I had quite a bit of paperwork and phone calls to catch up with this week. I still have more paperwork, phone call and appointments to take care of, but I'm beginning to see the light.
In our homeschool this week…
In our homeschool this week…
We began Unit 4 of Year 2 of Tapestry of Grace this week, the Age of Revolutions. We all learned about Benjamin Franklin. TS 1 also read about England's colonization of India, while TS 2 and TS 3 learned about John Harrison and how his sea clocks solved the problem of sailors knowing their longitude at sea.
We also spent some time learning more about Martin Luther King, Jr. this week thanks to the ideas Mary posted on her blog, Homegrown Learners. If you are looking for at your fingertips ideas you can carry out easily to teach about MLK, that post is the place to go! The boys have been working on the copy work pages Mary created. They both read Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.? this week, too. We all watched MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech on You Tube. I'm planning for us to watch the documentary Mary mentioned next week.
Some computer learning
TOG Unit 2 Lapbook Complete
One of TS 3's journal entries
Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…
Slow down, read aloud more and listen to your children. (Reminding myself here, too!) I am certainly guilty of speeding around and being too "busy" to really listen. I've been making more of an effort to do just that, both during the homeschool day and during our family time. It's been a blessing, not just to my children, but to me as well!
I am inspired by…
From Benjamin Franklin to John Harrison to Martin Luther King, Jr., this was an uplifting week for all of us as we studied these interesting, inspiring and world-changing men!I am inspired by…
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
Dance class, gymnastics, basketball practices and games, baseball clinic and playdates- oh my!
My favorite thing this week was…
Returning to co-op! I am not teaching this semester, and as much as I loved teaching the U.S. Government and Elections classes in the fall, I am grateful for the semester off. No prep work the night before, no lugging posters and bags back and forth the morning of, and no rushing out the door to arrive early for set up on Friday mornings. The kids seem to love their new classes as well as the ones that are continuing from first semester.
What’s working/not working for us…
We seem to be chugging along fairly smoothly overall right now, except for TS 3's math. We are floundering a bit, and I am trying to decide what to do. As you may remember, TS 3 was in Kindergarten at school last year, and we are doing Kindergarten here at home this year as well. She is on the younger end of the spectrum for her grade, so I wanted to give her more time for some basic concepts to gel. I did decide on the Alpha level of Math-U-See, however, for her this year, rather than the Primer level because that seemed too basic for her. She has been doing well up until now. It seems we need to shore up some of her fundamental math concepts before going on with the addition facts, though. I have been supplementing with games and ideas from friends, but I am thinking about getting the Kindergarten or 1A level of Singapore Math as a supplement as well. I would use it to build up some fundamental skills and when she seems ready, we would return to Math-U-See.
Things I’m working on…
Getting back to a more consistent Quiet Time routine each morning. I am a night owl by nature, so I struggle to get myself to bed before 11 p.m. on any given night. That makes rising at 6 a.m. very difficult for me. I know how important it is for me to spend time alone with the Lord before the demands of the day begin, so I am trying to reset the body clock to do just that.
Endless resources and helps for homeschool, both online and real life. The opportunity to learn alongside my children, and to be (with my husband) the primary shapers of their worldview.
Friends that make me laugh, and the ability to stay connected with them through texting and social media right in the midst of this homeschool experiment of ours.
Friends that make me laugh, and the ability to stay connected with them through texting and social media right in the midst of this homeschool experiment of ours.
A photo, video, link, or quote to share (silly, serious or both!)…
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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