Mid-March Madness

Spring has come early to our town. The flowers are blooming!

Here is a homeschool update:
History - We are studying Lewis and Clark. The Sonlight book by Neuberger was BORING! So, we bagged, and we are just reading The Captain's Dog. I haven't been as impressed with the Sonlight Read Alouds this year! We hope to take the train to Astoria and visit the sights of the L&C Expedition. Good hands-on learning.

Science - We finished up our reading in Usborne Science Encyclopedia. Now, we are doing two chapters in Abeka Science. We finished the chapter on light and just started energy and engines today. After this, it is ALL experiments and write-ups until the end of the year!!!!!

Bible - We finished the first Kay Arthur book for kids, and they really got bogged down. For the second, we are doing most of it verbally. I want to finish John, but I may do it over two years instead of one year. We have also resumed our character studies in history and just finished David Zeisberger

Math - Praise to Bob Jones Math. I love it, and the kids like it too. Mathphopic Michael is gaining comfidence! It is very encouraging to me. Paul will be done soon. He has less than one hundred pages. I forgot that I am very good at math, but I just never liked it. It is nice to see as an ADULT that math is so important. It makes teaching it more fun for me. As a kid, I didn't know how vital it was to life.

Grammar - Paul figured out he only has fourteen days of Grammar, and he wanted to do it all yesterday! A closure boy after my own heart! Michael is a few pages behind him because math usually takes so much longer for him.

Writing - Hallelujah! We have found dictation that has worked for us. We started with www.bravewriter.com The Arrow Subcription. House at Pooh Corner saved us! Humor won out for dictation. I will slip in humorous passages from their favorite books. It is good. Thanks Julie! We practice cursive, grammar, and also spelling in the dictation. Like this.

We are also doing more freewrites, and I will start more science writing. This is our slow-moving skill, but it is moving. I am glad it is not tested on the tests. I can take this slowly and carefully.

Spelling - We have slowed down on Spectrum because we are incorporating it into our dictation. I may two years to go through Michael's book, but there is not one behind it! So, we are good.

Read Alouds - We are reading The Captain's Dog. It is OK so far. I just read Island of the Blue Dolphins. George just read Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. They loved that one.

Plays - Puss and Boots was a big hit. LBCC always does a wonderful job.

Spanish - We finished up the second term and will not be doing it in the spring because we are going to California.

Swimming - Michael is one arm stroke stroke in the backstroke from Level 8 in swimming! We will continue after we return from California.

BOOKit - We were real good about doing our Pizza Hut Rewards with the Kinkades. In fact, we are going today to redeem our February Coupon.

Field Trip - Went to the Science Factory in Eugene. My kids liked it. Christopher was bored.

Boy's Group - Always a highlight of their week!

Dial-A-Book - Going well. Now that we are not doing Spanish, it will be easier to do it.

For my WEM:Read the Trial and reading Native Son.