Tuesday, January 31, 2012

January 31, 2012

Lego-Man

  • Math - rows 1-4 on page 46 were assigned but completed wrong. He also did #8-10, 14-15 on page 47. Fix errors on pages 17 & 18.
  • Handwriting - complete worksheet
  • Spell & Write  - complete pages 93-96
  • Spelling Skills book - complete pages 80-81
  • Complete writing pages 167-168
  • "Subjects/Predicates" - read page 17 and complete page 18
  • Practice the piano
  • Read Johnny Tremain for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 31 and write out one verse
Pilot
  • Math - complete rows 1-4 on page 40 &  #8-15 on page 41 (Lesson 16)
  • Complete handwriting pages 67-68
  • Review writing pages 165-166 and then complete writing pages 167-168.
  • "Subjects/Predicates" page 15
  • Spell & Write book - read page 93 and complete pages 94-96
  • Practice piano
  • Read The Borrowers for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 31 and write out one verse
  • Work on AWANA verse
  • Use Math Rider for 10 minutes
  • Use K5 Learning for 20 minutes
Happy
  • Practice piano
  • Use Reading Eggs
  • Use K5 Learning



Day #83/175 Days

Monday, January 30, 2012

January 30, 2012

Happy

  • Complete Lesson 18 in math
  • Practice the piano
  • Work on All About Spelling
  • AWANA verses
Pilot
  • Math - complete rows 1-4 on pg. 38 and #8-12 on pg. 39
  • Complete handwriting pages 65-66
  • Complete writing pages 165-166
  • Complete 'Subjects/Predicate' page 16 & finish pg. 15
  • Spell & Write book - complete pgs. 83-84, 86-87
  • Practice the piano
  • Read The Borrowers for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 30 and write out one verse
  • Work on AWANA verses
Lego-Man
  • Math - complete rows 1-4 on pg. 44 and #8-15 on pg. 45 - Fix errors in previous lesson
  • Write out ten letters neatly on cursive handwriting page
  • Spell & Write book - complete pages 83-84, 86-86
  • Spelling Skills book - Complete pages 78-79
  • Complete writing pages 165-166
  • Complete 'Subjects/Predicates' pages - complete pg. 16
  • Practice the piano
  • Read Johnny Tremain for 20 mins.
  • Read Proverbs 30 and write out one verse

4H  meeting:
We had a professional photographer come and talk to the kids about her job. She brought her portable studio and showed them how she takes and edits her photos. (2 hours)


Day #82/175 Days

Sunday, January 29, 2012

January 29, 2012

"Sunday School"

  • Sunday School - 45 minutes
  • AWANA - 2 hours

Day #81/175 Days

Saturday, January 28, 2012

January 28, 2012

Lego-Man

  • Complete rows 1-4 on pg. 42 and #8-16 on pg. 43 in math book
  • Write each word neatly on the bottom of the 'a' worksheet
  • Spell & Write book - complete pgs. 76-77
  • Spelling Skills book - complete pgs. 76-77
  • Complete writing pages 157-158
  • Complete "Subjects/Predicate" page 15
  • Practice the piano
  • Read Johnny Tremain for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 28 and write out one verse
Pilot
  • Complete rows 1-4 on pg. 36 and #8-14 on pg. 37 in math book
  • Correct math errors on pg. 37 and complete row #5
  • Write out each cursive word twice neatly
  • Correct writing pages 155-156 (fix commas and sentences as needed)
  • Complete writing pages 157-158
  • Complete "Subjects/Predicates" page 15
  • Spell & Write book - complete pages 76-77
  • Practice the piano
  • Read The Borrowers for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 28 and write out one verse
  • Work on AWANA verses
Happy
  • Practice the piano
  • GoGo Kabongo

Day #80/175 Days

Friday, January 27, 2012

January 27, 2012

Pilot

  • Complete rows 1-4 on pg. 34 and #8-14 on pg. 35. Finish #8-14 on pg. 33
  • Write each cursive word twice on worksheet
  • Complete writing pages 155-156 and fix yesterday's page
  • "Subjects/Predicates" - finish pg. 13 and complete pg. 14
  • Spell & Write book - review page 67 and note errors. Complete pgs. 73-75.
  • Practice the piano
  • Read Shiloh for 20 minutes (finished)
  • K5 Learning for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 27 and write out one verse
  • Work on AWANA verses
Lego-Man
  • Complete rows 1-4 on pg. 40 & #8-15 on pg. 41
  • Write each word on "a" sheet twice
  • Spell & Write book - complete pgs. 73-75
  • Spelling Skills book - complete pgs. 74-75
  • Complete writing pgs. 155-156
  • "Subjects/Predicates" pg. 14
  • Practice the piano
  • Read Johnny Tremain for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 27 and write out one verse
Happy
  • Practice the piano
  • GoGo Kabongo




Day #79/175 Days

Thursday, January 26, 2012

January 26, 2012

The boys watched this video on YouTube. It's a lecture by the author of the book, How the States Got Their Shapes. They also practice their piano and read books for 30 minutes. The younger boys & I headed south for one of my doctor appointments. We listened to audio books on the drive (2-1/2 hours each way). It's a relaxed school day.


Day #78/175 Days

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

January 25, 2012

Lego-Man

  • Complete rows 1-4 on pg. 38 & #8-12 on pg. 39 in math book
  • Write each cursive word twice neatly
  • Spell & Write book - pgs. 66-68
  • Spelling Skills book - pgs. 72-73
  • Complete writing pages 153-154
  • "Subjects/Predicate" page 13
  • Practice piano
  • Read Johnny Tremain for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 25 and write out one verse
Pilot
  • Complete rows 1-4 on pg. 32 in Math book and complete problems #8-15 on pg. 31
  • Write each cursive word twice on worksheet
  • Complete writing pages 153-154
  • Spell & Write book - complete pages 66-68
  • Practice the piano
  • Read Shiloh for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 25 and write out one verse
  • Work on AWANA verses
Happy
  • Complete Lesson 17 in math
  • Practice piano
  • Complete copywork pages
  • Work on All About Spelling
  • AWANA verses

Day #77/175 Days

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

January 24, 2012

Lego-Man

  • Math - complete rows 1-4 on pg. 32 and #8-14 on pg. 33
  • Write each word twice neatly and say out loud to me
  • Spell & Write - complete pgs. 63-65
  • Spelling Skills - complete pgs. 70-71
  • Complete writing pages 123-124
  • "Subjects/Predicates" page 12
  • Practice piano
  • Read Johnny Tremain for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 24 and write out one
Pilot
  • Math - complete rows 1-4 on pg. 30
  • Write each word twice neatly and say out loud to me
  • Complete writing pages 123-124
  • "Subjects/Predicate" page 12
  • Spell & Write book - complete pgs. 64-64
  • Practice piano
  • Read Shiloh for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 24 and write out one verse
  • Work on AWANA verses

Happy

  • Practice piano

Piano lessons for all



Day #76/175 Days

Monday, January 23, 2012

January 23, 2012

Happy

  • Complete Lesson 16 in Math
  • Practice Piano
  • Copywork
  • Completed Step 7 in All About Spelling
  • AWANA verses
Pilot
  • Math - complete rows 1-4 on pg. 28 and #8-14 on pg. 29
  • Write each 'j' word twice and say out loud to me
  • Complete writing pages 119-120
  • "Subjects/Predicates" pg. 10-11
  • Spell & Write book - complete pgs. 58 &  62
  • Practice piano
  • Read Shiloh for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 23 and write one out
  • Work on AWANA verses
Lego-Man
  • Math - complete rows 1-4 on pg. 30 & #8-15 on pg. 31
  • Write each 'j' word twice and say out loud to me
  • Spell & Write book - complete pgs. 60-62
  • Spelling Skills - complete pgs. 68-69
  • Complete writing pages 121-122
  • "Subjects/Predicates" pg. 11
  • Practice piano
  • Read Johnny Tremain for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 23 and write one out




Day #75/175 Days

Sunday, January 22, 2012

January 22, 2012

Today was Sunday School (45 minutes) & AWANA (2 hours).


Day #74/175 Days

Friday, January 20, 2012

January 20, 2012

Pilot

  • Math - complete rows 1-4 on pg. 26 and #8-14 on pg. 27
  • Math Rider for 10 minutes
  • Write each 'i' word twice and say each one out loud to me
  • Complete writing pages 119-120
  • Spell & Write book - complete pgs. 56-57
  • Practice piano
  • Read Shiloh for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 20 and write out one verse
  • Work on AWANA verses
Lego-Man
  • Math - complete rows 1-4 on pg. 28 and #8-14 on pg. 29
  • Write each 'i' word twice and say each one out loud to me
  • Spell & Write book - complete pgs. 56-57
  • Spelling Skills book - complete pgs. 66-67
  • Complete writing pages 119-120
  • "Subjects/Predicates" pg. 10
  • Practice piano
  • Read Johnny Tremain for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 20 and write out one verse
Happy
  • AWANA verses
  • Practice piano



Day #73/175 Days

Thursday, January 19, 2012

January 19, 2012

Pilot

  • Math - complete rows 1-4 on pg. 24 and #8-12 on pg. 25
  • Math Rider - 10 minutes
  • Write each 'h' word twice and say out loud to me
  • Complete writing pages 117-118
  • "Subjects/Predicates" page 9
  • Spell & Write book - complete bottom of pg. 52 and 53-55
  • Building Spelling Skills - Complete pg. 76, 78-79
  • Practice piano
  • Read Shiloh for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 19 and write out one verse
  • Work on AWANA verses
Happy
  • Complete Lessons 14 & 15 in Math
  • Practice piano
  • Copywork page
  • AWANA verses
Lego-Man
  • Math - complete rows 1-4 on pg. 26 & #8-14 on pg. 27
  • Write each 'h' word twice and say out loud to me
  • Spell & Write - complete pages 53-55
  • Spelling Skills - complete pgs. 64-65
  • Complete writing pages 117-118
  • "Subjects/Predicates" page 9
  • Practice piano
  • Read Johnny Tremain for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 19 and write out one verse


Day #72/175 Days

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

January 18, 2012

Pilot

  • Math - complete rows 1-4 on pg. 22 and #8-11 on pg. 23
  • Math Rider - 10 minutes
  • Write each 'g' word twice and say out loud to me
  • Complete writing pages 115-116
  • "Subjects/Predicate" page 8
  • Spell & Write book - complete pgs. 44, 50 & 52
  • Building Spelling Skills book - complete pg. 76 & 77
  • Practice the piano
  • Read Shiloh for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 18 and write out one verse
  • Work on AWANA verses
Lego-Man
  • Math - complete rows 1-4 on pg. 24 and #8-12 on pg. 25
  • Do #8-14 on pg. 21 (missed from previous assignment)
  • Math Rider for 10 minutes
  • Write each 'g' word twice and say out loud to me
  • Spell & Write book - complete pages 50 & 52
  • Spelling Skills - complete pages 62-63
  • Complete writing pages 115-116
  • "Subjects/Predicate" page 8
  • Practice the piano
  • Read Johnny Tremain for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 18 and write out one verse
Happy
  • Math - complete Lessons 12 & 13
  • Practice the piano
  • Completed Step 6 in All About Spelling
  • Work on AWANA verse


Day #71/175 Days

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

January 17, 2012

Lego-Man

  • Math - Complete rows 1-4 on page 22 and #8-11 on page 23
  • Math Rider - 10 minutes
  • Write each 'f' word twice and say out loud to me
  • Spell & Write book - complete pages 45-47
  • Spelling Skills - complete pages 60-61
  • Complete writing pages 113-114
  • "Subjects/Predicates" page 7
  • Practice the piano
  • Read Johnny Tremain for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 17 and write out one verse
Happy
  • Completed Lessons 10 & 11 in Math
  • Practice the piano
  • Complete handwriting pages
  • Complete Day 13 in Grammar
  • Work on All About Spelling
  • AWANA verses
Pilot
  • Complete rows 1-4 on page 20 and #7-14 on page 21
  • Math Rider for 10 minutes
  • Write each 'f' word twice and say out loud to me
  • Complete writing pages 113-114
  • "Subjects/Predicates" page 7
  • Spell & Write book - complete pages 44, fix errors on page 45, complete pgs. 46-47
  • Building Spelling Skills book - complete pg. 72, 74-75
  • Practice the piano
  • Read Shiloh for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 17 and write one verse
  • Work on your AWANA verses


Day #70/175 days

Monday, January 16, 2012

January 16, 2012

Pilot

  • Math - complete rows 1-4 on page 18 and #7-14 on page 19
  • Math Rider - 10 minutes
  • Write each 'e' word twice and say out loud to me
  • Complete writing pages 99-100
  • "Subjects/Predicate" page 6
  • Spell & Write book - fix errors on pg. 36 and complete pages 43-45
  • Building Spelling Skills - complete page 72 and 73
  • Practice piano
  • Read Shiloh for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 16 and write out one verse
  • Work on your AWANA verses
Lego-Man
  • Complete Rows 1-4 on page 20
  • Write each 'e' word twice and say out loud to me
  • Spell & Write book - complete pages 43-44
  • Spelling Skills book - complete pages 58-59
  • Complete writing pages 99-100
  • "Subjects/Predicate" page 6
  • Practice piano
  • Read Johnny Tremain for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 16 and write out one verse
  • Read Chapter 7 of The Case for Christ - finished today
Happy

  • Complete math lessons
  • Practiced piano

Today we also headed back to our pottery class to finish up. The kids glazed their bowl creations. We'll be picking up the finished pieces in a few weeks. 






Day #69/175 Days

Sunday, January 15, 2012

January 15, 2012

Today was Sunday School (45 minutes) and AWANA (2 hours).



Day #68/175 Days

Thursday, January 12, 2012

January 12, 2012

Happy

  • Practice piano
  • Handwriting page
  • AWANA verse
  • Math
Pilot
  • Math - Redo row #3 from yesterday (did as "addition" - should have been "minus")
  • Complete rows 1-4 on page 16 & #7-14 on page 17 in Math book
  • Math Rider 10 minutes
  • Write each 'd' word twice and say out loud to me
  • Complete writing pages 97-98 (Review yesterday's & note mistakes.)
  • "Subjects/Predicates" page 5 (Review yesterday's & note mistakes.)
  • Spell & Write book - Fix errors on page 36 & complete page 40
  • Building Spelling Skills book - Complete page 68, 70-71
  • Practice piano
  • Read Shiloh for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 12 and write out one verse
Lego-Man
  • Math - complete rows 1-4 on page 18 and do #8-14 on page 19
  • Math Rider for 10 minutes
  • Write each 'd' word twice and say out loud to me
  • Spell & Write book - complete pg. 42. Type up your story & email it to me
  • Spelling Skills - complete pg. 55 correctly and complete pg. 57
  • Complete writing pages 97-98
  • Complete "Subjects/Predicates" page 5
  • Practice piano
  • Read My Side of the Mountain for 20 minutes (finished today)
  • Read Proverbs 12 and write out one verse
  • Read Chapter 6 in The Case for Christ


Day #67/175 Days

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

January 11, 2012

Pilot (aka Conductor)

  • Math - finish row #3 from yesterday. Complete rows 1-4 on page 14 and #8-14 on page 15.
  • Math Rider - 10 minutes
  • Write each 'c' word twice neatly
  • Complete writing pages 95-96
  • Complete "Subjects/Predicate" page 4
  • Completes pages 36-38 in Spell & Write book
  • Complete page 68-69 in Building Spelling Skills book
  • Practice piano
  • Read Shiloh for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 11 and write out one verse
Lego-Man
  • Complete rows 1-4 on page 14 and #8-14 on page 15 in Math
  • Math Rider for 10 minutes
  • Write each 'c' word twice neatly
  • In Spell & Write book complete pages 40-41
  • In Spelling Skills book correct page 55 and complete page 56
  • Complete writing pages 95-96
  • Complete "Subjects/Predicate" page 4
  • Practice the piano
  • Read My Side of the Mountain for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 11 and write out one verse
  • Read Chapter 5 in The Case for Christ
Happy
  • Work on Math book
  • Practice the piano
  • Handwriting worksheet
  • Day #12 of Grammar
  • Completed 1/2 of Step 4 in All About Spelling
  • AWANA verses



Day #66/175 Days

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

January 10, 2012

Lego-Man

  • Math - Lesson 2
  • Math Rider
  • Complete "b" cursive word worksheet
  • Complete pages 36-38 in Spell & Write book
  • Complete pages 54-55 and fix errors on pages 52-53 in Spelling Skills book
  • Complete Easy Writing pages 93-94
  • Complete Writing Sentences page 3
  • Practice the piano
  • Read My Side of the Mountain for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 10 & write out your favorite verse
  • Read Chapter 4 in The Case for Christ
Pilot
  • Complete pgs. 12-13 in Math
  • Math Rider
  • Complete "b" cursive word worksheet
  • Complete Easy Writing pages 93-94
  • Complete Writing Sentences page 3
  • Practice the piano
  • Complete pg. 64 in Building Spelling Skills book as well as pgs. 66-67
  • Read Shiloh for 20 minutes
Happy
  • Complete Math
  • Practice the piano
  • Handwriting worksheet
  • Day 11 in Grammar 2/3
  • Completed Step 4 in All About Spelling
  • Math Rider
  • AWANA verses


We spent the afternoon at piano lessons.

Day #65/175 days

Monday, January 9, 2012

January 9, 2012

And today was our first full day back to regular school - almost. I still need to fill in some of the electives. I'm still on the "focus on the basics" mode. I did a mid-year switch-up of math and all the boys are now doing Rod & Staff.

We actually began the day with our 4H group at a pottery class. We are doing two sessions at a local pottery place. Today the kids met and created a clay bowl. They'll meet next week and glaze them.







Happy

  • Math
  • Practice the piano
  • Handwriting worksheet
  • Day #10 Grammar 2/3
  • All About Spelling
  • Math Rider (TOS Crew product)
  • AWANA

Pilot 
(aka Conductor - his love has changed and now so has his blog name)
  • Math (pgs 10-11)
  • Math Rider (TOS Crew product)
  • "A" word cursive worksheet
  • Easy Writing pgs. 91-92
  • Writing Sentences book - read pg. 1 and complete pg. 2
  • Complete pgs. 33-34 in Spell & Write book
  • Complete pgs. 64-65 in Building Spelling Skills book
  • Practice piano
  • Read Shiloh for 20 minutes
  • Work on AWANA verses

Lego-Man
  • Math - Lesson 1
  • Math Rider (TOS Crew product)
  • "A" word cursive worksheet
  • Easy Writing pgs. 91-92
  • Writing Sentences book - read pg. 1 and complete pg. 2
  • Complete pgs. 33-35 in Spell & Write book
  • Complete pgs. 52-53 in Spelling Skills book
  • Practice piano
  • Read My Side of the Mountain for 20 minutes
  • Read Proverbs 9 and write out one verse you like best
  • Read Chapter 3 in The Case for Christ



Day #64/175 Days

Sunday, January 8, 2012

January 8, 2012

One thing I realized I have not been counting this year, is our AWANA club meetings. Previously they were held on Thursday nights so they fit well into our regular school week. This year, however, they are now being held on Sunday afternoons. The two younger boys participate in the club and the rest of our volunteer. So from this point on, I will be counting this as a day of school. Added to this the time spent in church (or Children's church) and Sunday School, it's a full day of learning.

Today was church & AWANA.


Day #63/175 Days

Thursday, January 5, 2012

January 5, 2012

A short day - getting back in the swing of things.

I have to admit to loving our Netflix streaming account. We watched a 45 minute documentary on Denali National Park. The boys also

  • practiced their piano
  • read for 30 minutes
  • hauled wood (PE)

Day #62/175 days

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

January 4, 2012 - Field Trip


Today we again gathered at church for our monthly class with the Tanglewood 4H instructors. This month we are doing a class on bats - "The Secret Life of Bats."

The two instructors who did this class were very energetic. I really enjoyed (as did the kids) how they split the class up in to "listening" time and "interactive" time. They began by quizzing the kids on what they already knew about bats. Then they put on a little skit for them. One instructor was a bat and the other was a red fox.




They did such a great job. The kids (and adults!) really enjoyed it and also learned quite a bit about the difference between bats and birds. 

I can't share any photos from the interactive time as there are too many faces of kids who aren't mine. However, suffice it to say the kids loved it! They played a version of Marco Polo but there were two people in the middle. Everyone else stood in a circle around them (to keep the ones in the center safe). One person was blindfolded and was the bat. The other was a bug. The "bat" used all their senses but their eyes to find the "bug." 


After they watched a short PowerPoint on bats. They also played had a short quiz (which they again really liked) about bats. 

The class ended with them being able to observe some real-life bat specimens. 


They all had a great time and I think they are looking forward to class next month. 




Day #61/175 Days

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Update

We've taken a long and unexpected break from our homeschool. We started back today - very slowly. I'm currently working on revamping our homeschool and figuring out what's working and, more importantly, what is not.

The biggest thing that is changing is our math. I've been a long time fan of Math-U-See and loved how it works. However, one thing I've come to realize is that in our relaxed style of homeschooling it doesn't work. I've never worried if we haven't finished a book a year. However, now I have a ninth grader who is not yet ready to do Algebra. Some would argue that is his where he is and that's okay. I agree with that. However, I also need to prepare him for life outside the home and, hopefully, college. I'm also having similar issues with my younger boys. As a result I will be switching them to Rod & Staff. They will be all working slightly below grade level for now as it's a pretty intense program. More so than they are used to. It's also much more textbook than I typically use. However, the price is fantastic and I was able to get most of what I needed used. The only thing I purchased new were the workbooks for first grade. Only first and second grade have workbooks. After that there are non-consumable textbooks for each grade. I also plan to purchase their "bookkeeping" program for my oldest to complete later this year or next year. For now we'll be brushing up on the basics.

We'll also be implementing Institute for Excellence in Writing. I was given this as a TOS Crew review product last year and loved it but we didn't get far with it. My goal is to make my boys better writers. It's a great skill to have but I'm finding it harder to teach then math and that's saying something!

For history I'm not sure yet what we'll be using. I did buy The Teaching Company's high school American history program and want him to go through that. I may have the two younger ones tag along and we'll flesh it out as needed.

I have more planned, but right now we'll just keep plugging away. I do love this time of year. It's a great time to revamp and re-evaluate and plan for next year. It helps to get over the "winter blues."

January 3, 2012

All together - slowly easing our way back in to school

  • Hauling wood (PE)
  • Axis & Allies (strategy - Happy & Conductor played)
  • Independent Reading
  • 4H Record Sheets
  • Practice piano
  • Piano Lessons
  • Watched "Learn Our History" DVD (20 mins)

Day #60/175 Days