Jan. 13, 2006 - The Screw, Frank Gilbreth, library...

So today we learned about the screw ~ with vocabulary such as helix, thread, nut, bolt, pitch, etc.  We found several things that use screws in the house such as screw on lids, actual screws, deodorant, glue sticks, etc. 

I keep starting at the end of our day...

Anyway ~ from the beginning instead:

Morning included Bible, devotions and copywork... copying down all our memory verses thus far this school year to hang on our kitchen bulletin board so we don't forget!  I plan to have a test for these some time this month.  The kids love tests.  (Probably because we so rarely have them!)

We read Cheaper by the Dozen.  And other than the occasional language, I HIGHLY recommend this book.  This guy was a homeschooler... whether he was labelled that or not, and has fantastic ideas. 

Today's chapter had him writing morse code all over their walls, then writing notes for the kids in morse code so they'd have to learn to read the notes... putting up large scale models of the solar system throughout their house, teaching the kids to type, etc... 

It reminded me of our house in Iowa.  I painted "N" "S" "E" "W" in a giant "compass" on the ceiling... and to this day, Sprite remembers those.  We also used to study the seasons right before the seasons happened, so in our school room, we'd make paper flowers and paint seasons on our windows.  Once the season actually came, we'd all know what was happening.  I also used to label everything in the house for the learning to read age... we had even done this in our last BA house, but hadn't done it here yet.

So, after the chapter today, I asked the kids how they thought we might implement some of Mr. Gilbreth's ideas.  Since some of them are having mulitplication issues, they took their hardest numbers and made small posters to hang above their bunks.  Sprite went around to all the bathroom mirrors and wrote multiplications facts for 8 & 9.  We now also have sight words in several places, and everything from toilet to mirror, to door labelled throughout the house.

That was probably our biggest thrill of the day.  The kids had fun:)

We also did mega math... double digit multiplication continued.  The kids did their reading independantly about Sir Isaac Newton &/Archmedes and their learning computer time.  We are so enjoying the Way THings Work book and CD rom... not to mention the movies!  I love our library system!

Speaking of which, I need to take the kids to the library to pick up our big stack of books ont he hold shelf (including the old Cheaper by the Dozen MOVIE!) since they're closed on Monday.

I guess I had best see if my pants are dry!