What I love about Home Schooling.

Sam wanted to be just like his sisters, so he found a "real" book and settled down to read beside Maggie.

Annie's Fitting Fall

Annie's Fitting Fall

This is a story Leah wrote with the help of our new writing program. It's an adaption of the fable of the lion and the shepherd.

In October of 1980

An abandoned, lonely, rag doll, once called Annie, slumped lower on a dusty shelf in the attic as she waited for someone to find her. She frowned at her leg which had unstitched itself over time. Because of this she could no longer move freely about the stuffy attic. Annie would often spy glimpses of life from a crack in the worn floor leading to the other rooms in the house below, but seldom did any one come up to the attic.

The doll’s life changed when Debbie Harris and her family came to visit with Grandma Miller.Grandma Miller was the owner of the house, which Annie lived in. When Debbie was getting bored Grandma suggested the she go in the attic to explore. Debbie climbed the creaky steps and noticed right away a certain glum faced doll sitting on a shelf. Debbie tenderly picked up the doll and rushed out of the attic distressed. Because Debbie, who was so fond of dolls, fretted over the unstitched leg. With her Grandma’s permission Debbie brought Annie home and kindly sewed her leg back on.

The doll now had a home and could explore her new abode. Annie was perfectly happy living with Debbie, but because Debbie and her family were poor they began to worry if they would have enough money for their taxes. Pretty soon as much as it hurts to say they were to be evicted from their home. Which made Annie desperately want to repay Debbie, for her kindness toward her even more, but she didn’t know how to help. While Debbie’s family struggled to pay the fee Vicky Vanderlon a government official briskly knocked on the door. Debbie fretted while she hurriedly opened the door. As she opened the rickety door in the background Debbie’s brothers were fighting over Annie. In a silent moment the doll ripped open, Debbie winced, and Annie toppled on to the floor, arms and all crashed to the ground. But something else flew on the floor an odd sounding clink. Vicky gasped in amazement, Debbie’s mouth dropped open and Annie proudly smiled. It was money and with Debbie’s family’s saved up money and what was sewn in Annie it was just enough to pay the taxes. After the doll had been repaired from her fitting fall, Annie and Debbie lived happily ever after.

We have started a new writing program this year called "The Institute for Excellence in Writing". We are only a few weeks into it, but so far I like it. You start with a paragraph, then you outline it, choosing three key words from each paragraph. Then you rewrite the selection using your outline.You also must include different stylistic techniques as you move through the program. For example a who-which clause, "ly" word, because clause, and a strong verb.

The only down side to it for me is that the teachers addition, which I am slowly going through requires me to write. So I thought I would share with you my first attempt. Then maybe the girls will be more willing to post some of their work, which in my opinion is better than mine!

Elephants Surprising Aptitude
By Sherri

Infra sound refers to the low-frequency reverberations that elephants employ to communicate with one another. Although humans can ascertain a range of ten octaves, elephants hearing
is far superior. Elephants have a method of conversation which, can only be heard by other pachyderms. Their chattering is called "rumbling" and can be heard up to three miles away. Scientists have developed a machine to record and reproduce these infra and ultra sound waves. Because of this discovery zoologists can better understand the mysterious behaviors of these amazingly large and intelligent creatures. It is even more surprising that we humans did not discover their two octave aptitude until the year 1988.

We will officially be starting the 2008-2009 school year starting on September 1st. We are trying a few new things this year.

The first new thing is a unit study by "In the Hands of a Child". It is about the Presidential Election. If this works well I'll buy the one about American Government. I found after testing this year, we have a few holes in our understanding of how the government works. Today we did our first two vocabulary words, election and republic. I like the definition they gave for republic.

Republic: A state or nation in which the supreme power rests in its voting citizens and is exercised by representatives elected by them and responsible to the citizens. ( Not to be confused with a "democracy" because many democracies, past and present, have heads of state who came into power by military force, or were elected by a small minority of the population).

The other new thing is a program to teach writing. It is called Institute for for Excellence in Writing. I am excited about it. Unfortunately, it means I am going to have to study. There is 12 hours of lectures that I have to watch. I am also going to have to write, so I have a clear understanding of how the system works. I know it will be good for me, but I am lazy. I may post some of the writing here, if it is not too embarrassing.

We will be using some of the same things as well, Sonlight, Teaching Textbooks, Wordly Wise, and Easy Grammar. I am really looking forward to this year. It will be interesting to see how we will get it done with two little boys on the loose!