As we draw to the close to the week, I look back over the past few weeks with our membership as part of a co-op, our schoolwork schedule, and life in general. I can sit back content with the direction God has taken us.
I have found for me, that the co-op is giving me long term direction that I had been looking for. Whether the coop succeeds or fails (for this is the first year, along with the occassional bumps in the road that will occur as this becomes established) or if for whatever reason it no longer fits our family, the "schedule" will be maintained.
The first couple of weeks the kids thought they were "overwhelmed" with work, but as we settled into a routine of expectations, they see that they are not being asked to do more than they are capable of. At 11:30 in the morning, both boys have completed all of their assignments, the older one even giving a "happy dance" as he feels the sense of accomplishment. Princess has been slammed with 3 tests today so is taking longer to finish her work.
I have never read our current literature assignment "A Conneticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court" and I don't know who is enjoying it more, me or the kids...What a fun story and we are only up to chapter 9!
They were required to do a biography on Mark Twain this week and the kids enjoyed learning about him...again I did to. We learned that Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) was a confederate (for 2 weeks he had his own militia), he was a miner in Nevada, he was a pilot on a Mississippi river boat among other bits of info.
We are also reading "Gullifurs Travels" this is a book from the "Wishbone" series. Unfortunatley these books are now out of print, so I am grateful when I run across them in thrift shops.
The oldest is loving his US History, often these lessons take longest because he will want more info so we search the internet or watch a movie or look through books to answer his questions. The growth he is showing this year is amazing and I am in awe of the growth.
My princess...she struggles so with her maths. I have learned that she is like her mom, she cannot just be given bits and pieces in lessons to reach one final goal, we have to jump ahead so she can see where she is going with new information. My daughter was described as a "batch" learner. I have yet to find a curriculum that teaches in this manner, so as she starts each new unit we have to jump ahead to see where she is going.
Co-op still continues to be the highlight of their week...wonder what the kids from PS would say when these three all declare how much they love "school". :)
This week I am giving the kitchen a real deep clean, and catching up on never ending laundry. My beloved bought me a new dryer as the old one was not doing the job and I am wonderfully thrilled to not have to run 2 cycles to get clothes dry. I did not know he was even looking so I was thrilled when he brought it home last nite...keep in mind we buy these used so I was even more thrilled with the $50 price!!!
801. girls smiles,
802. sense of adventure the boys share with me
803. excitement as "they" figure out their work is all done before lunch
804. the sounds of dissappointment as they realize our reading is done for the day and they want to go on
805. struggles with lessons in the past, now things done with ease.
806. a husband who watches out for me
807. mom who finds treasures for me...latest is a pressure cooker for dinner to cut time for cooking
808. my daughter, who despite her distance from the family seems to be coming back bit by bit.
809. plans for thanksgiving with family starting to be made
810. excitement of kids headed out to the garden to pull up plants as we learn about roots.
811. An 11 year old learning of how private property was established with the pilgrims and relating it to the current threats he hears in the news today.
812. Living a lifestyle that allows me to be the wife God intends of me.
813. knowing that HE is in control today
814. knowing He is already there tomorrow
815. provisions He has made, without me knowing I needed them at the time.
816. Did I mention my dryer???
817. day to day life, that often seems boring and mundane yet is the most fulfilling
818. hunting season
819. One deer hanging...7 to go
820. canning jars to fill
821. the ones that are full
822. a friend who gave us some homemade pickles (tried making them once...failed...will have to try again)
823. my wood floor
824. GRAFT co-op
825. Each adult who spends time to share with the kids during our co-op classes
826. Each child that I have the opportunity to impact.
827. Having the Kindergarten class...with Brooke, Quinn...and 3 Seths....tell me that isnt confusing sometimes.
828. today. I am overwhelmed with HIS love for me today.
2 comments:
That's awesome that you've caught a deer so far. WOW! Going for 7 more :) We are looking in getting 3 total.. Do you do jerky? Sounds like the co-op is working for you guys. That's awesome!! :)
A friend of ours makes the jerky I have yet to learn how. When I break open a packet the kids swarm like locusts, I have to hide it in the freezer!
We really like the coop. We have incorporated into the school schedule so it really is not more work for them, however me teaching the littles is tough to come up with stuff for them.
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