Cornerstone Home Learning

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Weekly Review - sort of

I'm not going to take the time to post a Weekly Review. Some of the kids finished everything I asked them to do for December, and some did not. This past week, we only did lessons on Monday and Tuesday, if I remember aright. I'm not going to count this week, as between last week and this one, we did about one week's worth - and I counted last week. (Not that the counting matters to anyone except me. lol)

Monday starts our learning afresh!

Friday, January 2, 2009

Friday Fill-in #105

1. The world is changing. I feel it in the water, I feel it in the earth...
(Sorry, a little Lord of the Rings flashback going on there....)

2. "Don't talk to her!" was the last thing I said.

3. I wonder why I thought I wouldn't like the X-Men movies.

4. I'm glad you're with me, Samwise Gamgee, here at the end of all things.
(Oh man, there it goes again!!! I guess I need to watch LOTR this weekend. It's been FAR too long!)

5. There's something to be said for peppermint.

6. Heaven is where I want to be - someday.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to just being here with no plans (and maybe my LOTR DVD's!), tomorrow my plans include going to my book club and Sunday, I want to undecorate my house and then RELAX finally!

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Lesson Planning - What Works for Me

My lesson plans for January are done. Yippee! I've also run off any copies needed for the month and made a note of any necessary supplies. (Chicken bone? Cow bone!)

My 8th grader asked for his lessons for the whole month at once. I was glad to comply. He is doing very well with working independently. He asked for a page for each subject.

The first picture is of his Science assignment page. If you click, you should be able to see it larger. You'll see I am not very detailed with the plans - just the pages and any assigned experiments. He will do it all on his own, unless he has questions.

~~~~~~
EDITED to answer Jen's questions:
As far as David's monthly schedule, when he finishes the assignments for the month is he done? Say he wants to do all of his science in 3 days, or whatever? Is he done with Science for the month, or would you give him more?

If David finishes all his Science assignments in 3 days, yes, he is done for the month. I might take the increased speed into account the next month when I chose the assignments, giving him more work. Shhhh..... Don't tell him that.
~~~~~~

The other three didn't do as well with a whole month's worth of assignments, so I typed up their lessons in a weekly grid - days across the top, subjects down the left side. The second picture is of one of Emily's assignment sheets. Again, not a lot of detail. The younger kids will come to me if they don't know what to do, and some of their work is with me anyway.

I stapled to the weekly sheet any worksheets they are going to need, such as handwriting. They will get each lesson sheet on Monday and be expected to complete each day's assignments on the correct day. They can work ahead, if they want. (However, I don't imagine any of them actually will.)

I print a copy of each sheet for my plan book and a copy for the kids.

When they complete a lesson, they can check it off, X it out, or write the date - whatever works for them. I write the date complete on each lesson in my book for David and check off the assignments the other kids complete.

This is what's working for us right now!

What's working for you? Or do you have questions about how this works for us?

Monday, December 29, 2008

Simple Woman Daybook - December 29

Well, it's Monday! Since I am awake, I am going to do the daybook. Even if it is almost 3 am.

I've been lesson planning!

For Today... December 29, 2008

Outside my Window... It's DARK out there! But the snow is almost all melted. Hard to believe! All that rain. There was a huge puddle in my driveway earlier and the ground was mushy.

I am thinking... about introverts and extroverts and the way each one's mental energy is dissipated and renewed.

From the learning rooms... I am working on the lesson plans for January. Going to get the wh

ole month's done before Jan 5th when we start back in earnest.

I am thankful for... my oldest child who turns 14 today! Look how sweet he is being here with his little sister!

From the kitchen... A LOT of leftovers. Cooked a ham today and so there are those leftovers too. Going to make some Chex Mix for New Year's. Oh yeah, and I bought a birthday cake at Walmart for my teenager!

I am wearing... PJ's - grey long sleeved stretchy t-shirt and bright red cotton pants with white hearts all over them, my burgundy fleece robe (with teensy white hearts on it) and my well worn blue SmartWool socks. Hair washed and a bit damp still.

I am reading... a lot lately! Four books in the last four days. But I finished Deeanne Gist's A Bride Most Begrudging earlier today (HIGHLY recommend!) and didn't start anything else yet. I am still browsing through Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass. Still trying to find time to listen to The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, but it's not happening!

I am hoping... I am not too grumpy tomorrow from staying up FAR too late.

I am creating... lesson plans, as I mentioned.

I am hearing... the clock ticking.

Around the house... Christmas tree is up still. It will come down next weekend.

One of my favorite things... my SmartWool socks I mentioned above. The ONLY wool socks I've ever found that are a joy to wear. I have two pair that I WON from a store in Frankenmuth a few years back and they are almost worn out. I need to buy more, but they are more expensive than I am used to, so I resist. Mine are blue, not purple like this pic.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... David's birthday celebration tonight, thrift store sale Jan 1, book club on Saturday (Oh yay!! yay!!), completing my to-do list

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... Emily made the birthday cake for Jesus by herself and decorated it too. She was quite pleased with the results! (Thanks, Jen, for the idea to use those pans!!)

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Weekly Review - Week 17

This was only SORT of a school-y week.

Bible

We read Luke 2.
We read Chapter 3 of Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends

Math

David did page 3B and that completed his December lessons.
Emily continued working on multiple digit multiplication with regrouping. This is HARD for her.
James finished Lesson 13 (Skip Count by 6, Equivalent Fractions) and took Test 13 in Gamma.
Suzy did 2 lessons in Lesson 14 (Addition, Doubles +1 and Associative Property) in Alpha.

Language Arts - Literature and Reading

David read Chapters 12-14 in Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison by Lois Lenski and answered comprehension questions, some written, some orally.
Emily read Chapters 32-35 in Anne of Green Gables and answered comprehension questions, some written, some orally.
James did 3 Read and Think Skill Sheets (A Beka).
Suzy read 1 Bob Book from the second set and wrote in her literature journal.
Everyone did some silent reading throughout the week.

Language Arts - Writing

Everyone wrote 2 thank you notes.
Everyone wrote in their Communication Journals.

Language Arts - Other

David and Emily both did several pages in Easy Grammar about prepositions.

Science

No Science this week.

History

David read Chapters 5-7 in History of Us: Book 4 (by Joy Hakim).

Other activities

Shopping together on Tuesday.
Christmas Eve family time on Wednesday
Christmas Day on Thursday
Saturday we had friends over

Friday, December 26, 2008

Friday Fill-in #104

1. I must live before I die.

2. You can't stop time.

3. I wish I never had to buy tampons again.

4. God has helped me change my life.

5. I know the song(s) from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by heart.

6. If I weren't so afraid, I would go skydiving. (LOL, not really! But I can't think of anything to put here.)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching a movie, tomorrow my plans include cleaning house and relaxing and Sunday, I want to relax!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Playing Outside

My two youngest have been amazing me with their tolerance for the cold weather! They love playing in the snow! We have a lot of it.

Yesterday they begged to go out. It was 17 degrees. I agreed, thinking they'd be back in within minutes. They played out for at least an hour, I am sure. I wish I had timed it. They came in rosy-cheeked and very happy. Then they wanted to go out again just before dark, so I let them and they played out for another good long time. Reports are they were making a snow cave. They wanted to go out again after dinner, but I said no.

Wish there were more daylight hours! I do remember playing out in the snow myself after dark, by the lights in the parking lot, all bundled in my snowmobile suit and moonboots.

They played out again today for about an hour, or maybe longer. It was a bit warmer today, but not much. We are supposed to be getting more snow, so I am sure they'll play outside tomorrow too. I'll try to get some good pictures, but that means I have to go out myself.

And how do I get the older ones out there???

And I want to start my family on cross-country skiing as that is the only winter sport I think I could manage to enjoy.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Simple Woman Daybook - December 22

For Today... December 22, 2008

Outside my Window... About a foot of the frozen white stuff, empty recycle bin, a plowed sidewalk (the village came through with their plowing machine), and very very cold temperatures.

I am thinking... about the onerous new law called CPSIA and its far-reaching implications and what can be done to stop it!

From the learning rooms... We are still doing lessons, although it appears that most of the civilized world has stopped. Still trying to catch up from our sickly weeks.

I am thankful for... a lovely holiday with family (Saturday). The cousins played together so well!

From the kitchen... Lots of Christmas-y things - loaves of quick bread we were given, boxes and bags of candy, ingredients for special Christmas treats

I am wearing... a pair of jeans I forgot I had!, a thin long sleeved black shirt and a apple green flannel shirt buttoned up, white socks, my red fleece slippers, no makeup, hair combed. Thinking about putting on a sweatshirt!

I am reading... Buckingham Palace Gardens by Anne Perry (my last 888 book!!!) and Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass. Still trying to find time to listen to The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, but it's not happening!

I am hoping... to get to the store today or tomorrow - groceries and last minute items.

I am creating... hmmmm.... Christmas memories??

I am hearing... Bob helping Suzy with her math ("I can do it all!!"), James looking for a pencil, Emily turning pages

Around the house... Wrapped presents under the tree and more presents needing to be wrapped. A couple bedrooms that need cleaned before the big day.

One of my favorite things... SPRING!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Mostly staying home! YAY! I need to make a grocery store run before Christmas Day and there are a few odds and ends to get. Christmas Eve we might go to the service at church. We'll drop in on Bob's parents for a short visit. I may go clearance shopping on Friday - anyone wanna go?

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Here are the kids making their card houses. For a more professional idea of what card houses can look like, go here. We use last year's Christmas cards.

Weekly Review - Week 16

Yep, we are still plugging away! I feel like I'm forgetting something, so here's the list I can remember.

Bible

We read Philemon (it's just 1 chapter) and listened to Ephesians 1-6 and Philippians 1-6 in the car.