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Friday, November 21, 2014

Valley year 14/15

 
 
Friday
 
Mostly for Marilyn:
I finally was able to crack my blogger site and upload a picture from my phone.
We are finding that when we get our school rhythm going that we enjoy the different curriculums and studies sent home.
Some snags are... Not having the sheets at the beginning of the week which ends up with late nights of pressure while trying to finish work Monday night or Wednesday night huffing and puffing hoping we can get everything set-up for our day at school Thursday.  Some things that cause stress would be not being sure of what is happening when the subjects  laid out in the reports change towards the end of the week. We try with all our might then realize that we missed reviewing info for a test or missed the day when kids were studying at school to review for a test. Trying to be more incorporated and being able to match that at home in a way that does not leave the children at a disadvantage when it comes to doing their tests and showing what they know or to study more diligently even when to pass in work due and how the fluctuating system worked within one week to the next . I spend most days out of the week either asking for work or trying to remind the children to make sure they are all good and everything passed in or that did it get  remembered as they wont be there for 2 school days, which can a lifetime in school days:) The sports we have signed up to complete most of  our PE obligations can really cut into the week whether it is a tournament which misses a day of school and that may cause us confusion about what the kids in class are doing the next day, on our days off, the work they missed the day they were away or the work slotted for that day.
As Valley  DLs we have to be incredibly fluid in order to hop back and forth into the flow, this requires flexibility and understanding on our part and on the part of the 5 day brick and mortar system. I find that when we leave on a Thursday that we are doing everything we can do , but while gone the class has morphed again and the lay of the land is different by the time we get back in on the next week. 
 
 
Here we are going through our reports for the last few days and Friday and finding any things that look like they need to be done or finished up to the best of our ability.
Mary practicing her French words, numbers. Aidan finishing his math lesson and closing his book in satisfaction. Kellen working on his Family rules.
The kids love working together in groups while working and a certain pace gets set where they happily push forward with their work and are very content. I rarely have to interrupt except to answer a question or press them onto the next subject or question on what was done in class and if we need to tie up loose ends.
 
 

Monday, June 16, 2014

Paper dolls fun stuff by K and M

Using magnetic roller to pick up rusty nails

The magnetic roller picks up rusty nails and staples from off the ground. They dropped to the ground when the old roof was ripped off. Unseen by our eyes in the grass this will help us from getting rusty metal in our feet. 30 count after just a few minutes.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

A book for everyone

I as pleased to see my son reading By the Shores of Silver Lake. We have a companion Unit study "The Prairie Primer", that uses the Little House on the Prairie books.