September's Reading Log

Christian (16)
Safely Home by Randy Alcorn
Wish You Were Here: The Official Biography of Douglass Adams by Nick Webb
The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket
The Wide window by Lemony Snicket
The Miserable Mill by Lemony Snicket
The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket
The Austere Academy by Lemony Snicket

Sophie (11)
Dewey the Library Cat by Vicki Myron
Secret in the Willows by Beverly Lewis
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabstein
The Thing about Leftovers by C. C. Payne
11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass
The Secret Cookie Club by Martha Freeman
Summer of the Wolves by Polly Carlson-Voiles

Unit Study: Canals, tunnels and dams

We finished a two week unit on Canals, tunnels and dams.

On co-op day we:

-discussed determination-definition and examples

-read reports-sophie's report was on the Gottard Base Tunnel 

-listened to reports on the Panama Canal, Hoover Dam and the Channel Tunnel

-made a clay model of the Panama Canal

-painted models

During the week:

-read Bridges and Tunnels by Donna Latham

-drew picture of Gottard Base Tunnel

-researched Gottard Base Tunnel and wrote a report on it

-wrote definitions and sentences for vocab words

-watched video on the Gottard Base Tunnel

August Reading Log

Sophie (11)

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoners Dilemma by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perolus Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart

Sticks and Stones by Lynne Ray Perkins

Criss Cross by Lynne Ray Perkins

Greenglass House by Kate Milford

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benadict by Trenton Lee Stewart

Christian (16)

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

The Resturaunt at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams

Life, the Universe and Everything by Douglas Adams

Mostly Harmless by Douglas Adams

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

Tracey (me)

Fashioned to Reign by Kris Vallotton

Alternative Medicine: A Mind Blowing Magical Mystery Tour by Steven Ransom

September Daybook

For Today

Looking out my window....It's 8:00 at night and it's dark.

I am thinking.... that God is so amazing! He provided an extra $150 this week! I tried to give a bureau away, and the person insisted on giving me $50. Then I was given $100 for something that took me 3 hours-that I would've done for free. 

I am thankful....that I still have kids at home!

One of my favorite things....reading a good book outside on a beautiful day, while my kid's ride bikes and enjoy the outdoors. 

I am wearing....a black and white striped shirt, a black, knee- length skirt, and flip flops

I am creating....pot holders!

I am reading.... Pioneer Girl:The Annotated Autobiography by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and The Year of Living Bibically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobs.

I am watching....a reality tv series called Married at First Sight. The couples meet for the first time at the altar when they say "I do". 

I am listening to....Graham Cooke on YouTube in bed every night.

I am hoping....to get some more part time work.

I am learning....some Zentangle patterns.

In my kitchen....I've been making Energy Bars using this formula,  black bean brownies (no flour!), and Quinoa Enchilada Casserole. My daughter likes all of these new recipes-especially the brownies!

In the school room....Sophie is doing a unit study on tunnels, dams, and canals.  Christian just started an online course called Theater, Cinema & Film Production.

A moment from my day

My beautiful Sophie!

Unit Study: Bridges

In our Konos Curriculum we are focusing on the character trait determination. This week we studied bridges. Here are some things Sophie did this week:

• copied bible verses on determination
• read books about bridges
• looked up vocabulary words and wrote sentences
• wrote a report on the London Tower Bridge
• watched a PBS video on bridges
• drew pictures of the 7 types of bridges
• Co-op day-Make a bridge challenge &
• field trip to look at bridges  

books used:

Earth Friendly Buildings, Bridges and More by Etta Kaner

Bridges by Keith willard

The Bridge Book by Polly Carter

This was our first co-op day with my friend's 3 girls and Sophie. I gave the girls 45 minutes to make a bridge that was 2ft. long and had to hold 3lbs. The materials they could use were mini marshmallows, gumdrops, spaghetti and toothpicks. I divided the girls into 2 teams-one in the living-room and one in the kitchen. I was impressed with how well they worked together and the bridges they made. Unfortunately, neither bridge could hold the weight, but they had fun! In the end, they all worked together and made one I found online using just the toothpicks and gumdrops. 

Field Trip pictures:

June Daybook #2

For Today

Looking out my window....the sun is coming up. It's going to be in the 80's today!

I am thinking....that summer is here! The kid's activities have ended for a couple months, we will go camping a couple times, and swimming at least a couple times a week.  

I am thankful....for the support I have from family, and new and old friends.

One of my favorite things....sitting at the lake watching my kids swim, while I chat with friends. 

I am wearing....Yoga pants and a sweatshirt. I just got up and this is what I threw on.

I am creating....our end of the year homeschooling portfolios. I'm working on the scrapbooking type pages, with pictures from the kid's activities and field trips. 

I am reading.... "Think & Eat Yourself Smart" by Caroline Leaf and "A Love That Multiplies" by Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar

I am watching....Return to Amish  TV series 

I am listening to....sermons from my pastor.

I am hoping....to get into Contra dancing. I've done it a couple times and it's so fun!

I am learning....about Homeopathic medicine

In my kitchen....I am eating organic foods as much as I can. 

In the school room....Sophie is enjoying learning about world geography. She is reading a book from the library called "Where on Earth: A Geografunny Guide to the Globe" by Paul Rosenthal. I'm also having her trace the continents and label the countries.  Five days of school left for her!

A moment from my day

A few pics from our day

A few pics from our day:

  Sophie was reading about Africa, so I had her trace a map of Africa and fill in the countries.

 Sophie made pancakes for her dinner.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to take horseback riding lessons. I am so proud of her!

June Daybook

For Today

Looking out my window....it's cold-ish and windy. Feels almost autumn-like.

I am thinking....I am so blessed! This life is good.

I am thankful....for my many friends

One of my favorite things....sitting out in the sun in my backyard

I am wearing....blue jeans, a striped shirt, and an Old Navy hoodie

I am creating....homemade coasters from rope and strips of fabric

I am reading....The Sound of Gravel a memoir by Ruth Wariner. 

I am watching....nothing right now. I started watching the series "The 100" and it was addicting, but depressing. I ended up deleting Netflix from my Kindle! 

I am listening to....Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace CD's again. Good stuff!

I am hoping....to sell some things on ebay

I am learning....to take care of myself. And that it's ok to slow down, and to do things for my enjoyment and growth.

In my kitchen....I am eating meat again, after being a vegetarian for years!

In the school room....I have been very proud of my kids. They have been doing really well with their schoolwork, and we are close to finishing for the summer!

A moment from my day

Sophie in her room-taken just now.

Christian taken at his 16th birthday party a few days ago.

Homeschooling Day 6/8

Today is my cleaning day at the church, and we got there for 8am. The kids went with me and helped me some, and also did some schoolwork. Sophie worked in her science notebook, drawing dinosaurs and writing facts.Then she did her cursive writing book. Christian did a history worksheet, then read a Star Wars book.

When we got home Sophie did a math lesson on Time4learning.com. Then she read half a chapter of "Where on Earth: A Georafunny Guide to the Globe" by Paul Rosenthal. I had her tell tell me any interesting or new facts she learned. I'm glad that she did find the book interesting, and the pictures were funny.

Later in the day, Sophie and I went to the Library and she got a book and a movie. After eating dinner, Christian mopped the floors and Sophie cleaned the car. Since Christian and I took a 9 week Dave Ramsey course, I give the kids weekly commisions.  We have a chart on the fridge listing the jobs that need to be done each week and the amount I will pay them for each job. This has been working out very well! Christian saved over $100 recently and with some added birthday money was able to buy a new 3DS!

Homeschool day 6/7

Today I had a long appointment in the morning.  I wanted Sophie to wait till I got home to help her with math on time4learning.com, so I told her to start reading a new book. She said the book was boring, so she ended up listening to an entire book on her Kindle called  "The Map Trap" by Andrew Clements.

When I got home I helped Sophie with two math lessons that she had trouble with before. Then we read about dinosaurs in her science book. She was very interested and had me stop every few paragraphs so we could look things up on Google. Lastly, she copied a Bible verse in cursive writing, and did a vocabulary crossword in her science notebook.

Christian worked on his schoolwork on his own throughout the day.  In the evening, he went to a teen church homegroup at his friend's house. Sophie and I had a girl's night out. We went out to eat and Friendly's, then clothes shopping at T.J. Maxx.

Homeschool day 6/6/16

Sophie woke up with a mild fever and headache. I gave her some Tylenol and soon after she was feeling much better. I left early to clean the church, and the kids used the Time4Learning website. Sophie did Math and Language and Christian did high school English II.   On Friday he had finished an 8 week writing course on Time4Writing.com. His final grade was a 91!

When I got home, Sophie and I took turns reading from "Exploring Creation with Zoology 3". We read about amphibians and the life cycle of a frog. Then Sophie answered a couple questions and did a vocabulary crossword puzzle.  Christian worked on his Algebra I, then he and I read in his physical science textbook and we did and experiment. After that he finished his schoolwork with a history worksheet.

Sophie was supposed to go to a horse riding lesson today, but we decided to cancel because she still wasn't feeling her best.  I ran out to the library to get some geography books that I want to start reading with Sophie tomorrow.  Later I started dinner and the kids did their own laundry, which is something new I started today.

The last thing Sophie did for school was review multiplication facts, then I read aloud to her from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dohl. Christian read "Star Wars Return of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side.

Reading List for the Month of May

Sophie:
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
The Lemonade Crime by Jacqueline Davies
The Bell Bandit  by Jacqueline Davies
The Candy Smash  by Jacqueline Davies
The Slippery Slope by  Lemony Snicket
The Penultimate Peril by  Lemony Snicket
The End by  Lemony Snicket

Christian:
The Money Mystery Richard J. Maybury
Whatever happened to Penny Candy Richard J. Maybury
The Ultimate History of Video Games
Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith by Mathew Stover

Tracey:
Off Balance A Memoir by Dominique Moceanu
Trim Healthy Mama Plan by Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison
Miracles from Heaven: A little Girl and Her Amazing Story of Healing by Christy Beam

Reading list for the month of December

Sophie:
Nancy Drew: The Hidden Staircase
Nancy Drew Notebooks: The Crazy Carnival Case
Nancy Drew Notebooks: The Sandcastle Mystery by Lemony Snicket
The Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
The Series of Unfortunate Events: The Ersatz Elevator  by Lemony Snicket
American Girl Magazines

Christian:
The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
Star Wars: Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn
A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Hostile Hospital by Lemony Snicket
Star Wars: Queen of the Empire by Paul Davis and Hollace Davis
Star Wars Jedi Apprentice: The Dark Rival by Jude Watson

Tracey:
Quantum Faith by Annette Capps
By Heart: A Mother's Story of Children and Learning at Home By Kathleen Melin
Switch on Your Brain :The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking and Health by Dr.Caroline Leaf
Plain Faith: A True Story Of Tragedy, Loss and Leaving the Amish by Irene Eash

Read Together:
Lincoln a Photobiography
Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank Gilbreth, Jr and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

Fun learning

Today was our first day back to homeschooling after two weeks off for Christmas vacation.
The first thing we did was read the Bible together. Christian, Sophie and I are following the same Bible reading plan, but we usually read separately.  Today Sophie asked if we could read Luke chapter 4 together. She had us each take turns reading different translations. It was a wonderful start!

Next, I had Sophie choose between 3 science picture books I had picked up at the library. She Chose "Why Can't You Unscramble and Egg, and other not such dumb questions about matter" by Vicki Cobb.  She loves science and was very interested. We had a good discussion about atoms, molecules and elements. She played me a song from the "Brain Beats" album that teaches the element names and symbols.

Then I made a list of things that I wanted to do, and I let her choose from the list. Sophie wrote "Agenda" at the top. Here is the list:

Mathplayround.com
Yatzee
Embroidery
Life of Fred (fun math book)
Read together "Behind Rebel Lines" (about a woman spy during the Civil War)
Silent Reading  Nancy Drew "The Hidden Staircase"
Scrabble game
Start a family newspaper (she later added this to the list)

Sophie spent a lot of time playing on mathplayground.com. She played a few math games, then she found a geography state capital game. She was excited to play it because she learned the state capitals last year on her own with this Brain Beats song.  We read 3 chapters of "Behind Rebel Lines", then Christian and I did an experiment and read from "Exploring Creation with Physical Science". Sophie looked at a newspaper to get ideas, then started working on her own family newspaper. She didn't want me to see what she was working on because she wants me to be surprised! Later Sophie and I played Yatzee while Christian edited a movie he is making.

It turned out to be a great day!