Plugging Along

We're making steady progress.  Seth finished his first-level spelling book, so we celebrated last week by having a game of Scrabble as the day's "spelling lesson." I'm excited that the boys are to the stage where they can play cerebral board games.  Gabriel is making progress with his multiplication tables, and he's grasping the principles of grammar very well.

For our September outing, we visited Fanning Springs State Park, and it was so beautiful that we went again the following week.  We saw minnows and mullet, and Seth jumped off the dive platform into the spring hole several times.  Their swimming continues to improve, and I'm SO glad.  Gabriel decided he might want to be a Park Ranger when he grows up, so we talked to some of the Park Rangers to find out what they do.

Today we're meeting the group on UF's Campus for a tour of a statue exhibit by sculptor Seward Johnson.  My plan is to take pictures of the statues, then we'll come home and research online the works of art that inspired them.

Back to the Old Grind...

...except I think we all secretly prefer The Grind to the limitless computer and Wii games that I let them indulge in for most of August.  No more!  Starting this week, we began our new daily routine:

• breakfast
• creative play
• Seth's book work
• break for play
• Gabriel's book work
• break/lunch
• subjects we do together
• chores
• THEN they can turn on TV/computer/Wii.  

They've moaned about not having "electronics" for most of the day, but strangely enough, there's been a lot less squabbling, and my mood sure has lifted from the rise in productivity!

Gabriel finished All About Spelling: Level 2 this week and is tackling the new challenges in Level 3.  We're working with all of the materials listed in my previous post, except Seth's math book is on back order.  If it doesn't show up tomorrow, I may give the warehouse a call.

My dad visited us last weekend, and his friend gifted us with a terrific Time-Life book series on American Wilderness.  Of course, Gabriel zeroed in on The Carribbean Isles.

I confess, I had to look up both the definition and pronunciation of "archipelago."

Monday, we started our new biology curriculum, and I got out a treasured gift from the other set of grandparents so that we could look at some cells.

The 10X microscope comes with a box of 100 prepared slides, and we saw cells in the onion skin.  Seth enjoyed the experience so much that he explored other slides on his own the next day during Gabriel's book work.  "Mom, I'm looking at a dog's smooth muscle!  It's SO COOL!"  Enthusiasm is that kid's middle name.  :)

Our drawing books haven't arrived yet, so for art on Wednesday, we started the basic foundation shape in clay sculpture:  the ball.  We made piggies.

Gabriel's Pig

Mom's Pig

Seth's Wee, Wee Little Pig

Behind the scenes, the moms in our homeschooling group had a really productive meeting Tuesday wherein we planned field trips and other adventures for every month from now until May.  I think it's going to be our best year yet!  Our first new adventure starts Monday with a weekly Chess Club -- I'm really interested to see how that goes.

Oh, yes!  We went swimming at a friend's house today, and both boys were jumping into the deep end, stroking all over the pool, and having a high old time.  I've been waiting for that moment for YEARS.  Thanks again, Coach Rob!