We did continue to get some work done, though I admit it was a difficult for me to stay focused.
All the children continued working on math. The little girls played math dominoes and I was pleased to see that Kay now correctly identifies all the numbers. Aggie is getting better and better at counting accurately.
Anna and Kay ending up doing work on the Alphabet Path. Kay is totally in love with the fairies and I was not going to keep going with it this year, but she has begged. I was surprised that Anna insisted on joining her. But, there you are. Carmen however, is done with the fairies and read Greg's Microscope instead. I picked up some N books at the library for next week.
Sam picked up the Native American study where he left off. He'll be complete this and then move on to Westward Expansion.
I had the big girls read a bunch. Lilly started her botany study, reading the intro to Botany in a Day.
I've got mega planning to finish this weekend as we jump into the thick of school for real on Tuesday. Of course, sort of, because I think we will try to get to Mass that morning. We'll see.
Looking forward to a real start. So many interesting things we'll be learning this year.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Easing Into the School Year
We started off an hour later than planned. Somehow my clock got set an hour back (I probably hit the button accidentally). Still, my block of time for breakfast, cleanup and getting dressed was accurate so at least we got a good feel for the rhythm of the morning.
We had a meeting about goals and expectations for the school year and an overview of what the schedule looks like. I know, sounds weird, but it was nice. We all sat together. They asked some questions and we all still feel connected because we all know what we're all expected to do.
We moved into Math. Yes actual schoolwork! Johnny was taking an actual real nap :)
Maddy- Pre-Algebra lessons 4.1-4.3 with practice problems
Looked over where she was working in MUS (Zeta Lesson 10). Most of her answers
were incorrect so we need to look this all over again. I think the problem is the MUS
way they like to teach for multiplying decimals is weird, so we'll scrap it and just work
on making sure she knows how to multiply and place the decimal in the correct place
in the answer.
Lilly- MUS Lesson 10- LP 10A
Sam- MUS LP 15B He has very quickly mastered expanded notation. Some of the way he
learns math is almost intuitive...makes me a little crazy. He is longing for a new book
that covers more topics. It is on the way.
Carmen- Time table worksheet
Adding with regrouping
New book is on the way for her as well.
Anna- Subtraction work (her request)
New book is on the way for her as well.
Kay and Aggie- Ran around making messes and lots of noise. Big sigh. Kay was tearful
because I did not have anything for her to do (bad planning on my part). I am
pulling some things together just for her this afternoon. Aggie...I'm thinking
duct tape (kidding).
Cleaned up. Lilly baked a caked for teatime. Did I mention they love the idea of getting food at 4 pm, every day, planned, on the calendar? We've never formally set aside the time every single day. That was not a hard sell for the school year.
Lunch
Freetime
Mini Religion Block
The first block every Monday will have us all (including teens) meeting together for a religion block. Think of it as a "Living the Liturgical Year" block. I wanted the time set aside for all of us to keep learning together. Topics will vary.
For today, we simply read about Pope St. Gregory the Great and Mother Theresa whose feasts are this week.
Literature
We then broke up for some reading time. This is purely for enjoyment and to keep them away from screens.
Maddy- Lantern Bearers
Lilly- The Penderwicks
Sam- Crazy Horse's Vision
Carmen- Daniel's Duck (which she chose to narrate orally to me)
Anna, Kay and Aggie- Mother Theresa (which Anna chose to narrate to Carmen)
Outside
Teatime
They just basically ran in and grabbed a piece of cake and went right back outside. I don't blame them. It is gorgeous out there.
Not tons, but good. Off to plan some things for Kay's math.
We had a meeting about goals and expectations for the school year and an overview of what the schedule looks like. I know, sounds weird, but it was nice. We all sat together. They asked some questions and we all still feel connected because we all know what we're all expected to do.
We moved into Math. Yes actual schoolwork! Johnny was taking an actual real nap :)
Maddy- Pre-Algebra lessons 4.1-4.3 with practice problems
Looked over where she was working in MUS (Zeta Lesson 10). Most of her answers
were incorrect so we need to look this all over again. I think the problem is the MUS
way they like to teach for multiplying decimals is weird, so we'll scrap it and just work
on making sure she knows how to multiply and place the decimal in the correct place
in the answer.
Lilly- MUS Lesson 10- LP 10A
Sam- MUS LP 15B He has very quickly mastered expanded notation. Some of the way he
learns math is almost intuitive...makes me a little crazy. He is longing for a new book
that covers more topics. It is on the way.
Carmen- Time table worksheet
Adding with regrouping
New book is on the way for her as well.
Anna- Subtraction work (her request)
New book is on the way for her as well.
Kay and Aggie- Ran around making messes and lots of noise. Big sigh. Kay was tearful
because I did not have anything for her to do (bad planning on my part). I am
pulling some things together just for her this afternoon. Aggie...I'm thinking
duct tape (kidding).
Cleaned up. Lilly baked a caked for teatime. Did I mention they love the idea of getting food at 4 pm, every day, planned, on the calendar? We've never formally set aside the time every single day. That was not a hard sell for the school year.
Lunch
Freetime
Mini Religion Block
The first block every Monday will have us all (including teens) meeting together for a religion block. Think of it as a "Living the Liturgical Year" block. I wanted the time set aside for all of us to keep learning together. Topics will vary.
For today, we simply read about Pope St. Gregory the Great and Mother Theresa whose feasts are this week.
Literature
We then broke up for some reading time. This is purely for enjoyment and to keep them away from screens.
Maddy- Lantern Bearers
Lilly- The Penderwicks
Sam- Crazy Horse's Vision
Carmen- Daniel's Duck (which she chose to narrate orally to me)
Anna, Kay and Aggie- Mother Theresa (which Anna chose to narrate to Carmen)
Outside
Teatime
They just basically ran in and grabbed a piece of cake and went right back outside. I don't blame them. It is gorgeous out there.
Not tons, but good. Off to plan some things for Kay's math.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Main Lesson Book Sample
I need to devise a better way to track and highlight my kid's individual work. Yesterday I even went as far as to see if a Google site might fit the bill. We'll see. I just don't want to spend a bunch of time fussing at the computer, just an easy way to upload and organize photos and samples of work. In the meantime, here is a sample of work from Lilly's Native American alphabet.
Monday, April 27, 2009
March
I fell behind with the weekly posting. Don't worry, I do have notes in my planning notebook with specifics for each child.
Here's a quick summary of March:
Maddy continued working in MUS and her online Pre-Algebra course. She is doing well with both, though we are having to get used to the more traditional teaching style of the online course. I am confident if we are consistent she can complete the course this summer and move on to Algebra 1.
Children's Homer is completed and she admitted to enjoying it. Started The Golden Fleece and continued reading Famous Men of Greece and Tales of the Greek Heroes. She continues listening to Story of the World, although I think with all the other things she is reading she is finding this too eady and redundant. She is narrating sections as she goes. Continued working in her religion text as well as taking part in our group lessons. She read and narrated several scientific articles from National Geograohic and did a mini-study on the phases of the moon. She continues to enjoy nature photography (more on this later). She continued helping Kay's co-op group.
Lilly completed Undaunted Courage, with complete narrations for each chapter. Very impressive work. She completed The Captain's Dog, a biography of Sacagawea, and The Trouble Begins at 8 (biography of Mark Twain).
She continued working through her math text, though in the past week, we've come to realize she may have moved too quickly and is in need of some review.
She continued reading in her religion text and participating in group lessons.
She completed a study and notebook pages on arthropods.
Sam kept working in his math text at a quick pace. He actually enjoys working in his book.
We completed Lewis and Clark for Kids (with Carmen). He also read a biography of Sacagawea and one about York. He read part of Bold Journey.
He continued working in his religion text.
He and Carmen conitnued their botany studies, focusing on seeds and completeing notebook pages.
For Carmen, Anna, Kay and sometimes Aggie I think I will just list books read (I'm pretty sure I'm missing some I have not written down.). Math work happened for all of them, each at their own level, so I won't elaborate here. Most of their religion work was from various sources and directly tied into the liturgical year.
A Seed is Sleepy
Hush Little Baby
Hickory Chair
The Emperor's New Clothes
Little Match Girl
T is for Tar Heel
The Wright Brothers
M is for Maple Syrup
Bread and Jam for Frances
Giant Jam Sandwich
The Nutcracker
Who Will Be My Friend
Fox at School
Panda Bear, Panda Bear
Brother Eagle
Story of the Root Children
Katie and the Impressionists
Seaman's Journal
Carmen continued work on her Iditarod project. Anna learned more US geograohy in co-op. And Kay had tons of fun at co-op reading a whole bunch of books and cooking yummy treats.
Here's a quick summary of March:
Maddy continued working in MUS and her online Pre-Algebra course. She is doing well with both, though we are having to get used to the more traditional teaching style of the online course. I am confident if we are consistent she can complete the course this summer and move on to Algebra 1.
Children's Homer is completed and she admitted to enjoying it. Started The Golden Fleece and continued reading Famous Men of Greece and Tales of the Greek Heroes. She continues listening to Story of the World, although I think with all the other things she is reading she is finding this too eady and redundant. She is narrating sections as she goes. Continued working in her religion text as well as taking part in our group lessons. She read and narrated several scientific articles from National Geograohic and did a mini-study on the phases of the moon. She continues to enjoy nature photography (more on this later). She continued helping Kay's co-op group.
Lilly completed Undaunted Courage, with complete narrations for each chapter. Very impressive work. She completed The Captain's Dog, a biography of Sacagawea, and The Trouble Begins at 8 (biography of Mark Twain).
She continued working through her math text, though in the past week, we've come to realize she may have moved too quickly and is in need of some review.
She continued reading in her religion text and participating in group lessons.
She completed a study and notebook pages on arthropods.
Sam kept working in his math text at a quick pace. He actually enjoys working in his book.
We completed Lewis and Clark for Kids (with Carmen). He also read a biography of Sacagawea and one about York. He read part of Bold Journey.
He continued working in his religion text.
He and Carmen conitnued their botany studies, focusing on seeds and completeing notebook pages.
For Carmen, Anna, Kay and sometimes Aggie I think I will just list books read (I'm pretty sure I'm missing some I have not written down.). Math work happened for all of them, each at their own level, so I won't elaborate here. Most of their religion work was from various sources and directly tied into the liturgical year.
A Seed is Sleepy
Hush Little Baby
Hickory Chair
The Emperor's New Clothes
Little Match Girl
T is for Tar Heel
The Wright Brothers
M is for Maple Syrup
Bread and Jam for Frances
Giant Jam Sandwich
The Nutcracker
Who Will Be My Friend
Fox at School
Panda Bear, Panda Bear
Brother Eagle
Story of the Root Children
Katie and the Impressionists
Seaman's Journal
Carmen continued work on her Iditarod project. Anna learned more US geograohy in co-op. And Kay had tons of fun at co-op reading a whole bunch of books and cooking yummy treats.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Feb. 23-27
Math:
Maddy worked on order of operations problems and 2.1-2.3 in Pre-algebra. She completed MUS SR 8D-8E.
Lilly completed all of MUS Lesson 15 and took the test.
Sam reviewed multiplying large numbers and MUS SR 8E.
Language Arts:
Maddy completed The Children's Homer.
Lilly completed The Captain's Dog.
Sam continued reading in Sacagawea and started How We Crossed the West.
Carmen, Anna and Kay did I on the Alphabet Path and read:
Higgins Bend Song and Dance
The Little House (Carmen and Anna illustrated and Anna narrated.)
Anna made a 4-square page for A.
Carmen read A Farmer Boy Birthday (by herself).
History:
Maddy completed Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. She listened to and narrated chapter 20 from Story of the World.
Lilly listened to and narrated chapter 6-8 from Undaunted Courage.
Sam and Carmen read chapter 4 and part of chapter 5 from Lewis and Clark for Kids.
Science:
Maddy watched part of a NG DVD about the Human Body.
Lilly completed her page about echinoderms.
Sam, Carmen, Anna and Kay read A Seed is Sleepy. The older two labeled the parts of a seed and studied the inside of a real one. Kay drew different types of seeds.
Religion:
Maddy completed Chap. 6 in FL.
Lilly completed Chap. 7 in FL.
Sam completed Week 4 in SR 5.
Carmen, Anna and Kay read about St. Ignatius. They also helped prepare our mantel letters and hide the "Alleluia".
We all talked about our plans for Lent and what the season means. I used An Introduction to the Liturgical Year. We'll keep referring to it throughout Lent.
Maddy worked on order of operations problems and 2.1-2.3 in Pre-algebra. She completed MUS SR 8D-8E.
Lilly completed all of MUS Lesson 15 and took the test.
Sam reviewed multiplying large numbers and MUS SR 8E.
Language Arts:
Maddy completed The Children's Homer.
Lilly completed The Captain's Dog.
Sam continued reading in Sacagawea and started How We Crossed the West.
Carmen, Anna and Kay did I on the Alphabet Path and read:
Higgins Bend Song and Dance
The Little House (Carmen and Anna illustrated and Anna narrated.)
Anna made a 4-square page for A.
Carmen read A Farmer Boy Birthday (by herself).
History:
Maddy completed Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. She listened to and narrated chapter 20 from Story of the World.
Lilly listened to and narrated chapter 6-8 from Undaunted Courage.
Sam and Carmen read chapter 4 and part of chapter 5 from Lewis and Clark for Kids.
Science:
Maddy watched part of a NG DVD about the Human Body.
Lilly completed her page about echinoderms.
Sam, Carmen, Anna and Kay read A Seed is Sleepy. The older two labeled the parts of a seed and studied the inside of a real one. Kay drew different types of seeds.
Religion:
Maddy completed Chap. 6 in FL.
Lilly completed Chap. 7 in FL.
Sam completed Week 4 in SR 5.
Carmen, Anna and Kay read about St. Ignatius. They also helped prepare our mantel letters and hide the "Alleluia".
We all talked about our plans for Lent and what the season means. I used An Introduction to the Liturgical Year. We'll keep referring to it throughout Lent.
Monday, March 2, 2009
So Far So Good
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Feb. 16-20
Math:
Maddy completed Chapter 1 of Pre-Algebra and worked on problems to practice the order of operations. She also reviewed her lesson from MUS and completed lesson 8C.
Lilly completed all the work and test for Lesson 14 in MUS.
Sam completed LP 8A, 8B and Test * (17/20). Needs to review multiplying big numbers.
Carmen did more multiplication practice.
Anna did some addition practice using MUS blocks.
Kay worked on number recognition. She wants to add "like Anna".
Language Arts:
Maddy continued reading The Children's Homer.
Lilly continued reading The Captain's Dog.
Sam completed Lewis and Clark and Me and started Sacagawea.
Carmen (along with Anna and Kay) read the following:
The Gullywasher
G is for Goat
Hush Little Baby (We read the Aliki version, OOP. There are lots of versions out there.)
Hickory Chair
Michael Hague's Favorite Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales (We read The Little Match
Girl and the Emperor's New Clothes. We still have the book so will probably read more of
them.)
Anna and Kay did work on the Alphabet Path for H.
Anna worked in the pink series with short-a and copied words.
History:
Maddy read more from Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. She listened to and narrated Chapter 19 in Story of the World.
Lilly read through Undaunted Courage up to Chapter 6. Next week we switch to the audio book version (finally in from the library).
Sam and Carmen read Chapter 2 of Lewis and Clark for Kids.
Anna listened as Carmen and I read the second half of Lewis and Clark and Me.
Science:
Maddy read and narrated and article on energy conservation in the current issue of NG.
Lilly began work on her page on echinoderms.
Religion:
Maddy read and answered questions for FL- Chapter 5.
Lilly read and answered questions for FL- Chapter 6.
Sam read Week 4/Day 1-2 from SR 5 and answered questions in his notebook.
Carmen, Anna and Kay listened to me read Week 4 from SR 1. We had a very animated discussion after.
On Friday we all went to Co-op:
Maddy worked with Kay's group where they read The Mitten, baked oatmeal-raisin cookies and had all sorts of little girl fun.
Anna, Sam and I learned all about North Carolina, made a notebook page, baked sweet potato biscuits and read T is for Tarheel and The Wright Brothers.
Carmen was very happy to be back with her friends as they continued their project on the Iditarod. The highlight this week was picking the musher they would be following. According to Carmen her name is Melissa (and yes, Carmen thought it very cool that she gets to follow a girl).
Lilly kept Agnes happy in the basement of Mrs. Balint's house.
Maddy completed Chapter 1 of Pre-Algebra and worked on problems to practice the order of operations. She also reviewed her lesson from MUS and completed lesson 8C.
Lilly completed all the work and test for Lesson 14 in MUS.
Sam completed LP 8A, 8B and Test * (17/20). Needs to review multiplying big numbers.
Carmen did more multiplication practice.
Anna did some addition practice using MUS blocks.
Kay worked on number recognition. She wants to add "like Anna".
Language Arts:
Maddy continued reading The Children's Homer.
Lilly continued reading The Captain's Dog.
Sam completed Lewis and Clark and Me and started Sacagawea.
Carmen (along with Anna and Kay) read the following:
The Gullywasher
G is for Goat
Hush Little Baby (We read the Aliki version, OOP. There are lots of versions out there.)
Hickory Chair
Michael Hague's Favorite Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales (We read The Little Match
Girl and the Emperor's New Clothes. We still have the book so will probably read more of
them.)
Anna and Kay did work on the Alphabet Path for H.
Anna worked in the pink series with short-a and copied words.
History:
Maddy read more from Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. She listened to and narrated Chapter 19 in Story of the World.
Lilly read through Undaunted Courage up to Chapter 6. Next week we switch to the audio book version (finally in from the library).
Sam and Carmen read Chapter 2 of Lewis and Clark for Kids.
Anna listened as Carmen and I read the second half of Lewis and Clark and Me.
Science:
Maddy read and narrated and article on energy conservation in the current issue of NG.
Lilly began work on her page on echinoderms.
Religion:
Maddy read and answered questions for FL- Chapter 5.
Lilly read and answered questions for FL- Chapter 6.
Sam read Week 4/Day 1-2 from SR 5 and answered questions in his notebook.
Carmen, Anna and Kay listened to me read Week 4 from SR 1. We had a very animated discussion after.
On Friday we all went to Co-op:
Maddy worked with Kay's group where they read The Mitten, baked oatmeal-raisin cookies and had all sorts of little girl fun.
Anna, Sam and I learned all about North Carolina, made a notebook page, baked sweet potato biscuits and read T is for Tarheel and The Wright Brothers.
Carmen was very happy to be back with her friends as they continued their project on the Iditarod. The highlight this week was picking the musher they would be following. According to Carmen her name is Melissa (and yes, Carmen thought it very cool that she gets to follow a girl).
Lilly kept Agnes happy in the basement of Mrs. Balint's house.
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