Progress through 1/31
I've been pressing ahead in The Essentials. April got rid of 90 gallons of clothes. We shipped off and sold 4 more pieces of furniture. We've thrown out several more boxes of old pictures.
1/30 schoolwork
Drilled spelling
Drilled number bonds
Read a chapter of On the Other Side of the Hill
Audrey read Chapter 4 of Night of the Ninjas aloud.
Drilled number bonds
Read a chapter of On the Other Side of the Hill
Audrey read Chapter 4 of Night of the Ninjas aloud.
1/29 Schoolwork
Math:
- drilled number bonds through 7
History:
- Finished chapter 17 from SotWV1: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon including reading, narration and copy work
Spelling:
- Lesson 19 from Spelling Workout B
- Wrote new spelling cards
- Put stickers on completed cards
Composition:
- wrote a letter to GranMiri
- copied poems from Poems To Learn By Heart
Science:
- Read Chapter on Life Cycle, with narration and copy work in First Human Body Encyclopedia
- Read about the brain and nervous system to Lorelei in First Human Body Encyclopedia
Reading:
- Read Green Eggs and Ham to Lorelei
- Read two chapters from On the Other Side of the Hill
PE:
- Two sessions of Rope World
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| homeschool in the living room |
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| Rope World with Wes |
1/28 school work
Math:
- drilled number bonds through 7
Reading:
- Audrey read Night of the Ninjas chapter 3 aloud to us
- Family story time, a chapter from On the Other Side of the Hill
- Read poems from Poems To Learn By Heart
Having a Good Purge
I took another big step toward our goal today! I purged!
I had a brilliant idea to pretend pack for four separate trips: a beach vacation, a ski vacation, a spring trip to Chicago, and a work function. I made packing lists, and laid all the clothes out on the bed as if I were really taking each vacation. When I was done I asked Jacob to collect everything that was left in the drawers and closet and put them in bags to donate. I was afraid to do it myself…I probably would have chickened out. The final result - my wardrobe has been cut down to less than half of its original size! Jacob hauled out three 30 gallon bags full of clothes!
It's really hard for me to get rid of things, so this was one of the steps I most dreaded. I'm full of reasons why I haven't worn things in 10 years, or why I know they will fit again in the future. I think it will be a lot easier to stay on top of my laundry now, and instead of missing those clothes, it feels really good to be carrying a lighter load!
Here are some pictures for last weekend. My dad was here, and we spent most of our time in Summit County.
I had a brilliant idea to pretend pack for four separate trips: a beach vacation, a ski vacation, a spring trip to Chicago, and a work function. I made packing lists, and laid all the clothes out on the bed as if I were really taking each vacation. When I was done I asked Jacob to collect everything that was left in the drawers and closet and put them in bags to donate. I was afraid to do it myself…I probably would have chickened out. The final result - my wardrobe has been cut down to less than half of its original size! Jacob hauled out three 30 gallon bags full of clothes!
It's really hard for me to get rid of things, so this was one of the steps I most dreaded. I'm full of reasons why I haven't worn things in 10 years, or why I know they will fit again in the future. I think it will be a lot easier to stay on top of my laundry now, and instead of missing those clothes, it feels really good to be carrying a lighter load!
Here are some pictures for last weekend. My dad was here, and we spent most of our time in Summit County.
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| riding the chair lift with Daddy |
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| playing at the Silverthorne Rec Center |
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| International Ice Sculpting Festival |
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| The Ice Castle in Breckenridge |
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| warming Audrey's feet after the Ice Castle (she refused to wear her snow boots!) |
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| skiing with my dad |
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| Family picture with the smoking pig in front of the bbq restaurant |
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| moments after a snowball fight with Grampsy |
1/23 schoolwork
Math
- Finished Unit 3 Chapter 2
- Started unit 3 activity 4
Reading
- Read Ch 4 of "The Railway Children" from Classics for Girls to Lorelei.
1/22 schoolwork
Math
- drilled number bonds through 6
- SMPMW1ASE Unit 3 - Activity 3
- SMPMT1ASE Unit 3 - started Chapter 2
Grammar
- FLL Lesson 65
Spelling
- bee
History
- read "Nebuchadnezzar's Madness" from SotWV1 Chapter 17 ("Babylon Takes Over Again!")
- answered review questions
- dictation and copywork
Composition
- "The Railway Children" by E. Nesbitt, Week 15 day 3 copywork
- "The Railway Children" by E. Nesbitt, Week 15 day 4 narration
- "The Railway Children" by E. Nesbitt, Week 15 day 4 narration
Science
- Read about reproduction in the First Human Body Encyclopedia
- dictation and copywork
PE
Reading
- Read L the first three chapters of The Railway Children from the Illustrated Classics for Girls
- Read poems to the girls
- "The Cremation of Sam McGee" by Robert Service
- "The Splendour Falls on Castle Walls" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
- "Some One" by Wlater de la Mare
- "The Sower"
- "The Death of John the Baptist"
- "The Feeding of the Five Thousand"
- A began reading aloud to us Chapter 2 of Night of the Ninjas.
- Read "Boom Town" from On the Other Side of the Hill
1/21 schoolwork
Math
- Drilled number bond through 6
- SMPMW1A Unit 3 - activities 1& 2
Memorization
Kinderheart
- Drilled number bond through 6
- SMPMW1A Unit 3 - activities 1& 2
Spelling
- Drilled words
- Drilled words
Grammar
- Finished FLL Lesson 64
- Finished FLL Lesson 64
- Recorded Audrey reciting "Dancing" by Eleanor Fargeon
- Audrey recited the months poem
- Audrey recited our lists of pronouns
- Audrey recited the months poem
- Audrey recited our lists of pronouns
Reading
- Read the Camilla the fairy book to Lorelei
- Audrey read aloud Chapter 1 of Night of the Ninjas
- Read the Camilla the fairy book to Lorelei
- Audrey read aloud Chapter 1 of Night of the Ninjas
- Read read several poems aloud to the girls
- Read "Jesus Calms the Storm", "The Gadarine Swine," "Jairus' Daughter," from TCIB
Kinderheart
Mountain view
Salt painting at Lorelei's art class
1/20 progress
We've been working our way through photos, physical and digital. We have so much stuff to unload in the garage that I sometimes despair of getting it done. I've been pushing through The Essentials, which I find very challenging. Ownschooling is a continuing source of thrilling successes and gnawing self-doubt. One foot in front of the other...
1/20 schoolwork
Reading
- A finished reading us Pirates Past Noon
- Read "Birthing Season" from On the Other Side of the Hill to the girls
- Read "The Sermon on the Mount," "Healing the Sick," and "The Centurion's Servant, " from The Children's Illustrated Bible
Grammar
- Began Lesson 64 on the winter months
- copywork and art
Math
- Drilled number bonds through 5
- Unit 3 - Addition, Chapter 1
History
- Finished Chapter 16 - on the Assyrians with "The Library of Nineveh"
- review questions
- narration and dictation
Composition
- "The Railway Children" by E. Nesbitt, Week 15 day 1 copywork
- "The Railway Children" by E. Nesbitt, Week 15 day 2 narration
PE
- Swimming lessons for both girls
Spelling
- Lesson 18
Science
- Read First Human Body Encyclopedia about urinary system
- narration and copywork
Memorization
- reviewed "Dancing" by Eleanor Fargeon
- reviewed the poem of the months
- A finished reading us Pirates Past Noon
- Read "Birthing Season" from On the Other Side of the Hill to the girls
- Read "The Sermon on the Mount," "Healing the Sick," and "The Centurion's Servant, " from The Children's Illustrated Bible
Grammar
- Began Lesson 64 on the winter months
- copywork and art
Math
- Drilled number bonds through 5
- Unit 3 - Addition, Chapter 1
History
- Finished Chapter 16 - on the Assyrians with "The Library of Nineveh"
- review questions
- narration and dictation
Composition
- "The Railway Children" by E. Nesbitt, Week 15 day 1 copywork
- "The Railway Children" by E. Nesbitt, Week 15 day 2 narration
PE
- Swimming lessons for both girls
Spelling
- Lesson 18
Science
- Read First Human Body Encyclopedia about urinary system
- narration and copywork
Memorization
- reviewed "Dancing" by Eleanor Fargeon
- reviewed the poem of the months
New Routine
We started a new own-school routine today. The plan was for me to wake up a little earlier than usual and have breakfast ready as soon as Jacob finished his work with the girls. Immediately after breakfast, I would start the first half of my work with the girls. They are normally WAY more focused and interested in working in the mornings. We were only going to save our school that involved cuddling on the couch for the afternoon.
It is a fantastic plan! I only hope it goes better on Wednesday. Jacob and I think we are experiencing some extinction behavior….where things get worse before they get better. They fought this morning, and scribbled on each other's paper, until Audrey had to get moved to the little table. We did have about 5 minutes of wonderful behavior, which is when I took the pictures.
I think once this plan becomes routine they will do well with it, and realize that when Mom gets up it is still fun school time and not free-for-all play time! Wish us luck!
It is a fantastic plan! I only hope it goes better on Wednesday. Jacob and I think we are experiencing some extinction behavior….where things get worse before they get better. They fought this morning, and scribbled on each other's paper, until Audrey had to get moved to the little table. We did have about 5 minutes of wonderful behavior, which is when I took the pictures.
I think once this plan becomes routine they will do well with it, and realize that when Mom gets up it is still fun school time and not free-for-all play time! Wish us luck!
1/19 Retro and Planning Meeting
What Went Well
Action Items
Schedule for the week
- We stayed mostly on track with our plan for the week, and managed to get a little ahead in History.
- Audrey is starting to tell stories with number bonds and seems to really understand.
- Audrey read aloud every night and is reading very well. We realized that if she looks at the pictures before starting to read to us, and then just focuses on the words she actually reads fairly quickly and does not need as much help with words. It turns out she was just distracted by the art.
- Norse Myths came in the mail!
Areas for Improvement
- Didn't finish grammar lesson 64 or do any other grammar in the week.
- Need to record Audrey doing the poem
- Need to get April the blank cards and a pencil for swim lessons
- Set up Spanish computer.
- Order the extra practice from Singapore Math
- Check if we can download "The Railway Children" by E. Nesbitt
Schedule for the week
- Monday
- early
- Math: Unit 3 - Addition, Chapter 1 (20 mins); number bond drills (10 mins)
- Grammar: Begin Lesson 64 - winter months (15 mins)
- History: Finish Chapter 16 - "The Library of Nineveh," reading with review questions and narration and copy work. (30 mins)
- Reading, TYCTR, Kumon, or coloring with Lorelei
- morning
- Composition: "The Railway Children" by E. Nesbitt, Week 15 day 1 and 2
- Swimming Lessons
- Spelling Lesson 18, review, plus bee
- afternoon
- Science: Read First Human Body Encyclopedia about urinary system, narration and copy work. Look at urinary system on Squishy Body.
- Quiet time (self directed time)
- Create a winter drawing to accompany Grammar Lesson 64
- options include, correspondence, handwriting, art for science or history, needle felting, listening to audio books, reading, making spelling fashcards, rhymes and opposites book, finger knitting
- dinner time
- Poem practice
- Spelling bee
- reading
- The Children's Illustrated Bible
- On The Other Side of the Hill
- Audrey's choice
- Tues
- early
- Math: Unit 3 - Addition, ex: 1&2, plus number bond drills
- Spelling cards
- morning
- Kinderheart
- Mt. View
- afternoon
- Lorelei's Art Class
- dinner time
- Poem practice
- Spelling bee
- reading
- The Children's Illustrated Bible
- On The Other Side of the Hill
- Audrey's choice
- Wednesday
- early
- Math: Unit 3 - Addition, ex 3 and Chapter 2, plus number bond drills
- Grammar: Finish Lesson 64 - pronouns
- History: Chapter 17, section 1: Babylon - Nebuchadnezzar, read, review questions, narration and copy work.
- Reading, TYCTR, Kumon, or coloring with Lorelei
- morning
- Composition: "The Railway Children" by E. Nesbitt - Week 15 day 3 and 4
- History: Chapter 17, section 2: Babylon - The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, read, review questions, narration and copy work.
- Spelling bee
- afternoon
- Science: Read First Human Body Encyclopedia about Reproduction and Growth, narration and copy work
- Quiet time (self directed time)
- Rope World with Living Classroom (4:15p)
- dinner time - eating out or car picnic after rope world
- reading
- The Children's Illustrated Bible
- On The Other Side of the Hill
- Audrey's Choice
- Thursday
- early
- Math: Unit 3 - Addition, ex 4, plus number bond drills
- History: Chapter 17 map work, coloring pages
- Morning
- Grampsy arrives
- Kinderheart
- Mt. View
- afternoon
- Leave for Arapahoe Basin
- Reading
- The Children's Illustrated Bible
- On The Other Side of the Hill
- Audrey's choice
- Friday
- early
- Math: number bond drills - April
- Grammar: Lesson 65 - April
- Saturday
- Ski Lessons at A-Basin
- Sunday
- Grampsy Visiting
1/17 schoolwork
drilled number bonds through 10
SotW V1 Ch 16 on the rise of the Assyrians
answered review questions
took dictation
copywork
coloring an Assyrian bas relief
Circus Skills
SotW V1 Ch 16 on the rise of the Assyrians
answered review questions
took dictation
copywork
coloring an Assyrian bas relief
Circus Skills
1/16 schoolwork
Read from the Usbourne history encyclopedia about dinosaurs, fossils, paleontology, and evolution. Talked about epistemology and different of explanations of our existence.
Audrey finished reading the Pixie Hollow Paint Party
I read another chapter of On the Other SIde of the Hill
Audrey finished reading the Pixie Hollow Paint Party
I read another chapter of On the Other SIde of the Hill
1/15 schoolwork
A
Math: drilled number bonds for 6 and 7
Math: drilled number bonds for 6 and 7
History: finished reading Chapter 15 on the Phoenicians, about Dido and Carthage; review questions, narration and copywork; bull hide activity
Science: digestive system, narration, copywork
Spelling: drill
Science: digestive system, narration, copywork
Spelling: drill
Reading: read aloud the first half of Pixie Hollow Paint Party a level 4 reader
L
TYCTR lesson 3
L
TYCTR lesson 3
Both
Read a chapter of The Other Side of the Hill aloud to both girls.
1/13 progress update
We've shipped out some furniture that we were storing. We've been reading The Essential of Living Aboard a Boat and Sell Up and Sail. We've been working on culling our printed photos and getting the keepers set to digitize. I've been getting boxes of old digital media consolidated onto a single 1.5TB drive and getting rid the old media. This weekend we had a very productive strategy session in the garage working out items to sell, donate, move, and store. I've been learning Spanish with duoLingo. Most exciting: we're going to actually look at some boats and go sailing next month.
1/14 schoolwork
Audrey
Math: number bonds for 7
Math: number bonds for 7
Grammar: lesson 63
Spelling: drill
Reading:
- Read the first chapter of Pirates Past Noon to Audrey
- Read the first chapter of Pirates Past Noon to Audrey
- Audrey read aloud A Game of Hide-and-Seek
Read Audrey a chapter of On the Other Side of the Hill
Kinderheart
Recited "Dancing" with help
Lorelei started TYCTR lesson 2 and had an art class
1/9/2014 Homeschool Journal
Spelling drill
Number bond drill
Read Chapter 14 in History with review questions and narration
Kinderheart
Mt. View
Fabricate
Number bond drill
Read Chapter 14 in History with review questions and narration
Kinderheart
Mt. View
Fabricate
1/13 Schoolwork
Spelling: drill and lesson 17
Grammar: finished Lesson 61
History: started 15; review; narration
Math: number bonds for 6
Composition: week 14, day 4
Science: Our Body's Defense System
Swimming Lessons
Composition: week 14, day 4
Science: Our Body's Defense System
Swimming Lessons
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| Audrey's 1st experimentation with cursive |
1/12/2014 Retro and Planning Meeting
What Went Well
Action Items
Schedule for the week
- Math is going well. Audrey is starting to grasping number bonds
- Audrey is a great speller, and she is reading to us a lot and really doing great. According to the graded readers she is reading at a 3rd grade level.
- We worked on memorizing a new poem this week and found a way to make it more fun!
- Both girls passed into a new level at swim class. Audrey swam the long direction of the pool for her test, and is now learning roll over breaths, and standing dives. Lorelei swam 7 feet alone using both arms and legs to pass her test, and is now learning windmill arms and stream lining.
Areas for Improvement
- We would like to feel like the routine comes more naturally.
- No more skipping planning meetings.
- Complete planning for the year
- Download Charlotte's Web, and Trumpet of the Swan from the Library, The Saturdays
- Plan library trip and return items that are due
- Try to get a movie in Spanish or a couple books in Spanish
- Find a new ancient times reading for our evening schedule (maybe china or norse myth)
- Monday
- early
- Math: number bonds through 10 - exercises with new animal manipulatives
- Grammar: Lesson 61
- Spelling flashcards
- History Chapter 15 - The Phoenicians - section one with review questions and narration.
- morning
- Spelling: lesson 17
- Swimming Lessons
- afternoon
- Science: Read First Body Encyclopedia about defense
- Composition : Week 14, day 4
- Quiet time (self directed time)
- options include, correspondence, handwriting, art for science or history, needle felting, listening to audio books, reading, making spelling fashcards, rhymes and opposites book
- dinner time
- Poem practice
- reading
- In the Land of the Big Red Apple
- Audrey's choice to read to us
- Tues
- early
- Math: number bonds through 10
- Grammar: Lesson 64
- Spelling Flashcards
- Math Flashcards
- morning
- Kinderheart and Mt. View
- dinner time
- Poem practice
- reading
- In the Land of the Big Red Apple
- Audrey's choice to read to us
- Wednesday
- early
- Spanish: Unit 1, lesson 1, finish grammar
- Math: number bonds through 10
- Grammar: Lesson 65
- History Chapter 15 - The Phoenicians - section two with review questions and narration, with map work and coloring page
- morning
- Living Classroom play-date
- Living Classroom play-date
- afternoon
- Spelling: Lesson 18
- Science: Our Body's Defense System
- History: Chapter 16 - The return of Assyria - section 1 with review questions and narration
- Quiet time (self directed time)
- options include, correspondence, handwriting, art for science or history, needle felting, listening to audio books, reading
- dinner time
- Poem practice
- Reading
- In the Land of the Big Red Apple
- Audrey's choice to read to us
- Thursday
- early
- Math: number bonds through 10
- Grammar: Lesson 66
- Morning
- Kinder heart, Mt. View
- Fabricate
- dinner time
- Poem practice
- Reading
- In the Land of the Big Red Apple
- Audrey's choice to read to us
- Friday
- early
- Math: number bonds through 10
- Spanish: Unit 1, lesson 1, finish grammar
- Grammar: Lesson 67
- History: Chapter 16 - The return of Assyria - section 2 with review questions and narration with map work and coloring page
- morning
- Circus Skills
- afternoon
- Play date with Judah
- dinner time
- Poem practice
- Reading
- Saturday
- Ski Lessons at A-Basin
- Sunday
- Weekly planning
- Pick a new poem
- afternoon
- dinner time
- Poem practice
- Reading
- In the Land of the Big Red Apple
- Audrey's choice to read to us
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| Story time |
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| Lorelei practicing stream-line position |
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| Audrey doing backward stream-line |
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| "What do you do if you fall off a boat?"…"Roll over and float!" |
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| field trip with Living Classroom to The Denver Art Museum |
1/8 progress reports
April put a dent in getting our physical photos set to digitize. I worked on getting our baby furniture sold and shipping the day bed to Florida.
1/8 schoolwork
Math: number bond drill
Spelling: drill
History: read the first section of Chapter 14 in SotW V1, answered review questions, dictation and copywork
Science: Read and did dictation and copywork on nails, skin and hair
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