Posted in Homeschool Hijinks
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teacher, that is!
Bear started last week with losing his voice - dx severe croup. Only now, I'VE got it. No voice. Nada. Zip. Unless I drop a couple of octaves and rumble it out, which hurts a bit.
I can actually FEEL that my larynx is swollen.
So, not sure how this is going to go today. We missed 2 days of school last week due to sickness, birthdays & appointments. And it's not so much that I feel I need to do school today for school's sake - I'm MUCH more relaxed than that! But with autistic dc, messing with the schedule (especially this close to the Christmas holiday season) is dangerous.
Maybe...
I bought paint over the weekend, so they can finish their shields. And I got a neat Dover book of stained glass angels to color. We have 3 CD's from the library of music from the middle ages. And I've got a couple Schlessinger videos on plant growth that we hadn't watched yet. And a Peter Rabbit/Benjamin Bunny video that Bee hasn't seen yet.
I've got some grass seed and old socks. No potting soil, but we could use dirt from last years garden and make hedgehogs. This lesson plan is fleshing out nicely!!
I'm going to don my trusty referee whistle and get a move on. Substitute, schmubstitute - we've got school to do!!
Peace to you!
Katie |
Posted in Homeschool Hijinks
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We are studying the Middle Ages in our Learning Adventures curriculum, which focuses on plants for its science lessons. Bee decided on 'Rowing Peter Rabbit for her first Five in a Row book which, of course, has a lot of gardening lessons. SO I grabbed The Carrot Seed for Bear and we're going to do some Before FIAR - and they can all do the same science lessons. WHOOHOO! Less work for Mom!
We planted herbs in old peach cans this week and put them on the south-facing LR windowsill. Then we did our science kit on plants from The Young Scientists Club - loads of fun! Sprouting garlic, bean dissection, wheat sprouts & a grass terrarium!
We drew and labeled flowers for our notebook, dissected carnations & colored celery. This week, we'll look at seed catalogues, decide on our summer crops & draw names for our garden plots.
Meanwhile, we've whittled soap, started pages for our illuminated manuscripts, started writing our end-of-unit miracle play, watched videos on plant growth and the Middle Ages, memorized Hebrews 4:12 & 11 Timothy 3:16, talked about Ephesians 6:1, made Pease Porridge & Bannock Bread one night, Veggie Soup & Currant Buns & Blackberry Bread Pudding another.
There's more, I think. No wonder I'm tired!! LOL
Anyway, I'd also like to ask prayers for my MIL.
I spoke with her last night for her b-day. She found out that she has to have major surgery on her jaw Wed 1/25. She will be liquids ONLY for WEEKS he said, then soft foods only for 6 MONTHS!!! There will be permanent nerve damage in her jaw to some degree, more or less.
I'll not be posting or commenting next week - computer fast. I'll miss you all!
Peace to you,
Katie |
Posted in Homeschool Hijinks
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The Olympics are coming! The Olympics are coming!!
What better way to incorporate history, geography, science, politics & more in your homeschool experience than to dive into the Olympics with Amanda Bennett's Winter Olympics Unit Study!
Filled with 4 weeks worth of Lesson Plans, project ideas and - the best! - clickable links for tons of fun as you follow the Winter Olympic games. Learn about the history of the Ancient Olympics, the science of snow and sports & the human body. Become familiar with some of the countries participating in this year's games. Print off coloring pages and craft ideas - and have a BALL learing together!
We've used Amanda Bennett's unit studies for years and have THOROUGHLY enjoyed the Olympic study. My sweet dc have fond memories of "luge-ing" down the backyard slide on sleds (OK, do NOT try this at home!!) and using a wagon in the gently sloped driveway to practice for the bobsled team (ditto)! We've tried a sampling of recipes from around the world and learned about strange sports such as curling (my apologies to the big curling fans out there - but you've gotta admit - it IS strange!). All guided and jumpstarted from previous Olympic Unit Studies.
OK, I'm done now - though you WILL be hearing a lot about our Olympic studies in the future! *grin*
If you missed the links imbedded in the post, it's www.unitstudy.com AND on my sidebar under "LINKS". *wink*
Peace to you,
Katie |
Posted in Homeschool Hijinks
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Well, we're back in the swing of things with our Family Nights. We use the Family Night Too Chest books quite a bit and are starting our year with a fun study of the 10 Commandments. We try to keep it 30 minutes & under (we have a LOT of littles with short attention spans!) and ran about 35 minutes tonight - not too bad. I could tell the dc were "gettin' it" when it was time to pray - nothing like the sweet prayers of a child, huh?
Our Middle Ages study has been going well this week. It feels good to be back schoolin' (we took off the first week in Nov), though the learning never stops! I was amazed at how well the girls flower diagrams came out. And Kyle's writing assignment stories lately are a HOOT!
I forgot to mention in my Valentine post - SAVE YOUR CANDY CANES!! If you have any from Christmas, save them. Come Val. Day you unwrap them, place them together on a cookie sheet in pairs - facing each other in the shape of a heart. Put them in the oven on the lowest setting (200° is ours, I think). Leave them in just long enough for them to melt together a bit - Candy Hearts!
Peace to you!
Katie |
Posted in Homeschool Hijinks
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This is as written from our Learning Adventures curriculum. She got it from Food & Feasts in Ancient Rome by Steele.
Roman Chicken
1 whole chicken a pinch each of pepper, cumin, thyme, rosemary, mint, fennel 2 Tbsp vinegar 2/3 C chopped, pitted dates 1 Tbsp honey 1 Tbsp olive oil 1 tsp soy sauce
Remove any giblets and place chicken in a large saucepan. Cover chicken with water. Bring to a boil and simmer gently for 2 1/2 - 3 hours. Make sure the saucepan does not boil dry. To make the sauce, you will need a mortar & pestle (or see *note). Mix and grind all the herbs & spices in this. Add the vinegar and the dates to the spice mixture, pounding to a smooth paste. Transfer the paste to a mixing bowl and stir in the honey, oil & soy sauce. Add sufficient liquid from the chicken to give a thick pouring consistency. Remove the chicken fromt he pan and place on a platter. Pour the sauce over the chicken and eat at once OR let cool and eat cold.
*NOTE - if you do not have a mortar & pestle, you may do your grinding in a shallow stoneware bowl with a smooth, washed stone, or you can modernize the recipe (Katie's note - like soy sauce was in Rome??!?) and toss all of hte ingredients except chicken into a food processor and make your sauce in one quick step, adding chicken broth to get the desired consistency.
We will be eating this cold, since the dc were ASTOUNDED that I was thinking of doing an end-of-unit presentation without the grandparents!! and this will make it more appetizer-y, I think (I can't afford the three chickens it would take to feed us all dinner! LOL)
We're also waiting until 1/15, since i now need a bit more prep time.
Meanwhile, the dc have already picked their parts and started on costumes for the nativity play:
Bear the shepherd boy!
I'll post more pics after the actual event! Peace to you,
Katie |
Posted in Homeschool Hijinks
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Well, we started on our revised MOTH schedule yesterday. I don't think we'll do much tweaking, but it's hard to tell as dh had a 1/2 day yesterday and things got crazy!
School was a bit of a struggle - always is after a break. No major meltdowns, but a couple of minor ones (me included *blush*). We are going back to do all the language arts assignments we missed from the Rome unit study. I had opted to skip those as we went through the rest of the unit (LA is like pulling teeth with my LD kids), but told the dc we wouldn't start the Middle Ages until they were completed. I need the paperwork to put in their folders since 2 of the dc need evals this year!
Sometimes it's hard for me - the voracious-reader-poet-English-major - to watch the dc struggle with these concepts. I'm afraid I forget to have grace in this area and wish they'd just "get it". *blush again*
One last thing we need to do this week is finish up our Rome play/dinner. I don't think the grandparents with be invited this time (they were for Egypt & Greece) because we finished the study the end of Oct and it's not too fresh in our minds. I dropped most formal school when Bug started brain training, since it was so intensive, then the holidays came and... *shrug*
Well, computer time is over. I need to move on MOTHin'!
Peace to you,
Katie |
Posted in Homeschool Hijinks
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I cannot stress enough how K's "brain training" (Officially known as Be School Smart using the Mosley-Wilber Learning Method) has changed my child and our entire family.
I've blogged before about K's leaps & bounds in academic learning and attitude. But HIS change in attitude has changed the attitude of the whole FAMILY. Since K is calmer, Dad is not as stressed. Mom is not as stressed. The dc interact better all around. And people are noticing.
I have heard the words "peace" and "peaceful" to describe our family/houshold 5 times in the 4 weeks since starting K's training. That may not seem like much, but I've got to tell you - with 3 dc who struggle with learning and interpersonal relationships, "peace" is not a word that was EVER used to describe us.
PLEASE, if you are in CO and have a struggling learner - contact them at mosley-wilber@pcisys.net . They are very affordable (thousands less than those big name places!) and are conducting some workshops in Feb, March & April.
Feel free to e-mail me or leave a comment with any questions!
This ends this public service announcement. We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog entries.
Peace to you,
Katie |
Posted in Homeschool Hijinks
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I've discovered where all my unwanted pounds came from. It's the homeschooling. No, seriously!! It's all because of the rocks.
We're studying rocks, doncha see. Remember? Sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic... doesn't ring a bell, huh? It didn't make much sense to the dc either. So...
On Tuesday we made a Mint Oreo Fudge layered dessert. Voila! Sedimentary rock! Boy, was it YUMMY!
On Wednesday, we studied igneous rock. Igneous rock, you may recall, is formed when molten rock cools and hardens. So we made fudge!! MMmmmmMMMMM!
On Thursday, we hit the wall with metamorphic. Those are rocks that change form due to pressure. Now what could I do to get this one across? Pressure, pressure... or HEAT! Yeah! Heat=oven, metamorphic rock=BROWNIES!!
Today was supposed to be "Build-a-volcano-out-of-ice-cream-and-hot-fudge" day. I just couldn't do it. My sweet dc are on a permanent sugar high! (and pooh-pooh to you if you believe that bunk that children don't react to sugar! I believe most of the researchers that came up with THAT one are single!!)
But you know what? They KNOW their rocks! :)
Peace to you!
Katie (who needs to go back and re-read my previous exercise post!! |
Posted in Homeschool Hijinks
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After a week off from more Formal studies, we are starting Ancient Rome tomorrow. I just LOVE the Learning Adventures curriculum! It's all laid out and scripted (for those days when I need it - read: haven't prepped!) and has loads of fun hands-on projects.
Am I ready? Nope. But we'll fill in as we go, learning together! I just need to run out to the store today and get supplies for our first day of eating like the Romans (no stuffed dormouse, please!) - raisins, apples, grape juice, flat bread... Then we'll dive in!
Of course, we're still going to continue on with our more informal - but even more important - studies. K is currently into woodworking, nature photography & collecting/organizing football trading cards. M is focused on learning to sew, cooking & pioneers. E is reading like mad for her contest/read-a-thon and has a budding interest in rock collecting. H is into letters & numbers, J is a sponge and soaking up EVERYTHING (though his current fixation is Bob the Builder). S-G is grabbing things, sitting up and... drooling.
Well, off to church!
Peace to you,
Katie
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Posted in Homeschool Hijinks
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Well, we've wrapped up Ancient Greece, except for our Olympics/Tragedy for the grandparents. With scheduling conflicts, we can't do that until 10/8 - AFTER we've started Ancient Rome. Ah, well - we'll keep working at it!
K has devised a schedule of training for our Olympics which he calls "Camp O". It's fun to watch him direct the others in their Olympic Training Program!
We will be off from "school" next week, though the learning never stops! Current topics of interest (i.e. books out on the dc's library cards) are Football Biographies, Civil War, Nature Photography, Mysteries, Pioneers, Wagon Trains, Colonial America, Food Garnishing, Ancient Rome, Ancient China, Seashells and a plethora of Easy Readers.
E has read over 500 books since 8/1 for a contest she's entered, as well as the Read-a-Thon she's doing for Katrina relief. Way to GO!
Well, it's off to the grocery store & library - Friday is Errand Day!
Peace to you!
Katie |
Posted in Homeschool Hijinks
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Well, we’ve certainly been busy! Does life EVER slow down? We’ve spent the last two weeks studying Ancient Greece and the Human Body. The kids have had great insight into how the myths and legends contrast/compare to the Word of God. Those poor Greeks, didn’t know any better! ;-) We built a paper Parthenon, ate a simple Greek lunch (they did NOT appreciate the olives or feta cheese!) and are working on our end-of-unit play. They’ve also been fascinated at how all the body systems work together! “Body by design”, ya know! We did HOURS worth of experiments and made felt models of organs to place on our “Anatomy Shirt”. K started football this week – same team/coach as last year, thankfully! He is a GREAT coach. Now we will just eat/drink/sleep passes, punts and plays for 2.5 months! LOL Well, that and the Civil War. He’s decided to make that his history project for the HartS fair this year. S-G rolled over on Wednesday – back to front, then front to back!! Time to step up a notch in the childproofing, I guess. E’s sunflowers bloomed today. Couldn’t match the “bloom” on her face when she saw them, though. She is sooo sad there are only four of them. She wanted desperately to sell them all and give the money to church, but the hailstorms in June took most of them. I told her if we make a scarecrow, she may be able to sell the seeds instead! Next week, we’re staying with Greece/Anatomy/Football/Gardening. Whoops! Ms. Fussy-pants needs a change. Peace to you! Katie
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Posted in Homeschool Hijinks
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Here it is, the end of another week. Not much accomplished - we were off from school and I was supposed to be cleaning. Difficult to do with a 3mo and a 2.5yo, though the 4 older dc can keep themselves (and each other) pretty well entertained. I guess I should back up and introduce our family!
We are Katie & Mark, married 16 years. We have 6 blessings - K (11yob), M (9yog), E (7yog), H (5yog), J (2yob) & SG (3mog). Currently, the three oldest are in Learning Adventures - A World of Adventure (AWOA) and the younger three are at different levels of the online curriculum Brightly Beaming Babies/Toddlers/Letter of the Week (LOTW). We just wrapped up a 6 wk study of Ancient Egypt with a play put on for the grandparents, written by the dc of course, on the early life of Moses ("Wade like an Egyptian!").
Next week, we start our school year with Ancient Greece. We are all excited to get back to the school routine. The dc have been watching videos and reading books already on the Trojan War, Greek myths and Odysseus.
I hope to blog once a week (on the weekend), unless something exciting develops!
Peace to you,
Katie |