Whew! I am glad it's Friday evening! Although we have a pretty busy weekend (much busier than this homebody prefers), we had an even busier week in our schooling. I am out of breath and it will not be out of the question for me to be in bed by about 7:00 Sunday night!
In art this week, what seems to be our favorite subject, it looked like a scene out of Africa! Dawson and Brynne read about the history of African masks, and made their own versions with cardboard. Fun, fun, fun! Of course this project came out of my all-time favorite book in the world: The Usborne Treasury of Art!!!
On Tuesday Dawson had to attend a funeral, so Brynne and I had a non-school school day. She played some favorite educational games on the computer and watched some educational television. On Wednesday, our day started off normal. But then out of the blue, we hit a brick wall. We ended up calling off school early for the day.
We did have a funny moment. After our rough day on Wednesday, we were running behind on Thursday, so did something a little out of the ordinary. We were in the middle of our reading for the day, out of Yankee Doodle Boy by Joseph Plumb Martin, when Dawson needed to take an **ahem** restroom break. I sat in the hall, outside the bathroom, and read loudly to him while he was in there so we wouldn't get any further behind (no pun intended). I told him I thought this was a bit unorthodox. He said, "We are a homeschooling family, mom." Yes. Yes, we are.
And this homeschooling family did accomplish some things, despite the upsets.
Dawson finished his study of The Declaration of Independence. We found that he has an easier time analyzing information and answering questions orally, than writing them. He completed his Easy Grammar lessons for the week, and did his first lesson out of Reading Detective. He noticed that it is the beginner's book for grades 3-4. But I told him that I determined that it was in about the 4th grade that he started to struggle in his ability to critically analyze text information. So, he's starting there. I think it will be very beneficial.
He is still in the introductory material of Life of Fred Algebra. Right now he is learning how to write sets and use parentheses. All of this is in preparation for actual equations. I love how the text is using silly examples to drive these points home, before he has to figure out what it all means in the context of equations.
Dawson and I are both reading The Hunger Games. It is fun to read the same thing as him so that we can discuss it. In fact, the other day he told me to hurry up and get caught up to him.
Several times during the week, while working in the kitchen, I heard Dawson upstairs practicing his guitar. There was nothing out of tune in what I was hearing. In fact, I was so very impressed. He sat with me many times and played his latest tune, "Ode to Joy". He is even considering playing in the Christmas concert, which makes me know that his confidence level is souring because of his guitar lessons.
His biggest area of study this week was in something that is completely out of sight ... Cells. He watched videos, did a virtual microscope analysis of cheek cells, and then made edible animal and plant cells. I will be posting more on that this weekend!
Despite all the upsetting moments this week, a lot was accomplished and Dawson and I worked some more things out in how to best teach him. We are always learning.
Miss Brynne is continuing to do well! She is improving every day in her Easy Grammar lessons, and gradually learning how to do them independently. Just this week, she started reading what she was copying from Copywork for Little Girls. Although she only writes about one or two sentences of a passage each day, she noticed that she was writing something continuous and asked if it was a story. I explained that it is a poem, and she wanted me to read it to her over and over. This week she also worked heavily on "a", "d", and "g" in her Handwriting Without Tears text. Her handwriting is getting better every day.
On Monday afternoon, we had some fun out of the house. Our local library had a Fancy Nancy tea party. Brynne got all dressed up for stories, cookies, and crafts.
Before we left she made some fancy paper with shaving cream and food coloring. It was so fun I even made a few extra pieces myself.
In math, Brynne encountered many instances where shapes and objects were out of order. She compared sizes and measurements and determined what items were smaller/lighter or bigger/heavier than others. She also finished patterns and sorted objects according to similarities in shape.
Brynne studied the state of Florida in her U.S. States study. She did a notebooking page, coloring page, added the state Licence plate to our map, read the two postcards we received as part of our postcard swap, read a Rookie Read About Geography book on the state, and read the book My Family Vacation written by Dayal Kaur Khalsa.
Finally, we were out of our minds excited to complete our study of The Human Body and "The Brynne". Check back on Sunday to see what we did!
After our day today, of many projects, every space of countertop in our kitchen was covered in supplies. It took me quite some time to get things cleaned up.
And, now, I'm out of things to say, and extremely tired. So, good-night.
I am linking up with Kris at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.
In art this week, what seems to be our favorite subject, it looked like a scene out of Africa! Dawson and Brynne read about the history of African masks, and made their own versions with cardboard. Fun, fun, fun! Of course this project came out of my all-time favorite book in the world: The Usborne Treasury of Art!!!
On Tuesday Dawson had to attend a funeral, so Brynne and I had a non-school school day. She played some favorite educational games on the computer and watched some educational television. On Wednesday, our day started off normal. But then out of the blue, we hit a brick wall. We ended up calling off school early for the day.
We did have a funny moment. After our rough day on Wednesday, we were running behind on Thursday, so did something a little out of the ordinary. We were in the middle of our reading for the day, out of Yankee Doodle Boy by Joseph Plumb Martin, when Dawson needed to take an **ahem** restroom break. I sat in the hall, outside the bathroom, and read loudly to him while he was in there so we wouldn't get any further behind (no pun intended). I told him I thought this was a bit unorthodox. He said, "We are a homeschooling family, mom." Yes. Yes, we are.
And this homeschooling family did accomplish some things, despite the upsets.
Dawson ~ 9th Grade
Dawson finished his study of The Declaration of Independence. We found that he has an easier time analyzing information and answering questions orally, than writing them. He completed his Easy Grammar lessons for the week, and did his first lesson out of Reading Detective. He noticed that it is the beginner's book for grades 3-4. But I told him that I determined that it was in about the 4th grade that he started to struggle in his ability to critically analyze text information. So, he's starting there. I think it will be very beneficial.
He is still in the introductory material of Life of Fred Algebra. Right now he is learning how to write sets and use parentheses. All of this is in preparation for actual equations. I love how the text is using silly examples to drive these points home, before he has to figure out what it all means in the context of equations.
Dawson and I are both reading The Hunger Games. It is fun to read the same thing as him so that we can discuss it. In fact, the other day he told me to hurry up and get caught up to him.
Several times during the week, while working in the kitchen, I heard Dawson upstairs practicing his guitar. There was nothing out of tune in what I was hearing. In fact, I was so very impressed. He sat with me many times and played his latest tune, "Ode to Joy". He is even considering playing in the Christmas concert, which makes me know that his confidence level is souring because of his guitar lessons.
His biggest area of study this week was in something that is completely out of sight ... Cells. He watched videos, did a virtual microscope analysis of cheek cells, and then made edible animal and plant cells. I will be posting more on that this weekend!
Despite all the upsetting moments this week, a lot was accomplished and Dawson and I worked some more things out in how to best teach him. We are always learning.
Brynne ~ 2nd Grade
Miss Brynne is continuing to do well! She is improving every day in her Easy Grammar lessons, and gradually learning how to do them independently. Just this week, she started reading what she was copying from Copywork for Little Girls. Although she only writes about one or two sentences of a passage each day, she noticed that she was writing something continuous and asked if it was a story. I explained that it is a poem, and she wanted me to read it to her over and over. This week she also worked heavily on "a", "d", and "g" in her Handwriting Without Tears text. Her handwriting is getting better every day.
On Monday afternoon, we had some fun out of the house. Our local library had a Fancy Nancy tea party. Brynne got all dressed up for stories, cookies, and crafts.
Before we left she made some fancy paper with shaving cream and food coloring. It was so fun I even made a few extra pieces myself.
In math, Brynne encountered many instances where shapes and objects were out of order. She compared sizes and measurements and determined what items were smaller/lighter or bigger/heavier than others. She also finished patterns and sorted objects according to similarities in shape.
Brynne studied the state of Florida in her U.S. States study. She did a notebooking page, coloring page, added the state Licence plate to our map, read the two postcards we received as part of our postcard swap, read a Rookie Read About Geography book on the state, and read the book My Family Vacation written by Dayal Kaur Khalsa.
Finally, we were out of our minds excited to complete our study of The Human Body and "The Brynne". Check back on Sunday to see what we did!
After our day today, of many projects, every space of countertop in our kitchen was covered in supplies. It took me quite some time to get things cleaned up.
And, now, I'm out of things to say, and extremely tired. So, good-night.
I am linking up with Kris at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.
Was that a cell pizza?? Looks like fun! I will have to check back for those posts.
ReplyDeleteBecca
I love reading about your lovely weeks. I especially liked your African masks and your pizza cell...I kept thinking, "Why didn't I think of that!?"
ReplyDeleteLooks like another great week. I love the masks - very cool!!
ReplyDeleteThat art book you are using looks like a TON of fun! I am also looking forward to your posts about the cell pizza and the rest of your science activities.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your blog : )
Donna
http://homeschoolingsunnyflorida.blogspot.com/
Love the masks!! I have to check that book out. We use the same grammar book, love it!
ReplyDeleteI love the cell pizza and the human body! Great ideas.
ReplyDelete