Weekly Recap 4/26-4/30

It seems that our vacation did what it was designed to do.  It gave us a break and allowed us to begin again, refreshed and renewed.  This week has been testament to our rejuvenation.  Tempers have been delightfully long.  Patience has been available to all in plentiful quantity.  It's been a good week, a really good week.

Here's an activity we really enjoyed for our human body lessons followed by an overview of what everyone accomplished this week. 

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K13: 
Writing - Writing a descriptive paragraph 

R&S Grammar 8 - Lessons #108-$112

Lial BCM - Ch 8 Geometry

History - The End of Rome

Biology - The Human Body

Music - clarinet

H11:

R&;S Grammar 5 - Lessons #114-118

Writing - Writing Strands 4 - #4

Math on the Level - multiplication facts 0-6
History - The End of Rome
Biology - The Human Body
Music - flute

S8:
Writing - Draw and Write Through History
R&S Grammar 2 - Unit 6 Lessons #11-#21

Math on the Level - multiplication facts 0-6

History - The End of Rome

Biology - The Human Body

Music - violin

M5:

Phonics Pathways

First Language Lessons - #37-41

Math on the Level - number recognition and order 1-30

addition 1-10

History - The End of Rome

Biology - The Human Body

Recorded books:  Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Black Pearl

Celebrate Today! Disney 2010

Here's a brief record of our time at the four Disney World parks last week.  We spend Monday in the Magic Kingdom.  Tuesday was our day at Epcot.  Thursday we trekked through Animal Kingdom and Friday found us in Disney Hollywood. By Friday we were too busy enjoying ourselves to take pictures.  It was a busy, fun week for all of us.

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Weekly Recap 4/12-4/16

This week was spent marking time.  We are all ready for vacation and it can't get here too soon.  Keeping focus was difficult and every task felt like a chore.  I could totally sympathize with the lack of enthusiasm.  I'm ready for vacation too! 

Sorry about the lack of pictures.  I can't find my camera and I NEED it for vacation!  Arrrgggghhhhhh!!!!

I won't slog through the whole week, just hit the highlights. 

K13 is doing so well in math.  She really understood the algebra concepts and geometry is going just as well.  The things she doesn't get the first time seem to click easily with a bit of discussion and reworking.

H11 is moving quickly through another Writing Strands book.  She loves to write and I've noticed real improvement with the quality and effort she's putting forth.  This week she completed several different assignements in Writing Strands and in her Rod & Staff Grammar book.  All of her writing was outstanding.

S8 is my sure and steady guy.  He is plugging away at his work each day without complaint.  He loves TimezAttack and is moving quickly through mastery of his multiplication tables.

M5 has worked through all the basic phonic sounds.  She starts on three letter blends when we get back next week.  She's also memorized the first three poems in First Language Lessons.  She really enjoys "doing school" now.  I'm so thankful we didn't push her earlier.

For all of us a big accomplishment was completing Story of the World I!  We are going to go back and work on timelines and maps until the end of the year as a review.  We sure feel proud that we have finished and learned so much.

K13:

Writing - Writing Strands 5
R&S Grammar 8 - Chapter 10
Lial BCM - Ch 10 Geometry
History - The End of Rome
Biology - The Human Body

H11:
R&S Grammar 5 - Chapter 10
Writing - Writing Strands 4 - #3
Math on the Level - multiplication facts 0-5
History - The End of Rome
Biology - The Human Body

S8:
Writing - poetry
R&S Grammar 2 - Unit 6
Math on the Level - multiplication facts 0-5
History - The End of Rome
Biology - The Human Body

M5:
Phonics Pathways
First Language Lessons
Math on the Level - addition and subtraction
History - The End of Rome
Biology - The Human Body

Wordless Wednesday - Gifts of Love

In Which I Contemplate a New Attitude

Many of you know that I was hoping to find a  new attitude at the Midwest Homeschool Conference in Cincinnati this weekend.  I've been feeling overwhelmed, frustrated and ineffective in parenting and homeschooling lately.  I think a large part of it has to do with the time of year and the need for a break.  We are getting that break next week.  Next year, I'll be sure to schedule spring break earlier or do something a bit more creative and restful in early March to hold us over.

I learned quite a bit at the Homeschool Conference.  I learned about mentoring my daughters, teaching multiple levels, classical astronomy, early medieval history, four level grammar analysis, high school transcripts and grades and parenting with power.  I laughed and I cried.  I spent money on food, paper, books and curriculum.  I remembered why I am doing this crazy, crazy thing and I found some joy in it again.

Now, I know, today is just Monday and it's a bit early in the week to say things have changed and I have a new attitude.  Only time will tell, of course.  However, I do feel like a weight has been lifted.  I'm feeling hopeful and, though it's a tender, fragile feeling, it feels lovely.   I do feel safe saying that I did find a new attitude at the conference.  I'm not really sure how much it cost though.  I'm guessing somewhere between $0 and $700, not including tax.

Weekly Recap 4/5 -4/9/10

I'm just really happy to say that this week is over.  We are going to the Midwest Homeschool Conference tomorrow in Cincinnati so here is a recap of what we've struggled through this week.  When I look at it listed here, it seems like a productive week.  There really is no way to express the constant battle this week presented.  I am praying for renewal at the conference.  I need a new attitude.  Do you think they have those for sale there?

K13:

Writing - Writing Strands 5 - #4
R&S Grammar 8 - Chapter 9 Test, begin Chapter 10
Lial BCM - Chapter 10 Geometry
History - SOTW 1 Ch 40 Rome Begins to Weaken
Biology - The Human Body - Skeletal and muscular systems

H11:
R&S Grammar 5 - Chapter 9 Test, begin Chapter 10
Writing - Writing Strands 4 - #2
Copywork - Draw and Write Through History
Life of Fred Fractions - Lessons 22-23
History - SOTW 1 Ch 40 Rome Begins to Weaken
Biology - The Human Body - Skeletal and muscular systems

S8:
Copywork - Draw and Write Through History
R&S Grammar 2 - Unit 5 Test - Unit 6 #1-6
Math on the Level - money and multiplication facts
History - SOTW1 Ch 40 Rome Begins to Weaken
Biology - The Human Body - Skeletal and muscular systems

M5:
Phonics Pathways
First Language Lessons
Math on the Level - number recognition, writing numbers
History - SOTW1 Ch 40 Rome Begins to Weaken
Biology - The Human Body - Skeletal and muscular systems

Wordless Wednesday - Kissing Cousins