A Touch of Pink

Weekly Report~ November 21, 2008

After a week of DS complaining about "hating school" because "I don't want to just sit there and stare at a workbook all day", I decided today will be Fun School. We'll read the pile of books that have been neglected due to his procrastination on his other work (math, phonics, handwriting). He can color a map of France while listening to Classical Kids, do some spin art, read a book to me, watch a DVD about France that I received from Netflix, bake something yummy, and do his last lesson from ETC orally. I'll see how many complaints I get doing things this way compared to when I ask him to sit down and "do school". As I write about our day ahead, I realize that this is what I want out of our homeschooling experience more than anything else, not just once in awhile but on a more regular basis. I'm having a hard time balancing book work with the fun stuff, but KNOW that it doesn't have to be one or the other. It can be---and should be---a combination of both.

Speaking of doing school, here is our week in review:

Thrifty Thursday

A twenty-cent discovery hidden on my library's book sale shelf. I can't rave enough about the treasures I've found on that shelf, and all for two dimes each. A thrifter's paradise. This book feels right at home perched on the piano in our schoolroom, as if it's patiently waiting for someone to finger through and play even one note... just enough to give it a voice after lying silent all these years.

Life Learning

B adores cooking. He loves to pretend to cook whenever he plays, whether it's in the sand, dirt, leaves, bathtub, or with play-doh. He has his very own 'kitchen' in the schoolroom, filled with wooden play food including pizza, ice-cream, fruit, veggies, hot cocoa and cookies. But NOTHING compares to the real deal. Cooking, REAL cooking, on a real stove in a real kitchen. With daddy. Saturday was one of those dreary, rainy, perfect days for Hubby to cook his infamous lasagna, and B beamed with pride and excitement when asked to help out. It turned out fabulously delicious~ thanks B!! Sorry, no leftovers....maybe next time.

Weekly Report~ November 14, 2008

Finally!! A week to be satisfied with. D was calm (disclaimer: compared to last week), somewhat focused, and went about doing his assigned work until it was completed, with minimal complaining. I can credit his behavior to three distinct happenings: (1) I took away his Halloween candy and gum to give him a break from all the red dye--and all the artificial coloring and flavors--he's been ingesting; (2) He's been sleeping better due to his little brother not waking up as often during he night, and (3) We're not turning on the television until ALL school work is done. Before, I was turning on the tv after breakfast in order to take my shower and get dressed, but I am desperately trying to break the boys of their television addiction and it seems to be working. That being said, I've been unable to take a morning shower and have had a lot less time online, but it's worth it....more than words can say.

We'll see how next week goes. In the meantime, the company my DH works for has been bought-out, which makes for a lot of uncertainty concerning the future of his job. Please keep us in your prayers, if you are so inclined.

Weekly Report~ November 7, 2008

An early post and an informal one at that.... I am busy getting ready for a much-anticipated SCRAPBOOKING retreat. An entire weekend away, just me, my friends, and my stack of neglected photos waiting to be scrapped. I'd leave tonight if I could!! Not enough school got done this week (and there's "no school" tomorrow since I'll be leaving early), without anything to use as an excuse other than (1) a wild, uninterested student, (2) a crabby, non-napping, pants-wetting 3-year-old and (3) an impatient mommy who spent too much time hiding away in her room. What we DID get done:

Singapore Math Earlybird 2A: Lessons 6 and 7
OPG (phonics): Lessons 63-65
ETC (phonics practice): Lesson 3
Getty-Dubay Italics Handwriting: Letter o
Science: Read Tusk, Tusk by David McKee
Art: Class at studio~ drew/painted portrait of classmate

Once again, we managed to get the "core subjects" done, but I don't feel like it was quality work. D speeds through the pages and there is little to no discussion on my part. He just doesn't like me 'teaching' him when he thinks he can do it all on his own. I suppose if I sit back and ponder this for a moment, it's actually a good trait on his part. It's the beginning of his ability to "learn how to learn" and a step towards the more independent learning he'll be capable of in future years. There, now I feel better ;).

A 10-Minute Window Into Our Day

Welcome to Monday morning at the Tin Roof Schoolhouse. Picture this, if you will~ D is asked to work on two pages in his math workbook, consisting of 6 subtraction problems in total. The problems are set up so that D counts the number of objects pictured, and then crosses off however many the problem specifies (i.e. How many shovels are there? ____ Cross off 5. So, 8-5=___.) He insists on working alone, but after a few minutes of fooling around on the very first problem, I tell him I'll have to sit with him and help him. We make it to problem #4, where he is asked to count how many chickens there are:

"Chickens? Chickens!!!!! Who's calling ME a CHICKEN?? Bawk bawk bawk bawk bawk bawk bawk" D says while kneeling on his chair, spinning around in circles and using his arms to 'bawk' like a chicken.

"D, how many chickens are there?" (me)

"Um... a one-and-a two and-a three and-a four and-a five and-a six and-a seven. Hmmmm .... (starts over) a one and-a two and-a three and-a four and-a five and-a six and-a seven. Seven!" spins around in his chair. "Is it time for my break now?" (keep in mind this is the first subject of the day, about 7 minutes into it).

"No, not even close. Could you focus please?"

D writes a seven but extends the top of it too far to the right "Ha ha ha ha. That's a funny 7. It looks like it's wearing a hair-do. Hahahahahahaha!!!!".

"Yes, that is a funny 7," I answer as I am in the process of erasing it, "try it again so it looks nice".

Writes the 7 again. "My favorite number!! I'm done now. Hooray, hooray, I'm done hooray. Hooray, hooray, I'm done for today!!"

"No, not quite. We still have 2 more problems in math and we need to do phonics before you take a break"..... I take a deep breath and head towards the kitchen to sneak some Halloween candy while he finishes the rest. Ten minutes into the school day and mommy already needs to refuel.