Learning Notes?: February 9-14

The question mark is on purpose. Do I even have anything to say about this week? Certainly I didn't keep daily notes. But we did have a really good week. We finished Treasures of the Snow and started Frightful's Mountain because of having loved My Side of the Mountain. The writing is pretty choppy, as seems to be the modern American way, so I smooth and change it a lot when I'm reading it out. But the story is pretty compelling, and the bird stuff is all so cool (that's my technical literary analysis).

Successes

Started another math book. Elphine is clicking along wonderfully in math. Concepts that last year she just could not grasp she is easily getting. And! She is beating Alouicious on daily sums. So so happy about this since she is technically supposed to be in a grade above him but he usually always beats her in math. My happiness about this is so great and huge and wide.

Really good week of spelling. Tests every day. Real measurable progress. So grateful that we have a system that works and deeply regretful that it took me this long to find it.

The children getting up early and doing their own work even before my feet hit the floor. All of us done with everything by two every day. Getting to have the afternoons and evenings off.

Piano is going really well. New songs. Regular practicing. Sounds like real piano playing and not the ghastly plinking that comprises the majority of my listening life.

Had Romulus read out his literature book to me, just to see how he's doing, as I never believe me when he says he's totally read what he's supposed to read, in half the time I expect him to read it. Settled in and expected to want to stab my eyes out with a fork, the usual sitting next a child reading aloud. Shocked and happy as he read along smoothly and laughed over word jokes that he made up himself. Like “Lancelot. Get it. Get it. Lance A Lot.”

Phonics with the little girls. Getting in their Daily Story.

Gladys reading pretty smoothly. Gladys doing well in math. Gladys learning to spell words.

Couple of bedtime readings of The Talking Parcel.

Saturday morning school and chores actually happening.

Failures

No school on Friday. Celebrated Valentine's Day instead. No library trip. No ice skating. No fencing because of vestry. Fell behind on laundry. Kept losing my temper. Failed at being less evil.

Scenes of the Week