This week was a good one. We are moving right along and have developed a pace and rhythm for this year. Everyone is finishing lessons without much difficulty. Moving from one lesson and one child to the next is coming more easily. Everyone is finally old enough that juggling independent work and time with me is getting easier.
H12 and I have been taking time before school each morning to walk the puppies together. It's nice to have quiet time together. Some days H12 complains her way through the walk but most days she's a joy. It's nice to have the time to talk about what she's doing and plan our day together.
After our walk and caring for the animals, we have breakfast and begin our school day with reading aloud. We've been working our way through The Penderwick series for our read aloud time. H12 and I have already read the books but we loved them so much we wanted to share them with everyone. We are halfway through the second book.
Our morning continues with Bible time. H12, S9 and I are studying the book of Job. M7 is learning about the stories of the Old Testament. While we miss our Community Bible Study we are enjoying the new lessons and I feel that the learning is worthwhile.
Bible ends our group work for the morning and we spend the remainder of the time before lunch getting our individual work done. H12 works on her own while I shuffle between M7 and S9 to complete their lessons.
After lunch and a play/reading break we get back together for history, chemistry or art. H12 and S9 usually finish their day with a Latin lesson.
Here's what the kids had to say about school this week:
M7 - I'm enjoying math. It's easy and fun. I did grammar but I don't really like it very much.
S9 - I liked chemistry this week. I liked that I was able to measure and think about what I wanted to do. I liked the safely goggles and the smock. It was fun to wear them and act like I was a real scientist. I didn't like reading about Pocahontas because the book was so long. I really enjoyed the story but I didn't like not being able to read a different book until it was done.
H12 - I enjoyed reading The Broken Blade. I thought the characters and the story were interesting. Even though I'm good at math I don't like it.
Just in case you were wondering, my house is still a disaster but it doesn't bother me as much today as it did last Friday.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Enjoying the Unexpected
Tonight I attended a mom's night out with other mothers from our new homeschool co-op. The mom's night out was supposed to take place at an area restaurant. Because this was my first mno with this group and because I've been to other mno's where no one came but me, I called to double check the time and location of the gathering. I also wanted to be sure that at least one other person was going to be there. I was assured there would be others attending.
I arrived at the restaurant, went inside to inquire about the group and no one from the group was there. I was on time, not early or late. I wandered outside and met another woman also waiting. Since both of us were new to the group we only recognized each other because we were both alone and uncomfortable. Before long, a veteran of the group arrived and took us in hand. No one else from the group was at the restaurant. We didn't have a table. The restaurant was crowded. Seating for regular size groups was 20 minutes. Seating for a large group would be even longer. We opted to leave word for any late arrivals and move to a different restaurant nearby.
While the beginning of the evening was dicey, the time spent visiting with and getting to know some of the other mothers was worthwhile. On the way home I found myself reflecting on how unexpected situations often turn out to be really great. So often I spend time planning and scheming and working it all out only to have my plans altered, adjusted or totally scrapped.
So many of the wonderful things in my life were unexpected. Careers, homes, people, situations. It almost makes me want to stop planning. If I stopped planning it could be that I'd miss the blessings of the unexpected because everything would be unexpected. That sounds overwhelming. Perhaps, the unexpected favors the prepared life.
I arrived at the restaurant, went inside to inquire about the group and no one from the group was there. I was on time, not early or late. I wandered outside and met another woman also waiting. Since both of us were new to the group we only recognized each other because we were both alone and uncomfortable. Before long, a veteran of the group arrived and took us in hand. No one else from the group was at the restaurant. We didn't have a table. The restaurant was crowded. Seating for regular size groups was 20 minutes. Seating for a large group would be even longer. We opted to leave word for any late arrivals and move to a different restaurant nearby.
While the beginning of the evening was dicey, the time spent visiting with and getting to know some of the other mothers was worthwhile. On the way home I found myself reflecting on how unexpected situations often turn out to be really great. So often I spend time planning and scheming and working it all out only to have my plans altered, adjusted or totally scrapped.
So many of the wonderful things in my life were unexpected. Careers, homes, people, situations. It almost makes me want to stop planning. If I stopped planning it could be that I'd miss the blessings of the unexpected because everything would be unexpected. That sounds overwhelming. Perhaps, the unexpected favors the prepared life.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Weekly Recap: September 12-16, 2011
We've had a busy and productive week. I'll let the kids hit their high lights and low lights for school this week .
M7 - What I learned about and thought was really interesting was Pocahontas. I didn't like Latin. I like math a lot. I also really like The Penderwicks.
S9 - My high light is that we are almost to machine guns in history. My low light is Latin.
H12 - My high light is the book I'm writing. I'm working really hard on it. I hate math though I am good at it. I'm rocking the socks off Latin.
It's a good thing that I have no expectations when I ask the kids to weigh in with their point of view.
I'd say that my high light this week was finding a rhythm. This is our second week of co-op. Things seem to be flowing pretty well. We seem to be getting all our subjects done. It's good to be feeling a sense of accomplishment this time of year. My low light was the house. I seem to be really struggling to get a handle on the cleaning and straightening.
M7 - What I learned about and thought was really interesting was Pocahontas. I didn't like Latin. I like math a lot. I also really like The Penderwicks.
S9 - My high light is that we are almost to machine guns in history. My low light is Latin.
H12 - My high light is the book I'm writing. I'm working really hard on it. I hate math though I am good at it. I'm rocking the socks off Latin.
It's a good thing that I have no expectations when I ask the kids to weigh in with their point of view.
I'd say that my high light this week was finding a rhythm. This is our second week of co-op. Things seem to be flowing pretty well. We seem to be getting all our subjects done. It's good to be feeling a sense of accomplishment this time of year. My low light was the house. I seem to be really struggling to get a handle on the cleaning and straightening.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Curriculum for 2011-2012
M7
The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading
Rod & Staff English 2
Prima Latina
Chemistry for Christian Kids
Story of the World 3
Math on the Level
Singapore Math 2A & 2B
S9
Rod & Staff English 4
Spelling Power
Writing Strands 2
Latina Christiana
Chemistry for Christian Kids
Story of the World 3
Math on the Level
Life of Fred Fractions
H12
Analytical Grammar
Spelling Power
Writing Strands 4
Latina Christiana
Chemistry for Christian Kids
Story of the World 3
Math on the Level
Algebra I from Great Courses
The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading
Rod & Staff English 2
Prima Latina
Chemistry for Christian Kids
Story of the World 3
Math on the Level
Singapore Math 2A & 2B
S9
Rod & Staff English 4
Spelling Power
Writing Strands 2
Latina Christiana
Chemistry for Christian Kids
Story of the World 3
Math on the Level
Life of Fred Fractions
H12
Analytical Grammar
Spelling Power
Writing Strands 4
Latina Christiana
Chemistry for Christian Kids
Story of the World 3
Math on the Level
Algebra I from Great Courses
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Back to School: The 2011 Edition
The last two days have been filled with back to school activities. K14 went back to high school yesterday. H12, S9 and M7 eased back into school today. I wasn't really ready for summer to be over.
K14 was so excited to be back with her friends. After her somewhat isolated summer she was anxious for outside activity and contact. She left for school with a new Marvel Comics back pack and a spring in her step. I wasn't sure I was ready to let her out of my sight. Being the mother of a teenager is so much more difficult than being the mother of a toddle. With toddlers you can pick them up to keep them safe. It's so much more complicated with teenagers.
On K14's first day of school, the rest of us spent the day playing, talking, watching movies and hanging out. We have a tradition of celebrating the first day of school by not beginning school. Usually we only start a day or two later but we all enjoy the ability to decide when we begin. After K14 got done with school we picked her up for an orthodontist appointment.
In our last two homes, we've had driveways that have allowed me to write welcome home and happy first day of school messages for the kids. This home has no concrete, except in the barn. I don't know if anyone except me missed that tradition. No one mentioned it.
We returned from the orthodontist by way of the grocery store so that I could gather the things we needed to make our first day of school tea party. It's another tradition that we enjoy and our change of location didn't impare our ability to throw a wonderful tea party.
During the tea party, we heard all about K14's friends, teachers, school life and plans for the year. She was excited about her day and happy to be back in school. Even a new dress code couldn't put a damper on her return to school.
K14's second day of school became the first day of school for the rest of us. We talked about waiting until Monday but decided that easing into it might be better. We didn't complete every subject but we did do more than 50% and things seemed to come back pretty easily. It felt like stretching muscles that we hadn't used in awhile and we were all pleased to find out that the muscles are still pretty toned.
Our day began with flash flood warnings and the rescue of 100 drowning chickens. We were able to save the chickens and as H12 said, "That's a skill you'd never get in public school." She's so right.
The biggest change summer brought was in M7's reading ability. When we finished school last spring, reading was still a chore that required sounding out every letter. Rather than pushing her through the summer we took a real break. The only reading she did between May and yesterday was purely for her fun and enjoyment. Today we picked up The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading and continued at Lesson 115. She flew through it. During the summer, something clicked for her. She began reading cereal boxes, billboards, books, magazines, anything that crossed her path really. She read because she could not because she had to. Sitting next to her today and listening to her read was such a blessing.
H12 surprised even herself when it came to Analytical Grammar. She started Section 2 today. She took one look at the pages and decided she couldn't remember any of it. After lunch and some reading time we sat down together with the book. In less than an hour she realized that not only did she remember what she'd learned last year but that she was quickly learning more. Another blessing of the day.
We finished our school day with the read aloud book we started a few weeks ago, Charlotte's Web. We'd read a few chapters here and a few chapters there but like so much during the summer our reading lacked focus and discipline. After a morning of torrential downpours and flooding, the afternoon was glorious. Sunshine, blue skies, temperatures in the high 70s. Gorgeous. We took Charlotte's Web outside and read the last five chapters in the sunshine on our own farm. We enjoyed the outdoors and remembered our trip to the fair just last weekend as we read about Fern and Wilbur and Charlotte. I originally selected the book with M7 in mind but S9 enjoyed it much more than his sister did.
Our school year has begun. I know day one isn't necessarily a valid predictor of the year to follow but a good first day sure can't hurt.
K14 was so excited to be back with her friends. After her somewhat isolated summer she was anxious for outside activity and contact. She left for school with a new Marvel Comics back pack and a spring in her step. I wasn't sure I was ready to let her out of my sight. Being the mother of a teenager is so much more difficult than being the mother of a toddle. With toddlers you can pick them up to keep them safe. It's so much more complicated with teenagers.
On K14's first day of school, the rest of us spent the day playing, talking, watching movies and hanging out. We have a tradition of celebrating the first day of school by not beginning school. Usually we only start a day or two later but we all enjoy the ability to decide when we begin. After K14 got done with school we picked her up for an orthodontist appointment.
In our last two homes, we've had driveways that have allowed me to write welcome home and happy first day of school messages for the kids. This home has no concrete, except in the barn. I don't know if anyone except me missed that tradition. No one mentioned it.
We returned from the orthodontist by way of the grocery store so that I could gather the things we needed to make our first day of school tea party. It's another tradition that we enjoy and our change of location didn't impare our ability to throw a wonderful tea party.
During the tea party, we heard all about K14's friends, teachers, school life and plans for the year. She was excited about her day and happy to be back in school. Even a new dress code couldn't put a damper on her return to school.
K14's second day of school became the first day of school for the rest of us. We talked about waiting until Monday but decided that easing into it might be better. We didn't complete every subject but we did do more than 50% and things seemed to come back pretty easily. It felt like stretching muscles that we hadn't used in awhile and we were all pleased to find out that the muscles are still pretty toned.
Our day began with flash flood warnings and the rescue of 100 drowning chickens. We were able to save the chickens and as H12 said, "That's a skill you'd never get in public school." She's so right.
The biggest change summer brought was in M7's reading ability. When we finished school last spring, reading was still a chore that required sounding out every letter. Rather than pushing her through the summer we took a real break. The only reading she did between May and yesterday was purely for her fun and enjoyment. Today we picked up The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading and continued at Lesson 115. She flew through it. During the summer, something clicked for her. She began reading cereal boxes, billboards, books, magazines, anything that crossed her path really. She read because she could not because she had to. Sitting next to her today and listening to her read was such a blessing.
H12 surprised even herself when it came to Analytical Grammar. She started Section 2 today. She took one look at the pages and decided she couldn't remember any of it. After lunch and some reading time we sat down together with the book. In less than an hour she realized that not only did she remember what she'd learned last year but that she was quickly learning more. Another blessing of the day.
We finished our school day with the read aloud book we started a few weeks ago, Charlotte's Web. We'd read a few chapters here and a few chapters there but like so much during the summer our reading lacked focus and discipline. After a morning of torrential downpours and flooding, the afternoon was glorious. Sunshine, blue skies, temperatures in the high 70s. Gorgeous. We took Charlotte's Web outside and read the last five chapters in the sunshine on our own farm. We enjoyed the outdoors and remembered our trip to the fair just last weekend as we read about Fern and Wilbur and Charlotte. I originally selected the book with M7 in mind but S9 enjoyed it much more than his sister did.
Our school year has begun. I know day one isn't necessarily a valid predictor of the year to follow but a good first day sure can't hurt.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
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