Pressure

Pressure.  We all feel it, whether we admit it or not.  Faced with the impending Year of Chaos, I'm beginning to feel the pressure build.  I have a To-Do list that just doesn't seem to end, as I think of five more things for each thing I almost get crossed off.  So, what to do?  Should I admit, the idea of sending my precious darling to a new charter school has crossed my mind at least a dozen times per day?  Am I the only one?  I suppose I should be thankful I know the school is full, but I've been tempted to call and ask if they could make room for one more...no, I've been tempted to beg if they could make room for one more! 

So what's my problem?  Just as another blogger wrote a while back, homeschooling is a love/hate relationship, just as most big decisions and responsibilities are in life.  I love picking out curriculum and learning new things with my daughter.  I hate the thought that we're not covering as much as I think we should cover--and I hate that I can't let go of that hate.  I know we won't cover it all, and yet I can't stop myself from trying, which is extra pressure I'm placing on myself. 

I love seeing my daugther perform some math concept or reading concept that I had no idea she could grasp so quickly.  I hate when she tests me, like today, when she needed to read the word "train", which she pronounced correctly, and then said, "Oh, I mean trrr-ene.  What's a trene?" (There was a picture of a train next to the word--she knew it, yet she still wanted to test me.  This lasted about 30 minutes as she insisted she couldn't read it and I made her sit quietly until she figured it out).

I love the natural desire to learn that my youngest daughter has, and her free, happy spirit.  I hate having to continually tell her to be quiet and stop dancing as I try explaining a difficult concept to my oldest daughter.  I provide other things for Snugglebug to do, but she has a tendancy to wander around the room...

I hate spending the entire day on school and not get anything else done because Lovely spent so much time doodling crocodile bodies on greater and lesser than signs instead of answering the problems.  I love that she gives me a hug and a kiss and thanks me for doing school with her because I'm spending time with her. 
Until next time...

Phonics Oddity

I will be the first to admit phonics was difficult for Lovely last year.  She hated...no, she abohorred having to read the little books every day to practice.  We used A Beka readers, BOB books, and anything I could find at the library.  She simply hated it.

Episode 1:  Oddly, we were reading books the other day and I found a reader that Snugglebug had picked at the library so I said, "Oh, this is a Lovely book," and handed it to her.  She began reading immediately!  She and I took turns reading every other page, and we read the entire book!  She was so proud that she told the librarian when we returned the book. 

Episode 2:  During the phonics test she took yesterday, Lovely had to read a line of words, which she did, and then asked to read the top line, too, which she did.  Then she asked to read the bottom line, which she did.  Then, she gave me a huge hug and kiss, and thanked me for letting her read all of those words....ok, WHAT is going on?

After reflection, I realized I hadn't been making Lovely read...at all, really.  I have her read the sentences on the worksheets, but that's it.  I've simply been reading a ton to her and Snugglebug, and perhaps she's finally picking up the reading bug on her own.  Yes!!

Educational Field Trips Pt. 1

We began Sat with a trip to the Frazier International History Museum in Louisville.  We had purchased a Groupon discount and thought we'd begin putting it to good use by investigating the pirate display that's currently at the museum.  We rushed and rushed to get there by 12 p.m. in order to see "Treasure Island", their fight on the rooftop, only to discover they canceled it due to weather....why?  It wasn't overly hot, it wasn't raining, and there weren't any gusty winds?  I was very bummed! 

The girls had fun exploring the fake pirate ships, though, and dressing up as princesses.  (Why weren't there pirate costumes?)  They learned what ships looked like, along with different types of treasure that was found from sunken ships.  Hubby really enjoyed all of the weaponry on display, and we would have stayed longer, but our parking limit was up and we were all getting really hungry!  So, we left the museum and drove around a..um...sketchy part of town (the abundant signs for "DNA Testing" kind of gave that away) until we got on the interstate. 

Next, we drove to Frankfort for an early dinner and stopped by Salato Wildlife Management, one of our favorite places to visit.  It's completely free, but they're only open until 5 p.m., and we arrived at 4:45.  However, they still had all of the snakes and salamanders on display, so the girls had a field day petting them!  Ick!  Mommy watched from a distance and sanatized their hands when they finished!  They determined snakes are soft and slimy, they learned you need to de-scent your hands before touching another snake so you aren't mistaken for a snake and bitten, and they learned you need to have wet hands in order to touch salamanders.  So, although we didn't have much time there, is was still a fun and educational trip! 

Still Chugging Away...

Now that the bumps have pretty much gone away, I'm finding a lot more energy than I had had previously.  So, on to updates about school (I don't mean to bore you, but it does help me keep track of how long I spend on different activities for the future).

Math--Lovely--almost finished with Ch. 3--she likes it much better, despite the not-so-great Ch. 2 test grade.  I've found making number games really inspires her mah skills!  Something as simple as driving cars down a path in order to earn marbles (money to use for the Treasure Chest) by answering questions correctly really gets her enthused.  For Snugglebug, I'm just having her count and color worksheets, and participate in the games.

Language Arts-- Lovely--About lesson 26 in grammar, lesson 13 in A Beka.  She is zooming through and has really gotten good and figuring out what things say.  She's in lesson 7 in spelling, and we're following the weeks in copywork.  Snugglebug--she's sounding out three letter words and has the vowel sounds memorized, along with some other letters.  I'm currently reading Mary Poppins to both of them. 

History/Science--we are reading about Mummies like crazy.  We began our mini-mummy experiment a couple days ago--can't wait to see how it turns out so I can document it! 
When the girls can, they get on the computer as much as possible.  I still need to get back into music with them both, but I've been trying to get everything organized for my upcoming Year of Chaos.  (Yes, I'm realling going to call it that...maybe it won't be as bad as I'm anticipating....LOLOLOLOL)

I know I'm missing something, but Snugglebug is currently fake playing the keyboard and singing a song from her head about three little chicks that were the meanest, and Lovely is doing a math review while using a special British accent to talk through her math problems thoroughly, and now I'm at a loss of thought...

Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease at 31

Who says mostly children get Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease?  I made it 31 years without getting this disease, or at least not knowing I had it if I ever had it!  However, I felt extremely cold and tired on Wed. (thusly, I stayed home from church), Thursday I had no energy and I found what I thought were a couple blisters on my hand, and today, the tiny blisters had spread to my wrists and I began feeling them on my feet.  Infact, it hurts as I type because of the blisters that are on my fingertips.  I would like to thank my lovely darlings for this experience--who knew they could have it without exhibiting the rash that accomanies most occurencies of it? 

Both my girls had fevers last weekend, but I administered Motrin, watched them overnight, and by morning, the fever was gone.  Now, I remember Lovely telling me the roof of her mouth hurt..hmmm...and now Hubby reminded me they both complained of their feet hurting, and yet, I never saw any actual bumps and they never told me about them. 

So, what's the treatment?  Wait it out.  Grrrr.  I was prescribed some painkillers, but I hate taking anything, so unless the pain gets a lot worse, I can probably just deal with this.  However, I remain contagious for a while, so those who normally see me...won't for a while.  According to the Mayoclinic site, I should "stay home from work."  Greeeaaat.  Well, I have wanted to get more accomplished at home....Now, if only I could stand touching things...

How is it spread, you ask?  Sneezing, saliva, nose discharge, etc.  Let me just say, I won't be sharing my drink with Snugglebug as much in the future!  Now, where they got it, who knows.  Probably from someone, who, like me, didn't realize there was more to the fever.  If I was around anyone, I really do appologize, and trust me, I am getting paid back. 

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/medical/IM00929 Click on this link to see pics of what my hands look like (well, not my hands, but a child's hands...)

Glorious Fourth Free Admission for Military and Their Families

July 2-4, active military and veterans, and up to five immediate family members can visit Conner Prairie's Glorious Fourth in Fisherville, Indiana, for free! Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit their website to plan your visit :) Activities include militia marches, museum theater, games, Taste the Past, barn dancing, Salute to Veterans, and Cabinet of Curiosities.

Free Phonics Books and Worksheets

What a great website!  I just visited ProgressivePhonics' website, a free website that offers fun books that can either be read online or printed out, along with activity sheets to reinforce each lesson.  I just completed the first lesson under Alphabet and the first activity sheet with Snugglebug.  She laughed at the book because it was silly (just like her), and then the first activity sheet was cutting and gluing--just her speed!  After I told her she was finished, a few minutes later she showed me she had written the word "dog" (the first lesson teaches the words dog and dod--dod is the name of the dog, but it doesn't want to confuse new learners, so it's not capitalized).  I was quite impressed!  I plan on using this website a lot in the future! 

Here is what they say about themselves on their home page:

"Progressive Phonics is an all-in-one reading program that is easy, fun, and totally FREE--that's right, totally and completely free!  .....Anyone can teach a child to read and write in just a few minutes a day, which makes it ideal for parents, teachers, tutors, volunteers, and home-schoolers." 

You do have to register in order to download the books, but there is no cost to you, except the price of ink and paper if you choose to print out each book.  Talk about awesome!!