Busy, busy, busy.... but haven't totally forgotten the blog

Okay, I know I always say this but we really have been VERY busy. I haven't really gotten around to any sort of administration type thing, like this blog or the grade book, but TJ is learning in leaps and bounds. I'm not even sure where to start but I think, instead of recapping everything, I'll just give you a quick run down of where we are now.

Right now TJ is getting heavily involved in the Copper Country Home Educators Association. So much so that I'm now on their board of directors. He goes swimming once a week, has drama twice a week, and attends the chess club on some Fridays. In drama they've been working on writing their own stories and on creating puppets so it's been a lot of literature, language arts, and arts & crafts. As for chess club - TJ's not very good at the game yet - but they also play in a gym after an hour of chess. So TJ gets more physical exercise, a chance to play games with a large group and during the chess playing a chance to learn to work with distractions.

We've also pushed forward with TJ's other studies. Right now he's reading the Narnia series (starting with the Magician's Nephew) of books and is following a study guide that includes lot's of great activities. You can check out the package I bought here. I've also designed a spelling curriculum off of it with lots of hands on/fun activities - like using side walk chalk, shaving cream, window markers (on the Van windows!), bath crayons, refrigerator magnets, and worksheets that use secret codes and such. TJ's actually learning the words and loving it! We've moved onto American Geography for TJ. This includes learning a song for drama:

And playing a game the Grandma gave TJ quite a while ago called: The Scrambled States of America. He just loves the game! We are also using the geography text/workbook that I've previously mentioned. For Math we're working on multiplication with several place values (i.e. 4,520 x 35 = ) etc. While working on that we're continuing to do drill sheets and flashcard work. For science we're finishing off environmentalism and shortly we'll be doing "household" chemistry. In history we're learning about the fall of the Roman Empire.

Now that's all just the homeschooling stuff. We've also been enjoying the wonderful weather outdoors and have been running all over heck and back with brother & sister. Both Joey and Jessica are doing okay but Joey's been kinda "iffy" about his dedication to school and his math grades remain low. Not sure what we're going to do about that :(. Jessica's behavior has been an issue from time to time but otherwise not much has changed in her world.

Trevor continues to take more things on with the Masons/Shriners and is now preparing to drive our friend Merl down to Tennessee (where he's moving to) at the end of April. Meanwhile I'm working on putting together another camping trip with the kids for around the same time period. I'm also working with that Celtic Quarter group to start the museum for people of Celtic heritage in the local area. In fact the kids and I are going to be in the St. Patrick's Day parade - which is hilarious considering my opinion of that particular "saint" but... it's important exposure for the group.

Guess that's it for now!
Val

P.S. for those that are in, or are going to be in, the area around April 27th... TJ's drama club will be holding their play/skits. Let me know and I'll give you the information so you can attend.