Week in Review: October 26-30, 2015

This was a week of changes to some of our curriculum. It never fails, does it? We completed week 14 in school this week. After 14 weeks, there are some things we had to change. While there are many things I love about Heart of Dakota's Bigger Hearts for His Glory and Little Hearts for His Glory, there are several things I don't love about it, but didn't realize until this week. My children simply weren't enjoying the read aloud books for history and science, which is the core of the program. I don't know if we are going to abandon it altogether, but for now, we are taking a hiatus.

So what are we doing? We are going to try delight-directed homeschooling. I have always wanted to do this, but was afraid the kids wouldn't learn "what they should". Who decides what a child should learn? As I thought about this, I realized my children learn more and retain more when they decide what they want to learn. When they get interested in a topic, find books at the library, watch YouTube videos, and ask questions, they learn so much more.

Enter Do-It-Yourself homeschool journals by Sarah Brown. A sweet blogger friend, Linda at Homeschooling6, has been blogging about these journals for several weeks. I was so obsessed interested! Sarah has given me the opportunity to review these beautiful journals. We started yesterday, and let me tell you, so far, it is just what I was looking for.

I had the kids choose 8 or 9 things they were interested in, and we took a trip to the library. I had them choose one geography, one history, and one science book, and the rest were totally their decisions. I was proud of their selections!

{7th grade choices}

{5th grade choices}

{2nd grade choices}

 

They have already shown me such motivation to learn new things. The journals are absolutely beautiful, and I even have my own! They have written short stories, done copywork from their library books. drawn pictures, made meal plans, written recipes, and much more!

 

Other than that, we have been continuing in math and grammar as usual. Mercie is still learning her 3 multiplication facts and pronouns. Eli is learning about different geometric shapes and angles and lines in math. In grammar, he is still learning predicate adjectives and nouns. They are both working in their cursive books and doing great!

 

Silas, my kindergartner, learned the letters Q, R, S, T, and U this week. We introduced syllables to him, and he learned to clap out words. In math, he worked in his math journal and Essential Math workbook.

 

 

Mikaela has been crocheting some more, making her own cookbook with recipes she wants to try, and watching videos on how to use fondant.

 

Eli has  been making paper airplanes, reading about pyramids, and drawing his own town.

Mercie found a recipe in her cookbook for kids that she wanted to try, and luckily we had all three ingredients! It was called Nifty Nachos, and all the kids scarfed them down.

 

{Yes, she is wearing gloves...}

 



Silas and Titus have been making things with Magformers all week: hats, helmets, belts, balls, toys...

My husband's job is winding down, and he only has a few weeks left. We have been in Ohio for 6 months now, and I am ready to go home! {Louisiana} We will be packing and cleaning this rental house for the next few weeks.

{Reading a  book called "Mistakes that Worked"}

That was our week in review! How was your week?