I feel like I know my daughter better and can speak to her needs in a way I wasn't able to before. I'm not sure I've wrapped my head around it. For Isaac it was a piece of cake. The kid memorized stuff easily and had plenty of creative time with all of his many therapies throughout the year. Next year he won't have as many so I will have to find ways to help him stay occupied when the olders have more schoolwork. I say olders because it is absolutely my desire to bring Blake home and stick with this. I see so so much potential for it if only I can live up to a third of the vision in my mind! This year it was all about getting to know homeschooling, and particularly Classical Conversations. We choose super outside the box math and while we didn't nail every layer of the curriculum I believe we achieved a fairly high level for first year Essentials students. I say "students" because I was learning as well! For Trinity the executive function skills are still a struggle. I'm not sure if it will take medication to ease all the anxiety but we continue to be close through the process and it's all the time with her that is making that possible. I can't wait to try some different math and science programs next year. Not really sure what I will use yet. The other thing to think about will be do I incorporate any unit studies that the three of them can tackle at their own level? Or individualize a few unit studies to what each child would like? Another change that I think will need to be made is to have set times for school in the day. Core subjects should take place between such and such a time etc. With Isaac and Trinity's therapies resulting in so much chopping up of our days schoolwork happened when and where it could. I even found myself doing it in the evening sometimes and while I didn't mind it at all from a standpoint of what will help the children maintain good study habits I think the change will be necessary. Of course I haven't a clue how to accomplish that yet! So much to think about. For a final look at this year I will share a few videos from their celebration day. Trinity did so well on her Hatshepsut report, the girl is a natural at public speaking. I love that because I sing and her daddy did debate so she is taking after us for sure. Can't wait to see her grow in those skills. In May she will take the Stanford 10, which is a standardized test approved in the state of Washington to meet homeschool requirements. It will give us a rough idea of where she is at for a grade equivalence. I am curious about the results. A HEARTFELT thank you to the children's tutors this year. I couldn't have learned so much about CC in such a short time without you and the other most informative and kind mothers. You are all rockstars!
The kids spent quite a few weeks on a project called "Faces of History". They wrote an extensive report on their character which they presented in costume on our final day. They did a "wax museum"for the younger children where they held a paper with three clues about who they were and stood still as statues while we all walked around the room and tried to guess their person.
All the kids from essentials presented on a character from ancient history. We did end up with two who chose modern people however. Apparently this gymnast one six gold medals while being four months pregnant. Say what!?
Joan of Arc (not quite ancient)
Emperor Constantine (if I remember correctly)
the Essentials class demonstrating sentence classification and diagramming
George Washinton
Audience. (lol)
Merida (just kidding, she was an ancient Celtic Queen who almost defeated the Romans, Burundi or something)
Hatshepsut, the first female Pharaoh of Egypt!
the prophet Daniel
Ah shoot I knew I would forget one!
posing with Hatshepsut. I'm sorry but he is SO. sTINKING> CUTE.
Archimedes, though I might have gotten that one wrong too
more Essentials presentation
the Goddess Athena
the kids reciting the Presidents Song
