Week In Review 08-27-09

[rainbowacreshs]

Ok Girls,

What was YOUR week Like?

You can post:

a- A picture
b- A blog Link
c- A written synopsis
d- Your favorite memory
e- Anything you want that shares your HOD excitement!

Important Note: If you are linking us to your blog, please make sure it's not just a general link, but to your specific post of HOD. That way if someone reads through these a year from now they can find your share without needing to hunt!


Whoo hoo another week done! What a blessed week we have had! Thank you Carrie for this curriculum. My Kasey has enjoyed sharing with her pastor questions and her notebooking pages. We may have even encouraged another homeschooling mom to consider HOD!
I'm making some minor tweeks, taking in the advice of one HOD mom and focusing on working through the amount of time doing the lesson rather than trying to get all the lesson done. I'm putting into practice an electronic timer to help her know how much time she has to work. Yesterday she worked from box to box with a steadiness I've never seen her produce. When we worked grammar, I set the timer for 20 min we finished a lesson section in 15 min. I told her that was it and she said "Yeah! I finished that early!"
To top things off, Kasey finished all her work early today: 1st because she wanted to go to lunch with MeMaw 2nd: We had hoped to go swimming (God saw fit that the plants needed rain instead today) so last night she did 2/3 of her history for day 4, no prompting from me. Then this morning she completed the history, then took her math, LLATL lesson, and spelling page with her in the car. Kasey completed them (correctly too!) on the way to the barn to feed horses and take DH to work.
We came back home so I could do a couple small chores before having to leave to go meet MeMaw and Grandma Elizabeth. During that time she completed a grammar lesson and her science assignment. We finished geography after we came back from lunch.
I guess through this rambling I'm trying to say how proud I was to see her motivated and enjoying her lessons! This afternoon I had a chance to ask Kasey how she liked the new curriculum she told me "I really like it! I like how the history is. I'm getting to read my Bible more and see God in history and not just on Sunday morning."
I really didn't know the impact this curriculum has had in just 3 weeks until I heard those words from my dd!
Kasey wants me to say she likes seeing the other kiddos work too!
I personally want to thank you mom's who post your kiddos work, because I believe its a source of inspiration for Kasey to see other kids doing the same work she's doing. Thankyou. I hope yall enjoy seeing this weeks pics!
Blessings,
Jasmine and Family

[Daisy]

Here's our week in review.

We finished Unit 1 of Bigger and almost finished Unit 2 of CTC (one day behind).

http://daisyhomeschoolblog.blogspot.com ... 82809.html

Just want to add Rainbowacreshs that your week in review really inspires my daughter. She loves seeing someone's work who is a week ahead. I think it gives her some extra motivation.

[creativemommy]

We made it through our first 3 days - it was easier than I thought it would be! We're halfway through Unit 1 in both LHTH & LHFHG. My kids LOVE it (and so do I)!

My son drew pictures to match the timeline (hourglass, cross & cloud) in History for Little Pilgrims - an idea taken from the end of the first chapter in the book. He labeled them and we spaced them out across the top of one of our school room walls. We left spaces to add more pictures/labels as we continue to study history this year. His comment when we added the cross was "Jesus is the core of our history!" He was excited to show it off to his daddy Friday night and proceeded to explain that history began with Creation and we're looking to the future for Christ to return!

[Tree House Academy]

We finished Week/Unit 5 with Bigger and Beyond. I have decided to make some changes and use the left side of Little Hearts with the right side of Beyond for my ds5. The history and Science and maybe even Bible lessons were a bit much for him in Beyond while the right side of the pages fit him perfectly. I ordered yesterday, so hopefully it will make an appearance by the end of Unit 6. I hate to start History all over with him, but what other way is there to start History, really, other than from the beginning?

We struggled with Bigger this week - not so much with the manual or the work, but with trying to get it all done. This has been a crazy week as we are re-financing the house, I had to have medical tests, we had surveyors out, papers to sign at the insurance office, soccer practices, TKD lessons, and my older ds' dad called and informed us he was leaving the country (which crushed ds10). All of this makes for a tough week. We ended it well, though with older ds getting all his work done today by 1:00. He was so excited!

Here is a picture of his finished Science notebooking sheet from last week. This week, he added the vertebrates.

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And this is his drawing for the poem "Each in His Own Tongue."

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He also did a sandpainting this week that was really fun.


Little one had a great week with Beyond (other than his issues with the History and Science kinda going over his head). He worked hard and his favorite thing this week was his tulip (he HATES pink and we had to make it red).

tulip

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I have also included some of his copywork from his poem as well as his spelling words. His sentences crack me up! Where he got that, I have no idea. The final picture is from his Poetry artwork. Love those "birds" and "butterflies."

[creekmama]

Another good week with LHFHG! Probably our favorite thing this week was the dramatic play. Peter loved folding shirts and packing his bag to leave the Tower of Babel. Then we camped out in the living room as we searched for a good place to live. The kids continued to play as we took a break from our lessons so Mama could fix lunch. And the lesson really stuck with him. I went out with dh last night, and Peter played Tower of Babel again with his babysitter! We are loving playing and learning together!

[mamaloves4]

We had a good week in LHTH, Beyond, and CTC.

We are in Unit 8 of LHTH. My ds is really enjoying his school time and looks forward to it every morning. My little sunshine (dd2) flits in and out of preschool, but is always sure to be there for the finger play! I am trying to capture moments of school with the camara; I enjoyed looking for those picture moments! I am new at this posting pics so I will try it!

ds driving a car around 'G'


ds with his painting of the parting of the red sea


We are in Unit 10 of Beyond! dd7 is having a blast. She liked making this 'boom' project about Francis Billington



She is really growing in her reading and thinks Owl at Home is so funny



DD10 is working in CTC. She isn't so sure about so much independent work, but she is doing her best! Poetry is still her favorite subject!




We are looking forward to school! I am so enjoying all of these 'reports'. Such an encouragement and motivator!

Blessings on your weekend!
Jess

[mamaloves4]

Okay--so the pictures need to be resized--I am going to try it again.

Picture of dd10 with her poetry painting.


thanks for letting me do this:)

Jess

[2littleblessings]

We are finishing up our second week in Beyond. (We started school on a Tuesday, so our week always drags over to the next Monday!) My dd is loving the DITHOR the best still. Her only problem with it is wanting to read MORE. History has been like that, too. She can't stand the way each day's reading in American Pioneers and Patriots leaves her hanging. She begs, "Can't we just do one more day's reading?"

I love the way the History stories, the Bible study and even the Poetry and Storytime questions all weave together so nicely. We've been able to talk about responsibility and doing one's best all the time in her life as well as in the lives of the characters, and we back that up with scriptures each day! Even the Morning Bells reading on obedience came at the perfect time. She has been struggling with complaining and not obeying immediately, and that Morning Bells reminded her of what God wants from us - and that obeying one's parents means we are obeying our heavenly Father! It was exactly what I needed to reinforce what we've had to say every day since school started. Today, her work went so much easier and with very little complaining. She even did her work from R&S English 2 without crying over having to write a few sentences.

I let her use wide-ruled paper for a "treat" when we do our grammar lessons.

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She loves drawing little pictures around the poems after she glues them together in the correct oder.

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[LynnH]

This was our first week of Preparing and our first week of homeschooling and I couldn't have asked for a better week. My ds loved it. He memorized his bible verse quickly and loves to recite it for people. He also enjoyed the poetry assignment. I have modified a few things due to his difficulty with handwriting due to his Cerebral Palsy. He types his vocabulary cards and typed his written narration and his poem. He has done the cursive copywork though every time it is called for in the guide. I was amazed today he was willing to write Psalm 1:1-2 in cursive. It took him a while and it isn't perfect, but I am so proud of him for doing it. He loved making his shield. He researched different symbols and loved the idea of putting a bear on his shield for courage so he did as well as a crown and cross for Christ. Today when we were in the car I asked him what he thought of homeschooling and he said he liked it. I then asked him if he liked the curriculum and he said "oh yes". Then he said something that brought tears to my eyes. He said "but you know what I like best about homeschooling mom, spending the day with you". Never thought I would hear my 5th grade boy say that. I think he was willing to be so open because of all the great discussions we are having thanks to HOD.

[Shimmer]

This was our second week with LHTH. The days are flowing much easier now that I've figured out the order that works for us. I love this curriculum. It's just right for my middle daughter which is why I picked it. I've realized in the past couple days that my older daughter could really do more than K level LA/math in the afternoons. She will be placing great in Beyond next year and I don't want her to miss anything so I'm thinking about getting LHFHG asap. I just bought the blue LLATL set for her so I think I need to wait a bit before I share this revelation with my husband.

The fingerplays rock. The baby loves to watch us do them. They get stuck in my head too so I spontanously start them anytime during the day and everyone joins in. lol...

A few highlights from this week... When we were acting out getting on the ark as various animals, the girls decided that they wanted to be kitties. My oldest grabbed our cat and made sure he got on the ark with us! They had so much fun with the sink/float science experiement that they both got a bit out of control and had to be threated with consequences. Who knew you'd have to discipline because your kids are so excited about doing school? My absolute favorite moment was when the oldest brought me a collage she made during some free craft time. She had colored and cut out fish to add to her drawing of Noah's ark. On the back she had drawn lines and written "NuoWa IN Th rec Susannah HaPe". Her translation was "Noah in the arc. Susannah happy". I was so impressed with her understanding, inititative, and ability to express herself I cried and immediately thanked God for the blessing of homeschooling.

[MistyP]

I need to be leaving for work but I just put our week on my blog
http://mistypeterson.blogspot.com/2009/ ... eek-4.html

[beandip71]

Here is a link to my blog with our week in review.

http://beandipblog.blogspot.com/2009/08 ... w-828.html

[rainbowacreshs]

Daisy,

Thank you! Three weeks in and Kasey is beginning to enjoy "school" again for the first time in a very long time. This message board is not a inspiration to me, but Kasey as well.
Thank you Carrie for the your time and committment to these programs!
I'm definitely looking forward to the coming years for my Typhoon Tiffy when she can grow through HOD.

Oh my I'm embarassed ....I meant to say NOT ONLY An "inspiration to me" LOL well thats what I get for trying to type with a toddler on my knee... so sorry

[butterfly113]

You can see our week at:

http://joshuatreeacademy.blogspot.com/2 ... nit-3.html

WE LOVE HOD!

[Carrie]

Ladies,

I LOVED reading your weekly check-ins. You are each doing such an amazing job, and I love to see the way the Lord is working in each of your lives to equip you to answer His not-so-easy call to homeschool your precious kiddos!

Your posts made me laugh and get teary-eyed as I could catch a glimpse into each of your homes. I am celebrating your successes with each of you this week and rejoicing that the Lord is faithful as you each are beginning a new year or a new venture and that can be overwhelming. I pray that He will be with each of you as you settle in to a routine and that He will guide you closer to Him each day!

Thanks for sharing. You are an inspiration to me! The teacher is me is applauding over each of your kiddos' successes. I'm so proud of them too.

Blessings,
Carrie