Weekly Wrap-up: Philosophizing with So-crates

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Nearly twenty years ago (can I really be old enough to start a sentence with that?), I endured  completed my one and only college course in philosophy.  I loathed that class, mostly because the professor announced on the first day that the Bible contradicts itself, anyone who believes in its inerrancy is a fool, and he intended to prove both points by the end of the semester.

Almost every time I returned to my dorm room after one of his lectures, I gave my roommate a speech of my own...

This stuff is from the pit.  Why do I need to learn these people's misguided thoughts, anyway?

Well, flash forward twenty years, and here I am, a middle-aged homeschool mom, trying to get my logical, straight-shootin', black-and-white thinking son to read Plato's The Last Days of Socrates.

I tried to set the stage for reading with an attention-getting opener.  We watched a family-friendly excerpt from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure on YouTube.  We laughed 'til our sides hurt as Ted impresses So-crates with his philosophizing:

Dust, Wind, Dude!

I thought I had captured Orville's attention with the antics of the Excellent Adventure, and we were ready to party on delve into the most excellent arguments of So-crates which he delivered during his heinous trial and in the hours before his most non-triumphant death as recounted by his student, Plato.   However, after a few pages, Orville sighed and yawned and lamented....

This stuff is from the pit.  Why do I need to study some wrong person's thoughts anyway?

If only he had said dead dude's thoughts, then I could have fully justified my hysterical laughter.

So we plodded through the book, and I helped him grasp the high points.  Most triumphant!  And along the way, I learned three things (Whoa!):

1. The apple does not fall far from the tree.  (Insert air guitar here.)
2. I don't enjoy philosophy any more than I did twenty years ago, even if I have matured enough to see the value in the study and try to explain its worth to my son.  Bogus!
3. If Socrates or Plato had been a student in my classroom, he would have spent much of his days in the corner for insubordination or just plain getting on my nerves.  But he probably would have liked that because it would have given him more time to think and philosophize.  Most Heinous!

Can you tell this book exhausted me?

Orville too.

Well, moving on... Orville finished Singapore 6A and will start 6B next week, learned how to use a semicolon properly, finished another IEW essay, and started learning to play Psalm 1 on the piano!!!

Wilbur received an A on an IEW essay for the 1st time!!!!!!  This is a HUGE accomplishment for him.  He was smiling from ear to ear, and his confidence received a big boost.

He also drew the pictures below which I think, granted I am biased, are excellent! 

Wilbur's drawing of Moses at the Red Sea

One of the locusts that plagued Egypt

Most excellent, if I may say so!

I am not a proud momma, am I?

Both boys worked together on a project for an international festival we will attend next week.  We also read a few chapters of Revelation together and finished The Silver Chair.  We will begin our reading of The Last Battle next week to coincide with our study of Revelation. 

And science fair project brainstorming is underway!

Laissez les bons temps roulez!  (Let the good times roll.)

Did I mention I am directing the science fair committee this year? 

Hello? 

What was I thinking??

Although, I would gladly teach science everyday for the rest of my life if it meant I never had to read Socrates', Plato's or any other pagan philosophizer's work again!

Except maybe Bill and Ted... nah!

Party on, Dudes!
Dawn

Weekly Wrap-up: Jää Jää Vauva

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That's pronounced "yah, yah, wah, wah."  At least that's how my high school friend from Finland told me to say it, and it's Finnish for "ice, ice baby."

Cause that's how our week started. 

You probably saw ATL on the news with all the trucks sliding around the interstates like they were skating rinks.  I don't live in metro Atlanta, but close enough that we had some skating rink streets, too.

Michael was home Monday and Tuesday, and given that we had the flu which developed into bronchitis for the duration of Christmas break, we decided that two days off while all members of the family were healthy wasn't such a bad idea.  Plus, I wanted my kids to experience what it's like to get to miss school because of snow.  That doesn't happen often in our part of the world!

We watched Prince Caspian and some Food Network shows we like.  We played games, especially the new Shut the Box game that one of the boys received from his aunt and uncle for Christmas.  It is such a simple but very fun and addictive game!

It finally felt like Christmas for us!

And I had just packed up the tree and decorations the day before!! lol

On Wednesday, Michael headed back to the salt mines zoo high school for work, and I cried as I waved goodbye.  Then I cracked open the lesson planner to find that we were a week and half behind schedule. 

When Orville broke his arm on Dec. 10th, I canceled school for the up-coming week.  Then there were the snow days....  So I made some quick adjustments to my plans and cracked the whip rang the school bell as my darlings groaned and moaned whistled while they worked.

I am teaching Omnibus this semester instead of Michael and have lived to recount the first three days.  Fortunately, Orville's assignment this week is Sophocles' Theban Trilogy which I actually read... 23 years ago.  After laughing about how I knew these works so well because I went to high school with Sophocles, Orville and I straightened up and had productive discussions.

And I learned something, too.

I had been required to read the three plays in the wrong order.  Antigone makes a lot more sense when you've previously read Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus. 

Michael has taken over the study of Narnia in the evenings as an exchange for Omnibus.  I would rather it remain the other way around, but alas, his schedule requires otherwise.  However, we have had a blast reading the Silver Chair together in the evening. 

And my friend, Molly, gave me the book Roar! for Christmas.  We've been using it as a fun comprehension guide and for conversation starters.  We are really enjoying it, and it has added a lot to our study.  Thanks, Molly!

Other than that, it's been a week of math, grammar, spelling, reading, history (we're finally finishing our unit on Ancient Egypt and planning our project for our homeschool association's international festival.  Be on the lookout for an Egypt post!), and NO SCIENCE!

I decided to drop General Science.  Teaching two different science curricula is just not something I can do, and I don't think GS offers enough practice work for good self-teaching.  Orville was making good grades on the tests, but he could not do the hands-on unassisted.  I was struggling to find time to help him, so he was just reading and taking the test, reading and taking the test.  I decided it would be in his best interest, and mine, just to drop it.  I am considering either teaching both boys GS next year, finding a paid class for Orville, or finding another curriculum that will fit our science needs a little better.  For now, I am supervising science fair projects which is still leading hands-on, but at a much slower pace as not to drive me up a wall.

That was our week.  How was yours?

Happy Schoolin'!
Dawn

Disclosure:  If you click the links to Amazon.com in this post or elsewhere on my blog and make a purchase, I will receive a commission.  I was not compensated for writing this post.

Weekly Wrap-up: The What Would You Do Edition

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In a nutshell, we're on track with all subjects... except for science.

Surprise.  Surprise.  Surprise.

3 modules completed.  18 modules in all to complete.  1/2 a school year down.

I may stink at science, but my math skills are good enough to crunch those numbers and know that we have a problem on our hands. 

I know Orville will complete modules 4 and 5 by Christmas.  I doubt we will have time for more.  Completing those 2 modules would keep him working at the established pace, devoting the same number of days each week to science.  I doubt during the busy holiday season that we will be able to add in more science time.

So, the way I see it two things must happen.

1. After Christmas, science gets bumped way up on our priority list- from a 3-times-per-week subject to a five-days-per week priority.
2. We need to be prepared to continue science classes into the summer.

However, I am open to suggestions.  What would you do???

The other big issue this week has been bullying and name calling.

We have been meeting Tutoring Student at the playground twice each week.  The boys and TS have a great time and get along just great.  However, because he is public schooled, we have to meet after ps hours, and the playground is teeming with a variety of personalities. 

The boys have encountered many children this week who have taken issue with them for a number of reasons...being homeschooled, being short, wearing glasses, being socially different, etc.  In part, it has been an issue of "kids being kids".  In part, the kids just don't get our counter-cultural ways, and the boys are reaching a place in their lives that they must face that uncomfortable decision to fit in without compromising or just not fit in.

They have been called an assortment of names this week.  The playground kids have also tried to get the boys to do things that are against our family rules.  When the boys would not comply, they were once again teased and called an assortment of names.

Okay...

1. I see the silver lining in this.  They are obedient even in the midst of provocation.  We have been reading Proverbs this month, and the applications at the playground have been quite obvious, even to my 10 and 11 year olds.
2. We are raising them to be prepared to "speak with the enemy at the gate".  I don't want you to think that I consider children to be the "enemy"; however, this is the type of practice and training the boys need to grow to be men of integrity, filled with grace and wisdom, ready to give an answer for what they believe and to counter lies with the Truth.

However, who called whom what and "how do I deal with this?" have been almost constant topics of discussion around here.  The boys have bombarded me with hard questions this week.  I have to admit that earlier in the week, mostly because I was tired, didn't want to have to deal with this type of issue, and hoped it would just go away, I gave the "turn the other cheek" and just ignore it answer.  But that did not satisfy them nor did it properly equip them when the name calling continued. 

We have had more talks and made an action plan, but I'm still interested...

What would you do?  Leave a comment or send me an email.  I'm all ears.
Dawn

Weekly Wrap-up: Drowning in Soap!

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Help!

I'm up to my ears in soap!!

There are two weeks left until the crafts fair at the local mall where I will sell my soapy creations.  Last year, we had a teeny, tiny little sale at a neighborhood church.  We were hit by a monsoon that night (not really- we don't get monsoons in Georgia, but you know what I mean), and almost no one came.  I still managed to sell about 200 bars.

This year we scheduled to set up at the mall on the day of an entrepreneurial expo and when Santa arrives.  I imagine the mall will be a happenin' place that day and that I may sell a lot of soap.

Which means I have to make A LOT of soap.

I am making cupcake soap, gingerbread soap, ducky soap, Christmas tree soap, snowflake soap, soccer ball soap, froggy soap,  soapy bands (kind of like soap on a rope but with silly bands instead of rope), sugar plum fairy soap, soap bars, soap balls, soap....

This could go on forever.

I'm kinda like the Bubba of the soap world.

Bubba Gump Soap Company... Momma always said  life is like a bar of soap- you never know what kind of  mess you'll have to clean up next.

Anyhoo, what I'm trying to say is that this week has been all about the soap.  We are all very clean, and the house smells wonderful.

What's that?

Oh, you came here to read about homeschool.

Oh yes, forgive me.  Well, let's see... we kept up with the basics.  That would be Omnibus for Orville, Rod and Staff for Wilbur, DGP, History, Math, and Latin for both. 

We also did 3 science experiments!!!  And I took pictures with my loaner camera.  However, the software for it would not install on my computer.

VISTA...nuf said.

So even though I took pictures of the cardboard boat race that transpired in our bathtub, once again I have nothing visual to share.  

And the boat race involved SOAP!

Boat soap...

now, there's an idea....

We did take a day off from school on Tuesday for Wilbur's birthday, and he ate almost half a package of Oreos while he and Orville watched Toy Story 3.  We had not gone to see it in the theater.  I'm sorry to say that we couldn't get a second mortgage so we could pay the cost of admission.  So our kids had to wait for DVD.  It was an exciting day!

Maybe if I sell enough soap in two weeks, we will be able to see The Voyage of the Dawn Treader at the theater.

Boat soap, so we can go see a movie about a boat!

Oh, never mind.  I better get back to the soap.  I seem to have soap on the....

...brain soap???

I wonder if anyone would...

...nah!

Happy Soapin'!
Dawn

Weekly Wrap-up: An Unintentional Horseback Ride, Ancient Egypt, The Orthodontist, and (you guessed it) More Soap

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If you read my Wednesday Weigh-in (or the title of this post), you are probably wondering how one rides a horse unintentionally.  Well, to answer that, my weekly wrap-up has to begin where last week's left off. 

And I quote...

...As I type this, they (the boys) are completing their independent work. After it is complete, Wilbur will help me make more soap, and Orville is going to help Nohnie with her grocery shopping.


I should have said "Lord willing" because that is SO not what happened!

The boys did finish their IP (that's what I call independent work- a hold over from my days as a public school teacher) and Orville left for the store with Nohnie.  Wilbur and I started our soaping, and just as we poured the first batch into the molds, the phone rang.

It was the Tutoring Student's father.  He wanted to take the boys to a nearby farm for a ride on a horse and games.  I knew where he meant.  We have been there once before, and on that day, the horse rides had been for kids only and consisted of a short ride around a field.

I explained to the dad that Orville would not be able to go but Wilbur could.  I am paying Wilbur to help me with soap making, but decided I would excuse him from an afternoon's work.  I just couldn't turn down such a generous offer or risk hurting the feelings of such sweet people.  What I didn't understand at the time (language barrier) was that they wanted me to come along, too, and that the horse rides were for all of us.

So, because I love my student and his family, I got on a horse, thinking we would ride around the field and be done in a few minutes. 

But our ride was not just around the field.  We rode the entire property.  It was a lovely ride.  The weather was cool, and there were lots of birds out.  It was a great experience.

But OUCH!

And once we hit the trail, there was no turning back.  I wasn't sure how to explain sciatica to my Korean friends, either, so I grabbed the reigns and prayed.

The rest of the week we turned our attention to Ancient Egypt.  This week has been reading and research week which will probably extend into next week.  Then we will get to projects and hands-on activities.  Our support group holds an International Festival each January.  This year our family intends to represent Egypt, with a focus on the ancient period.  That means we have to get busy now preparing our board and presentation.

I have a loaner camera now.  THANKS MOM!  I should be able to add more pictures back to the blog soon and show you some of our Egypt work.

We visited the orthodontist on Wednesday.  One of the boys needs extensive work to be done over the next few years.  One has some minor corrections that need to be made.  Overall, the consultation was not as taxing as I thought it would be.  I imagined it being like a high-pressure sales pitch with the outcome being get your kids braces or you're a horrible parent.  However, it was not like that at all, and the orthodontist was very helpful and offered treatment options.  I left the appointment feeling well-informed and ready to make rational decisions.  That was a big answer to prayer.

Be on the look-out for pictures of boys with braces in about six months.

Today (Friday), I am seated at my computer, typing this wrap-up while the boys once again finish their IP.  We plan to finish that work and open up the soap shop, Lord Willing!! 

But we'll see.

'Cause round here, you just never know!

Maybe this week we'll round up the chickens that have been roaming our downtown neighborhood.

Yes, really.

Chickens.

Downtown.

I can't say why....

Happy Schooling!
Dawn

Weekly Wrap-up: Birdless Bird Watching, Morning Devotions, Cavities, Chronic Pain, & More Soap

See Jamie Blog is hosting the wrap-up this week.

My husband had the day off from work again on Monday, so we decided to do a little bird watching.  I have no pictures to share because

• A.  The camera died at Six Flags.
• 2.  We only saw a cormorant.

Of course, I couldn't walk much because of my sciatica pain.  I gave up walking longs trails months ago anyway.  I am fearful that I will get about a mile into the woods and have a severe flare up and not be able to walk back or call for help and be stuck there forever, forced to survive on pine cones and acorns.

Although that might be a good diet strategy, I'm not sure it's the lifestyle for me.

So we stay close to the parking lot.  Sometimes the birds are there in force, eating crumbs left by picnickers or fishing in the water, but not Monday.  It was a nice day to be outside, though, with cool temps and bright sunshine, and we had a good time together as a family.

Tuesday was a good, normal school day.  I did make one change to our school plan.  In years past, I have always started the school day with Scripture reading and Psalm or hymn singing.  This year, Michael and I decided to have the boys read through the New Testament independently instead.  We want them to learn to be responsible for their devotion time and not always rely on one of us to do the reading for them. 

But I have really missed that time together.  So I started reading from Proverbs on Tuesday.  I couldn't quite get the balance right to do that reading and have them continue to read independently.  That's a goal for next week... to do both. 

I need a sound effects player for Wednesday.  Since I don't, imagine an ominous, descending BA-BA-BUUUH,  if you would please.

I had to go to the dentist for my first filling ever! 

I'll admit it.  I was scared. 

But they shot me full of some kind of something to numb my mouth, and I think it had a little something mixed in to relax me. 

'Cause I went from visibly shaking to blissfully relaxed in a matter of a few seconds. 

However, my mouth felt swollen and weird all day and coupled with sciatica and pain from a neuroma in my foot, and I wasn't doing so hot that afternoon.  We met our Korean friends at the playground after school, and before I could explain that I didn't feel well, my sweet friend said that I did not look well and offered to take care of the kids until 5:30 so that I could go home and rest.

Now, I have a lot of really good friends irl and I could have called on any one of them to help me that day and they would have gladly done so.  But how thankful I am for such a blessed friendship... one I entered into to serve and yet God has been pleased to provide a new friend, not just an employer, and to create a spirit of reciprocity.  I am very thankful!

On Thursday, I did school from bed.  I had reached the point that the pain was winning and I am learning that when I reach that point, it is time to find a soft surface and stretch out... for as long as I can.  I have a back-up school plan for those types of days that I think I will start another post about.  Lord willing, there might even be a series in that... Schooling with Pain, or something like that.

Friday morning I woke up feeling great!  The rest helped.  Praise the Lord! 

I took the boys to their last tennis lesson for this session (however, they're starting a new session next week).  Then we went swimming (I got in two sessions this week!).  As I type this, they are completing their independent work.  After it is complete, Wilbur will help me make more soap, and Orville is going to help Nohnie with her grocery shopping.

Oh, and sometime this week I found out that I have received a few nominations for Best Encourager again this year in the Homeschool Blog Awards!  Thank you to those who have nominated me!! Get ready to vote.  Maybe, Lord willing, this will be my year!!!

Happy Homeschooling!
Dawn

Weekly Wrap-up: Global Warming, Passing Out, a Surprise Pizza (or two), Eyeglasses and Lost in ATL

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I needed to find a phonebooth this week so I could make a quick change into Superwoman, but phonebooths are, to my chagrin, a thing of the past.  So, instead, I donned my denim jumper and, by God's grace, did the best I could.

Monday started with a flute lesson.  My student mastered her part of a duet, and we played together for her mother, one of my best friends.  Student and Mom are very special to me, and moments like those make me so glad I teach her.

Then the boys and I plowed through school.  They finished their work before lunch in order to make the monthly 4-H meeting.  Global warming was the topic for the month, and some interesting questions were posed on the way home.  We now have a new research topic and have spent some time reading AIG articles in order to be better prepared to give an answer as to what we believe.

That evening, I led the next hsa meeting.  We listened to 24 Hours Is All You Get by Susan Bradrick.  I will have more to write about this soon in my Round about the Table segments.  My posts are about a month behind what we are doing in person. 

If you haven't taken part in my meme, you're not alone.  Only Kellie provided answers to the intro questions, and her response is worth the few minutes it will take you to read it.  F-U-N-N-Y!  Thanks, Kellie!

On Tuesday, the boys packed their school bags, and we travelled to Nohnie's house.  She had taken seriously ill in the middle of the night and had passed out.  Fortunately, my dad caught her before she fell to the floor, preventing her from landing on and reinjuring her recently repaired kneecap.  I spent the day nursing her back to health before I left to tutor after public schools dismissed.

Wednesday we worked double time on All about Spelling, IEW, Science, Latin, and lit.  We completed our reading of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.  I had a sore throat again from reading in character, particularly reading as the White Witch.  She's really loud!

We met one of my Korean students at the playground that afternoon. Afterward, he and his mother came to my house.  She is a precious, kind, tender-hearted lady, and we had so much fun looking at the family pictures displayed around my house and talking about family and homeschool.  Her English is improving a little at a time, and I am thankful the Lord has brought us together to be friends. 

Her son ate dinner with us and accompanied us to church that night.  He had so much fun.  In the sanctuary, Wilbur helped him turn to the right page numbers in the hymnal and Psalter and enjoyed being the older one for a change.  Then the kids went upstairs, and Student studied the Catechism for Young Children and mastered Q and A number 1!  All the kids received him warmly, and he didn't want to leave church. 

When we arrived home, his precious mother had arrived before us and was holding two large pizzas, one for Orville and one for Wilbur.  That was so sweet it almost made me cry.

Okay, you got me.

I did cry.  I was very touched.

On Thursday the boys packed their school bags again and completed their independent work in the lobby of the optometrist's office while I had my annual eye exam.

The diagnosis?

I'm getting old. 

New glasses are on their way.  Maybe I'll make fewer typos next week.

Probably not, but one can hope.

Afterward, we went to the pool for a make-up swimming session, returned home for lunch, and then started reading The Horse and His Boy.  I think I'm having as much fun with this lit study as the kids.

But my throat hurts again from reading with a horse's voice.

You could say that horse made me hoarse.

*chuckle, chuckle, snort, snort*

MY HUSBAND HAD THE DAY OFF FROM WORK ON FRIDAY!

Nohnie felt well enough to let the boys stay with her for, ahem, what was supposed to be a few hours while Michael and I drove to the other side of Atlanta to use rebate checks we received after buying a new mattress a few months ago.  Because I forgot on Thursday night that Michael had the day off and planned for a day of school, I didn't think to print directions to the store which is in an area we only go to when we shop at that particular store...specifically when we bought the first mattress and today.

When I awoke to the realization that today was the day we had planned this little trek, I shifted into overdrive, and we left without a map.

Then we got lost in downtown ATL.

For an hour.

That's when I called Orville who got online and found directions for us.

We used the rebate to buy a mattress for Wilbur, and the nice guys at the store loaded it into our van from which all chairs, save the front two, had been removed (thus the reason the boys had to stay with Nohnie).  We followed Orville's directions in reverse, missed an exit, and GOT LOST IN DOWNTOWN ATL FOR THE SECOND TIME!!

FOR ANOTHER HOUR AND A HALF!!!!

On the plus side, I now know how to get to The High Museum, The Federal Reserve Building, Emory Midtown, The Varsity, Piedmont Park, Georgia Tech, The Cyclorama, Turner Field, Zoo Atlanta, the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola and the state capitol building.

It's really a beautiful city with lots of great things to do.  But, people, once you get off the interstate, there is no getting back on.

At least not in the right direction, that is.

Seriously.  If you come down here for a visit, make sure you A. have a GPS system, B. an up-to-date map of the city, or C. don't get off I-85.

Thank you.

Or you're welcome.

And that's a wrap.

Blessings,
Dawn

Weekly Wrap-up: Birthday Parties, Dentist Appointments, a Zombie Teacher, Science Dilemmas and a Whole Bunch of Soap

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This was an off-week for us.

Not as in we took the week off from school, but as in there were so many disruptions that we might as well have taken a break.

Monday, we started our day with swimming.  My new weight-loss plan includes swimming twice per week, and we are blessed to have a membership to a recreation center with an indoor Olympic-sized pool.  My mom joins us since her PT plan includes water exercises.  I managed to tread water for 30 minutes.  Hooray!  We were off to a good start. 

Then we went to a birthday party for one of the boys' friends.  He is a fellow homeschooler and former soccer teammate.  It was a beautiful day, and we all had fun at the party; however, by the time we returned home, there was only time for Omnibus (Orville), Rod and Staff (Wilbur), math, and grammar.  I call these our school staples, and when we are rushed, sick, or facing an unusual schedule, this is what must be done.

Also, Orville read the next science experiment in his General Science text and told me it couldn't be accomplished.  I told him that I would look at it later and we would see about that.

Tuesday was the most "normal" school day this week.  The boys completed all of their subjects, and we were completely engrossed while reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.  All of us have read this book before.  We have seen the BBC production about a zillion times and the Disney/Walden movie at least a dozen, yet we could read the original work over and over again.

I got to the bottom of the science experiment dilemma.  Orville needed a working flashlight which I quickly found and handed to him.  Problem solved! (or so I thought)

The boys also chose writing projects for unit 2 of History Revealed, and we made a library run for research materials and tutoring materials.  Orville chose to write about Sumer, and Wilbur is writing a paper about the Egyptian pyramids.  He is also working on a drawing that compares the Great Pyramid to the Ziggurat of Ur and the Pyramid of the Sun.  Both were supposed to be completed today but are still works in progress because....

Wednesday was Orville's birthday.  Now, being the mean  goal-oriented mom that I am, I made him complete school work on his birthday.  But just the essentials that I listed on Monday.  And I mostly had him do that work so he would be occupied while I baked cupcakes for his celebration dinner.  So when the cupcakes were baked and the independent work was graded, we left for the playground for a playdate with one of my tutoring students.  We have agreed to meet them twice each week to play in addition to tutoring sessions so he can be immersed in English.

Later we headed to Wal*Mart so Orville could use the gift card sent by his paternal grandparentsThen we went to dinner with Papaw and Nohnie (my parents) and my student joined us.  Orville purposefully picked a southern cooking restaurant because he thought my student needed the experience.  Tutee, however, seemed to be quite familiar with fried chicken, and we had a lot of fun celebrating Orville's special day.

Oh, and did you read about my present?  I lost 4.4 pounds!

Oh, and Orville returned the flashlight and again insisted he could not complete the experiment.  I told him I would look at it with him later.

Thursday was one of those days that if I could erase it from my memory, I would.  We had dentist appointments which took the entire morning.  Need I say more?  Well... maybe a bit.  Just that I don't like going to the dentist.  I really don't like taking the boys to the dentist.  And in a few weeks I have to take them for a consultation with an orthodontist, and we're going to have to make hard decisions about braces. 

I was zombie teacher for the rest of the day.  Wondered how I was going to work that in, didn't you? 

Another day of basics for the boys, tutoring afterward, and praying for the grace to recover from a difficult day and wisdom for Michael and me to know what really is best for our boys and whether they really NEED braces or if it is just what our culture mandates.

And the later I had promised for that science experiment never arrived, but I insisted Orville try it anyway and see what would come of it.

Friday started with tennis lessons and then another 45 minutes at the pool.  We returned home for an early lunch, a full school day (I tried hard to make up for the lost time this week), and another playdate with Tutee.

Somewhere in the middle, I asked Orville if he had completed the experiment.

Nope.

Because (and this is what he had been trying to communicate since Monday and somehow I just didn't get it) the experiment required breaking the only working flashlight we own.  Apparently, Michael and I are serious about keeping that flashlight in working order, and Orville knew better than to touch it. 

We decided to skip science this week. 

And that experiment.

Sorry, Dr. Wile.

And last, but not least, a HUGE package was at my front door when I arrived home from the playdate.  Inside were all the materials I ordered for soap "making".  I'm not really making soap but scenting and forming a pre-made soap base into novelty soaps to sell for the holidays.  I had a great time smelling all my new fragrance oils.

Then I opened the bottle of vanilla color stabilizer, thinking it might smell yummy, too. 

It didn't.

I felt like a stink bomb went off inside my head and I almost passed out. 

Good thing school was done for the week, else it would have been the return of Zombie Teacher!

Ha!  I worked it in twice!!

Happy Schooling!
Dawn

Weekly Wrap-up: Phew!

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Eveyone join in with me...

Take a deep breath in...

Now exhale...

Ahhhh....

The month-long marathon is over.  Monday brought the end of the extra, extra busy season as I led the kick-off meeting for our local homeschool association.  I spent most of that day working on my notes and making sure all the member packets were in order.  The boys got to take the day off from school, except for Orville's Omnibus assignments.  He only gets out of those when he is really sick and shows exceeding kindness toward his mother.

On Tuesday, the boys spent the day with my mom.  They had stayed with her Monday evening so that Michael could join me and the homeschool group for dinner before the meeting.  She generously offered to keep them overnight and the next day so that I could take a day to decompress.

What did I do with that day?

I was up early.  I couldn't sleep.  I think my body was so used to the pace of the past month that I was struggling to unwind.  So, I went to the high school to have lunch with Michael and helped him hang maps and flags and charts.  His room is very festive now!  Ole!!

On Wednesday, the boys were back home, and we added two new subjects, Harmony Fine Arts and a literature study of The Chronicles of Narnia.  Very few things have captured my boys' attention as much as these two studies.

We completed week one of HFA grade 5 which focuses on the ancients.  The books and coloring assignments were enjoyed by all.  I would like to insert some pictures of their work here but don't have time to deal with the scanner.  I had to give my cupboards some attention today and that took up most of my free time.  I'll post some of their work after I get caught up on the home front.

In our Narnia studies, we switch turns reading.  This gives me a chance to assess the boys' reading fluency and to model good reading for them, along with all the other benefits of a read-aloud, without having to work in a specific title just for that purpose.  We have started with The Magician's Nephew and are reading chronologically, according to the Narnia timeline. Wow!  We are all captivated!  I have to admit I have never read this particular book. 

Shocking, I know.

I have to say, it may end up being my favorite of the series.  We'll see.  The important part is that the boys are LOVING it.  The comprehension guide from Veritas has made the discussion of each chapter (we only read one each day) really easy.  I also read the commentary in Omnibus I written by Douglas Wilson before we began our first reading.  It has served as an interpretetive guide of sorts and is helping me teach the relevant theology and worldview.

On Thursday, the boys began work on their final projects for the first unit of History Revealed.  Wilbur made a clay model of Noah, the altar, and some of the clean and unclean animals. He will give an oral report tonight for Michael and me.  Orville chose to compose a song about the days of creation.  It is actually his own composition and not a piggy-back song as I suggested.  I'm not sure how sound it is musically, but I'm thrilled he is willing to take on such a challenge.  He has been practicing all afternoon and is unhappy that he does not know how to transcribe his composition.  He is afraid he will forget it.  I guess I need to look into some music theory lessons for him....

Today, I worked one-on-one with Wilbur.  He is coming along well with math, reading, spelling, and writing.  Writing in particular was a problem area for him last year.  I have started him on IEW, taking very small steps.  When we began three weeks ago, we watched the part of the student videos where Mr. Pudewa teaches how to write a key word outline.  That is all I have focused on for three weeks.  Today, we watched how to restate each sentence and then write.  So far, so good.  My goal is to take baby steps and build confidence.

My dear Orville has spent most of the day catching up on his Omnibus work.  He conveniently forgot to take his book with him to my parents' house Monday evening.  Once home on Tuesday, he could not find Monday's assignment, completed before leaving for my parents' house, to give to his dad for grading and discussion.  So, Wed. through today have been catch-up days.  Sadly, he is going to have to do "Saturday school" tomorrow to competely finish.  I am praying he learns a good lesson about responsibility!  Like I said before, he is a sinner saved by grace, just like all of us who are in Christ.  Sometimes the fruit is lovely, and other times the lessons are hard. 

Next week we start Science.  I'm sure you can hear the squeals of joy wherever you are.  That would be Wilbur, not me. 

Blessings,
Dawn 

p.s.  I'm sorry for the pictureless posts lately.  My camera still hasn't dried out.  I have decided I need a new one and am holding out for a really good one.  I have started saving (hint, hint, wink, wink family members who are wondering what to get me for Christmas and would like to contribute).  LOL, aren't blogs great things?

Weekly Wrap-up: Thank You

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Olive Plants has the best readers ever.

Thank you for all your kind emails and comments last week in response to the No-Good, Rotten Week.  When you feel like you're walking through a field of land mines, encouraging words help a lot.

Michael and I taught our last English classes this week.  I hope to write a post soon and share some details.  For now, I will just say that it was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life.  The boys share my sentiments.  Even though they had to complete their school work while Michael and I taught, they made many friends.  They even got in a game of foosball or two or twelve when their work was complete.

This was another week of school being done at a rapid-fire pace, so fast I can't recall it all.  I do know that Orville read an edited version of Gilgamesh.  Michael did the editing.  There's a hysterical back story there that I will have to save for another day....

He also read Til We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis.  To my delight, Michael is handling the discussions and grading associated with the Omnibus studies.  I am blissfully ignorant! 

Wilbur has been acting so grown up, doing his work in a timely manner and without complaint.  I share that not to brag, but to praise the Lord!  Last year was the year of "I can't! It's too hard" and feet dragging.  His attitude toward his work was a constant focus of our prayer, and we are rejoicing in some changes the Lord is making in him. 

The one hands-on activity of the week completely flopped.  Wilbur bought a pottery wheel with some of his early birthday money.  As a history assignment, he and Orville were supposed to create a piece of art in the "style" of the ancients.  They both wanted to try out the pottery wheel and make a clay pot.

Pottery wheel is now a bad term in our home.

That's all I have to say about that.

I'm still loving Diana Waring's History though.  There have been some really good moments, even last week.  I feel a review coming on.  I'll wait until we have completed a few units though.

On the disaster front, Michael's car was fixed.  Two weeks earlier than anticipated.  And it was not too expensive.  Cheap enough that we felt it better to fix than take on a car payment.  The credit issues are almost resolved.  The charges were removed, but it turns out the purchases were made in New Zealand and our credit card company charged us a foreign currency exchange fee.  We had to contest that and are waiting for a "ruling".

The Emory docs said that my dad will be fine on meds and do not want him to undergo ablation.  Praise the Lord!  My mom's knee surgery is scheduled for Sept. 3.  Thank you for your prayers.

Thank you also for your particularly kind words about my sweet Orville and his act of maturity last week.  I feel that I must inform you that he is a sinner saved by grace and the sweetness that he displayed toward me last week was the sweetness of Christ.  Even though he is just a boy, he is being transformed by the Holy Spirit, and He deserves the praise above Orville, Michael, or me. 

I have one more big event, and then life should return to something sort of resembling normal.  I have worked like crazy all day today getting materials together for hsa member packets.  The kick-off meeting is Monday, and I almost have it all ready to go.  Pray also for a successful meeting and for God's blessing as I serve this great group of ladies this year.

Blessings,
Dawn   

Weekly Wrap-up: Dawn and the Absolutely, Positively, Horrible, Rotten, No-Good Week

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I'm late getting my wrap-up posted in part because this week has afforded very little time for writing, but also because I tried to write it a couple times yesterday and had to trash each draft.  It has been a week of difficulties, and I felt like every post I composed sounded like a big complaining session.  So, please allow me to try one more time, and as you read, know that though I am weary, I am not defeated.

It all started last Saturday....

I quickly moved a load of laundry from the washer to the drier and started a new load washing.  Then I left for the grocery store.  Not one minute after I pulled out of the driveway, the drier started smoking and then it died.  Thankfully, Michael was home and maneuvered quickly to prevent disaster (think house burning down).  Also, my mother graciously loaned me the use of her drier that evening so I could get those 2 wet loads dried.

By Saturday night, Mysterious Invalid Syndrome (MISy) struck.  This is what I call my chronic pain now since the doctors cannot come up with a diagnosis.  It was probably triggered by all the running I had to do that day, and I was aching from head to toe with stabbing pains in my back and shooting pains that ran from my hip to my ankle.  By Sunday, I needed my cane to walk because I could not put full pressure on my right leg without wanting to grab an ax and chop it off to make the pain stop.

Okay, a bit of hyperbole there.  But you get the point.

Monday morning MISy had subsided.  I know I should consider that a good thing.  I was glad not to have to suffer all week, but I still fought discouragement because I can never manage to get to the doctor when I'm really hurting.  I would like for a medical professional to see me at my worst, just once, so they will see that this is not all in my head, or depression, or just a vitamin D deficiency. 

On Tuesday, we received a call from our credit card issuer.  They wanted to know if we had donated $8.71 to the Blood and Leukemia Foundation.  No, we hadn't.  Then they asked if we had spent $800 at the local marina.

Um... no.

We hadn't spent $800 on anything, not even the new drier, and certainly not at the marina.  The next few hours were spent sorting through all our finances, closing accounts, changing passwords, filing reports to contest the charges, yada, yada, yada....

Eventually we had to break from it all to go teach English, which has continued to go very well and be a blessing to us and the Korean families.  In fact, I have been asked to continue tutoring two of my students through the school year, a financial blessing for us and an opportunity to continue to labor among the Korean community.  All good.

On the way home, however, Michael's car started chugging.  As he turned into our driveway, it started to stall and died just as he got to his parking spot.

On Wednesday morning, Orville woke up at 4 a.m. with a stomach virus.  I cried my eyes out when I woke up at 6:30 to find him in the bathroom miserable and found out that he had decided not to wake me up.  His explanation... "Mom, you hurt worse when you don't get the right amount of sleep.  I didn't think I was sick enough to make it harder on you.  I managed alright... I mean, I am almost 11."

He got the day off from school.

Thursday was Michael's first day back to work.  He managed to get his car started so we could take it to the mechanic, then I carted him to work.  I came back home to do make up work and normal school and then off to teach English.  Then I had to come home and prepare for Wilbur's BIG birthday party... make the cake, get the crafts together, etc.   Then back to the high school to get M and back home to fix dinner and finish party plans. 

Friday was actually the most relaxing day because of the party.  I was incredibly busy supervising crafts, handing out cake, keeping cups filled, and doing the work of a hostess.  But it was a break from headaches which I was thankful to have.  The party went really well, and everyone had a really good time, especially the birthday boy.  Posts are in the works.

Also, my dad underwent cardioversion this week in hopes of correcting arrhythmia.  It was unsuccessful.  He is okay, and we're waiting for reports from other specialists to determine what the next step is.  My mom saw her orthopedist about a persistant knee problem.  For those of you who don't already know, my mom had polio as a child and her left leg is paralyzed.   The problem is with the right knee and it is going to need surgery.  We are still waiting for details and feel a bit apprehensive about surgery on her "working" leg.  I appreciate your prayers for both my parents.

Oh, and somewhere in there we did school.  I know that's what these wrap-ups are supposed to focus on, but honestly, I don't really remember what we did this week school-wise.  I just know it got done.  By God's grace, it got done.

If you're still reading at this point, you've probably noticed that this week was the polar opposite of last week.  But what I have to say in summary is exactly the same.  God gives strength to the weary.  He is teaching us to live contently whether abased or abound for it is through Christ Jesus that we can do all things.  We give Him praise for the "unpleasant" times as well as the "good" and know that "It is of Jehovah's lovingkindness that we are not consumed, because His compassions they fail not.  They are new every morning.  Great is His faithfulness."  Lam 3:22-23  

Blessings,
Dawn

Weekly Wrap-up: Our First Week of School

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Improper fractions...

Exponents and variables....

Transitive and intransitive verbs...

Contemplating sovereign grace...

And defining the word "pickle" to students with limited English knowledge.

That pretty much sums up this week, the first one of our new homeschool year.

Michael and I began our jobs teaching English last week and technically school started for the boys then.  They worked in summer bridge workbooks and read while M and I taught our Korean students.  However, this was the first week that we cracked open the new books.  And wow!  Those books contained some doozies of lessons in them.  I said more times than I can count on my fingers and toes, "When did my baby get big enough to do THIS?!"

Each morning the boys and I began the school day at 7 a.m. with Bible reading and chores.  By 9 a.m. we began our group lessons.  I decided to stagger the introduction of subjects this year since I have the added responsibility of teaching English (you can read the plan at the bottom of the blog), so in our group lessons, we only began history this week.  I spent the remainder of the time working one-on-one with each boy, going over his DGP and math work from the previous day and preparing him for his individual work to be completed later in the day. 

Because I have used Singapore Math for 5 years and DGP for 3 years, I did not do any lesson planning before teaching either subject.  We have an established pattern with both of these curricula, and I don't need to do much beforehand to be prepared to teach from them.

At least that's what I thought....

When I opened the 6A textbook and saw the first unit title, "Algebraic Expressions", I nearly passed out!  Now, Singapore Math stresses algebraic thinking.  Always has.  But there's a difference between "algebraic thinking" and setting up an actual equation and solving for x, or y, or p, or whatever.  All I can say is I am really glad Singapore has emphasized developing that type of thinking from day one because I was totally caught off guard.  Orville, however, sailed through the unit, and I take absolutely no credit.  Thank you, Singapore!

Then I opened his 6th grade DGP book and had to go grab a paper bag for breathing exercises.  There are slight changes to the format each year as the grammar advances, but the step from 5th to 6th seemed like more of a leap.  I found myself explaining transitive and intransitive verbs, predicate adjectives and nouns, direct and indirect objects, and dependent clauses... among other things.  I heard the voice of my 8th grade English teacher echoing in my mind many times this week.  She was my grammar Yoda, and I could hear her whispering to me...  use the Brown Book, Dawn, use the Brown Book.

Speaking of my 8th grade English teacher, I sure hope she never reads this blog....

I don't have time to stand at the blackboard to rewrite and fix my mistakes 50 times each.

And I make a lot of them on here.

Like I just started a sentence with a conjunction.

And I just started a sentence with "like" and treated an independent clause as a complete sentence by ending it with a period....

And...

... oh, this blog would bleed should she ever edit it because she is just that good.  Please forgive me for not living up to my potential, Mrs. Quarles, and thank you for preparing me for this week.  :)

Moving on....  

By 11:30, we were done with history, math, and grammar and took a break for lunch.  I let the boys enjoy some play time while I worked on other "stuff" (I'm too tired to think of  a better word), like lesson plans (both for home and English), an upcoming bday party, and homeschool association (here it comes again...) "stuff".  At 1:30, we left for English school.

While Michael and I taught our Korean students, the boys completed their independent work.  For Wilbur this included math, Rod and Staff reading, cursive writing practice, Shorter Catechism memory work, DGP, and anything else M or I want to include (like memorizing math facts).  Orville completed his Ominbus reading which took most of the three hour block.  This week he studied the book of Genesis, reading the entire book in one week.  He also read Chosen by God, by R.C. Sproul, as his secondary reading assignment and completed a math page, his DGP daily assignment, cursive practice, and Shorter Catechism practice each day. 

By 4:30 we were all back home.  We prepared and ate dinner and cleaned up.  Then Michael led Orville in the discussion portion of his Omnibus study while I listened in and graded papers, we had family worship, and everyone completed the final chores of the day.  If the boys completed all the work and responsibilities by 8 p.m., we allowed them to play on the computer or watch a video while I did more grading/planning/association stuff before bed at 9 p.m. This is when I gave lots of kisses, tucked everyone in (including all the plush toy birds), and crawled to my bed myself.

All silliness and joking aside, God has blessed us this week.  He has blessed our abilities to teach and to learn and given us the grace needed moment by moment to meet each new challenge.  He has given me the strength to do more than my achy, tired body should be able to do.  Our home has not been filled with busy-ness this week but with purposed living. The joy of all the fruitful work, discussions, reading, teaching, and living is hard to describe and I could ramble on for hours if I began to try.  I will, however, give the Lord praise for the work He is doing in and through us and pray that He alone is glorified through our work in our home and community.

I will end by quoting a well-know Bible passage that came up in our studies frequently this week and sums up our week nicely....

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. 

Isaiah 40: 29-31

Blessings,
Dawn