It's a wrap, another great week! One more week left in our 1st 8 week session and we have a week off. Reading is the first thing in our children’s minds when they wake up! (Previous posts you can see how Naomi @ 3 has the “reading bug.”) We had some mornings this week, I never could have “planned” this mind you, where we were up, snuggled on the couches, and over-our-heads in a good book at 7 a.m. We finished a book entitled “Knowing Aslan” (which shows how Christ was the character behind the loving lion). We also started George Washington‘s childhood biography “Our First Leader.” During our Washington reading the boys worked on their study packets they had received from our Ferry Farm trip. These included word searches, coloring sheets, true/false questions etc. We finished our revolutionary story “Johnny Tremain - Boston in revolt” and the boys drew pictures of the Boston Tea Party. They so love the Chronicles of Narina we’re going through the series...again (Previous posts you‘ll see we just finished all 7 books a few weeks ago. However they loved the story so much we just have to read through them again). We finished “The Magicians Nephew” last week and this week we started reading through “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” We also finished the book of Acts and started with the Life of David. We continue to cover several Martyr stories a week in “Jesus Freaks.” Jadin finished his copy work for Psalm 139. One benefit I noticed of his biblical copywork, besides the obvious of continuing to get God’s Word into his heart, is his spelling is greatly improving and this in turn has helped his reading. It’s been slow and steady then God rolls out a week of noticeable advancement, thank you Lord for this encouragement. In science we covered more on Volcanoes, Floods and Earthquakes. We also watched Discovery Channels Raging Plants series on Volcanoes and another on Avalanches. The boys did several art entries in their scientific notebooks from this reading and watching. Zion did his copy and memory work on Philippians 2:19. He also finished another 1st/2nd grade math book. Over our 1 week break I’ll be ordering Zion his first Math-U-See text and Jadin will get his 3rd grade text too.
This week Jadin has completed several pieces of artwork with his usual theme of StarWars. He also has discussed in great detail his desire to major in Fine Arts in College. In his own words he wants to “go to college and draw all day.” It’s very endearing to hear him talk about his plans. I always encourage him that as long as he’s following after God’s plan he’ll do great! How wonderful he’s homeschooled and has these years to seek God’s heart and develop his talents, thank you Jesus. Jadin also wanted to know “how old do I have to be to get married.” Yes, manhood is approaching. There’s this serious business of “wife getting.” I believe because we model a Christian lifestyle and family values this is something we’ve instilled in him. I’ve encouraged him during our “college talks” that many and more homeschoolers are starting college courses in their early teens as part of their high school courses and in turn graduate earlier. There's also all these homeschooled entrepreneurs. No rush though. Stay a “little boy” just a little longer please. All too soon we’ll be mapping our his high school transcripts, taking SAT and CLEP tests, driving the family mini van and yes, courtship. My “man boy” has a great memory for facts and can practically repeat back word for word whatever our read alouds are. Growing up in our household he’s also very political. Jadin can tell you exactly what the latest news is and how it affects the world around us. He’s also an excellent leader with his siblings and loves holding baby Gaby.
Zion, what can I say, he’s a linguistics student in the making. The boy devours the written word in any form. Cereal boxes, street signs, dictionaries, my college text books, the bible. Words and language are as much his passion as art is Jadin’s. He begs for more grammar workbooks, crossword puzzles and word searches. At age 6 Zion read his 1st chapter book this week! He joyously sped through 14 chapters in 2 days, laughing outloud and hardly coming up for air inbetween pages. Animals are another important interest to him. He’ll steal away for an hour visiting our kittens, holding them, talking to them. He’s very interested in this world God created. His “career goals” change from year to year. At four he was going to be a Veterinarian. He learned how to spell this enormous word then and wrote it on all of his notebooks. He’s next occupation was going to be a zookeeper. After the zoo dream he was going to have his own amusement park “Thrillville” (after his favorite Wii game ;) Now he says “I’m going to own my own business so I can be home with my family.” He also wants “at least eleven children.” He’s not too old yet to still hold my hand and I cherish the small time I have left of this "little boy" season with him.
This week Jadin also had football practice two nights. Per yesterdays post we had homeschool friends over for nerf/light saber battles. Today I actually accomplished my once-a-month shopping with all four children to two different stores and we ate out at a restaurant. The kids had such a good workout doing "consumer math" at the discount grocery outlet they sat like angels and ate. We collected a lot of the classic homeschooling compliments “Wow, your children are so well behaved.“ Of course it was a great opportunity for God to grow patience in me all day long ( round trip was 7 hrs with no naps for the little ones)! I meditated on “Love is peaceful, I am peaceful….Love is kind, I am kind…etc." I still would rather go once-a-month with an overflowing minivan and dripping with children, then every week. It also helps me cut costs and meal plan. With our homeschool flexibilty the boys still did their tablework this evening, via math books spread out on the kitchen floor and starwars characters at their sides. Not their norm but it’ll work for today! This weekend we’ve got 2 football games, Christmas play practice and church. Our plans are developing for our week off. Looks like we’ll be doing the National Mall/Museums etc oneday, visit with family, then the following day Mt. Vernon. I'm also voting for at least two "veggie days" when we're off where we stay in our PJ's, eat ice cream and watch movies. Go Team!
This has been our wordy...I mean, um...our weekly wrap up! If you'd like to read more weekly wrap up's click here: WEEKLY WRAP UPS
Posted by Kris @ Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers
Oh, I can so relate to loving a book series to much that you want to read it over and over. I am one to keep my favorite books -- series or no -- and reread them time and time again. I have a hard time branching out to new authors because I love my tried and true favorites so much.
Sounds like you all had a great week. I'd love to do once a month shopping. Maybe I should consider that again. It's been awhile since I've even done every-other-week shopping.
What a great week! My oldest son enjoys working with star wars toys or star wars legos by his side too...LOL. Hey, at least he's working!
Once a month shopping trips are crazy, but sometimes a great sanity saver in the end. Do you do Once a month cooking too? We sometimes do that, but right now we're trying out just having a month of mealplans on the fridge.
Veggie days are always fun - I like to surprise the kids with them and now that fall is here they wake up to hot chocolate on those mornings.
I would love to do once-a-month cooking too. For now I do more one big meal item that we eat for lunch/dinners for about 2 days. Sometimes we have enough left overs for a 3rd. It's always cassoroles, chili, speg, tacos etc ("Feel Good" cheap meals:) My heart is so for a B-I-G family that I always make way too much! I'm happy with the OAM shopping and have that down to a science. It's a real money saver. I usually feed our family of 6 for $350-$400 per month and that includes staple items (Of course we have a GREAT grocery outlet here...4/$1 yougurts, $12 for a 6 .lbs "log" of any cheese you'd want, $12 for a 25 .lbs bag of Quick Oatmeal...you get the idea :) Thanks for your reply. It's great to check in with other moms. Did you see all the "mom stuff" on Glenn Beck? Go to "ASAMOM.ORG"
Jamerrill
Love doing "consumer math" with my kids. My oldest, 8 y.o., loves to figure out what is on sale and what coupons we have we can use. Sounds like you had a great week!
It sounds like you had a very fulfilling week! It is a remarkable blessing that we are able to go in the direction that are children lead us, giving extra time and instruction in the things they most want to do! My daughter loves animals and wants to become a veterinarian some day! We make animals a part of our school every day!
Reading and veggie days, two of my favorite things! Unfortunately, something we rarely have with a teenager in the house!
My daughter wants to be a vet, too. Especially after we had to visit one last week when our Pom found a hornet's nest. Everyone's fine now. LOL!
That's funny that your son is worried about getting a wife? How old is he? My daughter is the same way. She's 8 and really worried about having a husband and 17 children. Don't worry, she doesn't even talk in public, so I don't think she's getting hitched soon.
Sounds like you had a great week! I'm envious!
Have a blessed day,
Calina
www.love2-bhome.blogspot.com
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"Each time he said, My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 -------------------------------------------------------
I am a mother of four beautiful blessings from the Lord and will gladly take all that He will give me! I have strong support from my husband and his love and encouragement give me joy in our journey. This is our family's 5th year of home education. We're walking in the grace to raise our children in a loving Christ-centered atmosphere so they can develop and mature into men and women used for Gods Glory. We base all our learning foremost on the Word of God and intertwine rich literary classics for a living book structure. Charlotte Mason, Ruth Beechick, Unit Study - Notebooking -Lapbooking, we do it all! Natural learning experiences are plenteous living in a rural area...watch out frogs and crayfish! Were members of several state and local Homeschool groups and enjoy meetings, field trips and additional learning opportunities with them. We also love "milking" our annual passes to the Childrens and Science museums, Zoos, Busch Gardens/SeaWorld, Historic Battlefields and whatever else we can get into!
Were licensed therapeutic foster/adoptive parents and are seeking God's will and his best in that and every area. I'm also a life long "professional" college student, always picking away at college classes in various disciplines (currently finishing up degree in Education). I'm also a Licensed Nurse (when the mood hits me :o) I enjoy Joyce Meyer, Ruth Beechick, Clay and Sally Clarkson, Raymond Moore, and This Old School House Magazine.
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