Accountability Thread 1/3-1/9

[Critterfixer]

Well, I'm starting out the new year with a house full of sick people. No one can talk, everyone is sniffing, and some of us are beginning to cough. I don't think school will be happening today unless we decide to watch our Latin and listen to French. It is looking like a pretty good day to lay around, tend the fire and read or write or both.

So I think that will be the order of the day.

 

I'm doing a little better than the rest, so I will make soup later and work on the history questions for the week. I only need to do one chapter, because even without today off, we have a short week. I have an elderly cat going in for corneal surgery this week, and that will be an all day thing. 

 

I've done little to no thinking about next year's plans, but I should get started on that soon so that I can figure out what it is going to cost me.

[Soror]

Must double check spring plans today to make sure everything is good to go, print schedules and see what else I need to do. 

 

Sorry to hear about the sick ones Critter!

[Tawlas]

Blah, that's a rotten way to start the new year, critter :(

 

Not a lot going on today. DD9 comes home today, so we'll start tomorrow instead of today too. If I get a chance, I'll do a bit of baking to prep us for the weeks ahead with easy snacks but I have a bit of other prep to do for school. I'd also like to tidy up my bedroom closet, but we'll see how that goes lol!

[Critterfixer]

 

 

Blah, that's a rotten way to start the new year, critter  :(

My thoughts exactly. On the other hand, all sniffing, coughing, puny sickies (including me) are holed up with our notebooks, pencils and our imaginations. So not a loss on the day at all.

[mama25angels]

Critterfixer-hoping you guys feel better soon, spending the day with pencils, notebooks and the imagination sounds like a good day to me!

 

Well, vacation is over and it feels like a need a break from vacation, lol, but come what may we will be starting school again tomorrow morning. I get to spend today recycling, doing laundry, and prepping for the week, I've already redid our budget now to just be able to stick to it. Our week is going to be short because I have an appointment and my Ds has an ortho appointment, I'm sure we'll do some school that day just not a full day.

[Laura Cook]

Critterfixer - Hope you are all feeling better soon!

 

We've been working since yesterday to get the house back in shape after the holidays and to get the laundry all caught up. Yesterday we did a deep cleaning of the kids bedrooms and went through their clothes. I haven't done that for a year at least and got 3 garbage bags full of clothes in good enough shape to donate. And their dressers and closets look so much better!

 

School is pretty much planned out for the next 6 weeks. I'm going to double check it this afternoon and make sure I have everything printed and ready to go. Even though I have been reminding the kids for a couple days now that we were starting back this Monday, I'm a little worried that tomorrow is going to be an awful day! I hope not, and DS10 and DD7 will proably just roll with it, but it is impossible to predict how DS8 will react.

 

I'm off to finish my stuff. I want to be done and sitting down to relax by the time Downton Abbey comes on at 8!

[MrsRobinson]

bzymama23- thanks for the DA reminder! I forgot it starts tonight. Yay! Something to look forward to for the rest of the day. That and chatting with dh later. He has terrible signal where he's at but he said he's got a good wi-fi connection so we can Skype later. Super happy about that.

 

I've been getting ahead on tomorrow's laundry. Feels like a huge accomplishment. Also did a water change for the fish tank. Another big task checked off. Now I'm sitting on the couch surrounded by curriculum, books, binders, book lists, calendars, post-it flags and multi-colored pens. Yep, I'm pretty content at this moment. :)

[Aurelia]

Finalizing plans for the new semester. I decided DD needed more structured academic writing, so I ordered WWS1 yesterday. I don't know that we'll do the whole thing, but I think she needs more practice, since she's had almost none. We've been focusing on creative writing recently, which is great, but doesn't exactly get her ready for high school. Got the new math book out, and am considering starting the test prep book that I forgot I bought back in September. We still have to finish chemistry before launching botany, though, and I think there are still a couple more weeks of geography left before we can shelve it. I also need to go out and copy more handwriting pages. DD has been doing so much better with her handwriting when I won't let her move on from the page she's doing because it's not neat enough.  ;)

 

All her activities start up again this week, right now she's enjoying the weather by riding with the neighbors, since she's usually so busy with tumbling and choir she doesn't have time. I mentioned starting school today, since it's a new week/semester/year and she was horrified. I guess one more day of freedom won't hurt. It's the most she's had in a couple of years.

 

I've been working out and practicing guitar some, but we had houseguests for multiple days last week, so not a lot got accomplished. 

[TKDmom]

I spent a little time this morning planning our new term. I ought to spend some more time planning tonight. I'm going to try having set blocks of time to work with each child. I usually feel like I'm bouncing between children and everyone distracts each other and the squeaky wheel gets all the attention, while other children sneak off to play video games or hide in the big oak tree out front.

 

My plan is to just do whatever each child can do with me in an hour, and everything else is either independent work or has to wait till the next day (thanks Maize for the loop schedule reminder last week--that was my inspiration to use set times instead of set subjects). DD6 never feels like she gets enough time with me, so she'll get her love-bucket filled first thing after morning basket time, and I'll move up the line youngest to oldest. I'm thinking that older kids will just have to write down their questions and move on if they run into trouble during their independent time.

 

DS10 asked if he could take his "Hard Math" book to church today.  :lol: We started on it yesterday, and apparently he liked it--at least more than he likes listening in church. 

 

I went through dd6's subjects and decided what to discard or change.  I have a list of Sonlight readers and read-alouds that I'm not at all excited about. She expressed an interest in Alice in Wonderland last week, so I asked if she wanted me to read it to her ("Yes--but it's called Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"). Then she started telling me about the story, because she's been reading it on her new Kindle. :confused1:  Ummm... Does that mean we can skip Frog and Toad (even though she'd probably enjoy it)? And do I still read Alice to her? Children are supposed to learn in a nice linear sequence, not in fits and starts and huge jumps... This child was radically unschooled last semester while we worked on behavior problems. I didn't expect her reading to improve 2 grade levels.

I also decided to start WWE with her, but her right arm is in a full cast for a few more weeks, so I guess we will have to just narrate Alice this month. 

 

DD14 got mostly caught up this weekend with her outside classes that start up again tomorrow. I'm hoping she can stay on top of things and have some emotional stability.  :laugh:

 

I haven't thought about what tweaks DS12 needs. I suppose that is what I'll look at tonight.

Edited January 4, 2016 by TKDmom

[Critterfixer]

Well, those that must do school have their voices back and got up with the spring of the kitten in their tails. So school should happen today. I'm still dragging. DH went down yesterday. 

Today's schedule:

Latin-watch lesson, workbook

French-listen to the first unit of Ecoutez, Parlez 2

Math-CLE lesson, page of Key to Fractions

Language Arts-I'm renaming this Composition. That's what it's all about anyway. Today we get a new story for imitation, so we will read it silently, collect our spelling words and take notes on the plot.

 

I very much doubt we will get to History, Science, Geography or Literature today. There is housekeeping to do this afternoon, and even that may have to be light since I still get tired easily.

[MrsRobinson]

TKDmom- maybe buddy read Alice with her. Alternate pages. Make sure she's correctly reading the harder words. I've been there with my dd7 and she did need a little help to truly master that higher reading level.

 

Critter- at least the boys are feeling better and can get some school work checked off for today.

 

I am going to try to jump right in today with all 5 subjects plus read aloud and piano practice. No point in dragging our feet. If we want any summer break, we've got to get caught up. Wish us luck!

[Tawlas]

Blah. Back to school and normal days :( I'm not ready, but I don't suppose I ever will be lol. Asked ds for 10 minutes of spelling practice (and an easy 10 minutes at that) and he gave me grief about it. Hope that's not indicative for the whole day!

 

No time for personals, time to start already. sigh . . . .

 

Happy First Monday All!!

[Critterfixer]

Not bad for the first day back at all. I had to endure a little grouchiness about a full math lesson, but we got through it. Tomorrow we have a day off since I have to take the old cat for her corneal surgery and that will be an all day thing. 

[Jean in Newcastle]

Monday Monday -

 

Ds  - history - "Son, there was a buffer between China and Japan, not a bugger."

 

Dd -

Math - she earned frozen yogurt for getting to 95% mastery in Khan.  It is normally only at 10 percent intervals but we add in an extra one between 90 and 100 percent because only the hard stuff is left.

 

Vocab - done

 

Spanish - done

 

L.A. Emphasis day - It could have gone a lot smoother if she had listened to me instead of insisting on doing it the hard way.  She was rude.  I disengaged.  She ended up doing a pretty good job in the end.  But there were tears and gnashing of teeth - both of which I ignored. 

[Sdel]

Well, today was comforting. Met with the attorney and everything is in order and got assured that we aren't crazy. Our instincts are correct and as concerning as we believed them to be.

 

Allergies are still sapping all my energy. I was wiped out just from grocery shopping; and I even ditched the kids to get it done. Still need to do prep for the rest of the week. Hopefully another night of good sleep courtesy of NyQuil will help for tomorrow.

 

The plan for tomorrow is swimming and to deep clean as much of the house as I have energy for and to maybe hit the library. I hope some stuff I ordered comes in this week. DD says the kindle app is helping her read because I increased the text size and put fewer words per page and as a result she's read 3 chapters of a new book. I ordered highlighted tracking strips for her, hopefully those will help with actual paper books.

 

Stefanie

[Sahamamama]

Today we started back up to our full school routine. We did do some school work in December, but not at the usual pace, mostly Math, group stuff, reading, and Christmas projects.

 

I think we had a good first day back. The girls worked hard and hadn't forgotten all the procedures and routines. As a teacher, it was rewarding for me to see the work ethic resurface, after quite a long, relaxing break and time of rest. My oldest impressed me with her diligence and maturity in tackling some challenging  assignments for her independent work time. A good day.

 

Sunday 1/3

Church

Birthday celebration -- See those chunky baby legs on my avatar? My twins are now nine. Sniff.

Housework -- caught up on laundry (all done), Christmas decor away, gifts away, downstairs vacuumed

 

Monday 1/4

Regular meals, hygiene, chores & laundry

School --

5th Grade Independent Work: Assigned Independent Reading (with written summaries for Literature & Science), Wordly Wise, Spelling, Typing, French, Instrument Practice, Poetry Memory Work

5th Grade Tutor Time: Reading Check-In, Math (long lesson), Latin, Memory Work (test out)

3rd Grade Independent Work: Assigned Independent Reading, French, Poetry Memory Work, Junior Bible Quiz, Instrument Practice

3rd Grade Tutor Time: Math Lesson, Math Quiz, Composition, Spelling, Latin

Group Work: Book Club Read Aloud

Awana Bible Club

 

Plans for the rest of the week...

 

Tuesday 1/5

Regular meals, hygiene, chores & laundry

School --

5th Grade Independent Work: Assigned Independent Reading, Thank You Letter(s), Junior Bible Quiz, Bible Memory Work, Poetry Memory Work, Spelling, Exercise, French

5th Grade Tutor Time: Instrument Lesson, Math, Grammar, Latin, Composition

3rd Grade Independent Work: Assigned Independent Reading, Thank You Letter(s), Poetry Memory Work, Bible Memory Work, Latin Copy Book, Exercise, French

3rd Grade Tutor Time: Math, Grammar, Latin (vocabulary & review), Instrument Lesson

Group Work: Science Lesson, Artist Study, Winter Snowman Craft (simple sewing/embroidery)

Early Bedtime for Girls

 

Wednesday 1/6

Regular meals, hygiene, chores & laundry

School -- TBD

Church Midweek

 

Thursday 1/7

Regular meals, hygiene, chores & laundry

School -- TBD

Christian Children's Choir

 

Friday 1/8

Regular meals, hygiene, chores & laundry

School -- TBD

Family Game Night

 

Saturday 1/9

Regular meals, hygiene, chores & laundry

School -- Math Lesson with 5th grader (she wants to accelerate CLE)

Free Time

Winter Crafting or Cooking

 

We took down most of our Christmas decorations, but the trees are still up (a big real one and a little artificial one). By January, I am ready for the red, green, and gold to be gone, KWIM? We have snowflakes, snowmen, and stars all over the house. Our January colors are white, icy blue, purple, silver, and dark blue. It's gorgeous, and it feels like the house is so different, but not at all bare or bleak. Just wintry. ;) It's 14 degrees F., with windchill it feels like 2 degrees F. I think we put the snowflakes up just in time!

 

We cut branches from our apple trees and hope to force them to bloom. If they do, the rabbits will get a midwinter treat. They just love apple branches, especially with buds and blossoms.

Edited January 5, 2016 by Sahamamama

[Guest]

{I'm assuming anyone can jump in here.}

 

We started our first week by picking up where we left off Friday. We don't take long breaks. My mom and youngest sister stopped by for a nice chat--there went the rest of the day. But it was so fun!

 

I need to pay Crewman 2's tuition and buy his books this week. He is recovering nicely from wisdom teeth removal. 

 

I need to call Crewman 1 about his university stuff.

[mama25angels]

Well, we had a short day only getting to the music lesson, math, a phonics lesson, literature and Latin review, but it's better than nothing. I'm hoping that tomorrow will see us getting closer to being back to our regular schedule.

[Sdel]

Okay.... Midnight and I'm wide awake. And now I realize just what a mistake I made. The green pills are the night ones and the orange the day ones. I was so out of it I mixed them up. No wonder I was so zonked today. Too late to take the green pills for the night since they normally affect me for like 16 hours. No wonder I was so eager to crawl in bed.

 

Stefanie

[maize]

So yesterday we jumped back into things, here's what got done:

 

Dd12: math, typing, handwriting, stretching/conditioning, knitting

 

Ds10: typing, French horn lesson

 

Dd8: harp lesson, gymnastics

 

Not a full school day but not a flop either.

[MrsRobinson]

Paradox5- I jumped in here several months ago and they haven't kicked me out yet! Welcome!

 

Sdel- Bummer! Mixing up which pill to take when sounds like something I would do!

 

Remember my lofty goal of getting all 5 subjects done yesterday? Well, here is our impressive list of what we accomplished:

-poetry reading

-copywork

The End

 

Grrr! It's my fault though. I completely forgot I told mil she could take the kids to lunch and the movies. Funny story from their day: I don't let the kids have soda (ginger ale or 7up when sick and a few root beer floats in the summer are the exceptions) and I told mil in front of the kids they were off dairy due to nagging coughs so no milk or ice cream. When they returned, ds was clutching a Sonic cup and the first words out of his mouth as I pulled him out of his carseat were "Grandma says there's no dairy in soda." :D

[Laura Cook]

Yesterday went pretty well, better than I expected. We did math, reading, writing, spelling and handwriting for everyone in the morning, then in the afternoon we did history and had a poetry tea. DS8 had basketball practice last night. It was a busy day but we somehow managed to maintain the relaxed feel we had going on during our break.

 

Today we have planned math, reading, writing, grammar and handwriting or typing for everyone on their level, science and our states and capitals study for family learning.

 

This is our last week with minimal activities, next week DD7's ballet classes start back up twice a week, DS10 will be back doing archery twice a week and DS8's basketball continues. I am just so happy though that except for a few occasional classes and field trips, we have no activities during the day to interrupt school. We had a class during the day last semester and it completely messed with our flow during the week!

[Soror]

I never checked back Sunday- I got my plans ready- although I can't fully plan out our culture studies(I got the base for the first 4 wks) because I have to wait and see what comes in from the library and when I got them, everything else is good to go. 

 

Yesterday was an ok, although I was exhausted from hardly sleeping at all we made it through. We've started back with a full schedule but thankfully I seem to have done a good job keeping the schedule realistic.

 

Since I didn't feel good yesterday we got school done and then I collapsed, so the house ended up a mess and I didn't have the time or energy to direct cleaning as I needed them quiet so I could get a nap. Today we have been working on school and cleaning up- finally got dd2 and 3's room rescued from the Christmas explosion- the inlaws always buy too much stuff and we had to go through everything and thin it down. 

 

We are on break now but ds has to work on his Bravewriter project, the personal timeline (dd started her next project today- an animal mini book). Ds has a merit badge class on Sat so he is working on pre-requisites this week for Space Exploration. Sat we did model rocket launch, yesterday he made an info card for an astronaut(he picked Sally Ride as I had him read a book on her), the rest of the week he has to design and build a space settlement. 

[Tawlas]

Welcome Paradox5!

 

Got through the first half of the day! We've been alternating weeks for science and history, and doing that block of study before lunch, but I think we'll do better hitting them each day for a little bit. Maybe. And I've started doing a "Language Arts" block before lunch instead of spreading it out over a day. Grammar, writing, reading, all in one fell swoop with some memory work, Latin review and read alouds for breaks (they're either active or restful, it seems to be working?). So now, our quicker science and history lessons take up an hour in the afternoon, but with the way things are arranged now, I actually have an hour extra of free time.

 

Had some flack over math from dd9 ("yes, you have to do it. That's why I asked you to do it three seconds ago"). She's doing multi-digit multiplication. She can multiply quite well, but she still needs practice with the whole procedure from start to finish to nail down where everything goes, especially when there's regrouping. You're not going to master multi-digit multiplication in less than 10 problems, kid!

 

We got more snow last night. We're up to about 14-18 inches! That's nice :) Dh clears our driveway and ranch yard with the tractor and scraped it all up into a good sized mound. The kids are having a lot of fun on it, digging, sliding, climbing and playing. Poor two year old - it's up to her waist if she sinks right down to the bottom lol.

[Critterfixer]

We had a pretty good day. We took the old cat for her corneal surgery, then went to various libraries, expecting that we wouldn't get to take our kitty home until the middle of the afternoon. We got the call at noon that she was awake, ready to go, and that she didn't end up needing surgery! Her little piece of dead cornea had worked it's way out on it's own. I doubt that her troubles are over, because this is a chronic problem for her, but for now everything is quiet in that eye. 

Back to school tomorrow.

Edited January 5, 2016 by Critterfixer

[mama25angels]

Critterfixer-- I'm so happy you're sweet kittie didn't need surgery.

 

We had a pretty good day math and literature for both boys, phonics and music practice for the younger and Latin review for the older before I threw in the towel.

[Sdel]

Well.....frustrating day.

 

The two year old has refused to eat every single item I've offered him today.  He even turned down honey.  I'm quite thoroughly done with him right now.

 

DD has been playing her new video game practically all day.  Fine by me, it mostly kept her out from under my feet while I worked in the kitchen. 

 

I've spent the last few hours working on food prep for the week; most of it on the rabbit salad.  I've washed and prepped 5 heads of lettuce, 1 bunch cilantro, 1 bunch turnip greens, 2 broccoli crowns, 2 bunches of carrot greens.  Still have the brussel sprouts and parsley to be washed.  Next step is to mix and store dried greens.  Then only a couple of minutes to finish the rest of the prep for us humans.  

 

Tomorrow the plan is to drop DD off with her granny when we leave town and for my mom to pick up the grandson from pre-school and keep him a couple of hours until we get back.  Visitation is tomorrow and mediation Thursday.  Not looking forward to tomorrow.  At least this isn't a visitation weekend.

 

Big bonus:  mom called and offered to make us dinner.  Sold. 

 

Stefanie

[Aurelia]

I finally, after strongly considering it for years, finally broke down and bought Patty Paper Geometry. I'm trying to find ways to make math more fun, because DD considers it her most hated subject, even though she's pretty good at it when she tries. I'm thinking of doing PPG and Family Math -The Middle School Years once a week as a break from the textbook. With this new semester, I'm wanting to change everything up, even though most of the stuff we have is working. I want to buy Muggins and OPPS (and the geometry/art book, and maybe the pre-algebra kit) from the Muggins math site, but I hear screaming from my wallet when I put them in the virtual shopping cart. Oh well. Maybe later, like February or October, when I NEED to change something up to preserve my sanity. And maybe some Zometools...

 

Not much getting done on the school front today. I came home from work with food poisoning (less sick now, but I'm kind of afraid to eat), and DD got back late from gymnastics because my mom had to run 50 errands while they were out, so she's doing math now. I want to get history, handwriting, and either writing or art done today, at least. We'll see how it goes. 

[Jean in Newcastle]

Tuesday -

 

Very bad day here pain-wise.  It actually started yesterday.  I ended up caving last night and took the Big Pain pill that I only take if I really have to.  I sort  of slept.  This morning I took another one.  The pill has finally worked on the pain but it also makes me super dizzy and dense and gives me a headache. 

 

Anyway . . . dd and I started out doing math together but I left when she started to be rude to me.  Boundary enforcement.  She said that she completed math but I really don't know how much more she did.  I could find out by looking but I'm not going to follow through and be a responsible mom/teacher. 

 

Dd did Spanish on her own

 

I hadn't totally gotten her science stuff together but I managed to do that while she did math and science.  Talk about doing things at the last minute. . .   She did part of science by herself and then I did it with her.  Then we checked the answers together and I don't understand why we got half of it wrong because the answers were in forms not even mentioned in the book.  (This is what makes me mad about some of teaching homeschool at the upper levels.  I understood the book so I'm not dumb but don't add in stuff that you haven't taught us.)

 

She is now finishing up vocab.

 

Ds and I will do 20th cent. lit. together in about ten minutes. 

[Sahamamama]

We didn't get to everything on the list today, but we completed most of it (in blue).

 

Tuesday 1/5

Regular meals, hygiene, chores & laundry

School --

5th Grade Independent Work: Assigned Independent Reading, Thank You Letter(s), Junior Bible Quiz, Bible Memory Work, Poetry Memory Work, Spelling, Exercise, French

5th Grade Tutor Time: Instrument Lesson, Math (two lessons), Grammar, Latin, Composition

3rd Grade Independent Work: Assigned Independent Reading, Thank You Letter(s), Poetry Memory Work, Bible Memory Work, Exercise, French

3rd Grade Tutor Time: Math, Grammar, Latin (vocabulary & review), Instrument Lesson

Group Work: Science Lesson, Artist Study, Book Club Read Aloud, Winter Snowman Craft

Early Bedtime for Girls

 

Something about nine year old twins exhausts me. I was so well-rested, so focused and determined. I thought I was up to all that Tutor Time work with them today, after doing hours of Tutor Time with the 5th Grader, but... no. They did their chores and plenty of independent work, we did Math and a fun craft, I read to them from On the Banks of Plum Creek, and then my tank was empty. KWIM? And one of them was begging to get in the exercise pen with her rabbit, so how could I say, "No, we must do Latin and Grammar?" Big brown eyes...

 

Two days back in, still highly motivated, but -- wow -- just, wow.

 

Now that the house is quiet, I realize that what wore me out today was the incessant background noise. When you send one off and say, "Keep the noise down, we need to concentrate in here," that one child goes off and is relatively quiet. But TWO?

 

I'll have to pay more attention to their chatter and clatter tomorrow. It drains me.

 

And another thing :toetap05: -- What is with these people, coming into the homeschool room in the middle of a sibling's ___________ lesson, DUMPING OUT THEIR PENCIL BOX (to find one thing), sharpening a pencil right then and there, and acting as if Mommy has a problem to have a problem with it?

 

That is all, folks.

Edited January 6, 2016 by Sahamamama

[Sahamamama]

Today's tentative plans:

 

Wednesday 1/6

Regular chores, hygiene, meals & laundry

School --

5th Grade Independent Work: Assigned Reading (with written summaries), Thank You Notes (2), Exercise, Spelling

5th Grade Tutor Time: Instrument Lesson, Math, Grammar, Latin, Composition

3rd Grade Independent Work: Assigned Reading (with written summaries), Exercise

3rd Grade Tutor Time: Instrument Lesson, Grammar, Latin, Math, Composition

Group Work: Bible Memory Work, Poetry Memory Work, History Timeline, Artist Study, Science Lesson (What's That Bird?)

Church Midweek  
 

Cold and sunny here, no snow. The girls are showered, dressed, chores done, eating breakfast. The laundry is started, the bedrooms are neat, the coffee is brewing. I need to get up and fry some eggs.

 

The dark-eyed juncos, black-capped chickadees, white-throated sparrows, northern cardinals, gray catbirds, and blue jays are having a feast at the feeders. The rabbits (inside) are happily munching hay, chewing the bark off the apple twigs, and Clover is playing frisbee with the water dish. She does this for attention. ;)

 

If I had goats out back, my life would be complete. LOL.

Edited January 8, 2016 by Sahamamama

[Critterfixer]

Cold and sunny here. The fire is sluggish; it doesn't want to start from last night's coals.

Today's schedule:

French-EP 2, Unit 1-Des Legumes (The more I study French, the more I think that I should have studied French myself. It's just a lovely sounding language.)

Latin-reviewing 1st and 2nd conjugation verbs, workbook page

Math-page of Key to Fractions and Lesson 8 in CLE

Writing-Spelling words for practice, sentences; Grammar-diagramming gerunds and gerund phrases; Theon's for the first scene in the model.

History-reading Cp 3 (Three Empires), additional reading TBA

Science-reading Earthquakes and Seismic Waves, additional reading TBA

Literature-Oisin in the The Land of Youth

Geography-Start Unit 3

[Laura Cook]

Yesterday was a good day even though we didn't get to science and geography. I ended up spending an hour on the phone dealing with something and by the time we got started back up with school the kids were no longer very cooperative. Thus our day kinda dragged along.

 

This morning we have planned math, reading, spelling and handwriting at all their different levels. This afternoon we go to our monthly art class. And that will probably be all we get done today.

 

The kids don't have any activities this evening so I think we will do a quick mid week house cleaning to touch things up and then watch a movie.

[Sdel]

Wet and rainy this morning. Did swimming. Cleaning the house now for visit day. Heading out later to get results from testing. It's going to be a rough day. We lost DD's favorite rabbit sometime yesterday. I found her when I went out to feed last night. I'll have to tell her this evening.

 

Stefanie

[Sdel]

Wet and rainy this morning. Did swimming. Cleaning the house now for visit day. Heading out later to get results from testing. It's going to be a rough day. We lost DD's favorite rabbit sometime yesterday. I found her when I went out to feed last night. I'll have to tell her this evening.

 

Stefanie

 

Edited to clarify; the rabbit died, not was lost and then found.  I guess I'll be making funeral arrangements tomorrow too.

 

[Tawlas]

Morning ladies, sounds like an up-and-down first week back for most!

 

I've got the usual suspects rounded up for today:

 

Math block for all

 

LA block for all with memory work and read aloud breaks

-reading: haven't picked up phonics for all three of them yet this week, I'm working on laying down some habits and procedures for independent work while I'm working individually with others. Need to figure out what to do with the toddler during this time!

-writing: doing a dramatic reading from Fable this week. Not sure HOW that's going to go! Not sure I'll pursue it right to completed if it's not a fairly smooth, enjoyable process.

-spelling - done the older two, will get to the younger two while they do some independent writing

-grammar - FLL. How I adore thee. Always smooth and easy and quick. And working!

 

Lunch

 

History/science for all - finish chapter 10 in SOTW3, learn about group 1 elements H, Li and Na.

 

Trying to keept he toddler from destrying the house completely. Maybe some sink play today? Introduced her to Kumon cutting yesterday and she LOVES it.

[Critterfixer]

I'm sorry to hear about your DD's rabbit, Stephanie. Losing pets is always hard on everybody. :grouphug:

[MrsRobinson]

Sdel- sorry about your rabbit. :(

 

Since we're all talking about the weather, its icing here! We were going to storytime at the library today but not now. I'm not one to drive in poor weather conditions.

 

Yesterday went pretty well. We didn't get to science or history but they watched an episode of Wild Kratts so I am counting that as science for dd. I did get to play a math game with ds for "preK" and he loved the attention. He saw me filling in events in my new planner and insisted I mark down when he turns 5, he gets to learn to read. Something tells me I'm going to have to start reading lessons with him on that exact day... on a Saturday... in the middle of the summer. :)

 

Today is the usual line up. Spelling, copywork, and math are done. After lunch, we will do some history reading and a chapter in the read aloud.

[Aurelia]

Math is done, DD is arguing about re-reading a couple of chapters of science (We did that before break!) even though I explicitly told her I wanted her to reread them as review for the experiments, and I KNOW she's read them before. Grr. Still have history, handwriting and spelling to do. I'd like to get to art, too. I need to find a better spelling curriculum. PZ seems to have stopped working. She has completely forgotten how to spell a bunch of words she had "mastered" in the past, and she can't seem to get past this one list (seriously, she's on the 50th try today). It's frustrating because I feel like we've tried so many things (WRTR, AAS, PZ, Apples & Pears, and probably one or two others I've blocked out) but nothing seems to stick, or it works for awhile, and then crashes and burns. We're going to try R&S's spelling program (I backed up all the way to the 3rd and 4th grade books) to see if that helps. If not, I have no idea what to do. Maybe Spelling You See?

[Tawlas]

Aurelia, I'm not much help for spelling. My two oldest are, for all intents and purposes, dyslexic so I view spelling as a long haul for us. We're on the third level of spelling and feel positive about it. But my third is a very natural reader and I suspect he'll be a fairly natural speller too. I'm working through AAS1 with him for the most basic building blocks of spelling, then I will probably looking for a less mom-intensive spelling program he can do mostly on his own. Maybe you should try a separate thread for inquiries at large?

[Sdel]

Got results, everything as expected. Still on the road and need to process.

[mama25angels]

Sdel-so sorry to hear about your dd's rabbit. I hope the test results answered your questions instead of making more questions.

 

It's drizzling here and I'm not looking forward to evening service, but the kids are so we will press on. Today was fairly good, not many complaints and no whining so I will consider it a victory.

 

Orthodontist appointment-done

Morning time-done

Math for both boys-done

Music practice-done

Latin review-done

VDT chapter-done

ICS-done

 

We're still working on getting up to our full work load but every day we get closer!

Edited January 7, 2016 by mama25angels

[Jean in Newcastle]

Wednesday -

 

History emphasis day.  Dd is enjoying the Crash course History videos.  I asked her a question today and she put on the video that answered my question as a reply!

 

Vocab done

Spanish done

 

Math - she did what she could on her own and then we worked on a trouble spot together.  Fortunately she was listening to me to day so it went quickly. 

[Soror]

Stefanie- sorry about the rabbit, (hugs) on the results as well

 

Aurelia- I'm anxious to hear about PP Geometry, I've considered it as well

 

Yesterday went awesome considering the horrible sleep I got, when I finally got up for good at 9 ds was solidly working away and dd1 had did some work as well. I don't know what has gotten into ds but he has blown us away lately. I did not get to extras with dd yesterday, we had to go pick up food from the co-op at 1 and when we got back I had to finish with ds and after that I was wiped out and needed a break. Thankfully I slept good last night (first night I've slept all night since Friday I think) and am up relatively early, I plan to get us caught up. I just can't operate when I sleep so poorly. At least ds gets extras because he can read, I'll be adding some content reading for dd next year as well(although I hope that my sleep will normalize and I'll have the energy myself it seems I shouldn't bank on it).

 

Today- usuals, only ds' TKD for outside activities, I'm happy to have the day off from speaking to and seeing people(I just have to drop him off), here's hoping for an early bedtime as the last 3 nights we got in late, poor dh is about to collapse I'm sure. 

Edited January 7, 2016 by soror

[Jean in Newcastle]

Sdel - I'm sorry about the loss of your rabbit.  :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

[Critterfixer]

It's raining. I would still be sleeping if I could be.

 

Today's schedule:

French-continue unit 1 des legumes

Latin-recitation today and continue the workbook review on verbs

Math-page of Key to Fractions and CLE lesson 9

Writing-spelling test and free writing today

History/Literature-swap from yesterday

Science/Geography-swap from yesterday

 

Me-French, Latin, Algebra, Writing and light housekeeping today. Library later.

[Sdel]

Well, today was mediation.  Went just as expected.  Now the real fun begins.  <sarcasm>Yay!</sarcasm>

 

DH is taking DD's test scores to the pedi and setting up an appointment for next week.  They were not unexpected in that they very accurately reflect what I've been seeing in school.  Now the issue is to tease apart if it's all related to ADHD or are a few other things contributing.  The psych that did the testing was very adamant that it was all inattention and it'd all be fixed on meds...which, I know enough to know, isn't necessarily the truth. 

 

Stefanie

 

 

[Aurelia]

Day 3 of stomach bug/food poisoning. I am thoroughly sick of being sick. I have been living on tea and bread/crackers for two full days. I am cranky, and bored, and I want my stomach to behave normally. That doesn't seem like so much to ask.

 

My mom to DD to her gymnastics class today, and then they are visiting my dad, so I have no idea when they will get home, but at least spelling and math should be done. History shouldn't be too hard to squeeze in, either, once they get back. DD's team leotard FINALLY came in yesterday, 3 months after it was ordered. I'm 90% sure I'll have to order another one before the season ends, but at least it fits better than her old, 2-sizes-too-small one did. Still waiting on the reorder from her other gym, though. I expect it will be late February before we get that one, if the coach remembered to order it before Christmas.

 

In less cranky news, I'm making chicken soup for dinner (made from scratch! my first time ever not to use mostly pre-made stuff), and some roasted vegetables. If nothing else, maybe I can keep down the broth.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Thursday - a Project day.

 

Dd did vocab, and Spanish per usual. 

 

We did some math together when she got stuck.  We were successful at communication as well as math.

 

She made a peanut butter cream pie for her project today.  I'm going to become 300 pounds on her projects.  (Actually I will only have a taste of this.)

 

She is now reading from her library books for the finale of project day. 

[Aurelia]

Aurelia, I'm not much help for spelling. My two oldest are, for all intents and purposes, dyslexic so I view spelling as a long haul for us. We're on the third level of spelling and feel positive about it. But my third is a very natural reader and I suspect he'll be a fairly natural speller too. I'm working through AAS1 with him for the most basic building blocks of spelling, then I will probably looking for a less mom-intensive spelling program he can do mostly on his own. Maybe you should try a separate thread for inquiries at large?

 

I've thought about it, but most of the threads I start get maybe 2 replies, and I'm just grumpy today, so I'd best avoid posting until I'm feeling better. I think spelling is going to be a long term thing for us, too. DD isn't dyslexic, but she doesn't pay attention to how words are spelled, like, ever. I don't know how to remediate that. She has good reading comprehension, and some pretty good ideas for writing, but can't spell on her own. Even re-reading her writing, she'll say everything is spelled right, although she has misspelled words she's known since she was 7. (She titled one My Favrit Hores the other day and told me she spelled everything correctly. She's known how to spell "horse" since she was 6. They are one of her favorite things.)

 

I guess I just need to vent. It's just one of those things we'll be working on for the foreseeable future.