Homeschool Wrap Up Week 4

 If there was one thing that I recommend for homeschoolers (or really any parents or grandparent) it is to read aloud to your children.  So much can be learned and enjoyed together by reading aloud!  Read books that leave them wanting more, eager to discuss what might happen next.  Read biographies on explorers, inventors, presidents, missionaries, etc.. Read poetry.  Read books they enjoy and books that they wouldn't pick for themselves but still can learn from.  Read some books just for pleasure and others to study.  Read to children when they can't read for themselves and continue reading for as long as you can. One of my favorite things about homeschooling has been reading aloud to my children.

We had a very productive week 4 in our homeschool!

Bible: We continued reading through 2nd Corinthians.

Read Aloud: We read 4 chapters of our YWAM biography on John Adams.  In the evening we continued reading from Memory Creek Ranch by Susan K. Marlow and the Hardy Boys.  There are two other books I am reading aloud right now but will include those with the subjects they go along with.

History: We completed Week 4 in The Mystery of History Vol 2 on Bar-Kokhba, The Apostles Creed,and  St. Valentine.

Geography: The girls and I started Our 50 States from Notgrass this week.  We did 3 lessons.  Each state has 2 lessons dedicated to that state.  For each lesson you read from the text (I read this aloud to them) and they complete a workbook page in their Atlas Workbook.  There are question in the lesson review book you can do if you wish.  There are musical selections for each state that you can listen to via a link ( We listened on my phone.)  You also have the option to add in recommended literature readings.  The first book is Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson.  We read one chapter a day after finishing the lesson.  There are also hands on optional activities for each lesson you can do.  

To go along with this, we are participating in a 50 states postcard swap that a homeschool friend recommended to me.  I have our postcards ordered and we will start sending cards in the order that we study the states.

Art History: We watched a HiGASFY video on Leonardo da Vinci.

Science: The boys are working independently through their Apologia Science courses.  The girls and I read about anemones in Zoology.

Nature Study: This week we talked about the different types of mini beasts: Arachnids, insects, annelids, etc... and the children sketched some that they found in the back yard.

Language Arts:  Christian and Anthony are using Excellence in Writing and completed lessons on dependent and independent clauses.  In literature they have been reading (and we have had some interesting discussions) The Wind in the Willows.

Lily is reading and working through her assignments on Dreamer.

I am reading The Boxcar Children aloud to Emmie (she loves this book!) and she is working through her language arts assignments based on the book.  This week was on contractions.

Math: Is going really well for the Teaching Textbooks group (Emmie, Lily, and Christian.)  We have had some struggles with Algebra 1 that has me trying to decide if we need to keep pushing forward for the ah ha! I got it moment, or accept temporary defeat and go backwards a bit.  We will see what this week brings....

Other Activities this Week

We had a LOT of rain this week!!! Pouring rain.  Liam was so excited on Thursday at lunchtime when the rain finally slowed down that he ran around the house telling everyone that the rain was finally stopping!  Poor baby it was raining so hard I would not let him out to help feed the animals.

Monday We had the babies.  I love the look on Willow's face when she spotted the tower.

The girls had gymnastics.

Wednesday we had Liam.  Willow was at a doctor check up.  He was so cute I gave the girls their books and got ready to start reading and he said, "Wait Mimi!  I need a book too!"  Aunt Lily to the rescue handed him a stack of papers and something to color with and that made him happy.

Friday the girls had their music lesson.  They are doing so well!

Emmie's pig has grown so much since we got that tiny pig (Nick's has too!)  We have one more show and then it will be time to sell her.  Nick's pig is scheduled to go to the butcher.  We also have to sell two of our goats after their last show.  Even though this is a part of raising livestock, it's not easy for some of us!

I hope you had a great week!

Happy Homeschooling!