Monday22 January

Friday did happen and it was a good day of schooling, I just can't remember the details anymore. So we'll just pick up and start fresh with today. Because of other committments, Monday is always sort of a short day in the study. A sort of bumpy way to start the week, really, but there is nothing that can be done about it for now.

Firstborn:

• Watched the DVD presentation of his new math lesson. Then I gave him fifteen minutes to complete all that he could. He was intrigued by this and completed three entire pages. Hurray! However, I haven't checked the work. Still, I was pleased to see him focus so on his math work. Inspired by Sunshine, Firstborn then spent some time at the MUS website doing much needed basic function drill. He knows the basics, but doesn't seem to be second nature yet.
• Latin. Lots of Latin review today, independent and with me. The conjugations and declensions (we're on the second declension now) are starting to get sorted out in his brain and the memory work is really improving. He also completed the lesson worksheet. We will spend the rest of the week reviewing, doing the activity book pages and I HAVE to get that CD playing every day. Hmmm....what would be a good routine time for that?
• Still plugging away on those Christmas thank you cards. One more drafted and written today.

Sunshine:

• Spent a lot of time looking for things this morning. Ugh! Over the weekend I cleared all of the toys and even some of the clothes (the ones that were on the floor) out of the girls' room. Still Sunshine couldn't find everything she needed this morning. Putting things away when she is finished with them is a life skill that I am really going to have to help her with (maybe if I did a better job modelling it?!)
• Handwriting. Sunshine did such nice work in her handwriting book today. It was a small amount, but really careful. I was pleased with her thoughtfulness in this work and gave her a lot of encouragement.
• Math. I am still not ready to let her move on to the next chapter in MUS until she really has those -9s down. These seem to be the hardest to learn (for Firstborn, too) and I want her to have them solid before we move on. So, she spent a lot of time at the MUS online drill doing these today and did improve.
• Chose a poem for the week, but totally independently. Need to work with her tomorrow.
• She needs to polish off some more thank you cards tomorrow during school.

Rosebud

• Completed the 100s board again. Her counting is improving each time and she notices her errors independently and is even able to correct them.
• Ohhh, how she wants to read, but just isn't quite "there" yet. Today I started her on the Label Game. I write on individual sheets of paper simple names of objects in the room (lamp, desk, rug, etc) and sound it out for her and then she labels it. After we do up to ten, I ask her to bring each label back to me by name (Bring me the label that says "lamp" please). She loved this and started to see the sounds as I read them to her. Later in the week or next week, I would like to add the Command Game.
• Dictated a thank you card to me today. Signed it (in improving cursive !) and illustrated it (the drawing is really maturing, too!)

Firstborn and Sunshine worked on their music theory today. Big test is coming up!

Over the weekend we finished "Schoolhouse in the Woods" and began "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm." The former was beloved by the children, the latter is obviously much more of a challenge but they keep asking for more. It gives me a chance to model narration; I stop after every paragraph to narrate or field questions. This is also a new book for me and I am really enjoying it.

We have failed at the family rosary for several consecutive days now, but the daily scripture reading from the missal has been consistent. The readings give them a chance to try to narrate and me a chance to model. They seem to enjoy this activity--more than I thought they would, certainly. I like Helen's idea of working with one or two catechism questions each week at tea time, so I am hashing over how to incorporate that into our day as well.

Notes for tomorrow: 1. Family Rosary. 2. Latin CD 3. Label Game for Clara 4. Thank you cards 5. Order new items w/Christmas money (esp. for Little Queen & Rosebud) 5. More time away from the texts

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Lunch: Leftover Salmon & Spinach Noodle Casserole (from Big Book of Casseroles)--BIG HIT! & some carrot sticks and apple slices

Dinner: Cream of Tomato Soup (Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone) and a crusty loaf of bread