Weekly Wrap-Up #7 - Ditching Math and Hurt Feelings

Bible Verse: Ephesians 6:13

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 

Song of the Week: I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy

State this Week:  Oklahoma

Wow -- where to start this week? First of all, it was a WONDERFUL homeschooling week.  Everything was relaxed and productive.    I bit the bullet and finally jumped out of the traditional math program for my oldest.   She has been using Horizons for nearly three years and her mastery level is wonderful, but she just doesn't like math. I really thought about the way MOST people use math and is all of this math in the traditional books very applicable to our lives??   So, on the advice of Tristan (Our Busy Homeschool) I downloaded Charlotte Mason's Business Math Series - Your Pet Store.    This is a math curriculum recommended for 8-12 year olds and it is very real world.  Basically, this week Miss B opened her own pet shop.  What did this encompass?

* determining her inventory

* ordering the inventory

* making price tags (after figuring some 100 and 150% markups)

* updating the ledger

There was quite a bit of math involved (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages), but it was very enjoyable, and I love that she can see the real life applications of math.  Now my six year old wants to open a pet store, too!   We are just in the beginning stages of this math, but I recommend it to you if you want a change of pace and some fun.   We aren't totally abandoning our math textbook... but we need a break.

In the title of the post you noticed "Hurt Feelings".  I must say that my mama bear instinct came out in a BIG way this week.   Miss B has been friends with a neighbor girls ever since we moved into our subdivision (6 years ago).  As the girls have gotten older their interests have changed, but they have constantly remained friends.   My daughter's friend goes to a Christian private school.   When the girls were playing outside this week I heard my daughter's friend say to her "I'm having a birthday party on Friday, but I didn't invite you because you wouldn't really know how to act around kids that go to school."  Ouch.  That hurt.   Miss B and I talked about it, and (while it didn't surprise her), her feelings were hurt. I have a sneaking suspicion that this statement was probably heard from an adult in her family; what do you think?    Miss B had a present for her friend and was excited for her 10th birthday.  Yesterday as we were playing outside in the afternoon, all of the party guests began to show up... and from inside our family room last night all you could hear was sounds of screaming and giggles as the girls jumped on the trampoline and played outside.    

This is not a situation where I will talk to the girl's mother - I am pretty certain it will fall on deaf ears, but it IS a situation where as homeschoolers and Christians we have a chance to let our light shine.  (A friend of mine from our co-op offered me that wise advice).   Miss B will take her present to her friend this afternoon lovingly and wish her a Happy Birthday.   We talked about how many times the Bible says we are to forgive and to always show love to people, but I also explained to my daughter that with this forgiveness should probably come a guarding of her heart as well.   I think it might be a while before she wants to play with this friend again, and that's OK with me.    Girls of this age can be so vicious and cruel, and it just makes me SAD.

On to happier things....  we were very interested in our birds this week!  Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day is such a wonderful science text.  We spotted at least 6 different types of birds in our yard/deck this week.   The Black Capped Chickadee is very common: 

 

We also visited a local nature/wild bird store and spoke with the owner about attracting birds to our yard.  We picked up the GREATEST matching game, with 50 types of birds! The cards are heavy and give the common and scientific names.  It also comes with a huge poster.   

It took us over 30 minutes to play just one game, but the kids played another game without me later in the day, so they were willing to spend the time.

  

Miss B has been particularly interested in horses the past few weeks.   She is taking a Horse class at our co-op and is learning about what it takes to purchase and maintain your own horse!   She has a friend at our church who is very interested in riding and has her own horse, and last weekend Miss B went to her riding lesson and an eventing competition.   At the library we checked out some books about horses (many of them American Girl) and she also downloaded Black Beauty on her Kindle and started reading it this week!   Last night we watched Secretariat as well.  The whole family is learning about horses now.  This is INTEREST LED LEARNING at its best!  

The heat wave has broken here, so one day we ate our lunch by the lake and continued to read Caddie Woodlawn.  It was so peaceful, and we also found lots of bird feathers for our science study!  

Our history studies have us learning about Julius Caesar now.  We just scratched the surface this week with a chapter in Story of The World, and the kids had fun playing "Caesar's Ransom" game from the activity guide.  It is similar to Battleship - you hide Caesar (a penny) somewhere on your grid and then the other player guesses where he is.  We used marshmallows as markers.   We also started reading The Wadjet Eye, which so far is a great book!  I know I always say this, but I LOVE Story of the World!  

While I made lunch one day, the kids went outside together to finish GMan's Lego sticker book he has been avidly working on.  I snapped this picture because it symbolizes to me the bond that my children are developing.   They truly are each other's best friends, and for this I am so grateful!  

We also loved getting a new issue of National Geographic Kids.   I keep a basket with Highlights, library books, and National Geographics in the car so the kids can read while we are going places.   

I know I'm missing so much of what went on this week, but what I want to remember most is the peacefulness of the week, and how my children are continuing to let me be their GUIDE and not their TEACHER.    


I'm happily joining Kris for the Weekly Wrap Up!  

Weekly Wrap Up #6 - Bye Bye TV!

Week 6:

Scripture Memory:  Psalm 1 (continued from last week)

Composer/Composition:  Vivaldi's Four Seasons

Read-Aloud:  Caddie Woodlawn & The Kid Who Only Hit Homers

Oh sure, I could go through each subject for the weekly wrap-up, but as I look back at the week it occurs to me that it was a hodge podge of many things.   We did accomplish all of the "basics", but it was the extras and fun things that stick out to me this week.   

The heat has broken and now in the morning it's not so hot when we take the dog out, and we can hear the birds singing! This is good, because we are learning about bird songs in Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day!   If you use this science book, might I recommend Birdjam?  We love it! (In fact, this was our favorite resource this week -- I'm linking to Learning All The Time!)  As we listened to the birdcalls of birds found in our yard, I could see the lightbulbs going off in the kids' heads... so amazing to us that God created so many birds with so many unique and beautiful songs.  

This past week was a bit of a milestone for us.  We gave up all forms of pay television.  Now we only use our ROKU box and have a monthly subscription to HULU (which is FAR cheaper than satellite or cable!).  Last night when the president was giving his speech I just watched it on the iPad via Fox News.  I think the way we watch television is changing and it is ridiculous to pay the high costs cable providers and satellite providers are asking.   We've been hooked on a wonderful show, that I know would interest homeschoolers:  Buried Treasure.  You would be amazed at what we've been learning about art and culture in general from this show.   Try watching it with your family and let me know what you think.  

   

Miss B did a little sewing.  She picked out these fabrics and wants to make some pillows.  She started hand sewing while she watches Little House on the Prairie.  (I really have an old soul on my hands!) The top fabric she thought looked like something Caddie Woddlawn might have worn!  

To conclude our study of Ohio, we made Buckeyes (oh yum!) together.   Miss B delivered some to our neighbor (who is from Ohio) and sat down with him to interview him about his state.  This was a fun way to learn more, and our neighbor loved sharing that the first stop light occured in Ohio!  

The kids both worked on "The Year" from First Language Lessons.  They are illustrating it a bit at a time.  This was really just supposed to be for GMan, but Miss wanted to join in, too.  

In The Story of The World, we were reading about Ancient China and tangrams.  I pulled out our set of tangrams (we love  these Mighty Mind tangrams!) and I left the kids alone with them.   I told them to take a picture of each card as they completed it, and that worked well.   I found these tangrams at TJ Maxx for $4.99 last year -- I love bargain shopping!

Our 50 state study is going very well.   We worked on notebooking pages for Ohio, and also got out our state quarters sets.  My dad made a set of these for all of the grandchildren, and we are using ours quite a bit!  

Co-Op started Thursday!  The kids were SO glad to see their friends again and they both have very interesting classes.   The fun thing to do is play on the lawn with your friends before and after co-op.

It's also fun to chat with your friends or play thumb wars before assembly! 

This weekend is my husband's birthday (on 9/11).  We are going to celebrate with family and I'm making the cake from the cover of this month's Southern Living!  (I'm expecting mine to look just like the picture!) Sunday is a busy and exciting day because we have Hal's birthday and also a candidate for pastor coming to our church.  Our pianist is out of town, so I will be playing the service... no stress there!

I have two books to read with my children about 9/11 and hope I can explain this to them in a sensitive manner.  I've never sheltered them from the events of the day, but this will be the first time we've gone in depth.

I have to admit it's been a long week and I'm tired!  The kids didn't wake up this morning until 8:30 a.m. because we have had some late nights.  Miss B is spending the night with a friend and then going to a horse show tomorrow and GMan and dad will be at baseball practice, so I hope to get caught up with some housecleaning and other things.   

How was your week?   Can you believe it's nearly fall?

*I'm happily linking today with Learning All The Time and Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers!

Weekly Wrap Up #5 - Sports are Starting

Scripture Memory:  Psalm 1

Composition of the Week:  The Stars and Stripes Forever, by John Philip Sousa

Song of The Week:  America (My Country 'Tis of Thee)

Artist:  Georgia O'Keeffe

State studied:  Ohio

Where did the whole week go?   It seems like it was just Monday, so I'm glad I write these weekly wrap-ups to keep track of everything.  (I apologize in advance for a long post - I've said before these wrap-ups are a way for me to keep track of what we accomplish - I print them and put them in our homeschool binder!) We managed to get a couple of good outdoor outings this week; one day it was lunch and playtime at a local park, and another day it was a nature walk to Line Creek.  We were hoping to see birds (to go along with our science study), but it was just too hot and the middle of the day.  Next time we need to go early morning!  We rounded the week out with all afternoon swimming on Friday... some much needed relaxation for all of us!

Most of all, I am starting to see that this time with my children is going FAST.  Next year I will have a daughter that is middle school age, so I want this year to be full of FUN and wonder with learning.   This week I got my priorities a little out of balance, and I feel badly about that.   My other blog, Three Thinking Mothers, underwent a little makeover earlier in the week and I needed to spend significant time overseeing all of that.  I felt that maybe my children thought that blogging was important than them on a few occasions, and that can't happen again.  

I was happy to go to a moms' get-together for our co-op on Monday evening; co-op begins next week and we are all so excited!   I also spent a lot of time practicing piano this week, because I will be filling in for our normal pianist on Sept. 11 - that means playing the whole service and accompanying the choir.  Yikes.  I can play it all, but I just need practice! 

A Collage of Our Week:

Math:

Miss B took test 7 in the Horizons 4 book this week.   She still feels like she is "behind" since she is technically a fifth grader, but I constantly reminder that we started with this accelerated math program in the middle of her third grade year -- so she will be done with the Horizons 4 in December.   She doesn't LOVE math, but her skills are solid and she doesn't mind math at all.   I think math wasn't engaging or fun during her K-3 years in public school, and we are still undoing a lot of that.  GMan, on the other hand, ADORES math.   He is nearly done with Horizons 2 and is my mental math whiz.  He willingly sits down and does 2-3 lessons each day.   Children can be so different from each other.

Science:

We bought a simple field guide and bird coloring book to go along with our Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day book.  We learned about the parts of a bird and what field markings are.  The children really enjoyed making their own "bird maps" to add to their science notebooks.   I can't speak highly enough about Apologia science!

History:

We read two chapters in Volume 1 of Story of The World this week.  Our last chapter was talking about the Terra Cotta warriors and the first emperor of China.  The kids were fascinated by this, so I'm sure we will spend more time on it next week.  I also reserved A LOT of library books about Julius Caesar and the Romans for the upcoming chapters in SOTW.   It's been a couple of weeks since we did a "hands on" history lesson, so I need to plan something.

Latin:

We made our way through Lesson 2 of Prima Latina.   I love it when the kids make connections, and I can see learning Latin as  HUGE connection maker for my children.... understanding language in this way will be a valuable skill for them.  They also thought it was pretty cool that they are learning the Sanctus (which is a part of our Lutheran liturgy each Sunday).  We spent some time listening to a Sanctus by Mozart and another Gregorian chant.   I was channeling my music history professors from 20 years ago, that's for sure!

Writing, Spelling, Grammar:

Writing With Ease is  providing a lot of structure and direction for us this year.  My daughter loves it, but if you look up at the photo collage you will see my son's unhappy face as he is writing a narration.   He is reluctant to narrate, but when I press him he comes up with really good narrations!  I see how good his big sister is at narrating difficult passages, and I know I need to stick with pushing my son to do his best.

Spelling Workout continues to be another very good choice for us... Miss B took a spelling test on her fifth list this week, and GMan continues to work through the lessons in Workout A.  I love teaching them the "rules" (if English even has any spelling rules that make sense!) and it making sense to them.

First Language Lessons was fun this week, with more work on linking verbs.   The story of The Camel's Nose was also a fun one for G, even if he had to "narrate" it.  I caught him drawing pictures of the story later in the day, so I know he liked it.   I'm stumped on Grammar for Miss B -- she really enjoyed Easy Grammar 4, but Easy Grammar 5 is just too much.  We have stopped it for now, and she is listening in on First Language Lessons until I come up with another plan.  Suggestions??

50 State Study:

We started learning about Ohio this week and did some reading about the Buckeye Tree and Ohio's history.   Notebooking was done for this state by Miss B.   I also read the children Lynn Cheney's two books about our nation.  These books are wonderful and I recommend them if you are studying our country.  

Reading:

Our read-aloud this week was Caddie Woodlawn.  We are ADORING this story!   We also finished listening to Roberto and Me: A Baseball Card Adventure on CD.  The kids each read a couple of books on their own.  GMan is very interested in all things Star Wars and Legos right now, so he has some Star Wars readers he is enjoying.  Miss B reads a lot of different things on her Kindle, and this week spent most of her time in her American Girl magazine!   

Fine Arts:

Last weekend we spent our Saturday morning learning about Georgia O'Keeffe and creating our own O'Keeffe inspired flowers.   

Miss B continues her piano lessons, and I require she practice at least 20 minutes each day. It usually turns into more because she also plays her recorder (she's learning some Harry Potter music that is pretty hard!) She is progressing nicely, and it does my heart good to see her loving her piano so much.  

Our piece of the week was The Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa.  Each morning the children were march around the kitchen, family, and dining room to the steady beat and I taught them about the different sections in Sousa marches.  I love that I can use some things from previous life as a music teacher with my own children!  

As part of our state study we are also learning a patriotic song each week, and this week it was America.  I played on the piano and they sang along.   I look forward to starting each day this way.  

PE/Sports:

GMan began Fall baseball last weekend, and Miss B began swim team this week.   She was reluctant to join the swim team, but I know her very well:  she will not willingly volunteer for something, but if I gently nudge her, she generally winds up liking whatever it is!  She swims 1 1/2 hours each practice, 2 times each week.   She has been worn out, but the exercise is wonderful, and I love that she will be part of a team.  I was hesitant to have my children in sports where we would be slaves to a schedule, but I think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, and for now it works for us.  

That's our week in MORE than a nutshell.  I'm happily linking with Kris for the Weekly Wrap-Up!    How was your homeschool week?