I Can't Hear Myself !

G#2 was beside herself.  She could NOT hear herself in the band ensemble practices that took place last school year while playing the flute. So this year, I gave her the choice between the trumpet, trombone or alto saxophone that my mom still had from when my brothers and I were kids.  Miss Fussy herself chose the trumpet.  I had the whole machine worked over at the music store for a small fortune and promised a trumpet lesson if she learned 7 note fingerings.  This child has taken several years of piano lessons as well as attempting the flute last year.  I knew she could get those notes figured out. Then came the afternoon when she actually got the lesson to learn about how to hold the trumpet and sit up straight so her feet could touch the floor.  She also learned out to "buzz" the mouthpiece.  She is overjoyed to be able to play C, D, E, F and G now after her lesson.  I'm even willing to take her for more lessons after she works at maintaining the buzz and those notes for some time.  This is such an accomplishment for her!  She is in no way in favor of this band participation even though she loves the visit with other band kids every Thursday evening.  I'm thrilled that the trumpet from my 2nd brother's band years is living again in the hands of this little Miss G. 

Dayspring Challenged Me

It really isn't my fault. I hit some Dayspring Cards link and they said that they would send me some cards if I'd just send them and tell of the experience. So, I've sent one to my Uncle John. He's older than the hills and broken his hip, but finally on the mend and needs a giggle. I've sent him this U-NEEKS get well card.  He's always been big on hunting and working union jobs. He's mostly on his own except for his remaining siblings and his devoted niece, Lisa. She is quite a work also, and I'm so glad she is up to the task of dealing with his medicare paperwork as she encourages him from the nearby. I'm only able to send this cute get well card of a puppy saying HEAL - aka= get well from the far-away. And pray for those who work with Uncle John and his healing.
 

 

 

Dayspring Cards says these are kids' cards and they may be, but I sent one today to a kid-at-heart. And I pray it encourages him to get well! More about U-NEEKS card stories to come - STAND-BY.

 

Earth Science and Astronomy

The first attempt at ES experiments for this year was very tasty b/c it involved chocolate.

Memories of Summer Reading

G#3: I read/listened to Wind and the Willows (which was 5 hours), Operation Mincemeat, 4 or 5 Encyclopedia Browns , and other stuff I can't remember. In Wind and the Willows, toad, mole, Rattie, badger, and more were characters.  Encyclopedia Brown is himself.

G#2:  I read about Deadrie, and it was ok. I also read some other things I can’t remember.  One of the authors was named Jennifer L. Holm.  I like her now, and most of my books I read now are her booksJ. Some of the books are called Turtle in Paradise ( #1 that I read,) Boston Jane, An Adventure (#2 that I read), Penny From Heaven (#3 that I read) and another Boston Jane, (it is a seriesJ!) Wilderness Days (#4 that I am reading).

G#1:  I read the Star Wars Clone Wars novel. This story is about Anakin and getting his Padawan, Ahsoka tano.  The Star Wars story was in Christophsis and in Tantooine.  In the end, The baby Hutt was returned to Jabba the Hutt.  Yes. It was not the best ending but I guess it had to happen.

And I started to read a Poirot book from Agatha Christie, because I like the tv show, that I will have to finish sometime.  And the Poirot was about the murder of a very stuck-up and some-what rich man.  The Poirot story takes place in London, England.

Perspective

So important to understand from what point you are seeing things. Webster's defines perspective as "to look through, see clearly, aid vision."  Reading glasses help me see clearly while the Bible aids my vision and how I see things through my reading glasses.

What are you reading that helps you see "things" more clearly?  Will it help you reach the answers to your questions?  Is it a window that is treated with color or pattern?

We are beginning the Logic Stage Medieval / Earth Science-Astronomy year of the classical education pattern.  After reading some stories about Beowulf, do you understand better why people do things the way they do? Fear. Honor. Pride. Necessity. Classics are good for bringing these perspectives to light.  So glad my kids are reading and talking about what they read.  Simply filling in blanks of a worksheet just won't do the learning job now.

If you could study one thing all year long...

G#1 is at AWANA camp, but G#2 says she'd study art or math. G#3 says he'd stick with spelling or math.
Don't be deceived, I'm not deleting science or history for either. But, is there a way to teach  either with math, spelling or art? Yep, & I'm almost ready to start their 6th year of home education. Very soon.

Science is EASY in Summertime

I've mentioned that these 3Gs studied science and history TOGETHER during the grammar stage even though they are 16 months apart in age.  That means many times they were able to divide and conquer my attentions, divert me from the topic, and in order to manage the "classroom," I followed many of their RABBIT TRAILS. I didn't take elementary teacher training. The secondary methods I learned were very different from what was necessary when dealing with these three, young, bright children.  So, many of the topics in our first/second grade study of earth science and astronomy were not covered at all.  They picked up the concepts through osmosis and acquaintance with other lessons, but simple experiments that many others might do just didn't happen when there were so many other topics to cover. Plus, I was a little obsessed with their sitting at desks.  Their little bodies just didn't sit well for long enough duration to watch the vinegar dissolve the seashells. Even today as we watched the seashells dissolve, there were many other events taking place concurrently. 

My 3Gs are traveling and involved in many activities this summer. Each is being blessed by an individual's week with the Utah grandparents.  There was vbs at our church for a week and drama camp at another church for a week.  There was an experience for one to do a culinary camp and another to do an art camp with friends.  There are visits with friends, library reading time and swim time. There is an opportunity to visit the Iowa grandparents for a county fair experience.  Rarely are all three children here together during the summer.  I wanted to do a little school during the summer which included math practice and science interactions.  My goal was to work through simple Janice VanCleave Earth Science and Astronomy experiments as far as possible because there won't be time to try any of these during the school year with Elemental Science's Logic Stage ESA.  I LOVE Earth Science and Astronomy. I'm delighted with how it relates to other studies and how the topics are ever present in daily life.  I endure discussions of my three tween children in order to persevere for science experiments.  It's so worth it when they share what they saw with each other as one travels away.  They will refer back to some of these experiments we are attempting even if it's not all 101 ideas from the book.  And, it isn't torture to do a simple experience with household materials for a few minutes each day that may even be individual work causing more pride in their own work.

Are you trying any school this summer? Are you in a hurry to start the next school year?