New Year, New Leaf to Turn Over (6/180)

Last year, I intended to blog semi-regularly, but it never happened.  We used a Google Form to keep track of 'days' of 'education' and what we did each day and I hated it.  The idea was for the boys to complete it themselves, which also never happened.

 So this year I am thinking of going back to blogging.  Rather than an entry a day, I'm going to do an entry each week. I think I should be able to manage that if a) I plan to do it at a specific, routine time (probably on Sunday afternoons as I plan out the coming week in work and life) and b) I only write one post and copy it to each kid's blog.  I know I could set up yet another blog, but that seems annoying.

 So: this week (a little more, since there was a holiday weekend at the beginning of the month)

We were in Harvey Cedars for the Fourth of July weekend.  There was lots of swimming, boarding, ping pong, and relaxation.

Once we got home, each kid (except W) got sick in turn, so we didn't do a lot out and about for the rest of the week.  We did sneak in a trip or two to the pool in between viruses.   We went to a couple of pet stores in search of a) additional hermit crabs and shells to keep the one we got as a beach souvenir happy and health and b) an additional goldfish because J wanted one.

W & R played Dungeons & Dragons on Thursday.  W went to an all-day LARP event here on Saturday and had a great time.  On Sunday everybody was healthy and attended their religious education class, which was about mindfulness and involved Yoga.  The recent news of shootings of Black men by police and of police in Dallas was raised in their worship time.

After church, W & R went on a 12 mile bike ride with friends:

Throughout the week we read:

There Once Was a Sky Full of Stars by Bob Crelin


Strange Creatures : the Story of Walter Rothschild and His Museum by Lita Judge


A Piece of Chalk by Jennifer A. Ericsson


Rain Fish by Lois Ehlert


What's Inside Your Tummy, Mommy? by Abby Cocovini


Mixed Me! by Taye Diggs


The Blue Whale by Jenni Desmond


Never Ever by Jo Empson


The Sandwich Swap by Rania Al Abdullah


Gwinna by Barbara Helen Berger


W read:


Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton, Vol. 1 by James Robinson


Runaways, Vol. 6: Parental Guidance by Brian K. Vaughan


Attack on Titan: Before the Fall, Vol. 1 by Hajime Isayama


Dragon Ball Full Color, Vol. 2 by Akira Toriyama


Attack on Titan: Before the Fall, Vol. 2 by Hajime Isayama


R began his third read-through of the 4th set of Bob Books.  He also be copied (starting with the 1st set of Bob Books) one sentence per day to build writing skill.  D continued working with How to Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Lessons and also read the first Bob Book several times.  She's excited!

W began work with Life of Fred: Fractions.  R is finishing up Life of Fred: Goldfish.

All the kids watched a variety of science documentaries.  W used Scratch for programming.

We discussed racism, violence, policing, etc.

We practiced compassionate care for sick siblings, and self-care for sick selves.

W and D and J did lots of drawing.  R experimented with some instruments.  All the kids sang at church.

This week (+) included 6 days of instruction.