WR: The End of the Semester is in Sight!

This week we focused up on finishing some things.
ETC 3: 1 lesson to go, done by tomorrow. On lesson 76 in AlphaPhonics. My plan to have Flower reading by early spring is well on its way to completion. I love teaching my kids to read. I truly do.
Traditional Logic I: One lesson to completion, done by Monday.
Christian Studies I: Completed earlier this month. Received II in the mail, will start in Jan.
Tiner's Science Planet Earth: KB is reading it with Cub. They'll be done before the 1rst and that will be the 3rd science book Cub has completed this year.
Grammar of Poetry: We slowed down in order to give one of the co-op students a chance to catch up. We'll be done by the end of January at which time we'll start Logos' Shakespeare study.
Writing: Feche Boy and KB continue to write daily. KB contributes to her blog regularly and Feche continues to work on his story, complete with maps.
Math: Cub continues to do 2 math lessons a day in Horizons and both KB and Feche continue to move forward in math. I'm putting off starting Flower formally in math though she is doing simple addition on her own daily, along with counting everything in sight and mazes.
Geography: We were given the opportunity to use HOAC International Geography pack in exchange for a review, which is forthcoming; still deciding if our country study will be on Israel or Czechoslovakia (where the play is set). The littles and I continue to use the geo puzzles that I purchased from Timberdoodle last year. I'm learning a lot. So are they.
Memory Work: We'll finish Isaiah 9 next week. Other than that we are taking a break from memory work with the exception of play parts. It's nice to have a breather to focus on content areas. Don't forget to check out Dr. Andrew Campbell's newly published book on memory. Review below!
WWII Unit Study: In conjunction with the One Act Play. Learning lots. It's not pretty.
Art- KB continues to do collages, drawing and photography. The collages are so cool, 3-D and contain great metaphor. The boys are still drawing tho not as much with the co-op class on hold. The littles really enjoyed the craft day we had for our last co-op day of the year. Lots of mess, glitter and fun = )!

Drama practice has begun in earnest and the play includes chant, dance, and poetry recitation. Both KB and Feche Boy will be stretched, but it's not more than they can handle. Cub has a token part - he is a natural.
The 5th Annual Winter Warm-Up, the annual homeschooling Mom's retreat that we put together each year is under way from a planning pov. Former Mrs. SD will be our main guest speaker and we have a location as well as favors. Scheduled for early Feb.
TeenPact is moving ahead in South Dakota. Dates are February 23-27 and I am getting more inquires weekly. It's a great hands-on government program. Check it out http://www.teenpact.com/

College Woman was loaned a Star Gate season and we've been indulging in afternoon viewing...the littles have been getting lots of computer time as a result- "new" fav game for them is Roller Coaster Tycoon and Sim Safari. Tomorrow will be play practice, purchasing the last couple of Christmas gifts and grocery shopping as another blizzard is around the corner. We are hoping no car windows get blown off this round. The plan for the week-end is to cocoon. Viking Man has graded over 100 papers in the past 3 weeks for the on-line class he's been teaching and looking forward to a well-deserved rest and some holiday fun. It's been cold enough that the river is frozen solid and we have to take our annual "walk on the river, freeze your heiney off annual adventure" if the weather cooperates. Our beautiful Akita pooch LOVES the cold and usually pulls the littles on the sled but they are bigger and she is older so maybe we'll just all walk together this year.

It's been a good semester. Wishing all of my homeschooling pals a JOYOUS and restful Merry Christmas and winter break!!