A Week, Briefly (6/1/20)
I've been experimenting with possible summer schedules . . . and failing a lot!
The challenges of med effectiveness, temperature, tradition, and kids who struggle with change are quite real. I feel everyone burning out on our regular schedule; we do need a break of some sort. However, with playgrounds, splash pads, pools, and beaches all still closed in our immediate area, we're struggling with finding a rhythm that will work.
The week was very gray . . . not literally, but in our hearts and minds.
That said, we had a lot of successes and joys, too. The pictures we took belie the general grayness of our hearts. We continue to have much for which to be thankful!
We did 5 days of school, dealt with internet issues, health issues, and hormones, had our ABA meetings, went on one small hike, and played in the sprinklers a lot.
We finished reading our Botany book.
We did not do all of the experiments or activities as outlined. Instead, I've found that the children and I tend to remember things we've learned as we encounter them on our hikes or in outdoor play. In addition, I was able to borrow this book from our library:
It's huge and gorgeous! We aren't using it as a "school" book. Rather, I'm just making it available and being willing to sit down and browse through it with the kids. They've excitedly recognized many things we've studied, and I think there are many more discoveries to make in the weeks ahead.
I put away Our Star-Spangled Story for the summer. We're focusing on our state study of Missouri. I found an elementary school textbook that I like, and we're using that as our "spine." In addition, I'm adding lots of read alouds--right now we're reading The Rose Years: Little House on Rocky Ridge and Heroes of History: George Washington Carver.
Nature Angel found a Missouri rock!
Brother and Beowulf completed their Beatrix Potter copywork, and we put that away without replacing it with anything else.
They're down to math and phonics as hangers-on from our 2019-2020 school year.
And actually, Beowulf finished his phonics book on Friday!
He also had a telehealth visit with the ADHD clinic, and he's graduated from that clinic. He's met the goals we set at the start, and he's been left with a three month supply of prescriptions for his meds as well as advice to turn to his regular pediatrician for ongoing care.
I feel a little bit abandoned.
He feels incredibly proud, and he tells everyone he sees that he's "gradulated."
We'll see how it goes in the coming months.
At least the doc and nurse promised that we can call them any time we feel we need them.
Nature Angel, Little Princess, and I did only 2 Astronomy lessons during the week. But we did take the telescope out at night to look at the full moon.
That was a learning experience!
The full moon is too bright to study. Our book told us that, but it was a clear night, and we knew we couldn't see many stars, and we really needed to do something hands-on because the text is starting to get harder. Little Princess really needed the encouragement!
We looked, we exclaimed, we blinked the spots from our eyes, and now we are studying moon phases and rise/set times and light pollution maps so that we can plan an overnight camping trip with the telescope and our star chart.
Our garden is producing lots of peas and lettuce.
Belle finally finished Chemistry!
Mister Man makes me smile as he studies Latin.
Little Princess has really stepped forward as a care-giver to the younger ones this summer. She is often helping prepare meals, teaching kids how to do chores, playing with them, and reading stories to them.
Sometimes we forget that she's only 10 years old!
Jump rope is the current outdoor learning activity. The kids challenge themselves with doing the old favorite rhymes that require spinning, touching the ground, running in and out of the turning ropes, and more. They're working on jumping 2 and 3 kids at at time in a rope. They're challenging one another to counted contests. All day long the doors slam open and closed as kids yell, "Mom, mom! Guess how much I jumped!?!?!"
When it gets too hot for jumping rope, the kids find a way to play with water.
Grandma and Grandpa came over on Thursday afternoon to visit and give electrical-system-problem-solving advice to Sir Walter Scott. We think we may have found a solution that will cost us a fraction of what the "experts" have told us to do.
However, the septic leach lines are still our main priority right now.
And I'm closing with way too many pictures of our hike at Cave Spring--just because they help me smile.
Hike #15 of 52
32.76 miles + .75 miles = 33. 51 miles
The challenges of med effectiveness, temperature, tradition, and kids who struggle with change are quite real. I feel everyone burning out on our regular schedule; we do need a break of some sort. However, with playgrounds, splash pads, pools, and beaches all still closed in our immediate area, we're struggling with finding a rhythm that will work.
The week was very gray . . . not literally, but in our hearts and minds.
 |
| Like this. |
We did 5 days of school, dealt with internet issues, health issues, and hormones, had our ABA meetings, went on one small hike, and played in the sprinklers a lot.
We finished reading our Botany book.
We did not do all of the experiments or activities as outlined. Instead, I've found that the children and I tend to remember things we've learned as we encounter them on our hikes or in outdoor play. In addition, I was able to borrow this book from our library:
It's huge and gorgeous! We aren't using it as a "school" book. Rather, I'm just making it available and being willing to sit down and browse through it with the kids. They've excitedly recognized many things we've studied, and I think there are many more discoveries to make in the weeks ahead.
I put away Our Star-Spangled Story for the summer. We're focusing on our state study of Missouri. I found an elementary school textbook that I like, and we're using that as our "spine." In addition, I'm adding lots of read alouds--right now we're reading The Rose Years: Little House on Rocky Ridge and Heroes of History: George Washington Carver.
Nature Angel found a Missouri rock!
Brother and Beowulf completed their Beatrix Potter copywork, and we put that away without replacing it with anything else.
They're down to math and phonics as hangers-on from our 2019-2020 school year.
And actually, Beowulf finished his phonics book on Friday!
He also had a telehealth visit with the ADHD clinic, and he's graduated from that clinic. He's met the goals we set at the start, and he's been left with a three month supply of prescriptions for his meds as well as advice to turn to his regular pediatrician for ongoing care.
I feel a little bit abandoned.
He feels incredibly proud, and he tells everyone he sees that he's "gradulated."
We'll see how it goes in the coming months.
At least the doc and nurse promised that we can call them any time we feel we need them.
Nature Angel, Little Princess, and I did only 2 Astronomy lessons during the week. But we did take the telescope out at night to look at the full moon.
 |
| We let Mister Man join us. :) |
That was a learning experience!
The full moon is too bright to study. Our book told us that, but it was a clear night, and we knew we couldn't see many stars, and we really needed to do something hands-on because the text is starting to get harder. Little Princess really needed the encouragement!
We looked, we exclaimed, we blinked the spots from our eyes, and now we are studying moon phases and rise/set times and light pollution maps so that we can plan an overnight camping trip with the telescope and our star chart.
Our garden is producing lots of peas and lettuce.
 |
| It's kind of sad to me that the sugar snap peas aren't sweet, and they're tough. I don't think we have the right climate for growing sugar snap peas. We pick them and eat them gladly, though! |
Belle finally finished Chemistry!
Mister Man makes me smile as he studies Latin.
Little Princess has really stepped forward as a care-giver to the younger ones this summer. She is often helping prepare meals, teaching kids how to do chores, playing with them, and reading stories to them.
Sometimes we forget that she's only 10 years old!
Jump rope is the current outdoor learning activity. The kids challenge themselves with doing the old favorite rhymes that require spinning, touching the ground, running in and out of the turning ropes, and more. They're working on jumping 2 and 3 kids at at time in a rope. They're challenging one another to counted contests. All day long the doors slam open and closed as kids yell, "Mom, mom! Guess how much I jumped!?!?!"
When it gets too hot for jumping rope, the kids find a way to play with water.
Grandma and Grandpa came over on Thursday afternoon to visit and give electrical-system-problem-solving advice to Sir Walter Scott. We think we may have found a solution that will cost us a fraction of what the "experts" have told us to do.
However, the septic leach lines are still our main priority right now.
And I'm closing with way too many pictures of our hike at Cave Spring--just because they help me smile.
Hike #15 of 52
32.76 miles + .75 miles = 33. 51 miles
The Cave Spring Hike looks like so much fun. It is hard not having the usual places open to go to. I'm so thankful that our state park beaches opened up this past weekend. Today was our first day there and it was such a relief to get out there! Otherwise, the kids were resorting to buckets with water from our water barrel.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry your week felt gray. I am glad you got outdoors on that wonderful hike. That is the way I felt about making out on our great outing last week. It was so wonderful. I hope you find a nice balance for your summer soon. Everything feels unpredictable and impossible to plan.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Dawn
Fun picture of the Missouri rock!--how cool is that?! Great pics of the hike! Had you been there before? That's SOME frog in the last picture! :)
ReplyDeleteI like your hiking pictures! I can understand a gray week.
ReplyDelete