Feb. 1, 2006 - School, writing workshop, etc.

I have a couple of friends interested in doing a regular writing "workshop" of some sort, as well as doing a "newspaper" with the kids involved.  I think it could really be a great thing to do ~ especially with other families for accountability.  It would be great hands on experience for the kids as well.

Today's school went smoothly for the most part.  The kids were a little too wound by the time Konos came around, and I felt like I spent ten minutes getting them to calm back down every time anything "fun" came up. 

Sometimes I feel like I'm not doing enough, but what we do seems to take al the time we have.  I keep the subjects to a fairly strict schedule... but for some reason, when its all said and done (usually at the end of the week) I feel like I've not done enough ~ imparted enough information, whatever.  Its quite frustrating.

Our typical schedule runs as follows:

9:00 to 9:30 Bible, prayers and devotionals.

9:30 to 11:00  Independant subjects (Reading, Copywork, History/bios, computer lessons ~ math facts/spelling/typing/whatever, they have to take turns) in 30 minutes increments ~ except for Sprite who has 45 minute "classes"

11:00- 11:30 Read Aloud (Belles on Their Toes at the moment)

11:30-12:30  Lunch, recess and chores

12:30 to 1:00  They all finish their last independant subject

1:00 to 1:30/1:45 Mega Math (Paris does math review on the computer, then does a page in her workbook)

1:45 to 2:45/3:00 or so... Konos (Right now this being science, electricity, etc.)

We do art class on Tuesday afternoons with Kerra and Joshua... although for January, and part of Feb apparently:) we are doing furniture refinishing & decoupage, so I'm not sure how much that "counts" as "school"... 

I'm feeling like now that the older four can all write and spell reasonably well, I should be doing a writing program of some sort ~ or SOME sort of organized writing lessons/projects/whatever.  I'm just not good at adding yet one more thing to the day.  I don't know what to remove and replace with writing.  We're on a roll with this schedule, and I'm kind of at a loss as to how to add anything without just making the day "too" full.  I guess I just need to replace copywork a couple of days a week.  The boys and Paris still really need that thought, so I won't be taking it out altogether.

One of the friends has a video writing course that she was planning on watching once a week.  I'm hoping that will work for us to all watch together.  That could really add to our "newspaper" experience.  Also, her dad is a journalism teacher, so he would be willing to teach us some things as well.  Awesome!!

Abyni isn't getting a lot of one on one school time, and she has spent a lot of our Konos time napping (although she seems to have stopped the nap-time habit yet again, so at least she'll be around for our "fun" stuff!)  But nevertheless, her math, writing and especially her reading is just taking off.

So, anyway ~ my doubts, my thoughts and our day, yet again...

Konos Question today:

If you are in an open field during a lightning storm, what is the best (and worst) thing to do?

A.  lie down

B.  play golf

C.  climb a tree

D.  fly a kite with a key on the string

E.  Get in a car

F.  Go swimming

The kids absolutely LOST it on the "flying a kite with a key" ~ they laughed so hard, I swear it took them five minutes to calm back down.  They were just in a super squirrely mood today!