Where Chase comes up with these crazy ideas, I'll never know!
“I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.” -Flannery O’Connor
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
School
On Friday, we will complete our 9th week of school. That is one-fourth of the way through the school year. It's going pretty well, and I'm happy with our curriculum choices.
Landon is using Sonlight 400 to study government. He is loving this, of course. We're also using the American Literature part of this core although he does not need another English credit. We're not doing any writing with the literature, simply reading the books. He is taking Calculus using Thinkwell. This was one change we made. We started the year using the AP Calculus BC course from Florida Virtual School. Landon HATED it. The "instruction" was basically like reading lessons from a traditional public school textbook. Landon said they spoke in "formula" language rather than English. So, we went back to Thinkwell, which he loved last year. At the end of the course, he should be able to take the Calculus BC exam. A 4 or 5 on this exam converts to 10 credits for Calculus w/ Analytical Geometry I and II at CFCC. We planned for Landon to take Physics via dual enrollment at CFCC this year, but that didn't work out for several reasons. So, he's using the Apologia Physics textbook to take a class "for fun" at the Virtual Homeschool Co-op. He's also studying the take the Biology CLEP test. He's taking a Personal Wellness class at CFCC. It's an online class, and a pretty easy one at that. He continues to play the piano as well.
Gerren is using Sonlight 100 to study American History this year. For English II, he's using the second half of Easy Grammar Plus, the literature from Core 100, and the Institute for Excellence in Writing's Student Writing Intensive. The Bible portion of this core is part of a Life Management course I put the kids through that extends over their high school years. Although we love Apologia for science, I knew it was not for Gerren when it comes to Biology. There is simply too much memorization of vocabulary. So, I opted for a program called Power Basics Biology. He will probably go back to Apologia for chemistry next year. Gerren is beginning his two years of high school foreign language using Tell Me More by Auralog. He really loves this program! Gerren is also using Thinkwell for Algebra II. I really like Thinkwell for high school math. He continues to play drums for 30 minutes a day even though we had to stop lessons when Greg got laid off.
Both of the boys are taking Dave Ramsey's Foundations in Personal Finance class which I am teaching once a week to a group of homeschoolers in our local support group. I am getting as much out of the class as the kids!
Chase is using some of Sonlight 5 for history this year. I really did not like the Eastern Hemisphere Explorer the first time we did it. So, I decided to replace this with Florida history, which I did with the boys when Chase was really too young to get much out of it. We're also using the Complete Book of Maps and Geography and a several different items to memorize the states and capitals and the presidents. We are using the Bible portion of this core, for the most part. The boys loved the book Remembering God's Awesome Acts when we went through it, although I do skip some of the more tedious parts. For language arts, we're using several different items as well: Easy Grammar 5/6, Daily Grams 5, Italic G, Writing Trails with Great Composers, Vocabulary Cartoons, and the readers from Sonlight 5, of course. Chase's math consists of Singapore Primary Mathematics 5 and the Daily Math Practice Grade 5 workbook. The only thing I don't like about Singapore is the lack of frequent review. Chase needs that, so that's why we're using the other workbook. We're also using Sonlight science. Chase continues to play the piano and guitar and sing in a girl's choir.
Finally, I am using Sonlight's Core P3/4 with Carys simply because I need to MAKE time to read to her every day. Having a schedule helps me do this. She loves it as well!
What a full schedule! Thankfully, the older kids work pretty much on their own on workbook type stuff. I read to all of them every day at least a little bit. I'm learning a lot myself, as usual!
Landon is using Sonlight 400 to study government. He is loving this, of course. We're also using the American Literature part of this core although he does not need another English credit. We're not doing any writing with the literature, simply reading the books. He is taking Calculus using Thinkwell. This was one change we made. We started the year using the AP Calculus BC course from Florida Virtual School. Landon HATED it. The "instruction" was basically like reading lessons from a traditional public school textbook. Landon said they spoke in "formula" language rather than English. So, we went back to Thinkwell, which he loved last year. At the end of the course, he should be able to take the Calculus BC exam. A 4 or 5 on this exam converts to 10 credits for Calculus w/ Analytical Geometry I and II at CFCC. We planned for Landon to take Physics via dual enrollment at CFCC this year, but that didn't work out for several reasons. So, he's using the Apologia Physics textbook to take a class "for fun" at the Virtual Homeschool Co-op. He's also studying the take the Biology CLEP test. He's taking a Personal Wellness class at CFCC. It's an online class, and a pretty easy one at that. He continues to play the piano as well.
Gerren is using Sonlight 100 to study American History this year. For English II, he's using the second half of Easy Grammar Plus, the literature from Core 100, and the Institute for Excellence in Writing's Student Writing Intensive. The Bible portion of this core is part of a Life Management course I put the kids through that extends over their high school years. Although we love Apologia for science, I knew it was not for Gerren when it comes to Biology. There is simply too much memorization of vocabulary. So, I opted for a program called Power Basics Biology. He will probably go back to Apologia for chemistry next year. Gerren is beginning his two years of high school foreign language using Tell Me More by Auralog. He really loves this program! Gerren is also using Thinkwell for Algebra II. I really like Thinkwell for high school math. He continues to play drums for 30 minutes a day even though we had to stop lessons when Greg got laid off.
Both of the boys are taking Dave Ramsey's Foundations in Personal Finance class which I am teaching once a week to a group of homeschoolers in our local support group. I am getting as much out of the class as the kids!
Chase is using some of Sonlight 5 for history this year. I really did not like the Eastern Hemisphere Explorer the first time we did it. So, I decided to replace this with Florida history, which I did with the boys when Chase was really too young to get much out of it. We're also using the Complete Book of Maps and Geography and a several different items to memorize the states and capitals and the presidents. We are using the Bible portion of this core, for the most part. The boys loved the book Remembering God's Awesome Acts when we went through it, although I do skip some of the more tedious parts. For language arts, we're using several different items as well: Easy Grammar 5/6, Daily Grams 5, Italic G, Writing Trails with Great Composers, Vocabulary Cartoons, and the readers from Sonlight 5, of course. Chase's math consists of Singapore Primary Mathematics 5 and the Daily Math Practice Grade 5 workbook. The only thing I don't like about Singapore is the lack of frequent review. Chase needs that, so that's why we're using the other workbook. We're also using Sonlight science. Chase continues to play the piano and guitar and sing in a girl's choir.
Finally, I am using Sonlight's Core P3/4 with Carys simply because I need to MAKE time to read to her every day. Having a schedule helps me do this. She loves it as well!
What a full schedule! Thankfully, the older kids work pretty much on their own on workbook type stuff. I read to all of them every day at least a little bit. I'm learning a lot myself, as usual!
Blogging
I've been such a bad blogger lately. You see why I don't try to use my blog to make money! LOL! It's hard to blog when you're going through tough times I think. At least it is for me. Greg is still looking for a job with no real leads. He's applied for a hundred jobs I'm sure. The fact is that every job he's ever had, he got because he knew someone. So, I'm not sure all this applying for jobs online is going to do any good. He is working a couple of part time jobs, but he's making less than half what he was and we were struggling to pay the bills then. We need to get out of this expensive house and probably out of this expensive state. It just costs too much to live in Florida!
Anyway, I'm going to try to do some blogging in the next few days as I've had a few things I've wanted to blog about for my own records (which was why I started this blog in the first place).
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Smores!
My kids LOVE smores! Dad got out the sterno can to toast the marshmallows, but Chase saw a recipe to make them in the microwave on the marshmallow bag. Yippee! Less mess. At least until you eat them. Carys had chocolate all over!
Can you see it on her eyelid?
Speaking of Carys, she has been having bad dreams during her naps recently. They wake her up, but she's really still half asleep. If you've gone in to comfort her, she'll fall back asleep with you hold her. Gerren really loves her most of the time. He specifically requested this picture!
Can you see it on her eyelid?
Speaking of Carys, she has been having bad dreams during her naps recently. They wake her up, but she's really still half asleep. If you've gone in to comfort her, she'll fall back asleep with you hold her. Gerren really loves her most of the time. He specifically requested this picture!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Poor Neglected Blog
When we got home from the timeshare, activities were in full swing. We had something extra every single day this week. Whew! Greg was also home all week on the computer looking for a job. Unfortunately, he's not had a single interview. Please pray for a job for him and for my attitude which is NOT good.
I'm teaching Dave Ramsey's Foundations in Personal Finance class to 12 homeschooled high school students this fall. We had our first class this week, and it went really well. I'm looking forward to the rest of them. Chase had her first girl's choir practice and guitar lesson this week (thankfully we had paid in advance for the semester of guitar) and got to go over to a friend's house Thursday afternoon.
Here are the promised pictures from our timeshare finally!
Dad supervises the construction.
Carys enjoyed the beach more this year than last.
What a little model!
Landon really enjoyed fishing again this year.
This was the only kind of fishing Chase did.
We went to the Southwest Florida Museum in Bradenton one day. It includes a planetarium and aquarium. We got in free with our reciprocal museum passes.
We got in on the feeding of the 61-year-old manatee, Snooty. The girls listened attentively.
I love these photo ops!
I'm teaching Dave Ramsey's Foundations in Personal Finance class to 12 homeschooled high school students this fall. We had our first class this week, and it went really well. I'm looking forward to the rest of them. Chase had her first girl's choir practice and guitar lesson this week (thankfully we had paid in advance for the semester of guitar) and got to go over to a friend's house Thursday afternoon.
Here are the promised pictures from our timeshare finally!
Dad supervises the construction.
Carys enjoyed the beach more this year than last.
What a little model!
Landon really enjoyed fishing again this year.
This was the only kind of fishing Chase did.
We went to the Southwest Florida Museum in Bradenton one day. It includes a planetarium and aquarium. We got in free with our reciprocal museum passes.
We got in on the feeding of the 61-year-old manatee, Snooty. The girls listened attentively.
I love these photo ops!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Timeshare, Tim Hawkins, Etc.
We're at our timeshare on Lido Beach in Sarasota this week. I brought the camera but forgot the cord to connect it to my computer. So, I'll have to post pictures later. Greg is going home tonight or early tomorrow morning. He only had 2 vacation days to use. Friday is his last day of work as he has been laid off. The company he was working for has laid off close to 30 people in the past 22 months. They just have NO work. He has been franctically searching for a job (well, as frantically as possible for Greg, who tends to let nothing faze him).
Tim Hawkins, our all-time favorite comedian, has a new video out. It is TOO funny! I thought I'd post it here for all you faithful blog readers who may not have seen it.
Tim Hawkins, our all-time favorite comedian, has a new video out. It is TOO funny! I thought I'd post it here for all you faithful blog readers who may not have seen it.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
First Week of School
Well, we have completed the first official week of the 2009-2010 school year in the Meahl Household. Last year I remembered my own advice to get a rolling start rather than jumping in with every subject after having 2 months basically off. It worked so well last year that it became a permanent part of the plan.
So, we started all the subjects that have 180 or more days in their schedules. That includes all of our Sonlight stuff and a few other things. Landon started everything except his dual enrollment course. Chase started about half of her subjects, and Gerren started less than half. He adds two subjects this coming week, and he's already complaining. :(
We'll add a few more things the following week. Then we have a week off to spend at our timeshare on Lido Beach in Sarasota. When we come back, we'll be doing all subjects. Perhaps that's just as bad as jumping in full force at the beginning of August! :)
So, we started all the subjects that have 180 or more days in their schedules. That includes all of our Sonlight stuff and a few other things. Landon started everything except his dual enrollment course. Chase started about half of her subjects, and Gerren started less than half. He adds two subjects this coming week, and he's already complaining. :(
We'll add a few more things the following week. Then we have a week off to spend at our timeshare on Lido Beach in Sarasota. When we come back, we'll be doing all subjects. Perhaps that's just as bad as jumping in full force at the beginning of August! :)
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