Weekly Report 1/9 - 1/14

~What We Are Reading~

Me: Columbine by Dave Cullen and Giving God First Place (a bible study)

Bear: Snake Charmer by Jamie James

Noodle: Various Readers

Bible: I have this first on the list, mainly as a reminder to me that this should be a priority in my life, not just our homeschool. The fact is it hasn't been a priority in either for a long time. I have gotten caught up in the stuff of life and trying to do things within my own power. Now, there is a mess that only God can clean up.

I admit, I really don't know how to do this "subject."  All the curriculum I see don't appeal. I don't want Noodle to do bible crossword puzzles or little bible crafts. I am not saying there can't be any value in those things, but I just don't want to spend time on them.  I would prefer reading and discussion.  So, this week I just focused on reading the Word.
I haven't assigned anything to Bear for Bible, since anytime I do he gets angry for "forcing religion" on him.  For now, I continue to pray that God will reach him through other people or some event I have no hand in.  He just doesn't want to hear it.  I don't want to argue and drive him farther away from God.  Keep praying for us in this area please.

Math: Noodle continued with Abeka.  He has also been playing a math game on the computer - for an upcoming review we are working on - so more on that coming soon! I am planning on ordering Teaching Textbooks 3 for him, next week.  I am going to see if I can find a used one to save a little money.  Bear continues to succeed in Algebra and has 12 lessons left! With only 12 lessons to go, the third lecture and practice CD turned up with a crack in it!!  Grrrrr.  I had to order a replacement, and thankfully it was only $15.

Math game.

Language Arts: Noodle is on CLE LA Book 108.  We started this series about a year ago and I wanted to be done with it a couple months ago.  We just don't get to it everyday.  Part of me is worried we haven't started the 2nd grade series of books, but the other part of me knows CLE is a little advanced.  Also, we use several other language arts materials so he isn't missing anything.  Noodle started Explode the Code Book 5.  He continued with reading lessons in Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading, and he reads aloud to me a book each day.  Soon, he will graduate to chapter books and book reports! Can't wait!  Additionally, Noodle completed some more WWE lessons.  He is improving with his summarizing, which is exciting.

WWE Dictation

Playing Story Cubes

Bear continues grammar review with CLE.  I think I decided he is going to do the AP English test in May when he does the AP Biology test, so he will begin a practice book for that pretty soon.

History:  Noodle watched a DVD for kids about the American Revolution.  The DVD is from Learn Our History, which is an organization co-founded by Mike Huckabee.  The information was good, but the animation and characters attitudes left much to be desired.  Characters were name calling and it is obvious someone was trying too hard to make history appeal to "cool kids."  I think history is fascinating and cool enough without that stuff.  Just my opinion of course.

Visual from Learn Our History's American Revolution DVD

Bear continued his TOG assignments.   Bear is reading Little Madison for a fun supplement to his history studies. 

Science:  No science for Noodle, but Bear worked on Biology every day.  Bear continues other science "experiments" - mainly blowing up water bottles with various explosion recipes from physics and chemistry books.  One of these days I fully expect the police to show up because of a freaked out neighbor.  I limit him to two explosions so it doesn't get ridiculous.
Logic:  The Art of Argument is really a great curriculum in my opinion.  We only do it a couple of times a week, but from here on out we are going to kick it up a notch.

Philosophy:  I love TOG Philosophy.  It is really deep, confusing and hard to grasp, but it makes us think!  The second time reading through always makes more sense for us.

In other news, we gave Daisy the Guinea Pig a bath. Here she is in all her cuteness, cozily wrapped in a warm towel, drying off.

That's it in a nutshell.  I am about to embark on "Operation Classroom Makeover" so school is going to be a little trickier to navigate in the next couple of weeks.  I can't wait to do the big reveal.  Let me just give you one hint:  IKEA.   That's all I can say for now!

I am linked up with Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.  Check out how other homeschoolers did with school this week.