...

If we value the pursuit of knowledge, we must be free to follow wherever that search may lead us. ~ Adlai Stevenson

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Where We Are, and Where We Are Headed Next...

Since we are getting closer and closer to the end of the year, I thought I would share where we are at with homeschooling, and what our next big plans are!

The Boy
He is doing so well with TabletClass Algebra as his math text/program! As he's currently on chapter 2 out of 14, I doubt he will finish by the end of June, but in September, we will just pick up where he leaves off, and move on from there.

In writing, I have sort of dropped the ball... a lot. However, I am taking steps to remedy this. I have accepted that as an English tutor/teacher-to-be, I am not good at following a pre-written curriculum. I am much better at putting together assignments myself. So I am going to just work with him on the steps of writing various types of essays, though we will continue to use books like Writing With A Thesis for examples and refining. His first essay, an expository one, will be at least 5 paragraphs, and we'll be starting that today. I plan to have him read a least one sample essay, brainstorm, work on an outline, then a rough draft, and a final draft. In between all those fun steps, he'll continue with freewriting, etc., a la the Brave Writer Lifestyle. After the expository essay, we'll move on to a persuasive or descriptive essay. 

Next year, we'll continue essay writing, with at least one research paper, and various short essays across the curriculum.


The Girl
Our current approach to math—using Math Essentials and filling in any weak spots with Math Mammoth's Blue Series—is working quite well. She likes both programs, which is a rare find here, and is making nice progress! We'll continue on with this for next year's math (pre-algebra), and then decide where to go from there. I might have her try out the free pre-algebra lessons offered by John Zimmerman, the amazing TabletClass guy. Our primary focus the rest of this year is getting her up to full speed on multiplication, division, and fractions.

She does some writing/freewriting, and I should have her doing more Brave Writer Lifestyle activities, but our main focus is spelling, since that is a major weak spot. She spells very phonetically, which can be interesting, but not necessarily easy to understand. I bought a Spelling Workout workbook at a lower level than her reading comprehension, and she's flying through it, doing an entire lesson in a day. I assume we'll slow down as she moves up through the levels. 

Next year, we'll add in written narratives, and the beginnings of essay work.


Both
Downton history, while we haven't read/watched everything on my list, has been a huge hit! That said, I think next year we'll simply aim for watching series, documentaries, and movies... a visual interest-led approach. That is because we have decided we need a year that focuses more on science, which brings me to my next point.

Science has been largely interest-led this year. The Boy is reading a couple of books on black holes, and other cosmological phenomena; The Girl has practically memorized entire animal encyclopedias. We've watched documentaries, done an occasional small experiment, but we haven't really dug too deeply into science this year. I would like to finish out the year with some anatomy and nutrition, but we'll see. 

Next year though, both kids will be doing biology, The Boy because it's a science he has not focused on previously, and The Girl in order to broaden her horizons past animals. I'm looking at either Life on Earth (which looks fascinating, but is an iBook and therefore more difficult for me to access), or something along the lines of Exploring the Way Life Works, or maybe even a (gulp) textbook (this one, or perhaps this one).

OR, we'll be doing the Big History Project with extra science, primarily biology. [Personally, this would be my number one pick]

Literature has not been great this year either, mostly because I did not put enough emphasis on it, and I failed to make it a cornerstone of our education. The kids do read a lot on their own—right now I've got one enmeshed in the world of Harry Potter, and the other one millions of miles from here with The Martian—but at read-alouds... well, I'll just say it: I've sucked this year. I am working to remedy that a bit though. We're finally wrapping up A Wrinkle in Time, and then will either read A Wind in the Door, or something entirely different.

For next year, we are toying with the idea of a lit study based off of another favorite series of ours, Once Upon a Time. We would bring in everything from Alice in Wonderland and Pinocchio, to the Grimm fairy tales, Peter Pan, the legend of Blackbeard, and so forth. 

So,  biology/Big History  interest-led science and literature would be the main focal points for family studies, bolstered with math and writing as individual activities. Plus, The Boy may well take another junior college class.

So yes, we're still aiming high, and falling a bit short. 


Monday, March 28, 2016

Monday Musings... Back to Real Life...

I'll confess... I did very little of what I had planned for spring break! Instead, I ending up focusing on family, relaxation, and fitness... and it was lovely!

...What We Did Do...

We watched Downton Abbey and Once Upon a Time

The Boy and I watched StarGate Universe

We went to the library, where the kids participated in a tapigami workshop that was pretty good

We celebrated the beginning of spring at the park with friends, and some delicious lemony treats The Girl and I made (we topped them with this icing, and then dipped them in coconut flakes)

We hiked around the local lake

We went to the coast for a very windy afternoon

I worked out with my friend/wellness coach three times (it was so hard!), and tried a kickboxing class. During one of my workouts, the kids came along to ride bikes and climb trees

We all read, and the kids worked on art projects

M mowed the front yard, and we are getting ready to try moving a Spanish Lavender to a better location (wish us luck in not killing it!)

We went puppy petting


...This Week, We Will...

Be doing at least 4 math lessons (per child)

Working on spelling and free-writing (The Girl), and free-writing and the beginnings of an essay (The Boy)

Reading in our library books (history, lit)

Getting some of our old books ready to donate to the library

The Boy will be doing his truck rebuilding project this week

The Girl is working on a few little sewing projects

The Boy has parkour, The Girl has derby, and I will be trying out a karate class

Catching up on some of the cleaning and other things that didn't happen last week

Work and tutoring


...Around the House and Such...

It'll be a busy week! I have meals planned for most of the week (for once), and even prepped all the ingredients for tonight's quick stir-fry last night, since today is a 12+ hour day for me. I'm still deciding n a good crock-pot meal for Wednesday. And I am going to take this recipe (which we all enjoy), and try subbing in farro or barley for the pasta, as I am currently avoiding refined grains as much as reasonably possible.

I'm plotting out my new chicken hutch, to be built this summer

M is working 9-10 hours a day, 6 days a week, which has been a big adjustment for all of us. But, he loves his job, so that helps!

M and I are also working on some renovation plans (bathroom, family room roof)

Before I leave you for today, here are a couple of pictures from our week off!



Monday, March 21, 2016

Monday Musings...Spring Has Sprung!


Well, I had great plans for today, and celebrating spring, but then the skies opened up and are dumping gallons of water on us. A little too damp for great outdoor happenings! Although I did get a pre-rain workout in at a park with my wellness coach. And I did SIX assisted pull-ups! For someone who has never managed one pull-up before, that was pretty awesome!

So, as I am (mostly*) off from work this week, I have plans for home and homeschooling...
*I do have papers to mark, of course, and tutoring

...Around the House...
My plans for the week include:
Rearranging the family room
Spring-cleaning and decluttering!
Cleaning out the fridge and freezer

...Other Plans...
Watching some StarGate Universe with The Boy (our replacement for Lost)
Two more park workouts (Wednesday, Friday)
Fencing for The Boy, as there is no parkour this week
A biology lecture
Tutoring
Finish A Wrinkle in Time
Watching some more Downton Abbey 
Derby practice for The Girl

It'll be a full, and I hope good, week! Enjoy your first week of spring!

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Happy St. Patrick's Day!



We're not doing a lot to celebrate the day, though we do have a fair bit of Irish in our bloodline, but we are definitely all wearing green!

M asked that I make corned beef and cabbage, with carrots and red potatoes, so I am throwing that in the crockpot at lunch time. We don't drink, so no Guinness!

We'll listen to The Chieftains (partly because I love their music anyway), and I'm planning to make green smoothies for the kids before their sports tonight.

We're also looking forward to the Spring Equinox (Ostara)! I'm on vacation next week (woo hooo!!!), so the kids and I have plans to go hiking, and gather some wildflowers for pressing. I'd like us each to plant a small pot of flowers for our front steps too (I'm thinking pansies, geraniums, and cheerful flowers along those lines), and I have great hopes that I will be out in the garden much of the day, after making some lemon-lavender muffins for breakfast.

Dinner that day will be a frittata, with veggies to be determined, and a salad full of baby spring greens and sunflower sprouts on the side.

Now, while I will be vacationing from my jobs, and school, the kids are not on Spring Break. We inadvertantly did that the week of The Girl's birthday. So we'll be hitting the books every day I'm looking forward to having that less-interrupted time with them.

And we'll be doing yard work (lots of weeds to pull), and housework (maybe I'll rent that steam-cleaner at last!). It will be a week of caring for our home, our garden, and our learning.

Enjoy your St Paddy's Day!

Monday, March 14, 2016

Monday Musings... Pi and Einstein...

First of all, Happy Pi Day!
I'm not sure if we'll actually get around to eating pie today or not, but perhaps so!

It is also this guy's birthday!
The Boy and I have been talking about him a lot lately, with all the news on gravitational waves fascinating both of us.

...What We've Been Up To...

Watching Downton Abbey

Reading more about the Romanovs

Catching up on a couple of episodes of Once Upon a Time

Watching the skies pour down on us daily (though there's a several day break in the rain this week!)

Working [somewhat] diligently on math, which is going well

Going through clothes, as the author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up suggests, though, no, we aren't doing it all in one fell swoop!

Talking to the Boy about The Big History Project (with an emphasis on science) for fall, and writing a research essay for now

Looking at new volunteer opportunities for The Girl, now that she's THIRTEEN!

Cooking bake sale goods with The Girl for derby, and then watching her chat with a boy all evening while helping out at the bake sale table!

The Boy also tried a parkour class last week, as he's a little burnt out on fencing -- he loved the parkour class, and will be taking it weekly. Best of all, it is during derby practice, and only two minutes away!

I lost another 2.6 pounds


...Plans for the Week...

More math

The beginning work on a research essay

Ordering a new spelling program for The Girl (I'm really tempted by Spelling Workout, and I think she could move through a couple of the lower books pretty quickly, though her spelling is fairly dreadful) 

Looking ahead to next week, when I am off work and school for spring break

More cleaning and clothes sorting... we're getting there

I wear we will finish A Wrinkle in Time!

And there you have it. Nothing fancy, just going along.

Enjoy your Pi Day!


Thursday, March 3, 2016

Thursday Thoughts... Ideas for Fall...

I'm thinking about next year. Just a little this time, no elaborate planning. I know there are some programs we plan to continue, and I have some ideas for other subjects (naturally. I mean, would I not have ideas?)

image courtesy of linkedin.com

...To Finish this Spring...


The Girl's current spelling program


...To Be Continued...

TabletClass Algebra 1, moving up to Geometry as soon as The Boy is ready

Math Essentials backed up with Math Mammoth
as needed (moving up a level in each when The Girl is ready)


...And Possibilities...

A
Continue with modern world history through shows/documentaries/movies/books
Science as interest led or ???

B
Actually go through the Big History Project, at least with The Boy, and then, for the Girl, either the history or fairy tale project
Science to go with the Big History Project, or biology, or ???

C
A year of world cultures and geography, along the same lines as our Downton study, but based off something along the lines of Human Planet
 Science as interest led or ??? 

D
Focus on science for a year instead of history 

E
Or the kids might want to choose another time-frame to investigate. Or we might do a book/literature study. Or The Boy might be at the junior college again. Or...............

We will have to wait and see!
 

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Wordless Wednesday.. Recent & Random Pictures...

A lovely little puppy

California Buckeye bonsai

Caring for the one golden pup in the litter

Mountain biking with one of my favorite guys!

It certainly looks like spring!

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

It's March!

image courtesy of bestcalendartemplates.tk

...Plans for March...

...Holidays...

March 4 is a most important day. Why? Because this little one will be turning 13!


I think we'll have to make something with apples, of course! And maybe, for old times sake, read a lovely copy of the story (perhaps this one?).

Obviously, I will have to make a pie!

Well, it certainly feels like spring around here! Maybe a Roman style dinner, with olives, bread, cheese, etc.

We always celebrate this one, as both M and I have Irish heritage, especially me (I'm nearly all Danish, Scots, and Irish, with a few other things thrown in the mix). We'll wear green, have an Irish dinner, and bake some soda bread!

I love spring, so I'm happy to celebrate it! We'll plant some flowers, and have a spring themed dinnerI'm thinking an asparagus frittata, and a big salad. I always do first-day-of-spring baskets for the kids too, since they get Easter baskets from my mom when the time comes. And of course, we'll have to try balancing eggs on end!

We have a big midday dinner at my mom's after she goes to church. She usually does lamb, couscous, etc. I bring homemade hummus and pita chips, and the kids get Easter baskets!


...Other Plans for March...

The Girl and I will be going to my cousin's baby shower next weekend

We have lots of gardening work to do, including the actual building of our raised beds by mid-month!

I get a week off from both my jobs and college!

More decluttering. We did not get to clothes over the weekend, but have high hopes for this Saturday!


...What Else We're Up To...

M's new job, at a wholesale [plant] nursery, is working out fantastically so far. He loves being outside much of the day, working with plants, and soil. He's working 9+ hours a day, and probably 5-6 days a week. Definitely a big change for our household!

In homeschooling, we're plugging away. The Boy is doing very well with the change in algebra programs, and The Girl actually really likes Math Essentials (though she's iffy still on Fred). We watched the first episode of World War One: The People's Story, and it was very well done! We're keeping up with most of our history reading, and science reading, and are making good progress with finishing A Wrinkle in Time. The Boy is thinking about doing a math lesson while he's at my mom's on Mondays, to help make sure he hits the goal of 4 lessons a week, and then The Girl and I can tackle math on Monday evenings while The Boy is at fencing.

It's all about making things work!