First Week of School

We finished the first week of Sonlight 100 today. Sonlight spells everything out for us and it is always quite a relief to look down the list, see all the check marks and know that everything has been covered. No guess work required.

We are doing Teaching Textbooks Algebra, Apologia Physical Science, Artistic Pursuits (art --- drawing), Rosetta Stone/Madrigal's Spanish, Analogies, and a word study type vocabulary. This plus the Sonlight core SOUNDS like a ton, but I am finished with the kids in time to make lunch. If they don't nap or take a ton of breaks, they seem to be finishing between 2 and 3pm. My daughter likes to save the reading for before bed, I'll grant.

The new "school room" seems to be working out. We are so organized and the day flows more easily from one subject to the next. It is still a new idea, so we will see if the novelty wears off.

Daughter is having fun being VERY THOROUGH when answering the comprehension questions. I am so proud of her effort to be a good student. She has even acquired a very surprising skill. She seems to be able to laugh at her attempts at art! For now she is optimistic that she is still learning and that her work will improve with further training. I think that is helping.

Son seems to improve as well. His spelling is still horrible, poor boy. It is too bad because, no matter my effort to reassure him, he seems demoralized by his lack of this ability. I will continue to work with him until we find a solution to this bump in the road. He is such a clever and engaging writer. I would hate to have that marred and squelched by a silly old spelling problem.

Will report more when we get through a couple of weeks of study. It is mostly review in the first couple of weeks.

thrilled yet? read on...

School Work

Am in the new "school room". Transformed our yucky old guest room. Moved in all of our books and necessaries along with our big black sofa. Placed two 4x2 folding banquet tables in the middle of the room. Am glad to have the gigantic white board back. We had great success doing our math figures on one of these in years gone by. Having one in our new home makes great sense again. Bought folding chairs, put up shelves, put clamp lights above the sofa. I think it will be a wonderful place to focus on our work.

I "designed" the spot so that it can be quickly converted to a guest room. A curtain draws over the main book shelves. Then we would simply fold the tables and chairs and lean them against the white board wall. The sofa folds out to queen sized bed. Plus, I have managed to keep one side of the closet bare. SO, all guests who wish to come to this horrible part of the world, there will be a place for you.

Will try to report my efforts with Sonlight curriculum as I get going with it all. It always seems so daunting before we start. Once we get going it always falls right into place and I wonder what all the stress was about. I did get to go through quite a bit of it and am pleased so far.

thrilled yet? read on...

Box Day

Got our new Sonlight box. That's always a great day. I am now figuring out just where everything else that I would like to fit in for their benefits will go with the new IG.

I bought a new table for them. I recently realized that they have trouble concentrating

and getting things done properly whilst sitting in an upright "deskcular" position. That will never do since most public colleges don't take to upside-down-on-the-couch type readin' and writin'. Nor do proper businesses of any type that may one day hire my young ones. So, we are to practice sitting up straight and writing out test sheets.

ooooweeee! Let the torture begin!

thrilled yet? read on!

daily report

My best friend is on vacation.  Life is stinky without her.

My babies did the chapter 13 Pre-Algebra test.  I haven't graded them yet.  I always fear the test grading.  Whenever they take a test it is really an evaluation of me as a teacher.  I don't want to fail them.

I rearranged the sod today to make a cool little path to the pool. I like it. I have started another path to the pumphouse.  I think the flagstone looks so cool and really brings balance to the the yard because of the flagstone on the pool.  I guess we are one step closer to harmony.

It occurs to me that I have not mentioned my awesome dog.  We got her at the shelter a few years back.  I do not like dogs.  I agreed to get the dog for my babies.  It worked out that she is the greatest dog that ever lived.  I would not have believed that there was such a well behaved, fun loving, story-book dog on the planet.  She does have one problem.  She has an eating disorder...well, two eating disorders, really.  Binge and purge bulimia AND starve to death anorexia.  She is ridiculous.  It is embarrassing.  She is skin and bones.  People think we don't feed her!

We are watching the old television series "Dark Angel" from start to finish.  I tell ya what, I knew I liked that series for a reason.  Max is awesome.

thrilled yet?  read on...

Free Stuff, Good-uh uh-Good

Just ran across this excellent audio recording of Jane Austen's  _Persuasion_.

I know that for a few years now it has been very"hip" to be a J.A. fan and that it may be kinda fizzling now, but this reader is excellent!  Plus it's free!  Librivox is a wonderful site.  If you have never been there, give it a surf.  You will love it!

Pump House Progress

More work on the Pump House.  It is nearly finished.

We need to add a couple of slats on the bottom and

give her a coat of paint.  I am very happy with it!  Here's

a shot of construction

Framing the Pump House