Week Two of Learning 2014-15

Well, two weeks down and about 38 more to go.  I think we can…I think we can…I think we can…LOL!  Here’s how week two went for both boys…
Micah, First Grade Bible – Micah’s Bible lesson this week was on My Prayer of Confession.  We read Luke 15:11-24 to accompany the lesson.

Learning Language Arts Through Literature (LLATL) – This week Micah worked on left to right progression; sequencing; writing his name; and comprehension.  We used the Aesop’s Fable of “The Lion and the Mouse” to help us with our lessons.

Math – This week Micah worked on the numbers 7-10; more addition facts; longer/shorter; and place value.
History – We began learning about state history this week…we’ll spend the next few weeks learning more about Florida.
Science – This week we studied flowering plants; grasses; trees; seeds; and monocots and dicots.

Caleb, Sixth Grade Bible – This week Caleb’s lesson focused on “The Creation of Man,” and we read Genesis 2 to accompany the lesson.
Math – This week Caleb learned division with a three-digit answer; dividing with a two-digit divisor; dividing numbers that end in zero in your head; and harder two-digit divisor problems.
Reading – This week Caleb began reading Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  He read Chapters 1-5 and completed vocabulary and comprehension activities for each chapter.  He says this approach is much better than the formal reading program I purchased from Bob Jones. 
Geography – This week Caleb learned facts about Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Writing – This week Caleb’s lesson focused on Better Nouns.  His writing assignment was to illustrate several concrete nouns.

Science – Caleb completed the same lessons as Micah; however, he went into more detail.  He also read about redwoods.

Both boys are doing really well so far, and they seem to be enjoying everything.  I’m guessing science is the favorite subject for each though. 

Menu Plan August 10-16, 2014

Last week I made the menu of the family favorites, and this week it was Micah’s turn.  So, here’s what he planned for this week’s meals…
Sunday – Pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, baked beans,
corn
Monday – Spaghetti, salad
Tuesday – Tacos
Wednesday – Parmesan chicken bites, pasta, sauteed Brussels sprouts (he chose the Brussels sprouts because he knows how much Caleb abhors them…lol) Thursday – Fish sticks, tater tots, broccoli
Friday – Grilled chicken, pasta, snap peas
Saturday – YOYO
What’s on your menu this week?

Week One of Learning 2014-15

Classes commenced at Childress Academy on Monday.  We had a good first week, but I’ve already made changes to one part of Caleb’s curriculum.  I’ll explain later in the post.  Other than that hiccup, it was a really good week.  Here’s hoping the remaining 39 weeks go as smoothly.

***Caleb joked that this was their mug shot, so that’s why you see the silly grin on Micah’s face.  He didn’t want to smile because you’re not supposed to smile for a mug shot.  LOL!  ***

Micah, First Grade Bible – Micah’s Bible lesson this week was on God Hears My Prayers.  We read Mark 1:29-39 to accompany the lesson.
Learning Language Arts Through Literature (LLATL) – This week Micah worked on initial sound of names; comprehension; writing first letter of name; and the book we used was Who Took the Farmer’s Hat? by Joan Nodset.  

***The last three pictures are Micah’s use of the letter ‘m’ to make a picture.  He chose to draw “two rockets mushed together.”***

Math – This week Micah worked on the numbers 1-5; addition facts; ordinal numbers; and story problems. 
History – This week Micah’s lesson focused on the days of Creation and the order of how God created everything.
Science – This week we began our study of plants.  We focused on living vs nonliving; the five kingdoms; the classification system; and plant and animal cells.

Caleb, Sixth Grade Bible – This week Caleb’s lesson focused on Creation of the World.  He read Genesis 1 to accompany his lesson.
Math – This week Caleb worked on more multiplying with carrying; multiplying two big numbers; carrying when multiplying two big numbers; small units of time; and division with a two-digit answer.
Reading – I’m not going to share what we did this week because this is the curriculum I’m changing.  I chose a formal reading curriculum, and it isn’t the best choice for Caleb.  So, beginning next week, we will read real novels and use study guides to work on comprehension, vocabulary, and other literary elements.
Geography – This week focused on a basic geography overview, but we did learn more about the Coastal Lowlands and Appalachian Highlands regions.
Writing – This week focused on alphabetical order.  Caleb’s writing assignment was to create a poem on a topic of choice following the guidelines that were presented (minimum of 20 words in alphabetical order).

Science – Caleb learned the same information as Micah; however, his was more detailed.  He also learned about Carl Linnaeus and more about cells. 

Menu Plan August 3-9, 2014

Yes, I know…it’s a few days late, but better late than never, right?!!?  I’ve learned, the hard way I might add, that my family is perfectly content eating their favorites over and over.  They, unlike myself, are not up to trying lots of new recipes.  They’d be perfectly content eating tacos, spaghetti, meatloaf, and parmesan chicken tenders night after night, week after week.  So, with that being said, my menus may start looking a bit boring and redundant.  But – rather than waste food, I’ll happily prepare meals that my husband and boys enjoy every time.  I will sneak in a few new recipes from time to time, but I’ll have to gather their input first. 
Sunday – Kielbasa, pasta, snap peas
Monday – Parmesan chicken bites over salad
Tuesday – Frikadellen, mom’s macaroni ‘n cheese, green beans w/almonds
Wednesday – Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels, Corn
Thursday – Teriyaki chicken, rice, broccoli
Friday – Grilled hot dogs w/chips
Saturday – YOYO
What about your family…do they like to try new recipes or are they perfectly content eating the family favorites all the time?