Sep. 16, 2008 - The sunflowers
The poor sun flowers did not hold up to the winds very well.
But we were able to harvest some seeds
Soak them in salt water
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Sep. 16, 2008 - Sam's first gig as a soccer ref!
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Sep. 15, 2008 -
After a terrible wind storm last night, we finally had electricity again around 7 a.m. So I figured we would do school anyway, even though all of the neighborhood kids were off.
I did math and reading with everyone. Izzy is doing well with her reading and is trying to push ahead. I think I want her to read the current story one more time, and then start the next one - which is actually one of my favorites when Peter and Andrew put their new puppy in the barn to sleep and he runs away!
I gave the copy work to Ida B to the boys and we will discuss comas tomorrow and they will check their work.
Gabe listened to the next chapter in his science book, and I will go over the questions tomorrow.
Izzy is on lesson 85 of Saxon 2. Gabe and Noah are doing two lessons a day respectively in Saxon 54 and Saxon 67.
Sam finished up his language arts and started finishing up his science.
We also got three chapters read in The Witch on Blackburn Hill and the kids roasted some sunflower seeds from our sunflowers! All and all not a bad day. I hope to add in some spelling tomorrow!
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Sep. 10, 2008 -
This new library thing is working well for me and Sam. He has his assignments, I drive him to the library, and he works straight through until he is done! No distractions from little miss "I'm the center of the universe now!!"
So my brain is starting to think of stuff. Why should Sam have to do ALL of his subjects everyday? What if before January we concentrate hard and heavy on History, and then after January hit science with the same intensity? Would it work?
See... I would love that. I love being immersed in one topic thoroughly. I always felt jumping around the subjects was jarring. But this is Sam's high school and I don't want to screw it up. Still...
So he would be doing language arts, religion, and geometry regularly, but he would be doing history for the first half of the year and science the second. I think I'll have to mull this over a bit.
Oh - we are more than halfway through Ida B.
Izzy started the next story in her Pathway reader - the name escapes me but it's the one where they finally get a dog.
Izzy dusted off the cobwebs of the math portion of her brain.
Noah is doing two lessons of math for the second day.
Gabe did science questions- and not too badly at that!
We also read about this freak hurricane from 1938 that hit Long Island and Connecticut!
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Sep. 9, 2008 -
It worked out so well with Sam at the library that we did it again today! I gave him the rest of the work he had to get done from last year's literature and then drove him down to the library where he worked from 11 to 3. This may turn out to be a regular thing this year!
With the kids I got Noah and Gabe started on their new mathbooks. We also read two chapters of Ida B. (which is really a fun book!) Gabe finished chapter 1 of his General Science book and is writing out the questions.
Izzy finished two pages in her reading workbook. Tomorrow we will read the story and hopefully get her started on math as well.
I attempted to read about St. Paul and also about hurricanes but Rosie will have NONE OF IT! I have to figure out a way to keep her occupied and out of the way without her realizing that she is not with the rest of the group! I'm working on it.
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Sep. 9, 2008 - Izzy is writing her blog again
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Sep. 8, 2008 -
One of my new resolutions for the school year is to try to blog about our day-to-day activities on a more regular basis. The key word there is TRY!
SO first off, I'll start with my 10th grader Sam. Sam didn't finish all of his 9th grade work and as a result he is working frantically to get it all done so that he can start THIS year's work. I think he felt a little bit hopeless and helpless about it. After reminding him (gently an with out an "I told you so" sound in my voice - well, mabye just a little) that he had ALL SUMMER to get this work done, I worked out a plan for him to tackle it in bite sized pieces. I think he felt much better after that. I wrote out what he needed to get done today and then I drove him down to the library so that he could work in peace and relative quiet! And when I picked him up three hours later - he actually had it done! I think I may have found a solution to Sam's concentration problem!
Gabe and Noah and I worked on their literature book, taking turns reading three chapters. Gabe got almost all of chapter one of the General Science book read, and Izzy and I worked on her reading workbook.
That doesn't sound like much but I like to get us back into the groove bit by bit instead of the full emersion method! Anyway, I feel like we had a pretty good "official" first day.
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Sep. 2, 2008 - LaVictoire 2008/2009 Homeschool Curriculum
Fourth Grade: Isadora Irene LaVictoire
Start Write Handwriting Software
Exploring Creation with Botany
Reading suggestions from For the Love of Literature
Reading suggestions From Real Learning and Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum and Ambleside
Serendipity Art and the masterpiece Art Instruction
St. Sebastian's Children's Choir
Fifth Grade: Noah Emmett LaVictoire
St. Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles
The First Christians - Acts of the Apostles for Children
Reading suggestions from For the Love of Literature
Reading selections from Real Learning and Designing your Own Classical Curriculum and Ambleside
Exploring Creation with Astronomy
Exploring Creation with Botany
St. Sebastian's Children's Choir
Piano lessons Mrs. Porter
Sixth Grade Gabriel Ernest LaVictoire
St. Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles
The First Christians - Acts of the Apostles for Children
Selections from Real Learning, Designing your own Classical Curriculum and Ambleside
Reading suggestions from For the Love of Literature
St. Sebastian's Children's Choir
Private Percussion lessions
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Aug. 30, 2008 - 2007/2008 Homeschool Highlights
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Aug. 29, 2008 - Izzy's sunflowers
Izzy and her BFF Tamara planted these sunflowers in the spring. Now they are huge! I think the girls have learned that
1. You need to plant sunflowers in the back because in the front they take over everything!
2. Don't plant them too close together!
We are now enjoying the bees and the squirrels who come to enjoy Izzy and Tamara's sunflowers!
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Aug. 10, 2008 - Izzy and the dance master class
Izzy did not take ballet class last year because she was a little burned out with it. But last night the city was offering a free master class and performance and Izzy and her best friend Tamara participated. Here are some of picture memories.
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Aug. 7, 2008 - Sam's High School Year in Pictures
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Jul. 7, 2008 -
We do not subscribe to HBO, so I had to wait to get the John Adams DVDs on Netflix. It was well worth the wait!
I confess to not knowing very much about our 2nd President; so much of his story was new to me. Maybe that is what made it such compelling family television - Mr. Pete and I could learn right along with our children. The producers went out of their way to present a real picture of life in early America from the bad roads, the rotten teeth, and small pox to difficult travel and dubious and painful medical care! I did feel that after watching this, my children had a realistic idea of how difficult life in the colonies really was.
The cast lead by Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney (as John and Abigail Adams) made these historical figures come to life! We got so caught up in every episode that I found myself doing additional research about them on line to share with my eager family! We came to enjoy Ben Franklin's wit and George Washington's valor while at the same time wondering if Thomas Jefferson was the father of liberalism in America!
Since Sam read the Scarlette Pimpernel last fall, the French Revolution and its impact on America was of special interest to him.
There are some scenes that might be too intense for younger kids. A man is stripped totally naked (yep, a second of full frontal) tarred and feathered right at the boat yards! The small pox innoculation scene of Abigal and her children was also pretty intense as was the at-home mastectomy of Nabby Adams (for breast cancer) in the last episode. There is one short (fully clothed ) sex scene between John and Abigail that can be easily skipped as well. (Although catching octogerian Ben Franklin in the bathtub with his girlfriend was one of the funnier parts of the series!)
As a homeschooler, I pointed out to my children that Abigail was completely home educated and a voracious reader. Throughout the series the collaboration between Abigal and John is highlighted as essential to his success as a leader and politician, and as a man. Her opinion and counsel was highly valued by her husband. Their love and respect as portrayed in the series makes her death all the more poignant in the last episode.
Sam, my sophmore, spent a lot of time studying American History last year. He said that this series really made that time period come alive for him. He even re-read that part of his history text! I think particularly with the 4th of July behind us, it is important to see the growing pains that our country went through to come into existence. This series does that well.
My library has a book of Abigail's letters that I hope to pick up just for further enjoyment. My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams
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Jul. 1, 2008 -
I couldn't believe how luck I was to have this event fall into my curriculum! i have been studying Ohio history with my children with particular interest in the canal system. It turns out the home of one of the canal architects was going to be moved right through downtown Akron yesterday. We couldn't resist going! Here is a bit about the home and the efforts to save it. I hadn't known it was a historic place before all this publicity. It has been a tattoo parlor! Lots of people were there yesterday including the Mayor of Akron. We had the good fortune to meet a nice lady named Peg. She had wanted to come with some friends but no one would go with her! So we made each other's acquaintance and stayed together. She was very observant and helped to point things out to Izzy and Noah. Anyway, here are some of my photos. The house passed right in front of us! It was all done with remote control - proving to Sam that there might be some career skills gained from playing all of those video games! The guy moving it walked by us with his big remote. Again - pretty cool! Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
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Jun. 28, 2008 - Izzy's Birthday and red cross classes
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
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Jun. 23, 2008 -
Visit Peggy at The Simple Woman to see what other ladies are thinking and doing today!
Outside my Window...beautiful green trees, a blue sky, and it's raining!
I am thinking...I feel so bad for Izzy and Noah, taking swimming lessons this morning at an outside pool when it's only 57 degrees!
I am thankful ... that at least I could afford these lessons! $10 for two kids for two weeks is pretty good! These are also from the American Red Cross which is new for us and while the swimming technique has been average, the safety instruction has been superb.
From the kitchen...sloppy joes and chips for Izzy's BD!
I am creating...a birthday party! For my beautiful Isadora!
I am going...to try to get some upper body exercises in today, but I am mainly going to concentrate on getting ready for Izzy's party.
I am wearing...blue capris and a peach knit shirt that a lady gave me last week from church. In fact she gave me so many clothes that I shared them with my neighbor lady who NEVER has a chance to get clothes for herself, but is always buying for her kids. She works as a hotel maid, so these shirts were almost new looking and she could even wear some of them to work.
I am reading...For the Love of Literature, but almost done with that
I am hoping...to get Sam back on the right track with his summer schooling!
I am hearing... the whir of this big exhaust fan!
Around the house...still working on that basement!
One of my favorite things...Rosie's nap time! Me thinks this will continue to be my favorite thing for a while.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...Do reading and math with everyone every day and to start Sam on his government class and to get to my transcribing income goals for the pay period.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing for you...
What swimming in cold water is like!
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Jun. 22, 2008 - Summertime field trips
Summertime field trips
I am finding this year that it is much easier to go on field trips in the summer time than it was during the regular school year! I think part of this is because Rosie is a little easier to manage now that she is a little older. There is something to be said about visiting locations when the weather is mild as opposed to snowy and cold!So far this month we have made two such field trips. We are studying history and these trips fit right in.
Our first was to Mary Campbell Cave.
Mary Campbell was sort of the Elizabeth Smart of her day. She was kidnapped by Indians and lived with them for a number of years before she was rescued. (She may have exhibited signs of Stockholm Syndrome upon her return.)
There are a few books available about Mary
We took Rosie and Noah, as well as Izzy and two of her closest friends.
The cave is awesome.
Here's a plaque commemorating Mary's life in the cave.
We also took a guided tour of the Perkins Mansion. Colonial Perkins was the son of General Simon Perkins who was the co-founder of Akron, OH. Colonial Perkins had a sheep business with John Brown, the abolitionist. The Perkins family had 11 children and many of them are buried in Glendale Cemetery. We were not allowed to take pictures inside the mansion, but we were free to snap away outside!
That big stone under the well was brought here on the Ohio Erie Canal and then hauled all the way up the hill to the Perkin's home. I guess it was a two day adventure getting it there!
One of the Perkins children fought in the civil war and was part of the March to the Sea! He brought back a willow sappling that has grown to an enormous size. It was struck by lightening a few years ago, but it is still a healthy tree.
There are many old trees on the property.
I'm hoping to have some more of these adventures with the children this summer!
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Jun. 20, 2008 -
Sam and Faith
This weekend Sam, my right hand man, is attending a Franciscan University Youth Conference in Steubenville, OH with 45 other teenagers from a local church. They will join up with over 2000 other teens for an AMAZING faith filled weekend!If you've never heard of the Youth Conferences, here is a short demo to give you an idea what it is like.
Sam went last year when he was 14. He attended with our homeschool youth. Calvin and Mr. Pete went as well. But this year, I couldn't come up with the money in time for him to go with the homeschoolers, so he is going with the youth from a neighboring Catholic church. He only knows one other kid, and of course neither is dad or his big brother will be with him. But I have confidence that he will make some friends and have a good time. This morning Sam wasn't even nervous about it, in fact he was pretty psyched!
Tonight he will have some fun and dinner, but there will also be adoration with the entire community in attendance. Tomorrow he will have more workshops and then mass. Throughout the weekend there will be opportunities to get to confession. Then Sunday morning they have breakfast, another awesome mass, and then on the bus for home!
The youth leader for this church is a youthful young man, probably between 25 and 35 years of age. He has a lot of enthusiasm. Before the kids left today he made them form a circle and do the shout out prayer. That's where they go around the circle and each kid shouts out in one word what they want from the weekend. I couldn't hear what Sam said, but I heard several kids say, "guidance," and "direction."
I pray that Sam gets everything out of this special weekend that he can. I pray that the other teens find what they are seeking from the Holy Spirit this weekend as well.
In the meantime, I'm missing my Sam, but I'm very proud of him too.
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Jun. 16, 2008 -
The Simple Woman
Visit Peggy at The Simple Woman to see what other ladies are thinking and doing today!
Outside my Window...I have a table surrounded by beautiful young teenagers, boys and girls. In fact I am quite stunned to see how many young ladies are coming around to visit Sam and Gabe these days!
I am thinking...AAAAAAAAACCCCCKKKKK I'm not ready to deal with this boy/girl stuff with my little Sammy and Baby Gabe (who are 15 and almost 13 but in minds eye are 5 and 3!)
I am thankful ... that I live in the inner city. Never thought I would say that, but it's true. My kids have made good friends here, we have had good experiences (and bad ones too) but overall I think this is the place God wanted us to be.
From the kitchen...spaghetti and then tomorrow Pasta Salad!
I am creating...my curriculum for next year!
I am going...to the pool every morning with Izzy and Noah for swimming lessons. I'm trying out a new pool this year. The classes are offered through the Red Cross and they were only $10 for two weeks for two kids! They started today and really had a great time. I can't believe my good fortune and finding such inexpensive, high quality swimming lessons!
I am wearing...black capris and a purple T-shirt.
I am reading...For the Love of Literature
(which I am loving!) I am also reading Still Me
by Christopher ReevesI am hoping...to walk with Mr. Pete tonight. I am also hoping that Sam has a good time spiritually and every other way, at the Youth Conference this weekend.
I am hearing... the whir of the air conditioner Mr. Pete pulled out of someone's garbage. I can't figure why anyone threw it away? It works very well!
Around the house...still working on that basement!
One of my favorite things...My nap time! I have just really needed a nape every afternoon lately!
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...Do reading and math with everyone every day. Have the kids watch most Roots
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Jun. 9, 2008 - Our Homeschool Graduation
I am posting this for Dr. Holinga who spent MANY hours working with Calvin! She should see some of the payoff!
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Calvin's graduation ceremony with the local homeschool group is on Thursday during mass. Each parent will get three minutes to honor their graduate and present a diploma.
Calvin is getting his diploma from his charter school later, so instead Mr. Pete and I are presenting him with a graduation ring. We are also going to read him a letter that I hope he will find memorable, moving and inspiring. This is what I have so far.
Dear Calvin,
I can’t believe that we are at the end of our shared educational adventure. It seems like only a short while ago I was preparing for your first day of kindergarten and agonizing over curriculum choices for you. As I look back on those first few years of homeschooling when it was just you and me for most of the day, I remember how much fun we truly had.
I remember how surprised you were when we read the story “Just A Minute Janet” about a mom who turned the tables on her procrastinating daughter. And how you laughed and laughed when you read in our Pathway Readers, that “Dad did something to Rover,” because you knew what Dad did!! Later I remember how much fun we had learning poems like Casey At the Bat, and how much fun we had with your brother Sam “clenching his teeth with hate” when he only had those little baby teeth and some of them were loose! And I remember the first time we read the poem, The Opportunity, about a prince in battle finding a broken sword another soldier had thrown away as trash
Then came the king’s son, wounded, sore bestead,
And weaponless, and saw the broken sword,
Hilt-buried in the dry and trodden sand,
And ran and snatched it, and with battle-shout
Lifted afresh, he hewed his enemy down,
And saved a great cause that heroic day.
You have always seemed to admire the underdog, the heroic, bravery in the face of immense odds. You always liked those types of stories and literature the best. I know that is why Father Damien touched you in such a deep way and I always thought that is why you chose that name for your confirmation.
In a way you certainly had your own share of struggles. Being the firstborn has its privileges but it has its burdens too. Dad and I fully recognize that you were our guinea pig kid and your siblings owe you a debt of gratitude for forging the road of our insecurities down for them. This is why Noah at age 10 can go to the Portage Path store with a friend, while you weren’t even allowed out of the yard at the same age!
And while we spent many many months working with Dr. Holinga, (and I remember how hard you worked!) it never killed your love of books and a good story. I hope that is a gift that stays with you for the rest of your life.
You have a few other gifts that will serve you well too Calvin. I remember taking you to the McDonald’s play place when you were about four and Sam was a baby. You did not know any of the other kids there but you told me, “That’s okay mom, give me a couple of minutes and I’ll make friends.” And you did. You are truly a people person. Whatever call God makes on your life, I am pretty confident that it will involve the easy way you have in making people comfortable and in making new friends.
When your dad and I graduated from high school, both of our families sacrificed to be able to give us graduation rings as a momento. Over the decades while the details and memories of high school have faded, the love and memory of our families is still very real for us in this graduation rings. We know your charter school will have your diploma, so tonight we want to present you with a graduation ring from us, your parents. We hope that wherever you go and whatever you do in this life, that you will always remember that your parents, your grandma, your siblings and your extended family all loved you and supported you.
Your dad and I also thank you for making us better people. The Catholic Church teaches that children are a benefit to their parents. That’s hard to see sometimes when you’re changing messy diapers, teaching long division, or having arguments over a decent curfew. But as we stand here now we realize what a gift it has been to have you in our lives and we understand that we are better people because we had a chance to be your parents.
I remember our very first homeschool mass, where I had you carry your big pile of books up to be blessed for the school year! Besides watching you try to manage that big pile, I remember one of the readings from that mass, and I’d like to leave you with those words as a guide and advice as you start the rest of your life:
Sirach Chapter 6
3 My son, from your youth embrace discipline; thus will you find wisdom with graying hair.
19
As though plowing and sowing, draw close to her; then await her bountiful crops.
20
For in cultivating her you will labor but little, and soon you will eat of her fruits.
21
How irksome she is to the unruly! The fool cannot abide her.
22
She will be like a burdensome stone to test him, and he will not delay in casting her aside.
23
4 For discipline is like her name, she is not accessible to many.
24
Listen, my son, and heed my advice; refuse not my counsel.
25
Put your feet into her fetters, and your neck under her yoke.
26
Stoop your shoulders and carry her and be not irked at her bonds.
27
With all your soul draw close to her; with all your strength keep her ways.
28
Search her out, discover her; seek her and you will find her. Then when you have her, do not let her go;
29
Thus will you afterward find rest in her, and she will become your joy.
30
Her fetters will be your throne of majesty; her bonds, your purple cord.
31
5 You will wear her as your robe of glory, bear her as your splendid crown.
32
My son, if you wish, you can be taught; if you apply yourself, you will be shrewd.
33
If you are willing to listen, you will learn; if you give heed, you will be wise.
34
Frequent the company of the elders; whoever is wise, stay close to him.
35
Be eager to hear every godly discourse; let no wise saying escape you.
36
If you see a man of prudence, seek him out; let your feet wear away his doorstep!
37
Reflect on the precepts of the LORD, let his commandments be your constant meditation; Then he will enlighten your mind, and the wisdom you desire he will grant.
We Love you Calvin,
Now it’s one down, and five to go!
Mom and Dad
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