Week 18 School Work

 Here is my memory board, since I do not have a whiteboard with me. I would normally write everything out on a whiteboard every week. I am now going on CC Connect and printing out pages to use every week. It is nice for Shane and Jarrett to have a visual of what we are doing each week. I can't believe we have 6 weeks of classes left.

Here are some great articles to read from Classical Conversations. I find these articles encouraging.

Here is what Shane did for art this week. He did not want to paint his drawing. We studied the artist Roy Lichtenstein this week.

A High School Band Performance

We were invited to my nephew's high school band performance on February 18th. It was a pop concert of video game themes. They did have a jazz band performance at the end. It was an excellent performance all around. I hope we are invited to another one before we leave to go back home.

One of the themes performed was from Star Wars. Darth Vader and his Storm Troopers paid a visit.

Look at Jarrett's face. I think it says it all.

Independence Hall

We went on a field trip to Independence Hall with our CC community. This Independence Hall is an exact replica for the original one in Philadelphia. I sure enjoyed all the fascinating things inside. It is a beautiful building.

This is a beautiful carriage from 1770. It has a short entry because the average man during this time was 5 feet 6 inches tall.

Here is a replica of the Liberty Bell.

Here is a harpsichord from the 1700's. I love the sound of a harpsichord. Just think, Mozart played one. 

Here is Betsy Ross and George Washington.

A British Redcoat

John Adams

 Thomas Jefferson

Here is where the delegates signed the Declaration of Independence. This is a copy of the original setting. John Hancock sat at the table on the platform in the formal chair. John Hancock was the president of the committee. He was the first delegate to sign the Declaration of Independence.

Helping Grandpa

The boys are helping their grandpa planet some flowers.

Jarrett loves getting his hands dirty. Both Shane and Jarrett enjoy planting and taking care of the garden at home. They both plant seeds, water, and weed our vast garden.

A Trip to the Bakery

We visited a bakery that had some nice looking cakes. My boys had some huge cream puffs. I forgot to take a picture of them. I was good and did not purchase anything to eat at this bakery. I am trying to stay in control of my sugar intake. Talk about will power at a bakery......

Facial Moisturizers

Here is a picture of items I use to moisturize my face. Coconut cream is in the clear jar. I use extra virgin coconut oil or vitamin E in the evening. I use vitamin E or shea butter in the morning. I think these products have helped improve my melasma.

An Excellent Book

I found this book to be an excellent read. It was to the point about Classical Education. I especially enjoyed reading about the author's experience in homeschooling her special needs children classically. Praise God for a determined mother!

This book is for anyone interested in a straight forward explanation of a Classical Christian Education. This book would benefit any parent with a special needs child, who wants to educate them classically. You can read about the book here

A School Day

Yesterday Jarrett laid on the couch while Shane did his schoolwork. Jarrett is not feeling well, he has a fever, and is complaining his throat is scratchy.

Here is Shane finishing up a science experiment about density.

We studied Georgia O'Keefe  art and then Shane drew his own picture full of flowers. See how the wind is blowing the leaf away? There is a storm coming.

Jarrett woke up from his nap and wanted to do art too.

Here is their memory work for the week. There are seven subjects and a column of vocabulary words. We also covered pre-algebra, listened to early American history through LibriVox, penmanship, reading and chores. LibriVox is a free recording of books online.
I will fit in grammar, spelling, and writing the other days of the week. The day was little thrown off by taking a cat to the vet to be neutered. 

Some days we do not get to all the subjects. It just depends how to day goes. It is hard to juggle schooling with running a business and a house. I see the dust piling up on the furniture.

About Challenge A (7th grade) With Classical Conversations

Hi Everyone,

 

I know Shane is not in 7th grade yet, but it is wise to prepare myself before he gets to Challenge A. Both Carissa and Nathan completed Challenge A. Brian has been the parent that does Challenge with them. I have very little involvement with Carissa and Nathan studies. The Challenge program is from 7th-12th grade. We have been extremely pleased with the Challenge program. We have seen our children cry out in frustration because of how hard the program can be and we have seen them blossom because they pressed on through the difficulty. Just because something is hard does not mean you quit. We have seen exceptional growth spiritually and academically in Carissa and Nathan.

 

Parents know what their children are capable of doing. We just need to encourage our children to strive for excellence in all things. I mean in excellence in character too.

 

Challenge has a Christian world view, so all subjects stem from Christian thought. We are not only cultivating the mind but also the heart. What is the point of being intelligent without Christian character? To me it is meaningless. Children have to know who is the creator of all wisdom and knowledge and take responsibility for knowledge.

 

Here is a blog post from Home Grown Learners. Mary home-schools her children and is involved with Classical Conversations. If you are interested in what our kids have learned or what Shane will be learning, then read Mary's blog post. Read what she has to say about Challenge A here:

http://www.homegrownlearners.com/home/2014/7/10/challenge-a-reflections-and-tips.html

 

Here is another blog that talks about the writing program we use starting in 7th grade.
http://mthopeacademy.blogspot.com/2015/01/contemplation-conversation-and-ani.html

 “Christian education is the cultivation of wisdom and virtue by nourishing the soul on truth, goodness, and beauty by means of the seven liberal arts and the four sciences so that, in Christ, the student is enabled to better know, glorify, and enjoy God.” [CiRCE]

 

You are probably asking what are the seven liberal arts and four sciences. Well go here and find out.http://www.circeinstitute.org/resources-what-classical-education/definitions-terms

 

 

Here is an excerpt from Home Grown Learners post:

I want to share in the hope  it will help others - and to document the most exceptional year of our home-school journey thus far.
Challenge A can be a shock to a child's (and a parent's) system. I cleared our schedule of anything that wasn't absolutely necessary so we could focus on having a productive school year. I knew going in that this year was going to require a lot of ME, the parent. 
The Challenge program is technically a drop-off program, but that doesn't mean you can CHECK OUT if you are the parent. You must stay involved, learn with your child, and be there to guide them through this year of maturation, increased independence, and a new found wealth of knowledge!

Confession: In the spring of this past year (towards the end of Challenge A), my husband and I had some moments where we wondered what it would be like if Anna attended a private, Christian school.  We even went so far as to go to an open house at one school close to our home.The buildings were beautiful. The teachers no doubt were wonderful. The extracurricular activities were available and enticing.

When we arrived home I asked my husband what he thought. His comment to me, "It all looked good, but I was just so DISAPPOINTED in the curriculum. It seems so watered down compared to Classical Conversations. I think Anna would be bored to tears if we sent her here." I was relieved, because I couldn't have agreed more. 

 

In this moment it was confirmed to me that we are on the right path - a path that, God willing, we can stay on until both of our children graduate.

Seventh grade is a pivotal year for homeschoolers. Children are maturing, hormones are raging, and subjects are getting difficult to teach.

PLEASE don't lose heart. Classical Conversations is in the business of equipping us to educate our children through high school. You have a community of support (locally and nationally) to help you on your journey. It is SO worth it.

At the end of the day, you will know that your chief goal is to "Know God and Make Him Known" -- and isn't that the best gift we can give our children?  

I hope you enjoy her blog post as much as I did. I am preparing myself for Challenge A. I want to be the best teacher/student for Shane and Jarrett.

~Tina

Braces Off

Shane got his braces off yesterday. He is so happy to have them off.

He has straight teeth now. He has to wear a retainer at night though.