Weekly Report: It's been a while...

The title should say 2 week report, but that just wouldn't be the same now would it... *Ü*

We have been pretty busy around here (nothing unusual, seems like we are always busy). Here is a re-cap of the past 2 weeks:

Jessica:

Can I tell you all how much I LOVE Lightning Literature 7? I just LOVE IT! She is really enjoying reading these wonderful books, short stories, and poems. We (yes, even me) learned how to analyze a poem as well. When I first saw the activity page I was so lost, but when I began to read the teacher manual, it all feel into place easily. They really laid it out nicely with examples so I was able to explain it easily to Jessica so she would be able to understand it.

She is enjoying her Home2Teach class and is working on a narrative report on someones life. 3 more weeks and her report will be completed.

Timmy:

My favorite subject for Timmy is writing. We use Writing Tales and really enjoy it. Both Timmy and I enjoy this. Here is a creative writing activity he did recently based on the fable Androcles:

Bob
One day a scuba diver named Bob was out scuba diving and he saw a whale shark. Afraid of the shark he started to swim back to the shore. Surprised that the shark did not chase him, he swam back to the shark. The shark showed Bob his back fin. Bob saw that there was a big cut on sharks back fin making it unable far the shark to swim. Bob took the shark to the shark doctor. The doctor bandaged up the cut and the shark’s fin healed in two weeks. From that time on the shark guarded Bob from sea monsters while he swam in the sea.

In Art class he has been doing using water colors along with other mediums to create these wonderful paintings. The top one is one where we used water color paintings and created the effect of depth by creating an horizon line and adding color in a certain way. The bottom one is where they used different effects of water colors (blotting, running, splashing, etc) and then they added details to the pictures making a Magical Circus painting. Timmy's is of a clown that is juggling some planets. Above the clown's head is an exploding cake... Oh boys...

Timmy's Teaching Textbook 6 has arrived. It looks really nice. He wants to get started right now, but we need to finish up his other book first.

He has been reading lots of Tin Tin and Nate the Great books. He didn't really start reading independently until 4th grade. He was a slow reader and I didn't push the issue of reading. If I did, he cried. He now reads a ton! He loves reading! Timmy and his dad read together almost every night and Timmy enjoy this time with his father.

Holly:

In Art class the kids have been creating clay family plaques for the past 2 weeks. Here is her finished project (Dad, Mom, Holly, and her cat):

At her art class she also worked on a Sea Horse project. It tured out lovely!


I asked her what she enjoyed doing in school over the last 2 weeks and she said, "A little math". I think that translates into her only enjoying a little aspects of what she does with math. She is still struggling with division, so this is still her least favorite subject to do.

Jake:

In Art class, Jake did the same thing as Holly. Here is his finished project (Daddy and Me):


I asked Jake what he has enjoyed about school lately and he said, "I LOVE math!" and hopped away... That about sums it up for Jake.

ME:

In my co-op class there are times I want to do the project too, but I am busy with helping the kids that I wouldn't be able to do the project. So I went to a friends house (she also happens to be may facilitator in my art class), last week and we did one of the Atelier Project together, just us mom's. Below are the 2 pictures I did using water color crayons. They are inspired by the artist Georgia O'Keeffe.


I am also busy coming up with co-op class idea's for the fall. I have been having so much fun coming up with class idea's. I think I will teach a All American History Class Vol 1. Not sure on the grade level yet as it will depend on what is needed at the co-op. I have LOTS of other idea's too (I always do each year), but I need to narrow it down to 2.

Zoology:

I am really enjoying this class (Zoology 1). I am (and so are the kids) learning so much about birds. For example, I love breast meat... I never knew it was one of the muscles they used for flying. There has been so many other GREAT things we have learned in this class.

The kids have been doing bird notebooking pages, lapbooking, playing a game called Quizzical (a review card game using a tri fold board), taking quizzes, and doing fun experiments.



EXTRA:

We went on a nature walk to a Bonsai Garden with the folks from Sticks and Stones. I will post highlights of this trip in our long overdue Green Hour Report 8/9.

For our Russia study we watched a video from Reading Rainbow that shared the book: Rechenka's Eggs . Oh my I loved this video! It touched on so many aspects of Russia. It brought a lot that we have learned about to life. I followed up this video by doing (still working on it) a lapbook based on the book, Rechenka's Eggs, with Holly and Jake. We will share once we are done with it.

I didn't get to our art appreciation studies like I wanted too. I wanted to finish up our Russia study as well. We only have 2 more days on our Russia Study and they we will be done. Except for doing the lapbook I created for our study. Then we will be learning about China.

Here are some extra pictures I took throughout the past 2 weeks:

Remember to check out our Green Hour Challenge Weeks 8/9 as well. This is a recap of our nature studies.

Weekly Report: Spring Break

Ok, we didn't take a full break during Spring Break. I needed to keep up with math (especially since Holly has been struggling with division) and we also did some of our Russia Study. Here is a break down of our week:

Monday:

Went on a nature walk at Clear Creek Trail with some friends. We got hailed on... What an experience. Check out our Green Hour Challenge 6/7 report for more details.

Worked on Russia Study. We read 2 Russian Folk Tales (Tales From Russia), read about the Russian People(in Russia the People), and about a young girl that lived in Soviet Times that was persecuted for not wearing the "Komsomol" (red scarf), because it went against her Christian beliefs. We also filled out our notebook journal page.

We also watched a wonderful video called: Kristen's Fairy House . It touched a lot on our nature studies. For more details, check out our Green Hour Challenge 6/7.

Jessica also made homemade pizza pockets using a recipe from Better Homes and Gardens "New Junior Cook Book".

Tuesday:

Worked on Russia Study. We learned more about the Mongol people and how a community would work. Read a story about a christian wife that wanted to be baptised, but her husband and his family were against it and did everything possible not to let this happen... But our God is a mighty God and she was able to make this public acknowledgement despite the odds. They also filled out their notebook journal page.

(for our Russian stories, we are using the book called: They Would Not Be Moved by Harvey Yoder)

Holly made a Fairy House in the woods.

Jessica and Timmy went dirt bike riding with their dad.

Wednesday:

Jessica and Timmy went dirt bike riding with their dad.

Thursday:

We were supposed to go to Wilcox Farms for a field trip, but Jake was sick for 2 days and I didn't want to take the chance of infecting the family that was driving there with us, or anyone else once we got there. We stayed home.

We worked on our Russia Study. Jessica and Timmy finished up learning about the Mongols and they made Mongol hats. Timmy's hat was a little big at first(see picture), but we quickly fixed it and it fits perfectly now. Jessica had me take a picture of her before she completed her hat and we all think it looks like a Court Jesters hat. Timmy wants to make some that look just like these.

We read about Russian Religion in "Window on the World". Loved this. It was great reading it as it was written from the perspective after the fall of Soviet Rule. Our stories have been about life during Soviet Times, so it was nice to see how Russian's feel after the ending of the Soviet Rule.

We read a little about Marc Chagall. It was interesting to see what his life was like in younger years. And to show the kids how people of different religious beliefs were treated so differently. He was Jewish and all Jew's had to stay in what they called, "The Pale of Settlement". They couldn't leave this area with out permission. Jews were hated and persecuted for many centuries (still are in some areas).

Friday:

Play Day at our friend's house!

Last in the evening, Jessica pulled out her long overdue sewing project and began working on it again. She finished it up on Sat. morning. She did a fantastic job! Now she wants to purchase a kit and make one for her little niece.

I wish we would have did some sort of art study this week, but after all this was supposed to be Spring Break...

And that is our week in review at Jetihoja Academy. If you want to see pictures of our week, just view the slide show below. *Ü*

~*~ Have a wonderful weekend!~*~

Weekly Report

This week was a bit of a blur... I haven't been feeling myself at all this week (feeling a little under the weather). But with that said, I did get some things accomplished this week after all.

Monday we visited with some friends. We called this day "Social Day". What an adventure this day was. I was driving down the highway heading to our friend's house and my battery light came on. I called Greg and he said to return home right away. Jake was in tears because he wanted to visit with his friend. Well... Mr. Timmy had the smart idea (he later said he couldn't believe the parents didn't think of it... Ok 1 up on us LOL ), of having them come to our house instead. That worked for them and we had a wonderful time visiting and are looking forward to the next time.

Friday, we took Jessica and Holly to see Romeo and Juliette ballet at the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Another big treat of the night was eating dinner at the Metropolitan Grill (if you live in the Seattle area, this is a must go to restaurant) before we went to the ballet. And as a bonus, we were surprised with dinner guests, Uncle Jerry and Aunt Natalie.

Now to the fun school things:

Russia Study:

We worked on our vocabulary words, read about the people of Russia, began learning about the Mongols, read a Russia Folk Tale, and read a story about a Christian family that lived during Soviet Union.

Art:

Jake and Holly created a masterpiece in the Henri Matisse fashion and Timmy did a composition masterpiece, where he also had to mix his own colors. Timmy found this project to be a little difficult. So this art work is really a Timmy & Mom project. Jessica's Latin class was cancelled, so she was able to join us for art class this day.























We did get other regular work done, but not a whole weeks worth. There is always next week to catch up on bookwork.

Weekly Report: Week 17

17 Down, 19 More To Go!

Wow, I can't believe it has been 1 week so far. I sure wish days would slow down a little for us. We accomplished a bit, but I wanted to do more. Below are some highlights of our week. Make sure to check out the slide show below for some wonderful pictures from the topics listed below.

Zoology 1:

We had a blast at our co-op this week. We played our quizzical, reviewed What Do You Remember Questions, took Quiz Ch 13, gave their insect oral report, and made a cricket habitat. For 2 days the kids recorded where they saw there crickets in their habitat every few hours. Unfortunately, Timmy's died pretty earlier off. But he was ok with it... His work was now done. *Ü* Silly boy.

Groundhog Day Study:

I LOVED this study. I probably enjoyed it more than the kids did. My husband said I was obsessed with Groundhogs for the last couple of weeks. I guess when I am really into something, I go all out. *Ü*

We learned about where the tradition started from & how different countries adapted it to their beliefs. Discovered which country brought the tradition to America (Germans) to what type of events take place in celebration of Groundhogs Day. We also learned about groundhogs in general.

This is a well rounded study that touch on many different subjects: writing(copywork, poetry), geography, history, science, & arts (creating the lapbook). What did we use: Hands of a Child Groundhog Day lapbook. This lapbook aslo includes a research guide (mini unit study) and has a list for suggested book/links.

We took 3 days to completed this study.

Russia Study:

The kids read about Peter the Great and also did a biography on him as well. They worked on a timeline for their notebooks, as well as places time line figures in their timeline books, read a Russia folk tale, and learned a little about Buryats from Window on the World.

Atelier Art:

Jake and Holly's art assignment this week was about a table, with a vase full of flowers. Timmy's assignment was about horizon lines & using all 12 colors on a color wheel (primary, secondary, & tertiary).

And there concludes highlights from our school days this week. Have a wonderful week!

Weekly Report: Week 16

16 Down, 20 More to Go!

Wow, what a busy 2 weeks we have had. I am not counting the past 2 weeks as a full 2 weeks, because each week there was 1 day, each week, when school wasn't accomplished (Dr. Appt., physical Therapy, etc.) Therefore, this week is WEEK 16, loaded with lots of pictures to share with you.

We are LOVING our Russia study! We are closer and closer to wrapping it up. Over the past 2 weeks, we made a Mammoth Diorama, read about Peter the Great, read some folk tales from Russia, & read about missionaries in Russia. We also watched a few movies about Mammoths, the Trans Siberian Railroad, Catherine the Great, Siberian Tigers, & Lake Baikal. I am also creating a lapbook for Russia. So please keep an eye out for more information... Here are a couple pictures from our Russia Study:

We are back into our Zoology 1 study as well. Oh we had a blast at our last get together. Something I haven't been doing this co-op is the quiz board (kids named it Quizical). The kids really enjoyed earning treats as they answered the correct answers. We worked on our lapbooks(from Live & Learn), draw pictures of our favorite insect from chapter 13, and did a science experiment. It was a fun filled day! Next week the kids will be giving oral reports on an insect of their choice.

















I think last Weekly Report, I promised to share Timmy's re-write from his writing assignment (Writing Tales). Here is his writing revision:

The Spider and the Fruit Fly

There once was a fruit fly that knew a nice spider. He went over to his web one day. He arrived just in time for supper, but flies were all the spider had to offer. The fruit fly did not want flies and said, "If you come with me you will have some tasty pies."

They arrived at the house late at night, just before dessert, while the pies werer cooling down. They feasted on pies. Then a human came to the towards the door whistling, "I knew an old lady who swallowed a fly..."

The spider asked, "What is that?"

The fruit fly said, "It is only the human."

Then the spider said, "I do not like that music at my dinner time." Just then, in came the human and the two bugs scattered.

The spider said, "Good-Bye friend."

The fruit fly said, "Leaving so soon friend?".

The spider responded, "Better flies in peace, then pies in fear."


In our last report, I also said we were finishing up our Christmas study. Here are some pictures of the kids Christmas Symbols Lapbook (from HOAC) as well as a notebooking page from History Scribe: History of Christmas that they choose to share with you all. The neat thing about the file folders is that they are smelly folders. The pink ones smell like candy canes and the brown ones smell like cinnamon. The kids LOVED them. Enjoy the slide show:

We also began bible time in the mornings before we start school. We are using Our 24 Family Ways. We are enjoying it, but I think I need something more in depth for Jessica and Timmy. I went to Lisawa's house and she shared Explorer's Bible Studies with me. Oh I feel in LOVE... We will switch to these soon.

The kids have been busy creating masterpieces with Atelier Art. Below we have an horizon line sunset with sail boats, a city scence using toy car models, a line creature drawing, marching band, & a cat painting.

And that concludes Week 16 Weekly Report. Have a wonderful week!

P.S.: Make sure to check out Jessica's Sketch for this week's Sketch Tuesday HERE.