Our homeschool week.

Finally, after three days of bitter cold and hazardous weather (the kind where it might save the radio stations more time to list what’s open than what’s closed), we got a break and ventured out of the house. We didn’t go anywhere much, but it was just nice to know that Dad probably made it to work without too much problem, and that the dog could go for a nice walk instead of being thrown in the backyard for 2 seconds to do what was absolutely necessary!

I felt like after three days of kind of goofing off (well, the public schools were closed after all) we got some good work in today and finished up on some other projects that were in the works.

My 5th Grader has a heavy load. He is doing Switched on Schoolhouse science, Saxon math, Faith and Life for religion, From Sea to Shining Sea for history, Runkle Geography, spelling, Italic Handwriting, Easy Grammar, and MCP Plaid Word Study. It’s quite a bit and sometimes (often?) he balks at the work he has to do, but I don’t hit every subject every day I like to alternate History and Science for example.

He is also reading The Midwife’s Apprentice He is enrolled in a community center art class that is doing a unit on Midevil times, and in conjunction with that, the library chose this book for the kids to read. It’s been very interesting and I think Sam is enjoying it, even though the main character is a young lady. I found an activity online to make a map to go along with story in the book, and he’s been working on that in Window’s Paint Brush. I hope he can finish up tomorrow.

My 3rd son is struggling so with math that it hurts. He cries almost before the books hit the table. It’s just drill work – second grade addition facts, but for some reason, this kid who can remember the names of all the Bionicles, and different Batman figures, can’t remember that when you add 2 to a number it’s either the next odd or even number up. I’m just going to have to really buckle down and drill him more. His spelling and reading are going well though and he has no problems with creative story telling… he’s almost too creative!

We are having our portfolio reviewed next week to be in compliance with the laws in my state. I hate to do it so early but my reviewer (a certified teacher with a Ph.D.) is just wonderful and she’s going to be in town NOW. It will save me a trip in the summertime. She says it doesn’t matter that we aren’t done NOW because homeschooling is a lifestyle, so with that philosophy I’m getting the things ready to take.

I was talking to Sam about this as I was taking him home from his Medieval Times art class this afternoon. He has been asked to be the Bishop at the Medieval Feast on the 19th, so he will have to do the blessing. And no kidding, on the way home he asked, “Mom when are we going to do Latin!!?”

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