in pursuit of wild things

Our week was pleasant, filled with sunny days and rain. We took nearly every possible opportunity to get outside to enjoy the sunshine and watch the grass turn a bit greener. We noticed the arrival of the robins and daffodils. Spring is just around the bend now. Finally…

One of the mornings was so nice that we went for a walk around the neighborhood (one mile) before starting up our school day. The kids were so better focused for the rest of the morning that I plan for us to start our day with a walk so long as the weather is agreeable. I worried about the delay during our walk but we actually finished up early. I guess they were able to focus longer and we ended up wasting less time adjusting for wiggly bodies. I’ve been getting up every morning and walking two or three miles before getting the kids up. A leisurely extra mile with the kids won’t hurt a bit on nice mornings.

I’ve managed to keep getting up early (most days) for the past couple of months now and walking. My weight hasn’t changed much but I do sleep and feel better.

I went ahead and ordered some of the kids upcoming curriculum for the next academic year. My kids actually asked for poetry curriculum! They want to learn about the different kinds of poetry and famous poets. I didn’t see that coming at all! Who knew? An

unexpected benefit of poetry tea time…I guess.  After tons of googling and homeschooling blog searches I found this set from Blackbird and Company Educational Press.

The folks from Beautiful Feet Books were kind enough to send me the extra-curricular reading list for our American history studies. I was lucky enough to find many of the books for three dollars or less. After looking over the list I decided to eliminate Oldest’s reading curriculum since he’ll be reading some heavy classics this year like Les Miserables, Last of

the Mohicans, Moby Dick, Tale of Two Cities…etc. I had originally chosen ten books but after flipping through Les Miserables I think it could easily take the place of three novels. It is massive, over one thousand pages!!! Maybe I’ll switch it to the read aloud pile…I dunno yet.

We’re moving into a two-year cycle of American history. The kids are excited. We’ve already started with a study of the America’s before the arrival of Columbus. I’ve picked out a few books from the library for us to read about the Native American cultures. Next, I’ll assign each of the kids to give a report over the tribes that lived near and within Kentucky. This study is also the beginning of our state history study. I could not find any state history that wouldn’t bore us out of our minds so I am creating my own literature approach to Kentucky history. At some point I will add a new menu to my site listing all books and projects for

learning Kentucky history. The study will include literature, map work, natural history, local Native American history, art, projects, field trip ideas, movies, recipes and whatever else I come up with. I have the first part of this written up but due to my work load from the Review Crew I will not get it on the blog this month.

This was another week spent in research. But other than our Kentucky history homemade curriculum I have everything planned out now. I am glad the first part of planning is done since the rest of the month is going to be so busy. I have three reviews coming up for the TOSReview Crew, the Hymn Fest in Western KY with the kid’s piano instructor and the homeschool convention in Cincinnati. I’m a little tired just thinking about it all.

Pella, Iowa

creek

Oldest

Littlest getting a much needed haircut

that’s a snowball!!!

not exactly a snow plow but we are thankful

everyone piled in bed with me while Daddy was away

I shoveled part of the driveway

cedar tree

early snowfall

snow

Middle Boy playing in snow

Sparkles and Middle Boy

Littlest

where is my car?

I lost the ruler in the snow

more snow

sleet

Linking up with: Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers