Week 14 Review

Our week in review:

Language Arts: Ryan is finally writing his story (Young Writers Program). He has blazed through a thousand words already, so he is well on his way to accomplishing his goal. Nathan has started his short story as well. David completed a grammar and vocabulary lesson. He also continues to practice for the ACT test he will take later this year.

Literature: This week they read/covered: Our Country's Presidents (John Quincy Adams), Amazing Impossible Erie Canal, Out of Darkness: The Story of Louis Braille, My Side of the Mountain and Hunter Brown and the Consuming Fire. David is finishing a paper on The Last of the Mohicans.

History: I blog about our weekly history lessons in detail at the beginning of each week. This week we covered John Quincy Adams and Political Realignments.

Science: Nathan and Ryan attended Co-op this week. You can see what they did here. At home this week, they continued studying Module 3 and are finishing the study guide. David is continuing with his chemistry lessons and working with his weekly lab group.

Math: Nathan and Ryan are working on a couple of small math projects and playing fraction games. David is continuing to work through his Algebra II lessons.

4-H projects: Nathan and Ryan are working on finishing their projects for 4-H this week. The farm city poster project and woodworking project are both due.

Outdoor Pursuits: The boys have been playing with their friends and riding their bikes. Plus they have been blowing and raking leaves. We have a lot of large maple trees in our yard, which are beautiful, but there are SO many leaves.

This was the first week that we have worked with a project style schedule. The boys seemed to enjoy it, so I feel it will be a good change up that will keep us busy until the holiday break.

Chemistry Labs, Week 10

This week the kids completed two experiments:

• Experiment 4.4: The Kinetic Theory of Matter
• MicroChem Experiment 2: Melting Points, Super Cooling

Christmas projects

I'm starting to assemble a list of possible holiday projects and gift ideas that I can make for Christmas. So far this is what I'm considering:

• duvet covers
• aprons
• photo bookmarks
• family tree
• etched glasses
• no-sew tote bags
• rice heat therapy bags

I also need to pull out my craft box with my holiday stationary supplies so I can start making my Christmas cards {it takes me forever to finish, so I have to start early}.

November Gratitude Challenge

The point of this challenge is to blog about something your grateful for. So, here are my top 6:

Grace ~ Thankful and grateful to God for everything
My family ~ A great husband and three wonderful and rambunctious boys
My friends ~ A great group (many are homeschoolers as well)
Homeschooling ~ I have an opportunity to learn with my children & spend lots of time outdoors
Household ~ I'm very grateful to have everything I need and the ability to be content
Chocolate ~ Everything goes better with chocolate!


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Another lovely day, another clean slate!
Another day to work on an already full plate.
What will we do first? Reading, Writing, Math?
What if something unexpected shows up in our path?

Another lovely day, another quandary arises,
How do we teach these children of different shapes and sizes?
Shall we follow Book A, or Idea B, or the voice of the "pro?"
Can we follow our hearts on which way we should go?

Little Suzy wants to make a pattern for a doll,
but she's "behind" in algebra, and can't spell much at all,
And little Johnny is working on a project made of wood,
but what about his "social studies?" And other things he "should...."

Grandma needs some help, but our workbooks are a-waiting!
There are other shut-ins with a visit anticipating.
And what about that neighbor with the baby on the way?
Can our "studies" suffer if she needs our help today?

There are many things that pull us daily
this-a-way and that,
And we can get so sidetracked, that our accomplishments fall flat.
The path is bright and our feet will go, if only we will pray,
And listen to the voice of God, who leads us the right way.

Relationships are more important, inside our homes, and out,
and how we treat each other is what homeschooling is about,
It's not wrong to be good spellers, but if we lie and cheat and steal,
And if we hate our brother, good grades are no big deal.

So dear homeschool Mom, don't worry and don't fret.
If little Johnny can not read as well as you think, yet,
and little Suzy will learn her math, while baking for the neighbor,
and friendships formed inside your home will strengthen, so don't waver!

If you will pray and seek His face for each question on your heart,
And read His word, and know His voice, you will know right where to start,
Don't be tossed to and fro by this world's ideas and plans,
Listen to your Lord, your lives are in His Hands.

Written by, Nancy Baetz

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NaBloPoMo

NaBloPoMo ~ National Blog Posting Month:

I signed up for this in the hopes that I will start blogging daily. lol. I'm not sure if it will work or not, but maybe it will serve as the motivation I need to stay on track. I always have good intentions of blogging every day and usually even start an entry, but then I have to stop and clean something, do laundry, cook, teach, or go somewhere. Oh well, we will just have to see how it goes...

Co-Op Week 11

This week my 5th and 6th graders are working on completing Module 3. We went over the first half of the study guide. I also introduced Module 4 and the kids completed an experiment involving pulleys. They lifted a bag on a pulley and then a series of pulleys (block and tackle) to get a feel for the mechanical advantage.














My 7th and 8th graders have just completed Module 5 and are starting Module 6 this week. They completed an experiment that I borrowed from chemistry, because most of the experiments in this module take a full day or days to complete. So, I had to find something that would work in a classroom environment.

They completed experiment 4.2 from chemistry: Distinguishing Between Chemical and Physical change. This is the experiment where you dissolve an egg shell in hydrogen chloride (toilet bowl cleaner). It just happens that this ties in with their study of physical and chemical weathering.

Get Ready... Set... Write!

It's November, so it must be time to write. Ryan has registered to participate in NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program. He is working on a novel with a goal of writing between 3,000 and 5,000 words. He hopes to finish by the end of the challenge, which is at the end of the month. Nathan does not want to participate in the writing program, but will be writing a short story this month.


Young Writers Program Manifesto...