Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:6-7



Thursday, September 09, 2010

Seven Quick Takes Friday


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Homeschool Version


~1~
Having finished our second week of homeschooling this academic year, I am finally feeling that we are getting into the swing of it. Even after eight years, I still forget how very time-consuming homeschooling is. Yes, I can throw a load of laundry in and fold it while they school, and I can call a doctor's office or the carpet cleaner at lunch time, but for the most part the day is consumed at the table, schooling. It truly is a full-time job and any homeschooling mom should consider it so. I sheepishly admit, however, that my favorite time a day is when the table gets cleaned off and the bookcase filled up neatly. Sigh.





~2~
Speaking of the end of the day, Sara turned me on to Homeschool Skedtrack, a homeschool tracking program. I love sitting down at the end of the day and checking off assignments and recording grades. It's a free program, and after spending a little time watching the tutorials, it's very easy to use. Thus far it has kept me very accountable (even though I'm accounting to myself) and I feel very organized.

~3~
Dogs of homeschooling children have an interesting life. Instead of being left to nap the day away, they are constantly on their toes. This is what happens to the Schultüte when the treats are gone.




~4~
Noah made a leaf collection this week for his first Life Science lab. While I thought I knew all of the trees in our backyard, I did not (teacher doesn't know everything!). We used this website, What Tree Is It?, to identify the tree by the leaf -- it was really a lot of fun.


~5~
I reserved quite a few books geared toward fall from our library for Faith's reading. As I was recording a few she read this week, I also threw in a couple of our all-time favorites to share here.

Sky Tree by Thomas Locker -- Faith really enjoyed this one

Oliver Finds His Way by Phyllis Root -- and though this one was a little young for her, she liked it and wanted to read it again

Every Autumn Comes the Bear by Jim Arnosky -- one of my favorite nature authors

In the Woods: Who's Been There? by Lindsay Barrett George -- a favorite series in our house for at least ten years

Country Crossing by Jim Aylesworth and illustrated by Ted Rand -- while not technically a fall book, I love reading this one in the fall. It has been a favorite in our house since college boy was a little guy. Oh, how I loved reading this book to my little boys.

Oxcart Man by Donald Hall -- a classic good book


~6~
If you're a homeschooling mom, you've heard the comments on socialization. "Oh, my goodness, how will it ever happen?" Well, believe me, it happens. You'd have to live in a cave for it not to happen (and you'd have to be the only cave on the street). The other day the little boy from down the street came to the door for Faith. He is homeschooled as well. This is the exchange that occurred (they are eight and six years old):

Faith: Hi, Micah.

Micah: Hi Faith. I'm getting ready to go to soccer practice, but when I come back, I'll come down to play.

Faith: O.k., Micah. I'm really looking forward to it.

I don't know how normal that exchange was between two children. It sounded to me, from my spot in the kitchen, like an exchange between two teenagers. On second thought, teenagers aren't that polite -- make that two adults.

I also found a note in my 14-year-old's wallet (yes, I snoop in my children's personal effects). A love note, for a girl in his homeschool gym class. Like I said, you'd have to live in a cave.

~7~
It's this time a year when I am so grateful for my menus. When the table is finally cleared at 4:30 in the afternoon and it's time to think about dinner, I already know what we're having. If you don't plan ahead, I highly recommend it. Check out my menus for ideas and recipes and get organized. ;-) I update every Friday.


Have a wonderful, beautiful, blessed weekend. I'm planning an Our Lady of Sorrows chaplet giveaway for next week, so stop back soon. And stop by Jen's for more Quick Takes.

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7 comments:

  1. Minus my 12 yr old procrastinator, I'd have to say our first week is a success too. The house is clean, despite the many hours spent bouncing from child to child, assisting and chatting and spelling out words, etc. It's nice to be BUSY. We've all looked forward to this, and needed it!
    Have a great weekend!!
    :)

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  2. Barbara:

    We are finishing up Week 3 of school and I appreciated this post of yours.
    We are off to a fair start. We did not re-enroll with Seton this year and I am feeling a bit "all over the place."

    Yes, homeschooling is a full time job. You would think after 8 years I would know this, but I think I am really feeling it this year. I really can't answer the phone, or schedule morning appointments, or jump on the computer, etc. The kids have more work as they get older and we need to work until about 2:00 most days.

    Happy Homeschooling!
    Angela

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  3. re #3: Love it! That is Fiver's favorite quote from "Up." That, and "I hid under your porch because I love you."

    re #5: "Country Crossing" and Ox Cart Man" are two of our all time very favorite books. Thanks for reminding me of them so I can pull them down for Sally's story time.

    re #4 (I'm out of order already!): thanks for the link! Francie has a huge leaf project for science next year. I bet this will help even if I am a year early!

    And again, I love the pics of your calm orderly home. I am only teaching Sally pre-K and I cannot get my housework together this fall. Some day I will, right?

    Happy weekend!

    PS: and my word verification is "expeld." As in "I hope my pre-K student is not expeld because she refuses to follow any directions on worksheets. Ever." ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nutmeg,
    Glad you survived your week. Now GO REST!

    Angela,
    I enrolled Noah in Seton and Faith is doing CHC so I feel pretty put together curriculum-wise. But, like you said, can't leave the table (if for no other reason than they argue! Urg!). Hope you have a restful weekend.

    Aimee,
    You'll have to share the picture of poor Maggie with Fiver. That line from Up is the very reason she is wearing the "cone of shame." Silly boys.

    PS I think Sal Gal is just an outside-the-box kinda girl. ;-) We'll take her. Red Rover, Red Rover send Sally on over!

    ReplyDelete
  5. i love this post, barb!
    wish i could gather my thoughts together enough to write a post...
    this was an interesting week.
    i don't quite have the hang of things yet.
    but i am sure that these shorter evenings will help us to settle down a bit.
    a love note, eh?
    it happens so fast.
    the growing up thing.
    sigh.
    watch out for micah...next thing ya know he'll be leaving notes for peach on the door step!
    boys are T-R-O-U-B-L-E.
    i know because i have 3!
    blessed weekend to you!
    xo.

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  6. Awww, how much do I love the UP quote? :)

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  7. Cool science project! When I was in high school our Bio II texts were delayed by 6 weeks. Our teacher walked around the school property and her own yard collecting foliage samples and then had us identify them. Best lesson ever and I still remember a lot of what I learned during that unit!

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate your comments -- sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself!