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October 18, 2008
Weekly Report - Week ... 9?
I think this was Week 9.
We all feel like we need a break, even though we just took a week off.
This week Connor read an adaptation of Gulliver's Travels, another book of the Iliad, a book about Poor Richard's Almanac, and Starship Troopers. He was supposed to read more Locke, but we didn't get around to it. He's been such fun, lately. He comes to me and says things like: "You know, it would be interesting to see, if you put a bunch of kids on an island, what kind of society they'd come up with." Or: "You know, a nuclear war wouldn't kill everyone, so I wonder what life would be like for the survivors ..." Heh. Here, kid, let me add some books to your library list.
Incidentally, although we're going to be doing the government readings listed in TOG, we've decided against using the textbook they recommend. On closer inspection I see that the text is clearly focused on teaching American government from the perspective that the U.S. was meant to be a Christian nation. I think we'll just read the source documents and reach our own conclusions, thanks.
On a pagan-y note, I was struck by the similarities between Locke's natural rights, and "An' it harm none, do what ye will." I've never read Locke. Reason #8,972 I'm glad we homeschool: I get a do-over of my own education.
Connor has finished his pre-algebra book, and has started into Algebra. We're using an older Dolciani algebra book, and Jeff is teaching it.
He is doing well in Latin, and is in chapter 9 of Latin Prep 1. He's doing less well in Greek, but in truth I haven't made Greek a priority.
We have had to end, at least for our, his online writing classes. Instead I'm starting him on Classical Writing - Diogenes: Maxim. I love this book. It is actually easier than Homer; the goals are clear, and the assignments are shorter. It also dovetails nicely into history for us, as Maxim focuses on Ben Franklin's Autobiography and the Silence Dogood letters.
Aidan has finished Right Start E! He's done with the program! Wheee! Now I'll do Singapore Math with him full-time, until he finishes 6B; then I'll hand him over to Jeff.
This week Aidan finished The Witch of Blackbird Pond, What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin?, some of D'Aulaire's Greek Myths, and ... I forget what Heinlein he's working on right now. Space Cadet, maybe.
He is doing very well in Henle; he's nearly finished with the 3rd declension. We do all the Henle work orally. Greek - same as Connor. He's doing the Greek, but I need to to a better job of seeing that they *learn* it. It would help if I learned it too.
I've started him back into CW Homer; however, I'm not going to use the workbook for him. We're going to wing it, and wing it casually.
Griffin had a great leap in math. For a long time I despaired of ever being able to move forward in Right Start, he had such a hard time with mental addition. We finally moved on anyway, and it turns out that although he struggles with mental addition, the first time I showed him how to add two four-digit numbers together on paper, he got it.
He's made some progress in reading, too. Griffin struggles with reading. It's hard for him. This is the area we work, and work, and work on. But, finally, he is progressing. Slowly, but progressing.
Lachlan outreads him by a large margin. Lachlan probably reads at at least a 3rd grade level. Twerp. He's just started Cub Scouts, and, well, as many of you know, it's quite bittersweet to see your youngest run confidently off with the group. It turns out that in a group setting, he is quite the goofball/class clown type. Twerp.
Outside of academics, we've found a great nature study area. Near our house is a wooded area, with a stream in which a group of beavers has been very busy. We've never caught a glimpse of the beavers themselves, but every time we go out there there are new trees down.
We're trying to hit the pool 2-3 times a week. Scouts is in full swing, and Connor has finally found a Troop he really likes. It is, in other words, busy and crazy. They're at the pool now, so I have some quiet time. Tomorrow, we're going to Mt. Vernon to kick off our study of George Washington. And we have to make Halloween costumes this week.
Whew.
Posted by lynx at October 18, 2008 4:05 PM
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