December 3rd thru 7th, 2012 Core E Week 11 LOW

December 3rd thru 7th, 2012  

Core E  Week 11 LOW

We spent the weekend (Dec 1,2,& 3rd) at the farm.  The BEST part was that Dd and I went to Spring Mill Park and we hiked Trail 3 together!!  My favorite park, my favorite trail---2.5 rugged trail.  I use to walk this before Dd, then a ton while I was pregnant with Dd, then when I was in labor with Dd (dumbest idea-ever!), and then after she was born I took her in a baby bjorn, in a stroller and any and every way I could!  On Saturday, this was the first time we both walked the trail with it being just the two of us alone!  It was really nice having it be 'just us' again.  I love my Dh--but it was nice having a little solo girl time on a trail!

Bible: Apologia
Who Is My Neighbor: pg:45-64

Read Aloud:
Caddie Woodlawn: Chapters 13-24 Finished!! and Loved iT!

Math:
MUS:Epsilon: 3F, Teaching Textbooks 5: Lesson 13, 4A,B,C,D,E

Science:  SL 3
Weeks 33 & 34

Language Arts:
FLL: Lessons 14, 15

Arts:
Knitting & Piano

Reader:
Trixie Belden and the Mysterious Visitor by Julie Campbell (Book 4) *FINISHED!!!
(We are not reading them in order.)

Reader:
Beatrix Potter---many of the books...too many to write down (we love them!)
Geronimo Stilton-2 Christmas themed books


Dvd: Civil War movie:

Glory Starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, et al.

 Bible/Christmas Prep: read nightly at bedtime.

Jotham's Journey: A Storybook for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide

Activities:
We went to a nursing home in our home town, with our small LHE hs group and we sang Christmas carols up and down each hall for about 40 minutes--spreading Christmas cheer for all to hear!
We also went to the library.
We both went to the Eye Doctor---blah!  We had our eyes dialated and thoroughly tested!
Dd did a Leslie Sansone workout dvd with me-- 2 miles.
Dd also made a chocolate cake by herself; and then with a friend - they made some really great cookies--a shortbread diped in chocolate! Yummy!

 

 

November 26th thru 30th 2012 Core E Week 11

November 26th thru 30th 2012

Week 11--Civil War continues

Bible:
Read Aloud: Mark & Chronicles
Apologia: Who Is My Neighbor: pg's 34-45


History:
Landmark, Sounding Forth the Trumpet, and Wee Sing America


Read Alouds:
Caddie Woodlawn: Chapter 1--12


The Forester's Daughter:
Read on Mon.,Tues., Wed. and FINISHED!

Reader:
Shades of Gray

Reader: 
Trixie Belden and the Mysterious Visitor by Julie Campbell (Book 4)

Math:
MUS: Epsilon: 3A,B,C,D,E

Activities:
Mon: All Day- Craft Day at the LeFeb's Home!  What a GREAT DAY!  I made Dh's Christmas gift; and Dd made blue flower pin, red flower pin, and purple pillow.  Dd got to use the sewing machine a few times too.
Tue: Swim & Gym : last class--basketball and Swim lessons
Wed. Momma-Migraine
Thur.Westlake Church-Christmas Carol Practice
Frid.: Library

November 18th thru 23rd 2012 Core E Week 10 LOW B

November 18th thru 23rd 2012 

 Core E  Week 10 LOW B

Since this is the week of Thanksgiving, I didn't want to start on a new IG week--so I am extending a "LOW".


Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday were spent at the farm in Mitchell.  Saturday, Larkin started to get sick and by Sunday it was official.  I called our doctor's office and they let us get some antibiotics sent down to us.  It was too far a drive to be tested for strep throat--but her tonsils were horribly swollen, mishapen, and white in spots.  We decided to head home--not planned to go home Sunday; but we needed to get back to our beds to get some real rest.  We drove back to Mitchell on Thursday for Thanksgiving with Giz and Grampy. 

Our "light" lessons for the week: Mon., Tue.,Wed. (Thur.=Thanksgiving/Friday=Off)

Bible:
Apologia's: Who Is My Neighbor: We started this book and ended on page 34 for the week.

Reader1: Childhood of Famous Americans: Clara Barton (finished)
note: This was Dd's FAVORITE Reader so far!!!!!  She insisted I read it too!  And it was very good, I must say!!!!

Reader 2:
Shades of Gray: Chapter One

Reader 3:

You Wouldn't Want to Be a Victorian Mill Worker!: A Grueling Job You'd Rather Not Have by John Malam, David Salariya and David Antram

Read Aloud:
The Forester's Daughter: 30-45 min.  daily

Math:
MUS:Test Booklet:Epsilon:Test 1,2 and Test Booklet Gamma:28


Activities:
Farm and Library

Spring Mill Park

.

Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving 2012

Giz and Grampy with Dd!  They are ready to EAT!  Homemade rolls (from scratch & slaw from scratch to fill in any space the lobsters didn't fill)

Math U See

Ever want someone who uses "Math U See" to give you a review?  Well, a SL (Sonlight) friend of mine was asking about MUS - so I typed out a response to her.  I thought it might be helpful to someone else in the future and I should keep the response handy, just in case I might need to answer that question again. I am putting the response here for safe-keeping.  So often with the SL forum; I've answered a question only to have that same question come back up 6 months later by someone else.  I should have thought of this long ago!!!

We use LOF (Life of Fred)  and TT (Teaching Textbooks) too; but I definitely consider our core math program to be MUS.  It is just a really solid program.  We can see it, hear it, and touch it.  I know with the Epsilon program, they suggest to purchase "Fraction Overlays" but they are $40.00 (gasp!!!!).  I'd love the overlays but can't seem to swallow that price!  I bet you'd be able to figure out something that you already have---you seem to already have a lot of hands on math manipulative's; from what I've seen on your blog.


This program has manipulative's(colored blocks) for each number.  You "BUILD" your questions and answers; at least for as long as you want to.  My Dd goes through spells of wanting or not wanting to use her blocks.

How MUS works---  
It doesn't matter how many pages they have done; if they haven't gotten the concept they are not suppose to move on.  

So, if we were doing lesson 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F and I can plainly see (and this HAS happened a lot in earlier years) when I go to MUS's website and go to their "worksheet generator" and specifically click on the book and lesson (Delta/Lesson 1) that we need a new worksheet for---and then hit "print" and out will come as many new math pages as we need.  When Dd has hit walls, I've done whole weeks off the website's worksheet's.

Once she has finally gotten the concept, then she could take the test; from the Test booklet and then go on to Lesson 2 (if she passed).


I personally like to save my test booklet.  MUS "TRIES" to be a spiral program; but isn't very successful at it.  So, I use the test booklet sheets to use as my idea of a spiral program.  I like to bring these out at my own choosing; when I see the need for a refresher on certain points.  You can zerox a copy of these too-- I wish I would have done that in the beginning!

How MUS Works:

They will introduce a new concept and teach it and ask questions on that concept in lessons A, B, C, D.  Then on lessons E, and F they will continue to ask questions regarding the new concept and also bring in questions from previous lessons, as a refresher.  I really like that they do this--and wish they did it a bit more.

At the start of each lesson, the "A" lesson--you and your student watch a short dvd lesson.  This clip will show you the concept for this lesson; and how to do it.  We only have to watch a short, dvd clip on the first day (unless you need/want to watch it again---which we certainly have had some lessons that were tough enough that we had to re-watch!).  The clip is generally under 5 minutes.  The teachers manual also has the same concept in written form; if you, as the teacher would rather read how to teach the concept.  I like to just watch the dvd with my Dd and generally that is enough for us to keep moving forward.  If I didn't understand something; then the Instructors/Teacher's book does a good job of explaining it also.

At the back of the Instructor's/Teachers book are ALL THE ANSWERS for the Student's book.  What I really like about this is that it will usually have how they should have gotten their answer; not JUST the answer.  So, if I am not sure what formula she needed to know, the answer will show me and I can tell her.  For example, if it was a perimeter question the answer in the book will say: 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 8 and that is enough info for me to say: 'Don't forget to add up all the sides." if she is stuck.  I like that feature a lot and it has helped me out a lot.

Each book has 30 Lessons.
Each lesson has A, B, C, D, E, F (6 worksheet pages)
When you order your student book; you have to order the teacher's manual, dvd, and test book.
The Test book would be your 7th worksheet for the week.

Levels:
Alpha- Adding
Beta- Subtraction
Gamma- Multiplication
Delta-Division
Epsilon-Fractions
Zeta-Decimals, Percents, etc.
Pre-Algebra
Algebra 1
Stewardship
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus


Cost:
An idea of the general cost:
Epsilon Instructor's kit: teachers book, dvd, and Test booklet cost $40.00
Epsilon Student book: $25.00
Then, there is the shipping cost--unless you can buy at a homeschool convention and avoid the fee!

One Room Schoolhouse  

November 15, 1892

We are going back in time today--to the year 1892!  Benjamin Harrison is President.   We are in Pittsboro, Indiana---in a small building surrounded by farming fields.

We arrived at 9:30 am to the little school house.  It was actually located in front of a large elementary school.  Once all each family arrived, the girls could pick out a pinafore - an apron-type thing that the girls tied behind their neck; and behind their waist.  We all were asked to wear period clothes.  Dd had a long skirt and long sleeve shirt.  I was surprised at how many children didn't dress up.  I even dressed up!

It was in 1998 that the little school house was moved from it's original spot to inside town; and in front of the elementary school.  It took 1 1/2 years to renovate it. 

After all the families arrived, we all lined up and walked past the "out-house" and walked into the public school to use their bathrooms.  I think we all were a little worried how real we were going to have to pretend!!!

The girls sat on the right side of the room; and the boys on the left.  Each desk had a name plate, made of wood.  The names were actually the last group of students from this school in 1912.  Because they needed more names than that small class had; they used the names from previous classes also.

The teacher was "Miss Phoebe".  She went around the classroom -as if taking attendance  - and talked to each "scholar" (she called us "scholars" not "students"; as if we were really that person, in 1892.  When Miss Phoebe asked a "scholar" a question; the scholar would have to stand up to answer her back.  Some scholars quickly understood this process and never skipped a beat.

I don't remember which events happened in which order---but we had "history" , handed out the McGuffey Readers and the scholars went up by grade and read a section with their grade, Recess (with old-timey toys), lunch (suppose to be what we would have eaten in that day, as well) and "arithmetic" on our slate boards and soapstone as chalk.

It was really a nice day.  It helped that Miss Phoebe was a really nice teacher!

They had a woman whose handwriting was so beautiful that they had her write on the board; what they wanted, and then had another person copy her writing in paint.  This way, it will be like this for every class---always!

Because the girls allowed themselves to wear the pinafore's they did look a little more 'at home' in this setting.  The youngest girls, I have to say, looked the cutest to me!! 

Here is a group photo of our class on this day.  The week before another group of our LHE 'scholars' had spent the day with Miss Phoebe too.  You can see the girls wore the little apron/pinafore over their clothes; but the boys did NOT want to wear the fancy shirts that were offered to them to wear over their shirts to help make them look historically accurate. 

They bought a few things for the school, and this encyclopedia was one item they bought.  I think they paid a few hundred dollars.  The stand is very unique; it will level itself out no matter what page you turn it to.  It acts like a mini scale.  The two sides of the table go up and down to level out the book, for prim reading.  I hope that explanation makes sense--it was very inventive.  They also bought a standing globe that was from this time, and still in good shape; I believe they paid $300.00 for it.

We had to make our own paper cup and then she gave us a ladle full.  This was all the water we got for the whole day; luckily she gave us seconds.

November 12th thru 18th, 2012 (Core E) Week 10 L.O.W.

Nov. 12th thru 18th 2012 (Core E) Week 10 L.O.W.

Nov. 12-18-2012 (Core E) Week 10 L.O.W. (This week really wasn't a real "LOW" because we weren't behind on anything.  We just wanted to/ needed to do some other things to round us out a bit.

This is the week we finally got to go to the  notorious "One Room Schoolhouse" in Pittsboro, Indiana.  I've heard about this place for years and am so happy we finally got to go see if for ourselves.  It really was a lot of fun.  We spent last weekend at the farm (the 10th & 11th).  We left home on Friday night and returned home on Sunday night.

Dd is standing to answer a question to Miss Phoebe

Activities:
Every day (90% at least) we start the day with BrainPop:http://brainpop.com/  on Monday's we also see the once a week video from BrainPop,Jr.: http://www.brainpopjr.com/

This week Dd also sewed some dresses for her dolls--Bo Peep size (Large Barbie).

Monday Dd lost another tooth!
Tuesday -Swim & Gym.  Meet the Coach Night for Upwards Basketball.
Wednesday-Dd and I worked out together--Leslie Sansone's dvd's.
Thursday-One Room Schoolhouse!
Friday-Dh was home.  Dh and Dd worked in the garden and got it finally all winterized. We headed to the farm!
Saturday- Dd was officially SICK!  Gasp! Stayed inside at Giz's for a while, then came back to the farm...miserable.
Sunday-Dd was WORSE!  Her tonsils were swollen and had big white spots on the sores...worst ever.  Got her on antibiotics and headed home to our home and our beds.

Lessons for the week:

Bible:
Veritas Press: Genesis Thru Joshua: Bible Card 6: God's Covenant with Noah

Math:
We started MUS: Epsilon: 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F
Skip-Counting: 8 family
Life of Fred: Farming: Ch. 1

Science: 
SL: 3
Week 33

Language Arts:
AAS 4: Step 1 (Review chapter-in progress)
First Language Lessons: Lesson 12 & 13

Lamplighter Read Aloud:
The Forester's Daughter by Urban Olivier

HISTORY PERSON OF THE WEEK:
CLARA BARTON

*Did you all know that Clara lived near our farm in Mitchell/Bedford, IN.?  We drive by the "Red Cross Cemetary" that is connected to her, on the drive each time we go there or come home.

Dd's Reader's:
(Monday she finished last week's book on Frederick Douglas by George E. Stanley)

Clara Barton: Founder of the American Red Cross (Childhood of Famous Americans) by Augusta Stevenson

Childhood of Famous Americans: Clara Barton: Founder of the American Red Cross by Augusta Stevenson.

 

The Mysterious Visitor (Trixie Belden #4) by Julie Campbell

Dd also finished her Trixie Belden book---Mystery off Glenn Road; and started a new one.  Since I've previously linked the Glenn Road book, I will link the new book this week.

This was a difficult week.  With all the traveling back and forth to the farm; "we" all have a difficult time getting back into our lessons.  Switching up our schedules, our beds, our foods, and everything else that gets changed during this time of year always causes a lot of strife in "our" attitudes.

DVD: 
Magic School Bus: Holiday Special on Recycling! (guest star: Dolly Parton)

We brought Dd's friend with us---we were the first 'scholars' to arrive and had the whole place to ourselves for a little while!!