What Worked, What Didn't

2012-2013

They are done.

I still need to finish the actual portfolios, though.  Lucy's is taking the longest to complete.  We are finding that as she nears college {gasp!} these keepsakes are totally going to come in handy.  

For now this is my record of what worked, what got done, and what failed. 

Along with some pictures of their year.

 ~ Lucy ~

Lucy, is easy. She works pretty much independently from me now; with only some exceptions in discussion and advice on her readings.  I don't edit her written work anymore.  This was a big year for her in so many ways; carrying 8.5 credits in addition to keeping up with outside activities.  The Lineman and I couldn't be more proud. I'm SO, writing this last line because I know she reads the blog every now and then.

Hi Lucy!

Just kidding.

We are very proud;

Lucy's year:

• Biology: Science Shepherd's Biology
• Geometry: Jacob's Geometry
• History/Literature: MODG's Medieval European History (11th grade) 
• Composition: Co-writing a book with 2 friends and assorted work via history, religion, and literature assignments
• Religion: MODG Mass and the Sacraments/Catholic Apologetics
• Foreign Language: Homeschool Connections ASL class
• Music/orchestra: Viola
• Hospitality:  Little Women's Hospitality
• Driver's Ed
• Softball

Lucy's highs:

1.  Receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.  It was a beautiful thing to watch and we were over the moon for her.  As she put it, "It was my next step in my faith, I said 'yes' to Jesus."  Cool!

2.  Biology was a huge success this year.  She is a science kid; has been since she was little.  The text was still a bit too dry for her.  She felt that right when the text took you into a deeper level of understanding a concept; be it photosynthesis or cell reproduction, the text often left her wanting more.  That, and the wording was to technical.  There was also a couple of chapters that were about creation vs. evolution.  Lucy, is NOT a creationist; she ended up skipping the chapters after reading a few pages.   

Her science blog, Scientia-Biology, was created with the high schooler in mind.

Simply, Lucy says:

"As a sophomore student, I've found that reading textbooks that explain a lot and yet leave so much unanswered can be extremely infuriating and very tedious. This journal is my inspiration to learn more. It is my hope that it also inspires others to disregard the opinion that "science is boring" just because some lovely textbook left you hanging."

3. She got her driver's permit!

Lucy's lows:

• Okay, what didn't work for sophomore year?  My editing skills.  Sadly, I am terrible.  Either I felt too critical or I felt like I needed to be more critical because she is my kid.  I finally gave up and delegated the task to someone else.  Evidently, she is a pretty good writer; I worried for nothing.  See, "pray and don't worry".  St. Padre Pio has it right.
• Another low was in some of the selections in the history.  Churchill's History of the English Speaking Peoples was especially difficult.  His writing was long winded and dull, per Lucy.  We tried to find his speeches in order to persuade her that the man was awesome.  Sadly, his writing didn't win Lucy over at all.
• Lucy kept up with her ASL lessons but ended up refocusing on Spanish after the first semester.  She'll continue with Spanish for the remainder of high school; practicing ASL on the side.

Those was really the only lows.  Before the second semester started Lucy wanted to start a class at our local community college; we were all for it.  She only found an Algebra 2 class for early Tuesday mornings but, she was eager to start.  That first day, we got up and ready to roll out... to a college math course.  I suddenly realized how crazy that was.   Her school work was already a lot.  She was gone to music on Thursdays.  She was on the softball team for our local league.  So I told her she had to choose.  Either softball or algebra; she couldn't have both.  

We had some great moments on the field this spring!  

~ Max ~

This year proved to be the hardest for my Max.  He worked his tale off this year; both in math and writing.  I must say, that through all the frustrations we were both glad to see the positive results at the end.  Sometimes  the light bulb takes a bit longer to light.  The point is, that it finally did.  Does this mean that next year should be a breeze?  Nope, neither of us think so.  But, no one beats Max's attitude.  He may have gottan down every now and then, but he always picks himself up.

Max's year:

• Math:  Saxon 7/6
• Grammar:  Winston Basic Grammar
• Spelling: Phonic Zoo level A
• Writing:  IEW student writing level A
• Literature:  Assorted assigned readings
• History: RC History Vol II
• Science:  Noeo Science Biology II
• Music:  Percussion/orchestra

Max's highs:

1.  Max made long strides forward in math.  He'll be moving on to Saxon 8/7 and work through the summer; reviewing grade 6 via Teaching Textbooks 7.  We stopped using TT ages ago but, the graphics and ease of it would be a good summer 'fun' review for him.

2.  Tutoring.  We are very grateful to have found a good tutor who understands Max and his needs.  Mr. P was great with him and we did see the results.

3.  Max read and completed The Hobbit!  

4.  Winston's Grammar was a hit.  This simple format uses the hands on style that Max does well with.  We used the white board for extra sentence structures and the cards for the decoding.  It was simple enough, yet clearly taught the concepts.

Max's lows:

No lows!  How about that.

• Okay, there were some lows. Sometime around November, we had just moved into a new home, we lost our rhythm.  It's taken us until, ummmm, the last two weeks before summer break to find it again.  Luckily, the books and lessons we had planned last summer was a good fit for Max.  So, even with distractions and extra long periods of working through subjects; it got done.
• Noeo Science.  Along the way we had to stop for a bit.  The kids loved the books and readings.  Only, the experiments were too spread out to keep their interest.  Sadly, this will probably be one area I'll change for next year.

~ Rose ~

Our Rose.  What a year for this one, she rocked it!

The avid reader was often found up a tree or curled up in a corner, reading.  She devoured The Secret, Garden, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, Charlotte's Web, and is currently working through The Phantom Tollbooth.  3rd grade really agreed with Rose.

Rose's year:

• Math:  Singapore 
• Grammar/Phonetics:  Simply Grammar and Explore the code/Beyond the Code
• Spelling:  My Catholic Speller B (CHC)
• Literature:  Assorted books (quite the list, which will be added to her folder)
• History:  RC History Vol II
• Religion:  Faith and Life 3, Papacy Lapbook, My Path to Heaven readings
• Science: Noeo Science Biology II
• Music:  Cello/orchestra 

Rose's highs:

1.  She's fallen head over hills with books.

2.  One of her memorable moments was at the spring music festival.  She performed a solo piece on the cello; her first ever solo performance and rated superior.  On the drive to the college, everyone in the car could tell she was nervous.  It was really cute but, I did feel for her.  That was until she stepped out on stage.  Rose rocked the piece!  Her feet tapped, her head swayed, and with all her quirky movements she had the audience smiling and swaying along with her.

Rose's lows:

• Simply Grammar!  We wanted it to work, really we did.  By, the second semester we just knew that the lessons weren't working well for Rose.  She enjoyed the reciting of the grammar and the oral lessons, in general.  The problem was that she wasn't retaining the lessons.  I found myself supplementing worksheets, she is a worksheet kind of girl, along with her lesson.  That was fine, except I didn't have the extra time to continuously do this.  I've found that with this child, a Charlotte Mason approach isn't quite the fit I had thought it would be.  Instead, she enjoyed working on grammar alongside Max.  It was more hands on for her, fun, and she was retaining the lessons better.  Go figure!
• What do you do when at the end of a week your child scores pretty well on their spelling quiz; yet their everyday spelling is horrible?  Here is another lesson that I really wanted to work for Rose... failed!  We love Catholic Heritage Curricula here, Cecilia uses their lessons exclusively, but this subject didn't work well with Rose.  We have found that she presents similar learning issues as Max. Not as extreme as his, but enough so that My Catholic Speller wasn't a good fit either.  It really doesn't matter if Rose can learn to spell that, what, does, said for a spelling quiz, then not spell them correctly every where else. So we are off to All About Spelling; I wish I would have started this from the beginning with all the kids.

~ Cecilia ~

Cecilia's year:

• Catholic Heritage Curriculum
• Math:  MCP level A
• Reading: 100 Easy Lessons to Reading
• Literature:  Assorted k-1st grade read aloud
• Science: Behold and See
• Religion:  King of the Golden City readings, Faith and Life 1, CHC 1st grade lessons

Cecilia's highs:

She is reading... nuff said :-)

Okay, Okay, there were lots of highs for Cecilia.  Cecilia stared the violin, she was part of the choir for the co-op's Mass, she is becoming a better swimmer, and play-plays-plays all day long.

A really good year Cecilia!

Next up:

The post for 2013-2014 school year

School Interviews:: 2012-2013

Once again the school year ends with some cool  pictures and a link up over at Amongst Lovely Things.  Sarah has started a trend with end-of-the-year folders.  We didn't get to do a 'yearbook' with our co-op this year so as a family we did elaborate a bit on our folders.  Here are the cover shots for my little brood.

Click on Sarah's blog to see some other great kids.

Send them a shout out too.

All kids deserve a congrats for their work.

~ Lucy ~

~ Max ~

~ Rose ~

~ Cecilia ~ 

O Heavenly Father, I commend my children unto Thee. Be Thou their God and Father; and mercifully supply whatever is wanting in me through frailty or negligence. Strengthen them to overcome the corruptions of the world, to resist all solicitations to evil, whether from within or without; and deliver them from the secret snares of the enemy. Pour Thy grace into their hearts, and confirm and multiply in them the gifts of Thy Holy Spirit, that they may daily grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ; and so, faithfully serving Thee here, may come to rejoice in Thy presence hereafter.
Amen

Mexican Tissue Flower:: 411

  Scan the internet and you'll find a gazillion videos, DIY, & youtube videos on making tissue flowers.  I'm not going to join the swarm of tutorials, exactly.  But, I do want to have a little scrapbook of our flowers.  Just in case my kids want proof that I did make these.  

(with their help of course)

Our end of the year party for the home school group was themed 'fiesta'.  Fiestas are a visual feast for the eyes.  Tons of color everywhere. Perfect theme for making some of these beauties.

Pretty huh?

A comarde and I made these for Lucy's birthday once, like a hundred years ago it seems.  Sadly, I've never thought about doing it again before this occasion.  These are so easy to make, with so many options, that it's silly not to do more these...more often. 

The players are simple:

• a stack of tissue paper or crepe paper (colors of your choice)
• a good set of scissors
• twine or pipe cleaners
• a glass of wine  (this one is optional but, it made the folding more fun. Trust me.) 

The how:  Cut, stack, and fold

• First, cut down your chosen colors into the size your going to work with.  Most sites on the web give you dimensions (like here and here).  I just winged it.  I wanted a nice size flower so I went with a 6" across and 9" long cut.  Somehow I hope that measurement made sense LOL. 
• For a fluffy flower, nice and full, use a minimum of 6 sheets of tissue.
• Fold like an accordian from the short end up.  Example fold up one, turn the paper over and fold up again, turn the paper over, fold up again until you get to this point..

A nice long strip of paper

How wide the folds, depends on the look u want

The wider the fold the more flowery (that isn't a word, I know) the end result will be.
I went with 1".

• Wrap the folded tissue in the center with the pipe cleaner. Twist it around and you'll get: 

• Then clip the edge in a point or a curve (this will give your final flower some cool details)
• Start unfolding the top first tissue up and toward the center. Careful, tissue tear easily. 

Ask the husband to help.

The Lineman likes getting crafty with me.

final product..

Tah daaaah!

Now, decorate!!!

For Our Lady of Guadalupe

For Corpus Crisit

For St. Juan Diego

Think centerpiece
Think hair accessory

I did end up doing a tutorial after all.

Hopefully, the post will come in handy.

God bless!

7 Quick Takes :: SCHOOL IS OUT!

7 quick takes

(my very first)

-- 1 --

Well, kind of.  

Officially the kids are done.  No more assigned work in form of a schedule.  Our last ES meeting was this past Tuesday.  Per the charter school two of my kids are enrolled in, summer vacation is here.  That said, we still have some math to finish.  In fact, the kids will be plugging through more fun math, some historical reading, and music lessons.  

-- 2 --

A summer break with an ease of mind is desperately needed.  The kids are use to working through some subjects over the summer.  But, believe me this isn't going to be a summer school curriculum.  The fact is, we have a child who really needs to keep going over the break.  For this child, two and half months of NO MATH will mean hours of grueling reviews in September.  Did and done that! 

 It was horrible for me and horrible for the kid.

My SIL just shared a cool, and FREE, multiplication lapbook she found online.  It was super cute and looks like fun to do while we kick it by the pool.

See, fun math...

really!

(free lapbook is from homeschool share, love this site)

-- 3 --

My last week of school looked quite different than the kids'.  

As they were slowing down and having fun, I was gearing up for the fall.  

WHAT?!? Am I already planning for the next school year?  

Yep, I sure am.

All the shipping deals are happening right now.

There are tons of inexpensive, previously used items popping up at Cathswap.

The Southern Cali Catholic Education conference is just few weeks away.

My stuff needs to be sold and used.

So, I need to plan.  Have too.  Absolutely.

Plus, I enjoy the charts and notes I make.

And who doesn't like the postguy delivering new items for the school year?

It's great.

-- 4 --

Part of the end of the year excitement goes to planning and going to our

Co-op's last Mass and party.  A friend and I joined forces this time around.  We were in charge of the decorations for the dinner held after Mass.  Our theme this year was "fiesta"!  

How perfect, then, would banners of papel picado and Mexican tissue flowers be?

This one was my favorite.  

Now, If only the other pictures would download...

It all came out nicely.

-- 5--

Jen's #5 got me thinking about my own "About me" profile.  I remember agonizing over what to write.  I'm not a writer and I don't think I'm witty enough to come up with something catchy, quick, and descriptive.  In school (both high school and college) it would take my paragraphs to describe something.  I was, and still am, so long winded.  My goodness!  Just look at the quick takes on this post.  

I like witty.

I like...

Dwija

Margaret

Sarah's

There are more, I'm sure.  But, this is supposed to be quick take #5.

So, let's move on...

--6--

Got mulch?

Oh yea, 

we have lots of mulch.  Guess what we'll be doing on our first weekend of summer vacaaay?

-- 7 --

Sending my prayers for Dwija!

All my prayers and intentions!

Okay,

That was my quickie post

Jen has more for you over at

Conversion Diary.

{PHFR}:: Confirmation and stuff

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

{Pretty}

Lucy was confirmed in her faith this past Friday.  The Sacrament of Confirmation was especially important for her.  Not that her baptism or First Holy Communion weren't, but she views this sacrament as the 'next' step in her faith.  As she sees it, her journey with and towards Jesus was sealed, significantly, with her saying yes to Him and to what ever He wills for her.

I wish I had her courage and piety.

The week before her sacrament I found this piece of material.

As a 'surprise' gift I cut out a new veil for her.

It was a light, white, flowery piece.

Very pretty.

And very Lucy.

Cutting around the edges of the roses was a bit unnerving.  

But, it did look lovely on her.

More, importantly she really liked it.

{Happy}

I was a happy camera clicking Momma the evening of her sacrament.
More pictures to come...

Thankfully, she was okay and 'happy' about the camera in her face every few seconds.

At least, I was happy.  The Lineman and I are realizing quickly that our first daughter is young lady now.  She is growing up faster than my heart, or mind, want to admit.

 {sigh}

{Funny}

There she blows!!

Way back in November, when we moved into our new home, I had bought The Lineman a blower for the yard work.  It has sat in it's box, next to our bed since I bought it.  That was SIX MONTHS AGO.

You see the box made for a very nice nightstand; of course after putting a sheet on top of it. 

And, we really needed a nightstand.

We finally took it out of the bedroom this past Monday.  

Now, it's become Cecilia's very own hair and body dryer!

Just kidding.

It'll be used for the yard work, promise.

Though, now we really need a table for our books and alarm clock.

{Real}

A fun group of friends;

all celebrating our kids' Sacrament of Confirmation.

Each teen sporting a cool new Holy Spirit T-Shirt.

And the girls standing together in faith.

Don't mess with these girls

They are 'On Fire'!

Another {real} moment occurred 

when these yummy cupcake were devoured 

within minutes of being set up.

Crumbs! Crumbs were the only thing left for us adults.  

Thanks for checking our our little moments!

Finally, a science textbook

Awesome news!

  Just fabulous!!

  Homeschoolers, there is a GIFT for U!!  

Many moons ago a great friend of ours began to venture into the teaching and writing world of science.  She had always been a scientist at heart; 

her mind just worked in the way of botany, biology, and organisms.  

This friend had an idea; that idea has been gifted to the home educating world.

Discovering Intelligent Design

by

Gary Kemper, Hallie Kemper and Casey Luskin

available here

Yes this is a TOTAL PLUG, absoluetely!  

Why?

Because, I took her course, I was one of many guinea piggies homeschooling parents that was asked to teach and study this book, and finally because this is a factual, evidence packed, science book that has inspired our kids to ask real questions about the science behind Darwin, evolution, and through investigation come to their own conclusions, that "life is complicated".

Our kids took this course in the 8th and 9th grades.  Which was, I think, a great starter point before they hit biology and chemistry classes.  They are there now and I can tell you by my own Lucy's experience, this book and course totally prepared her for those heavier classes.  

 "Discovering Intelligent Design is a comprehensive curriculum that presents both the biological and cosmological evidence in support of the theory of intelligent design. It equips young people and adults to critically analyze the arguments in the debate over evolution and intelligent design, and it encourages them to follow the evidence wherever it may lead."

From chapter 10

"... the biggest head-scratcher in evolutionary biology would have to be the origin of the holometabolous insect larva"

Why?  There is such a large jump in complexity for an organism to survive and complete metamorphosis that the theories explained in Darwinian evolution just don't cut it.  The book explains whys in laymen terms.

By the way,

There is also a workbook!

Also available here

*DISCLAIMER::

Yes, I personally know two of the authors.  Though, I was gifted the textbook and workbook I am not affiliated with the publishers and am NOT getting a single cent from this plug. 

 Honest!  

♥ May is for Mary ♥ (UPDATE)

UPDATE:
Boy, when I say that my head is split in a zillion ways I MEAN it!  

Kimberlee in NOT hosting an ATC swap this May.  When I went to Kimberlee's blog to check if she was hosting the Marian ATC swap; I didn't look closely at the dates.  Sorry folks, my apologies for those who saw my blunder.  

Still, I'll leave this up for the pictures of the girls.  And, have it too provide a good laugh at myself when my head gets too big.  {{insert BLUSH here}}.

I hosted our Little Flowers group last Friday; at the end of a very busy week.

Hasn't this word, busy, become a theme of this blog.  Any who...

So, since it was busy, I was less then ready eagerly prepared for the girls to show up.  Luckily, Jessica's idea for her own girls gave me an added project (and lift) to have for my young flock.

~ Cheerfulness ~

We started with a prayer and a discussion of this month's virtue; we also did a recap of all the virtues we've worked on this year.  On a side note; there is something quite wonderful when little girls tell you how each virtue has effected them.  All of the girls had a least one virtue that has been a little cross for her to bear.  They shared how in these months after our meetings they've tried their hardest to do better and sought out examples among the saints to help them.  How sweet these little girls!

~ Crafts ~

Now, what I had wanted to do with our extended Catholic home school co-op in the past, is join the Marian ATC Swap; hosted by Kimberly of Pondered in my Heart.  

What is an ATC swap?  Art trading cards that can be traded among each artist who joins the swap.  This is a whole family affair that is awesome.  Each card is an individual expression of our love and devotion to Our Blessed Momma!  And the kids get 'down' in their mini masterpieces.

We've joined in her Saints ATC Swap a couple of times (here and here) as a family.  But, the timing with the other families never quite seemed to come together in the past.  May is the (here's that word again) busiest time of the year for the co-op.

So!!! What a cool treat it was for our LF girls to join this time.  I didn't even know if Kimberly was hosting a swap this year, luckily for us... she IS!

This is a little peek into what our little ladies began working on last Friday...

I'm always excited to see what Rose comes up with.  

She is the 'artist' of the family.

 Our Cecilia fretted a bit about how to draw Momma Mary's eyes, 

but she got it together to produce a lovely card.

My niece's creation was equally as charming and she took care in creating her piece.

In addition to the ATC cards the girls completed their little gifts they started last month.  Little painted flower pots for their mommies this Mother's Day.  A gift of patience practiced by each girl.

I also made prayer cards for each girl to have and use this entire month of May.  I used the image of the Most Holy Name of Mary that Charolotte used on this post on her blog.

On the back of each card I printed the following prayer that Jessica mentioned and used from the Mondays With Mary A Celebration of Marian Feasts Throughout the Year:

“My Queen, My Mother, I give myself entirely to Thee, and to show my devotion to Thee, I consecrate to thee this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my entire self, without reserve. Wherefore, good Mother, as I am Thine own, keep me, defend me as Thy property and possession. Amen.”

Our families have been through the preparation prayer using the Total Consecration to Mary by Fr. Louis-Marie De Montfort.  It was a blessed 33 days of devotion and self giving.  But how much of that stays with a young child?  Rose and Cecilia didn't really go through the preparation like Lucy and myself did; the focus was really for Lucy.  

So using this beautiful prayer of consecration, shared by Jessica, was perfect!  The younger girls can totally use this short prayer.  And it's easy enough for them to get the meaning of what they are saying to Our Blessed Mother. 

"I give myself entirely to Thee"

I've asked them to pray this each morning for the entire month of May.  When we gather together again, in June, we hope to talk a bit on what differences they saw in giving themselves to Momma Mary each and every day.

We hope a big difference was noticed by both the girls and their families.  I'm personally hoping to see many fruits from their efforts :-)

You may use the document I made by clicking onto this site

(Download Consecration Prayer Card HERE)