Weekly Report 9/13-9/17

We took Thursday off and went to Gateway Mall. We rode the Frontrunner down and the boys loved riding the "train" and the light rail. Spent time at the planetarium looking at the exhibits and then let the boys run around in the water fountain. As usual I forgot a change of clothing so we had to run into Old Navy for some dry clothes.

Otherwise this is what we learned this week:
Math Mammoth (all three kids)
the twins learned addition facts 5 and 6
Nathan worked on tens and one, greater than and less than, he also worked in the Kumon word problem book and the counting book on his way to 1000.

Phonics:
Nathan worked on ETC book 3 (review for him) and reading easy readers plus worked on a reading comprehension book and the book 100 words you need to know in 2nd grade
the twins did explore the code book b and a few lessons from Ordinary Parents Guide to reading

Language Arts
The twins worked in WW3000 k on week 5. Plus worked on their handwriting.
Nathan finished learning about sentences in VIE, started a journal, learn his short I spelling words and worked on his handwriting in HWT.

Science
Nathan finished week 2 of ES. We learned about solar eclipse's and more about the Earth. We finished the week by painting our dough map of the earth. Plus we worked on tracking the temperatures and clouds for our weather forecasting unit.
The twins finished up week 2 in ES by learning about the earth biomes. We also started week 3 and learned about mammals and lions. We also did week 3 in the intro to science unit of ES and learned about dilution.


History
Nathan continued learning about the Iroquois. We had an Iroquois dinner of maple molasses beans and a corn cake. He also made a wampum and we painted pottery.
The twins learned about Japan. We read loads of fun Japanese books and ate at a Japanese restaurant. We also made our own hanging fish and origami frogs.

I may have missed a thing or two. This week has been a struggle for us. If your interested in the actual books we used on anything let me know and I'll list them for you.

Why Public Schooling is Better than Homeschooling.....

I noticed this on a blog while I was blog surfing. I find it funny. I'm not knocking public schools here I'm just laughing at how what some people see as a reason not to homeschool may be a reason that homeschoolers choose as to why they do. I hope that made sense. I found this on this blog.


Most parents were educated in the under funded public school system, and so are not smart enough to homeschool their own children.

Children who receive one-on-one homeschooling will learn more than others, giving them an unfair advantage in the marketplace. This is undemocratic.

How can children learn to defend themselves unless they have to fight off bullies on a daily basis?

Ridicule from other children is important to the socialization process.

Children in public schools can get more practice "Just Saying No" to drugs, cigarettes and alcohol.

Fluorescent lighting may have significant health benefits.

Publicly asking permission to go to the bathroom teaches young people their place in society.

The fashion industry depends upon the peer pressure that only public schools can generate.

Public schools foster cultural literacy, passing on important traditions like the singing of "Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg..."

Homeschooled children may not learn important office career skills, like how to sit still for six hours straight.

Week In Review 9/06-9/11

Nathan
Work on 8 pages of Math Mammoth
started the American Story 100 true stories
second week of spelling short e words (Zaner Bloser Spelling Connections 2nd grade)
worked on sentences, telling, commanding and asking (Voyages in English Grade 2)
Handwriting without tears Printing Power Grade 2, worked on perfecting his letters
worked through about 15 pages of Explode the Code 3
read several easy readers
two chapters from Charlotte's Web
finish week one Elemental Earth Science by making a clay flat map of the world
started his book on weather forecasting, we are tracking the clouds and temperature everyday
started week two of Elemental Earth Science, we did a Wobbler experiment
started learning about the Native Americans, we made a longhouse and petroglyph and pictograph

Noah and Zachary
worked on about 8 pages of Math Mammoth
did week 4 of Wordly Wise 3000 K
Explore the Code book B started with the letter p
read The Popcorn Book (P sound)
kumon lowercase letters book
used the ordinary parents guide to teaching reading lessons 27-29
finished South Korea and ate Korean BBQ beef for dinner one night
started learning about Japan
did week one in Elemental Science and made blocks of crayons
started week two in Elemental Science Biology and learned about habitats. Started working on a habitat poster.
finished Blueberries for Sal and made puppets and acted out the story with the puppets

Not a bad week considering we had the stomach bug for two of the days.

Week in Review 8/23-8/27

Well all my planning and getting things ready didn't help this week go smoothly. First the twins are revolting at having to actually spend more than 10-30 minutes doing school work. Nathan who said he didn't want school to start and was arguing the whole week before actually dug right in and started work without complaining. Second one whole day was basically lost due to my father who is recovering from surgery having spent time at the house and us having to transport him to another town. Third one child broke his arm, which as luck would have it is the hand he writes with. Fourth being by late Thursday I just wanted to send them to school.

However looking back at what we did do, when you factor in all of the problems, is actually a lot I do feel like this wasn't a bad first week. Here's a run down on what the kids did:
Nathan
Charlotte's Web
readers on his reading level
explode the code 3
Math Mammoth grade 2 review
Kumon Word Problems grade 1 (finishing this off from last year)
counting book
The fall of Rome
working on types of sentences
handwriting without tears grade 2 print
Wordly Wise 3000 grade 2 (we may be dropping this very soon)
spelling words with the short a sound
a toy story comprehension workbook for phonics and language art (since he LOVES Toy Story)
learned about our planet, did an experiment showing how the atmosphere keeps the earth warm, and learned about what's in space


Noah and Zach
started to learn about South Korea
started the week working on earlybird singapore math but we've now moved them on to math mammoth grade one
kumon lowercase letters
explore the code book a
Make way for ducklings
wordly wise kindergarten
learned about animals habitat, migration, defense, camouflage and food. we made a food chain showing how animals eat other animals in order to get food.

The pictures at the top show the owl food chain (the owl is brown, the mouse is black, and the grain is yellow) that the twins did. Also the barbarian was from Nathan's history. The other picture is of a duck craft we did to celebrate the book Make way for Duckling.

School Starts Monday

And I think I am finally ready. A few last minute changes to the choices we made but I think we are set to go. I'm happy with our choices and can't wait to get started. Even the boys can't wait to start.
Here's a rundown, sorry not providing links this time but if you want a link comment and I'll you to it.

Noah and Zachary
Earlybird Singapore math
Math Mammoth 1
Galloping the Globe
Wordly Wise 3000 k
Handwriting without tears k
Kumon lowercase letters
Explore the code and explode the code
Elemental Science biology
Elemental Science intro to science
k12 science

Nathan
Math Mammoth 2
Kumon Word Problems 1 and 2
Story of the World 2
Rand McNalley Maps
Cantering the Country
Voyages in English
Zaner Blosser Spelling 2
Wordly Wise 2
Explode the code
Song School Latin
K12 science
Elemental Science earth science
Weather forecasting program

All three kids
learning instruments in music
Evan Moor how to teach art k-6

Killer Deal on Books

I discovered last year that Scholastic would allow homeschool families to register as a school and to buy books from them. Well it's the first of the year and they were offering all kinds of discounts for your first order. One discount being buy $20 worth of books get $10 to spend on any books. Second being spend $20 on books and get 10 books of their choice free. Third being double the reward points which means in the future free books or free supplies. I have three catalogs come to the house so I got the bonus things on all three catalogs. I spent $64 and received 75 books plus enough bonus points to get about $25 more in free books. I paid 85 cents each for the books. Almost as cheap as the thrift store or yard sales.

Thursday's are Fun Days

So this summer we've been having a Fun Day on Thursday's. We give the kids a choice of a few activities and we go and spend the day having fun. No getting mad at something or someone. Just pure fun. It's been a blast and we've really had fun. Some things we have done:
Splash Pad, lunch, and snocones.
Movie, Hungry Bear Pizza (arcade included), and ice cream.
Boondocks with dinner out.
Hogle Zoo with lunch.
Antelope Island with lunch at Panda Express.
Swimming at South Davis Recreation Center, ice skating at the same place, and dinner.
Movie, lunch, and park.
Bowling, food at the alley, and ice cream.

I was hoping to go to Lagoon but its more money then I want to spend. But tomorrow we are going to Cherry Hills with lunch out. Probably dinner too if its late and we are tired.

Anyway its been a great bonding experience for us. I highly recommend doing a fun day for your family.