Another week has zoomed by and though I haven’t recorded daily learning opportunities I am pleased with the activity  that I have seen this week in each of the children.

 

I have needed to be flexible with the starting times for our lesson time each day this week.  It has been good to have the older two able to start their Discipline Studies and with them actually doing something by 8.30am it seems to keep us on track.   Josh and Jess have picked up marking each other’s math.  This has helped me tremendously.   Though I grew up with ACE and marking my own work neither of them like that idea because if they get something wrong they know they’ll memorise the answer and it won’t really be worked out.  The younger two haven’t always started their discipline studies independently; they often enjoy some extra time outdoors and we pick up their math and writing later in the day.

 

Whenever I have been ready to do the Discipleship Studies we come together.  This week we have just had our Bible Study time.  I have made a few slight changes and am very excited about the results (see previous post).  I am now reading our Bible like a read aloud.  Nomi and Daniel are working on a notebook page, recording yesterday’s reading while I read today’s story.  Josh and Jess record their thoughts after the reading. 

 

Joshua has been reading “Alien Intrusion” though last weekend he felt he was coming into a place where he didn’t want to go.  He discussed the topic with Peter who was able to summarise the remaining part of the book and give Josh a brief understanding.  I was pleased that Josh is able to verbalise what he feels about a book and be brave enough to put it down!  He has since begun reading “Mosques and Miracles” – though this may also bring some content that concerns him.  He is reading this with continual conversation with Peter.   Since I have told him he can have a break from his history studies while he reads about Islam and Economics he continues to read history.  He calls it his “Self imposed” history!  He has read “Anna of Byzantium”, with the most significant conversation being around trusting a historical novel as historical information.  I believe there is a difference between reading critically and reading suspiciously.  For his economics he is working through a textbook we got from the library – I would actually prefer him to be reading some “living books” though don’t really know where to start in this area.  Anyone any ideas?

 

Jessica continues with her reading and recording on Ancient Egypt.  This week she also spent a fair amount of time sorting everyone’s desk tray and “assignment book”.  She certainly has a knack (even passion) for organization and this type of task seems to relax her!    It was nice to hear her encourage Naomi to pick up studying topics that would help her own passions.  Nomi was talking about being an artist and Jess encouraged her to study colour and using different mediums.  It was a mark of Jessica’s understanding of a life of learning. 

 

Naomi started collecting information for her Lapbook on Dogs.  She is using a book she has read several times, “Seven True Dog Stories” as the basis for her lapbook.  I have read the book and written her a list of questions.  This week she has written her notes on about ½ of the set questions.  Next week we will start to convert those notes into mini book folds. 

 

Daniel continued with his math lessons.  He has picked up the place value well though still needs practice.  He did a few sessions with Rainforest Math, which gives him some practice in math skills without him having to say any words.  It works well for him.  We only got to one session of FIAR this week – what is a habitat.    The bulk of his sit work was done with the family Bible Study.   His session with the OT seemed to stimulate his desire to write letters.  He has completed a few lines of writing and put them aside for his “teacher”.   Next week we will pick up matching the sound with the letter form (writing) and see how he goes.

 

When I look back over this week I actually see many learning opportunities that we didn’t take up

• Nomi has lost her toenail and we have been dressing that every night.  What a great human biology lesson or a first aid opportunity.  But Nomi has been the only one slightly “benefited” from that.  (If you can say loosing a toenail is a benefit!)
• We watched TV instead of having our read aloud time
• The car cracked a radiator – the girls were with me – but we didn’t discuss it
• We watched Rolf Harris again but no one picked up a paintbrush
• The girls came shopping but we didn't talk about money issues
• The children spent time this week watching tributes to Steve Irwin though we didn’t take this any further with studying animals etc like we saw children doing on TV.

And that is to name but a few …. On the other hand though we have talked together a lot, we have helped others in the course of our week, there have been times where the kids have pulled together to serve the family activities/goals, we have spent time with friends, we have spent time with God individually, we have done physical activity, we have cared for each other, we have cooked, we have cleaned, we have loved our dog! 

 

The week really has been a full week of learning and living together.  It just depends on how you look at it.