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.

Say What?

Amanda was trying to get out of doing her afternoon schoolwork today. I was distracted and only half paying attention to our own conversation until the last couple of sentences.

Amanda - What's the point of literature?

Me - To expand your mind.

Amanda - My mind is already so big it's about to pop out of my head. It's the size of a peanut!

If this is your idea of a convincing argument for getting out of doing your schoolwork my dear, you are going to have to think again. It's not working.

Literature is really her favorite subject, maybe that's why she used such an unconvincing argument.

Homeschool Log Thursday 12/10/09

Austin and Amanda both had a busy day today.

Austin spent some time on the computer again. He visited the Mr. Anker site again and did this math activity. He also went to Gamequarium and watched Adjectives for Armando (part 2).And he spent a good bit of time playing Mahjong.

Both Austin and Amanda did a lesson from Dance Mat Typing. I've been really pleased with how quickly they are picking up typing and actually enjoying it.

Amanda did a worksheet from her Addition Drills and Skills workbook (Adding Three Digit Numbers) and a worksheet from her Language Arts Grammar Skills workbook (Irregular Verbs).

This afternoon we spent about an hour reading together. We read the Song of Solomon from the Bible. We read the chapter titled "Meiosis is a Special Form of Cell Division" from our Life Science Book. We also read chapters 13 and 14 from "Rilla of Ingleside" by L. M. Montgomery.

Both Austin and Amanda read chapter 24 from "Oliver Twist" by Charles Dickens. (Great Illustrated Classics)

Doing their chores, helping with the younger kids and unstructured free time rounded out their day.

Austin and Amanda spent the evening at their grandparents house, as they do nearly every Thursday evening.

Homeschool Log 12/08/09

This is how I found the kitchen chairs stacked while Austin was sweeping the kitchen floor. I started to scold and decided to just grab the camera instead. How can I complain about creativity and imagination. Maybe he'll be an architect someday and then I'll show him this picture again.

Speaking of creativity - Amanda kept the little kids entertained with this Molly doll tied to her head. They were a little amazed at her antics.


Both Austin and Amanda wanted to do some cooking this week so Sunday we went through some recipes and they chose what they wanted to cook.

Amanda chose Double Cheese Macaroni and Cheese. If I would allow her too I think she would make macaroni and cheese 90% of her diet.





Ok, what was the next step?

It took longer to make the sauce than she thought it would and she got really tired of standing at the stove and stirring. The fact that my stove is really slow didn't help any.


Daddy took pity and stirred awhile. I'm not sure what's up with the goofy look on his face here.


Somebody get really silly when she's bored!

Finally the sauce is done!


And the macaroni is ready for the oven.

It turned out really,really good. I was counting on some leftovers to use later in the week but there were none.

Since we doubled the recipe Amanda got in a lot of practice doubling fractions. I thought that was wonderful. She did not.

Austin decided to make Green Bean Casserole.




Austin spent quite a bit of time on line today and visited these sites - this activity at the Mr. Ankers' site, the Adjectives for Armando (Part 1) video at Gamequarium,
the Dance Mat Typing (he has reached level 4, stage 10) and Disney Channel games. Amanda also did a the same Dance Mat Typing lesson but really was not on the computer much after that.

Amanda completed two worksheets - Which Tense Is It? from her Language Arts workbook and Practice Makes Perfect from her Skills and Drills Addition workbook.

Both Austin and Amanda read chapter 23 - Sikes' Last Stand from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (Great Illustrated Classics).

Austin watched two shows on the Biography channel this afternoon and both kids watched some Disney. It has become an evening routine that at 9:00PM Austin, Amanda and I sit down together and watch "Strange Days at Blake Holsey High" on Discovery Kids. The show is an interesting mix of science and drama. Some of the content is better characterized as science fiction. But however it's classified, we've all three been drawn in.

Yesterday I posted a link to a Nutcracker drawing lesson. Today the follow up unit study ideas are also available at Miss Julie's Place. There are a lot of great ideas as well as related links, so head on over and enjoy.

Tension and Relaxation

Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are. -Chinese Proverb

Today has been one of those days when it seemed like we could not settle down and wrap our minds around anything of substance. So I decided not to allow it to cause tension because of what we were not accomplishing and instead relax and let us be ourselves.

Austin and Amanda got their daily chores done and spent a lot of time with the younger kids. They also watched a few shows on Discovery Kids.





This evening we went grocery shopping and Austin and Amanda both did some Christmas shopping. They used their own money, chose the items themselves and calculated whether they had enough money to buy what they chose. (math)

And while I'm on the subject of math here is a math resource that looks like it could have some value for middle and high school students - Math Vids. Austin seems to learn a lot better if I throw in a lot of lessons on video so I'm always on the lookout for these kinds of resourcs.


As I was thinking today of what we did and did not (and it mostly feels like did not today) I came across the blog post that I just had to share with you. "Letter From an Imperfect Homeschooler" at Life with my 3 Boybarians was very encouraging to me and I hope it will be to you to.

And here is another blog with an interesting post - this nutcracker from Miss Julie's Place looks like fun to draw and there will be a unit study coming later based on this project. It sounds interesting.

A Few Glimpses Into Our Homeschool Day

Brothers sharing a love for music.


Amanda indulging her passion for cooking -especially scrambled eggs.



It always thrills me to see the older kids enjoy spending time with the younger ones.

Daily chores.


Austin has, on his own, taken on the challenge of reading through the Bible. I've been amazed with his determination and persistence and he's making some real progress toward meeting his goal.