Our learning diary http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 27 May 2009 11:26:00 -0500 Wed, 27 May 2009 11:26:00 -0500 March, the last day i posted AND the day BEFORE we found out are having TWINS!  Talk about extreme parenting, two newborns at once! wow... still slightly in shock from that one! So my homeschool planning has taken on an additional ZING to it.  I ran the whole gambit from wondering if i should be homeschooling at all, to considering just homeschooling the older 2, and putting the middle 2 in school, (since Alex is soooo far ahead in math and doing fine in everything else and independent, and Nik is too far behind.) However, in the end we decided we REALLY wanted to stay homeschooling, and are just going to suck it up and make it happen!   We decided to stay with the virtual school we've been with the last couple years because of the money thing mostly, we get a very good sized allocation to use on most homeschooling items and our family school budget this year would be ZERO.  Although we WILL be getting a good tax return next year, it will most likely need to go to a 9 passenger vehicle, so we don't have to go everywhere in 2 vehicles...  so CVA it is!  They really aren't so restrictive anyway, and our advisor is the BEST, he's AWESOME.   SO, my task then became coming up with a plan to make life SANE!   I explored a lot of possibilities.  Talked to Mr. Gilson, got some feedback there, talked to DH, who despite being gone all day is amazingly insiteful in ways of homeschooling wisdom, and came up with a plan- We will be using Timberdoodle's packaged curriculum.  We will actually have to break up the packs and order stuff individually since they contain the Apologia science, which isn't approved due to Christian content, which i'd planned on ordering myself, seperately, however, my middle 2 really aren't liking the one we are doing now so much..   they think the language is a bit condescending and babyish...   "I" like it! LOL.  Anyway, the Timberdoodle plans are solid but only require 2-4 hours depending on grade. So that's where i'm at for next year! i'm eagerly watching my friend Joann's blog, http://www.homeschooldistractions.com/ because she's going to be posting info on the organizational system she uses, which i plan to use too, and think might save my butt next year! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/693076/ Wed, 27 May 2009 11:26:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/693076/ So i know i've not blogged since OCTOBER(!!!!!) but i'm really  hoping to get back on track with that, and since we had a GREAT day today, i thought now would be an awesome time to start! So, today, got up, and off to a bit of a rough start since alex had to shower still, and by the time he was done, Leif was awake :-( its MUCH easier to work on alex's scedule when leif is sleeping!! but Leify was on pretty good behavior so we pulled it off.  So we went through last week's schedule.  the only thing that didn't get completed was Science, pretty much the whole science week was blown off, but that was because grandpa and aunt dorie were here, so good excuse.  so, this week we vowed to get back on track.   This week's schedule has tuesday blanked out because we leave at 8 am for Tacoma to do the midwife appointment and ULTRASOUND!!!!  woohoo! So we set next week's schedule.  Alex is starting to read Tom Sawyer, having finished Treasure Island, his critical thinking is focusing on Logic, symbols and all, Fallacy Detective looks compelling as always...  The two of these are quickly becoming his favorite subjects!  OOPS, we forgot to schedule economics! have to go back and do that!  He's starting Saxon Calculus today, in fact he's working on that now, and he's been hiding out for a long time... i hope its going well!   Today he also took his spelling test, perfect score, and took the apologia science test with Nikolas, working together open book since its been so long since they've studied that, and again, perfect score.  Nik worked on his, math, and copywork,  Chloe did her spelling, math, phonics, and copywork, with PERFECT handwriting, she's such a perfectionist!  Nik still needs to do his spelling and phonics, and reading and together we are going to start on Apologia Botany  too, as a precurser to our GARDEN this summer, woohoo!  Nik is overlapping sciences, doing both physical science with Alex and Botany which is with Chloe and more grade appropriate.  He likes science, and its a good way to get his hours in, and also keep his mind occupied! Anna has spent the morning sorting buttons into categories and drawing.  A GOOD DAY today is!  We are trying to cram a lot of work into today since tomorrow is an outing day. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/671758/ Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:31:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/671758/ It is nothing short of amazing watching how God has created each of my children so uniquely.  And furthermore, its a beautiful thing watching them learn.   We are finally back to a semi normal non crisis mode schedule and i was doing spelling tests this am.  Chloe's spelling book was MIA so i had her work on a different language arts workbook and she was off the hook on spelling.  I had Nik prepare for his spelling test and i watched him.  He underlined the word carefully as he sounded the word out slowly aloud. he did this with all the words and he managed to get only one wrong!  As he was doing his test, he'd recite the words aloud.   As he struggled, i wanted to say to him, "Write the words down! then you can SEE if they are spelled right!" but he's an auditory learner and i'm visual.  What works for me, doesn't necessarily work well for him, so i resisted and let him continue on with his own methods.   He did great!  Then i gave alex HIS spelling test.  Nik perched on the side of the table, and comically made sentences with each of the words i gave alex. He had us all cracking up laughing with his hillarious sentences and funny faces.   He got them almost all right!  He missed "Affidavit" and another one, but he got "resurrect" and "consolidate" and words like that!  So while Nik has a HARD TIME with spelling, even very simple words, his vocabulary is out of this world excellent!    Alex, meanwhile, was working feverishly on his spelling.  His method was carefully scrawling the word on the paper, looking at it, then reciting it.  Often he'd erase what he wrote and rewrote it before he recited it.   Alex is very visual.  He, like I, needs to SEE the word before he can spell it.  Its really remarkable.  I really enjoy being a part of this beautiful unfolding of my children's intellect!  What a priviledge! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/611229/ Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:25:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/611229/ WHEW this week has been a whirlwind!! Alex got his tonsils out, dad was home for 2 days,  so today we are watching mythbusters and the girls are doing crafts in their ballet costumes, LOL.  thought i'd share pics. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/605639/ Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:53:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/605639/ WOW!! i was blessed to be a tester for a new Ebook out by The Old Schoolhouse  Called "Homespun Holidays, fall and winter." And WOW, if you are a fall, Christmas, or winter nut, you will LOVE this ebook!!! I personally enamored with autumn.  I love the changing colors, the cool, crisp, wind, the raking, the huge yard waste bin FULL of huge pine needles, the early sundowns, walking in the sunrise, ANYTHING PUMPKIN, and the list is endless!!  This ebook is a delight to the senses, you can almost taste the scrumptious recipes.   But this ebook is NOT all about recipes!  there's a plethora of family activities, crafts, just a world of ideas ready to implement.  If you implement one tenth of what is available in this ebook, you will benefit of the aroma of home cooked fall food, new family traditions, fun family crafts, and lots more! I highly reccommend! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/603980/ Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:25:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/603980/ Wowza, check out the Carriers' Blog for an AMAZINGLY stellar book giveaway!!! Values Driven Blog http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/601115/ Tue, 7 Oct 2008 08:02:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/601115/ OH my gosh, i just discovered this, they offer a free audiobook every month, this month is C.H. Spurgeon's All of Faith.  It looks outstanding.  http://christianaudio.com/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/599348/ Fri, 3 Oct 2008 07:49:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/599348/ Its been a good one...  Going into our 9th year, i FINALLY feel like i'm getting it together and we are having success.  I am at that critical juncture of routine with flexibility.   Things are going well... reading seems to have finally "clicked" with Nik,  Chloe is spending "HOURS" on starfall practicing reading, Math U See has actually brought a SMILE to nik's face when he gets it, and we are back on track reading aloud, at least partially back on track, i want to do a LOT more.  Alex is reading "the Chosen" and i think enjoying it, actually we are reading it together.  Gosh i love homeschooling, i love getting to learn alongside my children.  I totally feel so spoiled and priviledged!   We did take yesterday off as Chloe was throwing up, and after a very dilligent week i figured they deserved a break anyway, today we are back to the grind, but that's fine.  Too many off days and they get loopy anyway! We need art...  i'm still waiting for many of our supplies from Rainbow resource but i really need to make it happen... hmmm...  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/599347/ Fri, 3 Oct 2008 07:44:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/599347/ Well, today we are getting back into the swing of things, WOOHOO!  its been a busy, fun, productive day... here's how it went... 5:30 Got up, did bible study with dh had breakfast with dh and chloe who got up with Andy, even before ME! 6:00 got chloe set up with starfall phonics so she could work on that when i went for my walk, i went for my walk.... 6:30got chloe started on her math book, using Calvert where she left off last year, she's NOT liking math u see!   She finished that up and took a break.  715 woke up the boys, they took showers and got ready, 745 got the computer ready for the creation science class the kids are doing online through Cindy Rushton 800 Alex, Nik, and chloe sat at the computer and listened to creation science seminar, Alex was fine because he got to chat in the text section while he was listening, Nik was fine because he's VERY auditory, and likes to listed to stuff but chloe was chomping at the bit to get done... she's visual, not sure she got much out of that! 11:00 Started Chloe on her handwriting, and written phonics, and alex started his precalc. and set up Leif and anna with the baby show in my bedroom so nik could listen to the math u see video in peace.  Eventually Anna and Leif started playing with the math u see blocks, which are just great fun.   Now- 11:30  Alex is still working on precalc, everyone else is playing math u see blocks! I am so happy i could SCREAM!  NIk just finished his math u see lesson, HE GETS IT! not only does he get it but he has to do very little of his written work since he understands it, and when you understand it you don't have to be stuck with a bunch of busywork.  He's SO proud of himself and was actually LAUGHING and smiling after math today instead of CRYING!!!  oh my goodness, what a treat!  He is so auditory that hearing a story of how stuff works, is SO well suited to him!!! That reminds me...  does anyone use audio radio shows in their homeschool? i bought the annual subscription to  the homeschool radio show people, the same ones that do this freebie site? do you know aobut it? its AWESOME!! http://www.homeschoolfreebie.wholesomechildhood.com/ Anyway, i'm curious how you integrate the radio shows into your schedule... it will be PERFECT for NIkolas, who so often gets left out of the shuffle due to his extreme auditory nature, and will be a very good exercise in expanding Chloe and NIk's repetoire! Well, better go, duty calls!! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/597140/ Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:27:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/597140/ This is us in August at the museum of flight during the Blue Angels show! This is a page for Nik's book about when Alex, Nik and Chloe got to Sing the Star Spangled Banner, along with their choir, Cantate,  at the Tacoma Rainiers baseball game last July! This is a page for Chloe's book about our Shark study and where we sifted for shark teeth! super fun!!! This is alex, when we went blackberry picking :-) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/595375/ Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:25:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kvenvolden/595375/