had some hard but not-too-time-consuming academic work to add to their summer chore lists.<br />
<br />
3. They both practiced writing at their own levels.<br />
<br />
I got 12 reports out of Thing1. He read considerably more than that, but reading and writing are on opposite ends of his difficulty spectrum. I am pleased with 12.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWOqg6a7xAkTVJhRAZQhJXzIzCUbCyXegB9_ci1Ns-uoz-q4t7cwV37_j3ARZvQuUJ35uQNC9WZeqSUviGvnvB2k2u-ojslU1LV9hSDOkbX8UyW4VULKoOq6WCd_4PFkFpOukqFqRS8Gb/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWOqg6a7xAkTVJhRAZQhJXzIzCUbCyXegB9_ci1Ns-uoz-q4t7cwV37_j3ARZvQuUJ35uQNC9WZeqSUviGvnvB2k2u-ojslU1LV9hSDOkbX8UyW4VULKoOq6WCd_4PFkFpOukqFqRS8Gb/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three Swords for Granada. I helped with the adjective, "clandestine." He liked it. :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thing2 produced eight reports. Reading the books was still a challenge in self discipline for him.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtvO100BIvoUTaroj7zuEbFM0kM9PGNKp4pwiGUiemcLKUooPOz8gxnLa4lj6znd9uRefTEAP2qVzc_im9iHVlVZl04SIr6yYRpX-lx4i-3hxd865rrSbCqH3Jljn_WWnsdmKCQXqKPX0/s1600/photo+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtvO100BIvoUTaroj7zuEbFM0kM9PGNKp4pwiGUiemcLKUooPOz8gxnLa4lj6znd9uRefTEAP2qVzc_im9iHVlVZl04SIr6yYRpX-lx4i-3hxd865rrSbCqH3Jljn_WWnsdmKCQXqKPX0/s1600/photo+(6).JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Berenstain Bears and the Case of the Missing Dinosaur Bone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I used my <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/homeisrealsweet/books-for-kids/">Pinterest board</a> and <a href="http://www.sonlight.com/">Sonlight's</a> reading lists for most of my selections, roughly keeping the historical books in the times we have already studied. Again, the book report template was from <a href="http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/">Busy Teacher's Cafe</a>.<br />
<br />
Thing1 used his points to get a couple new Kindle books and a Lego Brickmaster book. Thing2 saved all his points and redeemed them on a Squishy Human Anatomy book he had been eyeing at Hobby Lobby for months.<br />
<br />
It's a must-do for next summer!AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-57494283581849185382014-07-31T14:38:00.000-07:002014-12-26T14:10:11.418-08:00Plans for 3rd and 1st<a href="http://bekahsacran.blogspot.com/">Rebekah</a> brought it to my attention that Thing1 is no longer a beginner. At the end of third grade, he will be halfway to junior high! And Thing2 is a 1st grader. It's gonna get real for him this year.<br />
<br />
<b>Here's the plan for both of them:</b><br />
Classical Conversations Memory Work from the <a href="http://www.classicalconversationsbooks.com/fogu4thed.html">Foundations Guide</a> along with printables from CC Connected.<br />
<a href="http://www.classicalconversationsbooks.com/fogu4thed.html"><img alt="Foundations Guide 4th Ed" src="http://ep.yimg.com/ay/classicalconversationsbooks/foundations-guide-4th-ed-new-7.gif" /></a><br />
<i><u>If we don't do anything else in a day, we do this</u></i>. My favorite way to keep track of practicing the memory work is to use a Charlotte Mason memory box. Here's a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH4q7WjWAOY">link</a> to an instructional video.<br />
__________________________<br />
Story of the World Volume 3: Early Modern Times<br />
<a href="http://peacehillpress.com/story-of-the-world/"><img alt="The Story of the World, Vol. 3 (Early Modern Times) - Hardback" src="http://peacehillpress.com/images/products/03-txcb-1e.jpg" /></a><br />
Of course, this book contains wonderfully told stories. But the activity book provides enough corresponding literature suggestions to keep us busy for the next three years. The maps and coloring pages are great, too, but not as useful to us this year. Unless it an epic battle scene, the boys really don't care to color, and we get enough geography from CC that we can usually picture the general location we are reading about. Our routine is to read a chapter while coloring from the activity book then type up a narration page with a picture cut and pasted from the Internet. The narration pages go into their history notebooks. We try to have library books from the activity book's corresponding literature list on hand always.<br />
__________________________<br />
Apologia's Exploring Creation with Anatomy and Physiology<br />
<a href="http://shop.apologia.com/66-anatomy-and-physiology"><img alt="Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology" src="http://shop.apologia.com/286-home_default/exploring-creation-with-human-anatomy-and-physiology.jpg" /></a><br />
<div>
Apologia's Exploring Creation books are just plain fun. The pre-made Notebooking Journals are an unbelievably simple way to compile a super cute science notebook. Thing2 is excited that he has his own notebooking journal this year.<br />
__________________________<br />
Song School Latin<br />
<a href="http://classicalacademicpress.com/song-school-latin-book-1-w-cd/#.U44dVvldUrU"><img alt="Song School Latin Book 1 w/ CD" src="http://cdn2.bigcommerce.com/server2100/op7rth6/products/72/images/321/SSL1_SE__67049.1363653812.220.220.jpg?c=2" /></a><br />
I add one new thing each year. This year it's Latin. Hopefully it will be profitable.<br />
_____________________________<br />
<b>Here's what we've got planned for the third grader:</b></div>
<div>
<a href="http://store.mathusee.com/catalog/math-u-see/general-math/gamma">Math-U-See Gamma</a></div>
<div>
<img src="http://store.mathusee.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/188x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/g/a/gamma-Book-and-DVD.gif" /></div>
<div>
Slow and steady is the name of the game for Thing1 and mathematics, and Math-U-See fits the bill. Plus, Mr. Demme's short lessons on the DVD are much more effective than my blundering.<br />
_____________________________<br />
Growing With Grammar, Level 3<br />
<a href="http://www.growingwithgrammar.com/1gwg_Level_3.html"><img src="http://www.growingwithgrammar.com/sitebuilder/images/GWG_level_3_complete_set_with_tests-229x179.jpg" /></a><br />
Levels 1 and 2 served us well. Considering that this is our last year before <a href="http://www.classicalconversations.com/academic-programs/essentials-program-4th-6th">Essentials of the English Language</a> through Classical Conversations, why quit now? Level 3 introduces diagramming sentences. (I am excited! Nerd.) I considered buying <a href="http://www.growingwithgrammar.com/1DID.html">Digging into Diagramming</a> for extra practice, but then I realized that it doesn't take a $15 book to practice diagramming.<br />
______________________________<br />
Writing With Ease, Year 3<br />
<img alt="The Complete Writer: Writing with Ease Instructor Text" src="http://peacehillpress.com/images/products/30-etxcb-1e.png" /><br />
Agenda for our third and final year of WWE: Reading, narration, copywork, dictation; repeat.<br />
<br />
I have decided not to buy the workbook this year. Instead, I am going to use McGuffey's Eclectic Readers (John Wiley and Sons, 1879) for the exercises. If it doesn't work (i.e. we skip it because it takes too much time to prep), I will just download the workbook. I'm also toying with the idea of using the McGuffey's for spelling as well. More on this endeavor later.<br />
_______________________________<br />
Prescripts Cursive Words and Drawing: Math Terms<br />
<a href="http://www.classicalconversationsbooks.com/prcuwoanddrm.html"><img alt="PreScripts Cursive Words and Drawing: Math Terms " src="http://ep.yimg.com/ay/classicalconversationsbooks/prescripts-cursive-words-and-drawing-math-terms-14.gif" /></a><br />
Normally handwriting books are the first thing to be dropped when we are short on time, but these books have them writing things they should be memorizing anyway, so it seems more productive.<br />
_______________________________<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The plan for our first grader:</b><br />
Alpha Math-U-See<br />
<a href="http://store.mathusee.com/catalog/math-u-see/general-math/alpha/alpha.html"><img src="http://store.mathusee.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/188x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/a/l/alphaTEACH.gif" /></a><br />
I already had everything but the student workbook from when Thing1 did it two years ago. After buying the workbook, I decided to make copies of the consumable pages this year. These books get expensive!<br />
<br />
Thing2 did well in the Primer math book last year, and I don't regret my decision to do the kindergarten math program. I think he will be well prepared for Alpha this year, but I am still bracing myself for the task of making him memorize all the addition facts.<br />
______________________________<br />
Growing with Grammar, Level 1<br />
<a href="http://www.growingwithgrammar.com/1gwg_Level_1.html"><img src="http://www.growingwithgrammar.com/sitebuilder/images/Gwg_level_1_complete_set_with_tests-231x176.jpg" /></a><br />
I discussed <a href="http://homeschoolalumnus.blogspot.com/2012/08/first-day-of-school-english.html">here</a> my decision to use GWG and Writing with Ease in first grade for Thing1. I was satisfied, so we are doing it again. My worries about it not being enough for a well rounded language arts are obsolete. With Classical Conversations memory work, GWG, WWE, Prescripts, and all the reading we do in Story of the World, I believe we cover language arts sufficiently.<br />
________________________________<br />
Writing With Ease, Level 1<br />
<a href="http://peacehillpress.com/writing/"><img alt="The Complete Writer: Writing with Ease Workbook 1" src="http://peacehillpress.com/images/products/30-e1wbpb-1e.png" /></a><br />
This was easy because I already own the Level 1 workbook in PDF format. I like being able to print of the pages as I need them.<br />
<br />
With the workbook, there is virtually no preparation for these lessons, and the book excerpts are always interesting: Little House, Peter Rabbit, Caddie Woodlawn, and The Railway Children to name a few. Both Level 1 and 2 workbooks stretched Thing1's reading repertoire because he almost always wanted to read the whole book after he heard an excerpt from it.<br />
_______________________________<br />
Prescripts Cursive Letters and Coloring: World History<br />
<a href="http://www.classicalconversationsbooks.com/prculeandcow.html"><img alt="Prescripts Cursive Letters and Coloring: World History" src="http://ep.yimg.com/ay/classicalconversationsbooks/prescripts-cursive-lettering-and-coloring-world-history-6.gif" /></a><br />
Why not start cursive in the first grade like they did in the olden days? After this year, I will know. Each opening has a page of cursive letter practice and a picture from the <a href="http://www.classicalconversationsbooks.com/clacandfahic.html">Timeline Cards</a> that he can color.<br />
_______________________________<br />
<b>Finally, to pull it all together</b>, I bought a Well Planned Day planner.<br />
<img alt="2014-2015 Family Homeschool Planner" src="http://hedua.com/cart/media/catalog/product/cache/1/small_image/295x295/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/w/p/wpd1415.jpg" /><br />
I decided to go with a premade paper planner this year for the first time. I am not convinced I really need it, but I want to try it out.<br />
<br />
Again, a good school day does not have to include everything I have listed here. CC memory work, math, and language arts are the core. The rest is extra. These plans, like all plans, are a guide and always a work in progress. They are as flexible as we are. We use them to be productive, but we will not let them run our lives.</div>
AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-70533327437484063702014-05-29T19:26:00.001-07:002014-05-29T19:33:47.243-07:00Why We are Still HomeschoolingI can't wait to write a "planning for next school year" post (my favorite kind). And I would also like to write an update on how the summer reading challenge is panning out. But first I need to write a "why" post for this year. I missed last year...I was sort of floundering in changes back then. Thankfully things are much more stable this year.<br />
<br />
Next school year (2014-15) I will have a 6-year-old and an 8-year-old, and my reasons for homeschooling have only multiplied over the last three years. My fears from the early days of deciding to homeschool have proven unwarranted. We have been unbelievably and providentially blessed in this endeavor. I am moved to tears when I think of the answers and opportunities God has presented at just the right times over the last three years.<br />
<br />
Of course, the <a href="http://homeschoolalumnus.blogspot.com/2012/07/dont-forget-why.html">old reasons </a>still apply. We like the freedom, flexibility, and ability to experience life outside a campus. We love the <i>uncommon</i>, individualized, customized academics. And most importantly, we appreciate the opportunity to concentrate on the ever important, perpetual character training. Those reasons are basic, and this year my reasons build on that foundation, but they are harder to verbalize. <br />
<br />
This year was hard. Not hard in a hopeless way, but hard in a refining-through-the-fire way. My kids and I worked through some issues, and we are far from finished. (Caveat: <i>Not finished.</i> That phrase reminds me of our decision to keep Thing1 home from kindergarten. I kept him home mainly because I was not finished with him. I am still not finished. I fear I will never feel like I am finished until he becomes an adult, at which time I must be finished whether I feel like it or not.) I made some big investments this year, and I have seen some small joyful returns. Take our leap into Classical Conversations, for example. I don't care to remember how often I sounded like a drill sergeant for the first half of the year. Sergeant Carter would seem sweet. Yet, at the end of the year, Thing1 pushed himself to Memory Master. He took 8-year-old responsibility, worked hard, and earned the reward. That was a a very, very joyful return. To choose to do something that is hard and then follow through is a big deal, no matter your age. Now take Thing2's kindergarten accomplishments. He is not reading Ralph S. Mouse like Thing1 was at the end of kindergarten, but he is reading very well, and he has listened to (and can practically recite) more audio books than Thing1 ever thought about at his age. He also has a wonderful understanding of basic mathematics and memorized a large chunk of our CC material. I pray I do not recite these accomplishments in a prideful spirit but in a humble, grateful, "thus far the Lord has led me on" spirit. I want to dwell on the goodness of the year more than the hardness of it.<br />
<br />
I feel more confident than ever that homeschooling is the way for us in 2014-15. <a href="http://homeschoolalumnus.blogspot.com/2013/06/plans-and-changes.html">Classical Conversations</a> was a success, and I can't wait to do it again. Our new house with nine acres is perfect for a homeschool family. We are attached to several people in our support group here. We have found a pretty good balance between home-based and extracurricular activities (it's still hard to keep the extracurricular light enough for my taste, though). For what it's worth, our first standardized test affirmed our efforts and showed room for improvement. I trust I am learning more about how to keep calm and keep expectations realistic (my thorn). I trust the boys are learning more about diligence, respectfulness, and positive attitudes. But most of all, I want to keep investing.AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-1360216209894284112014-05-19T12:31:00.001-07:002014-05-20T06:55:28.269-07:00Next YearHere's what we have accumulated for next year so far. Now to organize, store, and make plans. I probably should clean up this year's mess first, though.<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgi99Esnudeo1LyO7iawKAbzPC8W2Rzhi6XUFpZP1x9UK9ij3heDiDtvcQ61eLUy2EcxcrrdHs9rTXQopjud4_AXbtJHYIGQb7CsEbUOgruoE2u9wJaqho3_APtNhFczhVg2D1tA-63h8/s640/blogger-image-1846500614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgi99Esnudeo1LyO7iawKAbzPC8W2Rzhi6XUFpZP1x9UK9ij3heDiDtvcQ61eLUy2EcxcrrdHs9rTXQopjud4_AXbtJHYIGQb7CsEbUOgruoE2u9wJaqho3_APtNhFczhVg2D1tA-63h8/s400/blogger-image-1846500614.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-10515596251894038752014-04-23T19:48:00.001-07:002014-04-23T19:58:17.196-07:00Summer BreakI am looking forward to summer break. Really. It's hard to keep from dancing when I think about it. The only time I have been more excited about summer break was the year I got married. Our wedding was the week after finals.<br />
<br />
My kids are <i>not</i> doing math lessons this summer. They will probably forget everything they know. I don't care. We will learn it again next year.<br />
<br />
I want to paint walls and furniture, build shelves, organize bedrooms, clean out flower beds, have a yard sale, finish building the tree house, and do the obligatory summertime traveling.<br />
<br />
I want the kids to explore every inch of our nine acres, break in the tree house, fish in the pond, ride bikes, help me clean out flower beds, build gigantic Lego projects, and read lots of books.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://homeschoolalumnus.blogspot.com/2013/05/summer-bbs.html">Since I can't ever seem to give up academics completely</a>, I do plan to have the boys practice keyboarding (<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/homeisrealsweet/logic-and-extras/">some sites I pinned</a> ) and write some book reports. Thing2's reports will only be a sentence or two, but I want Thing1 to practice summarizing stories this summer. To keep it nice and simple, I think we will use some forms I found on <a href="http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/printables/reading.html">Busy Teacher's Cafe</a>. I created a spreadsheet (I know, I'm a nerd) of books I want them to read and assigned points to each book. For simplicity, I just used <a href="http://www.arbookfind.com/default.aspx">AR points</a> and added a bonus if the book is considered more than one year above their levels. If they read the book and write a report on it, they get the points. They can use the points they accumulate to buy books of their own.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47guXoF9qAbkc9BKPbL5v7ks58453rRz0d2_Gm8sOUGreo49twinWVyRn4VCaxUxnRVAOSTk2Ryhk_1lfc99sj_1MIzFIaEVaJw2fyBS3zheHyXue3eyOgqez5NeBzSohSS9mV9QD4iwR/s1600/thing2+summer+read.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47guXoF9qAbkc9BKPbL5v7ks58453rRz0d2_Gm8sOUGreo49twinWVyRn4VCaxUxnRVAOSTk2Ryhk_1lfc99sj_1MIzFIaEVaJw2fyBS3zheHyXue3eyOgqez5NeBzSohSS9mV9QD4iwR/s1600/thing2+summer+read.PNG" height="172" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A snip from Thing2's list</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn542Bk4GwZjGJGyDaeF8UFKrQNzskBFjqI_VwgGHNXtGzh2zGNYcN3RsQnqf2s4ZtU1vad3-b6m478E5XXmBltenpq6oq8h8LLFBwl7xjHG3LBYF1hQWxh8SprSp2PYQkMMLZlLv-dQ7i/s1600/aaron+summer2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn542Bk4GwZjGJGyDaeF8UFKrQNzskBFjqI_VwgGHNXtGzh2zGNYcN3RsQnqf2s4ZtU1vad3-b6m478E5XXmBltenpq6oq8h8LLFBwl7xjHG3LBYF1hQWxh8SprSp2PYQkMMLZlLv-dQ7i/s1600/aaron+summer2.PNG" height="320" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">23 out of 62 suggestions for Thing1. They range from half a point for <i>Hill of Fire</i> to 32 points for <i>The Hobbit</i>. <br />
I am curious to see which books he chooses to tackle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I showed the list to them tonight, and they begged to start it now. I told them to wait until May 16, then I downloaded a new Audible book to tide them over. Did I mention I am excited about May 16? Now the boys are, too.<br />
<br />AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-30366059317112738532014-04-16T08:23:00.001-07:002014-04-16T08:23:59.785-07:00C.S. LewisIn the less than eloquent, albeit sincere, words of Thing1,<br />
<br />
"C.S. Lewis sure did write some good books."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCe9_oE7DaBOgHrWD8lO1xbrOj2Pu2bdRT_t0fEWCorHZyyaqXAGyVQj8aGOqi8SAmwN0n2zQkfIOw7umeEmVDbzIfx6JTr6WKubEtf5gKZvOxuXdp12kGFDeZ1_MFsdlX-8lWsLdkmigf/s1600/cs+lewis2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCe9_oE7DaBOgHrWD8lO1xbrOj2Pu2bdRT_t0fEWCorHZyyaqXAGyVQj8aGOqi8SAmwN0n2zQkfIOw7umeEmVDbzIfx6JTr6WKubEtf5gKZvOxuXdp12kGFDeZ1_MFsdlX-8lWsLdkmigf/s1600/cs+lewis2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-15219693007676930412014-04-07T12:37:00.000-07:002014-04-07T12:37:20.599-07:00Don't forget the audiobooks.One of my blog's purposes is to remind me of the "every day" of our homeschool experience. It's amazing the details I forget over the course of a year. Today I want to make sure I remember the hours we've spent in audiobooks.<br />
<br />
<b>Why did we learn so much more when we experienced it in a story?</b><br />
<br />
Jim Weiss said (in an interview with Leigh Bortins on the <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/1smartmama/2013/11/20/leighlunch-fall-season-2013-wednesday-november-2oth-episode-9">11/20/2013 edition of Leigh at Lunch</a>) that it is because "Story hits you simultaneously in the head and the heart."<br />
<br />
<b>Why did we choose to experience the stories through audio books instead of movies or dramatized audio versions?</b><br />
<br />
Mr. Weiss nailed it again. "I don't think we are doing our kids any favor to assume that they are unable to love and listen to something unless all the bells and whistles are there."<br />
<br />
<b>What if I could not find a book on my kids' levels?</b><br />
<br />
Kids can appreciate (with practice) a much more complicated story than they can read by themselves. To me, the purpose of reading aloud (or audiobooks) is to expose our kids (and ourselves) to material that is beyond their levels. Say one of the boys heard a big, unfamiliar word while he was listening. Next time he heard the word, it was a familiar word. The third time time he heard it, he probably figured out exactly what it meant.<br />
<br />
<b>What if my kids would not pay attention to a long story?</b><br />
<br />
I didn't expect them to at first. It took a lot of exposure before they were hooked. I found that a perfect time for exposing the kids to stories was in the car. They were captive! They may not have paid perfect attention, but it was there, and they eventually grew to appreciate them, then request them every time we got into the car.<br />
<div>
<br />
<b>Wouldn't it have been better if I read them the story myself rather than listening to a recording?</b><br />
<br />
Yes, and I've tried to read to them as much as possible. But when what I read to them is all they got, it was not enough for their listening appetites. It just does not seem feasible for me to sit and read for hours a day. Plus, it's just plain fun to hear a professional read a story.<br />
<br />
<b>What books have we listened to?</b><br />
<div>
<br />
Most of the memory on my phone is taken up by audio books. The boys each have a cheap mp3 player loaded with audio books. When we go to the library, we usually take away at least one audio book.<br />
<br />
Our book selections usually go through phases. Thank goodness our <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Kids/The-Original-Adventures-of-Hank-the-Cowdog-Audiobook/B002V1LY6A/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srImg?qid=1388255885&sr=1-1">Hank the Cowdog</a> phase has died. It was fun for the first dozen books. Now the phase is <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Kids/Homer-Price-Audiobook/B002V0RAC8/ref=a_search_c4_1_2_srImg?qid=1388254749&sr=1-2">Homer Price</a>. <b><i>Every single night.</i></b><br />
<br />
Our first audiobooks were the Winnie The Pooh books. Remember about the captive audience? That's what I think of when I remember the Pooh CD's.<br />
<br />
Thing1 listened to <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Classics/The-Hobbit-Audiobook/B0099RKI5W/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srImg?qid=1388254695&sr=1-1">The Hobbit</a> when he was 5. We should do that again. I think it was the voice of the narrator and the language that captivated him. I know he remembers nothing about it now. Thing2's 4- to 5-year-old favorites were <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Kids/Mrs-Piggle-Wiggle-Audiobook/B002UZDSSE/ref=a_search_c4_1_2_srTtl?qid=1388254578&sr=1-2">Mrs. Piggle Wiggle</a>, Little House in the Big Woods and <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?sku=WW565009&event=AFF&p=1164880">Farmer Boy</a>.<br />
<br />
Trumpet of the Swan was good because E.B. White read it. I am anxious to listen to him read <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?sku=WW08528&event=AFF&p=1164880" target="_blank">Charlotte's Web</a>. Anything narrated by the author fascinates me.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?sku=WW108820&event=AFF&p=1164880">The Railway Children</a> was good. It stretched Thing1 when he was about 6.<br />
<br />
The whole family listened to <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Kids/Where-the-Red-Fern-Grows-Audiobook/B002VA8QE4/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srImg?qid=1388254546&sr=1-1">Where the Red Fern Grows</a> on a road trip recently. If we didn't all cry, we all <i>almost</i> cried. Everybody was paying attention, captive or not. <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Kids/The-101-Dalmatians-Audiobook/B002UUP2I8?source_code=GO1DG9048SH080912&gclid=CNWT4NjA07sCFSRk7AodIEAAYQ&mkwid=sERMhwKBC_dc&pkw=PLA&pmt=broad&pcrid=37289383929" target="_blank">101 Dalmations</a> stands out as another great road trip story because of its fun factor for the whole family.<br />
<br />
In addition to serving as incredible learning tools that have stretched our minds and imaginations, audiobooks have entertained us together and occupied us separately. They have shortened car rides and made bedtime a little more tolerable. They have been a huge part of our homeschool's "every day."<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-60217540740997805342014-02-18T20:08:00.002-08:002014-02-18T20:08:20.799-08:00ChillYesterday was unusual because Thing1 and I had a day to ourselves at home.<br />
<br />
Instead of regular schoolwork (you know, where he checks off his predictable, everyday tasks as he does them), we did real life. I was chill. Chill is usually not my strong suit.<br />
<br />
He recently discovered he could make cookies by himself, so he decided to use that for his weekly presentation. (Every Tuesday the kids have to give a presentation in front of other homeschoolers.)<br />
<br />
First, he typed out the recipe to hand out to his classmates. Honestly, he typed the ingredients, and I typed the directions. It was quite a task for a hunt-and-peck 8-year-old. We discussed margins, page layout and setup, and the function of the shift key. I am determined that next year he will learn to type for real.<br />
<br />
Next, he made the cookies. He learned that brown sugar is difficult to measure when it gets hard. He pointed out that the package says to store it in an airtight container. Yes, sir. I will try to do better in the future. The cookies were good. Too good. Much better than the last time he made them.<br />
<br />
He listed three things he learned about cookie making, packed up the recipe cards and cookies, and the presentation prep was done.<br />
<br />
Later, we reviewed some memory work. He and I both aspire to be <a href="http://www.halfahundredacrewood.com/2011/04/what-do-memory-masters-memorize.html">Memory Masters</a> this year, so we took turns asking each other questions. (Have you ever noticed how much more seriously a kid takes something when the parent asks for his help? Interesting.) We had fun using dry erase markers on our new, huge, European blackline map. The kid loves maps.<br />
<br />
We never cracked a workbook all day long, but we were busy learning all day.<br />
<br />
Before he went to bed last night, he hugged me and told me spontaneously that he had a great day and that he loved me. A little affirmation goes a long way with this Mama.AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-63072335968844858532014-02-03T08:55:00.001-08:002014-02-03T08:55:38.652-08:00KnowledgeThe more I learn, the less I know.<br />
<br />
Before studying or experiencing a subject (blue), my perception of my knowledge (red) might look like this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHOk0yZ27DPau_LIMiB5SVVKmAUgb8vE1lSpqNYAR-mura1rgp0jbTHyPb3GeB0iEKxUp_gJSZD4G4U49kPQ7NAtsJOEOReQ4fdObZrFSYP4un06V8HxrFGMZkMsLoMLHijQ7wBbp3YOj/s1600/know+2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHOk0yZ27DPau_LIMiB5SVVKmAUgb8vE1lSpqNYAR-mura1rgp0jbTHyPb3GeB0iEKxUp_gJSZD4G4U49kPQ7NAtsJOEOReQ4fdObZrFSYP4un06V8HxrFGMZkMsLoMLHijQ7wBbp3YOj/s1600/know+2.PNG" /></a></div>
I used to think that after studying and experiencing the subject, the subject:knowledge ratio would change to this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistt9nX_xpZzN7Rw_Aiw5lgtOcMlpqN6YK79ReA4623y6PPtMMmsnUMs_mwhrqAKLE2DfRitenU7mYU1W6j_eTf1fCMF14G9Jjvg5RlAQFvnPgLvu9xD2bBvxyzosgai3nMy-fvMKRGdD7/s1600/know+1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistt9nX_xpZzN7Rw_Aiw5lgtOcMlpqN6YK79ReA4623y6PPtMMmsnUMs_mwhrqAKLE2DfRitenU7mYU1W6j_eTf1fCMF14G9Jjvg5RlAQFvnPgLvu9xD2bBvxyzosgai3nMy-fvMKRGdD7/s1600/know+1.PNG" /></a></div>
I have learned that as I gather knowledge about something, the subject seems to get larger, and the amount of knowledge smaller in comparison.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4qm8ZKaWKUu9Shyphenhyphen73MdSCfzPclr6tPec99GnXe7NgkzJayvjUG9enEaTvbmVIP9CC5ZhrRFs4dsJO_T8mc6HuJTN1tdeGF6RiJi9FbkvpEmey-kNbuQ-WPqT5oisYZMWoqpgkMSfLONv/s1600/know+3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4qm8ZKaWKUu9Shyphenhyphen73MdSCfzPclr6tPec99GnXe7NgkzJayvjUG9enEaTvbmVIP9CC5ZhrRFs4dsJO_T8mc6HuJTN1tdeGF6RiJi9FbkvpEmey-kNbuQ-WPqT5oisYZMWoqpgkMSfLONv/s1600/know+3.PNG" height="369" width="400" /></a></div>
This convinces me that knowledge alone is not enough. Instead of an end in itself, knowledge should be a stepping stone toward understanding and wisdom.AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-16032096396715550922013-12-23T20:04:00.001-08:002013-12-23T20:15:35.826-08:00When You Were AliveThing2 exclaimed, "Hey, this book is about knights, Uh-gyp-shin warriors <i>and</i> Arkansas."<br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
"You mean United States?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Oh, yeah. This oughtta be intruh-sting!"<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2lv7bAheL5ugGczT1xC6-9uOHLhUsfSYZKsZv8lbZ411siNVjFDwPADQqv_1Y2unK5njQS3hhe3EYUkXTX1QakT-KpV2pdLdiga6_S-GXO_O9yT6ytJ0GHIR7HNkSkWmO1RhmYc0DUOj/s640/blogger-image-2103892843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2lv7bAheL5ugGczT1xC6-9uOHLhUsfSYZKsZv8lbZ411siNVjFDwPADQqv_1Y2unK5njQS3hhe3EYUkXTX1QakT-KpV2pdLdiga6_S-GXO_O9yT6ytJ0GHIR7HNkSkWmO1RhmYc0DUOj/s640/blogger-image-2103892843.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Later, after poring over the pictures and discussing with his dad whether or not there was a World War III...</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Mama, you know the soldiers who had triangle hats in Arkansas?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"You mean United States?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Yeah. United States. You know, the ones when you were alive."</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAhuGwIiThdhunbsXQphZPNWowmzbLG86xJ5mhxZTdvhHysGtHnPUb1lZfTErDYxw4rZuDDQhxLyB0Q6NNZuDz18WQ2ApzTbNLHgvCkZvsbLVeJ_Pte7vz19MDd_NT5SfEo8GnC_cYdbK/s640/blogger-image-1055463613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAhuGwIiThdhunbsXQphZPNWowmzbLG86xJ5mhxZTdvhHysGtHnPUb1lZfTErDYxw4rZuDDQhxLyB0Q6NNZuDz18WQ2ApzTbNLHgvCkZvsbLVeJ_Pte7vz19MDd_NT5SfEo8GnC_cYdbK/s400/blogger-image-1055463613.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I wasn't alive."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My birthday is coming up, which reminds me of my advancing age, but, <i>really</i>, the <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Revolutionary War was a few years before my time.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The book is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Great-Events-That-Changed-World/dp/0789420309/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387858448&sr=8-1&keywords=great+events+that+changed+the+world" target="_blank">Great Events that Changed the World</a> by Brian Delf and Richard Platt. It really is intruh-sting.</div>
AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-85088547727951842872013-12-19T12:02:00.001-08:002013-12-19T12:02:23.541-08:00Confession of Projectophobia on Project DayI have projectophobia, a fear of projects. Glue and paint make me nervous. Hearing the word <i>glitter</i> triggers hypertension. The finished - or half finished - product usually starts out in a place of honor and then migrates around the house until it is so old that nobody cares that it is finally thrown away. For these reasons, I usually choose flat projects that can be notebooked or <a href="http://homeschoolalumnus.blogspot.com/2013/01/cooler.html" target="_blank">adapt projects to Legos</a>. <br />
<br />
In spite of my projectophobia, or maybe because of it, today is project day. Instead of our daily work (except math), we are doing projects.<br />
<br />
We made a statue of Alfred the Great from <a href="http://peacehillpress.com/volume-2-the-middle-ages/" target="_blank">Story of the World Middle Ages.</a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BhRTr6204CAs7vGt4ZXQamsNMkDVjLjHUCjg3qlIbT9XhA4eIDCQN1x36FS_bpPtvDSXZlT3LoonKoSU6l3oaYMcQhJn7J07ueUmBGiwuseio5XudoK5ANA42LExLDnTYgH8D1NSNGVV/s1600/IMG_1584%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BhRTr6204CAs7vGt4ZXQamsNMkDVjLjHUCjg3qlIbT9XhA4eIDCQN1x36FS_bpPtvDSXZlT3LoonKoSU6l3oaYMcQhJn7J07ueUmBGiwuseio5XudoK5ANA42LExLDnTYgH8D1NSNGVV/s400/IMG_1584%5B1%5D.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alfred the Great<br />"The land ravaged by a fearful enemy from which he delivered it."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We used butter and flour to simulate the lava hardening into rock on the surface of Venus from <a href="http://shop.apologia.com/astronomy/115-exploring-creation-with-astronomy.html" target="_blank">Exploring Creation With Astronomy</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwuSR1R148FPsXGUBnrYn0Op7zOQ0PKa-TVhriojOp3O1lVDnoIjW5a4laUWiseaEXZekAPH80q8kX9WXBFr0AGJx7XE1olxH52NxElyXQjYSrEmntMYG43CK0Ix7vlBlcQnbnshdO_rm/s1600/IMG_1586%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwuSR1R148FPsXGUBnrYn0Op7zOQ0PKa-TVhriojOp3O1lVDnoIjW5a4laUWiseaEXZekAPH80q8kX9WXBFr0AGJx7XE1olxH52NxElyXQjYSrEmntMYG43CK0Ix7vlBlcQnbnshdO_rm/s400/IMG_1586%5B1%5D.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
We used flour and pebbles to simulate asteroids making craters on Mercury, also from <a href="http://shop.apologia.com/astronomy/115-exploring-creation-with-astronomy.html" target="_blank">Exploring Creation With Astronomy</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcD57GbSvEn8wZSu7uFc6KJYCiBCn0VS2fAJ8NajmuwumShMr4jRBb0LEnqCqTQ36nrKJHn_EngE8wl11CYW4fJyyTP37IE_9tgoRzez1_fQaXAnnFEzbWtAuDjUZa8GJZxQbTKIZcZgy/s1600/IMG_1588%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcD57GbSvEn8wZSu7uFc6KJYCiBCn0VS2fAJ8NajmuwumShMr4jRBb0LEnqCqTQ36nrKJHn_EngE8wl11CYW4fJyyTP37IE_9tgoRzez1_fQaXAnnFEzbWtAuDjUZa8GJZxQbTKIZcZgy/s400/IMG_1588%5B1%5D.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
My irrelevant misgivings (we will not get our daily work done, which will show up at the end of the year; there will be extra messes to clean up, which takes time; etc.) are outweighed by the kids' delight.<br />
<br />
At least there is no glitter.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfCgch0YdlEQQRTVr4RttuC7gO0B5z90dqDaf89Y_tDxxSWUe9HLl8Z4mfDnLTFzRKzqft9IrHO6oiy7gIryQm86Ab0m5OusD7t6lTqg0dHmrRCD2BRsB7-fYA1A6PwD5KMQ-gxrLHlf1/s1600/IMG_1597%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfCgch0YdlEQQRTVr4RttuC7gO0B5z90dqDaf89Y_tDxxSWUe9HLl8Z4mfDnLTFzRKzqft9IrHO6oiy7gIryQm86Ab0m5OusD7t6lTqg0dHmrRCD2BRsB7-fYA1A6PwD5KMQ-gxrLHlf1/s400/IMG_1597%5B1%5D.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-9516771658873207202013-12-18T05:59:00.001-08:002013-12-18T06:55:01.031-08:00Christmas ShoppingSomething to wear, something to read, something you want, something you need.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I love that gift giving guide, but I went a little beyond it this year. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anyway....here is our "something to read" for this year:</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4U5AbVyOlFchCWQtq50ptZQLi47ZiPmXM5WnHbLGBfNoO_4fmkiqEP3T3_YE8gVuLqjTMA4fuYbZMibfqYGl_f2f_Jiwpxh29f-8G5G3BkEbox19IeSmuyOxkw8quFKiKhG5hrNQQolB/s640/blogger-image-456394829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4U5AbVyOlFchCWQtq50ptZQLi47ZiPmXM5WnHbLGBfNoO_4fmkiqEP3T3_YE8gVuLqjTMA4fuYbZMibfqYGl_f2f_Jiwpxh29f-8G5G3BkEbox19IeSmuyOxkw8quFKiKhG5hrNQQolB/s400/blogger-image-456394829.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I am excited!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
By the way, the store of the year for our family is <a href="http://www.jmcremps.com/" target="_blank">JM Cremp's, The Boys Adventure Store</a>. It has been so much fun shopping there!</div>
AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-80213535786836992492013-12-10T07:13:00.004-08:002013-12-10T07:13:55.484-08:00Typical Monday <span style="color: red;">Warning:</span> <i> This post is a potentially boring play-by-play of my day. Read at your own discretion.</i><br />
<br />
I forgot to set the alarm on Sunday night and woke up at 7:30 Monday morning. Oops.<br />
<br />
I took the trash to the curb, hauled wood for the fire, made coffee, and woke up the boys.<br />
<br />
I made a goal chart for Thing1's week because I forgot to do it yesterday. Oops again.<br />
<br />
Thing2 and I did his lessons (phonics, math, and handwriting) while I ate breakfast and drank coffee. He felt like a rebel since he didn't have to eat, dress, and brush teeth first. I should have taken a picture. He was wearing underwear and my fuzzy blue robe with the sleeves rolled up.<br />
<br />
I woke up Thing1 again.<br />
<br />
The boys ate, dressed, and brushed teeth. I put off my shower because I didn't wake up early enough. I dressed and put my hair in a ponytail. Mercifully, I am not including pictures at this point.<br />
<br />
I did some long-procrastinated, due-today computer jobs while the boys bundled up and played in the snow one last time before it melted.<br />
<br />
When I realized I had not written a blog post in a month, I decided to document an actual sample day for two reasons. First, I am feeling frustrated with never getting my chores done. Second, I want to be able to look at it in a few years and remember. Maybe one day in the future, when I look back at this post and remember the simplicity of our life "back then," I will laugh at how anxious and scatterbrained I was and smile in contentment about how serene and organized I have become. <i>Or</i> I will compare what used to be hectic with what is hectic now and sigh in resignation as I realize that I am what I am. Either way, I will thank God for the blessings that keep me busy.<br />
<br />
At 10:20, I finally got started on some chores.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ya12T_mbHfrcD9vdpKwLxD3LqT3mTED8Q9ZN5v-RBXOzicL4ny8YlbamQ1b7ASZYa497EtW1-wNYuJbPaQoF04W66_r7kGmYCt-Xkw7aRyP8JxfIBahZ9H0VJ8RqzlCTStF7xxUSl6Di/s1600/IMG_1493%5B1%5D.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ya12T_mbHfrcD9vdpKwLxD3LqT3mTED8Q9ZN5v-RBXOzicL4ny8YlbamQ1b7ASZYa497EtW1-wNYuJbPaQoF04W66_r7kGmYCt-Xkw7aRyP8JxfIBahZ9H0VJ8RqzlCTStF7xxUSl6Di/s320/IMG_1493%5B1%5D.PNG" width="180" /></a></div>
At 10:45, My trusty <a href="http://www.homeroutines.com/" target="_blank">Home Routines app</a> (very useful for $4.99) reminded me that I had not done hair and makeup. Plus, I remembered how lazy I sounded when I had to blog that I had not taken a shower yet. So I took a shower. Still no makeup or fixed hair, but at least I was clean.<br />
<br />
11:07 and the boys were still outside. I checked on them again. (I banged a pan with a wooden spoon. They waved and hollered, "We're okay.") They have been busy building a fort in the brush. Snow just makes it more fun.<br />
<br />
I fixed lunch - leftover spaghetti and salad - and started eating. While I was eating, at 11:30, the boys came in and piled up an entire load of dirty, wet laundry. It took awhile to undress, warm up, and make hot chocolate.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
I resumed my lunch while we did memory work. The memory work prize was dessert - one bite for every correct answer. Sometimes it's hard to get started:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwhoUaU_Rrl-_o7qsjcIUls9TmeqBgFG30s7kEdHdbloPgB0va5Wslu012gC4nSBq9eEaHJLTT7XWWANwX5iQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
At 12:45, we started rest time. Thing1 took his work to his room (getting a late start on his goal chart). Thing2 played Lincoln Logs in the den. I took my Bible to my room and read like I should have done this morning. There's another penalty for waking up late. What else does Mom do during rest time? It is a mystery.<br />
<br />
At 1:45 the rest time timer ended, and I did hair and makeup. After this point, unexpected company or Facetime calls were welcome.<br />
<br />
I stoked the fire and vacuumed the kitchen and mud room. Not on my afternoon routine list, but necessary.<br />
<br />
I discovered that Thing1 finished all his independent work except for math during rest time. That is highly unusual. I corrected his work.<br />
<br />
At 2:30, I worked on this post and printed out Thing1's writing worksheets...Something else I was supposed to have done yesterday. Oops again.<br />
<br />
I read a few pages of <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/castle-diary-chris-riddell/1110783088?ean=9780763621643" target="_blank">Castle Diary</a> to Thing2.<br />
<br />
Thing1 took a play break, then I helped him with writing, spelling, and history for an hour and a half.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnmhyphenhyphenOkYm1NEuzXgY57H9CkjhAXOymcIRibBp11M9EgiIgzn9lXVm0Iz9F4ldVCHeyd3QqBmtQA3tWkkD5c0D6pe1wN5Jk-zuQU-h_eht0aPHqJJ1FHHDxmwCvafRZrFkiRvCxOUICVAA/s1600/IMG_1504%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnmhyphenhyphenOkYm1NEuzXgY57H9CkjhAXOymcIRibBp11M9EgiIgzn9lXVm0Iz9F4ldVCHeyd3QqBmtQA3tWkkD5c0D6pe1wN5Jk-zuQU-h_eht0aPHqJJ1FHHDxmwCvafRZrFkiRvCxOUICVAA/s320/IMG_1504%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Every day around 5:00 I have to make the daily decision of whether to get supper on the table or do some afternoon chores that, once again, have not been accomplished. Today, as usual, I chose supper. Therefore, the clean laundry pile grew even higher, and I did not get any gold stars on my afternoon chore list.<br />
<br />
We ate and wasted some time until about 6:00. <br />
<br />
Thing2 got ready for his basketball game and practiced dribbling and passing in the kitchen for a few minutes before we left for his 7:00 game. No dishes were broken. By the way, 7:00 is too late to start a 4 and 5-year-old basketball game.<br />
<br />
Thing2 hustled during his game, so we skated (almost literally-the parking lot was slick) to Starbucks to celebrate.<br />
<br />
When we got home, we read. The Husband read The <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/man-eaters-of-tsavo-john-patterson/1100205231?ean=9780312510107" target="_blank">Man-Eaters of Tsavo</a>, Thing1 read a library book about Vikings, and Thing2 read Berenstein Bears to me.<br />
<br />
The Husband put the boys to bed at 9:00, I finished addressing Christmas cards at 10:00, and then I finished this post. Throw in a few mess cleanups, phone calls, washer to dryer switches, etc., and that pretty much sums up the day.<br />
<br />
Most days, I feel frustrated about never getting all of my daily chores done, much less weekly or monthly chores. However, after reading this post, I feel satisfied that we get some important things done every day even if the house looks like barbarians live here and even if I never get gold stars on my routine app.AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-32717206431830961612013-11-13T06:44:00.000-08:002013-11-13T06:44:53.417-08:00Another Schedule Revision and an Initiative ExperimentWell, the schedule I posted <a href="http://homeschoolalumnus.blogspot.com/2013/09/finally.html" target="_blank">here</a> is already obsolete. We used it until the routine was semi-established and then reverted back to the old goal chart. I know some veteran ACE homeschoolers who might remember those...The Husband, for one.<br />
<br />
I purposely did not purchase planning software this year (big change for me) in an effort to get away from "doing school" and to get closer to "learning as a way of life." However, there are some tasks, usually the mundane ones, that we forget to do if they are not spelled out for us in a schedule. So, after using a handwritten goal chart successfully for a week, I created <i>another</i> Excel spreadsheet to use with Thing1.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQ_J6v-ug71eIjm46z9hAbu7pg5z4yWrQfZZc260x7e8cGuFhvrup7hSa7joAAM14MPmGzjlZmL_iQ1dXzHSvZmZkv-8HwinIM4P_nwAYwbJT3eAFiA2K3i8VBUQeS227tEGZRheXIzEi/s1600/2013+11+13_3299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQ_J6v-ug71eIjm46z9hAbu7pg5z4yWrQfZZc260x7e8cGuFhvrup7hSa7joAAM14MPmGzjlZmL_iQ1dXzHSvZmZkv-8HwinIM4P_nwAYwbJT3eAFiA2K3i8VBUQeS227tEGZRheXIzEi/s400/2013+11+13_3299.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
It is similar to <a href="http://homeschoolalumnus.blogspot.com/2013/03/2012-13-mvps-most-valuable-products.html" target="_blank">last year</a> when I printed out a daily task list, but this one is for the whole week. I saved the template in Excel so that I can change the assignments for the week each Sunday night. The peaceful feeling I get when I look at those red marks reminds me of why I enjoy planning software.<br />
<br />
My dilemma now (because I always have one) is how much initiative to expect from a 7-year-old in completing the goals. I want to put some responsibility on him because he needs it, but when I see "7-year-old" typed out in black and white, I back up a little. How much prodding throughout the week is appropriate for his age? Obviously, the tasks that require my attention (spelling, writing, history, and science) are done on my time. The independent work is the challenge. My solution for now is to insist on work before play but not to hound him about lolligagging (difficult for me). Usually a wordless, appropriate consequence works better than my endless nagging. <br />
<br />
Last week, he did not accomplish all of his goals before Saturday and, as a consequence, had to stay inside to complete them on Saturday while The Husband and Thing2 were outside working on projects. I felt bad for him, and I really wanted to let him off the hook. But with the hope that a couple of disappointing Saturdays would help the initiative development along, I stuck to my guns.<br />
<br />
My conclusion from my <a href="http://homeschoolalumnus.blogspot.com/2013/09/finally.html" target="_blank">last schedule</a> experiment is that it was profitable for a few weeks. I am hoping this goal chart method will last a bit longer. <br />
<br />
As for the initiative experiment, results will take time...11 years, perhaps. Remind me to post the results then.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-71716799607810041502013-10-14T09:47:00.001-07:002013-10-14T09:52:29.699-07:00History Week ProclamationFor the following reasons:<br />
<div>
1. I have a lot to do this week. (20 guests this weekend!)</div>
<div>
2. Our Story of the World Middle Ages book is the only item so far that was "lost" in the move six weeks ago, thus we haven't even started reading it yet.</div>
<div>
3. In desperation, I downloaded the SOTW Middle Ages mp3 audiobook this morning.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I proclaim this week, October 14 through October 18, 2013, History Week.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After CC memory review and one sheet of math, the boys listened to two chapters this morning, colored some Activity Book pictures, and narrated summaries of the chapters. I got to listen, too, while I did dishes. This is a win/win!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jim Weiss had the boys hooked during the story of Beowulf.</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQ6xRfFuKLAFv1Opovr4zBQllvXVNPkCV3Ok857lYHHeRVD08nkGCL-pd8KpVKkeFUnbDW7RGd4rVREyRFe6kbMhrlP3NWZXwmQyl1LprkNLdoOQMMCniUps1K52vuCjcKPjJxhdeRE4-/s640/blogger-image--2033671812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQ6xRfFuKLAFv1Opovr4zBQllvXVNPkCV3Ok857lYHHeRVD08nkGCL-pd8KpVKkeFUnbDW7RGd4rVREyRFe6kbMhrlP3NWZXwmQyl1LprkNLdoOQMMCniUps1K52vuCjcKPjJxhdeRE4-/s400/blogger-image--2033671812.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
See what I mean about having a lot to do?</div>
AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-33094231300348667732013-09-18T06:18:00.001-07:002013-09-18T17:07:10.006-07:00Wednesday Whiteboard<div>
For those of you who asked, and for my own future reference, this post is my first attempt at showing what Classical Conversations looks like in our home.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Here is how my whiteboard looked this (Wednesday) morning. Wednesday is our first day to practice the new facts we learn at CC on Tuesdays. Instead of writing out the grammar (new facts), I draw blanks and only write the words they stumble on when they try to recite.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzrwaNeqQCDb4MKNH8l3hwagd2zgJc4NZ3ER35aM3AqcRRyTOfoWqUZeHgdAJtd5PUe8_t1a3xV92NaQs1DjV47RNS2Ymic9b8fBy5m_TYQfuLE5Fi8Jg3WGdyLRFnk2gu8uThIdfPlXB/s640/blogger-image-4619663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzrwaNeqQCDb4MKNH8l3hwagd2zgJc4NZ3ER35aM3AqcRRyTOfoWqUZeHgdAJtd5PUe8_t1a3xV92NaQs1DjV47RNS2Ymic9b8fBy5m_TYQfuLE5Fi8Jg3WGdyLRFnk2gu8uThIdfPlXB/s400/blogger-image-4619663.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
At the end of memory review time, it looked like this:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeg2YRgylxrW4-0EUDEe5O24LVv1eX73SxL7zg7SMQB6jR_GGMBMSkLMoiNZIfSCCM0H1zMFNmfK0shxm0WpdTmA0mzpzZzvbLTXxiddU4Nk3LD4LPPMe-SylJo3n-KZ9pkEAKSJ9ZiRc/s640/blogger-image--1216016038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeg2YRgylxrW4-0EUDEe5O24LVv1eX73SxL7zg7SMQB6jR_GGMBMSkLMoiNZIfSCCM0H1zMFNmfK0shxm0WpdTmA0mzpzZzvbLTXxiddU4Nk3LD4LPPMe-SylJo3n-KZ9pkEAKSJ9ZiRc/s400/blogger-image--1216016038.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The number of trouble words decreases throughout the week until they can recite it all without prompts. It usually only takes a couple of days to get back to all blanks with the exception of math. Skip counting is hard!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I don't make a detailed board like this every day, but when I do ( like on Wednesdays), it helps <i>me</i> to memorize it quicker. I am trying my best to keep one step ahead of the kids. I'm afraid if I don't, I will fall behind quickly!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-75195575423103014962013-09-09T05:38:00.002-07:002013-09-09T05:38:48.586-07:00Attitude"Your attitude is the aroma of your heart. If your attitude stinks, that means your heart's not right." <br />
-from <i><a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?sku=WW702899&event=AFF&p=1164880%22%3E%20Product%20Detail%20Page%20by%20CBD%20Stock%20Number" target="_blank">Facing the Giants</a></i><br />
<br />
The boys and I watched <i>Facing the Giants</i> Saturday just because we needed to hear that line.<br />
<br />
A perfect extension to the stinky attitude lesson was the fact that our rent house had a water leak as we were moving out, and when we went back to clean it a few days later, the stench was so horrible that the kids didn't even want to go inside. Moral: When your attitude stinks, people don't want to be around you any more than you wanted to be inside that foul-smelling house.AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-6679607254070508972013-09-04T10:42:00.001-07:002013-11-13T06:45:15.089-08:00Finally.Finally. We live in a house that we own...Or <i>will</i> own after we finish paying the bank. The kitchen is functional. The bathrooms are functional. We have enough clothes to wear as long as I keep washing. The most important school items are out of boxes.<br />
<br />
Finally. I was wondering if my old drive for plan-making was lost forever, but I found out that it was (mercifully) hidden behind the urgency of moving out of a rent house into a more permanent home. It would have driven me crazy if it were not hidden. For the first time ever, I did not even care to make a weekly plan for our school year. We simply went to <a href="http://www.classicalconversations.com/" target="_blank">Classical Conversations</a> on Tuesdays and practiced the memory work each day while we packed, cleaned, and moved.<br />
<br />
Finally. My planning brain emerged from its hiding place today!<br />
<br />
I decided to try a plan based on <i>The Core</i> by Leigh Bortins, which I read this summer and <i>highly</i> recommend to all parents. Each row is a 30-minute segment. I will work with Thing2 first and then Thing1 at the start of Math, Language Arts, and Read to Mom. Thing1 will have to work alone and hold his questions until I am finished with Thing2. (We will see how that goes.) If they finish before the segment is over, they can play, get a snack, read, etc. When the timer buzzes at the end of the segment, we all move on to the next subject. The idea is that I might have a few minutes at the end of the segments to do a chore or two, and the kids won't be sitting in lessons for a solid two or three hours. Yes, it will drag school out longer, but my intense two-to-three-hour get-school-done-as-quick-as-we-can plan isn't working for us any more. It exhausts and overloads us.<br />
<br />
Here is a sample from my new plan:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMvptw0lpnIyMcOMtxSZV0TE5Uz3vsi3Z8wMIJpv4OXwbosQDZD9D9Juj-WMUGT3-qZcVG3lhtM_aipykYITljWB-M8F2AU-QDuTGGmZz-eGv-RPLb1j2FXDv_LcBoEq95D6fJ2tfQvXq/s1600/schedule.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMvptw0lpnIyMcOMtxSZV0TE5Uz3vsi3Z8wMIJpv4OXwbosQDZD9D9Juj-WMUGT3-qZcVG3lhtM_aipykYITljWB-M8F2AU-QDuTGGmZz-eGv-RPLb1j2FXDv_LcBoEq95D6fJ2tfQvXq/s400/schedule.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>I did not include times on the spreadsheet because I want us to be flexible. I left out things like lunch and rest time so that we can insert them at whatever time is convenient for the day. There is no piano on Thursday because we go to lessons on that day.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I realize that this is an experiment, as are all of my plans, which is why I record them. An experiment is no good unless the purpose, hypothesis, materials, procedure, and conclusion are clearly recorded, right?<br />
<br />
I am so thankful to have my planning brain back. Finally.AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-77111067062209229582013-07-26T11:53:00.000-07:002013-07-26T11:53:18.511-07:00Worry ConfessionLast night I realized that The Husband was right about <a href="http://homeschoolalumnus.blogspot.com/2013/06/mother-worries.html" target="_blank">Mother Worries</a>.<br />
<br />
I had talked to three piano teachers that day and was lying in bed discussing (mostly with myself) which piano teacher we should choose. <br />
<br />
"Does high cost mean high quality? Is the expensive one going to expect too much at recital time from my shy child? Is the less expensive one going to require enough from my child? If not, I might as well teach him myself. Then again, I will probably be surprised at how effective the less expensive teacher will be, especially since he has plenty of parental support at home. Really we can't afford the more expensive lessons, especially at first. But then if we want to change instructors someday, how am I going to break it to the teacher after we have been to her house every week for a year or two? I will just have to tell her...blah, blah, blah, etc., etc.<br />
<br />
The subject was worn out, but I kept discussing it until The Husband started laughing.<br />
<br />
"You haven't even started piano lessons yet, and you are worried about how you are going to quit them!"<br />
<br />
He was right. My excessive thinking ahead (worrying) is the emotional equivalent to <i>voluntarily</i> stepping onto a mountain train with no brakes.<br />
<br />
Worrying is not only sinful; it is stupid.AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-47481036306918815072013-07-24T06:38:00.001-07:002013-07-24T06:38:19.622-07:00I see it has been a month since I posted last.The living of life trumps the documenting of it.<div><br></div><div>Ideally, when we start our new school year, I will do more documenting.</div><div><br></div><div>During our one-week break from summer activities, Thing2 has a stomach bug. I feel sorry for him, but I can't help but be thankful it happened this week. I am tempted to call it miraculous. </div><div><br></div><div>Bless his heart...and stomach.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEG0hkxUpTwTItNFE3lSBu6tK0jyukdXZowpg8Leg-grZTA-JfEkbJYdwE6zvlJEzgCnSa5Yx4gsZJBHTu561TsKomjr03EyK7EmeYT5ROUwdnviolAk4p75EyUXbqyL7uOgLjHsScLNVc/s640/blogger-image--504351311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEG0hkxUpTwTItNFE3lSBu6tK0jyukdXZowpg8Leg-grZTA-JfEkbJYdwE6zvlJEzgCnSa5Yx4gsZJBHTu561TsKomjr03EyK7EmeYT5ROUwdnviolAk4p75EyUXbqyL7uOgLjHsScLNVc/s640/blogger-image--504351311.jpg"></a></div><br></div>AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074942269366494204.post-51028413786989932522013-06-25T09:24:00.001-07:002013-06-25T09:24:19.792-07:00Plans and ChangesI have been hesitant to publish my plans for this year as a lot of changes are taking place, and many of our plans are at a see-how-it-goes-and-go-from-there status. However, much of our lineup for this year looks similar to last year.<br />
<br />
The first big change this year is that there are two school-aged children in our house, so Thing2 feels very important now. He is especially looking forward to math. Thing1 is 7 (roughly 2nd grade), and Thing2 is 5 (roughly kindergarten). <br />
<br />
The second big change is that we have joined a <a href="http://www.classicalconversations.com/" target="_blank">Classical Conversations</a> Community, which excites me greatly! The rigor in math, science, history, geography, and Latin memory work will be a change (hopefully for the better), but the underlying classical method will be consistent with our last two years. <a href="http://www.classicalconversations.com/common/what-is-classical-education" target="_blank">(What is Classical Education?</a>) The one day a week away from home will also be similar to our last couple of years in Wednesday School, which has worked well for us. I look forward to the community for the kids and accountability for myself.<br />
<br />
The third big change is that, Lord willing, we will be in a new house by the time school begins. If everything goes through, I will have a den connected to the kitchen and laundry room that can be dedicated to school! This will be perfect since the three things I do every day are kitchen, laundry, and lessons. It might actually be possible to multi-task with this setup. I am ecstatic about the possibility of not having to use a bedroom for lessons and school storage.<br />
<br />
<b>At-Home Lineup:</b><br />
<a href="http://mathusee.com/parents/whats-new/primer-alpha-and-beta/" target="_blank">Math-U-See Beta</a> for Thing1<br />
<a href="http://mathusee.com/parents/whats-new/primer-alpha-and-beta/" target="_blank">Math-U-See Primer</a> for Thing2<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?sku=WW339290&event=AFF&p=1164880" target="_blank">Writing With Ease Year 2</a>, <a href="http://growingwithgrammar.com/1gwg_Level_2.html" target="_blank">Growing with Grammar Level 2</a>, <a href="http://www.classicalconversationsbooks.com/prculeandco.html" target="_blank">Prescripts</a>, and <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?sku=WW827394&event=AFF&p=1164880" target="_blank">Spelling Power</a> for Thing1<br />
<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?sku=WW56671&event=AFF&p=1164880" target="_blank">Reading Reflex</a> and <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?sku=WW225587&event=AFF&p=1164880" target="_blank">Handwriting Without Tears Grade 1</a> for Thing2<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?sku=WW339108&event=AFF&p=1164880" target="_blank">Story of the World, Middle Ages</a> (See how it goes...Probably just reading, coloring, and using the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?sku=WW412449&event=AFF&p=1164880%22%3E" target="_blank">activity book</a>'s <i>excellent </i>Corresponding Literature lists) for Thing1 and Thing2<br />
<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?sku=WW366636&event=AFF&p=1164880" target="_blank">Famous Figures of Medieval Times</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?sku=WW337001&event=AFF&p=1164880" target="_blank">Exploring Creation with Astronomy</a> and the <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?sku=WW437605&event=AFF&p=1164880" target="_blank">Jr. Notebooking Journal</a> (See how it goes...We will be memorizing Science Facts and doing experiments with CC, so we might take it easy on this set.) for Thing1 (and Thing2 as desired)<br />
<br />
Books, Books, Books for both Thing1 and Thing2 to read aloud and read alone. I keep a <a href="http://pinterest.com/homeisrealsweet/books-for-kids/" target="_blank">Pinterest Board</a> for inspiration when we run dry. Also, the Writing with Ease Workbook is full of ideas. And I won't forget Jim Trelease's <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?sku=WW121602&event=AFF&p=1164880" target="_blank">Read Aloud Handbook</a>.<br />
<br />
All in all, I am excited about this new year. Each year so far has brought a deeper desire of learning for myself, and I think that desire is contagious...except in the area of spelling. Lessons have not yet become a drudgery for the kids. Learning new things as well as reviewing familiar things still fires them up. (Please note that I did not say that developing the self-discipline to actually do the work is not drudgery. On the contrary, it is the definition of drudgery for them <i>and</i> me.) I am looking forward to the changes of this year encouraging us to look at familiar things from new perspectives.AIMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018082195207574655noreply@blogger.com3