This week, our lifestyle of learning has included:
*Reading aloud...
...and lots of other reading {reading is a main activity around our house}.
Also, we finished The Mark of Athena on audio book, and began listening to The Red Pyramid, by Rick Riordan. The Red Pyramid is part of the Kane Chronicles series, which deals with Egyptian mythology...we have to wait until the fall until the latest in the Heroes of Olympus series comes out ;(
I finished reading Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini...I really enjoyed this book! I shared some of the things I learned about the Lincolns with the rest of the family :)
*Math in a variety of forms...
we have done math puzzles from Bedtime Math...
we've done some math-related reading aloud, watched a video about vedic math, and played games.
We've also tested out IXL, which is a math practice site I had known about, but forgotten. Thanks to one of Theresa's posts on Instagram, and one of the commenters there, I was inspired to check it out again with the girls :)
*Visiting a local Revolutionary War Cemetery...
I used to go there all the time when I was growing up because my family lived very close to it for a while, but the girls had never been.
*Jenna and I have worked together on plans for our herb garden, and Jenna made some markers for when we do get the planting done. No, we haven't planted yet :( A few weeks ago, we had beautiful, warm weather, but I wasn't quite organized. Then I was glad I didn't plant anything because we've had frost several times. Right now, it wouldn't be any fun to go out and plant because it is REALLY rainy, windy, and cold. Eventually we'll get the herb garden planted...sigh... On a happier note, my brother, who is taking care of all of the veggie gardening for both our families this year, reports that all is well under way! David has been up to help him several times...he has been putting in a HUGE garden :)
*Movie watching...
we've watched A League of Their Own, and the girls have watched several of their old favorites, plus episodes from the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew TV series on DVD from Netflix.
*Shopping for betta fish supplies {Jenna}
*iPod apps, of course!
*Writing stories {Lauren}
*Map making {Lauren finished a map of our property that she's been working on}
*Finger knitting bracelets, anklets, and necklaces from embroidery floss
*LEGOs
*The girls experimented/invented/created:
There was some spontaneous interest-led learning one afternoon...the girls invented, inspired by nature! It began with trying to replicate a maple seed. Lauren made a prototype, then they worked on revisions after testing it out. Then they moved on to other types of seeds. They even started a notebook!
*Watching 7 Cool Homeschoolers
*Helping at the library
*Outdoor time...when the weather has cooperated...playing with chicks, helping Daddy work on a lawn mower, driving the lawn mower tractors, and generally playing and exploring outdoors.
Remembering Gratitude:
“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.”
― Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose
My gratitude highlights this week:
*Even though the lilacs are now beginning to look a bit worse-for-wear {I wish they lasted longer!}, they still smell so good, and we've had some in the house all week.
*When I had to return a pair of pants to the store {they got strangely discolored after I washed them for the first time!}...I was able to easily return them and left the store with two items, instead of one {thanks to Kohl's Cash}.
*I've been making time at night to read before bed...I am so grateful to have this time and to have good books to read!
*We've gotten some much needed rain {BUT, enough is enough already!!!}
*Our lily-of-the-valley plants are blooming :)
*The countdown is on until I take over as library director and our current director retires...I am feeling slightly petrified about all of the changes to come {and so is she!}, but I am actually feeling a bit more like I can handle it. Of course, that feeling changes from time to time ;) It's reassuring knowing that we have a decent, workable routine in place here at home, and I've been working out a rough menu plan to help sort out what's for supper each night. Change is rough, but it can be good...
*Even though the lilacs are now beginning to look a bit worse-for-wear {I wish they lasted longer!}, they still smell so good, and we've had some in the house all week.
*When I had to return a pair of pants to the store {they got strangely discolored after I washed them for the first time!}...I was able to easily return them and left the store with two items, instead of one {thanks to Kohl's Cash}.
*I've been making time at night to read before bed...I am so grateful to have this time and to have good books to read!
*We've gotten some much needed rain {BUT, enough is enough already!!!}
*Our lily-of-the-valley plants are blooming :)
*Being asked for suggestions of good books to read is very nice...my girls don't always ask me...they typically pick their own, although I do offer suggestions plenty of times. I was delighted when one of my girls actually asked me...made me feel valued, ya know?
*I'm glad we had our fuel oil tank refilled not too long ago...we've actually had to turn the furnace back on because it's so chilly!
*Cups of tea {hot drinks, in general} in a favorite mug are really lovely on a yucky, wet, grumpy day!
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| {yes, that is a very large jar of (local) honey ;) } |
*The countdown is on until I take over as library director and our current director retires...I am feeling slightly petrified about all of the changes to come {and so is she!}, but I am actually feeling a bit more like I can handle it. Of course, that feeling changes from time to time ;) It's reassuring knowing that we have a decent, workable routine in place here at home, and I've been working out a rough menu plan to help sort out what's for supper each night. Change is rough, but it can be good...
*Not having to be concerned at all about how public school budget cuts will affect my girls is very freeing...we learn our own way, in our own time, with our own resources!
How was your week?
What are you grateful for?
What are you grateful for?
Linking up with Mary:
