Week in Review

Sharing this post today with Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers' Weekly Wrap Up and Homeschool Mother's Journal! 

• In my life this week…  I am still looking for a full-time job.  Financially things are pretty dire - but God provides and I have every faith that things will work out to His will. 
• In our homeschool this week… See below for a complete review of our first two weeks! 
• I am inspired by… classic novels!  Some for their lovely simple stories, others for their wealth of history, and  yet others for the beautiful language.  Getting tangled up in wordy jumbles and then straightening them smooth is one of life's joys!
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• Places we’re going and people we’re seeing… I decided we needed to slow down this week.  Too much running around all summer, too many activities, too many mindless jaunts.  This week we visited my parents, helped a friend in need, and went to church.  Today we will go for a nature walk as yesterday's weather did not cooperate!
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• My favorite thing this week was…Emily asking to ADD a subject to our homeschool.  She wants to learn about the presidents!  I don't believe she has ever asked to add an entire subject before.....
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• What’s working/not working for us… I wanted Beautiful Girlhood to work for us - but she is just not connecting with it.  I've tried several times.  :/
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• Questions/thoughts I have… Once I DO have a full-time job - how will I balance homeschooling?  I had been fortunate all these years to work only part time out of the home and the rest at home.  Emme was allowed to go to the office with me.  I know we can do it - but I also know it will make things more difficult.
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• Things I’m working on…I've been making scripture journals.  Drawing, cutting and pasting, etc.  I'll share them one of these days....
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• I’m reading… I just finished "The Widow of Larkspur Inn" which was a freebie for my Nook (Kindle too)  It was just SO good and it made me yearn to live in a small country town in the late 1800s!
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• I’m cooking… I used the Crockpot a few times this week - I made a beef roast with potatoes, onions, and carrots and a delicious navy bean soup.  I love that fall is nearly upon us!  I love cooking in the autumn and winter months.
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• I’m grateful for…the health of my family! 
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• I’m praying for…salvation for those close to me who do not know the Lord.

Biology – We were able to purchase a wonderful used middle school Biography text for less than $3.00 last week.  We’re learning about how scientists come up with their hypotheses and test them to reveal new theories.  Also looking at different things (for example, mold) to prove if it is a living thing – Does it grow? Does it move? Does it reproduce?

History ­– We are doing a little review of early American history for the next couple of weeks. Then we will pick up at WWI.

Math – Emily’s nemesis, lol.  More review of decimals this week.  We are keeping the lessons short and going through a single concept at a time. 

Literature – Emily has read the first 12 chapters of “Anne of Green Gables”.  We’ve done some vocabulary work, map work (Prince Edward Island), character description using Anne, narration, questions from a free unit study, and have utilized “The Anne of Green Gables Treasury” – a book with some background information about the books and author.  There is a blueprint of Marilla & Matthew’s home that I just love! 

I am reading aloud “Little Women”.  I’ve only finished 2 chapters.  Emily says it is “boring” so far.  It’s one of my most beloved books, so I am going to carry on!

Current Events -  We are working on an elections notebook.  Emily did several pages for the book this past week using pictures and articles from the local newspaper.  Along with this we’re learning about the branches of government (refresher, we studied this 4 years ago as well). 

Poetry -  I’m trying to keep the poetry we are reading on a close timeline with the books we are reading.  That way Emily can imagine that Anne or the March girls may have read the same poetry she is.  We’ve been studying Emily Dickinson these first two weeks. 

Nature Study – I want to do more of this, and soon!  We’re studying trees right now.  Using the HBNS along with “Trees: Science Nature Guide”.  Only starting at the moment – hope to get in a good study with art work on Friday!  She has drawn a few pictures from memory this week of a robin and a monarch butterfly in flowers.

Bible Study – Emily is reading through Luke using her “Young Women of Faith Bible, NIV” and using their study guides.  We’re doing memorization verses and she is also reading some Bible stories in a free book on Kindle for PC.

Shakespeare – We are doing a very light pre-study of Shakespeare – using “Irresistible Shakespeare” from Scholastic.  This week we studied two different types of openings in Shakespeare’s plays.  Next term we will be studying a play (to be decided) and hopefully attending a local production.

Copywork - Not sure if her cursive will ever be legible!  All three of my children have the most unfortunate penmanship! We’re finishing up “Pictures in Cursive” from Queen Homeschool.  I will probably order another when this one is completed.  It can’t hurt to keep on practicing!

Phys Ed – Emily has been doing some arm exercises, walking, and some balance exercises over the past two weeks.  We’re trying to get in the habit of walking 30 minutes 5x weekly.

Presidents – I was not planning on studying presidents at this point – but Emily asked to do it – so who am I to refuse?  We brought out our president flashcards, and my sister happened to have 2 books on the presidents.  She was getting familiar with them and their parties this week.  Next week we will take one-two weeks on each president, in order.  Doing a notebook page (or 2 or 3 depending) on each.