Posted in home schooling
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One of my favorite things to blog about is what we are doing here in our homeschool. Something about it makes me feel all tingly inside. I think it may be because on a day-to-day basis it seems like such a mess...like we're not getting anything done...like unproductive is our middle name. Yet when I sit down at the computer to edit pictures and display for you all what we've been studying, it always looks and feels a lot better, seeing the big picture. Anyway, last year I came up with the unifying title for these entries of "A Peek into Our Week," and then I would identify them individually with a volume number. Well, it was cute and catchy, but it was totally inaccurate because I wasn't posting them weekly, and the misnomer was bothering me. So, I've changed the name. I'm also not going to number them because that's confusing, and I'm pretty sure I missed some numbers last year. That's probably more information than you needed, but I just thought I'd start out with some clarification. We started school a couple of weeks ago, so I think I've now accumulated enough photos and stories to make this interesting. I hope. We started slowly, with just math and language arts and a few other minor subjects. I didn't do this because I'm a nice, considerate mom/teacher. I did it because I was ill-prepared. I had forgotten a couple of things in my ordering, so I was waiting for them to arrive, and I also had just spent the last few weeks before school overhauling my entire upstairs, so I was harried and rushed and frantic and desperate and....well, you get it, right? I did end up doing a review of sorts in history with both kids. Last year we studied the first half of world history, so I thought we'd have a refresher before we jumped in where we left off. It also gave me the opportunity to pull out a few things that I had forgotten were on my shelf. For Harrison, that meant this little gem...
Harrison was elated! For a boy that loves violence, there's just nothing better that you can study. His favorite part of this kit was the gladiator figure that you could dress up to be different kinds of fighters. Please join us for our impromptu gladiatorial fashion show (Warning: The following photos contain a bare-chested figurine!).... Behold, the Thracian...
the Secutor...
and the Myrmillo...
Harrison's only complaint was that the kit did not come with two gladiators so they could fight. I think this poor guy had to go a round with Darth Vader, and let me just tell you, those ancient weapons just don't hold up against a trusty lightsaber. Both have gotten into their reading times, and we're finding that we're doing just fine without your traditional school room...
Harrison is doing well with his new English program, Shurley English 3. So far, I really like it. Here he's already labeling sentences with the parts of speech, and this was only after the first week....
He's also learned the four types of sentences and made three little mini books that he wrote and illustrated himself. He says he likes it all except the vocabulary, so I think that's a good sign. I like for the kids to make notebooks for history. Story of the World has companion activity guides that come with reproducible maps and coloring sheets and ideas for other hands-on activities. Annaleigh, in particular, enjoys coloring the pictures for her notebook while I read to her. These make good visual accompaniments for her chapter summaries that she writes. She especially likes the scented markers that I bought for her a couple of weeks ago, but it is a little weird to hear your child say, "Mmmm...Mom, come here. Smell this. Charles V smells like fruit salad."
Another fun addition to our history program this year is the Geography Songs cd and book. I used this several years ago with Annaleigh, and now it's Harrison's turn. I'm always amazed at how quickly they can learn the names and locations of these teeny tiny obscure countries in just days when they are set to clever tunes. Here's a brief video of Harrison singing the "Continents and Oceans" song in true Harrison-style... Annaleigh is using the Usborne Intorduction to Art and then on Fridays completing a project from another Usborne art idea book. This is what she did last week...
I just love it, but she has vehemently declared that she now hates tissue paper and could care less if she ever sees another sheet of it. Ever. Annaleigh is attending a tutorial twice a week where she is taking classes in Logic, General Science and Drama. On her science days, she's only there for a little over an hour, which is not enough time for Harrison and I to come home and accomplish anything, so we have turned our van into a makeshift classroom for that day. Harrison isn't in love with this concept, but here he's completing his handwriting sheet without much complaint...
As if we needed one more stinkin' place to be in the afternoons, Harrison has started fall soccer...
So far, he loves it and comes home sweaty and exhausted, which are always good things for an 8 year-old boy to be. Don't expect a lot of commentary from me on this sport because I basically know absolutely nothing about it. In order to prepare for the upcoming upheaval of our lives called "The Arrival of Peanut," I have implemented a completely kid-planned-and-cooked meal every other Friday. They have to be ready for when I am physically unable to hold my eyelids open or actually have the little suckling attached to me. If they want food, they will need to know how to prepare it. Last Friday they did a great job...
They made cheese tortelleni alfredo, bread AND dessert. It was delicious...and they only tried to kill each other once. Maybe twice. Things are going surprisingly well, even though sometimes our days seem very long. So, have you started back yet? What's going on in your homeschool? Let me know, okay? Because basically I'm very nosey. |
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