As I was going up the stair,
I met a man who wasn't there;
He wasn't there again today!
I wish, I wish, he'd stay away.
After reading this poem, E-R matter-of-factly declared, "I think Hughes Mearns is crazy."
I believe she's correct.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
The Little Man Who Wasn't There by Hughes Mearns
After reading this poem, E-R matter-of-factly declared, "I think Hughes Mearns is crazy."
I believe she's correct.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Constitution Day is September 17th
Constitution Day commemorates the day our national government-as we know it today-began. This is the day that the delegates to the Philadelphia Convention completed and signed the U.S. Constitution. Here are some really neat online resources to help in the study of the Constitution.
United Government Archives
Online activities at The Constitution Center Website
Living Books has also put together an awesome study of the Constitution. It includes a history of the Constitution, artwork, poetry, and much more. Check it out here.
Living Books Constitution Study
Happy Constitution Day a bit early. Enjoy.
United Government Archives
Online activities at The Constitution Center Website
Living Books has also put together an awesome study of the Constitution. It includes a history of the Constitution, artwork, poetry, and much more. Check it out here.
Living Books Constitution Study
Happy Constitution Day a bit early. Enjoy.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Week in Review September 10, 2010
Three day short week, but we managed to do okay. Since we slept in on Monday and Thursday, getting up was so hard the other days. We are actually looking forward to our full weeks coming up so the routine will kick in.
Memory Work is going wonderfully! We've memorized the first four poems in Linguistic Development, worked through the first chapter in Lyrical Life Science Human Body, learned the definitions of the first nine words in Vocabulary Cartoons, reviewed our seven times tables, and retained Moses 1:39.
Literature is going well. E practiced annotating with The Ransom of Red Chief. Together for fun, we annotated Marginalia by Billy Collins. And for free-reading, E read Inkheart. E-R and I-E are finishing The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler over the weekend. E-R's free-read Titan's Curse, and I-E's was the sixth book in The Series of Unfortuntant Events.
Rod and Staff covered more information on sentences---clauses, fragments, and prepositional phrases within the subject. Easy peasey so far!
Math reviewed dividing by double digit numbers for E-R and I-E. E is almost finished with his pre-algebra. Algebra is waiting for him next week!
In History we studied the government of the Roman Republic. We added info to our timelines, outlined sections of our book, and rewrote those sections.
Art this week was about balance. First we measured our own faces and where our features fell on our faces. Then we practiced drawing those same dimensions. Next, we experimented with different dimensions. It was quite enjoyable.
Memory Work is going wonderfully! We've memorized the first four poems in Linguistic Development, worked through the first chapter in Lyrical Life Science Human Body, learned the definitions of the first nine words in Vocabulary Cartoons, reviewed our seven times tables, and retained Moses 1:39.
Literature is going well. E practiced annotating with The Ransom of Red Chief. Together for fun, we annotated Marginalia by Billy Collins. And for free-reading, E read Inkheart. E-R and I-E are finishing The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler over the weekend. E-R's free-read Titan's Curse, and I-E's was the sixth book in The Series of Unfortuntant Events.
Rod and Staff covered more information on sentences---clauses, fragments, and prepositional phrases within the subject. Easy peasey so far!
Math reviewed dividing by double digit numbers for E-R and I-E. E is almost finished with his pre-algebra. Algebra is waiting for him next week!
In History we studied the government of the Roman Republic. We added info to our timelines, outlined sections of our book, and rewrote those sections.
Art this week was about balance. First we measured our own faces and where our features fell on our faces. Then we practiced drawing those same dimensions. Next, we experimented with different dimensions. It was quite enjoyable.
Science was a blast this week and earned its own post for YES! We did Science! Friday.
How was your week?
Feel free to check out what other homeschoolers did this week!
YES! We did Science! Friday
We did Science this Week!
We took turns reading chapter 2 of The Story of Science: Newton at the Center. This chapter covered the black death, introduced the Renaissance, and mentioned Christopher Columbus, Leonardo da Vinci, and Copernicus. The main idea was the change in science from thinking to experimenting . Everyone chose a different interest box to read and fill out a worksheet summarizing the main idea.
Our art tie-in this week was of course Leonardo da Vinci. We studied The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. We also learned that Leonardo da Vinci had a hard time finishing projects. One year he started 17 different projects; he finished six. Evidently procrastination is not a recent phenomenon!
I assigned Leonardo Da Vinci : The Genius Who Defined the Renaissance as extra credit.
Anyone who reads this book and turns in a list of twenty facts from the book will receive a voucher to turn in which will excuse them from one science homework assignment. What a scramble to be the first one to grab the book!
We also enjoyed browsed Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself
E-R decided to build Walk on Water Shoes.
The adventure began at the hardware store. We bought the needed Styrofoam, but unfortunately it did not fit in the car for the trip home. A return trip was in store---this time with the tools needed to cute the Styrofoam to a size that fit in the car.
Next, a LOT of cutting and measuring.
And then LOTS and LOTS of duct tape!
After a day of hard work---time to test the masterpieces out.
Well, we're sure not Remy Bricka !
But we did have fun!
What did you do for science this week?
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Homeschool find of the Week
\
what the heck is that white rectangle? you may be wondering!
Why, it is one of the greatest inventions of mankind!
The whiteboard.
Lots of homeschoolers have whiteboards. Some have made an art of making them on the cheap and including them in their decor.
This particular model, described here., is a bit different.
This is the lap whiteboard. It is meant to be held by one student.
If you value peace in your home, one per student will be percurred!
Students can doodle all through-out the day and still have fresh clean books.
Working on math problems become fun.
Spelling words suddenly appear in multi-colors and multi-fonts.
Perhaps, your homeschool could use some lap whiteboards,
I know mine has improved for having some around.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Week in Review September 2, 2010
Disclaimer---I have lost my camera battery charger---I distinctly remember putting it somewhere--when I figure out where that is I will be back with pictures!
With three short days, this week was a perfect way to slide back into the school schedule. We've made our way through everything planned for the week. And so far this year I seem to have more down time--I guess that means I won't have an excuse for not cleaning! I am ex-specially proud that we were able to get up at 5 everyday except for one day.
The kids put together their schedules last week and for the most part they worked. Some things they realized they had scheduled for way too long. E realized he hadn't scheduled LA at all on Friday! All realized more independent time is going to be needed.
Math--E worked with negative numbers this week. He is working towards finishing his pre-algebra textbook and soon will start algebra with ALEKS online. E-R and I-E continued on in Singapore Math working on mental math and word problems. I-E was quite frustrated working on mental math. I've discovered her method actually takes longer than writing out the problem. So I worked on taking her step through step through each problem. Child melt-down ensued. And then mother melt-down ensued! I should have replied to her declaration of I'M NO GOOD AT THIS with a that's okay---we all have things we're better at and things we need to work on. And that's why we're working on this. You will get better with practice. But--sigh--I didn't. There is next week!
English--Everyone began a new Rod and Staff English book. Subjects and Predicates began the books. And the first writing assignments --- a short story.
History--Found us finishing up the Ancient Greeks with Alexander the Great and moving on to the founding of Rome. E-R and I-E began a lap book on the Greeks. This year, E will be researching two history topics each week and then picking one to write a paper on. I'm slowly easing him into the process by starting out with filling in his research sheets. This week he choose to study Alexander the Great.
Spelling---some of our words: fiendish, Spanish, Danish, British, tongues, accomplishments, decompress, kiss, dismiss, truss
Art---We started art off with a cool interview of Joyce Scott. Her bead work (scroll down to see an awesome beaded teapot) was a favorite. She also works in paper which inspired us to pull out our papermill kit. Unfortunately our blender needs a new part to work, so we couldn't get to work right away. BUT, I finally ordered that $4 blender part that I've needed for about 5 months! Hopefully, next week we will make some paper. For now, the kids made some collages with pasta. I was wondering what the burning smell was wafting from the dining room. They got creative and used candles to burn their pasta so it be a different color! The finished creations ranged from cat faces to car races.
Memory---scriptures, poetry, seven times tables, and cells.
I made it through the week! The kids made it through the week! Now off for a long four day weekend!
With three short days, this week was a perfect way to slide back into the school schedule. We've made our way through everything planned for the week. And so far this year I seem to have more down time--I guess that means I won't have an excuse for not cleaning! I am ex-specially proud that we were able to get up at 5 everyday except for one day.
The kids put together their schedules last week and for the most part they worked. Some things they realized they had scheduled for way too long. E realized he hadn't scheduled LA at all on Friday! All realized more independent time is going to be needed.
Math--E worked with negative numbers this week. He is working towards finishing his pre-algebra textbook and soon will start algebra with ALEKS online. E-R and I-E continued on in Singapore Math working on mental math and word problems. I-E was quite frustrated working on mental math. I've discovered her method actually takes longer than writing out the problem. So I worked on taking her step through step through each problem. Child melt-down ensued. And then mother melt-down ensued! I should have replied to her declaration of I'M NO GOOD AT THIS with a that's okay---we all have things we're better at and things we need to work on. And that's why we're working on this. You will get better with practice. But--sigh--I didn't. There is next week!
English--Everyone began a new Rod and Staff English book. Subjects and Predicates began the books. And the first writing assignments --- a short story.
History--Found us finishing up the Ancient Greeks with Alexander the Great and moving on to the founding of Rome. E-R and I-E began a lap book on the Greeks. This year, E will be researching two history topics each week and then picking one to write a paper on. I'm slowly easing him into the process by starting out with filling in his research sheets. This week he choose to study Alexander the Great.
Spelling---some of our words: fiendish, Spanish, Danish, British, tongues, accomplishments, decompress, kiss, dismiss, truss
Art---We started art off with a cool interview of Joyce Scott. Her bead work (scroll down to see an awesome beaded teapot) was a favorite. She also works in paper which inspired us to pull out our papermill kit. Unfortunately our blender needs a new part to work, so we couldn't get to work right away. BUT, I finally ordered that $4 blender part that I've needed for about 5 months! Hopefully, next week we will make some paper. For now, the kids made some collages with pasta. I was wondering what the burning smell was wafting from the dining room. They got creative and used candles to burn their pasta so it be a different color! The finished creations ranged from cat faces to car races.
Memory---scriptures, poetry, seven times tables, and cells.
I made it through the week! The kids made it through the week! Now off for a long four day weekend!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
What not to do when the teacher stays out too late celebrating her birthday!
She should not hit snooze over and over again.
She should not call her students into her bedroom an hour after the official breakfast time to tell them breakfast is a piece of chocolate cake.
She should not skip her morning grooming in favor of dirty sweats.
She should not "rest" her eyes in between calling out the words of the spelling test.
She should not get frustrated during mental math and raise her voice.
She should not ignore the laundry.
She SHOULD just take a nap and call it a day!
She should not call her students into her bedroom an hour after the official breakfast time to tell them breakfast is a piece of chocolate cake.
She should not skip her morning grooming in favor of dirty sweats.
She should not "rest" her eyes in between calling out the words of the spelling test.
She should not get frustrated during mental math and raise her voice.
She should not ignore the laundry.
She SHOULD just take a nap and call it a day!
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