Just a short, little, sentimental, feeling-sorry-for-myself post today.
Mother's Day growing up was always spent going to church, going out to brunch with our entire extended family, and then my parents and I would usually just drive around for awhile. I have never had a Mother's Day with my mother while being a mother. My mom died when C was only 2 1/2 months old, so MY first Mother's Day as a mom was the first Mother's Day without my OWN mom.
The next 12 years I spent Mother's Day usually the same way. It was always my pick of what to do, what to eat, and where to go, of course, and usually my choice went like this: go to Hometown Buffet for breakfast, go to Barnes and Noble to buy books, go to Best Buy to buy a CD or video game, drive around for awhile, come home, open my gifts from everybody, and then fishing. I haven't fished for almost 2 years, but it is so peaceful, relaxing, and who wouldn't love to just spend time enjoying nature surrounded by their whole family?
This year....well....my daughters both made me beautiful hand-beaded bracelets, colored me pictures, and made me cards. I went to Wal-Mart and spent $167 on groceries. Anyone who knows me knows I DETEST Wal-Mart, and it is the LAST place I would choose to go ANY day, let alone Mother's Day, but home schooling kind of puts a damper on errands during the week, and I guess at least I don't have to go back to Wal-Mart for 2 weeks now. Too bad I couldn't afford a fishing license while I was there, and at least I could go fishing! LOL If the grass ever dries out enough I'll go mow instead...oh yippee! LOL
Hope the rest of you all have a wonderful Mother's Day!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Curriculum Review: Horizons Math 2
For my younger daughter, E we needed something that moved faster and could hold her interest...something that would challenge her, yet not frustrate her. Something where she was able to learn new things, yet remained fun for her.
Horizons, by Alpha Omega Homeschool, is widely known for use with children that are "gifted" or "accelerated" in math. I began E in grade 2 when she was 7, and she just completed it a week ago, at age 8 yrs. 2 mos. We completed every lesson, every test, and every speed drill. Horizons math lived up to its reputation.
E and I both LOVED using Horizons. We both want to continue with it. E says, "I LOVE math. It's my favorite subject. It's FUN. " As a teacher, and mother of a child who excels in math, I also loved it.
Horizons begins with a speed drill 4 out of 5 days of the week. Then we move on to the lesson of a new concept daily, with an oral lesson, board work for examples, although E never needed these, as she catches right on, so we skipped examples and we would go straight to her assignments. Each lesson took me about 5 minutes to teach, and then took E anywhere from 15 minutes to maybe 45 minutes tops to complete. She got 2 B's on her work (160 lessons, 16 tests) and straight A's the entire rest of the year.
The program covered basic addition and subtraction, and by the middle of the year she was doing 3 and 4 digit addition and subtraction with borrowing and carrying, and "columns" of adding. She began learning her multiplication facts by mid year, also, and has them all down pat by now, a full year earlier than most math programs used in home school, public school, or private schools. Horizons math 2 also covered money, fractions, different kinds of graphs, decimals, thermometers, and basic geometry concepts such as area and volume, and 3-D shapes. One major thing that helped tremendously when she began learning her multiplication facts was the first half of the year the child learns by rote "skip-counting" by every single digit number. The 2 workbook set for students was in full color, which captured my child's interest with the pictures, while each assignment had her doing anywhere from 60-100 separate math problems. EVERY assignment had at least 1, and usually 2 or 3 story problems in which E had to figure out which operation to use (add, subtract, or multiply.)
As each concept is introduced, it is practiced in-depth for the next 5 lessons, while still daily introducing another new concept. Once a concept is learned, it is never forgotten, but touched upon again and again throughout the daily assignments and on tests, and built upon.
Horizons is not for everyone. If your child needs more time with new things, I would not recommend Horizons. I would also not recommend it for children who are distracted by colorful worksheets, or by constantly switching topics in one lesson. But for a child who likes math, who excels at it, or who is considered accelerated, Horizons definitely has been the best math program we have tried, and we will definitely be sticking with it.
Horizons, by Alpha Omega Homeschool, is widely known for use with children that are "gifted" or "accelerated" in math. I began E in grade 2 when she was 7, and she just completed it a week ago, at age 8 yrs. 2 mos. We completed every lesson, every test, and every speed drill. Horizons math lived up to its reputation.
E and I both LOVED using Horizons. We both want to continue with it. E says, "I LOVE math. It's my favorite subject. It's FUN. " As a teacher, and mother of a child who excels in math, I also loved it.
Horizons begins with a speed drill 4 out of 5 days of the week. Then we move on to the lesson of a new concept daily, with an oral lesson, board work for examples, although E never needed these, as she catches right on, so we skipped examples and we would go straight to her assignments. Each lesson took me about 5 minutes to teach, and then took E anywhere from 15 minutes to maybe 45 minutes tops to complete. She got 2 B's on her work (160 lessons, 16 tests) and straight A's the entire rest of the year.
The program covered basic addition and subtraction, and by the middle of the year she was doing 3 and 4 digit addition and subtraction with borrowing and carrying, and "columns" of adding. She began learning her multiplication facts by mid year, also, and has them all down pat by now, a full year earlier than most math programs used in home school, public school, or private schools. Horizons math 2 also covered money, fractions, different kinds of graphs, decimals, thermometers, and basic geometry concepts such as area and volume, and 3-D shapes. One major thing that helped tremendously when she began learning her multiplication facts was the first half of the year the child learns by rote "skip-counting" by every single digit number. The 2 workbook set for students was in full color, which captured my child's interest with the pictures, while each assignment had her doing anywhere from 60-100 separate math problems. EVERY assignment had at least 1, and usually 2 or 3 story problems in which E had to figure out which operation to use (add, subtract, or multiply.)
As each concept is introduced, it is practiced in-depth for the next 5 lessons, while still daily introducing another new concept. Once a concept is learned, it is never forgotten, but touched upon again and again throughout the daily assignments and on tests, and built upon.
Horizons is not for everyone. If your child needs more time with new things, I would not recommend Horizons. I would also not recommend it for children who are distracted by colorful worksheets, or by constantly switching topics in one lesson. But for a child who likes math, who excels at it, or who is considered accelerated, Horizons definitely has been the best math program we have tried, and we will definitely be sticking with it.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Week in Review......one more OFFICIAL week of school left
We are ALMOST done with our full-time year. As you all know we school year-round, but May, June, and July are reserved only for one or two subjects, and only twice a week or so. Our main thing in the summer is softball. This will be C's SIXTH year of softball, and E's SECOND.
Quick school update. E finished her Spelling Friday. She has only 5 lessons left in math and she and C have just one chapter left in science. C also has only 5 lessons left in math, including her chapter 4 test, at which time she will be exactly 28% of the way done with her 7th grade book, which she doesn't technically begin until next August.....make sense? C also still has approximately 4 weeks left of Social Studies, but again, this will get her 25% of the way through her 7th grade book, so she will be ahead in that also. This works out very well as many days as they now seem to miss during the typical public school schedule due to having to go so far away to visit their dad.
That is about it for school that we HAVE to do. My intentions for the summer are to have C work through at LEAST 1 more chapter of math very sporadically, and do a module or two in her science. E needs to continue working with English and spelling, so she will be doing "fun" review workbooks to keep her on target to begin 3rd grade. Besides....it just might be that the teacher ordered a ton of books a year or two ago, and forgot about some of them until I cleaned through all our home school materials a few months ago and found things I completely forgot about. Oops! So.....what was bought as curriculum is now going to called "fun" review books. LOL
Now....what I am just SO excited about, and can't wait to finally have a moment to tell....is......I FINALLY bought C a violin! The poor child is 12 years old, and has been wanting a violin since she was 8. She played when she went to public school, and that was, in fact, the one and only reason I kept her IN school for an extra 5 months....because she loved the violin so. I have periodically looked at student violins online, and a couple of weeks ago I decided to do so because it had been awhile. And lo and behold there was a student, full sized, brand new violin with horse-hair bow on sale for 70% off retail price! That's not a typo, it was 70% off! I called C to come see it, and we studied it for about half an hour, and she had just the hugest smile on her face, and I just could not pass this up. I have NO income, and not even child support anymore, and the little I have I need to live off of, but I just simply could not pass this opportunity up. So we called and ordered it, and it arrived last Tuesday.
I have to thank fellow homeschool blogger, Michelle, for inspiring C and I with her regular postings of her own daughter's violin progress beginning also at age 12.
Anyway....I have NO knowledge of violins whatsoever. I never even actually saw one in person until C's arrived last week. So.....I have lined up an instructor for her that knows what he is doing. He will begin lessons with C in the middle of May. I don't know who is more happy about it, me, or C. This has been her ONLY musical passion for YEARS, and God blessed us and led us to one we can afford.
The girls are gone right now. This is day 2 out of 5 they are spending at their dads. I HATE this visitation stuff, I HATE it. We used to be such a strong, happy family. : (
Quick school update. E finished her Spelling Friday. She has only 5 lessons left in math and she and C have just one chapter left in science. C also has only 5 lessons left in math, including her chapter 4 test, at which time she will be exactly 28% of the way done with her 7th grade book, which she doesn't technically begin until next August.....make sense? C also still has approximately 4 weeks left of Social Studies, but again, this will get her 25% of the way through her 7th grade book, so she will be ahead in that also. This works out very well as many days as they now seem to miss during the typical public school schedule due to having to go so far away to visit their dad.
That is about it for school that we HAVE to do. My intentions for the summer are to have C work through at LEAST 1 more chapter of math very sporadically, and do a module or two in her science. E needs to continue working with English and spelling, so she will be doing "fun" review workbooks to keep her on target to begin 3rd grade. Besides....it just might be that the teacher ordered a ton of books a year or two ago, and forgot about some of them until I cleaned through all our home school materials a few months ago and found things I completely forgot about. Oops! So.....what was bought as curriculum is now going to called "fun" review books. LOL
Now....what I am just SO excited about, and can't wait to finally have a moment to tell....is......I FINALLY bought C a violin! The poor child is 12 years old, and has been wanting a violin since she was 8. She played when she went to public school, and that was, in fact, the one and only reason I kept her IN school for an extra 5 months....because she loved the violin so. I have periodically looked at student violins online, and a couple of weeks ago I decided to do so because it had been awhile. And lo and behold there was a student, full sized, brand new violin with horse-hair bow on sale for 70% off retail price! That's not a typo, it was 70% off! I called C to come see it, and we studied it for about half an hour, and she had just the hugest smile on her face, and I just could not pass this up. I have NO income, and not even child support anymore, and the little I have I need to live off of, but I just simply could not pass this opportunity up. So we called and ordered it, and it arrived last Tuesday.
I have to thank fellow homeschool blogger, Michelle, for inspiring C and I with her regular postings of her own daughter's violin progress beginning also at age 12.
Anyway....I have NO knowledge of violins whatsoever. I never even actually saw one in person until C's arrived last week. So.....I have lined up an instructor for her that knows what he is doing. He will begin lessons with C in the middle of May. I don't know who is more happy about it, me, or C. This has been her ONLY musical passion for YEARS, and God blessed us and led us to one we can afford.
The girls are gone right now. This is day 2 out of 5 they are spending at their dads. I HATE this visitation stuff, I HATE it. We used to be such a strong, happy family. : (
Saturday, April 9, 2011
My Favorite Teacher
I was not homeschooled. I might as well have been, as many days as I was either sick for real, or got my mom to call in and SAY I was sick. She pretty much didn't care if I went to school or not as long as I kept getting A's, so I had a lot of freedom as a kid.
I liked school all the way up until high school when I got too busy with a social life to care about wasting hours in school sleeping through things I already knew. But I have to say that 3rd grade was probably one of my favorite years, and it was due to the teacher. Her name was Mrs. Rigsby....I can say that because she is no longer living, and because very few people read this that actually know where I'm from. LOL
Mrs. Rigsby liked me too. I was "teacher's pet". She called on me all the time, thus allowing me to shine in front of an audience of other 8 year olds. She let me progress at my own pace, which meant that I finished all my books for the entire year by October, and was allowed to go outside with the other smart girl (my best friend, Laura) and play on the playground all by ourselves while the rest of the class had to sit and do lessons. Hmm....now that I think about it, maybe she just let us do that so I would stop "shining" and give other kids a chance to answer, LOL! But for real...how many public schools today would allow a kids to work through all her books in one month NOW? To be fair, I doubt the school knew she let us do that, but still....we sure thought we were cool back then.
In addition to one month of schooling and 8 months of playing outside....Mrs. Rigsby invited Laura and I to her house. For home made popcorn balls. Which no one even makes anymore because they might spike them with razor blades or something. And she introduced us to her husband as her "star pupils", which made Laura and I just about bust with pride. Laura and I used to have free reign to walk all over town. (I was the youngest of 5 kids, and my mom simply didn't care too much what I did...the older 4 tired her out. Laura was the OLDEST of 5, and her mom probably never even noticed she was missing. LOL) We went to our public library almost daily, seeing which one of us could read more books. Once we tasted Mrs. Rigsby's home made popcorn balls we began making a point to always walk past HER house on the way to the library. (Yes, I was a geek...I might have mentioned that on this blog a time or two before.)
I was always so excited to go to school in 3rd grade. I just KNEW I would have a good day (playing on the playground) and get A +'s on the rare occasions I had to take a test or something else I couldn't work ahead on. Mrs. Rigsby was not only a teacher, she was the BEST teacher I had. She knew to make a child love learning meant letting them go at their own pace,letting them be themselves. She became a friend, all the way up until she was no longer living, 20 years later.
Maybe that's why I like home schooling my daughters so much. I can let them learn at their own pace. I can let them be themselves, and not have to worry about them being homogenized versions of every other girl their age. And so far they both still consider me their friend, and there is nothing my girls and I don't share or talk about.
Anyway, here it is 2011, and I've raised 4 daughters. My YOUNGEST is now going to be entering 3rd grade. So, I've been thinking about 3rd grade, and I just wanted to put into writing how much I loved Mrs. Rigsby.
I liked school all the way up until high school when I got too busy with a social life to care about wasting hours in school sleeping through things I already knew. But I have to say that 3rd grade was probably one of my favorite years, and it was due to the teacher. Her name was Mrs. Rigsby....I can say that because she is no longer living, and because very few people read this that actually know where I'm from. LOL
Mrs. Rigsby liked me too. I was "teacher's pet". She called on me all the time, thus allowing me to shine in front of an audience of other 8 year olds. She let me progress at my own pace, which meant that I finished all my books for the entire year by October, and was allowed to go outside with the other smart girl (my best friend, Laura) and play on the playground all by ourselves while the rest of the class had to sit and do lessons. Hmm....now that I think about it, maybe she just let us do that so I would stop "shining" and give other kids a chance to answer, LOL! But for real...how many public schools today would allow a kids to work through all her books in one month NOW? To be fair, I doubt the school knew she let us do that, but still....we sure thought we were cool back then.
In addition to one month of schooling and 8 months of playing outside....Mrs. Rigsby invited Laura and I to her house. For home made popcorn balls. Which no one even makes anymore because they might spike them with razor blades or something. And she introduced us to her husband as her "star pupils", which made Laura and I just about bust with pride. Laura and I used to have free reign to walk all over town. (I was the youngest of 5 kids, and my mom simply didn't care too much what I did...the older 4 tired her out. Laura was the OLDEST of 5, and her mom probably never even noticed she was missing. LOL) We went to our public library almost daily, seeing which one of us could read more books. Once we tasted Mrs. Rigsby's home made popcorn balls we began making a point to always walk past HER house on the way to the library. (Yes, I was a geek...I might have mentioned that on this blog a time or two before.)
I was always so excited to go to school in 3rd grade. I just KNEW I would have a good day (playing on the playground) and get A +'s on the rare occasions I had to take a test or something else I couldn't work ahead on. Mrs. Rigsby was not only a teacher, she was the BEST teacher I had. She knew to make a child love learning meant letting them go at their own pace,letting them be themselves. She became a friend, all the way up until she was no longer living, 20 years later.
Maybe that's why I like home schooling my daughters so much. I can let them learn at their own pace. I can let them be themselves, and not have to worry about them being homogenized versions of every other girl their age. And so far they both still consider me their friend, and there is nothing my girls and I don't share or talk about.
Anyway, here it is 2011, and I've raised 4 daughters. My YOUNGEST is now going to be entering 3rd grade. So, I've been thinking about 3rd grade, and I just wanted to put into writing how much I loved Mrs. Rigsby.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
My Daughter Said the Sweetest Thing : )
We just had our mother cat and her 2 female kittens spayed. Minnie (the mother) had a rough surgery and recovery, but through it all she has been VERY concerned about her daughters. Even when she wasn't able to stand up she meows, "calling" her babies to locate them. After she regained her ability to walk she runs constantly between Abby and Ashley. She keeps licking them, and cuddling up to them. Even though they really aren't kittens anymore, they are 19 months old, Minnie is being very protective, loving, and concerned.
I made the comment last night that, "Minnie is the best Mommy in the whole world."
8 year old E said, "No. She's the best CAT mommy. YOU are the best Mommy in the whole world."
Awwwww!
I made the comment last night that, "Minnie is the best Mommy in the whole world."
8 year old E said, "No. She's the best CAT mommy. YOU are the best Mommy in the whole world."
Awwwww!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
6 Days Until Jury Duty, and Here's Where Our School Year is At
Ooooh, we're soooo close to finishing up this year, and I'm so disappointed to have jury duty for the next 2 weeks, which will set us behind when we're so close to the end.
C finished her 6th grade English last week, and no more English for awhile. Actually, no more English at all, as for 7th grade she will be focusing on Literature and writing.
She has her chapter 3 review in math tomorrow, and her test for that chapter the next day, and then a math break till after jury duty. But she will be 21% of the way done with her 7th grade math in less than 48 hours.
We will also be finished with her current chapter of science in 2 days, leaving us with only 2 chapters left for the year.
And ALSO in 2 days C will complete chapter 2 in her 7th grade social studies....so a very easy week for her this week. And me, too, as far as that goes, as I won't have much to do but grade a few things.
E is still chugging along to finish her 2nd grade math...I think we're down to 18 lessons left for the year. Still all A's, of course.
E has 5 lessons left in Spelling....I didn't think she would EVER complete an entire year's worth of spelling, but by golly, we've (almost) done it!
She finished Reading; I don't remember if I mentioned that here or not last time I posted.
We finally began working on her Cursive writing, and so far she writes Cursive far prettier than printing. But then again, she only knows how to write her name, and the letters A and E. LOL I'm hoping to have her writing completely in cursive by the end of the summer.
We're still also working through FLL (First Language Lessons). E does well with it, although she tires quickly of the repetition to learn the parts of speech.
For anyone who actually cares, my brother and his family had a wonderful time in Hawaii, and made it safely back home.
The weather finally started getting warm a week or so ago, and this is the nicest time of year to me. I LOVE being outside, and have been truly thrilled to be able to be outside doing such fun things as shoveling dog poop, weeding, raking, throwing trash away that always seems to blow into our yard....really...I am just so happy to be outdoors, that these have all been fun for me. Soon I can start mowing again, and at least get some little bit of physical activity, too.
The big news of the week is that I am getting 3, yes THREE of our cats spayed. We take them in tomorrow, and they will be back home to us Thursday, God willing. I found a local animal shelter that will do all 3 for less than the cost our vet charges for ONE cat.
That's about it for the official update. LOL
Take care everyone! : )
C finished her 6th grade English last week, and no more English for awhile. Actually, no more English at all, as for 7th grade she will be focusing on Literature and writing.
She has her chapter 3 review in math tomorrow, and her test for that chapter the next day, and then a math break till after jury duty. But she will be 21% of the way done with her 7th grade math in less than 48 hours.
We will also be finished with her current chapter of science in 2 days, leaving us with only 2 chapters left for the year.
And ALSO in 2 days C will complete chapter 2 in her 7th grade social studies....so a very easy week for her this week. And me, too, as far as that goes, as I won't have much to do but grade a few things.
E is still chugging along to finish her 2nd grade math...I think we're down to 18 lessons left for the year. Still all A's, of course.
E has 5 lessons left in Spelling....I didn't think she would EVER complete an entire year's worth of spelling, but by golly, we've (almost) done it!
She finished Reading; I don't remember if I mentioned that here or not last time I posted.
We finally began working on her Cursive writing, and so far she writes Cursive far prettier than printing. But then again, she only knows how to write her name, and the letters A and E. LOL I'm hoping to have her writing completely in cursive by the end of the summer.
We're still also working through FLL (First Language Lessons). E does well with it, although she tires quickly of the repetition to learn the parts of speech.
For anyone who actually cares, my brother and his family had a wonderful time in Hawaii, and made it safely back home.
The weather finally started getting warm a week or so ago, and this is the nicest time of year to me. I LOVE being outside, and have been truly thrilled to be able to be outside doing such fun things as shoveling dog poop, weeding, raking, throwing trash away that always seems to blow into our yard....really...I am just so happy to be outdoors, that these have all been fun for me. Soon I can start mowing again, and at least get some little bit of physical activity, too.
The big news of the week is that I am getting 3, yes THREE of our cats spayed. We take them in tomorrow, and they will be back home to us Thursday, God willing. I found a local animal shelter that will do all 3 for less than the cost our vet charges for ONE cat.
That's about it for the official update. LOL
Take care everyone! : )
Friday, March 11, 2011
I Rarelly Get an Entire Evening Alone With My Daughters, so....
What a nice evening it has been!
Aside from worrying about my brother and sister-in-law, and niece and nephew who, as I mentioned in my last post, were going to Hawaii, it has been a lovely night. There was an 8.9 earthquake in Japan earlier today, which caused tsunamis all around the Pacific, and Honolulu was one of the areas evacuated. I last heard from my brother eleven hours ago, but all the news reports online I have seen show little damage in Hawaii, so I'm hoping he is fine, just unable to contact us due to power outages and over-worked cell lines, as the news reports say.
Other than that I have done more work tonight than I usually am able to do in a week. E and I did 8 lessons in Language, read a story, and she requested doing another reading comprehension exercise. She got an A + and only has one lesson to go in 2nd grade Reading. Actually, she got A +'s in all her subjects today; the ones tonight were just extra ones we did "for fun".
C and I did History about an hour ago.
E picked up their room, and then C vacuumed it, and now they are playing a board game.
And me? I have gotten one load of clothes washed and in the dryer, and I have a load of curtains in the washer right now. I also washed the clothes hamper...definitely not something I do on a regular basis. LOL And I did all my morning chores for tomorrow, so I'm not sure what I'll do in the morning. And took the garbage out. I also have my coffeepot soaking in the sink, and will be scrubbing it when I finish writing here...I can't use it until I clean it, and I spent this morning and all day caffeine-less. I think that is probably the first time I have spent in 15 or 20 years without coffee, and I do NOT want to make THAT a habit!
I seem to be on a pretty good cleaning roll tonight, even without caffeine, so....back to work.
Praying for the people in Japan tonight.
Aside from worrying about my brother and sister-in-law, and niece and nephew who, as I mentioned in my last post, were going to Hawaii, it has been a lovely night. There was an 8.9 earthquake in Japan earlier today, which caused tsunamis all around the Pacific, and Honolulu was one of the areas evacuated. I last heard from my brother eleven hours ago, but all the news reports online I have seen show little damage in Hawaii, so I'm hoping he is fine, just unable to contact us due to power outages and over-worked cell lines, as the news reports say.
Other than that I have done more work tonight than I usually am able to do in a week. E and I did 8 lessons in Language, read a story, and she requested doing another reading comprehension exercise. She got an A + and only has one lesson to go in 2nd grade Reading. Actually, she got A +'s in all her subjects today; the ones tonight were just extra ones we did "for fun".
C and I did History about an hour ago.
E picked up their room, and then C vacuumed it, and now they are playing a board game.
And me? I have gotten one load of clothes washed and in the dryer, and I have a load of curtains in the washer right now. I also washed the clothes hamper...definitely not something I do on a regular basis. LOL And I did all my morning chores for tomorrow, so I'm not sure what I'll do in the morning. And took the garbage out. I also have my coffeepot soaking in the sink, and will be scrubbing it when I finish writing here...I can't use it until I clean it, and I spent this morning and all day caffeine-less. I think that is probably the first time I have spent in 15 or 20 years without coffee, and I do NOT want to make THAT a habit!
I seem to be on a pretty good cleaning roll tonight, even without caffeine, so....back to work.
Praying for the people in Japan tonight.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Likes and Dislikes
I like that it is closing in on the end of our academic year, and instead of posting about what we have DONE, I can let everyone know what we have LEFT. : )
I'll start with C, as she has already finished much of her sixth grade work. She is on chapter 3 of her 7th grade math. While this curriculum is much more challenging for her, we ARE making it through. She struggles through many of the lessons and assignments, but manages to "get" the material enough to earn B's on the chapter review and tests. I like this math. She does not.
She is actually beginning her very last chapter of 6th grade English today. I like that.
We are still just trudging through history. We seem to never stop doing history, and never cease to find "side-trails" to research and read about, so while sometimes it seems we aren't making much progress, we actually learn far more than just what's in her books. I like history.
As for science...we are almost done with our current chapter, leaving only 3 remaining chapters in Anatomy and Physiology. We have spent the past three weeks on the nervous system, and actually, all 3 of us (Mom, C, and E) have had a lot of fun with these units. We ALL liked that.
E has 8 units left in 2nd grade Spelling, and only 26 lessons and 3 tests left in her Math. She just began her new Language and Map Skills books. She has only 4 lessons left in her 2nd grade Reading. I like that.
E has also been making amazing progress in her piano lessons this past month or so. Even more amazing is the fact that *I* am the piano teacher. LOL E just can't seem to get enough playing time each day. First thing in the morning she is playing the piano. Every spare second through the day she is playing the piano. She gets up in the middle of her schoolwork to play the piano. She leaves lunch sitting on the table and plays the piano. I certainly never thought I would have to scold a child and repeatedly tell her NOT to practice. LOL I have to admit, I not only like, but I LOVE E's enthusiasm for the piano.
C is still pining away for a violin, and I still keep praying I will find a way to be able to afford not only a violin, but also lessons for her before she is too old. This is her ONLY musical interest, and I feel horrible that I can't provide for her. : ( I do NOT like this at ALL!
I WAS able to afford getting the girls signed up for softball 2 weeks ago, which is always the sign that snow and cold days are almost over, and spring and summer will soon be here. Note...I said ALMOST over, as we have snow forecast for today. I like this. The softball, not the snow.
Another thing I like is a new acquisition-----"C" got a Kindle as a gift. I put her in quotes, because I have fallen in love with the darn thing, and use it every chance I get. Anyone that knows me, knows that my vision of heaven involves a Barnes and Noble, and the Kindle is a bookstore in the palm of my hand, any time I think of a book I'd like. I mean, that C would like. Or that we can use for school. It is cheaper, too, and they even have many FREE BOOKS (Now THAT is Heaven!)I could write an entire page just on how much I like this new little piece of technology, and how amazing it is, but I'm cutting into my reading time as it is to post on here. LOL
Before I go...HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my brother and his wife. Twenty years ago today they were married, and I had to endure wearing a PINK, PUFF-SLEEVED bridesmaid dress. Even though that's not the point, I would think the least my brother could do would be to invite me along on his anniversary gift to his wife to HAWAII, but nooooo....apparently THEY go to HAWAII, and I will sit here homeschooling, watching rain and snow fall, and reading my, I mean C's, Kindle. Although I'd prefer the trip to HAWAII, I will stop complaining, because I LOVE home schooling.
I'll start with C, as she has already finished much of her sixth grade work. She is on chapter 3 of her 7th grade math. While this curriculum is much more challenging for her, we ARE making it through. She struggles through many of the lessons and assignments, but manages to "get" the material enough to earn B's on the chapter review and tests. I like this math. She does not.
She is actually beginning her very last chapter of 6th grade English today. I like that.
We are still just trudging through history. We seem to never stop doing history, and never cease to find "side-trails" to research and read about, so while sometimes it seems we aren't making much progress, we actually learn far more than just what's in her books. I like history.
As for science...we are almost done with our current chapter, leaving only 3 remaining chapters in Anatomy and Physiology. We have spent the past three weeks on the nervous system, and actually, all 3 of us (Mom, C, and E) have had a lot of fun with these units. We ALL liked that.
E has 8 units left in 2nd grade Spelling, and only 26 lessons and 3 tests left in her Math. She just began her new Language and Map Skills books. She has only 4 lessons left in her 2nd grade Reading. I like that.
E has also been making amazing progress in her piano lessons this past month or so. Even more amazing is the fact that *I* am the piano teacher. LOL E just can't seem to get enough playing time each day. First thing in the morning she is playing the piano. Every spare second through the day she is playing the piano. She gets up in the middle of her schoolwork to play the piano. She leaves lunch sitting on the table and plays the piano. I certainly never thought I would have to scold a child and repeatedly tell her NOT to practice. LOL I have to admit, I not only like, but I LOVE E's enthusiasm for the piano.
C is still pining away for a violin, and I still keep praying I will find a way to be able to afford not only a violin, but also lessons for her before she is too old. This is her ONLY musical interest, and I feel horrible that I can't provide for her. : ( I do NOT like this at ALL!
I WAS able to afford getting the girls signed up for softball 2 weeks ago, which is always the sign that snow and cold days are almost over, and spring and summer will soon be here. Note...I said ALMOST over, as we have snow forecast for today. I like this. The softball, not the snow.
Another thing I like is a new acquisition-----"C" got a Kindle as a gift. I put her in quotes, because I have fallen in love with the darn thing, and use it every chance I get. Anyone that knows me, knows that my vision of heaven involves a Barnes and Noble, and the Kindle is a bookstore in the palm of my hand, any time I think of a book I'd like. I mean, that C would like. Or that we can use for school. It is cheaper, too, and they even have many FREE BOOKS (Now THAT is Heaven!)I could write an entire page just on how much I like this new little piece of technology, and how amazing it is, but I'm cutting into my reading time as it is to post on here. LOL
Before I go...HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my brother and his wife. Twenty years ago today they were married, and I had to endure wearing a PINK, PUFF-SLEEVED bridesmaid dress. Even though that's not the point, I would think the least my brother could do would be to invite me along on his anniversary gift to his wife to HAWAII, but nooooo....apparently THEY go to HAWAII, and I will sit here homeschooling, watching rain and snow fall, and reading my, I mean C's, Kindle. Although I'd prefer the trip to HAWAII, I will stop complaining, because I LOVE home schooling.
Friday, January 21, 2011
New Grade, New Books, Time for an Update
I didn't realize until yesterday that I haven't posted anything for almost two months. As a lot has changed in regards to school, I'd better quit slacking on the blogging.
I'll start with E first, as her work hasn't changed much. Her school year begins later in the year than C's, so all I will mention about E is that she is still excelling with all her 2nd grade work. She is on lesson 104 (out of 160) in Horizons Math, lesson 18 in R&S spelling, and doing A work daily. She has a new reading comprehension book, which she enjoys. All her other subjects remain the same, and she is still doing Anatomy and Physiology with C until we finish the book.
C, however began doing 7th grade work just this week. Her most major change is that we entirely switched curriculum for math. She has done Saxon for 3 years, and was doing fine with it, but I felt the incremental approach was just not cementing some important concepts in her mind. I felt a more mastery style might help cement these concepts, and also give her an "extra" year of "review" before beginning Pre-Algebra. She tested well into Saxon's Pre-Algebra, but I am not concerned making her wait until 8th grade for that. C and I spent weeks researching different curriculum, and both of us chose BJU "Fundamentals of Math" as our favorite. A bit pricey, but after only 4 lessons this week I am more than happy with it. In just the first chapter it is showing where Saxon left "gaps" in her learning, and it is proving quite a challenge for C, although not a huge one. Just what I wanted, and SHE is simply relieved not to have a year of more tedious, repetitious Saxon.
We also opted to use BJU for her 7th grade social studies. She is doing "World Studies", which I was able to buy used at a MUCH discounted price. I didn't think she would like it, as this is the first year she will be doing any sort of social studies almost entirely independently. Much to my surprise she LOVES it, and is doing very well. This is the first time I have ever offered "extra credit" in any subject for her, but she now has the option of each day doing a bonus question. After I explained WHAT "extra credit" meant, she has so far decided to answer our bonus question each day. Best yet, she really IS doing this virtually on her own. I give a short lesson, she reads the material herself, and finds the answers to the text questions and worksheets by herself. I have heard many say that this course is too difficult for 7th grade, but neither she nor I think so.
C still has 3 1/2 chapters left of her 6th grade English, and then I intend to order her new books. So far I have chosen Hewitt's "Lightning Literature", which focuses more on literature (obviously)and writing, with only a little grammar review. As I haven't ordered this program yet, this choice is subject to change based on my mood, finances, and further research. : )
C will also be doing a NEW subject this year...."Introduction to Logic." This will NOT be independent, as I intend to do the lessons and study right along with her. This book is TOUGH for a just-turned-twelve-year-old. Well, actually so far it's tough for ME. This will be a 2 or 3 day a week only subject, as time allows, and I intend to spread the book over a 2 year schedule.
And lastly....science. We are not quite finished with Anatomy and Physiology, and as this is ALL of our favorite subject, we intend to do every last page. Science was also the subject I had the most trouble deciding which program to use for 7th grade, but after over a month of research and dithering back and forth in my mind, I finally opted to do Apologia's General Science. I thought this book might be too difficult for C's reading comprehension, but once again I underestimated her. She had NO trouble doing the online sample module, and actually LIKED it. I KNEW I'd made the right decision when I went to e-mail my friend that we'd finally made up our minds, and there was an e-mail from that friend already waiting in my inbox, offering HER copy of the textbook to us for FREE. THANK YOU AGAIN D! : )
So....there's the line-up for C's 7th grade school year, and she has already begun 3 of the 5 subjects. We've pretty much changed EVERYTHING for this school year, so God willing, we made the right decisions, and it will be a good year.
I'll start with E first, as her work hasn't changed much. Her school year begins later in the year than C's, so all I will mention about E is that she is still excelling with all her 2nd grade work. She is on lesson 104 (out of 160) in Horizons Math, lesson 18 in R&S spelling, and doing A work daily. She has a new reading comprehension book, which she enjoys. All her other subjects remain the same, and she is still doing Anatomy and Physiology with C until we finish the book.
C, however began doing 7th grade work just this week. Her most major change is that we entirely switched curriculum for math. She has done Saxon for 3 years, and was doing fine with it, but I felt the incremental approach was just not cementing some important concepts in her mind. I felt a more mastery style might help cement these concepts, and also give her an "extra" year of "review" before beginning Pre-Algebra. She tested well into Saxon's Pre-Algebra, but I am not concerned making her wait until 8th grade for that. C and I spent weeks researching different curriculum, and both of us chose BJU "Fundamentals of Math" as our favorite. A bit pricey, but after only 4 lessons this week I am more than happy with it. In just the first chapter it is showing where Saxon left "gaps" in her learning, and it is proving quite a challenge for C, although not a huge one. Just what I wanted, and SHE is simply relieved not to have a year of more tedious, repetitious Saxon.
We also opted to use BJU for her 7th grade social studies. She is doing "World Studies", which I was able to buy used at a MUCH discounted price. I didn't think she would like it, as this is the first year she will be doing any sort of social studies almost entirely independently. Much to my surprise she LOVES it, and is doing very well. This is the first time I have ever offered "extra credit" in any subject for her, but she now has the option of each day doing a bonus question. After I explained WHAT "extra credit" meant, she has so far decided to answer our bonus question each day. Best yet, she really IS doing this virtually on her own. I give a short lesson, she reads the material herself, and finds the answers to the text questions and worksheets by herself. I have heard many say that this course is too difficult for 7th grade, but neither she nor I think so.
C still has 3 1/2 chapters left of her 6th grade English, and then I intend to order her new books. So far I have chosen Hewitt's "Lightning Literature", which focuses more on literature (obviously)and writing, with only a little grammar review. As I haven't ordered this program yet, this choice is subject to change based on my mood, finances, and further research. : )
C will also be doing a NEW subject this year...."Introduction to Logic." This will NOT be independent, as I intend to do the lessons and study right along with her. This book is TOUGH for a just-turned-twelve-year-old. Well, actually so far it's tough for ME. This will be a 2 or 3 day a week only subject, as time allows, and I intend to spread the book over a 2 year schedule.
And lastly....science. We are not quite finished with Anatomy and Physiology, and as this is ALL of our favorite subject, we intend to do every last page. Science was also the subject I had the most trouble deciding which program to use for 7th grade, but after over a month of research and dithering back and forth in my mind, I finally opted to do Apologia's General Science. I thought this book might be too difficult for C's reading comprehension, but once again I underestimated her. She had NO trouble doing the online sample module, and actually LIKED it. I KNEW I'd made the right decision when I went to e-mail my friend that we'd finally made up our minds, and there was an e-mail from that friend already waiting in my inbox, offering HER copy of the textbook to us for FREE. THANK YOU AGAIN D! : )
So....there's the line-up for C's 7th grade school year, and she has already begun 3 of the 5 subjects. We've pretty much changed EVERYTHING for this school year, so God willing, we made the right decisions, and it will be a good year.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Giving Thanks (and hurray for E!)
First, I'd like to congratulate my daughter, E, age 7. Yesterday she completed test 8, and lesson 80 of her second grade Horizons Math, which means she is exactly half way done with second grade math. She also took her test for week 10 in Spelling. She earned an A+ on both tests.
Last night C, age 12, told me a disturbing comment her dad made to her on his nightly phone call. He told her he "probably wouldn't be calling on Thanksgiving because he had nothing to be thankful for." Now, after 13 years of knowing her dad I am used to his negative thinking, but I was a bit appalled that he told his own daughter that!
As tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and his comment was on my mind, I've been sitting here this morning thinking of all I am thankful for. I have always tended to be on the more positive end of the spectrum, and I USUALLY try to live my life with "an attitude of gratitude", as a good friend says. I thank God every day, sometimes several times a day, for the least little things in my life, and I KNOW how blessed I am. Sometimes I tend to forget, though, that not every one has such an attitude, so I thought it appropriate to take this blog and use the opportunity to just list a few of the most important things I thank God for in my life.
First and foremost I am thankful for knowing God in my life. Without Him I would have none of the following blessings.
I am thankful for my daughters, C and E, They are the loves of my life, my reason for living, and I consider it a privilege to have been entrusted by God to raise them. I am thankful for their health. I am thankful for their unique personalities and abilities. I am thankful for each day I spend with them, and I know full well how quickly I could be gone from this earth, or THEY could be gone, and I never let a day go by without telling them how special they are, and letting them hear me pray to God thanking Him for allowing me to be their mom.
I am thankful that I have the opportunity to home school my girls. I am thankful for each and every book I am able to provide for them, and each day that they are home, learning at their own pace, and not sitting a third of their day in a classroom away from me.
I am thankful for the good family life I had growing up, my childhood seems almost idyllic...all the traveling and vacations, memories, my parents, my brothers, my beautiful house and yard, and a mother who let me be me! I am thankful God gave me a dad on this earth for 17 years, and a mother that doubled as my best friend for 26.
I am thankful for all the good years I had with my ex husband, all the good times, and even for the bad times. Without the bad times we would never appreciate the good. And I'm thankful that he and I still maintain a friendship, and that he kept his promise to the girls of a year ago and calls them every night, sees them every other weekend, (sometimes more), and when the alcohol doesn't get in his way for him being a good dad.
I am thankful for a few GOOD friends, M in particular. M also accepts me for me, puts up with me, and has been there no matter what time of day or night this past year. He provides stability, consistency, food, advice, a listening ear, laughter, and moral support for the girls and I.
I am thankful for my house and yard. They are both a bit ramshackle lately, as I am not the carpenter D was, and don't have the energy or time most days to do yard work, but they are mine, and they are paid for, and they are HOME. I could be living in a card board box in Kenya, or a garbage dump in India, but God blessed me with a beautiful house and yard here in the United States, where at least we still have a FEW of our freedoms.
I am thankful for our pets....my 5 dogs, 6 cats (plus a few strays I feed outside), and the 2 dogs that D was able to take. They are expensive, and sometimes we choose between paying the bills or buying dog food, but they bring us all joy and unconditional love, and on some of the days when I'm NOT feeling so thankful there is nothing more comforting than a cat or two purring on the couch next to me.
I am thankful for so many little, material things that make my life easier or more comfortable....my couch, my computer, my books, my piano, the hot water heater, the washer and dryer, and microwave and my coffee maker. I could go on and on, but there's too many to name. Rest assured I'm thankful for everything I own materially.
I'm thankful for a working vehicle, albeit the windshield is cracked, the headlight is out, and most months I can't pay the insurance. LOL It's better than trying to walk or borrow someone else's car, or take the city buses. I don't think I've had more than a quarter tank of gas in it in over a year, but God always provides enough to get me where we need to go.
I could go on and on, but everything I mentioned above are things I am thankful for, and my girls hear me say each one of those things every night when we say prayers together.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! And if you're reading this, be thankful you have a computer, and electricity to run it.
Last night C, age 12, told me a disturbing comment her dad made to her on his nightly phone call. He told her he "probably wouldn't be calling on Thanksgiving because he had nothing to be thankful for." Now, after 13 years of knowing her dad I am used to his negative thinking, but I was a bit appalled that he told his own daughter that!
As tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and his comment was on my mind, I've been sitting here this morning thinking of all I am thankful for. I have always tended to be on the more positive end of the spectrum, and I USUALLY try to live my life with "an attitude of gratitude", as a good friend says. I thank God every day, sometimes several times a day, for the least little things in my life, and I KNOW how blessed I am. Sometimes I tend to forget, though, that not every one has such an attitude, so I thought it appropriate to take this blog and use the opportunity to just list a few of the most important things I thank God for in my life.
First and foremost I am thankful for knowing God in my life. Without Him I would have none of the following blessings.
I am thankful for my daughters, C and E, They are the loves of my life, my reason for living, and I consider it a privilege to have been entrusted by God to raise them. I am thankful for their health. I am thankful for their unique personalities and abilities. I am thankful for each day I spend with them, and I know full well how quickly I could be gone from this earth, or THEY could be gone, and I never let a day go by without telling them how special they are, and letting them hear me pray to God thanking Him for allowing me to be their mom.
I am thankful that I have the opportunity to home school my girls. I am thankful for each and every book I am able to provide for them, and each day that they are home, learning at their own pace, and not sitting a third of their day in a classroom away from me.
I am thankful for the good family life I had growing up, my childhood seems almost idyllic...all the traveling and vacations, memories, my parents, my brothers, my beautiful house and yard, and a mother who let me be me! I am thankful God gave me a dad on this earth for 17 years, and a mother that doubled as my best friend for 26.
I am thankful for all the good years I had with my ex husband, all the good times, and even for the bad times. Without the bad times we would never appreciate the good. And I'm thankful that he and I still maintain a friendship, and that he kept his promise to the girls of a year ago and calls them every night, sees them every other weekend, (sometimes more), and when the alcohol doesn't get in his way for him being a good dad.
I am thankful for a few GOOD friends, M in particular. M also accepts me for me, puts up with me, and has been there no matter what time of day or night this past year. He provides stability, consistency, food, advice, a listening ear, laughter, and moral support for the girls and I.
I am thankful for my house and yard. They are both a bit ramshackle lately, as I am not the carpenter D was, and don't have the energy or time most days to do yard work, but they are mine, and they are paid for, and they are HOME. I could be living in a card board box in Kenya, or a garbage dump in India, but God blessed me with a beautiful house and yard here in the United States, where at least we still have a FEW of our freedoms.
I am thankful for our pets....my 5 dogs, 6 cats (plus a few strays I feed outside), and the 2 dogs that D was able to take. They are expensive, and sometimes we choose between paying the bills or buying dog food, but they bring us all joy and unconditional love, and on some of the days when I'm NOT feeling so thankful there is nothing more comforting than a cat or two purring on the couch next to me.
I am thankful for so many little, material things that make my life easier or more comfortable....my couch, my computer, my books, my piano, the hot water heater, the washer and dryer, and microwave and my coffee maker. I could go on and on, but there's too many to name. Rest assured I'm thankful for everything I own materially.
I'm thankful for a working vehicle, albeit the windshield is cracked, the headlight is out, and most months I can't pay the insurance. LOL It's better than trying to walk or borrow someone else's car, or take the city buses. I don't think I've had more than a quarter tank of gas in it in over a year, but God always provides enough to get me where we need to go.
I could go on and on, but everything I mentioned above are things I am thankful for, and my girls hear me say each one of those things every night when we say prayers together.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! And if you're reading this, be thankful you have a computer, and electricity to run it.
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