Wrapping up 9th Grade

We always tend to school year round with no particular "off/on" days.  We just do school when we can and don't when we can't.  And typically we end up finishing in the winter rather than the summer.  But I thought I would record some things from this year up to now.

C.J. has grown TALL this year.  He is just a smidgen taller than me and I am 5'10"!  His voice has changed and many times when I don't see him but only hear him he sounds so manly.  It's still a shock sometimes.

C.J. walking like his dad.

C.J. has a challenging time with book learning because of some LDs but it's no sign of his intelligence and understanding which are off the charts sometimes. One thing he's done this year is a daily quiet time on his own.  Nothing fancy, just reading the Bible every day and hearing what God has to say.  C.J. learns some profound things sometimes.  In our youth group at church he is often the only one who knows the story or event in the Bible.  The other kids are "church kids" too but maybe they don't spend consistent time in the word like him, especially the Old Testament. I also see spiritual growth and understanding as he applies God's word to situations.

C.J. reading on his Bible app

C.J. LOVES the History Channel and any type of war documentaries.  He records them on his own and I don't have to make him watch them.  It's quite the other way around. He is quite obsessed with military weapons and warfare.

C.J. trying out his new Air Soft Gun

We went to our local library sale this year.  There are tons of books they are selling.  We snagged this one for $2 and it has become his favorite book this year. He wants Volume II.

Favorite book of 2013

C.J. is showing signs of becoming a gentleman.  Just when you think a teenage boy can't get any more irritating, he opens a door for others, he does chores without being asked, he notices something out of place and picks it up and returns it.  Wow!  These small moments make a mother's heart melt. :)

C.J. will not smile in pictures.  He has braces but I don't think that's the reason.  I think it's called B-O-Y.  Boys!

C.J. and his sister S.

C.J. is a very talented puppeteer.  We travel with the PIT Crew puppet team to do shows and to conferences with others to learn more about this ministry.

He smiled! Sort of. ;)

C.J. and friends at a Puppet/Creative Ministry Conference

C.J. started working in the tech booth at our church. He's learning so much from this experience. I've been told he's a fast learner.

He also loves to make stop motion videos.  Here's a sample of one he made about a year ago.  I have to say he did a good job considering we had no special equipment and in fact he had a poor camera.  He tells me that the camera is shaky because he didn't have a stand, he was just putting the camera on the floor.

Warning - subject matter is "war".  What else?

I see my son growing into a young man.  He's my baby but he's not a baby anymore.

Look out 10th grade here we come!!!

Melt down today, Happy dance tomorrow

Life is always moving.  So just earlier this week I was having doubts in my homeschooling but then today the mailman once again made me happy.

We received our Apologia Science kit!  One decision I made this week was to stop trying to do so much myself and take some help where it is given.  So I ordered a science program rather than trying to piece something together myself.

I decided to go with Apologia Physical Science.  DS has plenty of time to get to the other sciences before graduation so starting with something a little easier would be good for both of us.

So I ordered this


and this 


and this 



all from www.homesciencetools.com


My DD used Apologia, so I knew it was challenging and wasn't sure DS was up to it.  But I think we now have a good plan and the audio mp3 should help us.  I'm thinking we can listen to it in the car and at other places when we can't sit in front of the computer.  I'm not planning to use it in place of the book, but as a repeat as needed kind of thing.

When we got home this morning (I'll have another post about where we went) the box was on the porch and I made DS carry it in and he said, "You're making me carry my own box of doom?" LOL Dramatic maybe?  But then he opened it and was oooing and aahhing over all the stuff.  So maybe not so bad after all huh?

We'll see!

Asking the Lord to Direct Your Home/School

Earlier this week I asked my children to go into their rooms and pray and ask God what He wants them to focus on. My 15 yo dd came back with her journal and impressed me quite a bit with what she wrote. I thought she might come back with a few ideas for school but hers had more to do with character and she is the one that pointed that out to me. She feels God wants her to take the initiative more and to keep an open mind when doing math and science and not “shut down” at the first sign of difficulty.

I was in fact awed with the Lord.It sounds silly. Didn’t I expect Him to speak to her? Yes I did, but it’s just cool when He truly does and you get to be a part of it!

My 8 yo ds wanted me to pray with him. So I did. His reading is beginning to click and so that is one of the main things we need to continue working on. His second issue is asking for the same thing over and over after I’ve already given him an answer – just not the one he wanted.

We are going to spend more time in the Word and notebooking during our school lessons. I've let that fall by the wayside too many times. If we aren't learning for the glory of God what is the point?

These scriptures come to mind:

Psalm 111:10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
Proverbs 1:7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 9:10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

1 Corinthians 10:31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Isaiah 42:20You have seen many things, but have paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing.

Ezekiel 12:2Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.

Matthew 11:15He who has ears, let him hear.
Lord,
Thank you for speaking to us. Give us ears to hear. My soul finds rest in you alone, my salvation comes from You.
Help me to be still and know that you are God.

Community College

I called our local community college today to get the scoop on dual credit for my 15 yo.

I found out that they require the THEA test for entry.

We also need to complete at least 1/2 year of geometry since it is on the test. I'm thinking we may try this next year. We need to pray more about it.

I was a little curious about it all, we don't test much at least not in the standardized way. I know that at PS they test constantly which is one thing I love about homeschool. We can get on with REAL learning instead of just practicing tests, learning about tests, being fed information that will be on a test. We can learn what God wants us to learn and not what the State wants us to learn. I know that schools are moving millions of children through the system and they need a system to do that. I'm not moving millions of children through my home; just two.

My prayer is that I would give my children the foundation to meet the challenges God sets before them. That they would be able to take a test if need be, but not to get wrapped up in the scores and numbers that tests give. They were created by HIM for a purpose not a number.

Lord, help me to rely on Your leading for our learning! Help us to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, and You will add all the other things (even test scores)!
AMEN

Spring Fever

We've been struggling a bit the past few weeks with spring fever. It makes our minds wander, our routine is stretched and we just can't seem to get going some days. Today we tweaked our routine a bit and lightened our day somewhat. We still want to continue with our books we've been doing, but some are just on the back burner for a while.

Othello the Moor

Othello the Moor by William Shakespeare

March 22, 2006

Othello was a Moor who lived in Venice, Italy where he was an officer in the navy. He was well respected as an officer. He fell in love with his friend’s daughter Desdemona and she fell in love with him as well even though he was twice her age. They wanted to be together and they thought her father and the others would not approve so they eloped. Her father was upset more with the fact that they had eloped, not the fact that they were in love. He admired Othello and as long as Othello treated his daughter well and she was truly happy, that is all that mattered to him.

Othello was to give a promotion within the ranks. He chose a fellow named Cassio for his bravery and loyalty in previous battles. Iago was envious that he had not been chosen. Iago decided to seek revenge on Othello and Cassio. He was also prejudice against Othello for his Turkish background. He devised a plan that included a friend Roderigo. Iago befriended Othello and made him think he was a trustworthy friend. But indeed he put counterfeit thoughts in Othello’s head of Desdemona being unfaithful with Cassio. Othello was unsure at first, but Iago had his wife Emelia, who was Desdemona’s maid, secure a handkerchief of Desdemona’s. He then had her give it to Cassio under pretense that it was another woman whom Cassio admired. Othello saw Cassio with that hanky, he was astonished and outraged and burned with jealousy. As he tried to understand and comprehend the actions of his wife he literally went mad! He believed every lie Iago told.

Iago offered to have Cassio killed. Othello eagerly agreed. He did however want to protect his reputation so he allowed someone else to do the deed. Iago not wanting to get his hands dirty coerced Roderigo into commiting the murder. Roderigo was set up to accost Cassio in the city. He jumped out to stab him but Cassio stabbed him first, then Iago came forth and finished the deed by stabbing Roderigo himself. Roderigo was aware of the betrayal and cursed Iago then died. Iago then stabbed Cassio, but Cassio did not die.

Meanwhile at the castle, Othello went to his bedroom and in a rant tried to choke Desdemona to her death. Desdemona was innocent but she could not get Othello to listen. But she had not yet died when her handmaid Emelia came to her room and saw the events taking place and was extremely grieved and distressed. She cried out for help for her mistress. The others came running including Iago to see what was the matter.

When Othello told them why he had choked her, Emelia told of how she had taken the handkerchief because her husband had told her to and Othello began to realize his grave mistake. Iago tried to shut his wife up but her story had to be told. He threatened to hit her, but she still went on. He was outraged and he stabbed her and ran. Officers ran after him and caught him. Emelia lay down beside her mistress and died.
The officers captured Othello and prepared to take him to jail when he grabbed one of their swords and stabbed himself. He lay down and died beside Desdemona.

Highschool

I'm beginning to relax more now that we're actually DOING high school. In fact when I get overwhelmed one thing I do is pull out the Texas Education Agency's list of graduation requirements. There just isn't that much to it!
Using AO and CM methods goes far beyond that list. I also know that academics are really the easy part of homeschooling. A book and a curious child take care of that. It's all the character building and relationship building in between that shapes our children into adults who serve well the kingdom.

Our school week Feb 13-17

This week went rather smoothly. We’ve adopted our new more flexible schedule. Just getting everything done, but no particular time or order. I guess you could call it assignment based rather than time based.

I made just a very simple weekly grid and included everything to be done for the day and we just work until it’s all done.

This week together we did:
Spanish
Art – Masterpieces From Turkey
Composer – Gershwin
Shakespeare – Othello
Plutarch - Poplicola

Year 2 ds:
Monday:
The Bible – We’re finishing up reading the Exodus from Egypt, now were near Moses’ death
Story of the World Volume II chapter 3 Christianity Comes to Britain
Poetry of Eugene Field
Phonics/Reading/ Copywork
Science – Magic School Bus
Math-U-See Alpha lesson 9
Oral Narration

Tuesday:
The Bible
Wind in the Willows ½ of chapter 3
Phonics/Reading/ Copywork
Science – Exploring Creation with Astronomy
Math- Living book: 12 Ways to Get to 11
Oral Narration

Wednesday:
Pilgrim’s Progress
Burgess Animal Book: Two Unlike Little Cousins
Poetry of Eugene Field
Phonics/Reading/ Copywork
Science – Exploring Creation with Astronomy
Math-U-See Alpha lesson 9
Oral Narration

Thursday:
The Bible
Story of the World Volume II chapter 3 Christianity Comes to Britain
Wind in the Willows ½ of chapter 3
Phonics/Reading/ Copywork
Science – Magic Schoolbus
Math-U-See Alpha lesson 9
Oral Narration

Friday:
The Bible
Marco Polo ch 2
Poetry of Eugene Field
Phonics/Reading/ Copywork
Science – Magic Schoolbus
Math- Living book: Is a Blue Whale the Biggest Thing There Is?
Oral Narration




Year 9 dd:
Daily:
Bible reading – Joshua
Apologia Biology ½ of Module 1 What is Life?
Grammar and Copywork
3 Written Narrations
Oral Narration
Math U See Algebra 1 Lesson 10
Piano practice and lessons

Monday:
The Age of Revolution: The House of Hanover
The English Constitution
Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin 16 pages
Tuesday:
Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin 16 pages
Common Sense by Thomas Paine – Introduction
Simond’s History of American Literature II Benjamin Franklin
Wednesday:
Mere Christianity – Book I, chapters 1 & 2
Letters to His Son by Lord Chesterfield 1 letter
History of Rasselas ch 1-3
Poetry of Phyllis Wheatley
Thursday:
The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide – Ch. 14 North America
Life of the Fly ch 1
Poetry of Phyllis Wheatley
Friday:
CM’s Ourselves
Poetry of Phyllis Wheatley
Life of the Fly ch 2

Our Second School Term

We've had a wobbly school year so far. Our first term lasted FIVE MONTHS and we still didn't finish everything, but we've decided to press forward, and not look back. DS in year 2 isn't too far behind although I made the decision to drop An Island Story and just read STOW for him. We also put aside Parables From Nature for now, so his schedule is just right for him at this time.

DD age 15 doing year 9 is also beginning to get into her groove. She is a bright girl, but doesn't read terribly fast, but if she's comprehending and enjoying something I can tell right away, she can't help but tell me all about it.

We started term 2 officially this week and we'll have to do school every chance we get through July, but that's okay, we took a lot of days off for various reasons this fall and winter, so we can do school in the summer when it's too hot to do anything else.

I plan on posting a weekly or bi-weekly update. Just to keep ME accountable! Even if no one reads it but me, I need to see it.

YAY! We did it!

We finally finished our Apologia Physical Science, and I uploaded it for sale
on e-bay today!
It took us a year and a half to do it, but we did it. Let's hope it doesn't take us that long for biology.

One of those Jesus Deals

Excerpt from;
Thoughts on the WORKS of PROVIDENCE
by Phillis Wheatley

"Celestial muse, my arduous flight sustain,
And raise my mind to a seraphic strain!"

This line bears meaning for me. Today my 15 yo dd and I, read this poem. She didn't know what some of these words meant, so we reached for the dictionary.

Now here's where the "Jesus Deal" began.
Earlier during my prayer time this verse came to me and I wrote it down in my journal. (I have been feeling a bit "undone" lately.)

Isaiah 6:5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts

Fast forward to school time and that dictionary. As dd was looking up "seraphic" our dictionary refered to Isaiah 6 (Gasp! she wasn't familiar with it). So we looked it up and it was at this moment that I recalled my prayer time! It's one of those connections that is special to you alone, because you know they are from God. You couldn't have planned it if you'd tried.

Some call it a "God thing", some call it a "God breeze", I like to call it a Jesus Deal.