Week 2 of School and an Injured Knee

Well Caitlin didn't even make it through 1 week of school without an issue.  Last Wednesday she twisted her knee at church and is still not able to walk on it.  Thankfully I had a Quad Cane here that I picked up at a garage sale, just because.  She is not so greatly hobbling around on that.  The swelling has gone down significantly to almost normal, and she is wearing a knee and calf brace.  This has been a very humbling experience for her.  Learning how it feels to be helpless and need others for things you would normally do yourself.  I am doing PT with her, and hopefully, by next week she will be walking a little bit, partial weight-bearing at least.  She is still doing school, however, just no morning walks and no real chores.  Which brings me to my other life lesson she has learned, exercise is very important to ensure your body maintains strength.  She does not like exercise and complains terribly.  Maybe this will show her how important it is.

Today was our first day of grade 10 History.  We are studying Civics and Government, and the election process.  This falls in perfectly with the 2020 elections which is why I did it this way.  Today, we watched the top 4 candidates at their Climate Change town halls from last week.  I explained to Caitlin how the people bringing in the most donated money are the top candidates.  We watched Buttiegeg, Warren, Sanders, and Biden.  She has to follow all of the 10 candidates on Facebook, that made it to the end of September debates.  We do a lot of discussing and will learn more about the process as we go along.  Since we are doing one class a day we may have to skim some of the topics that come up in the coverage of the primaries.  The flashcards below will help prepare to take the Civics exam.

Tomorrow she will work on her ASL, sign language course.

Photography Challenge: Red

So, for last week's challenge, we both had to find something red.  I love taking pictures, so I can always think of something.  Caitlin, however, is a little more of a challenge.  I think she is the only teen girl that does not take a million photos a day with her phone.  We had a ton of rain this week, of course because we had family visiting, but it produced some lovely rainbows.  Then one of our resident Cardinals was on the front porch, in the rain, eating, and Caitlin found a ladybug in her room.  So, those are the 3 photos for this week honoring the color, red.  This week will be Orange. 
We are officially on Summer Vacation, and I have to start putting together a portfolio, and making sure I am prepared for next year.  The first Presidential Debates are at the end of June.  So, Caitlin and I will be watching, and discussing those, as part of her Civics and Government Class for grade 10.  Let the fun begin, lol!

McCain and Obama, Where Do They Stand On Healthcare?

Do you have Health Insurance? Are you one of the 47 million Americans, that have no insurance? As a Nurse, health care is something very close to my heart. I have been uninsured for many years, and know the stress and impact that can have on someones life. I know how ridiculously expensive Health Care has become. I have seen gouging, unkind acts, greed, and just plain cruelty in the Health Care Industry. So where do the candidates stand on Health Care? View the videos, and hear what they have to say. They both say health care costs, must come down. However I notice two very distinct differences between the two. McCain gives clear, and concise ways to bring costs down, Obama does not. McCain states that his plan will not raise taxes, nor be added to the already huge deficit. Obamas plan will most definately increase taxes, or as he has stated recently will be added to the already Trillions of dollars deficit. McCain will give, every single family in America, a tax refund, to help cover out of pocket expenses, or to help pay for their health insurance plan. Obama wants to mandate every single Business, both big and small, to offer and help pay for health insurance to their employees. This will only make it more difficult for small businesses to succeed, and prosper. This will cause more job loss, and even send more companies over seas where such requirements are not imposed. View the videos, and then you decide, who you want to be President. Time is running out, and so many people are undecided. Dont listen to the rhetoric and garbage, on the Campaign trails. See and learn where the candidates really stand, then make a knowledgeable decision that is best for you and your family.





My lesson plans for 10/15/08:

Writing: Write about a place you would like to go with friends
Reading: Read chapter 4 of Mummies in the Morning
Math: Division, Multiplication, Addition, and Subtraction
Spelling: Lesson 7- write each spelling word and circle the consonants
Vocabulary: Lesson 7- use each vocabulary word in a sentence
Language Arts: Phonics Review, fact and opinion
Social Studies: Georgia, Christopher Columbus
Spanish: Parts of the body
Art: Draw Patrick

Lets Talk Elections, Lesson Plan For 9/10/08, And How About Some Football

It is a good start to the week. Hurricane Ike, appears to have taken a curve, and will be moving away from us. My thoughts, are with those who it will be heading towards. We love Football, in our house. The Gators won on Saturday, both my husbands team the Steelers, and my team the Bills, both won on Sunday. Plus we both won in our Fantasy Football leagues. Yipee a great start. If you have never played Fantasy Football, it really is a lot of fun.

Now for a little politics. My son sees me watching the news, and of course they are talking about the candidates alot. Since he is 8, I figured it was a great time, to start to explain the election process to him. Nothing real in depth, just the basics. So then of course, he has to ask me who am I voting for? I told him I am still undecided. I like both candidates, for very different reasons, and it will be a hard decision for me. He said Oh, and went on his way. So what about all of you. Have you decided yet, if yes for whom. If not, what is holding you back?

Lesson Plan for 9/10/08

First let me say we do not ever do homework. If something is not completed, this very rarely happens, it will completed on another day.

Writing- You are a secret agent
Reading- Chapter 6 of Dinosaurs Before Dark
Social Studies Communities Helping Hands, California
Math- Multiplication, addition, subtraction, rounding 3 digit numbers
Language Arts- Phonics review, plural possessives, nouns
Spanish- Parts of the body
Spelling- Lesson 2
Vocabulary- Lesson 2 think of a synonym for each word
Music I can play piano, if time permits

Are You Voting For Barack Obama?

Are you voting for Barack Obama? Would you like the coolest bumper sticker, on the planet, for your car? Have you seen the fancy advertisements, that are on the side of buses? Well these bumper stickers, that support Barack Obama, are similar to that. They have a special one way vision material, that anyone can see. Click this link to visit the website, to see these very cool stickers Giant Obama Bumper Stickers



Now is our time

These ultra cool bumper stickers are only available at Giant Obama Bumper Stickers Show your support, for Barack Obama. Show your pride, optimism, and support, of this history making Presidential campaign, with a huge Obama ultra cool window graphic. Be the cooolest, political mom, in town, and show your support. Put one of these window graphics, on your car, and at the same time, teach your children about voting, pride, responsibility, support and love for your country.