School, Here We Come!!!!

I don't know about you but I am excited to be starting school soon, in fact we have already started a few subjects.  So what are we doing this year?

Charry, 7th Grade

Math: Life of Fred Pre-algebra; She completed the first of Fred's three pre-algebra books last year and is excited to continue to read about that quirky math professor from Kitten's University.

Spelling: All About Spelling; I'm hoping we can power our way through two levels this year.  It is my least favorite subject so I have trouble sticking to my schedule.

Latin: Latin Alive Book 1; This is by far my favorite subject and I'm excited for this curriculum.  We did a preview of the first unit at the end of last year and she seems to really enjoy it too.

Science: Apologia's Exploring Creation with General Science; This is the subject we have already started.  Charry is enjoying the experiments and handling the new requirements well.  It was important to me to have an actual middle school level text book.  I want to make sure she is ready for high school in two short years.

History: Oregon History; We will be using a workbook I found on Amazon by Georgia Pennington Sligar.  I'm also hoping to include various projects though out the year.  State history is generally covered in fourth grade so I am a little behind.

Writing: Cover Story; I haven't actually ordered this yet.  This is the subject I let my daughter pick.  We looked online as well as in stores at different options and she is adamant that this is the one she wants to do.  Charry is excited to design her very own magazine.  And she has been looking at steampunk all summer to prepare. 

Dailies: Along with two English related Dailies from Evan-Moor (Reading Comprehension and Language Review) she is using a Math Daily Warm-up workbook from Teachers Created Resources.  Now that she is out of elementary school it was harder to find general practice at her level.

Merry, 4th Grade

Math: Life of Fred Intermediate Series; that's right she is out of the elementary books and on to bigger things!  We love Fred so she's excited to start her new books.

Spelling: All About Spelling; Merry spells like I do, and that's not a good thing.  All about Spelling seems to help a little.  It is also helping me to see what she can do if she takes the time to slow down andd think about things.

Latin: Latin for Children book A; this is a repeat of what we did last year.  I'm hoping the review will help build confidence in what she knows.

Science: Apologia's Exploring Creation with Astronomy; I let her pick which area of science she wanted to study and I was surprised by what she picked!  She will also be doing the companion notebook.  This is the first year she is doing a different science than her sister so it will be different.

History: She will be studying Oregon history along with her sister but instead of a workbook she will be creating a lapbook that goes along with each unit.

Writing: Writing Strands level 3; This is the subject she has already started.  After each unit the author suggests that student take a break from writing to read so I found some of my favorite classics, like Harriet the Spy, the Princess and the Goblin, and Matilda, so she can do some guided reading this year.

Dailies: Merry has four of the Evan Moor Dailies that she will be using this year, Math, Reading Comprehension, Language Review, and Handwriting.  She is excited to start cursive this year!


So there you have it, our year is going to be a full one! 

"Insta"-replay #88, a wicked good time

Happy August, the month I start thinking about fall ad how nice it will be!

I finished up lesson planning only to discover that, if we stick to our 4 days a week schedule, we will have some classes going into June!  I talked it over with the girls and they decided to start those classes now so summer break starts sooner!

Last week the kids discovered the board games.  Well at least discovered they were free to use them.  Monopoly and mousetrap are current favorites. 

I've been trying to shop less by buying more!  It actually seems to help.  If I know I have stuff I could make for lunches I am less likely to run to the store and buy junk food.  

We were downtown Portland this weekend and enjoyed playing in one of their many parks.  Whenever we see waterfalls I tell my kids, "don't go chasing waterfalls."  So I think I'm hilarious taking a picture of them having caught the waterfall.

The reason we were in Portland was to see "Wicked."  Like most broadway musicals there was no photography of any kind aloud in the theatre but let me assure you it was wonderful!  The girls also got to participate in a GirlScouts workshop beforehand learning some of the behind the scenes facts.

It was a fun week!  I guess a little more summer isn't too bad.

"Insta"-replay #87, more heat?

This summer just keeps getting hotter.  As a true Oregonians, I always start complaining about the weather when it approaches 99, we have to start early because it rarely goes above that.  This week however we have been breathing sighs of relief to see any days below 100! (Slight exaggeration, but it has been unusually warm.)

Merry didn't seem to mind the warm weather.  This week she and her doll spent their mornings at a dance camp. Not only did she have a great time but she also enjoyed putting together some non-traditional dance outfits.

We spent most of our time where there was air conditioning, the library was at the top of the list.  The summer reading program has a super hero theme this year.

The evenings were the hottest with the day hitting its high around 5:00.  So while waiting for our home to cool down enough to sleep we took in a movie.  I do love Pixar!  

We finished the week swimming in Aunt Abbie's pool.  She was even sweet enough to sit out with the girls so I could stay in the cooler indoors.

August is traditionally the hottest month of the year, I'm hoping it will break tradition!  I'm ready for fall and sweater weather!

"Insta"-replay #86, local fun

This week I enjoyed being home!  We had fun at local parks and in our own living room.

Merry thought this climbing structure looked like the Eiffel Tower.  She was quite pleased with herself for reaching the very top.

The kids had fun writing letters to their cousins, now I just need to mail those letters.

Here in the valley there is no fear of twisters, but it is pretty cool to see a sudden up draft pick up a load of straw.  We rushed out in time for it to loose momentum over the road.  Seeing to hay hanging from the telephone wire is still impressive.

The girls got to watch their first Shakespeare, "A Midsummer's Dream". It was a community performance and cousin Toby was the changeling boy.  I was surprised by how much they enjoyed it.

"Sprinkles are for winners!" We were definitely winners!  Aunt Katie continues to find uses for the plethora of marshmallows she bought before they go stale.  

We are looking forward to another week at home. And I'm starting to count down to school starting!