School November 7-11

This weeks topic in History: The Russians and the Ottomans

•          L & J will read and answer questions from SOTW 
•          find pictures of the Hagia Sophia when it was a Christian Church and when it became a mosque         
•          Finish the book:  Catherine, Called Birdy

Books read February-April

Books Logan and Jonah have read: 

My Life in Dog Years by Gary Paulsen

White Fang (Logan) by Jack London

Pompeii: City of Ashes

The Mystery of the Roman Ransom

The Ides of April
Terra-Cotta Soldiers by Arlan Dean
Hannibal Rome's Worst Nightmare by Brooks

Books I have Read to Logan and Jonah:

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place (book 2)

Treasures in the Snow by Patricia St. John

Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff

Luke:

Lately I've started reading chapter books to Luke (actually all the boys) at bedtime.  Our first couple were Junie B. Jones books.  Now we've graduated to Charlotte's Web--which I love.

Books Logan and Jonah have read for school from Aug.-Feb.

The Golden Goblet
The Cay
The Phantom Toll Booth
The Hittite Warrior
How To Train Your Dragon
D'Aulaires Greek Myths
Theras and His Town
The Well of Sacrifice
Archimedes and the Door of Science
Alexandar The Great by Robert Green
The Giver

Platteville Historic Reenactment 2010

This has to be one of my very favorite field trips each year.  Even though we've talked with some of the same people each year, we still learn a ton and all of the kids look forward to it.

General Science Expermiment #3

First Science Experiment of the Year with Apologia General Science

I like to begin the school year gradually.  It seems less daunting to start with a couple of subjects to get our feet wet again after the nice summer break.  This week we started back with Spanish and our new science program.  I think we are really going to like the Apologia General Science this year.  You can see the boys doing one of the experiments above.  With each experiment they must write up a lab report.  I was so impressed with their first attempt as they followed the instructions and wrote a neat logical report.

We are also trying something new---actual grades for science.  Really this is more for my benefit than theirs.

I don't want to begin figuring out how to do grades beginning with high school.  I think it would be a good idea for me to have a bit of practice at this.  I was pleasantly surprised how they reacted to being graded.    I explained exactly what I was looking for in the lab report and how they could earn the maximum 12 points.  I really do think it helped them be a little more careful and definitely made a difference on the neatness factor. 

So this year we are going to grade science, math, and some of their history.  We'll see how it goes :)