a full week

Back to home education this week after a very nice summer indeed. We enjoyed the hot summer, well the second half was hot, first half was rain, an opportunity to take several day trips to zoo's beaches and historical places and just relaxing. It was time to get back to the books and computers and DVD's even video games . This week we started La Clase Divertida Spanish, Real Science 4 Kids Chemistry and Switched on Schoolhouse. All those were new to us. The Spanish was a hit, the science was mixed, the science experiment was just looking up ingredients on foods and products and then finding them on the periodic table. The Switched on Schoolhouse gave us computer troubles and impatience troubles. We also did some mapping and geography which gave us an opportunity to reminisce about trips taken this summer. Mapping was the summer part of our geography curriculum. Played a geography center game (Evan -Moor Geography centers 4th-6th), Started adding US States to a map. Some Nintendo ds games came in the mail My French Coach and Math Blaster, Not sure if the kids have tried them yet as they are mainly for car trips. Tristan got on the computer each day this week to use Explode the code online and Clicknread. Both of these are subscriptions which I find very helpful for kids learning to read and spell. Another new to us curriculum is A Reason for Handwriting. Just the right fit, short, simple to use, effective. I think this will be a good addition to our days or the younger three. Things we did not get started were Trevor's teaching company subjects. Still undecided is math, this is something Colin and Hayley (and maybe Tristan) were going to use Switched on Schoolhouse for. We had so many problems that the kids used leftover CLE books from last year on Thursday and Friday. I like the CLE but the kids sometimes think the lessons are long. I am thinking seriously of making a clean break and using all Math U See for the children's math and not switching any more. I need to simplify that subject and I have even had some levels given to me and some loaned. Things we planned but did not start this week are Latin, just didn't fit it in but ready to next week and Drawing Basics by Thomas Kincade, waiting on additional student books for that.

On the outside activities front. We started back to Park days with one homeschool group and met some new homeschoolers through a magic class sponsered by another homeschool group. Next week we head to Massachusetts for Animal Academy where the kids will learn how to care for, raise and rescue a variety of animals and then decide whether we can add another commitment, a homeschool 4H group starts up on Friday. The following week we start monthly mixed class days with a homeschool group. The classes my kids have chosen has changed and they wont have art now but will have Mad Science and a hands on wild animals and geography class.

In addition to all this we had all the usual animal care, the baby fish are doing well. We had drop in company and a little time in the pool, not much though, it's getting colder.

The week in pictures

Concentrating-Tristan's fine motor skills have improved greatly over the summer.

That littlest Pet Shop ad in there was given to me by Hayley as a hint for Christimas-with nearly every little pet on it circled as a wish list item! How many little pets does one need?!

What is really in these foods and cleaners and pool chemicals? Junk foods held the best possibilities for multiple hits on the periodic table!

Park Day

One, two, three, four (?) down the slide and then we go around again.

Magic

Tristan got to be a magicians helper, all my pictures came out so dark though!

A busy, yet not overwhelming week. I am so glad that we didn't sign up for anything that meets weekly or gives homework this year. Monthly or bi-monthly activities and being able to keep to our own curriculum choices and schedules work best for our family.