Writing For 100 Days

Another of the books I chose for DJ, for 7th grade is, 100 Days of Writing. His is purple though, not blue. Not sure if they are different levels, or just different marketing years. You could Google it. I know the purple book is 7th or 8th grade level, because I researched it before I bought it. Anyway, I like this book, and since he is not given a writing assignment every single day, you could easily make this a two year course. Writing is very important to my teaching. I want my kids to not be afraid to write, and stress about it. If you can write well, and express yourself in a clear and concise manner, you will go places for sure. What do you think about writing?

A WTH Kind Of Week!

The week isn't even over, and by Sunday of this week, I was already saying WTH.  On Saturday hubby told me that FIL was coming to visit from NY, in September.  Yay!  We haven't seen him in 6 years.  Saturday night I go to work, fill out the paperwork for the date given to me, so I can be normal while he is here.  Sunday morning I go home and wake up from my nap, and poof FIL is coming one month earlier than what I was told.  Really!  Now not only do I feel unprepared, but I am not sure if my job will let me change the date from the one I requested.  I called first thing Monday morning, and the staffing person changed it for me, but it will still depend on whether or not the DON signs off on it whether I get paid time off or not.  So now I might have to take an unpaid day which is absolutely what I don't want to do right now.  After the spider bite, and rehab from that, I lost a whole paycheck and that is hard to make up trust me. 

Then the real kicker comes from someone I trust.  Have you ever had someone you trust do something so stupid and unsafe, that you just don't know what to do?  Lets just say it had something to do with a loaded gun, in a room, where my children were also.  This has turned into a big argument, with some hateful words said to me that are totally not true.  All because I requested that either the bullets be removed, and locked, while they are there, or the whole gun be locked up if it is loaded.  I don't think this is too much to ask.  But, the other person does not see it this way, and now we are deadlocked.  My children will not go to this person's home, until they decide to give up their pride and side with caution for the safety of children.  I have been very stressed about this ever since it happened.  It just makes me so very sad. 

As if all that is not enough, I have called animal control twice on the neighbor with the dogs that chase people and go to the bathroom all over everyone's yards.  Now before you tell me I am uptight, this has been going on for years, with me politely asking him to please keep his dogs on his own property.  They are a nuisance and quite frankly I have dogs, they don't trespass on anyone's property because I put the expense into a fence.  Respect, some people just don't know what it means.  Anyway I think animal control has taken two of his dogs, because I have seen him only with the one that he actually always walks.  Why walk one but not the other two anyways? I wish no ill to the dogs, and animal control said if the dogs are found out and taken, then he can pay a fine and get them back.  They don't destroy the dog.  That made me feel better.  So we will see what happens next with all of this.

So, how has your week been?  Do you think I am wrong about the gun issue, what about the dogs?

Homeschool Calendar 2012/2013

I did our homeschool calendar, for the upcoming year, this evening.  I did not give as many days off or half days, because we are already doing basically half days on the Wednesdays that we have play dates.  So, no need for other added half days, in my opinion.  I am sure DJ and Caitlin would not agree.  Oh well, they don't get to have a say in all the decisions, LOL!  I post this for record keeping purposes, and if a new homeschooler needed an idea how to set up their year, this could help them.

09/04/2012:  First day of school year.
09/21/2012:  Early release day.
10/08/2012:  No school Columbus Day.
10/26/2012:  End of first grading period.
11/12/2012:  No School Veteran's Day
11/21-11/23/2012:  No school Thanksgiving holiday
12/21/2012:  End of second grading period
12/21-01/04/2013:  No School Christmas break
01/07/2013:  First day back to school from holiday break
02/11/2013:  No school President's Day
03/15/2013:  End of third grading period
03/18-03/22/2013:  No school Spring Break
04/01-04/05/2013:  No school Easter Break
05/24-05/27/2013:  No school Memorial Day
06/07/2013:  Last day of the school year

Painting With Friends and Saxon Math

I have had our basic curriculum's for next year printed out for some time. This week I spent a great deal of time going through books that we already have, and that were given to us, to be sure we had everything we needed. Then I go through all those books and websites I found, to narrow it down to the actual lessons I want to use. This is a very time consuming process, but it is worth it in the end, because I am literally deciding what they learn. They get to decide some of it as well. Since we do some unschooling, DJ has chosen Marine Biology as his main focus for Science class. If you are unfamiliar with unschooling, it is the art of teaching via what your child loves. Since you can see math books below, you will know that unschooling completely is not for me. My kids would never pick Math if given the option. DJ really likes Saxon Math. After trying several different products, this one works for him. If you find something your child likes, stick with it, even if you don't care for it. Caitlin will also be using Saxon for 3rd grade. She used it some in second grade, but now that she is reading pretty independently she needs to focus much more attention on Math. She is already doing flash cards this Summer for addition, subtraction, and money. I will share the rest of the books we will be using in later posts.

Today we had a playdate of sorts, where our play group friends came over for some painting and fun. We had lunch and then everyone painted something. I will have to get pictures to share. I forgot to take any. Since we painted some on ornaments, I still have them here so they can be treated. So I can still get pictures.