In-Service Day

Yesterday we had an in-service day. I planned out the remaining weeks of school. We only have seven weeks of school left plus one week of spring break. I'm almost sad to see it end but we have come a long way in the last twenty-eight weeks. As I look back here are some of the highlights to remind me that it will be all right:

• The Latin book that was scary to look through at the beginning of the year is almost completed.
  
• We made it through CW Aesop B without bloodshed.
• CW Poetry is a hit, I knew that. Z is very pattern oriented and poetry is a pattern.
• Z called diagramming sentences fun.
  
• Life of Fred is a big, big hit. Did you know you can laugh during math?
• I'm learning a lot about ancient history this year.
  
• I'm learning a lot about the periodic table of elements this year too.
  
• I'm glad I read Black Ships Before Troy before attempting The Iliad.
• There will be an eighth Alex Rider book! (jumping for joy)
• If you are planning on self-educating make sure you budget for it. I consider myself the second student now. Fortunately most of what I'm buying Z can use down the road.
• You don't have to do it ALL in one year. (who me?)
• Just because Z isn't ready to learn something doesn't mean I have to quit learning it.
  
• Matching bookcases are a thing of beauty.
• An electric pencil sharpener is also a thing of beauty
• Next fall is going to be awesome!
  

Wakefield Walk: Z's perspective

Yesterday was a beautiful day. I had Z take the camera out and take pictures of ten different items in the yard. Amazing what the yard looks like from his perspective. His pictures, my narrations...

The ant mound that is outside of his bedroom window.

A beautiful composition photo which epitomizes the diversity of our yard.

One of the trees that got struck by lightning last year.

Another set of trees in the yard that really like each other.

It's a little blurry, but there is a birds' nest in there.

Another half downed tree. Um, we have some tree work to do in the yard.

The little creek at the end of our driveway. Technically it's a water drainage system (ditch for us common folks) but it has a wonderful eco system of its own. Z saw a turtle in there yesterday and there are always little fish swimming in it.

Another picture of the creek.

This very large flowering bush in our side yard. It's only pretty for about three or four weeks. Z has captured its beauty.

Another dead tree in our backyard. Yup, it's on the list for Tigger to take down. Currently a feeding ground for a woodpecker.

Z certainly surprised me with what he chose to photograph. He did a wonderful job.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Lucky stars above you,
Sunshine on your way,
Many friends to love you,
Joy in work and play-
Laughter to outweigh each care,
In your heart a song-
And gladness waiting everywhere
All your whole life long!

Professor Z's science experiement

Science started in a normal fashion, marshmallows on a plate. We were going to make model molecules (say that three times fast!).

However, the professor had a better idea. Roasting marshmallows over an open flame in the kitchen. Seemed harmless enough, right?


No! Our molecules started to glow! There must have been something radioactive in the fuel? What should we do?



Why feed the marshmallows to an unsuspecting participant of course! We initially tried to "volunteer" Sargent Astrum here, but she was already stuffed. (Get it, already stuffed!) .....boo, hiss.

So we did what any self-respecting homeschooler would do, we fed it to the Private Daytona. See the resulting glow in her eye? The dog has since recovered and has sworn off marshmallows for a while.



Disclaimer: No actual marshmallows were harmed in the course of this experiment, no hazardous chemicals were created, and the dog didn't really glow. We did find out what happens to a marshmallow once it burns up. Crispy would be a good description.

CW Poetry: A beginning

Our of our assignments today was to replace words in the simple rhyme of Jack Be Nimble. Here it is in the original form in case you have forgotten.

Jack be nimble
Jack be quick
Jack jump over the candlestick

Z has once again put his unique touch on our writing assignments. This the Professor's rendition

We be tired
We slow
We jump over the flaming 'fro

For those of you who have seen my hair early in the morning, flaming 'fro is not too far from the truth. His imitation gets two thumbs up from me.

Wordless Wednesday: Monday in the Backyard

A Quiet Victory

Z is a reluctant writer. He does not lack in the imagination department and can tell wonderful stories, the struggle has been to get him to put them down on paper. This year I bit the bullet and purchased Classical Writing's Aesop B for our grammar and writing program. Yesterday we finished the eighteen week program.

I am so proud of Z, he has moved forward greatly in his writing. We are still working on getting all of those wonderful creative ideas onto paper but he has made real progress. I give credit to Classical Writing for that. It is a deep and rich program. If it were chocolate it would one of those creamy decadent kind. You know the kind that you put into your mouth and simply let it melt because of its texture. Okay, now I've just made myself hungry. Anyway, we could redo the entire book and have a completely different experience. It is that kind of savory experience with a curriculum that I desire.

Z has even said that one of the fun parts of school is diagramming sentences. I know he is my child, but that is not something he picked up from Tigger or I. So there is hope that he will be smarter than both us. :)

Because of my experience with Aesop I have no qualms, although a little bit of stage fright, about moving onto their next level, Homer. We won't dig into that until fall. Until then we are going to work on CW's Poetry for Beginners A. Z keeps telling me that poetry is girly. I simply raise my eyebrows because I know better. I'm currently reading The Iliad and there isn't a "girly" aspect to it. I truly think he will enjoy the poetry, he loves to memorize song lyrics and we are always playing goofy rhyming games.

Armed with CW Aesop we have won another battle. There are no trumpets, no banners, and no war games to coincide with this triumph, but it is victory just the same.