A few workbooks were done Mon-Wed, and then we worked on Halloween costumes. Wed night was Trunk or Treating. Thurs-Fri were regular school days.
3rd gr: practiced multiplying 6-10 in Math. She learned about Reference books in English. Did 2-3 lessons in Reading. Did 2 Familiar Quotations copywork. Excelled in Spelling this week with words ending in -y and -y + word endings (ex: try, tries, tried). Read The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson book 5) - her 1st long novel!
2nd gr: Number Order in Math (this was a BIG issue in the past but she seems to have outgrown it and did a great job!). Parts of a book in English. Story about an ugly girl in Reading (I tease the kids about this story because they both hated it). Did awesome in Spelling (silent e words). Learned tow truckletters O & W in cursive Handwriting.
Me: Reading Homeschooling and Loving It (about goal setting), also reading every infant self-help sleep book I can find! Saw Todd Wilson talk about being a winning homeschooling husband + wife team: very good speech, and both my husband & I enjoyed it.
Georgyana: eating, sleeping, pooping - although I'm trying to diagnose her fussiness problems. I've ruled out Eating as the source & have settled on Sleeping as the source of our crankiness (lack of regular sleep). I'm seeing that her overtiredness is causing the screaming fits, her frequent startling out of a sleep, and the short 30-40min sleep cycles during the day (sometimes only 2-10 mins for a nap). As a "sling-wearing, breastfeeding, co-sleeping" mom, I can honestly say that Attachment Parenting practices will NOT solve our problems. I hesitate to ask anyone for advice because then I will get a slew of unhelpful thoughts, LOL (not to sound ungrateful, but...) But if you have successfully Been There, Done That and it doesn't involve "feed on demand, mother's diet, or sleep with your baby", then maybe, just maybe, I'll want to hear it, LOL. I feel like the Walking Encyclopedia of Infant Sleep Books:)
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
What does Athena, Rubik's Cube, & Pink Bunnies have in common?
We attended our church's Trunk or Treat. Leading up to it was 3 days of intense costume making. Only a few school workbooks were done this week, but learning happened nonetheless.
Zoiya was a Rubik's Cube. We learned the colors of a Rubik's Cube (blue, green, red, white, yellow, and orange). There is also a cool Rubik's Cube Solver online: http://www.wrongway.org/cube/solve.html But I must note that Z wore her costume all of 5 minutes and then took it off: it was too uncomfy. So if we have more trick or treating to do, we'll need to make it easier to wear!
Alaithia was Athena, Greek goddess of war & wisdom. We learned that her temple was the Parthenon and her shield is called "Aegis" (eegis). Aegis bears the head of Medusa because she helped Perseus slay Medusa, and as thanks, Perseus gave the head of Medusa to Athena. Athena was born when Zeus had a "splitting headache". Another god cleaved Zeus's head with an ax, and out popped Athena full-grown and in battle armor. We also learned that ancient Greeks wore a garment called a "chiton" (kite-un).
And this was Georgie-bunny who handled the noise and excitement very well, but was quite tuckered at the end.
Zoiya was a Rubik's Cube. We learned the colors of a Rubik's Cube (blue, green, red, white, yellow, and orange). There is also a cool Rubik's Cube Solver online: http://www.wrongway.org/cube/solve.html But I must note that Z wore her costume all of 5 minutes and then took it off: it was too uncomfy. So if we have more trick or treating to do, we'll need to make it easier to wear!
Alaithia was Athena, Greek goddess of war & wisdom. We learned that her temple was the Parthenon and her shield is called "Aegis" (eegis). Aegis bears the head of Medusa because she helped Perseus slay Medusa, and as thanks, Perseus gave the head of Medusa to Athena. Athena was born when Zeus had a "splitting headache". Another god cleaved Zeus's head with an ax, and out popped Athena full-grown and in battle armor. We also learned that ancient Greeks wore a garment called a "chiton" (kite-un).
And this was Georgie-bunny who handled the noise and excitement very well, but was quite tuckered at the end.Friday, October 23, 2009
Weekly Review Oct 19-23
I've been feeling like a pretty crummy homeschool mom lately (and housewife, cook, etc.) But just when I'm thinking public school could do a better job, my kids do something brilliant to save themselves from the yellow school bus. So here are some of our successes this week:
My newly turned 9 year old decided to pick up and read *my* book: The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson book 5) and she's almost caught up to me.
My almost 7yo asked what 36 + 36 was, and then said, "wait, I can do it" and she figured out that it was 72 by thinking it out in her head - no paper! (notice that 36+36 takes carrying/regrouping).
We did 2 days of bookwork: math, grammar, reading, and handwriting. Then we did 2 days of Math & a Lapbook on Butterflies. I printed off all the mini books & the 9yo was able to do most of the book by herself with very little instruction. The 7yo, though, needed lots of handholding and encouragement, and we had a very bad day of fit throwing (but this seems to be the norm lately). Her 2nd day with the lapbook went better, but still required a lot of mom attention. We're almost finished with the lapbook and then I'll share photos.
We had co-op on Friday. The 7yo listened to Squirrel Nutkin in Peter Rabbit class; she also made an owl puppet, tried honeycomb, and took home some beeswax. She learned about muscle in All About Me class, seeing and touching (with gloves) raw meat, fat, and bones (ewww). She made a cool project in Lego Robotics (can't remember what though - Mom looses points for forgetting, lol). I think she learned about the first airplane and the Wright bros in Heros class. The 9yo built a newspaper bridge in Odyssey of the Mind, built something for Lego Robotics class (again, can't remember, ugh!), worked on a dance routine for Drama/Dance, and continues to work on Christmas songs and singing skills in Choir.
My newly turned 9 year old decided to pick up and read *my* book: The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson book 5) and she's almost caught up to me.
My almost 7yo asked what 36 + 36 was, and then said, "wait, I can do it" and she figured out that it was 72 by thinking it out in her head - no paper! (notice that 36+36 takes carrying/regrouping).
We did 2 days of bookwork: math, grammar, reading, and handwriting. Then we did 2 days of Math & a Lapbook on Butterflies. I printed off all the mini books & the 9yo was able to do most of the book by herself with very little instruction. The 7yo, though, needed lots of handholding and encouragement, and we had a very bad day of fit throwing (but this seems to be the norm lately). Her 2nd day with the lapbook went better, but still required a lot of mom attention. We're almost finished with the lapbook and then I'll share photos.
We had co-op on Friday. The 7yo listened to Squirrel Nutkin in Peter Rabbit class; she also made an owl puppet, tried honeycomb, and took home some beeswax. She learned about muscle in All About Me class, seeing and touching (with gloves) raw meat, fat, and bones (ewww). She made a cool project in Lego Robotics (can't remember what though - Mom looses points for forgetting, lol). I think she learned about the first airplane and the Wright bros in Heros class. The 9yo built a newspaper bridge in Odyssey of the Mind, built something for Lego Robotics class (again, can't remember, ugh!), worked on a dance routine for Drama/Dance, and continues to work on Christmas songs and singing skills in Choir.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Weekly Review Oct 12-16
3rd gr:
The turning-9-yr old learned adding/subtracting like fractions (same denominator), comparing fractions, and mixed number fractions (ex: 3 1/2). In Reading, she has read some early American history themes. In English she is practicing the use of dictionaries, glossaries, and reference books, also parts of a book. She aced her Spelling test with words ending in -y (cry, my, crazy, lady, pony). She continued Familiar Quotations copywork.
2nd gr:
She learned subtraction with renaming (regrouping, borrowing), and how to check her answers by turning it into an addition problem. Spelling was review. In Reading, she always reads several stories ahead of her workbook, so we did several pages orally to catch up to the latest story. She learned cursive k and r in Handwriting. English: verb tenses (past & now), irregular verb tenses.
Both:
We toured the local Fire Station and learned about fire safety. At home,the kids wrote about fire safety and made up an escape plan. Grandma brought birthday presents early, which was a bookbag they can color and a Make & Believe Storybook Kit. The kids spent the next 2 days writing stories:)
Georgyana:
Now stays awake longer,plays with her hands, munches on her thumb, smiles, coos, and giggles. She fights sleep so she can stay up and socialize.
The turning-9-yr old learned adding/subtracting like fractions (same denominator), comparing fractions, and mixed number fractions (ex: 3 1/2). In Reading, she has read some early American history themes. In English she is practicing the use of dictionaries, glossaries, and reference books, also parts of a book. She aced her Spelling test with words ending in -y (cry, my, crazy, lady, pony). She continued Familiar Quotations copywork.
2nd gr:
She learned subtraction with renaming (regrouping, borrowing), and how to check her answers by turning it into an addition problem. Spelling was review. In Reading, she always reads several stories ahead of her workbook, so we did several pages orally to catch up to the latest story. She learned cursive k and r in Handwriting. English: verb tenses (past & now), irregular verb tenses.
Both:
We toured the local Fire Station and learned about fire safety. At home,the kids wrote about fire safety and made up an escape plan. Grandma brought birthday presents early, which was a bookbag they can color and a Make & Believe Storybook Kit. The kids spent the next 2 days writing stories:)
Georgyana:
Now stays awake longer,plays with her hands, munches on her thumb, smiles, coos, and giggles. She fights sleep so she can stay up and socialize.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Baby Needs - updated
Georgyana is now size 3/6 mos, but I put her in some big sizes too (6/9 mos).
Needs (used items are preferred, if possible - but not used diapers, LOL):
Needs (used items are preferred, if possible - but not used diapers, LOL):
- Size 3 diapers: prefer Drybabies (Meijer) and Pampers Baby Dry
- Baby Monitor
- vibrating bouncy seat
- attachable car seat toy
- sling (mine is getting holes & has outdated rings)
- Size 6/9 mos baby swaddling - or blankets large enough for swaddling (swaddling blankets are way too small for swaddling)
- thick blankets that can be put on the floor for playing, diaper changing
- Hats! 3/6 mos size or 6/9 mos size
Handmade, hand-knit/crocheted, or sewn items are especially awesome and loved:)
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Writing
Z had to write a story for her reading assignment a few days ago, about a lost lamb. Here is her story:
I lost my baby lamb one day. I shirley couldn't find it but to my surprise it was in a pokey bush!
And she drew a picture of a lake, field, and pokey bush. I thought it was a cute story.
A note was passed in class yesterday and it caused quite a disruption. It was written by A. and this is what it said:
afterschool howabout we ask mama if we can watch Lord of the Rings. it is the only movie we can watch. mama won't let us watch Harry Potter the 3rd. Wright yes or no in the box
She only writes when secretly concocting devious plans, LOL. And notice, she capitalizes movie names correctly.
I lost my baby lamb one day. I shirley couldn't find it but to my surprise it was in a pokey bush!
And she drew a picture of a lake, field, and pokey bush. I thought it was a cute story.
A note was passed in class yesterday and it caused quite a disruption. It was written by A. and this is what it said:
afterschool howabout we ask mama if we can watch Lord of the Rings. it is the only movie we can watch. mama won't let us watch Harry Potter the 3rd. Wright yes or no in the box
She only writes when secretly concocting devious plans, LOL. And notice, she capitalizes movie names correctly.
Monday, October 5, 2009
2009-2010 School Year
**Work in Progress** Will update as year progresses
School Books:
Alaithia: BJU Math 3, BJU English 3, BJU Reading 3, BJU Spelling 3, Writing With Ease with Aesop's Fables, Familiar Quotations, AWANA T&T Book 2
Zoiya: BJU Math 2, BJU English 2, BJU Reading 2, BJU Spelling 2, Writing With Ease with Aesop's Fables, AWANA Sparks Book 3
Field Trips:
Van Hoosen Farm Museum - how children lived, worked, & played in olden days
Seven Ponds Nature Center - Zoiya took a class about Beavers, Alaithia took a class about Native Americans and how they used nature for their daily living needs.
Porter's Apple Orchard
Fire Station - fire safety
Co-op Classes / Extra Curricular:
Soccer Camp - 5 days
2 VBS programs
Alaithia's co-op classes: Odyssey of the Mind, Lego Robotics, Dance/Drama, Choir
Zoiya's co-op classes: Peter Rabbit (Beatrix Potter), All About Me (human body), Hero Classics (famous people in history), Lego Robotics
School Books:
Alaithia: BJU Math 3, BJU English 3, BJU Reading 3, BJU Spelling 3, Writing With Ease with Aesop's Fables, Familiar Quotations, AWANA T&T Book 2
Zoiya: BJU Math 2, BJU English 2, BJU Reading 2, BJU Spelling 2, Writing With Ease with Aesop's Fables, AWANA Sparks Book 3
Field Trips:
Van Hoosen Farm Museum - how children lived, worked, & played in olden days
Seven Ponds Nature Center - Zoiya took a class about Beavers, Alaithia took a class about Native Americans and how they used nature for their daily living needs.
Porter's Apple Orchard
Fire Station - fire safety
Co-op Classes / Extra Curricular:
Soccer Camp - 5 days
2 VBS programs
Alaithia's co-op classes: Odyssey of the Mind, Lego Robotics, Dance/Drama, Choir
Zoiya's co-op classes: Peter Rabbit (Beatrix Potter), All About Me (human body), Hero Classics (famous people in history), Lego Robotics
Weekly Review 9/28-10/2
Yeah, I'm a week late and a dollar short:) Here's our weekly review:
3rd grader: She finished the chapter on Measurement in Math, started Fractions. She aced her Spelling list in 3 days. In English, she learned about verbs, linking verbs, & present/past/future tense verbs. She completed 4 days of Familiar Quotations copywork, including "The great god Pan is dead!" by Plutarch, which has me intrigued because it rings familiar with the Percy Jackson series...She put much effort into skimping out on her Writing assignment and then I didn't push the issue (yeah, we need to work on that!) She wrote a birthday card to Daddy for one of her assignments. She read a play about Paul Revere in Reading.
2nd grader: She finished the chapter on measurement in Math. She had a temper tantrum over her Spelling list, and I gave up on it for this week. I think she is frustrated by having her spelling mistakes set in stone in writing. So next week, we'll do the same list but use letter tiles (which aren't permanent like writing is!) She read a story about a boy with allergies in Reading. She also seems to do Writing assignments in her Reading & English book without a hitch (yay!). She also wrote a birthday card to Daddy for his birthday. In English, she learned about commas in a series, and finished the unit on nouns. In Handwriting, she learned the letters u, y, and i (she loves learning cursive, so far...)
Science & History: not so much, LOL.
Field trips: Apple Orchard. Very nice place. It was a rainy, muddy day. Before this trip, I had been depressed all week because motherhood seems quite difficult right now. But after lugging a baby and 2 adventuresome girls through an apple orchard made of mud and animals, and various challenges, I felt very Empowered! LOL. If I can climb in and out of a haywagon with a baby attached, then nothing can stop me!
We also went to a Clothing Swap: we picked up oodles of clothes and I found a donor for my oodles of breastmilk, yay! It's a beautiful story of a foster mom that saved a preemie's life through breastmilk donations - incredible! I'm so blessed to have been able to pump breastmilk for 2 mos and succeed in getting my baby to the breast; how even more awesome that I could contribute the milk to a baby in need:)
3rd grader: She finished the chapter on Measurement in Math, started Fractions. She aced her Spelling list in 3 days. In English, she learned about verbs, linking verbs, & present/past/future tense verbs. She completed 4 days of Familiar Quotations copywork, including "The great god Pan is dead!" by Plutarch, which has me intrigued because it rings familiar with the Percy Jackson series...She put much effort into skimping out on her Writing assignment and then I didn't push the issue (yeah, we need to work on that!) She wrote a birthday card to Daddy for one of her assignments. She read a play about Paul Revere in Reading.
2nd grader: She finished the chapter on measurement in Math. She had a temper tantrum over her Spelling list, and I gave up on it for this week. I think she is frustrated by having her spelling mistakes set in stone in writing. So next week, we'll do the same list but use letter tiles (which aren't permanent like writing is!) She read a story about a boy with allergies in Reading. She also seems to do Writing assignments in her Reading & English book without a hitch (yay!). She also wrote a birthday card to Daddy for his birthday. In English, she learned about commas in a series, and finished the unit on nouns. In Handwriting, she learned the letters u, y, and i (she loves learning cursive, so far...)
Science & History: not so much, LOL.
Field trips: Apple Orchard. Very nice place. It was a rainy, muddy day. Before this trip, I had been depressed all week because motherhood seems quite difficult right now. But after lugging a baby and 2 adventuresome girls through an apple orchard made of mud and animals, and various challenges, I felt very Empowered! LOL. If I can climb in and out of a haywagon with a baby attached, then nothing can stop me!
We also went to a Clothing Swap: we picked up oodles of clothes and I found a donor for my oodles of breastmilk, yay! It's a beautiful story of a foster mom that saved a preemie's life through breastmilk donations - incredible! I'm so blessed to have been able to pump breastmilk for 2 mos and succeed in getting my baby to the breast; how even more awesome that I could contribute the milk to a baby in need:)
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