Friday, March 4, 2011

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - 7

The Homeschool Mother's Journal
See more Homeschool Mothers' Journals here.



In my life this week...

We were homebodies, and soaked up as much fresh air as we possibly could!

In our homeschool this week...

We did a study on the Kit Kittredge movie, the girls had a blast!

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

We've been staying close to home. We visited our neighbor, JuJu. Little Bit has now mastered the names of her 2 dogs, instead of just doing the sign for dog, she says Shay-ee (Shaylee) and Muffy (Murphy). All 3 girls had fun playing with the Duplos I took up there (it was a great win-win, Judy mentioned that she needed more toys for when we come visit, and I had been procrastinating getting out the Duplos (packed away since we moved here) because of the thought of one more thing to trip over. So instead of getting them out at MY house, I took them to Judy's, all the kids have fun with them, and we pick them up and put them away when we leave her house and I don't have to step on them at my house!

My favorite thing this week was...

Little Bit re-discovered the baby/toddler swing that we've had hanging on our porch since she was a tiny baby. She LOVES it now! And so far the big girls enjoy taking turns pushing her in it! It's great fun to watch them all enjoying it together!

What's working/not working for us...

Taking the Spanish flash cards outside and taking frequent breaks to run around a tree, or hop to the clothesline, etc. while working through the flash cards! Definitely works for us!

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...

I want to revisit American History next year, trying to decide if I want to use the same curriculum we used before (we liked it, and it's at a 3rd grade level, so we modified it "down" quite abit last time (2 years ago) and it certainly wouldn't be "too easy" if we re-used it), or something different. Anyone have any great 2nd-4th grade level American History recommendations for eclectic homeschoolers?


A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

4 comments:

Tristan said...

Fun week!

My favorite American History resource, (especially in a housefull of girls), are some of the American Girl historical series (with the "Welcome to _____'s World" nonfiction go along title for each girl). They cover the following:
Kaya - Native American 1760s
Josefina - New Mexican 1824
Felicity - Colonist/American Revolution 1774
Addy - Civil War 1864
Samantha - Industrial Revolution 1906
Kit - Great Depression 1930s
Molly - World War II

There are two others, Ruthie (I've not read yet) and Julie(I never recommend, it's all about her coping with her parents' divorce in the 1970s).

Dawn said...

I am doing my own thing in American history this year. I was using SOTW but the kids seemed to be burning out. So, I am just following a time line with lots of picture books and biographies. They are much happier.
Blessings,
Dawn

Unknown said...

Tristan, the American Girl books were actually incorporated into the curriculum we used a couple years ago, that was our first introduction to them, now the girls are well & truly addicted LOL. Ruthie is Kit's friend. Thanks for the summary of Julie, my gut told me that a secular story set in the 70s was going to glamorize things I didn't think should be glamorized, so we haven't read the Julie books, pending me finding time to pre-read them, glad to know my gut was right LOL.

Dawn, that is kind of what the curriculum we used did, at least the way we used it. It's free (I just need to find the link again LOL), and lists books that were mostly available through our library, also incorporates crafts (History Pockets and another series, I don't remember what it is at the moment), which the girls loved.

Holly said...

Your photo is so sweet! I love it! We've loved the American Girl movies. Holly