One Room School

Today was a good day.  I love being able to start posts that way.  We didn’t get everything done that I wanted to accomplish, but I feel like if we manage to meet our goals over the week or month, we can’t ( I can’t) get worked up over missing something here or there.

                What made it a good day was the fact that my children were engaged and interested in things.  Joe and I started the day discussing “This Lime Tree Bower My Prison”.  Apparently Joe thinks Coleridge is “emo”.  I mean, why get so worked up because you can’t go on a walk?  Don’t even get him started on the albatross.  Then we worked in his LLATL book; similes, metaphors, and personification.  He had to write a small poem of his own design.  There was much balking at this assignment, but eventually he came up with something quite nice.  This unit has been fascinating, watching Joe warm-up to poetry.  It seems so complicated and scary to people.  However, the more you read and just give yourself space to think and write, it can become quite simply beautiful. 

                Anyway…where was I (not in an English garden)?  Joe studied for his Algebra test on Wed. and then Elijah read the next chapter in history, “The First King of Sumer”.  He enjoys these stories so much. The ancient world completely enthralls him.  We reviewed the material and then looked up some books at the library on Mesopotamia.  I loved having Elijah home for the day.  I wonder if it would really be possible to home school both kids next year.  I’ll save that thought for another post. 

                Then it was time for errand running.  Refilling ink cartridges, the music store (the trombonist needs a new music stand), paint store, car wash- that was fun , the kids got to watch it go through with flashing light and everything- then the library.  Joe picked up a book for his John Adams biography, poetry books by Shel Silverstein and Poe.  Elijah found a nice book about Sumeria and an activity book about ancient cultures.  That will come in handy when we get into Babylonia and the Hittites.  As soon as the y came home, they dug right in. 

                Joe just came in and asked for some paper, apparently he is having an inspirational poetry moment.  Aahh, good day.

   Today was fun.  Not sure why.  We didn’t get much schooley stuff done.  After I too Elijah to kindergarten I went the Y and worked out with my husband.  I hate that place but it makes it more fun if he’s with me.  He’s trying very hard to work his way back from surgery in August.  Hip replacement.  This is hard for someone who is a personal trainer and dancer. 

     Joe got away with just doing spelling today.  Then we went to the library.  He got Pure Dead Batty and I’m reading the first book in His Dark Materials and the second in the Bartimaeus Trilolgy.  I love kiddie lit.  I also found some books about the the Byzantine’s (what we are dong now) and the Gupta Empire of ancient India (probably next week).  We will write a Code of Justinian and try our hand at a mosaic.  Then I took a nap and Joe slipped out to enjoy the nice weather.  Afterwards, I worked on my Belief Statement.  Then oh my gosh it was time for church.  When we came home hubby took Joe outside to look at the sky with his telescope.  They had a big time out there.  Joe told me that was a cool thing about homeschooling– you get to stay up late and look at the stars.  I totally agree.