Recently, a well-meaning friend indicated that it could not be possible that my 7yo was not yet reading. He can do math in his head that I can't even do, having been raised with the 'new math.' We're using Ray's with him and doing most of it orally, with only manipulatives. The actual digits came after he could count well, add and subtract. It seems to have done quite well for him. Since numbers and I don't get along, it is exciting to see him doing so well, without having to count on his fingers. I can see the difference quite easily, as my 13yo did not do Ray's and he struggles. Back we go, to drilling, drilling, drilling.
As for reading, the 7yo in question is just on the verge. We use Writing Road to Reading and he is working through the base phonics, and learning to put together the sounds. He read 10 words in our last lesson. After a review today, we'll test him to see if he is retaining. He's a boy. Seriously, this is often a common factor in reading a little later. It's not for lack of effort, but I see no reason to push him until he hates to read. I want him to own it. I want him to set the goal for himself...which he is doing. He's found some awesome books about animals that he wants to read (we're studying zoology) and he wants me to help him read his Learning to Read Bible. He'll get there...no need to fret.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
My, how time flies!
Much has happened in the months since I last posted.
I take care of my mother, who has Alzheimer's, I home school, I teach in a home school co-op, and I'm TRYING to keep my house together, to boot. This week, both cars decided to blow up...well, one blew up and the other didn't, only because there were angels holding it together. Seriously! The mechanic said he simply could not believe that my car was even alive. :-)
I should have about 7 posts here, but I'm going to condense it into 1, for the sake of time and my sanity.
My daughter had a baby! I'm a grandma! Whoot! My grand-daughter is as cute as all get out, my daughter is doing well, her husband has impressed me with his attentiveness and my mother got to hold the little sprite. :-) She doesn't remember, but we got pictures and I will put one good one up in her room to remind her.
Brian is in holding in Virginia. They are phasing out his MOS, so he's waiting to hear what he gets. It's been a learning experience for him, as he is surrounded by people he THOUGHT would be of the highest character. He's finding that the simple fact of being a Marine does not move one into the ranks of the cream of society. At the same time, these ARE good guys. They seem to just be still sowing their oats. Many go into the military because they pay for your life for awhile. Brian? No so. He told me on the phone that he's ok with wherever they send him, be it Afghanistan, or wherever. He's ready to die for his country. I'm impressed with the level head that my son has.
School is, once again, moving forward at the speed of light. I both like this and detest it at the same time. Over the next 6 years I will graduating 4 children. It's not likely to slow down any time soon. Nor can we downsize to a 5 seater car just yet. Lord, please help my suburban stay alive for at least one more year!
My children like the co-op that we are in. It is well organized and it runs quite smoothly. The biggest complaint is that my children want me to teach History at home. They want the subject to come back to life. Facts and figures are 'dead.' They hold no context of the working of God behind the scenes. I am good at digging to find out what God was doing in those events, and so we'll begin this week with a lesson that brings us into the time line of American history.
My plan is to start with the Renaissance and the Reformation. The thinking that came out of these two separate time lines remains today. The one leads to Humanism and the other leads to Individual Liberty. It is the basis for our American time line. From there, we will study each president of the United States and hang US History, World History, Culture and World View on each man who has held office since the beginning. Geography will, of course, be part of that time line, as the lines of the US changed with the Westward Movement.
And now, off to see my personal trainer...in 3 weeks, I've lost a pants size! She'll tell me this morning how much weight I've lost. I feel energetic and my brain seems to be firing off at the, um, speed of light..
I take care of my mother, who has Alzheimer's, I home school, I teach in a home school co-op, and I'm TRYING to keep my house together, to boot. This week, both cars decided to blow up...well, one blew up and the other didn't, only because there were angels holding it together. Seriously! The mechanic said he simply could not believe that my car was even alive. :-)
I should have about 7 posts here, but I'm going to condense it into 1, for the sake of time and my sanity.
My daughter had a baby! I'm a grandma! Whoot! My grand-daughter is as cute as all get out, my daughter is doing well, her husband has impressed me with his attentiveness and my mother got to hold the little sprite. :-) She doesn't remember, but we got pictures and I will put one good one up in her room to remind her.
Brian is in holding in Virginia. They are phasing out his MOS, so he's waiting to hear what he gets. It's been a learning experience for him, as he is surrounded by people he THOUGHT would be of the highest character. He's finding that the simple fact of being a Marine does not move one into the ranks of the cream of society. At the same time, these ARE good guys. They seem to just be still sowing their oats. Many go into the military because they pay for your life for awhile. Brian? No so. He told me on the phone that he's ok with wherever they send him, be it Afghanistan, or wherever. He's ready to die for his country. I'm impressed with the level head that my son has.
School is, once again, moving forward at the speed of light. I both like this and detest it at the same time. Over the next 6 years I will graduating 4 children. It's not likely to slow down any time soon. Nor can we downsize to a 5 seater car just yet. Lord, please help my suburban stay alive for at least one more year!
My children like the co-op that we are in. It is well organized and it runs quite smoothly. The biggest complaint is that my children want me to teach History at home. They want the subject to come back to life. Facts and figures are 'dead.' They hold no context of the working of God behind the scenes. I am good at digging to find out what God was doing in those events, and so we'll begin this week with a lesson that brings us into the time line of American history.
My plan is to start with the Renaissance and the Reformation. The thinking that came out of these two separate time lines remains today. The one leads to Humanism and the other leads to Individual Liberty. It is the basis for our American time line. From there, we will study each president of the United States and hang US History, World History, Culture and World View on each man who has held office since the beginning. Geography will, of course, be part of that time line, as the lines of the US changed with the Westward Movement.
And now, off to see my personal trainer...in 3 weeks, I've lost a pants size! She'll tell me this morning how much weight I've lost. I feel energetic and my brain seems to be firing off at the, um, speed of light..
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