Week 15 of Learning 2013-14

We finished up Week 15, and here’s how it went…
Micah, Kindergarten
Bible – We continue to work in the Sparks AWANAS book.
Phonics – This week Micah began working on initial blends, and he worked on ‘st, gr, sp, br.’  His sight words were ‘on, too, they, must.’

Poetry – This week our poem was “I Like Bugs.”  We used it to discuss commas, periods, and capital letters.

Math – This week we started with a NEW math curriculum.  I ordered Math Lessons for a Living Education Book One.  It’s very similar to Life of Fred, but I think it may be a gentler approach.  I’m really trying my hardest NOT to make the same mistakes in math that I made with Caleb again with Micah.  I think I pushed Caleb too hard, too fast in math, and I truly believe it has backfired.  He has struggled, and he’s still probably 6 months-year behind.  But – the beauty of homeschool is that IT’S OKAY!  I can teach him where he’s at and not worry about it.  So, I’m trying to do better with Micah and not really push too much.  So, since this is math through LIFE, then I think it’ll be a better experience.  We will see…

This week Micah worked on Numbers 0-9, which he’d already learned.  So it was more of a review…which most of these first lessons will be, but I wanted to start at the beginning since it’s a story that follows two twins, Charlie and Charlotte.

Caleb, Fifth Grade
Bible – Caleb worked in his T&T AWANAS book.
Math – This week Caleb worked on coins; using the fewest coins; subtracting in your head; and long subtraction.
English – This week Caleb worked on principal parts of regular verbs; principal parts of irregular verbs; indirect objects; and confusing verbs.  When we got to the confusing verbs, he was like “I don’t want to do that because I’m already confused.”  LOL!  Bless his heart…he did fine with it though. 
We enjoyed a day at the park on Friday with some homeschool friends, and the weather has been very nice this past week.  We’re looking forward to Lego Club and checking out books at the library next week. 

Finding the Positive When Life Throws You Curveballs…

So, I mentioned that I haven’t posted in over a month, and now I’ll explain why.  As most of you know, we moved to Florida’s Space Coast back in August.  Well, when we signed our one-year lease, our landlord failed to mention that they would be doing balcony renovations.  There are four buildings in the condominium community where we were renting.  They began balcony renovations on the first building back in May.  Well, they didn’t finish that building until the END of October…SIX months later.  They began construction on our building on 9/28…that means we were looking at at LEAST 4-6 months of noise, dust, chaos, and inconvenience…not to mention the 1-2 months of no use of our personal balconies (three of them).  Well, being as I stay home with the boys and we do our schooling at home, the noise is a HUGE issue.  It’s also an issue because we’ve learned that Caleb, due to his Tourette’s, has noise sensitivities.  Loud noises will sometimes send him into a tailspin, and it bothers him tremendously.  So, add all of that up, and you’re looking at a NOT very happy couple.  Our landlord wasn’t very cooperative in working with us to come up with a feasible agreement, so he just opted to let us get out of our lease.  We all agreed that we’d be out of the condo by 10/31.
Well, trying to find a place to rent in Florida during snowbird rental season isn’t very easy.  So, we ended up putting all of our belongings into storage, and we moved into Candlewood Suites for an unknown period of time.  Brian was able to negotiate a decent rate with them, and we were happy to be together and out of the construction.  So, on 10/28, we moved into the hotel.
Upon hearing of our situation, our pastor at church mentioned that a couple who had recently married may have a condo that we could rent.  He contacted them, and we moved AGAIN last weekend (11/9).  We’re now beachside again in a 2br, 1ba condo.  However, for now, we’re only able to stay here for 8 weeks…it was just rented for January-May.  But – it’s bigger than the hotel, a bit cheaper, and I have a full kitchen.   
So, this has been a crazy month+ for us, and we’re all learning a LOT during this time of transitioning from place to place.  I’m also becoming quite the pro at packing and unpacking.    We’re learning that we don’t need very much to get by for sure…being as most of our belongings are in storage.  We’re also doing JUST the basics with school b/c that’s all packed up, too.  So, the FUN will have to wait.  We’re making do by visiting the park weekly (more than once when we can), spending time with friends from church, spending time at church activities, and finding homeschool activities to do as well. 
We’re also learning that God is in control of everything (we knew this already), but it’s becoming more and more evident that HIS plan is the only one that matters.  We’re not in control, and that’s a BIG lesson for me…I like to be in control, and I’m learning the hard way that I’m not.    We’re so very grateful for all that God is teaching us and the many blessings He continues to bestow up on our family.
So, there you have it…finding the positive…sometimes it’s all that gets you through the day. 

Week 14 of Learning 2013-14

Wow, it’s been over a month since I last blogged.  Let me just say – a LOT has happened in that month, but that’s another blog post.  Here’s how week 14 went for us…
Micah, Kindergarten
Bible – We continue to work in Micah’s AWANAS Sparks book.  He is so very proud of himself as he earns his awards and jewels.  He’s super eager to study and learn.
Phonics – We worked on the consonant ‘y’ and ‘qu’ words.  His sight words were be, new, under, was. 
Poetry – Our poem this week was “Making Tracks.”  We used the poem to discuss periods, commas, capital letters, and rhyming words.

Math – This week Micah continued to work on addition sentences up to the sum of 5.

Caleb, Fifth Grade
Bible – Caleb worked in his T&T Ultimate Challenge AWANAS book. 
Math – This week Caleb worked on measuring with inches and feet; sequences; more adding in your head; and more carrying.
English – This week Caleb worked on subject-verb agreement; subject-verb agreement with more than one subject; verb tense; and irregular verbs.
As you can see, we’re doing JUST the basics, and I’ll explain why in a later post.  So, hopefully it will explain the lack of posting and pictures.    Be back soon…

Week 13 of Learning 2013-14

Well, another week has come and gone at our little homeschool.  You will note that my children are without shirts in most of these pictures.  For whatever reason, the latest fashion trend for young boys around this house is to walk around shirtless.  I figure it’s better they do that here than out in public.  Here’s how week 13 went for us…
Micah, Kindergarten

• Bible – We continued to focus on learning his memory work for AWANAs.
• Phonics – Micah worked on the consonants ‘x and z’.  His phonograms were “-ix, –ox, and –ess.”  His sight words were “but, will, have, into.”

• Poetry – Our poem this week was ‘Making Tracks.’  We used the poem to discuss periods, commas, capital letters, and nouns.

• Math – This week Micah worked on addition readiness and simple addition up to the sum of 5.

Caleb, Fifth Grade

• Bible – Caleb also focused on his memory work for AWANAs this week.
• Math – This week Caleb worked on addition and carrying; numbers in words; pieces of a whole; bigger than 1 on top; and horizontal/vertical/oblique line segments.
• English – This week Caleb worked on more than one predicate noun; contractions with not; helping verbs and main verbs; and verb phrases.
• FUN SCHOOL Explorations
• Moment in Time Monday – Caleb chose to read about and give an oral report on the Peloponnesion Wars.

• Tell Me More Tuesday – Caleb chose to tell me more about “people.”

• Technology Tuesday – Caleb played Stack the States on the iPad.
• This Day in History Thursday – (this was really Friday), but here’s Caleb’s facts.

• Extra Stuff – I decided to have the boys make secret message get well notes for my mom.  She’s been in the hospital/rehab for over a month now, so I thought these would cheer her spirits a bit.  I joined in the fun as well.

So, there you have it…week 13 and all the fun we had.  I hope you all are having a great school year and having lots of fun, too.

Week 12 of Learning 2013-14

We finished up week 12 on Saturday…yes, we do school on Saturdays now because of Brian’s new job (more on that later).   ***I did not take nearly the pictures that I typically do…not sure why, but just a heads up***
Micah, Kindergarten

• Bible – This week we used our Bible time to do some of Micah’s lessons in his Awanas Sparks book.  This is our first year ever with Awanas, and I’m having a hard time figuring out the time allotment to get it all in.  So, we used our Bible time to help.
• Phonics – This week Micah worked on the consonants ‘r and j’.  He learned the phonograms
  “-ack and –am.”  His sight words were “ran, so, pretty, out.” 
• Poetry – Our poem this week was “Way Up High in the Apple Tree.”  We used the poem to discuss commas, periods, and syllables.

• Math – This week Micah worked on counting and writing 30-40. 

Caleb, Fifth Grade

• Bible – Caleb also worked in his Awanas book…T & T.  Again, I’m trying to find the balance between homeschool, household duties, and Awanas memorization/study.  Any suggestions from you pros out there?
• Math – Caleb worked on more long addition; more rounding and estimating; comparing two numbers; and more number comparisons.
• English – This week Caleb worked on linking verbs and predicate nouns.
• FUN SCHOOL Explorations – Due to a crazy, chaotic week (again, not sure why), we didn’t get around to all of our fun school studies.  However, here’s what we did…
• Take it To Your Seat Tuesday – Caleb read and sorted the Astronomy cards.  He put the planets in order as well.

• Turn the Page Thursday – Caleb spent some time reading books from our homeschool library. 

So, there you have it…that was our week.  Like I mentioned, Brian recently started a new job where he has one day off during the week and every other Sunday off.  So, since his day off is Wednesdays, we don’t do any school.  Because of this, we’re having to use our Saturdays to do school…it’s not a big deal b/c Brian is at work anyway.  So, we’ll make the most of his time home/off, and then do our schooling while he’s at work.    It’s an adjustment, but we’re all figuring it out together.

Fun School Explorations

Like I mentioned in my previous post, we’re getting back to our FUN SCHOOL Explorations.  These are activities that Caleb completes in addition to his daily lessons in Bible, English, spelling, and math.  I tweaked it a bit from what we’ve done in the past, and I’m hoping it’ll help add some fun into the school day.  I think it’s all self-explanatory, but if there’s any activity you’re curious about, just comment or shoot me a message.  I’ll be happy to explain. 
The nice thing about this schedule is that it can be tweaked to meet YOUR child’s interests.  It can also be used with ANY grade.  You can adjust how much research/reporting you require based on your child’s ability.  I’ve contemplated making one for Micah, but for now…I’m going to hold off.  When he enters first grade, I may make him one.  For now…it’s just for Caleb.