This week... ZoKo finished reading "First Book Of Bugs", and started "My First Book About Space" for science reading. She also finished reading "Stories From Old Russia", and started "Meet The Pilgrim Fathers" for history reading. She also started playing an online game, Kabongo, for Language Arts. It's below her level, but we're hoping it encourages the other kids to want to play it if they get to see her on Daddy's computer... Meanwhile, here it is, grade 2, progess report 11...
- Total Hours completed as of September 24th, 2011 -
Science 53.50
Math 44.25
History & Social Studies 45.00
Language Arts & Reading 174.00
Daily Review 1.50
Health & Physical Education 56.00
Art 24.25
Home Economics 4.50
Foreign Language (Latin) 6.00
- Total Hours 409.00 out of 1,000 mandatory hours -
Hours Left: 591.00 averaging 15.00/week -or- 2.25/day
Curriculum used this week (percentage of current status towards completion):
Science:
Textbook - Discovery Works (Houghton Mifflin gr 3) lesson 98 of 129 (76.0%)
Reading - First Book Of Bugs (Margaret Williamson) lesson 9 of 9 (100%)
Reading - My First Book About Space (Dinah L Moche) section 5 of 6 (83.3%)
Math:
Textbook - Arithmetic 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 140 of 170 (82.4%)
Reading - Brain Games For Kids (Publications International) page 128 of 176 (72.7%)
History:
Textbook - History Of Our United States (Abeka gr 4) lesson 21 of 73 (28.8%)
Reading - Stories From Old Russia (Edward W Dolch) chapter 21 of 21 (100%)
Reading - Meet The Pilgrim Fathers (Elizabeth Payne) chapter 2 of 19 (10.5%)
Language Arts:
Grammar - Language 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 133 of 163 (81.6%)
Comprehension - Worlds Of Wonder (Abeka gr 3) lesson 14 of 46 (30.4%)
Penmanship - Cursive 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 140 of 175 (80.0%)
Ind Reading - Fire Eternal (Chris D'Lacey) chapter 32 of 34 (94.1%)
Ind Reading - Eclipse (Stephenie Meyer) page 278 of 629 (44.2%)
Classic Lit - Outdoor Girls In Florida (Laura Lee Hope) chapter 6 of 25 (24.0%)
Classic Lit - Wizard Of Oz Lyman Frank Baum) chapter 6 of 24 (25.0%)
Free Reading - Glory Of Unicorns (Bruce Coville) page 198 of 198 (100%)
Free Reading - Wishbone Unleashed In Space (Alexander Steele) page 252 of 252 (100%)
Health:
Textbook - Your Health (Harcourt gr 3) lesson 26 of 85 (30.6%)
Foreign Language:
Latin - Minimus (Cambridge) lesson 4 of 27 (14.8%)
Completed Curriculum For The 2011-2012 School Year (2nd Grade):
Science:
Reading - First Book Of Bees (Albert Tibbets)
Reading - Polar Bears (Susan Canizares)
Reading - Rain Forest (Jinny Johnson)
Reading - True Story Of Corky The Blind Seal (Georgeanne Irvine)
Reading - To Be A Chimpanzee (Chris Martin)
Reading - Horses (Harold Roth)
Reading - Rattlesnakes (ZooBooks)
Reading - Otter On His Own (Doe Boyle)
Reading - Day Of The Dinosaur (Stan Berenstain)
Reading - Kittens And Cats (Intercontinental Books)
Reading - Creature Questions (Chris Kratt)
Reading - Bravest Dog Ever (Natalie Standiford)
Reading - Wild Cats (Diane Muldrow)
Reading - Where Do Birds Live (Betsey Chessen)
Reading - Look To The North (Jean Craighead George)
Reading - Big Dinosaurs (Michael Berenstain)
Reading - All Kinds Of Animals (Merrigold Press)
Reading - Ancient Forest (Guy J Spencer)
Reading - Animals (A+)
Reading - Penguins And Other Polar Animals (Dalmatian Press)
Reading - Discovering Australian Wildlife (Steve Parish)
Reading - First Book Of Bugs (Margaret Williamson)
Math:
History:
Textbook - Spectrum Geography Grade 3 (McGraw Hill gr 3)
Reading - Stories Of American Life And Adventure (Edward Eggleston)
Reading - First Dog (Jan Brett)
Reading - Orient (Tom McMahon)
Reading - Story Of Jumping Mouse (John Steptoe)
Reading - U S Mail (Elaine A Kule)
Reading - Why The Sun And The Moon Live In The Sky (Elphinstone Dayrell)
Reading - Finding The Titanic (Robert D Ballard)
Reading - Stories From Old Russia (Edward W Dolch)
Language Arts:
Comprehension - Silly Things Happen (Houghton Mifflin gr 3)
Comprehension - Foot Prints (Abeka gr 3)
Independent Reading - Fire Star (Chris D'Lacey)
Independent Reading - New Moon (Stephenie Meyer)
Classic Literature - Outdoor Girls Of Deepdale (Laura Lee Hope)
Classic Literature - Outdoor Girls In A Motor Car (Laura Lee Hope)
Classic Literature - Outdoor Girls In A Winter Camp (Laura Lee Hope)
Free Reading - Glory Of Unicorns (Bruce Coville)
Free Reading - Wishbone Unleashed In Space (Alexander Steele)
Health:
Reading - It's Not The Stork (Robie H Harris)
Foreign Language:
Monday, September 26, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Borderline Intervention Cheat Sheet (explicit content)
WARNING: This post contains the thought patterns of someone in an extremely depressed state due to Borderline Personality Disorder. It also contains personal observations on how I best cope with such a state. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or psychology advice.
When I first started writing on this blog, one of my main "objectives" was to be honest and open about my world, my life. And I feel that I have succeeded in doing that with certain aspects of it. However, when it comes to my personal thoughts and behaviors, I have failed miserably. Whether it has been from fear of being viewed "in that way" or simply trying to move past certain things, I have chosen not to write very much (if any) while in one of my not-so-upbeat states. And that was not my intention. My intention was to turn the world on end, be open and shockingly frank and disclose absolutely everything I could possibly have to hide (inadvertantly or otherwise). But, reality got in my way (as so often it does), and I was afraid of pushing the wrong buttons or saying the wrong thing to the wrong person. And here I am. Still being the same old me.
Only here's the thing. I'm tired. Worn out. Exhausted. Sick of trying not to say how I really feel. And finding it still gets me absolutely nowhere in the end. I want to be open, to hope that maybe someone else can learn from my mistakes. Think that maybe someone else can be saved a little of the pain I deal with every single day. I'm here. I'm real. And I'm alive.
I try sometimes to talk to my husband about the way I feel, the way I think, that way I am. But every time I try to bring it up, he counters with something along the lines of "sounds normal" or "what's so different about that" or "everyone does that"... I don't FEEL normal, I don't THINK of myself as being normal, and if this is how NORMAL people feel or think or act, God help us all. No one else will...
Here's a quick glimpse into a "normal" day in my world: I get up, see Mutt off to work, and schedule ZoKo's assignments for the day. I get the girls up and remind them as to which one needs a shower. Odie gets up and takes a shower if needed. Breakfast is served. Bus waiting time. KiKi gets up. I take a shower if needed. I spend the next several hours helping ZoKo with school work or going into town and helping my mom with random things. B and Odie come home from school around the time Mutt gets home from work. Evening hours are spent reviewing school work, doing chores, and watching tv... Sounds perfectly normal, right?...
Now for the parts you don't see... You don't see the thoughts in my head. You don't see how hard I have to try in order to focus on things and just make it through each day. You don't see how badly I want to run away and never look back. You don't see how much I regret being here and hate myself for the pain I'm causing to everyone else. You don't see that. You don't see what it's like to spend days at a time where it's hard for me to even drag myself out of bed and somehow manage to not do hateful things. You don't see how much I yell at myself in my own head for what an evil messed up person I know I am. And you sure as heck don't see how much my soul feels like it's burning in its own rage and falling into the black abyss of nothingness...
Maybe my husband is right. Maybe all of that is normal... Maybe it is normal to constantly think about relieving everyone else of their duties to put up with you... Maybe it is perfectly normal to find yourself fantasizing about holding down the gas pedal and seeing how fast you can ram into a phone pole every time you're behind the wheel alone. Maybe that is normal... Maybe there's nothing wrong with feeling like you're the biggest piece of crap to ever walk this earth and God should have just saved everyone the misery and killed you before it became an issue. Maybe that's how it's supposed to be...
Whatever part of me that still somehow believes in God (or at least my messed up interpretations of such a possibility) hopes like heck that that isn't normal. That people don't constantly walk around wanting to die. That not everyone wants to slit their wrists when they realize the kids really didn't like their mac cheese, or go drown themselves when their husband doesn't want another cookie (even though he's insisting he really did like the first one). God, how DOES he put up with me?
I've tried to talk to my family, my friends, complete strangers. And they all say the same thing, it's normal to feel those things sometimes, helps remind you that you're alive. What kind of sense does that make? How is wanting to not be here supposed to make you feel better about being here? I don't know about you, but me feeling miserable and hating myself tends to just escalate and wind up with me hating myself even more...
So, I'm being honest. These are a few of my problems, a few of my thoughts. Not all of them by any means, I'm not trying to upset anyone or be too harsh. But it's my reality. Here's the thing: While I haven't managed to stop these thoughts, urges, and impulses, I have managed to at least control some of them some times...
Consider this a "How To Survive Borderline Personality Disorder" cheat sheet or hot-key guide:
1: FEELING NEEDED helps a little bit. Having something that matters to you beyond belief, that you care about beyond anything else. And attempting to convince yourself that for some reason (no matter how selfish), that thing needs you. You and you alone, nothing or no one else could possibly suffice. Yeah, I don't believe it, and I know it's crap, and that everyone could do better with someone else (anyone else) in my place, but it still helps to tell yourself that (even when you don't believe it).
2: FEELING WANTED is even better. But that's hard (if not impossible) to accomplish. Little things make the biggest difference here. Sex isn't everything, but it sure is close. Being held and told you're loved and wanted. And yes, I argue this one constantly. Why the heck would anyone love me? It rates right up there with wondering why anyone would pretend to think I'm pretty or cute. I know it's crap. People aren't even good at lying. I know how ugly I am. And I know how unlovable I am. And while I will argue it infinately, I still want to hear it. I don't want to hear that you need me, that you can't live without me. I know that isn't true. Duh, you were alive before we met, right?... Wanting is something different. It means that you know you don't need me, you know you can do just fine without me, but you choose to have me around anyway. It means that you could be anywhere in the world right at this moment, and you choose to be next to me "just because". That's wanting. Or at least the emotional kind.
3: Back to SEX. Some people say it's a drug. They couldn't be more right. It is. Or at least it can be. It can be the best, most wonderful, most personal and unifying act in the world. It can also be the most dreadful, hated, painful, evil, despicible act in the world. All depends on your perspective. I've done it both ways (who hasn't?). And honestly, I love the IDEA of sex. I love flirting with men and teasing them and making them want me. I love feeling desirable, like a special new toy they can't wait to play with. There's nothing more fulfilling than that feeling. Nothing more enticing to me than knowing that someone wants you right then and there, even if it is strictly hormonal and physical. That's also the exact same reason that I hate it when I'm turned down. When the timing isn't right, or something else interferes, or sleep is a necessity. I feel discarded, abandoned, like a favorite teddy bear that's been thrown in the garbage for no reason at all. Not even replaced, just expired. Obsolete.
4: WRITING helps a lot. Depending on what you write. I write my poems. Dark poetry is what it gets labeled. I hate labels. Anyway, it's considered depressing, dark, grim, violent, and even obscurely gruesome or morbid at times. To me, it's not. I find it oddly refreshing. Invigorating. It releases me. Allows me to be who I feel like I truly am, even if just for a few seconds. I get a quick rush of freedom, the feeling of the wind against your face as you fall from the 20th floor. Or at least how I'd imagine it to be... I don't focus on it, I don't think about it. I just write. I feel like I'm burning or drowning or fading and I hear these thoughts flowing through my head, chanting like epics that can't be slowed. And I write them down. Not all of them. But enough of them. And it helps. For a little while.
5: MUSIC is the single most important tool I've found. Pick a song, crank it, and sing your heart out. Do not, however, listen to common reasoning and logic that would have you quietly listening to "feel good" light and sassy music. Heck no. You want something loud that rattles the windows. You want the neighbors to be able to hear ever single world. Clearly. So go for something that will actually make you feel better. Something that says how you feel at that exact moment. "Hurt" and "I Do Not Want This" by Nine Inch Nails are personal favorites. So are "Change" and "For You" by Staind. Then there's always "Disposable Teens" by Marilyn Manson. Go for the explicit crap that lets you feel better right now. Who cares what the rest of the world thinks, right?
6: Nice hot, steaming BATHS. The kind that turn you red. Work wonders. Candles instead of artificial lighting help. So does the previously mentioned loud music.
7: FORGETTING tomorrow. Focus on just making it through today. Tomorrow will be better. Yes, we all know it's a lie, but it is a good one. Just get through today and tomorrow will be here. You can worry about everything then...
8: If all of the above fail miserably, and you still hate yourself, feel like crap, and really want to curl up in a corner and FADE... Then do it. Grab a stuffed animal or a kid (assuming they're still talking to you). Hold them close, have a good cry, and stay there in a dark corner cuddling until you pass out. No matter how long you're out, when you wake up, it won't be NOW anymore. Time passes. Five minutes or five hours. It's the same thing...
This is a very short post, compared to what I should be providing for input. And I don't know that any of it will matter to anyone else in the world. And maybe my husband is still right, maybe it is all perfectly normal. I'll let you decide. If anyone wants to talk, I'm here. If anyone doesn't want to talk, I'm still here. I promise that I'll post more about this part of my world. Not for you. Not for me. But for my family that has to deal with my crap every single day. And for those people that never could find what works for them, what helps them to deal with their own demons, no matter how real they may be. I love you all. Sweet dreams...
When I first started writing on this blog, one of my main "objectives" was to be honest and open about my world, my life. And I feel that I have succeeded in doing that with certain aspects of it. However, when it comes to my personal thoughts and behaviors, I have failed miserably. Whether it has been from fear of being viewed "in that way" or simply trying to move past certain things, I have chosen not to write very much (if any) while in one of my not-so-upbeat states. And that was not my intention. My intention was to turn the world on end, be open and shockingly frank and disclose absolutely everything I could possibly have to hide (inadvertantly or otherwise). But, reality got in my way (as so often it does), and I was afraid of pushing the wrong buttons or saying the wrong thing to the wrong person. And here I am. Still being the same old me.
Only here's the thing. I'm tired. Worn out. Exhausted. Sick of trying not to say how I really feel. And finding it still gets me absolutely nowhere in the end. I want to be open, to hope that maybe someone else can learn from my mistakes. Think that maybe someone else can be saved a little of the pain I deal with every single day. I'm here. I'm real. And I'm alive.
I try sometimes to talk to my husband about the way I feel, the way I think, that way I am. But every time I try to bring it up, he counters with something along the lines of "sounds normal" or "what's so different about that" or "everyone does that"... I don't FEEL normal, I don't THINK of myself as being normal, and if this is how NORMAL people feel or think or act, God help us all. No one else will...
Here's a quick glimpse into a "normal" day in my world: I get up, see Mutt off to work, and schedule ZoKo's assignments for the day. I get the girls up and remind them as to which one needs a shower. Odie gets up and takes a shower if needed. Breakfast is served. Bus waiting time. KiKi gets up. I take a shower if needed. I spend the next several hours helping ZoKo with school work or going into town and helping my mom with random things. B and Odie come home from school around the time Mutt gets home from work. Evening hours are spent reviewing school work, doing chores, and watching tv... Sounds perfectly normal, right?...
Now for the parts you don't see... You don't see the thoughts in my head. You don't see how hard I have to try in order to focus on things and just make it through each day. You don't see how badly I want to run away and never look back. You don't see how much I regret being here and hate myself for the pain I'm causing to everyone else. You don't see that. You don't see what it's like to spend days at a time where it's hard for me to even drag myself out of bed and somehow manage to not do hateful things. You don't see how much I yell at myself in my own head for what an evil messed up person I know I am. And you sure as heck don't see how much my soul feels like it's burning in its own rage and falling into the black abyss of nothingness...
Maybe my husband is right. Maybe all of that is normal... Maybe it is normal to constantly think about relieving everyone else of their duties to put up with you... Maybe it is perfectly normal to find yourself fantasizing about holding down the gas pedal and seeing how fast you can ram into a phone pole every time you're behind the wheel alone. Maybe that is normal... Maybe there's nothing wrong with feeling like you're the biggest piece of crap to ever walk this earth and God should have just saved everyone the misery and killed you before it became an issue. Maybe that's how it's supposed to be...
Whatever part of me that still somehow believes in God (or at least my messed up interpretations of such a possibility) hopes like heck that that isn't normal. That people don't constantly walk around wanting to die. That not everyone wants to slit their wrists when they realize the kids really didn't like their mac cheese, or go drown themselves when their husband doesn't want another cookie (even though he's insisting he really did like the first one). God, how DOES he put up with me?
I've tried to talk to my family, my friends, complete strangers. And they all say the same thing, it's normal to feel those things sometimes, helps remind you that you're alive. What kind of sense does that make? How is wanting to not be here supposed to make you feel better about being here? I don't know about you, but me feeling miserable and hating myself tends to just escalate and wind up with me hating myself even more...
So, I'm being honest. These are a few of my problems, a few of my thoughts. Not all of them by any means, I'm not trying to upset anyone or be too harsh. But it's my reality. Here's the thing: While I haven't managed to stop these thoughts, urges, and impulses, I have managed to at least control some of them some times...
Consider this a "How To Survive Borderline Personality Disorder" cheat sheet or hot-key guide:
1: FEELING NEEDED helps a little bit. Having something that matters to you beyond belief, that you care about beyond anything else. And attempting to convince yourself that for some reason (no matter how selfish), that thing needs you. You and you alone, nothing or no one else could possibly suffice. Yeah, I don't believe it, and I know it's crap, and that everyone could do better with someone else (anyone else) in my place, but it still helps to tell yourself that (even when you don't believe it).
2: FEELING WANTED is even better. But that's hard (if not impossible) to accomplish. Little things make the biggest difference here. Sex isn't everything, but it sure is close. Being held and told you're loved and wanted. And yes, I argue this one constantly. Why the heck would anyone love me? It rates right up there with wondering why anyone would pretend to think I'm pretty or cute. I know it's crap. People aren't even good at lying. I know how ugly I am. And I know how unlovable I am. And while I will argue it infinately, I still want to hear it. I don't want to hear that you need me, that you can't live without me. I know that isn't true. Duh, you were alive before we met, right?... Wanting is something different. It means that you know you don't need me, you know you can do just fine without me, but you choose to have me around anyway. It means that you could be anywhere in the world right at this moment, and you choose to be next to me "just because". That's wanting. Or at least the emotional kind.
3: Back to SEX. Some people say it's a drug. They couldn't be more right. It is. Or at least it can be. It can be the best, most wonderful, most personal and unifying act in the world. It can also be the most dreadful, hated, painful, evil, despicible act in the world. All depends on your perspective. I've done it both ways (who hasn't?). And honestly, I love the IDEA of sex. I love flirting with men and teasing them and making them want me. I love feeling desirable, like a special new toy they can't wait to play with. There's nothing more fulfilling than that feeling. Nothing more enticing to me than knowing that someone wants you right then and there, even if it is strictly hormonal and physical. That's also the exact same reason that I hate it when I'm turned down. When the timing isn't right, or something else interferes, or sleep is a necessity. I feel discarded, abandoned, like a favorite teddy bear that's been thrown in the garbage for no reason at all. Not even replaced, just expired. Obsolete.
4: WRITING helps a lot. Depending on what you write. I write my poems. Dark poetry is what it gets labeled. I hate labels. Anyway, it's considered depressing, dark, grim, violent, and even obscurely gruesome or morbid at times. To me, it's not. I find it oddly refreshing. Invigorating. It releases me. Allows me to be who I feel like I truly am, even if just for a few seconds. I get a quick rush of freedom, the feeling of the wind against your face as you fall from the 20th floor. Or at least how I'd imagine it to be... I don't focus on it, I don't think about it. I just write. I feel like I'm burning or drowning or fading and I hear these thoughts flowing through my head, chanting like epics that can't be slowed. And I write them down. Not all of them. But enough of them. And it helps. For a little while.
5: MUSIC is the single most important tool I've found. Pick a song, crank it, and sing your heart out. Do not, however, listen to common reasoning and logic that would have you quietly listening to "feel good" light and sassy music. Heck no. You want something loud that rattles the windows. You want the neighbors to be able to hear ever single world. Clearly. So go for something that will actually make you feel better. Something that says how you feel at that exact moment. "Hurt" and "I Do Not Want This" by Nine Inch Nails are personal favorites. So are "Change" and "For You" by Staind. Then there's always "Disposable Teens" by Marilyn Manson. Go for the explicit crap that lets you feel better right now. Who cares what the rest of the world thinks, right?
6: Nice hot, steaming BATHS. The kind that turn you red. Work wonders. Candles instead of artificial lighting help. So does the previously mentioned loud music.
7: FORGETTING tomorrow. Focus on just making it through today. Tomorrow will be better. Yes, we all know it's a lie, but it is a good one. Just get through today and tomorrow will be here. You can worry about everything then...
8: If all of the above fail miserably, and you still hate yourself, feel like crap, and really want to curl up in a corner and FADE... Then do it. Grab a stuffed animal or a kid (assuming they're still talking to you). Hold them close, have a good cry, and stay there in a dark corner cuddling until you pass out. No matter how long you're out, when you wake up, it won't be NOW anymore. Time passes. Five minutes or five hours. It's the same thing...
This is a very short post, compared to what I should be providing for input. And I don't know that any of it will matter to anyone else in the world. And maybe my husband is still right, maybe it is all perfectly normal. I'll let you decide. If anyone wants to talk, I'm here. If anyone doesn't want to talk, I'm still here. I promise that I'll post more about this part of my world. Not for you. Not for me. But for my family that has to deal with my crap every single day. And for those people that never could find what works for them, what helps them to deal with their own demons, no matter how real they may be. I love you all. Sweet dreams...
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Homeschooling - 11.5 Weeks In
Okay, so I obviously didn't post this up yesterday like I was supposed to. I ended up spending yesterday dealing with two sick kids, a Mutt that was home from work, and my mom who spent the day at my house. So yeah. I might have been a little bitty bit busy. Just maybe...
Anyway, this weekend Zoko finished up "The Outdoor Girls In A Winter Camp" (book 4) and started reading "The Outdoor Girls In Florida" (book 5). So far she likes the series. :) She also resumed reading "Wishbone Unleashed In Space" by Alexander Steele... We managed to cover one more Latin lesson, which we have rescheduled. We will now be spending a full three days on each lesson. Day one will be the lesson; day two will be writing the vocabulary in her personal Latin-English dictionary; and day three will be doing her own written translations of the entire lesson... So far that plan seems to be more suited than our previous attempts at covering everything in one day. Each step takes about 1-1.5 hours, which works well for her. Here it is, grade 2, progess report 10...
- Total Hours completed as of September 17th, 2011 -
Science 49.50
Math 40.50
History & Social Studies 41.75
Language Arts & Reading 159.00
Daily Review 1.50
Health & Physical Education 54.50
Art 22.75
Home Economics 4.50
Foreign Language (Latin) 4.00
- Total Hours 378.00 out of 1,000 mandatory hours -
Hours Left: 622.00 averaging 15.25/week -or- 2.25/day
Curriculum used this week (percentage of current status towards completion):
Science:
Textbook - Discovery Works (Houghton Mifflin gr 3) lesson 93 of 129 (72.1%)
First Book Of Bugs (Margaret Williamson) lesson 6 of 9 (66.7%)
Math:
Textbook - Arithmetic 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 136 of 170 (80.0%)
Reading - Brain Games For Kids (Publications International) page 121 of 176 (68.8%)
History:
Textbook - History Of Our United States (Abeka gr 4) lesson 18 of 73 (24.7%)
Reading - Stories From Old Russia (Edward W Dolch) chapter 16 of 21 (76.2%)
Language Arts:
Grammar - Language 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 130 of 163 (79.8%)
Comprehension - Worlds Of Wonder (Abeka gr 3) lesson 12 of 46 (26.1%)
Penmanship - Cursive 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 137 of 175 (78.3%)
Ind Reading - Fire Eternal (Chris D'Lacey) chapter 29 of 34 (85.3%)
Ind Reading - Eclipse (Stephenie Meyer) page 228 of 629 (36.2%)
Classic Lit - Outdoor Girls In A Winter Camp (Laura Lee Hope) chapter 25 of 25 (100%)
Classic Lit - Outdoor Girls In Florida (Laura Lee Hope) chapter 1 of 25 (4.00%)
Free Reading - Glory Of Unicorns (Bruce Coville) page 182 of 198 (91.9%)
Free Reading - Wishbone Unleashed In Space (Alexander Steele) page 220 of 252 (87.3%)
Health:
Textbook - Your Health (Harcourt gr 3) lesson 23 of 85 (27.1%)
Foreign Language:
Latin - Minimus (Cambridge) lesson 4 of 27 (14.8%)
Completed Curriculum For The 2011-2012 School Year (2nd Grade):
Science:
Reading - First Book Of Bees (Albert Tibbets)
Reading - Polar Bears (Susan Canizares)
Reading - Rain Forest (Jinny Johnson)
Reading - True Story Of Corky The Blind Seal (Georgeanne Irvine)
Reading - To Be A Chimpanzee (Chris Martin)
Reading - Horses (Harold Roth)
Reading - Rattlesnakes (ZooBooks)
Reading - Otter On His Own (Doe Boyle)
Reading - Day Of The Dinosaur (Stan Berenstain)
Reading - Kittens And Cats (Intercontinental Books)
Reading - Creature Questions (Chris Kratt)
Reading - Bravest Dog Ever (Natalie Standiford)
Reading - Wild Cats (Diane Muldrow)
Reading - Where Do Birds Live (Betsey Chessen)
Reading - Look To The North (Jean Craighead George)
Reading - Big Dinosaurs (Michael Berenstain)
Reading - All Kinds Of Animals (Merrigold Press)
Reading - Ancient Forest (Guy J Spencer)
Reading - Animals (A+)
Reading - Penguins And Other Polar Animals (Dalmatian Press)
Reading - Discovering Australian Wildlife (Steve Parish)
Math:
History:
Textbook - Spectrum Geography Grade 3 (McGraw Hill gr 3)
Reading - Stories Of American Life And Adventure (Edward Eggleston)
Reading - First Dog (Jan Brett)
Reading - Orient (Tom McMahon)
Reading - Story Of Jumping Mouse (John Steptoe)
Reading - U S Mail (Elaine A Kule)
Reading - Why The Sun And The Moon Live In The Sky (Elphinstone Dayrell)
Reading - Finding The Titanic (Robert D Ballard)
Language Arts:
Comprehension - Silly Things Happen (Houghton Mifflin gr 3)
Comprehension - Foot Prints (Abeka gr 3)
Independent Reading - Fire Star (Chris D'Lacey)
Independent Reading - New Moon (Stephenie Meyer)
Classic Literature - Outdoor Girls Of Deepdale (Laura Lee Hope)
Classic Literature - Outdoor Girls In A Motor Car (Laura Lee Hope)
Classic Literature - Outdoor Girls In A Winter Camp (Laura Lee Hope)
Health:
Reading - It's Not The Stork (Robie H Harris)
Foreign Language:
Anyway, this weekend Zoko finished up "The Outdoor Girls In A Winter Camp" (book 4) and started reading "The Outdoor Girls In Florida" (book 5). So far she likes the series. :) She also resumed reading "Wishbone Unleashed In Space" by Alexander Steele... We managed to cover one more Latin lesson, which we have rescheduled. We will now be spending a full three days on each lesson. Day one will be the lesson; day two will be writing the vocabulary in her personal Latin-English dictionary; and day three will be doing her own written translations of the entire lesson... So far that plan seems to be more suited than our previous attempts at covering everything in one day. Each step takes about 1-1.5 hours, which works well for her. Here it is, grade 2, progess report 10...
- Total Hours completed as of September 17th, 2011 -
Science 49.50
Math 40.50
History & Social Studies 41.75
Language Arts & Reading 159.00
Daily Review 1.50
Health & Physical Education 54.50
Art 22.75
Home Economics 4.50
Foreign Language (Latin) 4.00
- Total Hours 378.00 out of 1,000 mandatory hours -
Hours Left: 622.00 averaging 15.25/week -or- 2.25/day
Curriculum used this week (percentage of current status towards completion):
Science:
Textbook - Discovery Works (Houghton Mifflin gr 3) lesson 93 of 129 (72.1%)
First Book Of Bugs (Margaret Williamson) lesson 6 of 9 (66.7%)
Math:
Textbook - Arithmetic 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 136 of 170 (80.0%)
Reading - Brain Games For Kids (Publications International) page 121 of 176 (68.8%)
History:
Textbook - History Of Our United States (Abeka gr 4) lesson 18 of 73 (24.7%)
Reading - Stories From Old Russia (Edward W Dolch) chapter 16 of 21 (76.2%)
Language Arts:
Grammar - Language 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 130 of 163 (79.8%)
Comprehension - Worlds Of Wonder (Abeka gr 3) lesson 12 of 46 (26.1%)
Penmanship - Cursive 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 137 of 175 (78.3%)
Ind Reading - Fire Eternal (Chris D'Lacey) chapter 29 of 34 (85.3%)
Ind Reading - Eclipse (Stephenie Meyer) page 228 of 629 (36.2%)
Classic Lit - Outdoor Girls In A Winter Camp (Laura Lee Hope) chapter 25 of 25 (100%)
Classic Lit - Outdoor Girls In Florida (Laura Lee Hope) chapter 1 of 25 (4.00%)
Free Reading - Glory Of Unicorns (Bruce Coville) page 182 of 198 (91.9%)
Free Reading - Wishbone Unleashed In Space (Alexander Steele) page 220 of 252 (87.3%)
Health:
Textbook - Your Health (Harcourt gr 3) lesson 23 of 85 (27.1%)
Foreign Language:
Latin - Minimus (Cambridge) lesson 4 of 27 (14.8%)
Completed Curriculum For The 2011-2012 School Year (2nd Grade):
Science:
Reading - First Book Of Bees (Albert Tibbets)
Reading - Polar Bears (Susan Canizares)
Reading - Rain Forest (Jinny Johnson)
Reading - True Story Of Corky The Blind Seal (Georgeanne Irvine)
Reading - To Be A Chimpanzee (Chris Martin)
Reading - Horses (Harold Roth)
Reading - Rattlesnakes (ZooBooks)
Reading - Otter On His Own (Doe Boyle)
Reading - Day Of The Dinosaur (Stan Berenstain)
Reading - Kittens And Cats (Intercontinental Books)
Reading - Creature Questions (Chris Kratt)
Reading - Bravest Dog Ever (Natalie Standiford)
Reading - Wild Cats (Diane Muldrow)
Reading - Where Do Birds Live (Betsey Chessen)
Reading - Look To The North (Jean Craighead George)
Reading - Big Dinosaurs (Michael Berenstain)
Reading - All Kinds Of Animals (Merrigold Press)
Reading - Ancient Forest (Guy J Spencer)
Reading - Animals (A+)
Reading - Penguins And Other Polar Animals (Dalmatian Press)
Reading - Discovering Australian Wildlife (Steve Parish)
Math:
History:
Textbook - Spectrum Geography Grade 3 (McGraw Hill gr 3)
Reading - Stories Of American Life And Adventure (Edward Eggleston)
Reading - First Dog (Jan Brett)
Reading - Orient (Tom McMahon)
Reading - Story Of Jumping Mouse (John Steptoe)
Reading - U S Mail (Elaine A Kule)
Reading - Why The Sun And The Moon Live In The Sky (Elphinstone Dayrell)
Reading - Finding The Titanic (Robert D Ballard)
Language Arts:
Comprehension - Silly Things Happen (Houghton Mifflin gr 3)
Comprehension - Foot Prints (Abeka gr 3)
Independent Reading - Fire Star (Chris D'Lacey)
Independent Reading - New Moon (Stephenie Meyer)
Classic Literature - Outdoor Girls Of Deepdale (Laura Lee Hope)
Classic Literature - Outdoor Girls In A Motor Car (Laura Lee Hope)
Classic Literature - Outdoor Girls In A Winter Camp (Laura Lee Hope)
Health:
Reading - It's Not The Stork (Robie H Harris)
Foreign Language:
Monday, September 12, 2011
Homeschooling - 10.5 Weeks In
This week... Zoko was sick on Sunday and Monday. Plus, Monday was no school/work for everyone else here. But, overall, she still had a productive week. She received her first letter from her new penpal, and sent a response. She clocked more time for Home Economics and Art than she has in a while. She also added a Free Reading book to her assignment list, Glory Of Unicorns (Bruce Coville). We did not get as much time in for Physical Education as we had been doing, I haven't felt up to our daily walks. I'm hoping to resume them shortly. Here it is, grade 2, progess report 9...
- Total Hours completed as of September 10th, 2011 -
Science 46.25
Math 36.25
History & Social Studies 37.25
Language Arts & Reading 132.50
Daily Review 1.50
Health & Physical Education 50.25
Art 20.00
Home Economics 4.50
Foreign Language (Latin) 3.00
- Total Hours 331.50 out of 1,000 mandatory hours -
Hours Left: 668.50 averaging 16.00/week -or- 2.50/day
Curriculum used this week (percentage of current status towards completion):
Science:
Textbook - Discovery Works (Houghton Mifflin gr 3) lesson 90 of 129 (69.8%)
Reading - Penguins And Other Polar Animals (Dalmatian Press) section 4 of 4 (100%)
Reading - Discovering Australian Wildlife (Steve Parish) section 2 of 2 (100%)
Math:
Textbook - Arithmetic 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 132 of 170 (77.6%)
Reading - Brain Games For Kids (Publications International) page 115 of 176 (65.3%)
History:
Textbook - History Of Our United States (Abeka gr 4) lesson 13 of 73 (17.8%)
Reading - Stories From Old Russia (Edward W Dolch) chapter 8 of 21 (38.1%)
Language Arts:
Grammar - Language 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 124 of 163 (76.1%)
Comprehension - Worlds Of Wonder (Abeka gr 3) lesson 7 of 46 (15.2%)
Penmanship - Cursive 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 134 of 175 (76.6%)
Ind Reading - Fire Eternal (Chris D'Lacey) chapter 20 of 34 (58.8%)
Ind Reading - Eclipse (Stephenie Meyer) page 124 of 629 (19.7%)
Classic Lit - Outdoor Girls In A Winter Camp (Laura Lee Hope) chapter 18 of 25 (72.0%)
Free Reading - Glory Of Unicorns (Bruce Coville) page 106 of 198 (53.5%)
Health:
Textbook - Your Health (Harcourt gr 3) lesson 20 of 85 (23.5%)
Foreign Language:
Latin - Minimus (Cambridge) lesson 3 of 27 (11.1%)
Completed Curriculum For The 2011-2012 School Year (2nd Grade):
Science:
Reading - First Book Of Bees (Albert Tibbets)
Reading - Polar Bears (Susan Canizares)
Reading - Rain Forest (Jinny Johnson)
Reading - True Story Of Corky The Blind Seal (Georgeanne Irvine)
Reading - To Be A Chimpanzee (Chris Martin)
Reading - Horses (Harold Roth)
Reading - Rattlesnakes (ZooBooks)
Reading - Otter On His Own (Doe Boyle)
Reading - Day Of The Dinosaur (Stan Berenstain)
Reading - Kittens And Cats (Intercontinental Books)
Reading - Creature Questions (Chris Kratt)
Reading - Bravest Dog Ever (Natalie Standiford)
Reading - Wild Cats (Diane Muldrow)
Reading - Where Do Birds Live (Betsey Chessen)
Reading - Look To The North (Jean Craighead George)
Reading - Big Dinosaurs (Michael Berenstain)
Reading - All Kinds Of Animals (Merrigold Press)
Reading - Ancient Forest (Guy J Spencer)
Reading - Animals (A+)
Reading - Penguins And Other Polar Animals (Dalmatian Press)
Reading - Discovering Australian Wildlife (Steve Parish)
Math:
History:
Textbook - Spectrum Geography Grade 3 (McGraw Hill gr 3)
Reading - Stories Of American Life And Adventure (Edward Eggleston)
Reading - First Dog (Jan Brett)
Reading - Orient (Tom McMahon)
Reading - Story Of Jumping Mouse (John Steptoe)
Reading - U S Mail (Elaine A Kule)
Reading - Why The Sun And The Moon Live In The Sky (Elphinstone Dayrell)
Reading - Finding The Titanic (Robert D Ballard)
Language Arts:
Comprehension - Silly Things Happen (Houghton Mifflin gr 3)
Comprehension - Foot Prints (Abeka gr 3)
Independent Reading - Fire Star (Chris D'Lacey)
Independent Reading - New Moon (Stephenie Meyer)
Classic Literature - Outdoor Girls Of Deepdale (Laura Lee Hope)
Classic Literature - Outdoor Girls In A Motor Car (Laura Lee Hope)
Health:
Reading - It's Not The Stork (Robie H Harris)
Foreign Language:
- Total Hours completed as of September 10th, 2011 -
Science 46.25
Math 36.25
History & Social Studies 37.25
Language Arts & Reading 132.50
Daily Review 1.50
Health & Physical Education 50.25
Art 20.00
Home Economics 4.50
Foreign Language (Latin) 3.00
- Total Hours 331.50 out of 1,000 mandatory hours -
Hours Left: 668.50 averaging 16.00/week -or- 2.50/day
Curriculum used this week (percentage of current status towards completion):
Science:
Textbook - Discovery Works (Houghton Mifflin gr 3) lesson 90 of 129 (69.8%)
Reading - Penguins And Other Polar Animals (Dalmatian Press) section 4 of 4 (100%)
Reading - Discovering Australian Wildlife (Steve Parish) section 2 of 2 (100%)
Math:
Textbook - Arithmetic 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 132 of 170 (77.6%)
Reading - Brain Games For Kids (Publications International) page 115 of 176 (65.3%)
History:
Textbook - History Of Our United States (Abeka gr 4) lesson 13 of 73 (17.8%)
Reading - Stories From Old Russia (Edward W Dolch) chapter 8 of 21 (38.1%)
Language Arts:
Grammar - Language 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 124 of 163 (76.1%)
Comprehension - Worlds Of Wonder (Abeka gr 3) lesson 7 of 46 (15.2%)
Penmanship - Cursive 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 134 of 175 (76.6%)
Ind Reading - Fire Eternal (Chris D'Lacey) chapter 20 of 34 (58.8%)
Ind Reading - Eclipse (Stephenie Meyer) page 124 of 629 (19.7%)
Classic Lit - Outdoor Girls In A Winter Camp (Laura Lee Hope) chapter 18 of 25 (72.0%)
Free Reading - Glory Of Unicorns (Bruce Coville) page 106 of 198 (53.5%)
Health:
Textbook - Your Health (Harcourt gr 3) lesson 20 of 85 (23.5%)
Foreign Language:
Latin - Minimus (Cambridge) lesson 3 of 27 (11.1%)
Completed Curriculum For The 2011-2012 School Year (2nd Grade):
Science:
Reading - First Book Of Bees (Albert Tibbets)
Reading - Polar Bears (Susan Canizares)
Reading - Rain Forest (Jinny Johnson)
Reading - True Story Of Corky The Blind Seal (Georgeanne Irvine)
Reading - To Be A Chimpanzee (Chris Martin)
Reading - Horses (Harold Roth)
Reading - Rattlesnakes (ZooBooks)
Reading - Otter On His Own (Doe Boyle)
Reading - Day Of The Dinosaur (Stan Berenstain)
Reading - Kittens And Cats (Intercontinental Books)
Reading - Creature Questions (Chris Kratt)
Reading - Bravest Dog Ever (Natalie Standiford)
Reading - Wild Cats (Diane Muldrow)
Reading - Where Do Birds Live (Betsey Chessen)
Reading - Look To The North (Jean Craighead George)
Reading - Big Dinosaurs (Michael Berenstain)
Reading - All Kinds Of Animals (Merrigold Press)
Reading - Ancient Forest (Guy J Spencer)
Reading - Animals (A+)
Reading - Penguins And Other Polar Animals (Dalmatian Press)
Reading - Discovering Australian Wildlife (Steve Parish)
Math:
History:
Textbook - Spectrum Geography Grade 3 (McGraw Hill gr 3)
Reading - Stories Of American Life And Adventure (Edward Eggleston)
Reading - First Dog (Jan Brett)
Reading - Orient (Tom McMahon)
Reading - Story Of Jumping Mouse (John Steptoe)
Reading - U S Mail (Elaine A Kule)
Reading - Why The Sun And The Moon Live In The Sky (Elphinstone Dayrell)
Reading - Finding The Titanic (Robert D Ballard)
Language Arts:
Comprehension - Silly Things Happen (Houghton Mifflin gr 3)
Comprehension - Foot Prints (Abeka gr 3)
Independent Reading - Fire Star (Chris D'Lacey)
Independent Reading - New Moon (Stephenie Meyer)
Classic Literature - Outdoor Girls Of Deepdale (Laura Lee Hope)
Classic Literature - Outdoor Girls In A Motor Car (Laura Lee Hope)
Health:
Reading - It's Not The Stork (Robie H Harris)
Foreign Language:
Friday, September 9, 2011
So Much For Planning Ahead
I buy Zoko's curriculum in advance, very far in advance. AKA, I already have a decent collection of textbooks and other materials for the next 3 or 4 years, theoretically. Although, it turns out, she's currently going through about 1.5-2 years worth of material per year, unless I make her slow down and I really don't feel like telling her she can't do the work. Anyway, I buy the books ahead of time, mostly at one specific used bookstore. For some reason, they manage to even get in the student editions (typically in great condition) for really cheap. They also have 40% off sales a few times a year. During those sales, I make a list of everything I'm misssing for the next few years, and go in and buy anything they have that's on that list. Well, that sale was last month. And, being busy with kids and being sick, and having financial *issues*, I didn't go in. Plus, I have already compiled most of her curriculum for this school year. For those of you who don't know it, she's currently finishing up the 3rd grade curriculum, and will be starting 4th grade shortly. In some subjects, she already has. The point is, I already had stuff compiled and was ready to go, no need to spend more money on books. Right? Not so much.
As I was getting ready to start prepping her Grammar 4 book last night, I realized that converting the Teacher's Edition into a Student Text (the way I had with grade 3), was way beyond the work I had anticipated. The grade 4 material is a lot more complex, and she needs the student text instead. So, I looked that up online to see how much it would set me back (14.75). And, in looking that up, I realized that she also does not have the 4th grade Penmanship book. One of those things I meant to get that I never found and it totally slipped my mind to go back and look for it again. So that's another 10.75. Then there's shipping on top of those. However, if you go to one of their "displays", the shipping fee is waived. This is how I also manage to get her Art books for basically free since I have to buy her Arithmetic books new anyway, and the art books typiclly cost the difference between paying shipping and getting free shipping. A justification? Yes, but it works. At least in my book.
So I look up their next "display" in my area. September 14th. I lucked out, if I hadn't looked until next week it would have been in December, and she'll need them before then. This means that I now (A) feel really dense for not having gone to the 40% off sale at the local bookstore last month; and (B) have one week to go used bookstore shopping and try to find the student editions of those two books before I have to just go in and pay full price. Oh well, it happens. I'm just really glad I noticed this slip-up before next week, when she would have gone without those books until December. She covers both Grammar and Penmanship an average of about 3-4 days a week at this point. It's supposed to be all five days, but they aren't "priority" materials in this house. At least, not at this point in time. They're also personal strong points of hers (when it comes to the workbooks at least), so missing a day or two a week doesn't set her back much.
I have no idea how most other people "homeschool". Besides the blogs and message boards I follow online, I don't know anyone else that does it. The groups here don't particularly like my methodology (as previously discussed), and that's okay with me. Because I do what works for Zoko and me, and I know that doesn't mean it would work for anyone else, or that their methods would work for us. We're okay with that. Meanwhile, if anyone does feel like chatting about these things, go for it. I mean, isn't part of the whole point of homeschooling to "think outside the box" anyway? If not, we'd just be more sheep following the rest of our society flocking in line for a public educational system that is very obviously nothing more than a glorified babysitter, at least around here.
As I was getting ready to start prepping her Grammar 4 book last night, I realized that converting the Teacher's Edition into a Student Text (the way I had with grade 3), was way beyond the work I had anticipated. The grade 4 material is a lot more complex, and she needs the student text instead. So, I looked that up online to see how much it would set me back (14.75). And, in looking that up, I realized that she also does not have the 4th grade Penmanship book. One of those things I meant to get that I never found and it totally slipped my mind to go back and look for it again. So that's another 10.75. Then there's shipping on top of those. However, if you go to one of their "displays", the shipping fee is waived. This is how I also manage to get her Art books for basically free since I have to buy her Arithmetic books new anyway, and the art books typiclly cost the difference between paying shipping and getting free shipping. A justification? Yes, but it works. At least in my book.
So I look up their next "display" in my area. September 14th. I lucked out, if I hadn't looked until next week it would have been in December, and she'll need them before then. This means that I now (A) feel really dense for not having gone to the 40% off sale at the local bookstore last month; and (B) have one week to go used bookstore shopping and try to find the student editions of those two books before I have to just go in and pay full price. Oh well, it happens. I'm just really glad I noticed this slip-up before next week, when she would have gone without those books until December. She covers both Grammar and Penmanship an average of about 3-4 days a week at this point. It's supposed to be all five days, but they aren't "priority" materials in this house. At least, not at this point in time. They're also personal strong points of hers (when it comes to the workbooks at least), so missing a day or two a week doesn't set her back much.
I have no idea how most other people "homeschool". Besides the blogs and message boards I follow online, I don't know anyone else that does it. The groups here don't particularly like my methodology (as previously discussed), and that's okay with me. Because I do what works for Zoko and me, and I know that doesn't mean it would work for anyone else, or that their methods would work for us. We're okay with that. Meanwhile, if anyone does feel like chatting about these things, go for it. I mean, isn't part of the whole point of homeschooling to "think outside the box" anyway? If not, we'd just be more sheep following the rest of our society flocking in line for a public educational system that is very obviously nothing more than a glorified babysitter, at least around here.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Homeschooling - 9.5 Weeks In
This week... Zoko finished reading New Moon, and started Eclipse (book #3 of the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer). She also started a new comprehension book, Worlds Of Wonder (Abeka gr 3).
We had a 3-4 day weekend here. Three days for Mutt, and four days for B and Odie. As for Zoko, she caught my head cold, and spent most of the weeked curled up under several blankets in my rocking chair and sleeping in the living room. So, she ended up with a four day weekend by default. Today, she is feeling much better, and she should be back to a full schedule by Wednesday or Thursday. Without further ado, here it is, grade 2, progess report 8...
- Total Hours completed as of September 3rd, 2011 -
Science 39.75
Math 32.25
History & Social Studies 34.00
Language Arts & Reading 119.00
Daily Review 1.50
Health & Physical Education 49.50
Art 17.00
Home Economics 1.50
Foreign Language (Latin) 3.00
- Total Hours 297.50 out of 1,000 mandatory hours -
Hours Left: 702.50 averaging 16.50/week -or- 2.50/day
Curriculum used this week (percentage of current status towards completion):
Science:
Textbook - Discovery Works (Houghton Mifflin gr 3) lesson 87 of 129 (67.4%)
Reading - Animals (A+) page 30 of 30 (100%)
Reading - Penguins And Other Polar Animals (Dalmatian Press) section 1 of 4 (25%)
Math:
Textbook - Arithmetic 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 129 of 170 (75.9%)
Reading - Brain Games For Kids (Publications International) page 103 of 176 (58.5%)
History:
Textbook - History Of Our United States (Abeka gr 4) lesson 10 of 73 (13.7%)
Reading - Finding The Titanic (Robert D Ballard) chapter 7 of 7 (100%)
Reading - Stories From Old Russia (Edward W Dolch) chapter 1 of 21 (04.8%)
Language Arts:
Grammar - Language 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 121 of 163 (74.2%)
Comprehension - Worlds Of Wonder (Abeka gr 3) lesson 4 of 46 (08.7%)
Penmanship - Cursive 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 132 of 175 (75.4%)
Ind Reading - Fire Eternal (Chris D'Lacey) chapter 13 of 34 (38.2%)
Ind Reading - New Moon (Stephenie Meyer) page 563 of 563 (100%)
Ind Reading - Eclipse (Stephenie Meyer) page 69 of 629 (11.0%)
Classic Lit - Outdoor Girls In A Winter Camp (Laura Lee Hope) chapter 13 of 25 (52.0%)
Health:
Textbook - Your Health (Harcourt gr 3) lesson 18 of 85 (21.2%)
Foreign Language:
Latin - Minimus (Cambridge) lesson 3 of 27 (11.1%)
Completed Curriculum For The 2011-2012 School Year (2nd Grade):
Science:
Reading - First Book Of Bees (Albert Tibbets)
Reading - Polar Bears (Susan Canizares)
Reading - Rain Forest (Jinny Johnson)
Reading - True Story Of Corky The Blind Seal (Georgeanne Irvine)
Reading - To Be A Chimpanzee (Chris Martin)
Reading - Horses (Harold Roth)
Reading - Rattlesnakes (ZooBooks)
Reading - Otter On His Own (Doe Boyle)
Reading - Day Of The Dinosaur (Stan Berenstain)
Reading - Kittens And Cats (Intercontinental Books)
Reading - Creature Questions (Chris Kratt)
Reading - Bravest Dog Ever (Natalie Standiford)
Reading - Wild Cats (Diane Muldrow)
Reading - Where Do Birds Live (Betsey Chessen)
Reading - Look To The North (Jean Craighead George)
Reading - Big Dinosaurs (Michael Berenstain)
Reading - All Kinds Of Animals (Merrigold Press)
Reading - Ancient Forest (Guy J Spencer)
Reading - Animals (A+)
Math:
History:
Textbook - Spectrum Geography Grade 3 (McGraw Hill gr 3)
Reading - Stories Of American Life And Adventure (Edward Eggleston)
Reading - First Dog (Jan Brett)
Reading - Orient (Tom McMahon)
Reading - Story Of Jumping Mouse (John Steptoe)
Reading - U S Mail (Elaine A Kule)
Reading - Why The Sun And The Moon Live In The Sky (Elphinstone Dayrell)
Reading - Finding The Titanic (Robert D Ballard)
Language Arts:
Comprehension - Silly Things Happen (Houghton Mifflin gr 3)
Comprehension - Foot Prints (Abeka gr 3)
Independent Reading - Fire Star (Chris D'Lacey)
Independent Reading - New Moon (Stephenie Meyer)
Classic Literature - Outdoor Girls Of Deepdale (Laura Lee Hope)
Classic Literature - Outdoor Girls In A Motor Car (Laura Lee Hope)
Health:
Reading - It's Not The Stork (Robie H Harris)
Foreign Language:
We had a 3-4 day weekend here. Three days for Mutt, and four days for B and Odie. As for Zoko, she caught my head cold, and spent most of the weeked curled up under several blankets in my rocking chair and sleeping in the living room. So, she ended up with a four day weekend by default. Today, she is feeling much better, and she should be back to a full schedule by Wednesday or Thursday. Without further ado, here it is, grade 2, progess report 8...
- Total Hours completed as of September 3rd, 2011 -
Science 39.75
Math 32.25
History & Social Studies 34.00
Language Arts & Reading 119.00
Daily Review 1.50
Health & Physical Education 49.50
Art 17.00
Home Economics 1.50
Foreign Language (Latin) 3.00
- Total Hours 297.50 out of 1,000 mandatory hours -
Hours Left: 702.50 averaging 16.50/week -or- 2.50/day
Curriculum used this week (percentage of current status towards completion):
Science:
Textbook - Discovery Works (Houghton Mifflin gr 3) lesson 87 of 129 (67.4%)
Reading - Animals (A+) page 30 of 30 (100%)
Reading - Penguins And Other Polar Animals (Dalmatian Press) section 1 of 4 (25%)
Math:
Textbook - Arithmetic 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 129 of 170 (75.9%)
Reading - Brain Games For Kids (Publications International) page 103 of 176 (58.5%)
History:
Textbook - History Of Our United States (Abeka gr 4) lesson 10 of 73 (13.7%)
Reading - Finding The Titanic (Robert D Ballard) chapter 7 of 7 (100%)
Reading - Stories From Old Russia (Edward W Dolch) chapter 1 of 21 (04.8%)
Language Arts:
Grammar - Language 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 121 of 163 (74.2%)
Comprehension - Worlds Of Wonder (Abeka gr 3) lesson 4 of 46 (08.7%)
Penmanship - Cursive 3 (Abeka gr 3) lesson 132 of 175 (75.4%)
Ind Reading - Fire Eternal (Chris D'Lacey) chapter 13 of 34 (38.2%)
Ind Reading - New Moon (Stephenie Meyer) page 563 of 563 (100%)
Ind Reading - Eclipse (Stephenie Meyer) page 69 of 629 (11.0%)
Classic Lit - Outdoor Girls In A Winter Camp (Laura Lee Hope) chapter 13 of 25 (52.0%)
Health:
Textbook - Your Health (Harcourt gr 3) lesson 18 of 85 (21.2%)
Foreign Language:
Latin - Minimus (Cambridge) lesson 3 of 27 (11.1%)
Completed Curriculum For The 2011-2012 School Year (2nd Grade):
Science:
Reading - First Book Of Bees (Albert Tibbets)
Reading - Polar Bears (Susan Canizares)
Reading - Rain Forest (Jinny Johnson)
Reading - True Story Of Corky The Blind Seal (Georgeanne Irvine)
Reading - To Be A Chimpanzee (Chris Martin)
Reading - Horses (Harold Roth)
Reading - Rattlesnakes (ZooBooks)
Reading - Otter On His Own (Doe Boyle)
Reading - Day Of The Dinosaur (Stan Berenstain)
Reading - Kittens And Cats (Intercontinental Books)
Reading - Creature Questions (Chris Kratt)
Reading - Bravest Dog Ever (Natalie Standiford)
Reading - Wild Cats (Diane Muldrow)
Reading - Where Do Birds Live (Betsey Chessen)
Reading - Look To The North (Jean Craighead George)
Reading - Big Dinosaurs (Michael Berenstain)
Reading - All Kinds Of Animals (Merrigold Press)
Reading - Ancient Forest (Guy J Spencer)
Reading - Animals (A+)
Math:
History:
Textbook - Spectrum Geography Grade 3 (McGraw Hill gr 3)
Reading - Stories Of American Life And Adventure (Edward Eggleston)
Reading - First Dog (Jan Brett)
Reading - Orient (Tom McMahon)
Reading - Story Of Jumping Mouse (John Steptoe)
Reading - U S Mail (Elaine A Kule)
Reading - Why The Sun And The Moon Live In The Sky (Elphinstone Dayrell)
Reading - Finding The Titanic (Robert D Ballard)
Language Arts:
Comprehension - Silly Things Happen (Houghton Mifflin gr 3)
Comprehension - Foot Prints (Abeka gr 3)
Independent Reading - Fire Star (Chris D'Lacey)
Independent Reading - New Moon (Stephenie Meyer)
Classic Literature - Outdoor Girls Of Deepdale (Laura Lee Hope)
Classic Literature - Outdoor Girls In A Motor Car (Laura Lee Hope)
Health:
Reading - It's Not The Stork (Robie H Harris)
Foreign Language:
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Almost Drowning
A lot of conversation has come up recently on my facebook page, and subsequently, in phone calls, about my fear of water. Yes, I am afraid of water. Why? Because I've almost drown way, way, way too many times. Not that almost drowning once or twice isn't bad enough, but I just want to be sure you get the point. But this post isn't about my fear of water, not really. It's more about what we do with our fears. I have worked long and hard to lessen the power of my fear of water, to lower it's energies or hold on me. For instance, I can now get some water on my face in the shower without collapsing in sheer panic. And I can actually trust my husband to be around me when I'm in water (sometimes I can even manage to turn my back toward him for brief periods of time). I'm sure that doesn't sound like a big feat, but to me personally, it is...
And yet, my kids didn't know I was afraid of water. They've seen me on the slip n slide (not knowing that this is only the second summer I've been able to do that, or that I have to force myself to ignore the pounding in my chest and the urge to hold my breath and run the other way). They've seen me get sprayed by the water squirters (not seeing how rapidly I wipe the water off my face and try to maintain a little composure). They've seen my splash and play in rain puddles (not realizing that I keep my face tightly shielded from the water)...
So, it was a few days ago at my mom's house, while I was discussing all the recent discussions on facebook with my mom, that Zoko piped up with, "Mom, I didn't know you were afraid of water." And I told her that yes, I am (terrified would be more appropriate, but I'm trying not to be overly emotional on this one). She asked me why I'm afraid of water, and I told her it's because I've almost drowned so many times. To which she replied, "I hope I only drown a few times". My mom and I laughed lightly and reminded her that if you actually drown, you can only do that once anyway, and that we hope she doesn't drown at all. So she rephrases, "I mean, I hope I only almost drown two or three times"...
Concerned, my mom quickly intervened and said that she should hope to never almost drown at all. To which my daughter quietly replied to me, "But mom, I'm trying to do that never saying something thing." Or something to that effect, being absolute jibberish to anyone who hasn't been around a philosophical 7-year-old in a while... And what exactly did she mean, sincerely stating that she hopes to almost drown a few times rather than never? Energy. It all comes back to energy. My daughter very muchly believes that if you make up your mind to "never" or "not" do something, then you put so much focus or energy into not doing it that, consequently, you end up doing it instead.
So, if she says she hopes she "never almost drowns", then she would focus so much on not almost drowning that she would end up creating that very experience she is hoping to prevent. But, by saying that she hopes she "almost drowns a few times", she is releasing the energy that could be turned into fear, acknowledging what could at some point happen, and allowing the universe to take its own course instead of trying to alter it.
As soon as I explained her meaning to my mom, my mom's attitude changed from concern to pride, and she let Zoko know how proud she was. Later, my mom was attending a church book club on "The Fifth Agreement", and she used the experience with Zoko to illustrate a point during part of a discussion.
I am well aware that most people probably don't understand the significance to her logic, or would consider that line of thinking to be dangerous for a child. But these are her thoughts. This is part of who she is. And I respect her very much for that.
I have encouraged her to be an independent thinker, and to be aware of the consequences (good and bad) of her thoughts as well as her actions. I have tought her that I believe our thoughts are projected into the universe, and that negitivity breeds and evolves and gets rapidly out of control. But she connects the dots and draws the lines and decides what she's going to say and do. And she has always made me proud. For even when we don't agree, I can always see her point of view and understand why she is making the decisions that she is. Watching her evolve helps me become a better person, and for that I will always be grateful.
And yet, my kids didn't know I was afraid of water. They've seen me on the slip n slide (not knowing that this is only the second summer I've been able to do that, or that I have to force myself to ignore the pounding in my chest and the urge to hold my breath and run the other way). They've seen me get sprayed by the water squirters (not seeing how rapidly I wipe the water off my face and try to maintain a little composure). They've seen my splash and play in rain puddles (not realizing that I keep my face tightly shielded from the water)...
So, it was a few days ago at my mom's house, while I was discussing all the recent discussions on facebook with my mom, that Zoko piped up with, "Mom, I didn't know you were afraid of water." And I told her that yes, I am (terrified would be more appropriate, but I'm trying not to be overly emotional on this one). She asked me why I'm afraid of water, and I told her it's because I've almost drowned so many times. To which she replied, "I hope I only drown a few times". My mom and I laughed lightly and reminded her that if you actually drown, you can only do that once anyway, and that we hope she doesn't drown at all. So she rephrases, "I mean, I hope I only almost drown two or three times"...
Concerned, my mom quickly intervened and said that she should hope to never almost drown at all. To which my daughter quietly replied to me, "But mom, I'm trying to do that never saying something thing." Or something to that effect, being absolute jibberish to anyone who hasn't been around a philosophical 7-year-old in a while... And what exactly did she mean, sincerely stating that she hopes to almost drown a few times rather than never? Energy. It all comes back to energy. My daughter very muchly believes that if you make up your mind to "never" or "not" do something, then you put so much focus or energy into not doing it that, consequently, you end up doing it instead.
So, if she says she hopes she "never almost drowns", then she would focus so much on not almost drowning that she would end up creating that very experience she is hoping to prevent. But, by saying that she hopes she "almost drowns a few times", she is releasing the energy that could be turned into fear, acknowledging what could at some point happen, and allowing the universe to take its own course instead of trying to alter it.
As soon as I explained her meaning to my mom, my mom's attitude changed from concern to pride, and she let Zoko know how proud she was. Later, my mom was attending a church book club on "The Fifth Agreement", and she used the experience with Zoko to illustrate a point during part of a discussion.
I am well aware that most people probably don't understand the significance to her logic, or would consider that line of thinking to be dangerous for a child. But these are her thoughts. This is part of who she is. And I respect her very much for that.
I have encouraged her to be an independent thinker, and to be aware of the consequences (good and bad) of her thoughts as well as her actions. I have tought her that I believe our thoughts are projected into the universe, and that negitivity breeds and evolves and gets rapidly out of control. But she connects the dots and draws the lines and decides what she's going to say and do. And she has always made me proud. For even when we don't agree, I can always see her point of view and understand why she is making the decisions that she is. Watching her evolve helps me become a better person, and for that I will always be grateful.
Friday, September 2, 2011
"City Island"
To anyone who has ever been in one of those families where most of your experiences and "family events" could have ended up on an episode of Jerry Springer, or for those of you who are absolutely positive that your life could easily be compiled to make a full one or two seasons of that show, you'd probably enjoy the movie "City Island". Or, at least, that's my opinion. Not that it matters much, but I figured I'd share it with you anyway. I just saw the movie for the first time, and it was funny. Not as in the make you roll on the floor, laugh til your stomach hurts type of funny, but the "oh my god, that's how messed up life really is" type of funny.
It's funny to see a movie that is so good at demonstrating how so many people have these little white lies that they hide from their loved ones. The secrets that we keep hidden because we're ashamed of the truth, or because we don't know how the other person will react, or just because we somehow feel that's a part of ourselves better off left in the dark. And I don't know what the heck we're supposed to do when we get sick of hiding these secrets. Because usually by then, they build up so big and take up such a huge part of our overall story that we don't even know where to begin if we did want to tell someone. Shoot, the things Mutt doesn't know about me could fill up a decent sized novel. But I don't think that's all bad. To quote my second favorite movie, "I don't think we ever need to know everything about the ones we love". Bonus points if you can name that movie, without looking it up online.
But the point is, what about all the innocent, harmless, so called "white lies" that we tuck away every single day? Exaggerate one thing or another, or simply "forget" to mention that you ran into an ex-lover, or your high school crush. Say you went out with friend A to go bowling, when you really went with friend B to watch a football game at his house. Does it make a difference? Obviously it did to you, or you wouldn't have lied to begin with. Right? I mean why would we lie about the small stupid stuff unless we felt the need to for some reason?
Most of the time though, eventually, those white lies seem to grow bigger and bigger. And, most of the time, they somehow come back to bite you in the rear. So, watch the movie, laugh on the inside, wonder if your family is any better off than theirs, and then go tell just one person your biggest, deepest, darkest secret. And don't try to pretend you don't have any, because, well, we're all humans and we can see straight through that one. Everyone has at least one secret, even if you don't call it that. As for what mine is, maybe I'll tell you sometime, but, like the chick said, then it won't be a secret anymore. Maybe some of our secrets are better off left in hiding just a while longer, a good plan A while you're waiting for a plan B to arrive. After all, isn't that what life usually ends up being, a series of plans that go wrong yet somehow works out exactly the way they were supposed to? Just a thought.
And if your aspiration in life is to be an actor, just ask yourself if you're better at the lies you're manufacturing or the lies you're living? Maybe your acting could use a lesson from your real life, or vice versa. Maybe giving up the white lies isn't the answer for you personally, maybe you'd be better off just being able to admit to yourself when you are lying. That's a start. It's an awfully big start, all things in life considered semi fairly. Not that such a thing exists, but still, wishful thinking isn't always a bad thing. Or maybe you should try to work on clearing up some of the past times when you could have helped someone and instead you turned away and shut the door. Yes, I've done that plenty of times as well. Whether I was in too much of a hurry, or felt that I somehow couldn't afford to be helpful, or had nothing to lend. And yet, isn't that still the same idea? How about once you find someone to tell your secret to, you do something even grander, and make yourself available to hear someone else's secret? Not to share it or somehow try to profit or gain from that knowledge, but to let them feel the freedom of releasing that hold it has on them. And yet you do truly profit, becuse in learning another's secret, you gain a little bit more knowledge about them, and can get to know them better and understand them and where they are coming from even more.
So yes, I'm recommending you watch a movie most people would probably consider lame, share your absolute biggest secret so that it's no longer a secret, and open yourself up to actually truly listening to someone who needs to be able to tell somebody something, no matter how big or small that something may be. Simple? Doubtful. Worthwhile? Infinitely!
Until next time, peace out :)
It's funny to see a movie that is so good at demonstrating how so many people have these little white lies that they hide from their loved ones. The secrets that we keep hidden because we're ashamed of the truth, or because we don't know how the other person will react, or just because we somehow feel that's a part of ourselves better off left in the dark. And I don't know what the heck we're supposed to do when we get sick of hiding these secrets. Because usually by then, they build up so big and take up such a huge part of our overall story that we don't even know where to begin if we did want to tell someone. Shoot, the things Mutt doesn't know about me could fill up a decent sized novel. But I don't think that's all bad. To quote my second favorite movie, "I don't think we ever need to know everything about the ones we love". Bonus points if you can name that movie, without looking it up online.
But the point is, what about all the innocent, harmless, so called "white lies" that we tuck away every single day? Exaggerate one thing or another, or simply "forget" to mention that you ran into an ex-lover, or your high school crush. Say you went out with friend A to go bowling, when you really went with friend B to watch a football game at his house. Does it make a difference? Obviously it did to you, or you wouldn't have lied to begin with. Right? I mean why would we lie about the small stupid stuff unless we felt the need to for some reason?
Most of the time though, eventually, those white lies seem to grow bigger and bigger. And, most of the time, they somehow come back to bite you in the rear. So, watch the movie, laugh on the inside, wonder if your family is any better off than theirs, and then go tell just one person your biggest, deepest, darkest secret. And don't try to pretend you don't have any, because, well, we're all humans and we can see straight through that one. Everyone has at least one secret, even if you don't call it that. As for what mine is, maybe I'll tell you sometime, but, like the chick said, then it won't be a secret anymore. Maybe some of our secrets are better off left in hiding just a while longer, a good plan A while you're waiting for a plan B to arrive. After all, isn't that what life usually ends up being, a series of plans that go wrong yet somehow works out exactly the way they were supposed to? Just a thought.
And if your aspiration in life is to be an actor, just ask yourself if you're better at the lies you're manufacturing or the lies you're living? Maybe your acting could use a lesson from your real life, or vice versa. Maybe giving up the white lies isn't the answer for you personally, maybe you'd be better off just being able to admit to yourself when you are lying. That's a start. It's an awfully big start, all things in life considered semi fairly. Not that such a thing exists, but still, wishful thinking isn't always a bad thing. Or maybe you should try to work on clearing up some of the past times when you could have helped someone and instead you turned away and shut the door. Yes, I've done that plenty of times as well. Whether I was in too much of a hurry, or felt that I somehow couldn't afford to be helpful, or had nothing to lend. And yet, isn't that still the same idea? How about once you find someone to tell your secret to, you do something even grander, and make yourself available to hear someone else's secret? Not to share it or somehow try to profit or gain from that knowledge, but to let them feel the freedom of releasing that hold it has on them. And yet you do truly profit, becuse in learning another's secret, you gain a little bit more knowledge about them, and can get to know them better and understand them and where they are coming from even more.
So yes, I'm recommending you watch a movie most people would probably consider lame, share your absolute biggest secret so that it's no longer a secret, and open yourself up to actually truly listening to someone who needs to be able to tell somebody something, no matter how big or small that something may be. Simple? Doubtful. Worthwhile? Infinitely!
Until next time, peace out :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)