Thursday, July 9, 2015

Weekly Wrap-up: Week 6 - Gone Campin' and Fishin'...and Learnin'

So, how was your Independence Day weekend?

Tom and I took the kids camping. We had glorious weekend weather, perfect for swimming in the lake, having campfires in the evenings and sleeping in a tent. (OK, it was a little cool to sleep in a tent. I should have packed the thicker sleeping bags and a few more blankets.) Our campground even let off it's own fireworks, which were quite good! 

And I only have about 20 bug bites on my legs. That bug spray worked...

Despite the 'quitoes, I love camping. There's something awesome about spending days outside, walking around talking to other campers, playing horseshoes, swimming and fishing, reading and crocheting, eating at a picnic table and sitting around a campfire, falling asleep with the sounds of owls and loons. Not all the kids shared in my enthusiasm though, and despite some fun, memorable times we ended our camping trip a day early.


But that gave Tom and I a day to drop our little boat into a small, quiet lake to fish. We only saw 2 kayaks and 1 canoe the whole 5 hours we were rowing around. (No motors on this lake.) The fish were jumping out of the water! A great catch day! I even caught one. Finally. But my favorite part of the day was seeing a Mama and Daddy Canada Geese with their goslings swim by. So sweet!


Our Summer Studies are going well! The kids haven't complained about doing some Language Arts and Math yet. I know that it can be hard. It's summer vacation after all. But it's also important to get a little extra work done is areas they're struggling with. And there's ice cream when they get 12 days completed...

According to Khan Academy, Cate has already mastered 18% of her Pre-Algebra course. She struggled with Saxon Algebra 1/2 last year. I'm hoping that Khan's different learning approach will help her to "master" those areas she just didn't get from Saxon. And Debussy seems to help the learning process...


Sam never did finish the entire Saxon 54 last year, but he's working on Khan Math 4 this summer. He's already mastered 13%, good, steady progress.

I didn't think that I would like Khan, but I do! I love the Progress Report! It shows me quickly what they have worked on, what they know and what they're struggling in, and it'll make a PERFECT chart to include in her end-of-year portfolio for assessment.

Summer School Day Counter
Cate - 7 days | Sam - 6 1/2 days

I joined a Facebook Bible Journaling group a month or so ago. I was inspired by the creativity of all the beautiful artwork and lettering that I decided to try journaling myself. Some choose do to the journaling right inside their bibles, but I decided to stick to a small hard-cover notebook for mine. I'm not an artist. I'm creative and enjoy handicrafts and photography, but drawing and painting has never been my thing. I'm quite happy with my first attempt though!


As always, special thanks to these bloggers for their weekly homeschool blog link-ups. Click on over to see what other homeschoolers are doing!

 photo 337a3ef2-b881-48f4-8a2c-9c69e457cb5b_zps8b6152cf.pngHomegrown LearnersWeird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

"When one teaches, two learn." - Robert Heinlein

12 comments:

  1. Looks like a nice full week for you and the family. We like to camp too just don't know when we will work it in this summer. Everyone is so busy. Mister and i are talking about taking the boat and going fishing too. He hasn't got to enjoy that in some time and we've decided to start taking some days to do the things we enjoy!
    Hope you have a wonderful weekend!! (doing things you enjoy!)

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    1. My husband and I think it's very important to take some time together for special hobbies or interests, especially ones that are active. Fishing isn't really my thing. I don't mind it, but I enjoy the BOAT ride the most, taking photos, enjoying nature, having time to talk, enjoy the quiet. Even with mishaps, it's still a good time!

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  2. I enjoy all the activities of camping except staying in a tent with no bathroom! I prefer a cabin with running water and electricity! LOL!! I'll have to check out Khan Academy's pre algebra for Jerry! The journaling group sounds fun!

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    1. It's not that bad, Sylvia! We were close enough to the bathroom where it wasn't much of a hike to get there, but far enough away that we didn't, er, smell anything or be awaken by the doors banging. Cate seems to like the Pre-Algebra, but she likes getting the badges and avatar rewards too.

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  3. I love your journal page! Looks like you are having a wonderful summer.

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  4. What a marvelous and productive week. I need to check out khan. I wonder if they teach french.
    Blessings, Dawn

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    1. Oh, I don't know. I haven't checked out languages. I wish there were more Language Arts and History, maybe lower level science...but the Math seems pretty good!

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  5. Luckily, we did finish all of the curriculum but there were gaps.

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    1. They will always be gaps. We'll always miss something...and it'll probably seem important...but we have time as homeschoolers to study and learn it when it's needed! (Even public school teachers don't get to everything.)

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  6. That's a deluxe tent! I'm not a camping person, or I should say we aren't a camping family. We don't even do cabins. But the way you tell it, it sounds fun. The boat on the lake does sound relaxing too. It's just looks so peaceful up there.

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  7. Oh, Christy, give camping in a tent a try! There's nothing like traipsing through the campground with a flashlight to get to the bathroom...Memories are made! LOL

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