Week 4

• 5 Saxon lessons
• Phonics Pathways: We are going through about 2 pages per day, although that may slow a bit as A practices spelling from dictation. Right now, we are working on c-k-ck, which is tricky and she is having a hard time remembering the rules. Luckily, she is less frustrated than she was in the beginning and is developing more of a “just keep trying” mentality. We also moved phonics from the little ones’ naptime (about 1:00) to first thing in the morning when she is the freshest and cheeriest. I think she’ll be ready for a more formal spelling program by Christmas.
• We are finishing moths and butterflies this week. A made the the most amazing drawing of butterflies and flowers! She spent at least one hour working on it. We talked a lot about the flowers in our garden and how they attract butterflies to our house. Unfortunately, I can’t find out where the butterfly house is or when it is open, so I think it may not exist anymore.
• In history, we are reading about Stone Age people this week. On Friday, we are going to make clay bead necklaces and gourd rattles instead of an art project.

We had planned to attend our first homeschool gathering today, but A has been sick since Saturday. She seems to be over the worst of it, but then El started running a fever on Monday and although it broke last night, I still don’t want to take them around the other kids just yet. Hopefully, Em doesn’t get sick but the odds don’t seem great.

I went apple picking last weekend with a friend and brought home a bushel of apples! A was so disappointed that she didn’t get to go so our whole family is going to go this weekend. I need to get canning! I made an apple crisp  and a batch of apple muffins, but I haven’t made even a tiny dent in the apples yet.

Last week was our first week “off.” I didn’t get much housekeeping done (oops!) but it was a nice break. Everyone was ready to get back into things this week, though.