And we're off

We're off with the new school year.

Here's our class photo.

She cleans up well, but not without protest.

After some last minute decisions and re-shuffling things are finally set. Sofia will be homeschooling this year and taking one or two classes outside the home for leisure.  We will be working through a company providing distance learning resources which are connected to Quail Run Primary School.  In this way, she is still considered a student of the charter school for which they receive funding, although she won't be participating in any of their programs.

Here's Sofia's homeschool lineup for the 3rd grade.  (We may dial it back a bit if the ADHD, or the Kindergartener, orrrrr the drunken midget, starts to intefere with our time.  This is just the initial plan).

• Language Arts
• Reading:  Who Was ... biographies, books associated with history and science studies
• Manuscript:  D'Nealian Cursive 3rd grade workbook
• Writing:  Writing With Ease Level 3
   Tin Man Press Write Ups
   (may supplement with Winning With Writing and other programs)
• Grammar:  First Language Lessons Level 3
• Spelling:  All About Spelling Level 4, 5
• Latin:  Finishing Song School Latin
• Math
• Right Start Math Level D
• (Summer review with Singapore Math 3 Extra Practice Workbook)
• Logic
• Logic Safari Book 1
• Tin Man Press: Listen Up
• Tin Man Press: Cut Ups
• History
• Story of the World Vol. 1 - Ancient History
• Geography
• Expedition Earth
• Top Secret Adventure
• Science
• Real Odyssey Science Level 1 - Earth & Space
• Language
• Rosetta Stone Spanish
• Salsa episodes
• Song School Spanish
• Art
• Meet the Masters
• Draw Write Now
• Music
• Classical Music for Kids
• Extra-Curric.
• Gymnastics (Lehi Legacy Ctr.)

Self portrait

For the first day of school, we started off with a drawing project, a self portrait.  Sofia and Marcelo really enjoyed being "class mates".  Immediately, I can see a bit of competitiveness ignite in Sofia's eyes, but mostly I think she will enjoy, showing her little brother the ropes.  Homeschool is so tough.

Fishing #2



How to Catch a Fish

 This was our second time attempting to fish with the kids.  Only one fish was caught.  Sofia's reaction: "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!  Get away from me, you fish!"  It was a bit accidental.  I don't think she noticed she had caught him until she had reeled him in and he was smacking her in the face.  When we put it back however, she expressed her disappointment with these words, "But I wanted to eat him".

She was very patient.  We sat there for a couple of hours.  When we decided to take a break, she sat on a bench, pulled out her "Science & Nature" notebook from her messenger bag, and began to document the process of how to catch a fish.  You know, now that she's an expert and all.

I absolutely loved this!  Why?  What's the big deal about this, you say.  Because!  This is one of those weird, nature-loving, homeschooling things to do that I would love for my kids to do, but how to get them to do it? The difficulty of convincing a child to take on such a habit feels akin to convincing them to eat brocolli for breakfast on their own free will.  Sofia's weakest area in school is writing  (only because she's so freaking awesome at everything else).  I've suggested nature journaling in the past but haven't tried to push it on her in any kind of organized way because, like a hermit crab, I figured, she would recoil.  But. I planted the seed.  And the seed sprouted all by itself!  That's why it's so exciting to me.

She brought the messenger bag loaded with her newest "Science & Nature" notebook, plus a bird book and some other nick-nacks all on her own which in and of itself is a big deal.  ADHD kids can forget to bring their shoes on their feet if not reminded several hundred times.  It's these little moments of quiet and tiny victories that make my day.

She don't mess around with no jump roping

And to think the neighbor boy down the street didn't want to play with you because you're a girl!

Go back to your Ken dolls, boy.