5/26/09

Finishing the year - Princesses L and M

There is much to do with these two princesses. Nothing really for now - but lots of planning for the summer and the next school year. I have some ideas of some summer activities for Princess L to do. But I'm not sure what to do with Princess M. She has officially entered the beginning stages of the terrible twos. She has started showing her will to do things on her own. She has picked up several bad habits from her sisters. I'm going to have to spend more time working with her. I plan to have a rotation this summer, when we aren't doing science that is, where the older princesses will spend time with one of the littler princesses and then have them switch. (I'm seriously considering a rule that they will not be allowed to play with the neighborhood kids until 2pm. And at that time it will have to be outside as Princess M will have to take her nap. They aren't going to like it and I'll hear how I'm the meanest mom in the world. Then I'll just grin and say, "Then I must be doing something right!")

Princess L will get to go to VBS again this year, but is very disappointed that it won't be the same exact program. She's been practicing last year's songs. I told her she would get to learn new ones, but she still likes the old ones. Princess M will be with me in the nursery - unless I get lucky and there aren't any workers that need it.

TOG Y1R U4 Week 34 to 36 - Princess S

This is the Princess who will make these assignments take at least three weeks - maybe more. Here is what she has:

Growing With Grammar: Lessons 138 to 164. She will still have a few lessons left. I will probably give her the option of finishing the book in the week after. Not sure what she will choose.

Math: She will be doing two worksheets a week from themathworksheet.com until the end, which amounts to six worksheets. However, she really seems to like doing these and has been asking for more, so we might do more.

TOG studies: We've got the last three weeks of Year One Unit Four. She has to complete all of the vocab on Quizlet, a couple more maps, some important people copywork, and some SAPs.

Reading assignments: The Tale of Three Trees is the only new book. She will finish a few others she has been reading portions of throughout the unit.

I just found out today that our local PS is actually done in two more days. That will make it very difficult as the neighbor girl will be calling and showing up at the door by 9am. I'm going to have to nip it real quick.

TOG Y1 U4 Wks 34-36 - Princess E

Well, I'm going to divide this into three separate posts. I handed the girls all the rest of their work for the year and told them that when they were done, then they were done for the school year. I always end up doing this at the end of the year out of impatience. Not that they will be done exactly - we are going to be doing their science this summer during a break from our normal studies. So first up will be the remaining assignments for Princess E.

Growing With Grammar: Not much left here actually, only lessons 8.7 to 8.10 and Chapter 8 Review. She really likes this series. I'm tentatively planning on it for next year, though I wonder if adding Latin will make it over the top.

Math U See Gamma: This week she is in lesson 24. She caught onto multiple digit multiplication much faster than I thought she would so far. She says that she wants to finish this book up so that she can go on to Delta right away next year. We'll see how motivated she is. I said that she could do the lessons by doing one of the worksheets A, B, or C. If she got it all correct then she could choose one of the review pages. If she got that with one wrong or less, then she could go straight to the test.

TOG studies: We've got the last three weeks of Year One Unit Four. She has to complete all of the vocab on Quizlet, a couple more maps, some important people copywork, and some SAPs.

Reading Assignments: She will finish up the Usbourne Internet-Linked Ancient World Encyclopedia. She has seemed to really like this book this year. She will also finish Famous Men of Rome. She will read Mystery of the Roman Ransom and Galen to finish up her literature studies.

The last day of piano will be this Wednesday. I plan to have the girls take four lessons throughout the summer just to keep the practice up. I am debating whether or not to try to get a vocal scholarship for Princess E to Macphail in the fall. She would LOVE it of course, but not sure if the cost, even with a scholarship, would be too much.

5/18/09

TOG Y1R U4 Week 33

We are all, me included, anxiously awaiting the end our our school. This will mark the end of our first year using Tapestry of Grace. I am very much pleased that the LORD brought us to this curriculum. There is a lot more I wanted to do with it, but our year is what it is. There are many things you have to let go when you are homeschooling with a baby and a preschooler. I am looking forwarding to beginning my plans for next year - the Middle Ages through the Constitution.

Princess E
Bible: selections from Acts
Growing With Grammar: Lesson 8.5 through 8.8
Math : Lesson 23
TOG: vocab, geography map, important people copy work, Student Activity Pages, prayer letters
Reading assignments: Usborne Internet Linked Ancient Worlds (excerpts), Famous Men of Rome (selections), Mystery of the Roman Ransom

Princess S
Growing With Grammar: Lesson 128-137
Math: 2 drill sheets a week
Reading assignments: City, Classical Kids (excerpts), Who Were the Romans (excerpts
Bible and TOG same as above.

Princess L
I'm trying to decide when we will begin her MFW Kindergarten. I'm planning to take two years for this, unless she takes off and wants to do more. But I'm also considering starting her this summer. That way we can get into a grove before I have to start in with the other girls.

Princess M
Her vocabulary is growing. I'm figuring out more and more what she is trying to say. Her pronunciation is not very good if I compare her to Princess E, who was speaking in three word sentences by 18 months. But, there are other things she is able to do that. Her determination to do everything her big sisters does is huge.

I will try to get a short video of Princess L's performance posted, if I can figure out how to make it smaller.

TOG Y1R U4 Week 32 (a week late)

So I'm a week late. Oh well, this will be after the fact then.

Princess E
Growing With Grammar: lesson 8.1 through 8.4
Math : Lesson 22
TOG: vocab, geography map, important people copy work, Student Activity Pages, prayer letters
Reading assignments: Usborne Internet Linked Ancient Worlds (excerpts), Famous Men of Rome (selections), A Triumph for Flavius

Princess S
Growing With Grammar: lesson 118 through 127
Math: Decided to do drill sheets for the rest of the year - two a week.
TOG: vocab, geography map, important people copy work, Student Activity Pages, prayer letters)
Reading Assignments: City, Classical Kids (excerpts), Who Were the Romans (excerpts).

Princess L
She had her recital on Saturday and she did great.

Princess M
Finally has four eyeteeth peeking through.

5/3/09

TOG Y1R U4 Week 31

This week we have a few events going on that may require us to shorten up a bit. We'll have to see.

Princess E
Growing With Grammar: lesson 7.9 through Chapter 7 review
Math : Lesson 21 - This lesson starts on double digit multiplication. We may camp out here or she may surprise me.
TOG: vocab, geography map, important people copy work, Student Activity Pages, prayer letters
Reading assignments: Usborne Internet Linked Ancient Worlds (excerpts), Famous Men of Rome (selections), The Bronze Bow

Princess S
Growing With Grammar: lesson 109 through 117
Math: Decided to do drill sheets for the rest of the year - two a week.
TOG: vocab, geography map, important people copy work, Student Activity Pages, prayer letters
Reading Assignments: Cleopatra, Classical Kids (excerpts), Portions of Matthew's Gospel.

Princesses L & M
We are in the process of putting up a new wooden play structure and swing set as our old, secondhand metal one bit the dust last fall. These two are having a grand time with climbing up the steps and sliding down the slide - the only two things that are usable right now. If we have nice weather, they will be spending about an hour a day working their muscles on this. I'll get pictures posted once it is all done - hopefully next weekend.

5/1/09

A Shout Out to My Wonderful Spellers

This morning we had an informal spelling bee at our co-op. After looking at the graded lists earlier this week, I decided that Princess E needed to receive the sixth grade words and Princess S needed the fifth grade words. In reality, I could have bumped them up even one more, but didn't want to completely frustrate them seeing as how they also have their piano recital tonight. The each correctly spelled every word they were given. Even more cool was Princess L. She doesn't read yet, but knows all her letters and their sounds. Her friend who is 5 and doing kindergarten work decided to do the spelling bee. So, Princess L wanted to as well. She correctly spelled cat, mad, mat and her own name. For a just turned 4 year old who hasn't officially had phonics yet, I was pleasantly surprised. I helped her by telling her to name the first sound, then the second, then the third. She was so pleased with herself. Isn't this what homeschooling is all about?!