Friday, December 18, 2015

Weekly Wrap Up: Weeks 13-14 - The One Before Vacation Commences

We're more than half way through our year! How exciting is that? And just in time to take 2 weeks off for Christmas celebrations and ringing in a new year. We'll see you in 2016!

CORE WORK
Cate received a 97% on her Section 4: Sentence Parts with English Grammar 101, and will start Section 5: Modifiers - Adjectives and Adverbs. She started list 12 of her vocab building. Her began writing a creative story based on a show that she enjoys.  She read The Hobbit.

She's completed 75% of pre-algebra on Khan Academy


Sam worked in his Grammar and Writing Handbook, reviewing plural nouns, and researched, wrote and edited his "perfect paragraph" on his favorite video game "Minecraft" and Christmas. He finished up his Handwriting Without Tears Cursive  and began writing his "perfect paragraphs" in cursive. He continued to review Grammar with Grammar Ninja, but I've decided to stop formal spelling instruction at this time. Instead, he will look up misspelled words on my Android Merriam-Webster app and correct them. (It has voice recognition to make it a little easier.) He read Holes.


He's completed 47% of math 4 on Khan Academy.

Both kiddos have stalled out in Math, so we're spending a bit more time on it these days, reviewing concepts with videos and practice problems with hopes of moving forward.

SCIENCE SNIPPETS
Sam and I finished up Earth in Apologia Astronomy, and moved onto the Moon. We've been looking forward to studying the moon since starting Earth. Why? We got to model moon phases with Oreos!




Cate finished Mod 5 on History of Life, Archaeology, Geology and Paleontology in Apologia General Science which was just reading and answering questions. She received a 100% on her final test.


CRAFTY CATE
Cate was not thwarted by my lack of being able to teach her to crochet; she taught herself! Being left-handed (or maybe it's just my spatial skills?), my work tends to be backwards and/or inside out when following patterns. Somehow it works for me, but doesn't work when teaching someone else. She figured out how the chain and do a half double crochet in the front post by trial-and-error. She made her first afghan.


HISTORY
Sam wrapped up "America: Story of Us" videos. It's our 2nd or 3rd time through the videos, and we've loved them each and every time.  We started reading aloud A History of US (Hakim).

Cate finished Ancient Music on Easy Peasy and is about three-quarters through Early American (week 26). She's been studying types of instruments, Native American music, classical music by Bach, Handel, Beethoven, Brahms, Haydn, Mozart, and Vivaldi, reading music (which she's already a pro at), Benjamin Franklin's armonica, and Pioneer and Revolutionary War music.


DAYS COMPLETED: CATE - 92 | SAM - 90

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

Happy Homeschooling!

Monday, December 14, 2015

Journal of a Mom: December 14, 2015

THE CLOCK READS...
1:49pm

WEATHER IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS
It's overcast and drizzly.

IN THE GARDEN
The garden is dormant for the winter months.

LOOKING AROUND THE HOUSE
Someone is watching "Good Luck, Charlie". Someone is winding purple yarn for her first afghan. Dogs are dozing. Cat is looking at the Christmas tree. Washer is spinning out.

TO DO LIST
☐ Finish Christmas Shopping
☐ Return Returnable Bottles for Refund
☐ Plan and Shop for Christmas Dinner

FOR DINNER
Something with boneless, skinless chicken breast...if it thaws in time.

WHAT'S ON TV
"The Amazing Race". "Masterchef Junior".

CREATING FROM THE CRAFT BASKET
Frustrated with searching for my Sharpie pen and highlighter for bible study, inspiration struck and I reworked a headband pattern to make a "band" for my bible that'll hold my writing implements as well as a small, thin notebook. Others have asked for their own bands. I've sold my first 6 items!


I'm sharing my crocheting creations over at Lucy Blossom Crafts (Mondays)Frontier Dreams (Tuesdays), Small Things (Wednesdays), Oombawka Design (Wednesdays), and Lunamon Design (Wednesdays).

I'M READING...

SOMETHING THAT MAKES ME THANKFUL
Comfy, cozy PJs

I'M WONDERING...
...when will our first snow arrive?

NO WORDS NEEDED

DEVOTIONAL
We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope...Romans 5:3-4

HHM

I'm linking up to The Simple Woman's Daybook and Happy Homemaker are Mondays. 

Monday, December 7, 2015

Journal of a Mom: December 7, 2015

THE CLOCK READS...
10:00am

WEATHER IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS
I'd say, "Where's the snow?", but I'm happy with the extended fall weather. Soon enough the snow will be piled high. For now, it's supposed to get to 50 degrees and mostly sunny today.

IN THE GARDEN
Cate, Sam and I cleaned out the chicken and duck coop. Pooey! We added fresh-smelling, insulating hay, so the ducks are all tucked in snug at night while the hens roost together. We are considering adding some reflecting insulation the to roof to keep them toastier. (Our coop doesn't have heat, but the girls have always weathered our harsh Maine winters.)

LOOKING AROUND THE HOUSE
Cati is crocheting a purple and yellow afghan. Sam is cooking sausage and eggs for his breakfast (now that he's finally up). The dogs are snoozing. And I hear "Good Luck, Charlie" playing from someone's Android.

TO DO LIST
☐ Bring Bags of Bedroom Trash and Broken Stuff to Transfer Station
☐ Return Returnable Bottles for Refund

FOR DINNER
Cheese Ravioli with Spaghetti Sauce and Tossed Salad

WHAT'S ON TV
Anyone watching "The Amazing Race"? What do you think of the green team?

FROM THE CRAFT BASKET
My thoughtful daughter is putting together Christmas baskets for family, and asked me to crochet ornaments to add to her other goodies. I made snowflakes from The Crochet Crowd and baubles from Stitch | Craft Create Ideas. Aren't they sweet?


I'm also excited to share with you my crochet and craft Facebook page. I hope to create a virtual space to sell some of my creations, but also to share links to fabulous free patterns and funny memes that celebrate our art. I invite you to click over and like In Stitches!

Linking up my crocheting creations over at Lucy Blossom Crafts (Mondays)Frontier Dreams (Tuesdays), Small Things (Wednesdays), Oombawka Design (Wednesdays), and Lunamon Design (Wednesdays).

I'M READING...


SOMETHING THAT MAKES ME THANKFUL
1001 daily blessings, the big, the little, the wished for, the surprises

I'M WONDERING...
...how long my van will go before needing another repair? :sigh: Perhaps I should encourage my youngest son, who loves to tinker, to become a mechanic SOONER-RATHER-THAN-LATER to help me out. Does it matter he's only 10?

NO WORDS NEEDED

DEVOTIONAL
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts...Colossians 3:15)

HHM

I'm linking up to The Simple Woman's Daybook and Happy Homemaker are Mondays. 

Friday, December 4, 2015

Weekly Wrap-up: Weeks 11 & 12 - The One With Earthly Information

Am I the only one that thinks November flew by? We are closing in on having half our days completed for the year! We usually put in extra days every year anyway, but it's exciting to know that we've accomplished so much already.

CORE WORK
Cate finished up Section 3: Verbs and finished half of Section 4: Sentence Parts with English Grammar 101.  She's on list 9 of her vocab building. Her focus for essay writing this week was .  She's reading Little Women (Alcott).

She's completed 73% of pre-algebra on Khan Academy


Sam worked on in his Grammar and Writing Handbook, reviewing plural nouns, and researched, wrote and edited his "perfect paragraph" on Newton for Astronomy. His writing skills are improving. He continues to review Grammar with Grammar Ninja, but I switched him over to Spelling Power for Spelling. He tested in at Grade 3.3. (which is no surprise as Spelling is a struggle for him.) He's reading Holes.


He's completed 44% of math 4 on Khan Academy.

Both kiddos have stalled out in Math, so we're spending a bit more time on it these days, reviewing concepts with videos and practice problems with hopes of moving forward.

SCIENCE SNIPPETS
Earth continues to be Sam's focus for Astronomy. We're going to be "camped out" here for a while as there is so much to learn about our planet.


Cate had a difficult time with Mod 4 in General Science on Simple Machines, so she spent last week reviewing her textbook as well as her notes and study questions. She received an 89% on her 2nd attempt at the exam. This week she started Mod 5 on History of Life, Archaeology, Geology and Paleontology. 

PREPARING FOR SNOW
With snow "just around the corner", the boys headed out to chop up and stack wood. We don't have a fireplace, but there's something awesome about a fire in the firepit, roasting marshmallows, to break up the long winter months.


DAYS COMPLETED: CATE - 83 | SAM - 80

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

Happy Homeschooling!