planning

Well, over the holidays I came up with a new way to plan our school days. It is working very well for us. I sat down and came up with all the subjects and areas that I wanted the kids to cover every week. I wrote a guideline for each day and what we would cover, a sort of masterplan. Then I typed up a sheet for each day to fill in the specific things we would be doing (what books we would read, what Math we would do, etc). Usually on the weekend, I will plan the next week out. I just grab a page for each day of the week and look at my masterplan and decide what needs to be done in each area.
Each day's page, books, notebooks and worksheets are all put together in file folders according to day. I just pull out all the stuff I need for that day and highlight everything that we complete as we finish it.
At the end of the day all the worksheets the kids do go into their own binder and we keep them as a sort of portfolio.

Some pics of the kids doing bubble painting:

desi

We think our dog has ruptured her cruciate ligament in her leg. If this is the problem, she would need surgery which would probably cost $1600 plus all the other costs, such as pain medicine, etc. She would have a long recovery time and no guarantees that it is not going to happen again or happen to the other leg.
Anyway, we will likely take her to the vet in the next day or so.
Ethan would be heart broken if we have to put her down. She is his girl, he talks about her all the time. The first thing he does every morning is grab his pillow and lay it beside her crate and talk to her. He keeps praying for her that she will get better.

A Few of My Favourite Things

Mine:
Settlers
Hot chocolate (still)
Dates with Perry
Hot baths

Perry's:
His new gamecube (yes, we are a little behind the times)
King of Queens
Settlers
Candy Cane Lane tea

Ethan's:
Dressing up
Bad guys (unfortunately)
Cheese
Babes in Toyland (the Disney original)

Gavin's:
Gumballs
Milk
Mister Maker (a craft show)
Getting his back stratched (and being very particular about where you scratch it...)

A Simple Woman's Daybook - January 3, 2009

Outside my window...the sun is shining.

I am thinking...how wonderful my family is.

I am thankful for...the fun day that Perry and I got to have for his birthday yesterday.

From the learning rooms...Ethan is learning place value.

From the kitchen...we need groceries!

I am wearing...jeans and layered shirts.

I am creating...more schedules for school.

I am going...to have fun tonight with friends.

I am reading...the Bible- Genesis.

I am hoping...I don't have headaches everyday forever...

I am hearing...the dishwasher.

Around the house...the Christmas decorations are now put away, *sigh*.

One of my favorite things...my husband.

A few plans for the rest of the week: the kids start swimming lessons again and have both moved up a level. Lots of school work, hoping to get back to routine. There are not a lot of plans for the next week. We have friends coming over for dinner and games and maybe time in the hot tub tonight. Maybe we'll take a trip to the library.

Oh, for summer!

Happy New Year!

This is Ethan's shopping list. It says:
Cake
Brownies
Plates
Hot Dogs
Milks
Pop
French Fries
Soup

hello

I just cannot seem to keep this blog updated. I don't spend a lot of time on the computer these days.
We are watching our niece this week. She has been so good, the first day she slept until 9:30!
We had carpet installed 2 days ago- in 2 bedrooms and the family room, then the old family room carpet was installed in the kids toy room in the basement. It was a nightmare taking all the furniture out of those rooms and finding places to put it all!
Ethan is doing really well with his reading. This week I sat down and started a schedule and planning our days in a way that would be easier to achieve and still make sure that we're covering every subject that we need to. Although, it was too busy this week with other things to really get to implement it.
Christmas is in less than two weeks! How did that happen???
Anyway, off to be the teacher!
He's got the cutest lips!

A Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...there is a light dusting of snow and more falling.

I am thinking...about our busy week, what plans to make for homeschooling and how to organise them and our sweet little niece in the hospital.

I am thankful for...my husband and the time we're able to spend with him right now.

From the learning rooms...Ethan is getting better and better at reading every day.

From the kitchen...there is a mess!

I am wearing...jeans and a sweater.

I am creating...sugar cookies soon and other Christmas baking.

I am going...to friends for lunch and to have a date with Perry tonight and to the hospital tomorrow.

I am reading...James Herriot.

I am hoping...to be able to finish everything I need to in the next week.

I am hearing...the Smurfs.

Around the house...we need to tidy.

One of my favorite things...hot chocolate.

A few plans for the rest of the week: I already mentioned some, also- my Aunt's 50th birthday party on Sunday, Perry is writing a test to get into the Boilermakers Union on Monday, we may be watching our niece for the week, we are having carpet installed on Thursday, which means I need to finish painting before that (but when?) among other regular everyday things!