Fearless Friday

We made it. It is 2:20pm and we are completely caught up with our lessons (we will begin Day 98 after our holiday) after weeks and weeks of sickness and this and that. We went into today fearless that we would accomplish the last of our school work--cheerfully and intentionally--so that our weekend can be a flurry of house cleaning and packing in preparation for our first trip home in two long years.

We always begin each day with a little prayer thanking Jesus for the gift of home schooling, for daddy's job that blesses us, for our minds to be like sponges, for our hearts to be soft, and for our sweet St Jude preparing to have supper while we prepare our morning lessons. 

Sugar is highly organized and structured in all of her ways. As such, our day runs best when she organizes it for us. I detail what tasks lie ahead for the day and she decides in what order we work. Sparkler is happy with whatever comes her way, as long as she gets to "do school" to her heart's content (which is really ten-minute bursts and then she's off to playing with Bugsy).

Sugar always, always chooses math first. I thought today was going to be a rocky one ... she just seemed a little off ... but she found her way and the twaddling was to a minimum (even with our carpenter working in the kitchen and our dear friend stopping over for a visit). We are continuing with Singapore 1A, which is a review in the functions of addition and subtraction from Miquon, but not in their presentation or execution.

In phonics we learned how 'ch' sometimes sounds like /k/ as in school. 

I have to reiterate that I have been very pleased with MFW phonics, but I will be teaching phonics beginning on Day 125 this year and through second grade, with Rod & Staff. We will only continue with the Bible Nurture Readers and phonics workbooks, not the reading workbooks or penmanship practice. As we are nearing the end of MFW1 phonics, I am rethinking how I will teach reading to my other children. We will absolutely use MFWK for early phonics, but after that, I am going to look at The Reading Lesson aside from R&S. 

Sparkler's second most favorite part of the day is her Ready Writer book. This book has been an incredible gift to me as I learn how to teach Sparkler how to write as a dsygraphic (mirror image) child. I love this simple, effective book. So does she.

In Bible today, Sugar learned about The Twelve Spies who spent 40 days in Canaan peeking around for Moses, Aaron, and the Israelites to learn more about the new land. We had fig newtons for a snack since Joshua and Caleb discovered grapes, pomegranates, and figs, along with plentiful milk and honey (not coincidentally, we had milk and bread with honey at breakfast). We also read about Moses' death, Israel's new leader, Joshua, and Jericho.

In honesty, I have begun pre-reading the Bible selection from the TG and then I find it in The Child's Story Bible by Vos and we read that version aloud. Vos's writing is true to the Word yet written to engage children (and adults) ... the language flows and the illustrations are kept to a thoughtful minimum, which encourages imagination. We read the stories that are not part of the MFW lessons at dinnertime.

Sparkler learned about John 17:17 ... the importance and specialness of the Bible. She colors a picture of the Bible story as I read it. Sugar listens in. Bugsy naps (on our best days).


Just for a little peek into our school life ... where Sparkler is, Gus is sure to be as well.

Because of Him.