Tessellations!

No idea what those were until we hit geometry! I don't remember ever doing those in my geometry class and I have to say I am glad I didn't meet these guys sooner. I am just not artsy at all! I am literal. I am not very imaginative. I need live demonstrations. Sometimes I can follow written instructions but I need specific instructions on exactly what to do to get X. With tessellations all we kept finding was do this and this and see what you see. I see a big blob with wavy lines. They saw dolphins, and lizards, and horses. Not I! So why did I rack my brain over this. Middle Peep is taking a great online Math class and this was his assignment worth a test grade......a WHOLE test grade! This sort of stuff freaks me out.

In order to explain it to him, I had to understand it. You see...he is like his mama. He took one look at all those sites....do this and then this and see what you see...and he saw...a blob with wavy lines! I can not tell you how many times we Bing(?ed?) tessellations.  (OK...we Googled too but that didn't help any either.) Well I finally left him to it and offered no suggestions other than perhaps he should alternate the colors...one solid and polka dotted, etc.

This is what he did!

A close up!

In a different direction...

Mama is proud of you!!!!

Now we await the grade.....

Edited to add......he received a 93%. WOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!

Welcome New School Year!

Well I have written this post several times but none made any sense. To put it simply, I have NEVER started the year this unprepared!

I've been homeschooling or we have been home learning since Oldest Peep was 3. This was not my choice but many have heard me tell the story of our start. A just-turned-3-year-old insisted every day for a month straight that I must teach her to read. When I saw that she was serious, I had to do some quick research because I had no idea where to start. I wasn't a teacher. I had no training but here she was insisting EVERY DAY!!!!! I, fortunately for all of us, stumbled across The Well Trained Mind. I was sold instantly. We started formal lessons when she was around 5. She again insisted on planners and schedule. (I know...she's weird that way....first born thing I think!) Every year after that I would go to homeschooling conferences, buy books, order books, read the WTM boards faithfully, buy back to school supplies, and eventually sit down to plan out the year.

This year.................................

I am still trying to decide on some subjects. Other subjects (like Latin) the peeps have taken the reigns and I have no idea how to reinvolve (is that a word....it is tonight!) myself. Some things we are doing on the fly with no plan (music and art). Some planned things we haven't even started (History) because unplanned things keep coming up ( like this course on Justice by a Harvard Professor). We have two different science classes at home (Chemistry with Baby Peep and Conceptual Physics with the other 2 peeps) and 2 different science classes outside the home. The subjects giving me no headaches are being done online...... Classical Writing Diogenes: Maxim and Chreia (Oldest Peep) and Jacob's Geometry (Middle Peep). What a relief these have been! I don't have Oldest Peep in a puddle of tears because I suggested she rewrite a particular sentence in her story and I don't have to convince Middle Peep why writing just an answer to a problem is insufficient work at this level in math (not to mention teaching proofs to an 11 year old brain!)

So while I feel completely unprepared and I feel like a juggler on the first day of training camp, the peeps are actually producing work. They are learning. They are curious. They are progressing.

I guess the rest of the lesson plans can wait just a little longer. I have just this one sock to finish and this hat to knit up real quick and these new starts to plant and while I am at it, I might as well paint this wall because all this white is making me crazy, and.........

Well how has your school year started off? As planned?

Name this animal!!

Being the city girl that I am, I am no use to my children identifying these tracks. We tried a google search but nothing seem to fit. Can you help us???

New Schedule

Starting on Monday this is the plan. Let's see if I cry this time.

I must also tell you all that I have never had a timed schedule before. This is something  new for us as I am a fly by the seat of my pants type of person. Unfortunately, meeting our educational goals while balancing sports and socialization has required this type of schedule. We will see if this one works or if I go back to the drawing board.

Into our grove

We started school back up a few weeks ago. I have known for a while what we would use but of course the peeps had a different idea. We have already switched math, history and science. I will update the side bars some time this week but for now we found a grove to get it all done. Yesterday however, Oldest Peep was in tears most of the morning and could not tell me why. I finally got her to relax enough to talk to me about it. Well turns out that she was stressing about the times on the side. I put them there to give me an idea of when we can have lunch and when we will be done for the day and when Baby Peep could take his breaks. They are not set in stone. They will not be beaten if it takes 45 minutes to get done with math instead of 30. The reason I have a homework spot is that sometimes they do fool around instead of stay on task. When I see this happen and they are behind time wise then I will tell them they will have to finish in the homework hour. I have message boards to read, and laundry to sort, books to read, and a piano to learn to play. I can't sit in the school room all day waiting for them to be done.   

Well, once I explained that the times were guidelines not set in stone she was able to relax and finish her work for the day. The funny thing about the whole thing is that she was ahead of the time schedule. There really was no reason to worry. Besides we finished with enough time for her to weed the garden with me, inspect what we have growing (Garden update coming soon!), watch 2 episodes of Little House on the Praire (we are reading Little House in the Big Woods and they were curious), make cookies (they did not turn out well) play some piano, and play outside with her friends for at least an hour! All this way before dinner!

Planning!!!!

I am knee deep in planning. I am finally feeling the pressure to get going on this. Baseball has ended and summer swim team (more on that later) is over this Friday. I see the light at the end of all this driving. I tried today to just lay around and not do much but reading the WTM boards always fires me up. Many have already begun the school year. The nice weather we are having makes it even harder to think about schooling. But I must be disciplined if I expect to geth through this year.

Here is what we are planning on accomplishing:

Baby Peep

History - finish ( HA! more like start) SOTW 1 and maybe get to SOTW 2 along with Ancient History Portfolio Junior. We have used the parts that correspond with the SOTW chapter we have read and he has really enjoyed the more hands on stuff. He is my crafty child and I am so. not. crafty. But we must adapt!!!

Math - almost done with Singapore Math 1B. Complete 2A and maybe 2B

Science - ????????

Grammar - First Language Lessons 2. We have a few more lessons to complete 1 and then can begin 2.

Writing - Writing with Ease with my own workbook. I looked over a friend's copy of the WWE workbook and I did not like it. The text is perfect and I used the instruction in that to giude my own creation. Their workbook used a different book every week for narration and copywork. Baby peep and I want to read the books he uses for copywork and I could not handle a-book-a-week schedule. I created my own workbook integrating our grammar, read aloud, and writing goals. It should be fun.

Phonics/ Reading Instruction - McGuffey's First Eclectic Reader is what we are sticking too. We have tried several things and I wish he would enjoy Phonics Pathways but he is mostly overwhelmed despite my best efforts. Reading for this child has been a true struggle. Not that he is not able, he just has no desire. Unfortunately for him I am not comfortable waiting until he wishes to learn. He has made HUGE progress this past year but is still not where I would like him. He knows my goals for this year and has agreed to try to meet them. He knows it will entail alot of hard work but he is always up for a challenge. Because of his personality, I have to bargin and introduce goals as if these were his ideas and not mine.

Spelling - Last year I ignored this mostly but this year I must address it. I can not wait to find myself with a poor speller. It is a mistake I made once and will not repeat. He does seem to be a more natural speller but I am not willing to take my chances. I have looked over the All About Spelling materials once more and believe I can get through Level one and Two with him. I still have to plan it out somewhat and get myself familiar with this system. Everyone on WTM boards that uses it says it doesn't take more than 10 minutes but for us it was taking way longer. I need to study it again. I did get the magnets for the letter tiles so I hope this helps.

Art - Atelier Art. I finally took a long look at this at the curriculum fair and I had to get it. Baby Peep is the artist but they have all really enjoyed the two lessons we have done. I can't wait to make this a weekly thing. We have invited friends to do it with us and we are excited to start.

Latin - I am still undecided about Latin in general with this child. He is still not fluently reading so I think Ineed to focus on that but he has been asking when he will start Latin. Now that I have a program I LOVE to use when they get to about 9 or 10 I need to decide if I should start now or wait another year and do Minimus at age 8 or do Song School Latin at 7, then Minimus at 8 with Latin Prep at 9.

Decisions....decisions....decisions.....
Middle Peep and Oldest Peep to come........

Writing With Ease

I finally received my copy on Wednesday. I finished reading it yesterday. Now there is not much to read since it is mostly a week by week guide. I did skim the pages for year two,three and four but really only spent time in the introduction and then year one. I opted not to purchase the workbook and am up to week 15 in planning our own based on the guidelines in WWE. It lays it all out simply and clearly. We will also use the books he is doing copy work from as our read alouds. Now I don't have to plan another list! I am all about efficient. The only thing that worries me is that the workbooks have integrated grammar from FFL. We are almost onto FFL2. I will have to figure it out. This of course is for Baby Peep. I still plan on switching him over to Classical Writing in 4th grade. I can't wait to see how that works out.

No Child Left Inside

I love it!! To culminate a beautiful week in the Pacific Northwest, the kids and I decided to take the Outdoor Hour Challenge.

Barb at The Heart of Harmony has challenged the homeschool community to add nature study to their school week. To achieve and encourage homeschool bloggers she has decided to post a weekly challenge every Friday. That gives you all week to plan. Smart lady!

Well, the kids and I have met the challenge. Everyone who knows me knows I am not an outdoorsy mom. I don't enjoy hiking, and I don't enjoy camping. I do like the beach and can spend hours and hours sitting in the sun reading. I can bring a blanket to the park and lay in the sun with a good book. I will willingly sit by the pool as long as a book is in my hand. You get the idea. To accept this challenge I had to put down a book or stop cooking and get outside. I think Barb made an agreement with the weather to give me a whole week of sun so that the motivation would be there.

Nothing is really growing around our neighborhood. It is a new development and it is still winter in our neck of the woods. So we spent our time outdoors watching the clouds.We do have a very interesting tree we want to photograph but I left my camera behind on our walks. Perhaps next week....

The clouds are so cool here. You can have so many at one time. Here are the pictures we did manage to get today.

Oldest Peep took all of those as I was driving into downtown today.

We read about clouds here and here.


We also read Little Cloud by Eric Carle and then I found The Book of Clouds by John A. Day. I am going to look for it at the library.

In the challenge we were asked to research two things in nature that called our attention. Well, we looked and we looked but could not find what sort of pine tree this pinecone belongs to, so we are posting our pictures here in hopes that someone out there knows. We found it interesting because of the spikes or leaves sprouting from it. Please leave a comment if you know what kind they are and we will be forever in your debt.

Barb, thanks for letting us join in the fun.

Spanish Lessons!

My hard work has paid off!

We have started a Spanish Club. 2 moms from our new homeschool group are coming over weekly to enjoy a few hours of my beautiful Spanish language. We have planned activities for the kids and are trying really hard to only speak Spanish while they are here. Today we had a great day! With the beginners we played a matching game, we read a book, and we ate tostones. When the more advanced students arrived we played Monopoly, Dibujonario (my Spanish version of Pictionary), read some pictures books, and Oldest Peep gave us an oral presentation on a book she read. The assignment was to pick a picture book in Spanish and then tell us about it; the story line, what she liked about it, etc.

This is the book she read.

Empanadas que hacia Abuela

Here is her report (just as she wrote it).

• La familia de abuela vienen para una fiesta. La abuela hace empanadas para la fiesta. Ella pone calabaza en la empanadas. Los ninos llevan la calabaza a la casa. La calabaza en vuele la masa. El rodillo extiende la masa. Los nietos empujan el rodillo. El abuelo viene a la fiesta, y los primos da muchos abrazos. El perro de abuelo sige el todos partes. Son empujan el rodillo. Los primos arrive a la fiesta. Son persigen el perro! Los primos da abrazos a la abuelo. Ahora todos familia vienen a la casa de abuela. It is time para la fiesta! Abuela alimenta la familia. La familia loved la empanadas. La familia quiren leche. So abuela sirve la leche para la familia. La familia content est. Finally la fiesta was over. Abuela suena con las caras content. Este libro es bueno. Yo quiero que mi abuela hace empanadas todo dias.

English words Latin words

I was very impressed. I handed her the book, told her the assignment and then left it to her to do completely on her own. Afterwards I asked how she felt having done a great job? She said she was proud of herself. Once she started writing she said the words just came to her and she was able to do most of it without having to look things up. WOW!!!! Thank you SO YOU REALLY WANT TO LEARN SPANISH!!!!! Mr. Oulton (publisher) and Mr. Bolger (author) you are my heros!!!!

Poetry update

This week the peeps had to write an iambic poem that followed the da-DUM, da-DUM, da-DUM meter.

Well, Oldest Peep explained what that meant and then we got to work. She was not feeling well so her effort was minimum but I thought not too bad. Perhaps we will redo this when she feels better. I should look ahead to see if we get to do this skill again.

A tree is yellow today

The grass is blue today

The sky is purple today

The sea is pink today

Middle Peep's iambic poem:

A car is very fast

It must not get in last

A rock is very slow

Try not to stub your toe

I wrote one as well but oldest peep only copied half of it and the mama brain doesn't remember

the last two lines. Here goes:

In fall we like to play

A leaf is friend to me.

Have I mentioned how much we are enjoying CW's Beginning Poetry?

Baby Peep

I thought I would end the week with Baby Peep since he has been prevalent of late. I know it is only Thursday but tomorrow is Fine Art Friday which means I need to find something for that.

He is a very funny child to work with. He can sometimes be so cooperative. He can be so NOT cooperative if his mood strikes. I have not figured out what triggers him. He is motivated simply by himself. He could have had a nice dinner, gone to bed early with a story to boot and will wake in the foulest of moods. For a while I thought it was the gluten messing with him. Sometimes I still suspect it. Even though we are careful with what he eats, it is impossible, in this country, to eliminate it completely. We depend on wheat for everything. That rant for another time.....

Today was a very pleasant day. He sought me out for school. This is rare but happening more often. (There is hope.) His reading is still behind what we consider appropriate but the strides he is making can not be measured in reading levels. He no longer runs from the room when I pull out Phonics Pathways.

I have considered getting something else but middle peep used something different to learn to read and he is a terrible speller. Oldest peep used PP and she is a great speller. It could be middle peep was destined to be a bad speller (Papa Peep can't spell himself out of a paper bag) but I see understanding in baby peep that middle peep doesn't have yet. I attribute it to Phonics Pathways. I am not taking any chances this time.

He doesn't enjoy reading, but he now tolerates lessons and reading practice. He enjoys First Language Lessons. He likes the memorization and the narration bits now. He especially likes it when I put them on the blog for others to see. You know, now that I think about it, he is an attention seeker. I will have to ponder more on that later...

So today he did school on the floor of my bedroom. I had to run back and forth between schoolroom and my bedroom to check on him. We cuddled on my bed for History. Yesterday I received Junior History Book 1 and 2 and he couldn't wait to start it. I hope to write up a review later today.

Then we worked on Math. He is really starting to remember the math facts but more importantly he is understanding the relationship numbers have with each other. The Right Start abacus has played a huge role in that. I am not using the manual right now because he was not enjoying it and it was taking too much of my time for one lesson. We now use the abacus with Singapore Math. I explain with the abacus the point I am trying to make and he "sees" it right away.

Next was Explode the Code which he loves. He groans about reading the sentences but he has gotten so much better because of them. I see the grumbling as habit because he gets most of them easily now.

Afterwards, he practiced his reading and this is where it got funny. Watch him read and then work on some spelling words.

I usually take his words right from what he is reading. It helps to cement them in his mind. I am trying to discover what sort of learner he is and he leans visual but not necessarily on everything. This write what you read method worked for Oldest Peep way back when, so I go back to it with Baby Peep. Middle Peep was such a reluctant writer that I did not employ this method. I am paying for it now as he is 9 and has trouble spelling the most basic words. Maybe I will highlight him next week.

Another Poetry Moment

We finished our model for this week. I really need to find a rhyming dictionary that we can all use. Something comprehensive (for the olders) but not overwhelming (for the baby).

Here is Baby Peep's rendition of Mary Had A Little Lamb

Jerry had a little plan

Its code was smooth as Pip*

Everywhere that Jerry went

The plan was sure to flip

Jerry had a little plan

Its size was big as a ship

Everywhere that Jerry went

The plan was sure to slip

*he did have some help

Together they worked on their rendition of Birthdays by Maud Keary

Christmas by The 3 Peeps

When Christmas comes we always stock

Our tree upon the beautiful floor

And carefully we watch the clock

Each present opened to the core

How great to think Christmas will be

When we shall always soar one more

To all those gifts which are gradually

Building up the housekeeper's chore

This has really stretched them and me. We really are enjoying it. I am learning all sorts of poetic terms and Oldest Peep (she did a poetry class once upon a time) keeps correcting me when I get meter and foot mixed up. I love it.

What a day!

First the sun, then rain with sun, then just rain, and now SUN!!! NO Rain and the clouds are white and not grey! Dare I hope???

Also I think being cooped up at home makes the peeps restless. They have been nipping at each other all morning.

The final (and by final I mean just for that particular hour) battle was had when baby peep head butted middle peep. He did not mean to do it so forcefully. He sometimes doesn't realize how strong he is and he is always ........physical (for lack of a better word).

Here is middle peep.

He actually has a lump under his right eye. He did not want me to take this picture.

And here is the guilty party!!

He really was very sorry.

When I settled them down, we worked on CW's Poetry. They are all enjoying it very much.

Here is an imitation exercise we worked on today.

Ben be amazed
Ben be hard
Ben jump over the kid's backyard.
Author: Oldest and Middle Peep

Gerald had a little fan
Its edge was green as tree
And everywhere that Gerald went,
The fan was sure to flee.
Author: Oldest Peep

Miles had a little train
Its wheels were fast as light
And everywhere that Miles went,
The train would be in sight.

Author: Middle Peep

I just love CW. Tomorrow I will share baby peep's as he is still not finished.

Right now they are in the throws of another battle. When will it end.........

And for all my Spanish speaking blog readers I have created a Spanish version of this blog. Some will be the same information, some will not. This will be one of the ways I keep my Spanish relatives aware of what we do day to day in La Escuelita.

Lists and Updates

Friday's post was supposed to be Fine Arts but we are still surrounded by boxes although I do see the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak.

• The master bedroom is 90% done. Papa Peep wants a desk for himself and we need some storage ideas for the closet. I still have 2 boxes of linens and things to unpack in the master bath.
• Oldest Peep's room is 90%. She needs a desk and to still go through the clothes she has outgrown......AGAIN!
• The boys still need beds and a system for the toys.
• The game room is 95%. Papa Peep wants to get rid of the futon and get a smaller couch as this room is smaller than our previous game room.
• The schoolroom needs desks for the computers, my Home Depot wipe board as we left the old one behind, and more shelves. We have about 25 boxes with books still waiting for a home. The closets in that room are large enough to hold about 4 Billy Bookcases from Ikea. I think this will be the best solution without putting holes into the walls for shelves and we can take them with us if/when we move again. I also need some sort of cabinet to store my teacher items.
• The formal living room is bare other than a small stereo (must be one in every room), the Christmas Tree (which still needs redecorating) and the instruments, at last count 3 guitars (2 electric, 1 acoustic), a huge and way too powerful amp, a violin, a clarinet, a keyboard and a pan flute. Baby Peep is hoping to add drums (not on his life) and a mic. They are writing a song and he has a singing part. I will share when they are finished with it.
• The dining room is 98% complete as we still have a painting to hang. Oops...make that 85% as we would like to get the same hardwood floors in the entry extended into the dining room.
• The kitchen is complete other than I really want new dishes, and some more Cuisinart pots. Also since I finally have a good oven more bake ware would be nice too. But all that can wait. Also I would like a table for the eat in part of the kitchen but we can not agree on a size or style. I think we need a 6 person one. He thinks it would be too big. He thinks a square 4 person one if enough, but he miscounts. There are 5 of us in this family. Then when we get to style, I think a glass one would be easy to clean. He wants a wood one but I don't.
• The family room needs some shelves, a couch table (is that what you call them?) for behind the couch, and some paintings.
• All windows need window coverings as Papa Peep and I still can not agree on what to do. I think wood blinds with curtains as we find them is a good solution but he thinks just curtains or just blinds are enough.
• The garage needs shelves for the tools and bike racks. I have seen some shelves that hang from the ceiling that would be great for storing the suitcases, Xmas decorations, etc. We are also storing the washer/dryer we want to sell as well as the boys bunk beds. I must get them on Craig's List soon.

Well, that makes it all doable EVENTUALLY!

As for schooling believe it or not we are accomplishing.....some.

• Baby Peep
• Baby Peep is the easiest to keep up with. He can do most on his own. It is mostly workbooks he is doing and not much actualy teaching from me. His reading is falling behind again but that is completely my fault. The reading he does in ETC is coming along. I just really need to make time for Phonics Pathways. He seems to have much of Middle Peeps talent for Math. Not quite so scary but it is coming easily. He loves writing and his handwriting is very good.
• Middle Peep
• Middle Peep is always my easiest. I just give him stuff to do and he does it. I never know how much to push because he never complains. I gave him a book to read that I thought would be too hard but he is reading it at a faster rate than I thought he could. He is enjoying it also. His Math is coming along. I had him skip some of the review stuff becausehe was bored silly with it. He is into the algebra stuff now and he is enjoying it. I did not think he was ready but he is doing just fine getting nothing wrong. I need to make more time for Science and History as these are the two subjects he adores. Latin has not proven a challenge yet.
• Oldest Peep
• Oldest Peep is chugging along. She focuses mainly on her languages. She is understanding a lot more Spanish. I need to force her to speak it but it is coming. French is her favorite and she is dedicating a lot of effort to it. Latin is moving along nicely as well. She wants to pick up Greek again. I wish GP would come out with their Greek Prep already. Math is always a chore but she is in measuremenets right now and enjoying it more. We have done very little writing, but I hope to start up CW Poetry next week.

Well there is my update. Long and boring and with no pictures. I will see what I can wrangle up today and add them later. I also will not do a Fine Art Friday because the paintings I want to show you are still in boxes. They are safer that way until we are ready to hang them.

We are sick!!

We have yucky coughs and stuffy noses. And it is cold, but sunny outside.

Needless to say no school has happened. We close tomorrow and the movers bring our books stuff on Thursday. I think we will just take the rest of the week off even though we cannot afford it. At this rate we will have to work through Christmas and New Year since we have the Ecuador trip in February and March. But I am NOT stressed. I am not. Really......

Reptile Museum

We met homeschooler from this area and were invited to join them to the Reptile Museum. I, of course, did not want to go! But the peeps, of course, did so off we went!

Enjoy the show!

A little Update!

We are progressing nicely and with few hiccups since some of our major curriculum did not make it to temp housing.

Below is Oldest Peep working on Copywork. She has decided to copy Runny Babbit. HAHAHA! She keeps laughing as she copies some of those out. She loves Shel Silverstein.

Here Middle Peep is working on Fun Spanish. The author has done a great job of making some memorable sentences. We are all getting a chckle out of his drawings.

Baby Peep

What a difference a year makes! Last year this child would fight me on every aspect of learning. He wanted nothing to do with it.

This year he gets up, gets himself dressed, and gets right to work. Sometimes he will play under the table or jump around the room with his imaginary play but will soon settle himself down and get right back to work. I let the reading thing go for now. He has focused on Math and Handwriting. He loves copying and writing...how different from big brother. Reading will come...I will be patient. What a difference a year makes.

MATH WOES!!!!!

I don't usually visit the high school boards usually on WTM. I think I need to start making it part of my routine. I need Algebra help and quick.

I am very good at math, always have been. I usually worked on the previous night's homework in class while the teacher explained the lesson. I never liked Math but it came to me easily. Oldest Peep is another story. She has never liked it and I doubt she ever will. We started off with MUS and that was a disaster. We then moved to Miquon/Singapore and quickly dropped Miquon. Singapore was the perfect fit for her until Primary 4. I think it was 4b where she started hating math again and questioning her skills. We finished 4b and started on 5a when I realized she was just not getting it. We did the key to Fractions, Key to Decimals, and Key to Measurements just for a fun break. She did well with those. In the mean time I searched for something that would help her. We went with Saxon 76. That was good at the very beginning. Very soon she discovered it bored her to tears. We switched to Lial's and it has been happily ever after since then.

Enter Chapter 6!!!!

This chapter has shattered her complete confidence again. We have taken now 2 weeks to do this one chapter. Every time I pull out the books the flood gates open and the pleading begins. I just don't know what to do. I've looked at the video based ones because I think taking me out of the equation will be a good thing. I just don't get how she learns Math. The problem is I don't like how the others teach Math. In my opinion they over complicate things. I think Lial's BCM is a good text. It explains things clearly. They have enough problems for her to work on so that the concepts sink in, but she doesn't want to put in the work. I think it is time for another "Pep" talk.

Who will pep talk me!?!

7th Grade Schedule

Middle Peep's Schedule