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.

Beginning in earnest.

Is it really the end of August? Unbelievable.

Our homeschooling adventure will officially begin on Tuesday.

I considered starting a little sooner, but with all of the neighbor kids still running around, I didn’t see the point of trying to keep A interested in reading or listening when all she would really want to be doing is riding her bike.

I am anxious, but also excited. I want to give her as woman-centric an education as I possibly can. Which doesn’t mean excluding great men (and there are many) from her education, for the record. Compared to public, or even private, education, if I divide up authors 50/50 or even 60/40 (in favor of men), that would be phenomenal. Who says history should be all wars and victories? And of course, there are a great many female scientists to cover. (I really love this book for young girls.) I am also looking forward to focusing on peace and simplicity as a lifestyle. (There are great resources here.)

I purchased all of our books already and put several on hold at the library. Hopefully, they will be ready for us soon.
We are using these:

Plus, math, handwriting, spelling, and the other usual subjects.

The first two weeks, we are learning about earthworms, which will coincide nicely with me trying to get my compost pile to do something. Like decay and turn into compost already.

I am in the process of deciding which activities are worthwhile at this point. She had the choice between ballet and gymnastics. Both meet once a week. She chose gymnastics, but wants to do ballet eventually. Right now, all she wants to do is learn how to cartwheel and do flips.

I am also thinking about the Girl Scouts. At first I was hesitant to consider the Girl Scouts.

I was a brownie for all of two meeting as a young, eager, but somewhat shy first grader. I remember singing Sally the Camel. I also remember the troop leader refusing to allow me to use the bathroom and the humiliation that resulted when I just couldn’t hold it anymore and peed my pants.

I also thought that Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts were interchangeable aside from gender. I swore I would never let my kids be in such a homophobic and exclusive organization. But then I read this and I fell in love with the Girl Scouts organization more than I ever thought possible.

We are hoping to start piano lessons this fall as well. We just need the piano!

I know my regular readers don’t come here to experience me droning on about education and homeschooling, so I am thinking about a second blog. Still undecided.

I still can’t believe it is nearly September.