Week 10 ~ Who Said High School Was All About Seat Work?

We had a busy week. It seems that all of the weeks are busy these days. Rehearsals for The Nutcracker and The Mouse King are in full swing. Besides Anne's normal dance classes, she is now at the dance studio on the weekends as well. She has a main character role as the cursed princess, which includes a solo performance. She is also dancing with the Junior Company as a cat, an elastic doll, candy, a sugar mask, a guard, and a sailor. She will be changing costumes a great deal of the time. She is super fast at changes so she isn't at all concerned about quick changes. My girl is in her element and excitement is in the air. This is what she lives and breathes! I was concerned as we got closer to Nutcracker season that Dean would have some regrets about not performing this year, but he seems to be completely content watching from the sidelines. I am so glad he is discovering his own needs and blazing his own trail.

Biology ~ We had a grand few weeks studying bacteria in our biology class. I purchased a bacteria kit from Homeschool Science Tools. The kids made their own agar Petri dishes. Then they collected bacteria from around our home, including from our poor dog's mouth. We had a little competition between the girl's bathroom floor and the boy's bathroom floor. We also took samples from each of the kids' cell phones. Wow, the results were fascinating, but gross! Let's just say, we will be cleaning our cell phones better. They have ten more agar Petri dishes ready and are plotting what they will collect and grow next week.

British Literature ~ Our friend Rose has decided to drop out of our British literature class. She is probably returning to public school next year and needs to concentrate on 8th grade skills instead of our advanced studies. We are sad to see her go, but in every cloud there is a silver lining. This gives us more freedom to study British literature the way we want and when we want. One day this past week, we had tea time while watching Sherlock Holmes: A Scandal in Bohemia. 

Art with Grandma ~ This month we studied Georges Seurat with Grandma. The kids made a color wheel and then learned about Seurat. They enjoyed exploring pointillism and trying their own hand at creating a piece in the Seurat style. After three hours of learning and working, they only were partially done and will continue their creations next week.

Dean's Window ~ partially done

Anne's Window ~ she only has one curtain painted so far.

What a blessing it is to homeschool!

Blessings, Dawn

Week 9 ~ A Look at Where We Are at the End of Quarter One

It is the end of the first quarter and time to see how we are doing. One would think that we have enough on our plate with each child working on 8 to 12 subjects (credits) for high school this year, but, no, we are adding three more. I have decided to add Health which is a half year subject (or half credit) for both children. I am adding Math II (applied geometry) and Home and Life Management for Dean which will be a whole credit each. This is in addition to adding Spanish two weeks ago for Dean. We are counting credits as complete with 144 hours and completion of goals. Some courses will go over 144 hours. So this is where it stands now.

Dean (High School)

• English I ~ We are counting grammar, writing, literature-based films and reading independently middle school chapter books. (currently on week 13)
• Math I ~ He is taking classes in pre-algebra and personal finance using Life of Fred books, as well as studying CTCMath online, hands-on math and any other sources that gets the job done. (currently on week 10)
• Earth Science ~We are using a variety of hands-on experiments, TED-Ed videos, Netflix, articles and field trips. (currently on week 14)
• U.S. History ~ We are using a host of resources from biographies to high school U.S. History textbooks with lots of field trips sprinkled in between. (currently on week 14)
• Physical Education ~ He is doing or has done dance, Wandering Swordsman (boffing), swimming, bowling, miniature golf, physical therapy at-home program and hiking. (currently on week 19)
• Visual Art I ~ (complete)
• String Instruments ~ He is taking guitar lessons and teaching himself the ukulele. (currently on week 28)
• English II ~ We are doing British Literature with an extensive reading list and movies. (currently on week 7)
• Math II ~ This will be an applied geometry course beginning with basic geometry and real world geometry. We will see how far he is able to achieve. (currently in week 1)
• Biology ~ We are using many experiments, a high school textbook and some Netflix documentaries. (currently in week 7)
• CTE Career and Technology Education ~ Dean is receiving credit for his volunteer work at the Nature Center, doing chapters in a career textbook, documentaries on career related subjects, an engineering course online and future volunteer work. (currently at week 10)
• World History ~ This will include CNN Student News, research papers on historical topics of interest, documentaries and biographies. We are counting five CNN Student News shows (one week's worth) as one hour of history. (currently at week 2)
• Visual Arts II ~ Dean is taking classes with a homeschool co-op plus Roots and Wings teen art nights, Grandma and lessons he finds on lines. This course is mostly drawing. (currently on week 7)
• Spanish I ~ He is doing Berlitz Basic Spanish with his Dad. (currently in week 2)
• Health ~ He will be CPR trained, go through either the Red Cross Babysitting course or First Aid course and numerous TED-Ed and documentaries on health-related topics. (Will start next week)
• Home and Life Management ~ This course will be a multi-disciplinary course that will prepare Dean for life as an adult. I feel that he needs more review and guidance than some students might need because of his special needs. Also, our public schools and sometimes our schools at home really miss the importance of teaching life skills. (Will start next week)

Dean is currently working on 14.5 credits toward his high school education. We lost some time with his depression and illness last year and some of these classes are carried over from last year. So far this school year, he is doing fine. 

Anne (8th Grade)

Anne is doing five credits for 8th grade. Our state doesn't require any particular subjects for 8th grade, so I decided to move history to 9th grade a few weeks ago. 

8th Grade ~ 

• Home Economics ~ Anne is concentrating on cooking and baking. However, she is also advancing her skills in refinishing furniture, sewing, car maintenance, child care and management of a home. (currently at week 10)
• Math 8 ~ She is working on pre-algebra, using a host of sources that I have mentioned before. Currently at week 10
• English 8 ~ This is primarily a writing course, which also includes literature-based movies and independent reading from our middle school reading list. (currently on week 11)
• Performing Arts ~ Anne is getting credit for all dance classes that have to do with performances, performances that she dances in, piano pieces that she learns and three or four professional performances that she will see this year. (currently on week 12)
• Physical Education ~ Anne is getting credit for all technical dance classes, such as Cecchetti, pointe and different forms of modern dance. (currently on week 20)

High School Credit ~ 

• English I (British Literature) ~ We are studying British literature with an extensive reading list and movies. (currently on week 7)
• Biology ~ We are using many experiments, a high school text book and some Netflix documentaries. (currently in week 7)
• World History ~ She is watching CNN Student News and lots of documentaries, as well as reading a text book and biographies and writing research papers. (currently on week 9)
• American Sign Language ~ Anne is learning songs in American Sign Language from watching the Internet and performing them for the family. Her signing is getting fast and very clear. She is learning both American Sign Language and Pidgen Signed English. The vocabulary is the same, but the syntax is different between the two languages. She will add other online courses or out-of-the-home classes as we find them. (currently on week 8)
• CTE Career and Technology Education ~ She has started this course by documenting her Teacher Assistant job helping with a ballet III class. Other job/volunteer opportunities will be added as they arise. (currently on week 2)
• Health ~ She will be CPR trained, go through the Red Cross Babysitting course or First aid course and watch numerous TED-Ed and documentaries on health-related topics. (Will start next week)

She will start high school credit physical education and Math I (Algebra) as she completes Math 8 and physical education 8.

We are on schedule or ahead of schedule for most of their subjects. I imagine some will fall behind as others intensify. We will certainly concentrate on the core subjects and their passions. I would assume that they will be completed first. I am hoping that Dean will have completed string instruments and Anne will have completed 8th grade physical education by the end of the next quarter.

Most importantly, both children are emotionally healthy, thriving, and growing strong characters.

Blessings, Dawn

A Solid Unschooling Week

I call it an unschooling week when we only do a small portion of book work lessons. Instead, we did lots of real world lessons. My husband was home this week on his staycation. We worked him rather hard, so I am not sure he would call it a vacation, but I digress.

My only true academic goals for this week were to do math every day and continue co-op classes with our friend, Rose. We accomplished all of that and so much more. Their accomplishments are listed below.

• Dean did five math lessons in Life of Fred Fractions and Zillions of Practice Problems Fractions.
• Dean did three lessons in geometry on CTCMath and made two 3-D shapes.
• Both kids did a biology lesson on osmosis and cell membranes.
• Both kids watched parts of the movie, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. (I decided that some of it wasn't appropriate.)
• Dean attended his art class and guitar class.
• Anne attended 15 hours of dance classes and helped as a teacher assistant for one additional hour.
• Anne painted her bed a lovely ivory for home economics.
• Anne learned eight songs in American Sign Language and performed each one of them for school credit.
• We began reading A Gebra Named Al as a family.
• Both kids watched the documentary, Born in China.
• Dean completed two lessons in Spanish.
• Anne started writing a comparison paper on the movie versus the book, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
• Dean did four science experiments on water purification for earth science.

We also got lots of projects done. Four of us got flu shots and all five of us got all of our paperwork and photos submitted for passports. I am not sure when we will get to use them, but it will be nice to have them ready. My husband also did everything from balancing fans in the house to steam cleaning floors. 

The most exciting part of the week was celebrating Anne's 14th birthday. I can't believe my baby is growing up so fast. She is responsible, grateful, smart, caring, focused and friendly. Her devotion to her education and dance is impressive. What a lovely young lady she is becoming! The first celebration of her birthday was going out to the Chicken Salad Chick restaurant with two of her dear friends and family. She got lots of dance gear and a few jigsaw puzzles. This weekend, we will be having another dear friend of hers over to go to dance class and out for a formal afternoon tea. I will post pictures of that next week.

Blessings, Dawn

Counting Blessings!

Some weeks are just unremarkable in our little homeschool. The work gets done, but there is nothing noteworthy to report. Some weeks are overshadowed by world events. This week was one of those. It was good and unremarkable at home and shocking and devastating beyond our door. The destruction of Puerto Rico and our government's slow response in helping our fellow Americans, as well as the mass shooting in Las Vegas leaves me speechless -- almost. These world events remind me that while academics are one thing, teaching our children to walk the road of kindness and to use common sense are the true lessons. This is my real reason for guiding my children to adulthood at home. It is an awesome responsibility and one I do not take lightly. The most important moments this week were unremarkable but wonderful little blessings. With all the heartache there is in the world, I would like to list a few blessings my family has experienced this week.

I love paths.

We went to an apple orchard and a pumpkin patch this week. We got tons of apples, ate apple treats, picked out pumpkins and found our way out of a corn maze. Blessings.

These two precious children bring so much joy to my days. I am so blessed to have them, and they are so blessed to have each other.

They are blessed with a strong relationship. I think the trial of  living with a mentally ill sibling and then losing her  3 1/2 years ago really strengthened their relationship. She was so abusive to them, and her mental illness permeated our home. Then she was gone in a blink (she ran away and, even though my husband and I  have contact with her, they do not). They have had to work hard to build their trust in each other and know that they will always be there for each other. I see them growing closer in friendship all the time. That is a blessing to last a lifetime. 

Dean (15) is blessed to be out of his depression. Last year was very hard. This year he has a core group of friends, more confidence, a love of music and art, and is gaining strength from his family. He smiles, whistles and enjoys his surroundings again. For that, we are so blessed! 

Anne (14) is sailing through school this year. She seems to have boundless energy to handle all that is on her plate. She has a passion that makes her soar -- literally. She can do some amazing leaps in dance. She is such a blessing to all who meet her.

Tim (our adult disabled son, who lives with us) is doing well right now. He was the slowest to show healing after his sister ran away. But he has so much more calmness in him now. He has learned to trust that a family outing doesn't have to include chaos. He is spending more and more time going out and about with the family. It is a blessing to have him engaged with the family and enjoying family time again. 

So blessings abound. I am ever so grateful!

Blessings, Dawn