Jan. 17, 2008 - Plodding thru.....
Twice this week small son has commented, "why do we do the same thing every day?? We get up, we do school, we eat, we read, we go to bed....., (well, that's HIS version of 'normality'...oh, to be a child again, with no real responsibilities!!!).....that is so boring. Why is it so boring now?"
Personally, the way I see it, is that our life could USE some 'boring' times. We have had enough excitement and upheaval to last a lifetime. And unfortunately, I see that small son has gotten 'used' to that. Needs the 'rush' of uncertainty, the thrill of never knowing what's around the corner. Sad commentary on our life, actually.....and why I encourage him to read fantasies and mysteries. I'd much rather he get his thrills from a book, than too much of it in real life.
Praise the LORD for the mundane. For the plodding times. For winter. For schedules. For the 'same old same old'. I know his raging hormonal, pre-pubescent body is revving for more.....but for now.....this peace and tranquility is the best medicine for the past few years of uncertainty. I pray he will get used to some semblance of 'normal', but still look for and enjoy the unexpected also. Not necessarily the tragic chaos, but the little unexpected 'rushes' of life.
Yesterday was yet another red letter day in our schooling adventure. After the requisite (and I think somehow he thinks he is SUPPOSED to 'gripe'')..... pre-school whining and request to 'do school in the living room where the sun is shining'.....he settled into his work and did well......
Spelling - I'm glad we begin with a rather benign subject......today he decided he did NOT have to look over the words for his test.....so rather than beg him to do so, I let him take the test w/o preparing.....he only got 1 wrong, which is NOT a big deal....however.....he usually aces it and for him to have to write words 10 times each is the WORST punishment in the world, even one word....so, maybe he'll learn, eh? Finished a portion of alphabetizing in the previous lesson he had 'put off', finished lesson 12.
Health - the 2nd subject of the day I trade off with FUFI, today it was health. finished chp. 2 with questions, mostly about how God is in control, but we have responsibilities of keeping our body healthy too. Just real basic stuff.
Math - finished lesson 10 - completely understands the concept and wanted to move on to the next one today.....then elected to wait until tomorrow.....he's learning to pace himself, I can see that.....well, either that or put off til tomorrow what he could do today.....I'll have to watch that!
Science - Began Unit 2 about animals. finished the first section of lesson 1 with questions.
History - did an oral review of vocab words with him, HE skimmed for review, then he just plunged in and wanted to take the pre-test......I allowed it and lo and behold he got 89% - a B+. I was shocked! Today is the big Unit test.
English - working on review here also. Did an extra credit worksheet and some sentence diagramming on the whiteboard. Am very encouraged to see he 'gets' the whole sentence diagramming thing.
Did not do reading....need to work on that....maybe a different program? Hmmmm.
Funny thing. Late last night......I heard him rummaging thru some of those now infamous blue totes in the basement and up he came with this huge stack of books.....all about how to write. Earlier that day he had found his disc with what he calls his book he is writing on it. Doodled with that a little bit.....then the 'how-to' books....hmmm. Glad the info was available for him and glad he's digging in HIMSELF.
Could be interesting around here for a little while. Sharing this computer......
Denise aka The Domestic Angel
Comments
Jan. 18, 2008 - Awesome!
Posted by gnjlopez
Sounds like he is doing sooo Great! Woohoo for him. And yes, boring is so peaceful. Can't wait to get there. Right now everything seems so up in the air for us. I can't even sign my dc up for some things because I am not sure how much longer we will be here. Oh, well God is in control and I am just a passenger, right?. Anyhoo, I am so glad for you and your family. Little one has come such a long way from when I first found your blog. It is so amazing the way God works things out! Praise the Lord!
I sent you an email. It seemed too personal to write it here.
Blessings,
JEN
Jan. 18, 2008 - Catching Up..
Posted by mrse
I had a moment this afternoon to catch up on your blog a little bit. Glad to hear your son still loves writing. What a great gift. My 8yo daughter has been bouncing off the walls, too, with all the cold weather and the winter doldrums--it's 36 degrees and sunny today, so she's outside hopping around in the sunshine, trying some new rollerblades she bought at a thrift store for $1.00. But last week she spent about 15 hours and wrote a commentary on Genesis chapter one, then she typed it, using stylized headers and fonts. Who needs Nintendo?
I read your thoughts on lesson planning. I don't do any formal planning. When I have my quiet time and prayer time, I will skim through their books sometimes and jot down a few notes on scrap paper for where to go next or things I need to make sure to cover or finish, but I never put a time frame on it anymore. It always seems I no sooner outline a beautiful productive week than God throws something my way and we can't even touch "my plans." That happened just this week. I planned to do a full week of school, start a several new books (my children change grade levels mid-year on some subjects), and just really hit the ground running. Instead, God gave us a broken car that required three days of me running for parts/alignment, etc. and several other tasks and errands. I've learned it's better to just follow God day to day. We get everything done and we always stay ahead!
Hope you've gotten good and settled in your new place. I've enjoyed reading about how you let the Lord lead your days, and especially your schooling and your mothering--I relate to that way of life. We are "soul sisters" --you and I. I'm about to write a post that made me think of you and how you look for God's leading in how you raise your son.
Well, just wanted to say hello and God bless!
--Mrs. E
