A Fly On My Homeschool Wall

About 3 years ago, we took a math sabbatical. Just from formal math. (We did a lot of real life math.)   When we were ready to start again, we used Teaching Textbooks online.  It was perfect for our needs at the time--relaxed, simple, neutral (meaning Mom was not the enemy teacher), and easy for everyone. Then the problems with having kids online that we'd thought we'd solved began coming back. So I began the slow shift back to pencil and paper math. This year, everyone is back offline except Little Princess. I was so nervous!! But (and I know I'm speaking too early) it went really well the first week. Yes, Baymax, Lola, and Ladybug threw math-related tantrums--but only once each! And look at Mister Man. Can you see that he's smiling? He. Loves. Geometry. It's so fun! He works so long and hard at it, and he smiles while he does it!  He comes out to report that he's done, and he has a grin on his face every day (at least every day of the first week).  He talks a...

 We finished Human Anatomy and Physiology. We finished Ali and the Golden Eagle . We had the best discussions while reading this book!  The kids were so provoked by the bringing of modern technology to a previously undisturbed village still living as their ancestors had for probably 1,000 years that they had to talk it out.  I had the privilege of just listening as they discussed pros and cons to modern life vs ancient life. At one point I couldn't resist asking them if they wanted to move somewhere and try to live like long ago.  Most of them said, "No!"   Brother said, "People from long ago can live just fine because they don't know what they're missing.  People from now can't go back because they'll know!" Lola said, "Sure!  As long as we can take medicine with us!" It was really, really fun to listen to them voice their opinions and their reasons! We finished Seven Daughters and Seven Sons .  This book is definitely on our list of T...

 We've entered the season of finishing. Baymax finished math. Brother, Ladybug, Beowulf, and Lola have finished various math/language arts worktexts , and they're down to only 2 worktexts to go to finish for the year. Little Princess finished American Government. The kids and I have memorized all 47 US Presidents in order.  We're now trying to memorize some interesting facts about each president and develop a sense of each president's season of influence. We finished Little Britches and Great Expectations .  Both books inspired so much discussion!  (In totally different ways, of course!) I do have to comment that I knew a sad ending was coming in Little Britches , but the kids were taken off guard--kind of blindsided.  It was rough to watch them react, and I have a hunch this is going to be a book they're not willing to revisit any time soon. We picked up Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher as our next bedtime read aloud--it's a spin off of 1001 Arabian Nights ....

That's Belle in line with friends to listen to a devotional by President Dallin H. Oaks at BYU-Provo I hate to whine too much. I count my blessings every single day. I do! It has been a rough few weeks, though. For me. Nothing huge has happened. But I feel defeated anyway. And I don't think I should pretend otherwise. I'm old enough and experienced enough to know that seasons like this will pass.  I will feel light shining through me again, and I will see more clearly the good that I am doing. Acknowledging the hard will, perhaps, make the joy all the sweeter. Our habits and routines keep us grounded. Morning Meeting continues to be our daily anchor.  We're reading, discussing, singing, and memorizing our way through scripture. High School Studies have been simpler lately because between post-surgical healing and a cold, I haven't been up to putting notes up on the white board for history/geography.  We've focused instead on reading and narrating.  We finished...

This picture looks boring, but it documents my younger kids having a serious-and-thoughtful conversation about the Bible and current events.  Rose Red has the best ability to make people around her think and engage in conversation!    Thank you to those who posted words of sympathy and encouragement for me.  My heart goes out to you in your struggles as well.  We're all doing our best!   I'm seeking a new blogging routine because my Sundays are full with my church assignment in the leadership of the children's organization--we call it Primary.  That's why my blogging has been hit-or-miss for the past few months.  I used to write on Friday afternoons, but those aren't as free as they used to be either.  So I'm thinking. Today I'm somewhat handicapped as I type one-handed.   I had carpal tunnel surgery this week! Me--prepped and ready for surgery (Recovery is turning out to be harder than anticipated.) It is a profound relie...

Hurrah for 16! Hurrah for independence! Hurrah for Little Princess! She even took her driving test in the rain!   Even though Sir Walter Scott took her to take the test and then get her license, her absence dominated Tuesday.  We skipped literature and Eastern Hemisphere that day, but the rest of the kids and I had a whopper of a good school day, and then everyone had church activities that night that were somewhat educational in nature--crafts, cooking, sports, scripture trivia, and speech/debate were the variety that were offered. Also, on Tuesday, we got permission from the neurologist to take Ladybug off her anti-seizure med!   She was undergoing a complete personality change--a dangerous one. Her neurologist seems to be a good one.  As we talked over her situation, I feel that he listened and made thoughtful judgments.  The plan he presented makes sense to me and feels right.   She's on no meds at the moment.   And I am very gr...