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Week-in-Review Dec. 15-19

Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 11:58 am
by my3sons
Ok Fellow HOD Homeschoolers,

What was YOUR week Like?

You can post:

a- A picture
b- A blog Link
c- A written synopsis
d- Your favorite memory
e- Anything you want that shares your HOD excitement!

Important Note: If you are linking us to your blog, please make sure it's not just a general link, but to your specific post of HOD. That way if someone reads through these a year from now they can find your share without needing to hunt!

Re: Week-in-Review Dec. 15-19

Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 12:20 pm
by my3sons
Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory:
One of the things that I appreciate the most about HOD's Bible studies is they have my sons opening their own personal Bibles daily. They grow very attached to their Bibles, and they love seeing the number of highlighted Scriptures grow, as they highlight each verse or passage they've memorized. It is neat to flip through their Bibles and see all of the verses they have hidden in their hearts already. For Emmett, I have noticed that combining the auditory skill of listening to the verses set to music on his Hide 'Em in Your Heart CD, alongside the verbal skill of singing the Bible verse along with Steve Green, alongside the visual skill of reading the verse from his own Bible, along with the bodily kinesthetic skill of doing a short exercise and then saying his verse - all help him to easily memorize his verses and have a lot of fun doing it! :D
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In history, we read about the pioneers weathering their first winter in their sod house. It made me all the c-c-c-older thinking about it, and it also made me thankful to be sitting under an electric blanket with our furnace turned up and our fireplace on! :D Brave Hilda had the chance to return home to Norway and live with her Grandmother in a nice house alongside the sea, with all of her old friends just down the street, and instead Hilda chose to stay with her dad, mom, and brothers in the sod house. We owe so much to the brave spirits of those who lived on this land when it was wild and desolate and lonely! :D Making snowflakes was the perfect artistic project this week, and Emmett who is always a fan of using his scissors thoroughly enjoyed it! :D
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In math, Emmett is learning to count coins. It has been tough! He especially struggles with counting quarters. We have practiced counting 25, 50, 75, a dollar quite a bit! It is beginning to stick - PTL! :D The hands-on math activities HOD has planned have helped him use coins to count and have given good tips about how to go about counting (i.e. begin with the coin with the highest value, line up the coins in order from highest value to lowest, etc.). Emmett had to come up with coin combinations to equal 25 cents, and then $1.00. He did a good job! When he got to his workbook assignment, I had him label each of the coins with their values before counting them. This made it a cinch to count then, as he could just use what he'd learned in his hands-on lesson by beginning with the largest valued coin and counting up.
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In Storytime, Emmett is absolutely loving Aesop's Fables! I am enjoying them too, and in this busy Christmas season, I have to say I am glad they are quite short read alouds - though he always begs me to read 'one more!' - and then they become quite long anyway. :wink: He is learning about the story element setting, and after reading about the frogs and the rainbow, he painted his own rainbow and cut it out, made a cave out of playdough, colored a photocopied picture of the frogs and cut them out, and assembled them all to match the picture of the setting in his book. He was so proud of the end result! :D
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In Christ,
Julie

Re: Week-in-Review Dec. 15-19

Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 2:19 pm
by my3sons
World History High School:
For Total Health, Wyatt completed his project. He had multiple projects from his Total Health's previous chapters to choose from, and they were listed by page number in his WH guide. He looked at each one and decided that creating a project to show the nervous system, the heart, tissues, and cells was his favorite choice - though logging what he eats each day and the exercise he has each day in a food and exercise diary was a close second. He told me he chose the project he did because writing everything he is eating these days would take way toooooooo long! :lol: I agree. He is now 6 feet tall, so the amount of food he consumes matches his growth spurt. :wink: Anyway, once he chose his project, he had 5 class periods to work on it. It was to be graded on effort, accuracy, neatness, and either overall presentation or conclusions drawn. He chose to research each part of his project, draw/outline/color/label each portion on a separate 8 1/2 x 11 inch cardstock paper, and then, tape the 4 sections together to create one large poster. He did a good job of breaking the project into smaller increments to be completed by its due date, and he was so pleased with the way it turned out that he took multiple pictures of it himself. I think he did a super job on it too! :D Looking ahead to post secondary options, I am glad he is already learning the skills to have a project with a due date that is 'out there,' so he has to break down the project himself into portions he'll complete each day, so that it is completed on time by the due date. I also like that he was able to choose the project himself. That immediately made him more personally invested in doing his best on it. I can see how all of this incremental teaching of skills is going to help him be successful with college level work after high school! :D
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In Pilgrim's Progress this week, Wyatt and I discussed how Christian lost his roll (or the Word), and had to go back to get it to be able to face the lions that were in his path. We also talked about how the lions were chained, but invisibly, so it appeared that by continuing down the path he would be devoured, but that really wasn't the case. We talked about struggles we've had in faith, and Wyatt shared that he struggled with death and wondering if there really is a heaven sometimes, but that he had worked through that now. I shared that when my Dad died, I was (and am) clinging to God's promise that there is a heaven, and that those who believe in Him will have eternal life there with Him. That means I will see my Dad again! Without the promise and certainty of heaven, I would not be able to handle the loss of my Dad as well as I am, though I admit I still am just so sad that I can't talk to him or hug him anymore. I shared that the times that I have had a little voice in me saying "what if there isn't a heaven?", I take time to look at Creation. I look out the window to see a sunrise, the fields, trees, the clouds, our pets, or I even just consider how our bodies have been made so wonderfully to be able to function as they do. I am reminded that the God who made all of that so intricately and fearfully and masterfully has promised that heaven is mine if I just believe, and then I feel 100% certain there is a heaven. I also told Wyatt that there is a longing in my soul to believe, that everyone has that urge to believe in something or someone, and that is because we have a heart and soul created to worship our Lord. That stirring proves His existence and heaven's existence too. So, those are some defenses we have in place when Satan tries to whisper doubts about heaven or about our Lord and Savior in our ear. Creation and the very stirring of our soul itself shouts there is more! There is a heaven, there is a Savior, and there is hope of life everlasting in a more perfect place than we can imagine - and our loved ones that believed so will be there too to welcome us when we come! THAT makes the loss of my Dad easier to bear.

We talked about how sharing with loved ones the certainty of your belief in God and of going to heaven is something that brings great relief and joy to those who are left behind when they die. I shared that Papa often told us he knew he was going to heaven, that he loved the Lord with all his heart, and that he wanted all of us to meet him there - that he would wait for us by the Eastern Gate. I told Wyatt that I know I am going to heaven, that should I die unexpectedly that I would be there waiting for him to join me someday, and I too would meet him at the Eastern Gate, with Papa, and with all the other people we have loved that have gone to that beautiful place before us. It was a wonderful discussion of the heart, and I am so so thankful that HOD has time planned in the day for studies and discussions such as Pilgrim's Progress so that there is precious time devoted to this!!! :D

The rest of Wyatt's school is going so well. I just am enjoying seeing my boy grow into a man and yet wishing I could slow time down at the same time. For those of you questioning whether you can continue homeschooling through high school, perhaps consider questioning whether you can bear NOT homeschooling through high school. I know it can be overwhelming, and a somewhat scary thought to homeschool in high school, but it also provides a way to continue this journey we have begun with our dear dear children. It is a way to keep God in their school days, and hopefully, faith in Him growing. It is a scarier thought for me that all of that could come to a screeching halt otherwise, should we not continue down this homeschooling path. Certainly every family needs to make whatever decision is best, and sometimes it seems that decision is out of our hands, but if at all possible, I just want to encourage you that homeschooling in high school is the harvest of all that has come before! It is the bountiful harvest of the hard work of preparing the ground, planting the seeds, patiently overseeing and encouraging its growth, weeding out the weeds even though sometimes they keep coming back, and then... a beautiful harvest is the reward. So, so, so worth whatever came before it.

In Christ
Julie

Re: Week-in-Review Dec. 15-19

Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 3:07 pm
by my3sons
Resurrection to Reformation:
Early in the morning, while we are still in our pjs and robes, our homeschool day begins. It is a quiet time, as Emmett (our youngest and as our youngest, our loudest :wink: ) remains peacefully asleep. :D We turn on the fireplaces, turn on the lights, get our coffee (for me) and tea (for Wyatt) and granola (for Riley) and begin. I begin my teaching time with Riley, and Wyatt works in the addition in blissful quiet and coveted alone time. I love this start to our day, as we have never done this - it is a new season in our lives. Before, little ones would dictate the start of the day, and often so loudly that everyone was up! :D For those of you mamas in that busy stage, those days are precious to hear a little babe waking and loving to see you at the start of each day, but days will be coming that are quieter and a little more easy to face too. Both are special, just in different ways.

I begin my day with my favorite coffee in my robe hearing my middle ds quote Phil. 1, almost 3/4 of it now, by heart. Then, I get to read Boyhood and Beyond with him and discuss it - one of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors, or read the Bible in conjunction with Boyhood and Beyond and discuss that - THEE favorite book by THEE favorite Author, or do a Fine Arts Picture Study with "Looking at Pictures" - one of my favorite CM activities, or read a poem by Emily Dickinson and reflect on it together - one of my favorite poets. How great is that! :D And all of this I get to do in the comfort of my home with one of my favorite people to be with - my son Riley. :D Life is good.

One of Riley's favorite assignments this week was his History Project. Having just read about the elaborate architecture common to the Renaissance, he was able to study that architecture via his RTR HOD Student Notebook, and then try his own hand at it. He drew towers and domes with repeating patterns and a common color palette. First he sketched it in pencil, and then he colored it with glitter crayons. :D He still has to paint over it with watercolor paints, but here are some pictures of the steps thus far - we both are so pleased with his work on this project so far... :D
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Dictation comes easily to Riley, and I am thankful because that was not the case with my other son. Riley studies the passage for a fraction of time and says he is ready. I used to make him study it again - I mean, how could he really have studied it that quickly?!? But I've stopped that because he can. It is a God-given ability for which I am thankful, and he is cruising through his dictation passages, getting to more and more difficult passages and still passing, amazing me. I thought Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem would put an end to his passing dictation passages streak, but nope. :) Well, I guess that's a good streak to be on. :D
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For science, Riley has been enjoying reading "A Child's Geography: Explore His Earth." When I think of the scarce geography I had in school, and the humdrum way I learned it, this is so much more exciting!!! He began his assignment entitled "The Plates of the World." He printed the plate tectonic puzzle off the CD, cut it apart, and worked to assemble it so the pieces of land fit together like a puzzle. Riley is mechanically inclined, so this was a project that he completed pretty quickly. It was neat to see its completion. :D
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What a good week this has been leading into a busy week ahead! I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! :D

In Christ,
Julie

Re: Week-in-Review Dec. 15-19

Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 3:46 pm
by LynnH
Julie I loved reading about your discussion with Wyatt. Noah and I had a thought provoking discussion about if it is ever ok to disobey what the government tells you to do. Able to talk about many current issues I have read about and also some that occur in other countries.

I have to agree with you that I can't imagine not having him home for these highschool years. My daughter didn't come home until 10th grade and we both regret that she didn't come home sooner. Now that she is a sophomore in college I really treasure those 3 years i did have with her home. I think our relationship would be very different if she hadn't been here during those last 3 years. For Noah I am just loving these days with him. I love seeing him change and grow and mature. I love having deep discussions with him and watching him dive deep into the Word of God. It is such a precious time. Yes there are challenging days and sometimes this momma's heart hurts as I watch some of the struggles he encounters with his learning, but who better to help him through those struggles than parents that love him. HOD offers such complete, yet challenging high school guides. The one thing I never have to worry about is if he is getting what he needs academically.

Re: Week-in-Review Dec. 15-19

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 10:55 am
by my3sons
LynnH wrote:Julie I loved reading about your discussion with Wyatt. Noah and I had a thought provoking discussion about if it is ever ok to disobey what the government tells you to do. Able to talk about many current issues I have read about and also some that occur in other countries.

I have to agree with you that I can't imagine not having him home for these highschool years. My daughter didn't come home until 10th grade and we both regret that she didn't come home sooner. Now that she is a sophomore in college I really treasure those 3 years i did have with her home. I think our relationship would be very different if she hadn't been here during those last 3 years. For Noah I am just loving these days with him. I love seeing him change and grow and mature. I love having deep discussions with him and watching him dive deep into the Word of God. It is such a precious time. Yes there are challenging days and sometimes this momma's heart hurts as I watch some of the struggles he encounters with his learning, but who better to help him through those struggles than parents that love him. HOD offers such complete, yet challenging high school guides. The one thing I never have to worry about is if he is getting what he needs academically.
LynnH - thank you for sharing about your experience here! I talk to so many young moms on the phone who share they love homeschooling with HOD but are planning on putting their children in public high school when that time comes. They just don't think that they will be able to homeschool through high school. I just want to try to get the message out that homeschooling can be done successfully all the way through high school - especially with HOD helping! I know that homeschooling in high school will not be for everyone, but certainly it deserves a good look before ruling it out. I'm excited to have our sons go through high school, and your ds too, as I am hoping it will help others see the road less traveled sometimes is worth it. :D :D :D Have a very Merry Christmas, Lynn, and thank you for all of your kind encouragement and wise advice on this board! Carrie and I depend on you.

In Christ,
Julie

Re: Week-in-Review Dec. 15-19

Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2014 8:14 am
by mward9702
Thank you for posting about your week. It is very encouraging to me. I currently have 2 kids in Beyond on week 27. They are growing so quickly and we have learned so much this year. I am thankful for the Christmas break so I can reflect, get refreshed, and seek ways to spend time with each of my four growing children. Thank you for taking the time to inspire, share, and encourage us in our homeschooling journeys.
Melissa Ward
wife to Grant (12 years)
mom to Ernest 9, Elise 7, Hannah 5, and Jude 3

Re: Week-in-Review Dec. 15-19

Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2014 2:46 pm
by Nealewill
my3sons wrote:Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory:
They grow very attached to their Bibles, and they love seeing the number of highlighted Scriptures grow, as they highlight each verse or passage they've memorized. It is neat to flip through their Bibles and see all of the verses they have hidden in their hearts already.
I have had all of my kids doing this activity this year and they are loving it. My son especially benefits from this tremendously. He is also highlighting his verses for science copy work as well because it really helps him to see what he is copying. He will probably continue on in this fashion for a while. Even with copying things on day 5 in Bigger, if it is from a book where he is not copying everything on the page but only a portion, then we will make a copy of the page he is copying and highlight that too. I love highlighters!

Re: Week-in-Review Dec. 15-19

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 12:12 pm
by my3sons
Nealewill wrote:
my3sons wrote:Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory:
They grow very attached to their Bibles, and they love seeing the number of highlighted Scriptures grow, as they highlight each verse or passage they've memorized. It is neat to flip through their Bibles and see all of the verses they have hidden in their hearts already.
I have had all of my kids doing this activity this year and they are loving it. My son especially benefits from this tremendously. He is also highlighting his verses for science copy work as well because it really helps him to see what he is copying. He will probably continue on in this fashion for a while. Even with copying things on day 5 in Bigger, if it is from a book where he is not copying everything on the page but only a portion, then we will make a copy of the page he is copying and highlight that too. I love highlighters!

I'm so glad to hear this! I love to think of dc enjoying their Bibles and remembering what they've studied as they page through it! Thanks for sharing, Nealewill! :D

In Christ,
Julie

Re: Week-in-Review Dec. 15-19

Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 10:27 am
by kidsforHim
Ummm somehow I've missed something. Where in the guide does it tell you to highlight the Bible verse? :oops: I love that idea! I wrote out the verse on index card and then pasted onto colored card stock cut down to fit into a 4x6 photo page. We keep it in her binder.
Becky

Re: Week-in-Review Dec. 15-19

Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 9:13 pm
by Nealewill
You haven't missed anything that I know of. We decided to do this on our own. In CTC is when I believe HOD starts specifically recommending that you highlight your Bible.