November 27th, 2006 at 1:15am |
I've been planning this all year. I live eat and breathe this... Yet somehow it feels weird. Like a sweater that is too tight.
We homeschool year round. We do not have a 5 day a week, with summers off, type of schedule. You will probably find us learning on weekends. In fact, most of our traditional book learning is on weekends. Summers are study time around here too. In Florida, it's hot. No, not "hot." HOT. Staying inside and hitting the books is preferable to spontaneous combustion outside as the sun crashes into the earth (as it does every day in Florida from May to September).
But I digress. I planned on taking a winter break. 5 or 6 weeks away from the books during the holiday season to work on projects, independent reading, holiday and family time.
But I feel like my sweater is too tight and I need to stretch it or something. This is just the "schooled" beast in me trying to break out, isn't it? 
So, what have we been doing? Classes: drama, spanish, gymnastics, PE. Family visits. Learning how to hand-sew. LOTS of audiobooks. Not as much reading as I would have liked (but we've cracked out the Christmas books so the pace is picking up). Sydney has been doing more and more creative projects - she'll read something in a magazine or book and then try to approximate it. Today she asked me what a cigarette looks like. She is drawing pictures (and I am afraid notes) after reading Ramona and her Father by Beverly Cleary. We don't smoke, but she may feel it necessary to remind us of it's dangers as Ramona does to her father.
So, we've been keeping moderately busy. My too tight sweater is annoying, but it will have to do. I've seen too much learning continuing, even without what little book work we do.
Mood : like a too-tight sweater is crushing me!
Read the rest of Winter Break has begun….
November 14th, 2006 at 2:57pm |
READ ALOUD: 45 minutes
Dr. DooRiddles - 1 page
Mind Benders - 2 pages
Singapore Math 1A - Review 5
Twisted Vocabulary - Finished list of words, defined Dyslip and Qert
Analogies for Beginners - 1 page
Read aloud from If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620
Read aloud from American Girl - Samantha's Surprise
Started creating decorations for Christmas
Played Cadoo and Balloon Lagoon with Mom
Read the rest of Tuesday, November 14, 2006
November 13th, 2006 at 9:50pm |
READ ALOUD: 15 minutes
Visited library and chose books for Mexico project
Created tissue paper flowers for spanish co-op project
Playdate with friend visiting from PA. Discussed how people change over time.
Ant observation
Checked on sunflower plant and watered
Got ahold of 2 American Girl magazines at the library and read them cover to cover today (twice)
Discussed supply and demand, market demographics, sales location, product placement, etc. Syd created garden markers and decorated planting cups and set up a blanket out front to sell them. Of course, at 2 in the afternoon, the foot traffic was sparse.
Read the rest of Monday November 13, 2006
November 13th, 2006 at 9:41pm |
READ ALOUD: 20 minutes
History Pockets - Life in Plymouth Colony - Discussed town crier and created a "news bulletin" for him to read
Primary Analogies - 6 pages
Singapore Math 1A - Review 4 (did great!)
Independent reading
Practiced sewing with needle and thread. Discussed safety, history of sewing, etc. Began a small pillow.
Read the rest of Saturday November 11, 2006
November 13th, 2006 at 9:39pm |
PE class
Disney vacation with Mom
Lots of Jim Weiss audiobooks
Observing Ant colony, discussing
Read the rest of Tuesday, November 7 ~ Friday November 10, 2006
November 7th, 2006 at 12:58am |
READ ALOUD: 15 minutes (SYD); 20 minutes
Logic Safari - 2 pages
Twisted Vocabulary - 2 words
Dr. DooRiddles - 2 pages
Singapore Math 1A - workbook ex. 48
Completed Mad Libs together - reinforced verb, noun, adjective, etc.
Practiced handwriting numbers
Independent reading - completed very first chapter book on her own! YEA! Geronimo Stilton - It's Halloween You 'Fraidy Mouse
History Pockets - Life in Plymouth Colony Started new pocket for Building a Colony. Defined musket, militia, village green, and town crier.
Received ants in the mail and emptied them into the AntWorks Habitat. HIGHLY recommend this thing to ANY person, big or small. Very fascinating to watch the little guys build the tunnels. We had long discussions on ants and their habitats.
Discussed needs vs. wants again today. Working on the concept of budgeting.
Gymnastics Class
Read the rest of Monday, November 6, 2006
November 4th, 2006 at 10:09pm |
READ ALOUD: 15 minutes; 10 minutes (SYD); 20 minutes
MindBenders - 1 page
Think-A-Minutes - 1 page
Primary Analogies - 2 pages
Singapore Math 1A - workbook ex. 47
Practiced lowercase writing
Sydney read aloud to cousin - 1 chapter from Geronimo Stilton
Listened to me read aloud from American Girl - Samantha's Surprise
Helped care for Aunt and cousin, spent the day with them
Read the rest of Friday November 3, 2006
November 4th, 2006 at 10:06pm |
READ ALOUD: HOURS and HOURS
Halloween - LOTS of opportunity to work on food safety and manners!
Drama class
Girl Scouts
Hosted a Littlest Pet Shop party - basically a 5 hour playdate with 4 girls. AND MOM SURVIVED! 
Read the rest of Tuesday October 31 to Thursday, November 2, 2006