A Daily Process

Thursday, August 22, 2013

School Year 2013-2014

We're a week and a half into our new school year and it is going super well. In fact, each year gets better! We get more used to each other, we tweak our routine based on what works (or didn't) from the last year, we learn new things and tie them back to what we've learned in the past...it is just awesome having the same teacher and students each year for the sake of continuity!

I did update the sidebar of the blog with what we're doing this year, but I thought I would write up a quick blog post to go over some details, if you're interested, of course.

We tend to start our day about 8:30 with Krypto doing his violin practice with me for about 30 minutes. Then, we all gather around the table and this year we are doing a Notgrass study of the Psalms. Last year we read through the Proverbs and discussed them, this year, we're reading through the Psalms and we're drawing as we go! Nothing like a hands on activity to cement it into our memories. Next, we review our memory verses for the week, pray together, and say the Pledge of Allegiance to the US Flag and to the Bible.

At this point we break up and do our individual work for the morning. I work with the youngest to the oldest.

Sissi - 1st Grade
A Reason for Handwriting A
The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading
Explode the Code Phonics (books 3, 4, and 5 this year)
First Language Lessons Level 1
Writing with Ease Level 1
Math-U-See Alpha
***when she is done working with me, she usually does art or plays on her own while I work with the boys.

Gwangi - 3rd Grade
A devotional book
Cursive Handwriting Without Tears
Explode the Code Phonics (books 7 and 8 this year)
Logic
Math-U-See Gamma
Tapestry of Grace, Upper Grammar (UG) History/Lit Reading
***he does the rest of this list with me, when I'm done working with Sissi
McGuffey Eclectic Third Reader Aloud
First Language Lessons Level 3
Writing with Ease Level 3
Sequential Spelling

Krypto - 5th Grade
A devotional book
Can-do Cursive Handwriting Without Tears
Logic
Easy Grammar Level 5
Math-U-See Zeta
Tapestry of Grace, Upper Grammar (UG) History/Lit Reading
Creative Writer Level 1
Typing
Programming (this has yet to begin, I am thinking in September)
***he does the following subject with me, when I'm done working with Sissi and Gwangi
Sequential Spelling

LUNCH TIME about 11:30 or so.

After lunch, we come back together and our afternoons are as follows -

Tapestry of Grace, Year 4, 20th Century World History - Monday thru Friday

Science, Apologia Astronomy - Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

Russian - Our online class is Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, we do our homework and review on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

Home Economics - Home Economics for Homeschoolers

We are usually finished with school between 2 and 3 in the afternoon.

As for the extra curricular activities, on Tuesday mornings, at 10:30, we have a violin lesson for Krypto with a lovely Polish lady that is with the North Carolina School of the Arts. On Wednesday afternoons at 3:30, Sissi has a ballet and tap class. We'll find out this weekend what night of the week we'll have baseball practice for Gwangi (I did say no Wednesdays.)

Just because I like to be involved, we've also signed up to do the AWANA program on Wednesday evenings at the local Calvary Baptist.

Yes, it's pretty full, but it's going very well! How is "Back to School" going for you this Fall?

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Family Photos - July 2013

While we were in Colorado, in July, we had our family pictures done by Courtney again! They turned out great, and we loved the location she picked for us as well. It was a hot day, everyone was tired from all the travel we had been doing, and Indy had a headache, but we pushed through and I think she got some wonderful shots.

So, here is the interactive part of this blog post....which family shot would you pick for our updated card for our next assignment? Send me a note, comment on the blog post, or let me know on Facebook. I'm hoping to order them in the next week or so!

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Golf and Dinosaurs in Branson, MO

We went and did some mini golf today...a bunch of adults and kids...it was crazy fun!

Gwangi was so excited that we went to mini golf AND that it was DINO themed..."I love you, Mommy, this is the best day ever!"

All the future cousins, waiting by the dinosaur bones

Kenzie and Sissi, matching colored shirts and pink golf balls

Roman, putting his ball in the hole

I'm not quite sure she's got the whole "golf grip" thing down...

Where we went, in Branson, MO

One of the dinos, chasing a "guy" up the volcano

My sister, Kate

Gwangi LOVES dinosaurs!!!

Another dino

Part of the family up on the T-Rex course

A view of the volcano

Jake, really taking his golf game seriously

Stephen, keeping score and keeping us honest

Megan, taking a shot

Kenzie, she was up for some posing and getting her picture taken

About every 15 minutes the volcano would explode and "fire" would go up in the sky

Another picture of Jake

Megan and Stephen

My dad

Austin

Indy

Austin and Kate

"This was the best day ever!"

Another shot of the exploding volcano

Look at this swell family, nice family picture!

Cows and Rock Climbing

I'm trying to get caught up on a few more pictures that I took while we were in Indiana with Indy's family. I was so hit or miss with taking pictures the past two weeks and I feel like I missed a bunch of opportunities...I've got to get that camera out more often!!!! Remind me, ok?!!?

All of these pictures are from our day trip to Fair Oaks Farms, where we saw cows, learned about the milking process, and did some rock climbing. Oh yes, that is what I said, rock climbing at a cow farm!