Saturday, October 25, 2008

David Catches a Rainbow Trout

Finally, a fish! After months of trying David took this small but beautiful Rainbow Trout today at North Fork reservoir. Way to go David! We'll cook it up as a snack tomorrow.



This was probably our last fishing outing this year since most of the lakes are closing their season in a couple of days.

Season score: David - 1, Dad - 0

Learning to Cut Paper

Miriam is learning to use her little scissors.  She was under strict instructions to only, ever, cut paper.  I have enough experience to know that she will eventually try them out of her hair but I have to say it, right?



Although I pointed to the construction paper I neglected to verbally suggest she actually use the construction paper. Miriam went and found her own supply of paper - toilet paper!  Hey, at least it was clean and she was following instructions after all.  

~ Christina 




Friday, October 24, 2008

Weekly Report- Week eleven 2008-09


We had a good week.  Nothing was super exciting as far as school was concerned.  I was thinking today about how well grammar is going.  I had very little grammar in school.  My theory is that my early years in public school they assumed we would learn it later.  Later in Private school I think they assumed we had learned it before.  Hmmmm.  The two years I remember having formal grammar were seventh and eighth grade.  I was homeschooled by a friend in seventh and somehow I managed to keep my head above water through Abeka grammar.  I only had a vague idea of what a noun and a verb were to start with and pretty much felt out of my element the whole time.  In eighth grade I remember memorizing helping verbs but that's it.  Yet, I managed honors English classes in High School.  How does that work?

Around here we use First Language Lessons and then Rod and Staff Grammar.  This is serious grammar, people!

 Today Abigail was working on the different things we capitalize in the English language.  English is the only language that capitalizes the first person pronoun (I).  How is that for arrogance?  The real reason has to do with how it worked out on the printing presses of old but it is rather interesting that we are the only ones who do that.

David has been working on antecedents and verb phrases.  I can't tell you much more than that because my independent boy dislikes me teaching him grammar.  It is much more expedient to read the lesson and complete it on his own.  I tried a couple of weeks ago and was met with "Mooooom, I already read it.  It's not hard!" Ok, I get the picture. [backs slowly away for the pre-teen boy]

J has been learning to diagram for the first time.  One more kid in this world who thinks I am evil!  When he first joined us I started in on verb phrases and soon discovered that he didn't know the definition of a verb!  So much for trusting someone else's testing.  Back to the beginning we go. He is moving right along and should jump up to the next grade level by Spring.

You are now wondering how I could possibly tach grammar after so little exposure.  I am about 50 lessons ahead of David and I actually like diagraming.  I find it fascinating now as an adult.  I love filling in the gaps and it is easier since I am more motivated now than when I was a kid.   

These are pictures of us today just finishing up our end-of-the-week work.  I was taking pictures of the other kids and Miriam says "Picture me too!"  Here she is with her ponies.


David doesn't like having his picture taken 
Abigail teaching multiplication to her ponies.  She informed me today that I need to order her another math book.  She has done about 100 pages this week and finished all of the Beta review pages today.
J drilling math facts.  Not exactly his favorite thing but he will be glad to know them later.  At least that's what I tell him.

~ Christina

Friday, October 17, 2008

Weekly Report- Week Ten 2008-09


This was project week.  The kids were suppose to entertain themselves while I actually got the house clean.  The best laid plans and all.....  We had doctor appointments and phone consultations and bored kids and I was just plain distracted!  The boys did work quite a bit on their stop motion movies.  This week Abigail decided she was going to try to finish her math book so that she could move on tot he next one.  She learned to divide and thinks it is really fun.  The boys are trying to convince her otherwise and I just keep shushing them.  Our home is so peaceful when Abigail is happily doing page after page in her math book.  When they are bored they all annoy one another so it is good to keep everyone busy.

Today we will go to the library and I will sort clothes.  This was my ultimate goal this week.  I have gotten some clutter taken care of but I need to switch Miriam's clothes out for the next size, so that has to be done today.  This weekend I will be buying new clothes for David and Adriel and filling in anything missing from Miriam's wardrobe.  David has grown and some of Adriel's clothes need replacing after a few mishaps.  Time to get ready for Winter!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Weekly Report- Week Nine 2008-09



This week we were learning more about Rome .  Specifically we learned about Roman arches and their building projects.  The Romans built 6 bridges over the Tiber River and 5 of them are still in use today!  They also invented concrete.  Our project this week was to make a Roman arch out of pudding boxes.

Here is David cutting the sides of the boxes to make them a wedge shape.

Everyone helping to get the boxes ready for construction.
Our "stones" cut, taped, and ready for building.
The final product.
The victorious builders.

In other news.... Miriam is finally letting us know when she needs to go potty and accidents are few and far between.  The Henderson world rejoices!  ~ Christina 

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Weekly Report- Week Eight 2008-09


Our first week with out new student went well.  We are still learning about Rome for a few more weeks.  David is bored of Romans but Abigail and J are interested and excited about our studies, so we will just leave David to his adolescent angst.   I didn't get any pictures because I was very busy getting use to an extra student as well as his math and spelling curriculum which I agreed to use.  Note to self : The virtual charter school is not my thing!  It reminds me how much I love Math-U-See.   Wednesday we are suppose to make a Roman arch out of pudding boxes so there should be pictures of that next week.

Adriel's birthday is on Thursday but unfortunately he is still not feeling well.  We will celebrate quietly.  It sure came quickly this year.  I keep thinking it's about a week away.  Hmmm, it's not anymore!