July 30, 2004
Pro-fis-ee-ent
Z.'s homeschool advisor came over this week to drop off this year's curriculum. The science material doesn't seem that much different from last year, 'except that there are more hands on stuff - experiments. That'll be cool, 'cause that's what Z. really likes. We have two social studies books again: the fourth grade one which we got half-way through last year and the fifth grade one which we'll start after we finish the other book. The math material looks okaaay, but I don't know. There's a lot of emphasis on terminology and standardized testing crap. We may stick with Math-U-See. We'll see. The reading material looks fair to midland - no big whoop. The only real challenge that I see for the year is Z.'s writing. Since he'll be tested on his writing skills this year, we'll really have to work developing them. Sure, it'd be easier if he didn't hate writing, but what can I do? (shrug.) We'll figure it out one way or the other.
Z's advisor also gave us the results of test that Z's took back in April. Here they be:
[ Click on the images for a close-up view. ]
Not bad for part-time schoolin'. Seriously, we've got to work on the writing skills. Now that I'm not working, we should be able to get down to bid'ness.
The grandmas brought over the knitting machine, so E. and I have been knitting on the machine. I haven't made anything to wear yet, 'cause I'm still fiddling with gauge and yarn tension. But, we're gettin' the hang of it.
Regarding hand-knitting, I finished up E.'s kitty hat somtime last week. He's thrilled with it. We'll get back to hand-knitting, which E's has tried (with my hands guiding the needles) and seems to like, as soon as we churn out a machine project or two.
In an effort to reduce clutter in the boys' room, G. packed up some toys which they no longer use. Even with two boxes of toys removed, it was still difficult to walk through the room. So I dumped all the toy bins out onto the floor; had the boys remove everything from under their beds, and dressers. Then, we spent a good two hours sorting through it all. I was able to get another box of old toys out of the room and two bags of garbage. Ick.
The cool thing is that their room stayed relatively clean all week long. Now that's progress!
Whee!!!
Posted by Mama at July 30, 2004 05:45 PM