Jun. 9, 2008 - My This n That.
So, we started summer vacation last week, but we also had company.
Today is our first real day of summer vacation without the very welcome distraction of cousins and before the somewhat dreaded (I love em, but there's a LOT of em) descent of a 25 member tween group here tomorrow for hang out time.
We signed up for the library reading program. All the kids eagerly scooted off and have put in at least an hour, if not two, of reading.
We watched and talked about a cool National Geographic DVD on Troy (Did Troy really exist? Did the Trojan War really happen? Was Helen of Troy a real person?).
We played two rounds of a Go Fish type game that matches Greek and Roman Roots to their English translations.
I get more education accomplished when we don't have school than when we do. I think there's a lesson to be had in there somewhere.
Also, as a result of my weekend state homeschool conference, I now understand a visual method for factoring polynomials. Who knew there WAS anything besides the FOIL method? But now I understand the what and why of factoring polynomials. This makes me think I really should be using Math-U-See and now I am in some curricular angst. It also comes a bit too late for J, who did Algebra this year but I think a visual representation such as I learned this weekend will come in very handy when my artist N tackles Algebra.
I also took away a great line from speaker Inge Cannon. You get what you INSPECT, not what you EXPECT. Good reminder as a parent that just 'cuz ya got one you don't have to follow up on, don't think the younger brothers are weird because you DO have to follow up with them. It's the big one that's weird, the younger ones are NORMAL in their slackness, laziness, childishness, call it whatyouwill. Annoying, but normal.
I also spent 3 hours in a Transcript Bootcamp and now feel reasonably confident I can put together a transcript for college apps that won't scream "My mommy is my guidance counselor."
I found and bought a wonderful Medieval History-Based Writing Lessons book; again, coming at the conclusion of spending the year with the boys on, you guessed it, Medieval History. So I am thinking Medieval History will be a two year course before we move on to Renaissance and Reformation, then maybe two years of US. We'll see. I need to hit Ancient History one more time probably.
Listened to a fascinating talk by Dr. John Morris of Institute for Creation Research on his 13 trips to Mt. Ararat in search of Noah's Ark. He's holds a PhD in engineering geology and cuts an odd Indiana Jones figure. He's like the Indy of the latest movie (ie old), and endearingly humble, but full of all these wild tales from Ararat--terrorists, wolf and mountain lion attacks, being struck by lightning (they now call the place where it happened Zap Rock). He showed us very interesting photos of a man made cave with inscriptions that are pre-Hittite. Also an ancient burial stone with 8 crosses (again, probably pre-Hittite) and an altar they found. All these things, more ancient that the most ancient civilization, and on the very mountain where eye witnesses place the Ark? hmmm....
Now, off for a walk before more rain moves in.
Blessings, Holly
