Learning Notes Week 14 {2014-2015}

Learning Notes is going to be short this week and a little bit of a different format. I'm short on time (as you can see below). The above picture is our November Little Oratory. The picture is The Child Samuel by Sir Joshua Reynolds as our reminder that the month of November is dedicated to Holy Souls in Purgatory and we need to pray for them.

Overall the week went pretty smoothly. Wednesday ended up being an "independent" day since we had an unplanned appointment in the morning and I decided to get done everything in town that I had planned to do after school instead of making two trips. It was a good thing too as it took much longer than expected and I wouldn't have gotten it all done after school. Thursday I wasn't feeling very well (allergies) and the boys had another independent work day. That did get us a little behind. We have a make-up day scheduled next week that will allow us to catch up.

I need to allow more margin in the day. Tyler has plenty of margin except when he is working with me.  Caleb has hardly any margin! I will see what I can do to fix this.

I'm struggling in getting in Afternoon Basket. We did it once this week (Shakespeare-finished reading A Midsummer Night's Dream ) unless you count the days they played outside after school for PE. It does count but we didn't get the other activities done that were planned. Honestly, I'm mentally exhausted come 2:30 and doing one more thing is hard. Another thing to put on my list to think about. Perhaps doing it earlier in the afternoon. I really think if we work in some more margin I wouldn't be exhausted by the end.

So, I heard so many groans and moans when I pulled out the  Grammar Town book that I haven't pulled it out again. I don't blame them. The book is not what I thought it would be. It's not bad but it's not enjoyable either, lol! It's grammar so I don't know what I was expecting! the boys find it confusing and I do a little too. This too is on my weekend to think about list.

Caleb is getting behind in science. The first two chapters of the Life Science book is just boring! They are really introductory type chapters. I wish I had read ahead and perhaps cut them or shorten them. It's a bad start! On the other hand there was an experiment and Caleb is enjoying that. I need to look ahead for next week and see if any changes need to be made to what we need to get done. (Is anyone keeping track of my weekend to-do list for me?)

I am really behind in keeping up reading for myself what the boys are reading. As you guess it, I need to catch up this weekend.

Tyler starts Chemistry next week and I haven't planned out lessons yet. Yep! More stuff to do this weekend.

The boys are bad about not giving me oral narrations. It is written in their planner and they know what narrations I need to hear and yet it's not getting done. I think we are going to need to fit in meetings at the end of the day so I go through their planner with them. Oh, I'm really going to be reworking that schedule this weekend!

Otherwise, as I stated first off, it really was a good week. I guess I should list some of that! Tyler rocked math and Caleb rocked history! Caleb loves his new history book!

It looks like I will be putting in many hours of overtime this weekend though.

How was your school week?

 

Blog Suggestions?

I've been messing around with Blogger and not having much luck! I can't figure out how to make my header bigger (picture at the top of the blog). Any suggestions? Also, I changed the background color to more of a neutral color. I'm not sure if I like it. What do you think? Taking suggestions! I love the WordPress blogs but I have no skills to even try such a thing!

Learning Notes~Week 13 {2014-2015}

(My purpose with the weekly Learning Notes is really for me to think out loud how our week went. I'm pretty much talking to myself! ;) I'm not bragging about or complaining about student's ability but trying to find the good and the bad and keep records.)   

This week was the start of our Term 2! It went great but we did have some unexpected interruptions (two trips to the doctor). I also had to schedule one day of only independent work since I had a project for that day.

I had hoped to make it out to the family farm for some nature study and planned on Thursday or Friday. It ended up raining on Thursday and I also ended up at the doctor. And Friday turned out too chilly for me!

Week 13 finally brought a schedule! I told the boys this week it was written in stone. Tyler didn't like that at all! I did give into switching spelling and math as no one wanted to do math first when it was their turn to work with me. Because of the interruptions, we weren't able to give it a week long run that I had hoped before ironing out any wrinkles, but it went smoothly. I think Tyler had the hang of it after the first day and he noticed he had some planned breaks which changed his attitude. The spelling/math switch may be our only change.

Caleb (13 years-8th grade)

Caleb is loving his new history book and read the first chapter and wrote a written narration. Also in history, he read in Hittie Warrior and American Gun. He completed a lesson in Visits to North America.

Caleb was impressed with his test from Saxon this week. He actually has confidence in his math ability now. He tells us how much he likes math after he has a successful lesson in math. Everyday wasn't successful this week, but that was more my fault for not finding a protractor and losing our compass and therefore he couldn't complete on of the investigations. One lesson on prime and composite numbers and factorization was a challenge for him. He was taught this last year in Math-U-See and he didn't understand it then or now. Honestly, I know I wasn't taught this in school because I'm struggling to wrap my head around it to. My questions is why and what will this do for my math study? I plan to figure that out.

He is moving along in Fix It, All About Spelling, Writing With Skill, and Lord of the Rings. I'm most surprised at Writing With Skill! He is capable of reading the lesson and completing it own his own and then turns it into me to "grade". I just have to read the rubric in the instructors text to make sure he did everything they told him to do. We are loving this and he is writing every day!

Religion was completed this week with a lesson from the catechism, two chapters in The How-To Mass Book, and a reading in the Virtue Tree program. Caleb was suppose to discuss the Virtue Tree lesson with me and that didn't happen and it was checked off as completed. (Other homeschoolers-how do you deal with this? This has been a big problem this year and I don't catch it until the weekend when I go over their planners. My reminders aren't working.)

We didn't get as far along as I had hoped in the new science program (Life Science). Which was my fault, again since I didn't have some of the supplies bought for the experiment. At this point I would skip it, but Scott did pick them up for me. I guess we will save it for next week. (It's too cold in the house for seeds to grow right now anyway. Warmer next week!) Caleb was eager to start this problem.

Tyler (10 years-5th grade)

Tyler had a successful week and I can only find one thing uncompleted in his planner (which again was my fault from having to go the doctor on Thursday). I do see he missed giving me a few narrations though. I may have to go to looking at their planners during Afternoon Basket every day to prevent this!

Tyler completed 4 lessons and a test in his Saxon book. Square roots are still giving him trouble but otherwise he isn't struggling much with this book and I'm pleased with the switch! He also read in Life of Fred (Ice Cream) and played Times Attack.

I doubled up Tyler's weather readings to finish the book sooner and because he was getting the reading done in 5 minutes. He still can't narrate from this book and I think I will stop asking. We also read a section in his health book about the eyes.

He completed everything I assigned in Language Arts for the week (Fix It, AAS, copywork, keyboarding, Literature, writing). I think he is enjoying keyboarding. I look forward to him learning to type since he needs to be doing written narrations and his poor handwriting is the stumbling block there. Copywork is a struggle as usual. He said on Friday that I didn't need to look over his shoulder because he was going to do his best work without me this time . . . . his copywork sheet was lost! We looked everywhere for it! I forgot to make a new one up so he didn't get to complete that challenge. We did work on written narration during writing time on Friday. After I transcribed a half page of writing we had a little lesson on how he only needed to narrate on the part he had just read and how to cut the unimportant parts. I don't think he would have this problem if he was doing the writing himself!

In religion, Tyler read about 10 pages in Life of our Lord and gave one oral narration. He read a lesson on penance in the catechism and he forgot to give his narration on that.

In history, Tyler read in The Story of the World, Stories of America, and Usborne Ancient World. I read The Cat of Bubastes to him.

For geography, he did a lesson in Visits to North America and played on Sheppards Software.

7 Quick Takes Friday {October 31, 2014}

1) I feel like such a failure with the the triduum celebration of the weekend. Tyler is trick or treating tonight for All Hallows' Eve, I made no plans for All Saint's Day, and nothing special for All Soul's Day either. I decided not to make any plans since we are all ready booked for Saturday. I'll try to do better next year!

2) Tyler picked the ugliest costume ever! I had him hold the cat to try and make it look cute.  The cat was asleep though and had no idea what was going on. I call it "Sasquatch finds dinner".

3) I told Scott he needed to learn how to cut the boys' hair since it is a struggle to make arrangements with those who have offered to give them free cuts. Scott did buy clippers but I was surprised when he wanted me to do it! Ha! Ok, I did end up cutting Scott's hair and I guess it went fine.

4) See that pine tree in the above pictures? It is coming down. We planted it for privacy when we moved here 15 years ago. It was 5 feet tall and is now taller than the house even with the main trunk being broke off in an ice storm a few years ago. It has outgrown it's spot. It's my favorite tree and I will miss it! It was windy today and every time the back door was opened I could hear the beautiful sound it makes when the wind blows through it!

5) I'm scrapbooking tomorrow! I haven't touched my stuff since July? and I sure hope I have some pictures in my bag! I'm thinking about selling all my card making stuff tomorrow too. They have a "garage sale" table. I've been thinking about this for some time. Must decide by morning!

6) I really need to get busy and do some Advent planning! Otherwise it will turn out like this weekend. I would like to find a couple new books. Any suggestions?

7) Here are a few pictures at the second to last cross country meet from last week. Tyler is the one with red shorts. Which worked well in picking him out in the crowd. Except for the last meet when it seemed like a quarter of the boys had red shorts on! Tyler finishes in the middle of the pack but as you can see from picture #4 he starts at the end. He passes a lot of people!

Caleb is in the middle of the picture (about the third from the right) wearing a gray shirt.

Tyler at the finish line.

 

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Pretty Happy Funny Real {October 30, 2014}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday, over at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

Today's Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real comes from our trip to the farm last Friday. The boys were wanting to pick up the last of the walnuts and I wanted to walk that trail that has been calling my name. Besides walnuts, Caleb picked up Poison Ivy and somehow got it all over his face.

Locked out! We got to the family farm and realized we forgot the key. We drove the truck, to collect walnuts, and the key was in the car. Thankfully we are less than fifteen minutes away and the drive was beautiful with all the colors of autumn.

The boys climbed the gate and decided to play in the creek and woods while I drove back. Tyler found this interesting rock that had to come home with us. I didn't get a good picture of the rock but it was really interesting.

 On the quick walk on the trail I've been wanting to visit, we found many treats along the walk. Coral Berry was everywhere! The fruit color was magnificent. 

This small Oak tree was loaded with acorns. They were small but in prolific bunches.

We came along this Dogwood tree and were amazed by the leave and seed color.

All the Golden Rod had turned to seed which was a fluffy site.
 

My dad's deer stand is on this trail and Tyler wanted his picture taken in it. It should be noted that this was the only picture he wanted to take that day. 

Just a little love shared among brothers. I just wanted some pictures in front of my favorite tree.

Our Plans {2014-2015 Term 2}

It's hard to believe we are a third of the way through the school year! This post will have what we are continuing from term 1 and what new books we are using for term 2. A * will indicate any new selections for term 2 or books we switched to after school started and weren't included in the term 1 post.

Tyler~10 years old~5th grade:

History/Geography: 

Visits to North America  (map work)

The Cat of Bubastes (historical fiction)
Encyclopedia of the Ancient World (ancient history)
The Story of the World 1 (Ancient History) 
Augustus Caesar's World  (will be added in about halfway through the term)*
Stories of America Volume 2 (American History)*

Math:
We switched to Saxon 5/4 earlier in the school year and have been very happy with this switch.
Life of Fred (math review for Tyler)
Times Attack  (for additional fact practice)

Science:
Tyler has two more weeks of weather study and then he will be starting Focus of Chemistry*.
Health 5 from Seton

Religion:
Life of our Lord For Children
St. Joseph's Baltimore Catechism *

Language Arts:
IEW Fix It Book 1 (applied grammar)
All About Spelling 4 
Keyboarding Skills 
Copywork
Writing (working on written narrations and other writing projects)
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe * (for literature) 



Caleb~13 years~8th grade

History/Geography:
Caleb requested to stop ancient history studies and switch to modern history. So, we are going to use plans for studying the 20th century from Mater Amabilis (World and American History)
American Gun: A History of the US in Ten Guns (American History)
Hittite Warrior (Ancient History-he's enjoying this book and wanted to finish it; we will replace it with a book off the MA list once done)
Visits to North America (map work)
Current Events using our Diocese's weekly paper
Geography Games (map drill)

Math:
Saxon 8/7 
Times Attack (for additional fact practice)

Science:
CHC Life Science by Michael J. Spear *(which is a complete change from our original plans)

Religion:
The Virtue Tree Program  (which is from CHC and I found it in their old Middle School Guide-but the current lesson plans are in the seventh grade lesson plans)
St. Joseph's Baltimore Catechism No. 2 *
The How-To Book of the Mass *

Language Arts:
IEW Fix It Book 2 (applied grammar)
All About Spelling *
The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien (literature)
Writing With Skill Level 1 *
Written Narration once a week from history

We also have 45 minutes first thing for Morning Basket and 30 minutes at the end of the school day that I like to call Afternoon Basket. This is the work we do together. 

For Morning Basket I plan to spend 15 minutes on each topic and get down three each day. We were running a few minutes late this week and just read a little less in the read aloud.

For Afternoon Basket I just pick a topic that I want to do that afternoon and do one or a few of the suggestions under it.

Morning Basket links:
Swallowdale (read aloud)
A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls (history)
Grammar Town *(grammar)
St. John Paul II: Be Not Afraid *(religion-saints)
The Father Brown Reader II *(read aloud)
Faith & Life 5 (religion-catechism)
The Fallacy Detective (logic)
The U.S. Constitution and You *(civics)

Afternoon basket links:
Chalk Pastel
Ed Emberley
Art Through Faith
The Ultimate Homeschool PE Book *
Memorizing poetry using How to Teach Your Kids Shakespeare and The Harp and Laurel Wreath
A Midsummer's Night Dream  (Shakespeare)
Lewis Carroll
Handicrafts Made Simple-Hand Sewing *

A Tuesday Daybook {October 28, 2014}

Outside my window . . . .
it was a beautiful autumn day.  The past weekend was hot(the air condition had to be turned back on for a short time)! Cooler temperatures are wanted but it is a little of a shock today after such a hot weekend.

I’m thankful for . . . .

a busy late summer/early fall season being over. Now just back to normal busy. This week is ideal and we only have one activity planned in the evening. 

 

A two-night getaway with Scott last week at our favorite spot. We went to celebrate our 15th anniversary, which was in September, and Scott's 40th birthday which occurred while we were away. 

 

I’m thinking about . . . .

a shopping list. I need to go shopping and I'm struggling with that list.

 

Advent . . . is it too early? I would like to work on a book list and decide on what traditions we will do this year. I need a new wreath since I didn't like the new one we had last year. I would like to get those shopping list made too and get the shopping started and done before Thanksgiving.  

In the schoolroom . . .

We started term 2 this week and the first two days have gone well. I'll be posting our term 2 plans later this week along with Learning Notes sometime over the weekend.

 

From the kitchen . . . .

I planned beef stew, homemade pizza, and taco casserole this week. The rest is being filled in with some type of frozen meat and veggies or leftovers. I made the pizza tonight and didn't have any sauce . . . . there goes thinking the menu was organized this week.

 

I am working on . . . .

attitudes and habits. Not just the boy's but mine. New term with a new schedule and it's time rid the house of the complainers and talk-backers. I could use a mentor!

 

I am reading . . .

I finished A Mother's Rule of Life and I thought it was wonderful. I need to catch up on reading some of the boys books for school. I've been listening to Anne of Green Gables in the car with CDs that I got from the library. The reading is not the greatest, but I'm enjoying the story and I know this is the only way I will get to "read" it. Next in my pile to read is Holiness for Housewives.   

 

Around the house . . . .

do you hear crickets? My project from my last daybook are still not done. New windows and doors really should be on a priority! We are still dragging on feet on the painting.

A few plans for the week . . . .

School, catching up on some project put off for less busy times, hopefully enjoying some fall nature, youth deer season, and scrapbooking. I haven't made any plans for All Hallows' Eve or All Saints Day,yet. I would like to do something special on Friday since Saturday is booked.

 

Life with boys . . . .

Cross country season ended last Wednesday and the boys haven't ran since then. I think they decided to run once a week through fall and winter (if possible). I need to get this activity on their calendar.

 

The boys have been spending their free time building in the backyard. We have a pile of blocks (those used to make a retaining wall), some tin pieces, and a few odds and ends building supplies that they are using. I'm hoping animals don't decide to make it their winter home!

 

Pictures . . . .

A few from our trip.

 

View from our room!

Squirrels were enjoying fall at the lake too.