5 on Friday {Goals}

School is starting up again full swing on Monday.  Here are five goals I have for the next semester of our homeschool

1. Get (and stick to) a physical education program.

P.E. is one of those subjects I've always regulated to "fluff", but I am rethinking my position.  Regular physical exercise is good for most everyone especially in the winter.  I will be looking into ideas about how the kiddos can get up and moving this winter.

2. Encourage kids daily.

While I try not to be the yelling, critical mom, it happens, more than I like.  By encouraging I hope to bring into focus strengths and triumphs.

3. Keep current with schoolwork.

One of the reasons I chose Classical Conversations was the structure built in, but in the first semester we fell behind.  I am so thankful that we had a month off to do some catch up.  This semester I want to see each week done on time.

4. Plan one week ahead (at least)

I am always, always behind the eight ball.  Planning ahead will allow me a little bit of breathing room and will also help me keep up with goal #3.

5. Go on more field trips

Sometimes, especially as winter drags on toward spring school can get bogged down.  Taking the time to go out and learn something new invigorates learning and can spark the imagination.

So now it is your turn.  What did you do last week?  What are you doing next week? 

<a href="http://possibiliitesandpeas.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEqESjOO-pHFcshyfXNybb1wAvfMupDEJ0Pt721WNVr-vkLhjBbYEHWbnubg-6DzEVC1sFJqV9aMJb1vaSYt_zk4T0JDGR8wjnVkH4jAeBpTzD3NSipjZAdJ1cJ6SwJr968ih2yJTAj0y/s1600/button.jpg" alt="PossibilitiesAndPeas" width="125" height="125" /></a>

Weekly Round Up - where I forgot Halloween

It has been a crazy busy couple of weeks.  I started my new part time job and got thrown right into the thick of things.  Getting a job in retail in the month of Thanksgiving Black Friday may not have been the wisest timing, but I am so incredibly thankful that I have an income now.  It is saving our bacon, so the extra hours, while stressful are appreciated.  The job has changed our homeschool schedule a little bit, but Zippy is adjusting admirably, taking responsibility for her work in way she really has not before.

Ok, back to Halloween

I struggle with Halloween.  I do not like the scary aspect, the celebration of evil things.  But I think the dressing up bit is fun, and of course the candy.  Brandy at the blog Autumnfawn Lane wrote some wonderful insights about Halloween that I found especially helpful this year.  

This was the first year that Zippy was not allowed to go trick or treating, instead she opted to take over candy distribution, and still dressed up a little bit.  The Little Dude went as a laundry basket.  Cheapest, easiest, interesting costume we've done in many a year.  As tradition they went trick or treating with the cousins, that would be Darth Vader and the squid.  

And there was pumpkins:

Weekly Round Up - with a squid hat

This week got off to a cold, drizzly start.

Life

Saturday, everyone went their separate ways.  The hubs went to Cedar Point with his sister to use the season pass one last time.  Zippy went with her American Heritage Girls camping and I went shopping with the Little Dude.  Everyone got rained on.

The reason I went shopping was I got a job {yay}.  Now I know you are all thinking how can she work and homeschool.  The truth is I've always worked in one way or another.  The key is to be fairly organized, have a good support system, and not be afraid to be creative.

Homeschool

We are trying out a new online math tool called IXL.  We are using it to supplement the Saxon math book.  Zippy really likes it and asks for it.  The full review coming soon.  

This week in history is the Reformation.  We finished up The Shakespeare Stealer  by Gary Blackwood.  Sometimes I still read aloud long chapter books while the kids either draw, play with Legos or play dough illustrating scenes that I am reading out.  

My Favorite Thing this Week

The squid hat.  The hubs got one for me when he went to Cedar Point.  It is my thinking hat now.  When I need to sit at the computer and write I put the hat on and the kids know that they should not interrupt me. 

~Holly

Weekly Round up - with a science field trip

***************Some of the Photos in this post were taken with Instagram**********************

I ♥ Instagram

You can follow me.  I'm hollyoshesky

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The Field Trip

One of the things I really appreciate about being involved with Classical Conversations this year is the community of people.  This Tuesday past a group of us went to Cranbrook Institute of Science.  Field trips add a dimension to learning that can't be gained with just books and paper.  I had never been to Cranbrook before and I would recommend it as a field trip for homeschoolers.

We experienced a planetarium show, this was the main focus as we are heading into a section on astronomy, and explored the traveling exhibit of dinosaurs.  A lot of what I know about dinosaurs comes from the PBS show Dinosaur Train.  I felt fairly educated, recognizing lots of the names as we walked through the exhibit.  We also checked out the regular exhibits.  The mineral display was rocking! (I really could not resist the pun).  It is not a big museum, but they pack a lot into a small space.

We found one of our favorite things directly after the planetarium show.  It is a model of the solar system with all the planets and moons made with gears and clockwork.  Around the outside is a clear plastic sphere with some of the constellations on it.  When one pushed a button, the planets and moons would revolve and rotate.

~Holly

{Linking Up}

Weekly Round Up with autumn colors

Our week in words and pictures.

Some of these pictures were taken with Instagram.  I love Instagram. You can follow me, I'm hollyoshesky. 

Here is what I know about poison ivy: it is a green ivy with three or is it five jagged leaves that turns a bright red in the fall.  I also know that the last time my skin encountered this lovely plant it turned into a nasty, boiling rash that took two trips to the doctor and two Cortisone shots to get rid of.  I avoid it like the plague.  Actually I avoid any viney, jagged leafy looking plants because the sad truth is I could not pick a poison ivy plant out of a line up.  This is not it:

  

After a long consultation with my husband and his mom we decided that this was Virginia creeper not poison ivy.  However a small plant with just two bunches of leaves right next to the telephone pole in the far corner of my yard is.  Henceforth that corner will be known as the corner of death, because nothing will grow there, especially poison ivy. 

Zippy did an experiment this week in her new Apologia Chemistry Physics book {review coming soon}.  To prepare she had to put food coloring into water, the photographer in me could not resist taking some pictures:

I love this picture.  It reminds me of a picture I took long, long ago of my brother.

Zippy and I took a little nature walk on Monday after Classical Conversations at a local park.  Hines Drive runs along the length of the Rouge River and is actually a flood plain that has been turned into one very long park.  

We saw a woolly worm or as the Farmer's Almanac calls them a woolly bear caterpillar.  What kind of weather is this little guy predicting for this winter? 

We also saw a whole family of swans

Of course we saw some autumn colors

A couple of other things.  Zippy got her joining badge at her American Heritage Girls meeting this week.  And the Little Dude had his speech evaluated.  The short version is that his speech is very impaired.  I expect there will be blog posts on this in the future. 

That was our week.  How was yours?  I'd love to hear about it in the comments. 

  

Weekly Round Up - without many photos

It is so sweet when kids are unexpectedly kind. This week Zippy had her annual physical.  I took the Little Dude with us so he could get his flu shot.  I absolutely do not want a repeat of last year's hospital stay if it can be prevented with a simple shot.  Zippy's bribe incentive for not completely melting down at shot time was a Lego mini-figure.  These are one of my favorite incentives because you don't know exactly what you are getting.  It is like a little gift.  Well Zippy preformed admirably, showing her little brother how brave she was getting shots so she got her prize.  Then she turned around and gave it to me because she knows I like bees.  Totally unexpected.

I found an old magnetic white board while I was cleaning and decided to use it for Zippy to write out her memory work.  The hubs attached some legs to the back so it stands up on a table.  The Little Dude thought this was the coolest thing since sliced bread. Asked for it every day.

That was the week, not too many photos.  I need to be at the ready with the phone or the camera more often huh.

Weekly Round Up - with the solar system

Here is what is going on in our lives and in our homeschool this week in words and pictures.

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Some of the pictures in this post were taken with Instagram. I love Instagram. Follow me to see more great pics. I'm hollyoshesky.

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We had the last of firsts for this school year this week.  Zippy started Classical Conversations.  Classical conversations is really hard to define.  You can check out their website to find out all about it. Essentially they are classical in their approach (so lots of memorization) and they are a community.  There are a few reasons why I thought this outlet would serve our edicational needs this year.  Zippy spent so much time alone last year so I thought it was especially important to get her involved in community.  Classical Conversations meets once a week in a small (like 5 kids) classroom setting, so this is a good way for her to practice her social skills in a rigid environment.  And there is Essentials.  Classical Conversations is divided up into three sections Foundations (grade K4 - 6), Essentials (Grade 4 - 6), and Challenge (Grade 7 - 12).  Zippy is barely too old, but I wanted her to do Essentials because it is the most through English program I have seen. It covers writing and grammar with a little math thrown in.  Sadly Zippy is the only student, but since I signed up to tutor the class it all works out ok.

This week Zippy had a project in Science.  Make the Solar System with balloons.  Fun, fun, fun.  And yes she did include Pluto.  We know Pluto was demoted but Zippy felt sorry for it so she included it. (By the way you can hear a great podcast on Pluto from  Stuff you Missed in History Class. released 7/22/13).

The Little Dude is also coming along with preschool, but I am giving him his very own round up tomorrow. There is just too much great preschool stuff. Here is a sneak peek:

I will leave you with a quote and a picture:

Big sisters are the crab grass in the lawn of life ~ Charles M Schulz

{Linking Up}

Weekly Round Up - with some randomness

This has been a big week what with back to school and all.  My collage for this week is just random bits of life, and some real life learning, all intstagram pics.   {Oh, by the way I love, love, love Instagram you can follow me - I'll probably follow back}

1. We found The Garden Hoard at our local farm market.  They had this amazing selection of heirloom tomatoes.  We bought 4 different varieties to try.  They also sell seeds.  The hubs and I are seriously contemplating starting sees inside next year (which is the only way to grow tomatoes from seed in Michigan).

2. The Little Dude got some fun mail for review.  Fundanoodle has these super big pads of paper that are just the perfect invitation to creativity.  They were hardly out of the box and he wanted to try them.  The review will be coming in October.

3. I spin wool, and knit, and felt and weave and...well you get the idea.  So I was cleaning in the living room and moved my spinning wheel out from its normal spot.  The Little Dude pulled up his rocking chair and begin pushing the treadle (that is the pedal that makes the big wheel go around).  The hubs looks at me and says "This is the child you should teach to spin."

4.  The hubs labored on Labor Day, mowing the lawn.  It does not happen all that often.  I was so thankful.

5. Our Sam's Club has their automotive department right by the exit door.  Since Zippy was itty bitty she and I go over to the stacks and stacks of tires and count them while the hubs takes care of checking out.  This is a highlight of our trip.  Recently the Little Dude has joined us.  Fun real-life learning.

6. That is me.  I almost never post pics of myself.  This is a before picture, you will have to check back next week for the after.

{Linking Up}
Collage Friday at Homegrown Learners
InstaFriday at Life Rearranged

Weekly Round Up - with a big birthday

My baby girl turned thirteen on Friday.  Wow.  Big birthday.  She celebrated small.  Just family for the most part.

She opened cards from grandparents before Zippy and her Dad headed off for Cedar Point for the day. They had a great time riding the roller coasters and water rides.

The Little Dude and I stayed home.  We still had fun though, went to the farmer's market and the playground.

The next day we had chocolate cupcakes with Grandma.

Zippy got Legos, so we had some photo fun with it.

Tomorrow officially starts a new year of school for Zippy.  Wednesday is when the Little Dude starts preschool.  Just kicking back today to enjoy the last unofficial day of summer.

Weekly Round Up - with an MRI

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All the pictures in this post were taken with Instagram. I love Instagram. Follow me to see more great pics. I'm hollyoshesky.

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We are taking the last two weeks before school begins off.  Mostly I'm frantically planning for the new school year.  Post on what all that entails will be forthcoming.

We always know that fall is just around the corner when it is time to go Children's Hospital for the Little Dude's MRI.  Monday was the big day.  Because of his age he has to be sedated so he will hold still.  Next year, when he is five, he will be eligible for other methods of keeping still - like the cool tv goggles.  I am fervently praying that they let him.  The sedation makes me the most anxious.  Last year they had to give him extra during the procedure because he started to move, so this year they wanted to give him "real" anesthesia.  Basically it is a different medicine, but the beauty is that they gave him less.  In past years he was groggy and slept for most of MRI day.  This time it was just like he was waking up from a nap. He was totally fine for the rest of the day.  (Bottom two pics on the left side)

The kiddos also got postcards from Granddad who is in Yellowstone. The kids love getting mail.  Little Dude kept saying "look bear".   I've began {again} to try to get fit, so I am trying to walk every day.  One day I realized that I had not taken my walk and the hubs and Zippy were at a softball game.  I took the Little Dude with me.  He was very into rocks.  He even stopped to rest for a second on a big rock by the side of the street.  He also notice every pebble and rock along the way. Occasionally he would pick one up carry it for a while then set it down again a few blocks later.  He said "bye rock", then he would pick up another and do the same.

And the birthday countdown continues.  You know the funny thing is I remember doing this very same thing at her age.

{Linking Up}

Weekly Round Up - with writing

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All the pictures in this post were taken with Instagram.  I love Instagram.  Follow me to see more great pics. I'm hollyoshesky.

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This week was a balance between work and play.  As we are are ramping up to the beginning of the school year.

Some time spent at the playground. The Little Dude played so hard he had to lie down for a rest.

There was also lots of learning going on. Little Dude enjoyed legos and play dough.  He made designs, then he buried them so he could dig them out again.  He also had lots of fun with a new to us game, Break the Ice.  His sister or I have to put it together, but he loved using the hammer to break out the blocks.  The kiddos had great time with our new writing station, writing and coloring.  We also finally organized the postcards we've been getting in the last month from all over the United States.

Weekly Round Up - with hail

Another lazy summer week gone by.  The excitement of the week was a fast hail storm on Monday.

Hail

I figured out this week that I can play a slideshow of my pictures from my camera card in the TV.  The Little Dude thought it was the coolest thing. After all, who doesn't want to be on the "big screen."

Weekly Round Up with chalk and water

A week full of fun and learning.  My life. in pictures.

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All the pictures in this post were taken with Instagram.  I love Instagram.  Follow me to see more great pics. I'm hollyoshesky.

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Mornings were lots of fun this week.  Little Dude had tons of fun cutting play dough and making letters with push pins.  Zippy continues through Notgrass' American History.  

Little Dude has some fun outdoor time too.  I wrote out the numbers on the driveway in chalk.  Then I gave him a letter to squirt with this water gun.  He loved it. 

The rest of the week was uneventful.  Mostly we just hung around the house.

{Linking Up}