Last week in a homeschool near you...

(Above: Visiting the Greenville County War Memorial, April 11)

I have benefited greatly this year from the ideas of others who are experienced homeschool teachers. In that spirit, I am going to try to do a better job of posting some of our ongoing projects and studies here, especially as we begin fifth grade in the fall. Consider this a test run. Feel free to skip these posts or hum with your fingers in your ears if homeschooling makes you squeamish. (That's what I used to do, too.)

So... Last week, in addition to co-op, which included Spanish, geography, music and science and an extra special field day, we had one other outing to the beekeeping class (see below). At home, we continued with decimals, finishing addition and subtraction and moving into multiplication. Nolan also does Math4Today, which is a short daily activity that reinforces concepts covered throughout the year. That is done everyday, so I will probably forget to include it in my list sometimes.

We have finished the study of the American Revolution, though we are still wrapping up Johnny Tremain (read together -- also includes a JT notebook activity) and Winter of Red Snow (read by Nolan). Nolan is also doing a lap book on the U.S. Constitution, which he is enjoying immensely. He also thinks he finished his compare and contrast essay on the Battles of Savannah and Kings Mountain, but we are going to revisit that for a bit more editing. We did a short study of political cartoons and will finish that up this week with analysis of two related cartoons. Don't tread on me, baby.

In science, Nolan finished the unit on light and the structure of the human eye and moved into energy, electricity and magnetism, which will take us a little while to complete. (Next up: bridges -- a unit to round out the year).

We do five stems (Greek or Latin roots) each week, with vocabulary. Nolan has a quiz each Friday. Quizzes are cumulative, meaning I can and do include stems from the entire school year.

I really felt Nolan needed a review of the parts of speech, so we have done nouns (common, proper, collective, possessive, plural possessive, etc.) and will start verbs this week. Soon, I will unpack my adjectives. Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, get your adverbs here. (You know you remember it.)

Also on this week's agenda -- a class on research skills taught by one of our beloved local librarians and an educational performance at our equally beloved local theatre (more to come on that).

I almost forgot that Nolan completed a poster about (of all things) the desert biome of Indiana Jones. He and his co-op classmates are covering all of Indy's biomes at the upcoming Spring Gala celebrating the end of the school year.

I really felt that last week wasn't terribly productive due to the extra events, but seeing it all in print makes me both tired and satisfied that we accomplished quite a bit.

Edited to add: Shoot! I forgot that we did school last Sunday after church (at Nolan's request). So that's how we got so much done...

Buzz

We attended a homeschool science class yesterday taught by an expert beekeeper. It was great fun and I learned so much. I think Nolan did, too. Our beekeeper/teacher uses organic methods of controlling pests and he doesn't feed the bees with supplements, allowing them to "do what the good Lord has had them do for thousands of years without us getting involved," as he said. Sounds like a plan.

(I couldn't figure out how to get a shot of the bees without a reflection.)

On my desk?

Um, no, not my desk. I have been conspicuously absent today as my son's homeschool co-op celebrated the end of the year with field day and a picnic. See? Homeschooled kids do venture out into the real world. Sometimes moms do, too.

The writing blog that became a sewing blog that became a photography blog

Sorry. Still enjoying the camera though.

Oh, wait -- it's a craft blog now.

Makes me think all the world's a sunny day

(With apologies to Paul Simon)

The Nikon is here. So far, I have been through about 10 percent of the instructions, I think. There is much to learn and I have more bad pictures than good, in my opinion, but even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes.

On my desk

Stodgy grown-up shoes housing feet that really want to be in flip-flips. Or strappy heels.

If you find March, please let me know

In any event, April is here and I neglected to post several March stories.

This story gives some great information (from the experts, not me) about organizing kids' rooms. Black garbage bags are my own personal weapon in that ongoing battle.

If you are an imperfect parent, raise a glass with me and celebrate while you read about a few of my own imperfections. On a semi-related note, I read today that some woman was arrested for stalking John Cusack. For the record, I have been here (or in the dentist's chair) all day.

On page 41 of the March issue of WNC Parent (available in a super cool online viewer here), is my first column about homeschooling. It has generated a surprising number of emails and calls from moms who want to know how I made the leap. I have answered their questions as best I can. The second column -- a response to this one -- has been filed and will run in the next few months.

Now, I am off to seize April before it disappears, too.