One week down, 4 weeks to go! Really, it wasn’t that bad. Well maybe Monday when we had tears from doing Math, but all in all it was a good week. I had great aspirations of getting all these different things accomplished and finished up from last school year, but there are only so many hours we can fit into a day right? And I am okay with it.
So what did we do this week? Well, Marie and I decided to go ahead and start her new Algebra program with Chalkdust. I know it is only week one, but can I say I love it already? Uncle Buck is so engaging and his explanations are right on point. I do still love Saxon, but we needed a different approach at high level math, and this seems to be working. I will write more about it when we get to the nitty gritty of the book.
Madison and Mikayla each did 3 days of math lessons and one free day of computer math using various math games. If we keep on this pace we will make my goal stopping points in there respective books. At the beginning of the 2010 – 2011 school year Madison tested out of the first 4 chapters of her Saxon 5/4 book while Mikayla tested out of the whole Saxon 2 book and went straight into Saxon 3. We got snagged up during the year and at first I was all in a tizzy over not finishing the books, then with some wise council from my Aunt, who has been there done that, realized that public schools don’t finish books either so why should I stress about finishing ours. With our plan I will not have to spend the first month or so when we start back up reviewing math. The girls only spend 45min – 1hr on math so it’s not like it’s a chore.
Montana started her lessons in The Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading. It’s going great! We are enjoying learning our vowel poem and she is so ready to read. I want to take it slow and make sure she has all the basics and knows all the letter sounds and recognition before proceeding on. She still gets a bit hung up on some letters but that’s ok, she is learning.
Have I ever told you of my love affair with Lakeshore Learning? I really do heart that place. In fact I still have a set of chunky colored pencils I bought for a project that the girls use from when I was about 12 or 13. Anywho, I found a great deal on Ebay a few weeks ago for the daily calendar and All About Letter set. It came down to the wire but I got both sets for more than half of the retail price including shipping, YIPPEE!!! I haven’t set up the calendar yet, because I forgot to get the heavy duty command adhesive strips from Wally’s but I will have it up soon. McKenzie can practice new words with the picture cards, her favorite this week is the apple. She like the rest of my girls, loves apples.
We did a lot of reading this week. The girls began their summer reading projects. Essentially the three oldest girls are to read 25 “good” books in 12 weeks, and be entered into the chance to win a prize from Veritas Press. They also have1-3 projects that need to be completed by September 2nd that I am counting towards their English/Language Arts 1st semester grade. I don’t think I blogged about them yet, so I will next week.
I have been busy organizing and rearranging our school room and preparing for next school year which starts August 15th. I am getting my order and books finalized for Tapestry of Grace so I can make my purchase next week. I also tweaked our curriculum choices hopefully for the last and final time. Nothing major, just decided after seeing the sample of Susan Wise Bauer’s Writing with Skill that Madison will be capable of doing it.
The gymnasts in the house started summer practice schedule this week too. We have had a little hiccup, but nothing major that we can’t handle. Mikayla ended up moving to level 5, while Madison is staying a second year level 4. Montana begs for more hours in the gym while McKenzie is enjoying her new Mommy and Me class. She is afraid, very afraid, of the pit, but we are making progress and she is having fun otherwise with her new friends. Tuesday nights she is lights out by 745PM and sleeps in until at least 730AM on Wednesdays. The cheerleader of the house starts back to practice in July. She has been stretching and working hard on jumps and tumbling. We are hoping she will do an individual routine this year and get her Full tumbling pass down.
All in all it was a great week, how was yours?
I am linking this post up with Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers, head on over and see what everyone else was up to this week.
This morning I had Serving Hearts at church and today I choose to serve in with the Big Kids Sunday School. What a lively bunch of kiddos, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. You see, I am trying to find my NICHE where God wants me to serve. I know it’s with the kids but which age group, that is the question? I’ll keep you posted.
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