In my life this week… We’re busy with schoolwork, housework, and grandparents visiting.
We had two very warm days, and now the weather is back to normal–too cold for maple sap to run. The forecast is for very warm weather here, but while we’re warm, the rest of the world is expected to be colder than normal. This is not global warming, folks; this is American warming. I just hope the weather will stabilize. If we really will have the expected above-freezing temperatures day and night for the next while, the maple syrup farmers may not have much of a crop. Our own fruit trees may decide it’s spring, begin to bud, and then freeze when the weather returns to normal.
In our homeschool this week… We did a lot of testing. There were grammar, physics, and French tests. Our teens also had exams: math, chemistry, grammar, and biology. Each of these tests came with a curriculum we had bought; we’re not required to do government testing here. We’re very thankful that the results were good.
Miss 11 has now written 5 tests (we don’t like tests for little people), but Miss 9 hasn’t had a chance at a test yet, so those two asked for a French test. They sat opposite me and my book. When I read them English phrases from the French and English Phrase Book, they had to tell me the French phrases.
Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share… Don’t feel that you need to give little ones tests unless you are required by local homeschooling laws. Teens should get used to testing, though, if they plan to go on to higher education.
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing… Grandparents. Catechism, judo.
My favorite thing this week was…
- The spontaneous visit of grandparents from 2400 km away.
- Warm, warm weather followed by a fluffy blanket of snow.
Questions/thoughts I have…Currently freedom of speech and of religion in education are under attack in Alberta. This is very dangerous legislation for all Albertans, but do not think that it will not affect other provinces and, eventually, the United States as well. Please pray about this situation and get involved, no matter where you live. The above link gives an overview and tells you what you can do; you can keep up with the daily happenings here.
Things I’m working on…
- Enjoying our company.
- Homeschooling.
I’m reading… Acts. I am also reading The Odyssey (the version by Samuel Butler). I finished Folks, This Ain’t Normal by Joel Salatin.
With the kids, I’m reading Acts, Little Town on the Prairie, Rozemarijntje Gaat Naar School, The Story Bible for Older Children, and various books for school. We finished the second volume of the Wambu trilogy by Piet Prins.
When my husband is home for meals, we read Isaiah.
I’m grateful for … Family. Warmth.
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This post is linked to The Homeschool Mother’s Journal and to Weekly Wrap Up at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.
So glad to hear what all you are doing. I am having a rough time with Nick — he is so not a “student” in terms of serious writing work and such. He is driving me nuts. BUT, I know he is smart and he’ll read classics and tinker with things — for example, he just was so excited to read the article in Popular Science about the new heart…when God sent me Emma, I recognized her type:) She’s like me and loves to read and write, worksheets actually please her! lol. I will be going more classical with her. Nick did recently get excited about a college a few hours from here, so maybe that’ll light a fire:) Well, I know you work hard for the kids to do so well and I like reading about it! I was upset when I saw about Alberta. I hope that is defeated.
Yes, each child is different. It sounds like your son is a bright boy. I pray that he will learn to use his talents in a way that will glorify God. So nice that you have one who is ‘easy to teach’ as well. It is a journey, and it is hard work, but it is so worth it!
That is so scary! I do pray for your freedoms to be upheld. So frustrating, too. As for testing, I am glad to live in a non-testing state, but I do plan to get my children used to taking tests as they get older and closer to college. They do the tests that come with their books, I mean the standardized testing. So glad you could visit with grandparents!
Thank you for your prayers.
I received an email for HSLDA about the situation in Alberta. The homeschool community in that providence is in our prayers.
http://www.hslda.org/elert/archive/2012/03/20120308154921.asp
Oh, thank you for the link to the US HSLDA information! Thank you also for your prayers.
So glad things are going well. I felt the same way about testing when the kids were younger. We’ve only started testing the past few years when the kids got older.
I read your other blog post about the legislation. I really don’t like it when the government tries to tell people what to do in their own homes. Glad you gave the links you did.