We did it!!!

We finished all our Sonlight curriculum today!! What an achievement!

Megan and Courtney both finished Core E (Second half of American history) and Sonlight 1st grade science today!!

Megan finished Core E Language Arts and Courtney finished Grade 1 Language Arts.

They should feel very accomplished!! I know I do!!

Sonlight curriculum provides certificates to fill out when we are done. I  copied them off today and gave them to the girls after we finished each subject. I hope they realize all that they have accomplished!

Now onto Core F, which is a cultural study of the Eastern Hemisphere, with Megan and we are going to start Core A with Courtney and Christian.  I think it will be too easy for Courtney and maybe too hard yet for Christian, we will see. I just know that the research portion of core F will be too hard for Courtney. She can still listen to the read alouds and history sections though like she did before.

I decided to skip 2nd grade Sonlight science and just move onto 3rd grade.  I saw a lot of repeat of what we did this last year in 2nd grade science and it didn't look too interesting.  It looked like another year of "general science." For the 3rd grade curriculum,  we are going to be going back to biology, which will include plants and animals, plus some physics towards the end. I think this will be a bigger challenge for the girls.

Megan will also start Language Arts for Core F, which will include another research paper this year.  Courtney will start Grade 2 Language Arts.  I think it is kind of neat because this language arts package is the first one I taught Megan when we pulled her out of public school for 2nd grade. This will be my first time teaching something over again.

I have a lot to get ready this weekend.  I need to get the old books packed away and the new books pulled out. I need to redo the girls' science binders with their activity sheets and start pulling out the new curriculum. I have read through it quite a bit, so I know what is coming, but I just don't feel I have had enough time to fully prepare everything like I would like! I hope we are ready to go on Monday!!

If we aren't ready to go on Monday, our math, English, and spelling will continue to be the same, so they won't be getting out of school. :)

Desert Storm

We have two days left to finish American history!

Today we are talking about desert storm.  I remember when this war broke out, but honestly, I don't know much about it!

http://www.history.com/topics/persian-gulf-war

http://www.history.com/topics/persian-gulf-war/speeches/bush-on-iraqs-invasion-of-kuwait?m=52af5724c3c2e&s=undefined&f=1&free=false

Inernational Space Station

Have you ever wondered how astronauts do simple everyday tasks while on the International Space Station?? We are going to talk about these simple tasks tomorrow in science and I thought these movies are super fun!

http://sciencekids.co.nz/videos/astronauts.html

Some fun facts about the International Space Station:

http://sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/space/internationalspacestation.html

Watergate Affair

We have one more week of American history!

Tomorrow, we are going to be talking about the Watergate Affair. I think Megan and I have talked about this before, but we are going to look at it in more detail tomorrow.

I think history.com does a much better job explaining it than our book!

http://www.history.com/topics/Watergate

Of course, I can't leave out his famous, "I am not a crook!" speech.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/richard-nixon-im-crook-deceitful-politicians/story?id=17684873#1

(I interviewed my grandpa one time when I was in 8th grade and I still remember him telling me about Nixon and his "I am not a crook" speech!)

New School books!

In about a week, we are going to start a whole new curriculum for history, science, and language arts for both girls.  We have studied American history for the last 2 1/2 (Sonlight cores D and E) years and now we are going to focus on the cultures of countries of the Eastern Hemisphere (Sonlight Core F). There are about 30 books in this core, so it will take us awhile!

Courtney has been great about listening to Megan's readings for the last year or so.  She listens to the read-alouds and to the history and has probably learned just as much as Megan has, even though the curriculum was designed for Megan's age group.

Last night, I was looking at what we were going to start studying and Courtney, with this sad look, said, "What? No more American history??" I said, "No, Courtney, we are done with American history." I thought she was going to cry! I didn't know she enjoyed it so much!

She then went on to inform me that she can continue to listen along with Megan's work, which she can.  There is one section to the curriculum though that would be too hard for Courtney.  It is a research section on every country in that hemisphere. She asked if she could see it, she wanted to see if I would really be too hard for her. I pulled it out and showed it to her. Her eyes got big and said, "Yep, you're right, that would be TOO hard for me!"  I told her that we will continue to read history and read aloud books out loud and she seemed happy! They just won't be about American history anymore! (I guess when you study a subject for 2 1/2 years, the kids get a little attached!)

To make up for this though, I bought a Core A instructors guide. Core A is a world cultural study for the younger ages (age 5-7). I thought I could go over this curriculum with Courtney and Christian while Megan is researching her material in core F. This way Courtney keeps learning and we start getting Christian involved. He is always begging for "his turn" anyway! I think we are just going to do the "history" section, which would only involve these books.

It will be quite a change here in about a week!

Cars Blanket

Christian and I were reading a book last night and one of the pages had an ambulance on it. He said, "Mom, if I ever get hurt, I hope the ambulance has a Cars blanket, that would make me feel better."

Ok, Christian! I will make sure the nearest ambulance has one just for you!

Honestly, I hope we never have to call the ambulance because he is hurt that bad! (We have done it once with Megan already!)

Space Shuttle Day

We have three more lessons on space!

Today, we are going to be talking about the space shuttle and I thought it would be fun to see where they all ended up.  We actually saw the space shuttle Discovery ourselves when we were in Virginia last year.

The space shuttle is HUGE! Megan and Courtney look so little next to it!

http://techcrunch.com/2011/04/12/nasa-names-the-space-shuttles-final-resting-places/

http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/orbiters.html

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/orbitersend.html

http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/Shuttle/Home.aspx

http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/enterprise.html

Ash Wednesday

Another holiday on our calendar that we get to talk about. :)

Here are some articles we can use to discuss the day.

http://www.gotquestions.org/Ash-Wednesday.html

http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/p/Ash_Wednesday.htm

http://www.christianheadlines.com/news/what-does-ash-wednesday-really-mean.html

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/series/ash-wednesday-practice-and-meaning/

What it feels like to have a kid with allergies...

Check this out, this is sooo me right now!

http://www.healthline.com/health/allergies/food-allergy-would-understand?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=opt&utm_campaign=25Things#1

And yes, I have been up the night before making cupcakes for a birthday party and it wasn't even my kids' party!

The Big Bang Theory?

Tomorrow in science our book covers the Big Bang Theory. Even though we are Christians and believe in the creation story, Matt and I think this is important for our kids to learn about, so we are going to learn about it tomorrow!

short article describing the Big Bang Theory:
http://www.esa.int/esaKIDSen/SEMSZ5WJD1E_OurUniverse_0.html

Video from Minute Physics (recommended by Matt)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3MWRvLndzs

It stinks to be sick!

Courtney and I have been sick on and off since Thursday. We have a stomach ache, chilled, and very tired at times.  I have had very little energy to do anything!! This also comes and goes.  I have figured that if I eat, my stomach won't hurt as bad! But when it hurts, it really hurts and puts me on the couch for awhile! My poor adrenals cannot catch a break!

I really hope this leaves us soon. We only got 2 1/2 days of school in next week and I really need to get something accomplished this week. Matt has the week off too, so honestly, I don't think there will be much book learning going on!

Article about Apollo 11 artifacts

I saw this article and it goes right along with what we are studying in history today- the first man walking on the moon. (And yes, we studied this about a month ago in science, so this should be familiar.)

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/neil-armstrongs-widow-found-apollo-11-artifacts-in-closet/ar-AA98LQp?ocid=fbsn

This article talks about how Neil Armstrong kept some souvenirs from his trip to the moon.  He was supposed to destroy them, but his widow just found them in a closet after 46 years!

The Milky Way Galaxy

Tomorrow we are moving onto the Milky Way Galaxy in science.  We are going to use this website to learn about the different kinds of galaxies.

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/galaxys.htm

Then we are going to do this craft and instead of making just one galaxy, we are going to draw the three different kinds!

http://www.spacetelescope.org/kidsandteachers/drawings/giavomo_sona/

Black construction paper, chalk, and some creativity. I think it will be fun!

Studying Stars tomorrow in science class

My girls finally finished their power point presentation on the 9 planets! It took 2-3 weeks, but we made it all the way through! It took lots and lots of negotiating, it tried my patience once or twice, but they did a great job! (If you want them to present it to you, just say so! They need people to listen to them!)

We are going to continue on in our science books. Tomorrow's topic is stars. Wow! I have learned so much about stars by just getting ready for the lesson.  Our book is not so clear, so I am going to use this website to help everyone understand.

http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/universe/stars-article/

It's a new week and nothing will be cancelled!

I feel like this is just a repeat of last week, except we get to attend our events this week!

Last week at this time, we were staring at 5+ inches of snow and I knew we were going to be stuck at home for awhile, which is exactly what happened.  I was looking forward to many things last week, but unfortunately, the were cancelled.

This week is a different story!! Courtney will have basketball practice tomorrow night. We will start our classes at the Homeschool Learning Center on Wednesday, I will teach piano lessons on Wednesday, and we will have D6 that night at church.  The girls have an orthodontist appointment Thursday morning and Megan will have basketball practice Thursday night.  Along with all of this, we have two Valentine's Day parties on Friday! It will seem like a short week, but I plan on attending everything and not getting an email/ phone call that things are cancelled.

Dead Sea Scrolls!

Not only are we about done with our history program, we are also almost done with our Bible curriculum.  We have been working through this book for over 2 1/2 years!

It has been a great curriculum to do with both girls.  We have four lessons left in the whole book (which is about 350 pages long.)

We are currently on the last section which is entitled "When He Cometh" and is about when Jesus returns someday. We have talked about quite a variety of topics and we have learned a lot!

Tomorrow though, the curriculum switches gears a little bit.  We are going to have a lesson the Dead Sea Scrolls! I find this fascinating because when I was in college, my religion professor was very involved in the archaeology of the Dead Sea Scrolls.  He took groups of student over to Israel yearly to work on the excavation site. I never went, but I know many people who did!

For starters, we have pictures of the Dead Sea- the lowest place in the world.

https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=dead+sea&fr=slv1-yie9&fr2=piv-web

Then we are going to look at where the Jordan River and the Dead Sea meet.

https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=AwrBT7un69JUdIEAtcJXNyoA?p=Jordan+River+and+Dead+Sea&fr=slv1-yie9&fr2=piv-web

Finally, pictures of the Dead Sea Caves (or called Qumran Caves), where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947.

http://www.bibleplaces.com/qumrancaves.htm

Pictures of the Dead Sea Scrolls:

https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=AwrBT9IX7NJU_6oAcPpXNyoA?p=dea+sea+scrolls&fr=slv1-yie9&fr2=piv-web

http://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/featured-scrolls

Cancelled, cancelled, cancelled...

I am really beginning to not like those words! The children and I have not left our house since Saturday.  Everything for the last five days has been CANCELLED! Now, I know there is about 10 inches of snow outside, but seriously! I am going a little stir crazy!!

Luckily I have two appointments tomorrow that I am not going to cancel! (If I can help it!)

The kids have been great about it though, luckily we are used to being home, so we just start with school and don't end until our work is done around 3.  I only planned on doing an 1 1/2 hours with the today, but I made it into a full day. Why not? We were home. I would rather have school than deal with the fighting! (But yes, a day off now and then would be nice.)

We do have our fair share of fighting and complaining, but we get through it.  We have plenty of distractions lately with our puppy friend that we are watching.

My thought is that we work now, we can take days off in the spring when it is gorgeous outside!  :)

We have a week long guest again!

Since Courtney loved watching our neighbor's dog about a month ago, they asked if we would ask watch her again while they went on a cruise.  Of course Courtney wanted to!!! Did I even have to ask twice??

They brought her over last night and her first night here went a lot smoother than the last time! We know not to leave her in her kennel in the kitchen all by herself! We automatically put the puppy's kennel (small one) on Courtney's bed and she went right to sleep!  I didn't appreciate the 4 am wake up call though! Or the 6:40 one either!

Courtney gets very distracted with the dog during school and thinks she has to take her out every hour. Her owner said every 3-4 hours is fine! I had to get mad at Courtney a couple times this morning already because she wants to take her out so often and it really interrupts school time. The dog is distracting enough!!

I do love having the puppy around though, it gives the kids somebody to play with and to love on! They fight over who gets to hold her and play with her! I don't know if I am ready to get another dog yet, but we will certainly borrow our neighbor's!

No Snow Day for Us!

Public schools are out for a snow day tomorrow, but that means that there will still be school at the Ruwe house!

We are up to the 1960's in history and tomorrow we are going to be talking about John F. Kennedy. 

As usual, history.com is going to be a resource for some short video clips.

http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/john-f-kennedy