Homeschool Log Friday February 26, 2010

Austin
Normally Austin would have posted to his blog today but we are having internet security issues with the kids computers so he stayed off internet today. He did spend some time with the paint program though, making some designs to post when he can.

He also read a chapter from Pinocchio.

Our youth pastor picked him up around lunchtime today and they went out to lunch together. This was something that Austin has been looking forward to for a couple weeks now and he really enjoyed it.

Amanda
Amanda started reading a new book today - The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson. Once again I think she was surprised at how much she enjoyed the book I picked out for her. She also read some from Cats by Amanda O'Neill.

She spent some time playing Solitaire and Spider Solitaire.

After school her friend Holly (age 11) was here for awhile and the girls had fun together.

This evening she put up some wall decorations in the playroom.

 

  

  

Austin and Amanda

We read two chapters from The Shack by Wm. Paul Young this afternoon. We also read 2 Kings 8:7-15, 25-29 and 2 Kings 9.

Both kids did their daily chores, helped with the younger kids and took care of their pets.

Homeschool Log Tuesday February 16, 2010

I asked Amanda and Austin today if they liked the changes I have made in the schedule. Austin said he did. Amanda said even if she did a little she wouldn't admit it. I'll take that as a yes.

Here is a summary of what we did today.

Both Austin and Amanda -
This afternoon we read 2 Chronicles 19-20 and one chapter from Rilla of Ingleside. Both kids did their daily chores, helped with the younger kids and took care of their pets.

Austin -
Austin watched one of the Language Arts videos (Conjunction Junction) from Gamequarium, and completed one of the addition lessons from Mr. Ankers' Computation. He also read a chapter from Pinocchio. This afternoon he started making a time line that we are going to put on the wall in the hallway. We also read To the Men at South Pole Station written by Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd, USN and published in The National Geographic Magazine in July 1957. We started reading We Are Living at the South Pole by Paul A. Siple and published in the same issue of The National Geographic Magazine. We will read more of this article tomorrow. Later this evening Austin spent some time doing art work with his friend Zac (age 11) and then building with K-nex with his friend Tristan (age 12).Just before he went to bed this evening he watched an episode of Star Trek.

Amanda -
Amanda completed the More Adding Practice page from her Math Skills and Drills workbook and the Prepositions page from her Language Arts workbook. She also spent over an hour today moving things from her room into the hallway so that we can begin working on a major three room redecorating project. She and Michael will be switching rooms and both rooms will be repainted. We will also be repainting the kids bathroom upstairs.She spent a lot of her free time today playing Sally's Salon on her laptop. In this game time management skills are very important to keep all the customers happy. Happy customers equal good income. Good income allows the purchase of new and better equipment as well as hiring new hair dressers. And so the business grows.

Homeschool Log Wednesday January 6, 2010

Cold, cold, cold. It is just plain old cold here.

We finished reading Ecclesiastes today and also read 1 Kings 11. The Bible we're using right now is arranged in chronological order and we've enjoyed this version. It is easier to follow. We also read a chapter from  Rilla of Ingleside.

Both Austin and Amanda enjoyed having friends here this afternoon. And while I stay inside and complain about how cold it is, they bundle up and go out to enjoy some fresh air. I'm so glad to see them do that. And I'm so glad I get to stay inside!

This evening the child/youth program at our church resumed after a two week Christmas break. All three kids went as well as Amanda's two friends who were here this afternoon. Austin came back full of excitement about all the fun things that are being planned for the youth group in the next few months. It sounds like he's going to be busy.

Chores, helping with the kids, computer games and watching some TV rounded out their day.

Christmas Break - Homeschool Log 12/21/09

We have finally dug out from all the snow that fell on us this weekend. Mostly. Final measurement was 30 inches. That is almost unheard of in this area.

I haven't assigned any schoolwork to Austin and Amanda for this week and will not for next week either. They do still have their regular chores but other than that they are on Christmas Break.

For the next two weeks I am going to log the things they do on their own. So much learning is accomplished outside of traditional lesson  plans.

Both Austin and Amanda watched Mystery of the Crystal Skull. This was a 30 minute program that looked into a crystal skull found in the Mayan ruins. It actually came on the Syfy channel but it had a lot of history, geography and science packed into 30 minutes. Austin also watched part of The Roswell Crash: Startling New Evidence. Once again this show was on the Syfy channel and once again I was surprised to see how much actual science and history was in this program. It was a two hour program but Austin only watched the last hour.

One of Austin's friends was here today and they spent a long time this afternoon building and playing with Knex and action figures. They had a great time together. Austin has requested another set of Knex for Christmas. He spends hours building with the sets he already has. It has been fun to watch his creativity blossom with these.

Amanda read a lot today. She's reading book 4 of the Keystone Stables series by Marsha Hubler. Teamwork at Camp Tioga has really captured her interest. In fact she has enjoyed the whole series of  books.

This evening she made Double Cheese Macaroni and Cheese. She doubled the recipe and once again she had a fraction workout. She also had to convert measurements in ounces to cups. She did a good job on the math and the cooking and there were not leftovers.

Homeschool Log Tuesday 12/15/09

The kids did not do any cooking today! Amanda said she wanted a break for a day from cooking. I'm not surprised, since she did so much cooking yesterday.

Austin finally completed this math lesson with an A+ today. It's a goal he's been working toward for the last two weeks. He was always able to complete it with an A but was not happy with that. For him it's often all or nothing. He also watched Adjectives for Armando (Part 3) on the Gamequarium site and did a Dance Mat Typing lesson. Well, he tried to do a Dance Mat Typing lesson. Both times he tried the computer froze up halfway through the lesson. When Amanda tried ten minutes later it worked fine and she was able to complete a lesson.

Both kids finished Oliver Twist today.They really enjoyed this book and since Austin and I read together I got to enjoy it as well. I don't think we'll start a new assigned reading book until after Christmas break.

Amanda completed a worksheet (adding decimals) from her math workbook and a worksheet (More Irregular Verbs) from her Language Arts workbook.

This afternoon we spent some time reading together. We read Ecclesiastes 1-3, and chapters 15 and 16 from Rilla of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery. We also read the section from our Life Science book titled "DNA is the Information Molecule."

We had a break from the recent cold weather today and both Austin and Amanda took the chance to get outside and get some fresh air and exercise. Austin and his friend Zac went out and played football for awhile when Zac got here after school. Amanda went out with some of the younger kids after lunch. It did her and them a lot of good to get some fresh air. And an added benefit (for me anyway) was how well they slept at naptime.

Now they are watching Serious Amazon on Discovery Kids. When that is over we will watch Strange Days at Blake Holsey High. It's our evening routine that we all three enjoy.

Homeschool Log Monday 12/14/09

The kids are still in cooking mode. They just can't seem to get enough of it.

Austin found a recipe for an omelette he wanted to make. I wasn't sure what it would taste like since it had both bacon and tuna in it. Somehow that seemed to me like a rather unlikely combination. But it turned out really good.


He really needs some extra work on fractions and cooking has proven to be a fun way to slip in some practice. I've noticed a difference in his comprehension already.

I also gave Amanda a mental workout when I told her I wanted her to triple a recipe that had quiet a few ingredients and lots of opportunity to multiply fractions. She didn't like it but it was wonderful practice. She tackled three recipes today - Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies (very chocolaty), Twice Baked Potatoes and Meatballs and Cheesy Shells ( this is the recipe she tripled, I now have a ready made meal in my freezer).

Austin also spent quite a bit of time on the computer on the Disney games site and playing Mahjong, while Amanda played Solitaire on the computer.

Both Austin and Amanda watched Animal Cops Philadelphia and Austin also watched an hour of Big Cat Diary on Animal Planet.

When Austin's friend Zac was here after school the two boys went outside and played tag for awhile and then came in and played Go Fish.

Doing their chores, helping with the younger kids, and taking care of their pets, along with watching a few other TV shows rounded out their day.

Homeschool Log Friday 12/11/09

Cooking was the highlight of our day at home - again.

Austin made a ham and potato casserole that was really really good. There were no leftovers.



Amanda made a batch of Saucepan Fudgies. We were both amazed at how many fudge cookies this recipe made. We were also amazed at how fast they disappeared. It left Amanda complaining about how fast all her hard work disappeared. I told her welcome to my world.




This evening they both went to church to practice for the Christmas program they are going to have part in. Austin has the part of the inn keeper and Amanda is an angel.

Homeschool Log 12/09/09

It's been a calm, rather quiet day.

The kids got their chores done this morning, took care of their pets (Amanda's pet rats and Austin's pet hermit crabs) and spent some time with the younger kids.


Austin spent some time on the computer playing Mahjong as well as some games from the Disney site. We were going to make candy cane cookies together today and then I discovered I was missing a key ingredient. Hopefully I remember it the next time I'm at the store so we can make them over the weekend.This afternoon he watched the Biography channel for about an hour. When his friend Zac got here after school they went outside and played tag hide-and-seek awhile. When they got tired of that they came in and played Go Fish.



Amanda finished book two in the Keystone Stables series by Marsha Hubler. The title of this one is "A True Test for Skye." The story is about a teenage girl in foster care. After a long struggle (book 1) she finds stability in a family of people who love her. In book 2 she helps another teenager allow herself to fill the love and support from her new family.

Austin, Amanda and Michael went with Doug to the Wednesday evening children's program at our church this evening. Austin and Michael love it, Amanda is more of a homebody and goes somewhat reluctantly, but I feel like the social interaction is good for her. She gets a lot of interaction with kids and adults of all ages and walks of life here, but sometimes it's good for her too also experience it away from home.