It has been a few days since I wrote and I can't be happier.  We took our first field trip (LST 325 from WWII was docked in Pittsburgh).  We toured the ship and then went to the Carnegie Science Center / Sports Works (Social Studies, Science, Phys Ed all in one day - woo hoo!)  We bought an annual membership which will be put to good use.  We are going back this week because they have a current exhibit on Water Cycle / Water Use / How water effects our environment - which is perfect for right now.

  I guess I need to regress and explain how I am coming up with my daily assignments, etc.  I have our school districts books for 4th and 5th grade.  I am using them as a guideline for what to cover, but we are not using them in particular.  For example, they are reading their Social Studies books, but I am adding assignments and interactive features to each chapter.  For example, Connor is in a chapter on Native American Indians (yes, only 1 chapter, 7 pages for our entire history of Native American Indians, just sad), he read the whole 1 paragraph on the Hopi Indians, then I assigned him to research the Hopi Indians and give me 10 facts he finds out.  He did his research and came to me soo excited.  He found a website with not only 10, but more like 20 facts, so he used the most interesting ones.  This assignment was used for writing, computer, and social studies - he asked to be able to research a couple more tribes.  I am going to expand this into an essay assignment, then a compare and contrast between a peaceful tribe, like the Hopi Indians compared to a warring tribe like the Apaches.  I love seeing him excited to learn and not minding the writing or research.

   We had our first spelling week... words?  Just words I think they need to not only know how to spell, but also how to use (think there, their, they're) correctly.   Last couple years, did you get your spelling test back?  did you get your spelling test back?  This year - DAD, WE BOTH GOT 90% on our first spelling tests!  The minute he walked through the door.  They each missed two, but instead of ending it there - they had to write each word they missed 10 times and every 4 weeks we will be doing a review spelling test... If you take a test, then never revisit it, how can you be expected to retain it??  I am a travel agent - ORD, MCO, SEA, BDL, BHO mean nothing to you, but I use them everyday and I am fluent on airport codes.  School should be treated the same way!

  Math - this is going a little slower, I am making sure they have the basics down (addition with 3, 4, 5 numbers up to 6 digits), subtraction (just 2 numbers up to 6 digits right now), multiplication (still mastering the 7s, 8s, 9s).  I decided to do exponential next week - Connor should have learned them in 4th grade, but obviously they were not on the PSSAs, so they were never even looked at!  Working into expanded subtraction (245 - 45 - 100 = ), but of course not that easy.  I figure we should be starting basic algebra by December - January.. going to introduce it slow and build.  Nathan is very good in math and I think they are on the same level even though they are a school year apart.

  Science... this is loose.  Today (yes, Nathan was doing school work on a Sunday) we found a really neat spider in the garden.  Photographed it, showed Nathan how to upload and them use google image search to find it on the internet.  He read all about it, now he will do an essay on it for a report.  We also have the crawfish to do a report on.   Weather / Nature / Animals will be have year round ongoing lessons.  Going to start introducing the Periodic Table 1 element at a time and making them into a Super Hero... ie. Captain Baronium - then using the properties to describe.  I really believe this will help them to understand and memorize each element.  I know I will :)

   Reading is a part of everyday, we are keeping track of books read and we will be reading a few Civil War type books the next couple weeks in preparation for our trip!

  Expecting to go to the trampoline zone this week for a phys ed class.  It has been cool for a couple days, so no swimming (they have been swimming, exercising at LEAST an hour everyday).  So as you can see it is an easy, laid back curriculum, but they do not fight with me and they do their work with enthusiasm because I allow them to complete it at their leisure (same day, of course).  I read an article about how a mom was ready to pull her hair out in the first weeks of home schooling and that she was constantly ready to throw in the towel, but had to persevere.  The first few days, that was what it was like, but I realized I took them out of traditional school so they could get a better education, a more rounded education; so why was I trying to teach them like they were in school???  Let it go!  That is all I can say and it is working...  I am not frustrated, they are not frustrated and they want to learn because it is interesting and they like being able to pick the books they read.  Nathan is no longer trying to pick books that are too easy, though he enjoys me reading them to him again - this I love because last year in school he didn't want me to even read to him in the evenings!

  Let's hope Monday starts another good week... Connor is finishing a report on the Chippewa Indians (Nathan asked if he could help because he wants to learn about them, too), new spelling list, new math concept, and going to start reading "What Was The Battle of Gettysburg?"