I have liked reading about each of your weeks here on the weekly check-in the past month. It is so neat to see HOD being enjoyed in each of your homes as much as I enjoy it in mine! We had a good week, and even though it is the last third of the year (a time that is usually the last of the long winter for us here), we are still having a blast with HOD.
Creation to Christ:
Wyatt is learning about Carthage getting defeated. He loved making different catapults and seeing how far he could launch his marshmallows. The other boys loved being the target and eating the marshmallows!
The computer link was a blast, as it allowed him to experiment with force of gravity, amount of mass, and height and angle. Here are some pics of the catapult activities:
One of my very favorite things Wyatt did this week was his writing of a fable for "Write with the Best". I just have to share it here!
The Fox and the Coyote
The tall, handsome, skinny fox stared pride fully at himself in every pool, river, and stream he could find. He loved the way his scarlet red coat fit grace fully on him, and he often marveled at the way he imagined the animals looked adoringly at him. The coyote, on the other hand, thought himself to be an average looking chap with a brain bursting with flattery ideas. This flattering was mainly done in order to steal a delicious meal.
As the sun rose in the tree covered valley, the plants seemed to light up, reflecting the suns warm rays. As the fox pranced along the glistening river, he was so into looking at his reflection that he did not notice the gray coyote slowly creeping along after him devising a plan to get dinner without getting into harm’s way. The fox hungrily took off toward the hen house and shortly came out with a plump, juicy, big chicken. As the fox ran into the woods he was stopped by the coyote that had been following him.
Coyote exclaimed, “Good morning fox! How beautiful your coat and tail shine in the sunlight today.”
The fox proudly mumbled through a tuft of feathers, “Why thank you coyote. I, m sure you wish you were a mere reflection of me.”
Coyote answered, “Why yes! I would love to look like you. Your tail is perfectly combed and your ears are set just right. However, that chicken makes you look horrible for it is messing your fur up and making your mouth all nasty looking."
The fox with a look of shame on his face dropped the chicken and said aloud, “Oh, I this better go fix this mess up by the pond.
Thinking quickly coyote said, “I saw some beavers over there working on a dam. The water will be rippling, so you won’t be able to see your reflection. You’d better go over the hill to the big river, so that you can see your reflection better.
As the fox hurried off the coyote grabbed the chicken and headed home.
Moral:
A bit of flattery can make you forget what’s most important.
Here is Wyatt's watercolor painting of Robert Frost's poem about the night sky. With help, he continues to improve in this area
:
We had a chat this week about giving our best effort in drawing/notebooking, as this is an area my ds can tend to rush through. I was happy with his notebooking about Galen:
This week Wyatt decided to set his alarm and get up early to do his independent things. He is a morning person, and I said this was fine, with some hesitation, as he tried this last year and it didn't work. I told him he could try to do Independent History, Independent Science (unless it was an experiment), and his Bible. He said very gravely, "Oh no, not Bible, Mom! I love to do that each morning when I come down right by the fireplace. It's kind of a neat way to start my day downstairs." That was music to my ears! If something is going to be super special, I sure love it to be Bible.
I also said that I would not change what the rest of us were doing, our routine of the day, as that would mess everyone else up. I cannot believe it, but it worked today! He finished at 11 AM, and was beaming. His work was good, and he finished an hour earlier.
My middle ds also read his own Bible in his room (just on his own, not for HOD) and did his copywork, as well as coloring his poetry drawing early this morning. Then he too said, "I still want to read my Bible by the fireplace, Mom. I really love that time." So he read double today.
I think CTC is the first time this truly would have worked, as before this, he always needed my help too much. For BHFHG, my middle ds, I told him only the copywork and the Bible he reads on his own, and maybe his math flashcards could be done early. That's a big teaching year for me, and rightfully so - I am unwilling to give that up and let him wing it independently. For my oldest though, I think this will work well if he wants to do it. If not, I'm fine finishing at lunch time like we always do.
WHEW! Sorry this got long - it was just a week full of growth, and I had to share with all you wonderful ladies!
In Christ,
Julie
But wanted to say that no matter how cRaZy bUsY our weeks are, we get school done! This week was especially busy with family at our home Mon & Tues, dentist appts Wed AM, dr. appt Wed PM, needy baby on Thurs (wanting to be held constantly due to her ear infection) and packing to leave for a weekend trip today along with everything normal that occurs in our week. Yet we managed to get Unit 22 of LHTH and LHFHG finished for my oldest two kiddos. I know it's only because of how HOD is designed! It's a blessing to go into our school room in the morning, open the guide and go!!!
). Then Wyatt and Emmett are dressed up as the Egyptians racing across the Red Sea, and ultimately perishing when it washed back over them. We acted this out a handful of times - they loved it! 
(just bruises on mommy, baby was just fine 
, our furnace going out (son in the beginning stages of hypothermia before we noticed 
