Speed Drill

Math mornings are the best! Student really has live-wires in the am. Our first attempt at speed drills went smoothly. Student thought it was fun to time the work! And on top of that, there were no complaints when we finished up with place value review and a test! Whew!

And readying ourselves for Awana, Student recited her verse and hid it in her heart... check out the video!

More review for Student's Genesis vocab test on Friday. And as for the rest of our day, we are off to spend time with Dad on his day off and read all the price tags and signs! As for the last time we went out, Student said:

" 'Please wash hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds before returning to work.' Hmmm. I'm reading everything!"

Tuesday Tuning

Actually, we didn't, but should have. Student has learned the complete Song of the Wind...so here goes, without tuning but with much effort!

Why homeschool, we ask ourselves some mornings? On with our efforts, to God be the glory! Afterall, everything we do with our hands, do with all our might! Thanks to Him for establishing the work of our hands.

Homeschool began with our first attempt of a scheduled start-time since our family's addition, and because of Our caring Father in heaven, we began on time! Starting with a self-lead Art project, Student began her day with one of her favorite subjects.

On we moved to work more with place value in Math. Review of these concepts and added seatwork, Math was complete.

For language, we added some suffixes to our list. And continuing in poetry, Student and I read a highly recommended book o' rhymes: I Never Saw a Purple Cow and Other Nonsense Rhymes. Student had the opportunity to write an animal poem of her own:

Ther Was a Zebra

Ther was a zebra. That was funny and ate alat. It's a speshl zebra.

More review from our Genesis vocabulary. We have finished Genesis, in History, and will have our vocab test at the end of the week.

Classic Monday

Classic as in ballet, that is. The classic came to life through the words of Adele Geras & Emma Chichester Clark: The Nutcracker Ballet. Student spotted this book during our checkout time at the library today. She wondered why it was in our pile, and I told her I picked it out thinking of her...well, it was a classic hit! She couldn't put the book down, beginning to read on our walk out the doors of the library, until she had it completed after Toddler's nap, the story was complete.

Student enjoyed the book, even not having the definition of a "bal-ett", yet, she loved the story. So, we talked about that silly word, ballet, and how she would have known all along, but it just didn't come to her yet...

The books she picked to bring home, were on Art and then two on Egypt. We'll learn and share on those soon. Naturally, since they are second in line to Clara!

Aside from the library, Student completed her last lesson before Fall Fest for violin. This was a sleepy time for the new addition, and Toddler was quite busy with the ball from Mrs. S. So, I think we're ready for a performance!

Seatwork and History doubled-up today. Student wasn't happy about the larger quantities of seatwork today, but completing them everywhere but a seat, probably helped them get done! In the van, on the couch, on the floor and some in the kitchen...completed and ready for another day of Homeschool tomorrow!

Student's latest computer drawing is pictured here, in all it's carefully constructed layers. Take a peek!

Final Friday

Our beloved sister, Sherri, just became a widow 2 weeks ago. In honor of our Final Friday Ministry from James 1:27, we are making cards and taking some baked goods to her house this weekend. To take care of her, and bring her joy of The Lord, as she does for so many!

She is part of our family at church, so we are sure to see her there if we can't get a hold of her. Last month was a bit of a challenge since we didn't hear back from our friend we had hoped to bless. So, we have devised a sure-to-bless plan!

History, Language, Reading and Phonics. All in a day's homeschool, a Friday that is! We are looking forward to no rain so camping can consume the weekend...so hard to think about pencils and paper when the great outdoors await!

Student:

Pen Pal Update

This morning was blessed by Mrs. Nancy sharing with us about her recent trip to The Philippines in which she visited Student's pen pal in her home and school: Vanderpol Christian Academy. Pulling down the globe, Student saw where the islands are. Listening and looking at the presentation photos, Student got a heart-piercing look at poverty. I think of the Linebarger's and the way Mrs. Nancy said God has prepared them to help bring change to these parts of the world by educating the next generation. Educating them in The Word first and foremost. Student likes the fact that they have the same Abeka curriculum as she! So, this lesson of thankfulness and contentment was for more than just Student.

We made bread today to go with our cheeseburger soup from Mrs. Tonya. It is worth the flour mess because Toddler and Student create and reinvent for hours! Art never tasted so good!

Our time with cursive today was review. Student wasn't excited, as she hungers for new material and info and review isn't her favorite.

Math was her only seatwork today. Short and sweet as she is continuing with skip-counting.

And for her self-led project in Art, she fell right into our new season this week!

Student: I didn't know I wasn't going to find the other piece of the project that is seen in the picture here above my words I am saying. So, to fix the missing frame we went to Photoshop on our IMac, and we pushed on one of the other frames and copied it and put it on the part we were missing. There was still a piece on the one we copied...

Mid-Week Counting

Can there be any warmer place than holding a newborn? What a perfectly cuddly place to read! Beginning with our Library book recommended by Tonya: The Little Wooden Farmer, Student listened with the new addition in her lap. This Dutch farmer has no animals and he and his wife decide to get some, and thus the tale begins! Sweet illustrations and mandalas throughout keep the folk tale lively and true to it's Swedish style.

Cursive smiles keep coming! Student has a new favorite subject! Continuing on, we are finishing up with the letter "R".

History has come to Egypt! We read the introduction to life in Egypt and continued with the life of Joseph.

Math was reviewing counting. Backwards, forwards, skip-counting and place value. I think Student will be dreaming numbers tonight, I know I will!

Speedy practice of violin. Getting faster with each song, Student loves learning something new and so she looks forward to her next lesson with Mrs. S.

Happy Wednesday: Awana day!

Happy Painting

CORRECTION: not 1-D, but 2-D...next time I'll ask the artistic principal FIRST!
Reading has become an ordinary event, with less and less struggling and question. Student has truly soared in her phonics and belief in being able to conquer bigger words! Way to go Student!

History is inching us into Egypt. When Student saw the illustration for our lesson from Genesis today, she was just counting down the minutes until she had the opportunity to draw her own 2-D picture from our lesson on Joseph today.

Our vocabulary words:

seduce

objection

2-D

Yes, this is child-friendly history, but introduction to such words makes for great girl-talk and understanding the evils present in our world still today. She understands that God created family and marriage, and this holy union is under attack. She truly has such a loyalty and understanding of such since she watched Fireproof. Oh, what these amazing child brains can sort out!

Letter by letter, we are now through "L" in our cursive lessons. Student has been creating all the words she can, connecting letters to create words from the letters she has already learned. You know, loopy versions of:

cab, dad, lab, jab, bad, dat...no she hasn't learned scat, for music appreciation, but it sounds like it!

Testing in Math proved that she is learning right along, and still wondering why the tests are so easy. Yes, someday it may not be so, but I bask in this love she has for Math, and thank her Dad for that trait. God is good to create brains that understand Math, as I know that mine doesn't.

Violin practice was done with the puzzle method, and am I glad that her excitement lasted the whole session.

Whew!

Fall Fest, here we come!

Student: It is fun that the first day of Fall is now!

I made Potiphar's wife with her head turned away because she didn't listen to Joseph when he objected.