Currently #6

Reading: My reading brain is still a bit broken and so I’m all about horror manga right now. I checked out so many Junji Ito story collections for the next few weeks.

Watching: Working my way through all the Stray Kids content. I’m up to early 2021. Still far behind, but loving the journey.

Listening: Still love my Stray Kids, but I have branched out in the Kpop world. BabyMonster and BlackPink (and Jennie, Lisa, and Rose’s solo albums) are on current rotation.

Making: We’re heading to Indiana next week for Alex’s graduation. I haven’t started actively packing, but you better believe that I have travel piles around the house.

Feeling: Sleep has been elusive lately. I am tired.

Planning: Co-op Field Day is coming at the end of the May and it’s a big to-do. Thankfully this year I have a cohost to help me pull this off. It’s a big project, but years of doing it has helped me create a workflow.

Loving: After falling down the K-Pop hole, I’m slowly converting a friend to a STAY. Beyond the fun SKZ content I send her, we have an ongoing fun message exchange on Insta. Her messages are always a bright spot of my day.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Homeschool W29: A Normal Week I Guess

What We Studied

We pushed through and finished a pretty normal week for us. My body decided to make me cancel Friday’s hike, but we did engage in a few other activities this week.

Literature and Poetry

Arthur is primarily using Hearth and Story G5 for his language arts this year. Arthur started and finished the June Co-op Book Club selection. I was feeling in the mood for some good adventure fantasy and this one looked perfect. Arthur ended up not loving the second half, but I did. We also covered more grammar and extra language arts assignments.

• Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell

• Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

Quentin is primarily using Blossom & Root G1 for his language arts this year. We will pull some elements from Build Your Library Level 2 and random books that we have around the house. We continued reading a classic.

• Poetry: Fresh-Picked Poetry: A Day at the Farmer’s Market by Michelle Schaub

• Matilda by Roald Dahl

Math

Arthur is using Singapore’s Math in Focus Course 1. Effectively this is Singapore’s 6th grade math text. We got back into our math textbook and completed a chapter about Statistics. Only one more chapter to go!

• Math in Focus Course 1 Book B

Quentin is using Singapore’s Primary Mathematics Common Core edition 2B and 3A. We moved onto 3A starting slow to easy back into our lessons. Taking it slow but moving along.

• Singapore Primary 3A

• Primarily Logic

Social Studies

Arthur is using Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 this year. Beyond random documentaries and museum visits, we will be pausing our history study until August.

Quentin is using History Quest Middle Times with Build Your Library Level 2 as his main history curriculum. We will be pausing history until August.

Science

Arthur finished his RSO Biology 1 course with the end of the academic co-op. We switched gears a bit and covered a few BookSeeds from Blossom & Root.

Quentin finished RSO Earth & Environment and RSO Astronomy 1 as a base. He started a side unit about oceans. We got through multiple topics and watched a few episodes of Blue Planet to reinforce.

• A First Book of the Sea by Nicola Davies

• Ocean by Stacy McAnulty

• Oceans by Peter Benoit

• Ocean Anatomy by Julia Rothman

• DK Earth's Incredible Oceans by Jess French

• DK Ocean

• Discover the Oceans: Southern Ocean by Emily Rose Oachs

• Discover the Oceans: Pacific Ocean by Emily Rose Oachs

• Discover the Oceans: Indian Ocean by Emily Rose Oachs

• Discover the Oceans: Atlantic Ocean by Emily Rose Oachs

• Discover the Oceans: Arctic Ocean by Emily Rose Oachs

• How Deep is the Ocean? by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld

• Otis and Will Discover the Deep: The Record-Setting Dive of the Bathysphere by Barb Rosenstock and Katherine Roy

• Diving Deep: Using Machines to Explore the Ocean by Michelle Cusolito

• Sandy Feet! Whose Feet? Footprints At the Shore by Susan Wood

• Seashores by Cathryn Sill

• DK Shell

• Seashells: More Than a Home by Melissa Stewart

• A Nature Walk at the Beach by Louise and Richard Spilsbury

• Tide Pool by Louise Spilsbury

• A Turtle's View of the Ocean Blue by Catherine Barr

• Coral Reefs by Precious McKenzie

• One Night in the Coral Sea by Sneed B. Collard III

• Coral Reefs by Cathryn Sill

• Seagrass Dreams by Kathleen M. Hanes

Enrichment Co-op

We covered our third week of co-op. The transition to a new park worked well. The classes seemed to go really well. Arthur learned about sugar chemistry. Quentin learned about the scientific method through experiments with Peeps.

Art and Music

Art will be very sporadic this year, but we do have some fun excursions planned. And I will incorporate art projects into a lot of other subjects and unit studies.

For music, we are using Music Lab: We Rock! as our spine. Each week we will be learning about a different rock musician and focus on a particular song. I have also created Spotify playlists so we can listen on the go. We listened to Fleetwood Mac to finish the New Rock Sound chapter. The boys were not huge fans (I do not understand this sentiment). We moved onto the New Wave chapter with Roxy Music and Devo. Boys weren’t super excited about these bands but we had fun discussing how different they are from the last chapter’s bands.

• Music Lab: We Rock!

• DK Music and How it Works

• DK The Arts

Field Trip/Activities

Wednesday we had our monthly exploration at Joslyn Art Museum. The kids focused on light and shadow by taking pictures in the outdoor sculpture gardens. I think Arthur had more fun chatting with friends than taking pictures, but it was a lovely day to look at some art.

High

We got so much schoolwork done this week. We are in a great position to take off from school the two weeks we are in Indiana. And when we come back, our load will be light.

Low

Very sad to miss our Friday hike at Platte River State Park. My body was revolting and I just couldn’t bring myself to drive down there and then hike.

Next Week

• Reading more literature

• Moving forward with our math textbooks; very close to being done

• Exploring the ocean (Q) for science

• Listening to Blondie and David Bowie for music!

• Transitioning to a more summer routine of activities and schoolwork

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

• Exploring the local art museum with other homeschool families is always so delightful. It helps that it was a beautiful day yesterday.

• Finally going beyond just Stray Kids in my Kpop obsession. But don’t worry, I still love my Stray Kids so much.

• I really need to focus on a brain dump this week to help get it all out. I have so many projects in progress and need to organize a bit.

• Went to the Asian Market yesterday for kimchi and came out with my new favorite treat: Green Tea Samanco! So good!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Homeschool W28: We're Getting to the End

What We Studied

We had a normal week and a flex week. Basically it means that we came other the end of my preplanned weeks. I like to take a flex week to catch up on anything we pushed to the side and plan the next few weeks. This flex week was a bit different as we are nearing the end of the big school year. I spent time planning our activities as some of our curriculum is basically done.

Literature and Poetry

Arthur is primarily using Hearth and Story G5 for his language arts this year. Arthur started the June Co-op Book Club selection. I was feeling in the mood for some good adventure fantasy and this one looked perfect. We’re about halfway through it and very much enjoying the story and characters. We also covered more grammar and extra language arts assignments.

• Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell

• Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

Quentin is primarily using Blossom & Root G1 for his language arts this year. We will pull some elements from Build Your Library Level 2 and random books that we have around the house. We finished our comedy book and started a classic.

• Poetry: Hailstones and Halibut Bones by Mary O’Neill

• Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

• Matilda by Roald Dahl

• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

• Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

Math

Arthur is using Singapore’s Math in Focus Course 1. Effectively this is Singapore’s 6th grade math text. We got back into our math textbook and started a chapter about the Area and Circumference of Circles.

• Math in Focus Course 1 Book A

Quentin is using Singapore’s Primary Mathematics Common Core edition 2B and 3A. We moved onto 3A starting slow to easy back into our lessons. Taking it slow but moving along.

• Singapore Primary 3A

• Primarily Logic

Social Studies

Arthur is using Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 this year. Arthur finished the history curriculum with a chapter about Manifest Destiny in the US and Social Reforms movements around the world. Beyond random documentaries and museum visits, we will be pausing our history study until August.

• Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1

• DK History

• DK Timelines of Everything

• DK Timelines of Everyone

• DK A Child Through Time

Quentin is using History Quest Middle Times with Build Your Library Level 2 as his main history curriculum. We finished the chapters with one focusing on Elizabethan Times. We will be pausing history until August.

• History Quest Middle Times

• DK When on Earth?

• DK History

• DK Timelines of Everything

• DK Timelines of Everyone

• DK A Child Through Time

• Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare by Diane Stanley

• Shakespeare's Theatre by Andrew Langley

• The Tudors: Kings, Queen, Scribes, and Ferrets by Marcia Williams

• Good Queen Bess: The Story of Elizabeth I of England by Diane Stanley

Science

Arthur finished his RSO Biology 1 course with the end of the academic co-op. We finished the Story of Science Vol. 3. We switched gears a bit and covered a few BookSeeds from Blossom & Root.

• Story of Science Vol. 3 by Joy Hakim

• One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul

• The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins

Quentin finished RSO Earth & Environment and RSO Astronomy 1 as a base. He joined Arthur in the BookSeeds. As a bonus we did a review of the biomes of earth before concluding our RSO focus. We are also adding an oceanography unit for the rest of April and maybe into May.

• RSO Earth and Environment

• DK First Earth Encyclopedia

• What on Earth? Trees by Kevin Warwick

• Muse: Secrets of Trees

• We Planted a Tree by Diane Muldrow

• Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner

• Many Biomes, One Earth by Sneed B. Collard III

• Desert Biome by Grace Hansen

• A Day in the Life of the Desert: 6 Desert Habitats, 108 Species, and How to Save Them by Roxie Munro

• Deserts by Gail Gibbons

• Forest Biome by Grace Hansen

• Over and Under the Rainforest by Kate Messner

• Tundra Biome by Grace Hansen

• Marine Biome by Grace Hansen

Enrichment Co-op

We kicked off Enrichment Co-op with the first week of April. Arthur’s class learned about chemistry by making bouncy balls and colors by experimenting with chromatography. Quentin’s class was all about soil for the two weeks.

Art and Music

Art will be very sporadic this year, but we do have some fun excursions planned. And I will incorporate art projects into a lot of other subjects and unit studies.

For music, we are using Music Lab: We Rock! as our spine. Each week we will be learning about a different rock musician and focus on a particular song. I have also created Spotify playlists so we can listen on the go. We listened to Queen, Heart, Bruce Springsteen, Kiss, and Journey. There was favorite was Queen (as it should be!) followed by Heart and Journey. They were not big fans of The Boss and Kiss, but that tracks.

• Music Lab: We Rock!

• DK Music and How it Works

• DK The Arts

Field Trip/Activities

We traveled to Lincoln for a Morrill Hall visit focusing on our favorite exhibits there. It was our first time using our membership at the museum, but we have used the reciporcal benefits all across the midwest. We will be renewing this pass at the end of May and plan to go back to Morrill Hall at least once more this summer. After the museum, the friends we were with joined us at Lost in Fun for an afternoon of free play.

High

On Friday, we finally got back into our biweekly nature hikes! I had been craving some time out in the woods and we made it to Schramm. One other family joined us for the 3 mile hike. The rangers have thinned the trees in preparation for planting oaks in their place. (A lot of the existing trees were not native to Nebraska; oaks are native.) The trails were a bit strange, but we made it through. I was thoroughly tired and sweaty, but it was a great walk.

Low

Not a big low, but co-op this past week was a bit of a chore. It was warm enough outside, but the wind was fierce! We had to battle flying everything while attempting to complete the activities. I got home and my lips were completely wind burnt.

Next Week

• Continuing our read alouds

• Moving forward with our math textbooks

• Exploring more BookSeeds and the ocean (Q) for science

• Listening to Fleetwood Mac for music!

• Transitioning to a more summer routine of activities and schoolwork

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #5

Reading: Finally got and started reading Sweet Obsession by Katee Robert. Not sure if it is one of my favorites in this series, but I am enjoying it.

Watching: I’m into 2019 with my Stray Kids content. I’m finding all those silly little clips that get used in compilation videos. Now I know where they came from.

Listening: I moved beyond Stray Kids to dabble in some other Kpop groups. On the way, I dowloaded some BlackPink albums and found Jennie’s new album. Really digging it!

Making: I started making the name tags for the retreat. I always love digging into my paper stash and finding some cute designs.

Feeling: I have not slept well in weeks lately. I’m just tired.

Planning: I need to get started on planning my Enrichment lessons for May. I have no idea what th do for a lesson, but I imagine I need to just google some things for a few minutes to find some great ideas.

Loving: Enjoying Stray Kids has really kept me afloat lately. They are a lifesaver.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

• Weather issues caused co-op to relocate indoors this week. Not the best start to our semester.

• I have completely fallen down the Stray Kids web series hole. So many shows that I had to search through the Wiki to get the complete list and the airing dates. Currently in 2018 working through some of these shows. (Now I know where a ton of famous clips come from.)

• The colony of bees that live in my head that get angry sometimes and cause me problems seems to have all died. I think I am in the middle of a colony collapse. Not a good place to be…

Next up on the TBR pile:

Homeschool W27: Spring Finally Arrived!

What We Studied

After a March filled with weird weather, this week finally cooperated and we took full advantage. Our schoolwork was shortened to spend multiple days outside with friends. It was well worth it to boost our general mental health. Apparently I took like no photos this week. All of our photos in this post were ones that Arthur took at Heron Haven.

Literature and Poetry

Arthur is primarily using Hearth and Story G5 for his language arts this year. Arthur took a break from novels to focus on some short stories. We also covered more grammar and extra language arts assignments.

• Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

Quentin is primarily using Blossom & Root G1 for his language arts this year. We will pull some elements from Build Your Library Level 2 and random books that we have around the house. We started a fun book of a young girl and an intelligent squirrel. So much comedy in this story. We love it.

• Poetry: The Tree That Time Built

• Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

Math

Arthur is using Singapore’s Math in Focus Course 1. Effectively this is Singapore’s 6th grade math text. We got back into our math textbook and started a chapter about the Area and Circumference of Circles.

• Math in Focus Course 1 Book A

Quentin is using Singapore’s Primary Mathematics Common Core edition 2B and 3A. We moved onto 3A starting slow to easy back into our lessons. Taking it slow but moving along.

• Singapore Primary 3A

• Primarily Logic

Social Studies

Arthur is using Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 this year. We covered a section about the potato famine in Ireland and then social reform movements. We also watched more PBS Eons vides. Getting closer to finishing the entire series.

• Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1

• DK History

• DK Timelines of Everything

• DK Timelines of Everyone

• DK A Child Through Time

Quentin is using History Quest Middle Times with Build Your Library Level 2 as his main history curriculum. We covered a chapter focused on New Ideas for Europe, exploring the Reformation and the Scientific Revolution. We have one more chapter left in the curriculum.

• History Quest Middle Times

• DK When on Earth?

• DK History

• DK Timelines of Everything

• DK Timelines of Everyone

• DK A Child Through Time

Science

Arthur finished his RSO Biology 1 course with the end of the academic co-op. We switched gears and focused on reading some more chapters from the Story of Science. We only have about six chapters left in the book. I also want to work through a few Blossom & Root Bookseeds this late spring.

• Story of Science Vol. 3 by Joy Hakim

Quentin is using RSO Earth & Environment and RSO Astronomy 1 as a base. Of course, we have a ton of extra science resources laying around the house. And I will be hosting some one-off science exploration days that align with the units. We covered climate and climate change.

• RSO Earth and Environment

• DK First Earth Encyclopedia

Academic Co-op

With the cancellation, our spring semester has ended.

Art and Music

Art will be very sporadic this year, but we do have some fun excursions planned. And I will incorporate art projects into a lot of other subjects and unit studies.

For music, we are using Music Lab: We Rock! as our spine. Each week we will be learning about a different rock musician and focus on a particular song. I have also created Spotify playlists so we can listen on the go. We listened to Parliament-Funkadelic and Hall & Oates this week. Arthur preferred the funk and Quentin preferred H&O, which was surprising. I love seeing how they have such different opinions about different bands.

• Music Lab: We Rock!

• DK Music and How it Works

• DK The Arts

Field Trip/Activities

On Friday, we got back into our nature walk routine with a visit to Heron Haven. Our last few attempts have been thwarted by weather issues. It was lovely to explore the wetland and spot signs of spring and some animals. We had a good group of multiple families join us allowing for some socializing time for the kids and the adults.

High

Thursday we had our enrichment kick-off playdate. We were supposed to be at Chalco, but the Papio RND had closed the playground for a field trip (hate when they do that and do not post anywhere in advance). We had to scramble to relocate and made it to Zorinsky. Not my favorite park, but most of the families joined us for some great playtime. It was also a chance for some of the new families to meet the old families. Love seeing our little community come together and form relationships.

Low

We had another playdate on Friday afternoon downtown. Nine families RSVPed and only three (including myself) actually showed up. Very disappointed in all these families who claim to want to community and just never show up to anything but make posts in the FB group about needing friends and activities. So come? Frustrating.

Next Week

• Finishing our read alouds

• Moving forward with our math textbooks

• Traveling to the United States and then War in Europe (A) and Elizabethan Times (Q) for history

• Exploring astrophysics (A) and soil (Q) for science

• Listening to Queen for music!

• Going to Lincoln to explore Morrill Hall and whatever else we decide to do while there

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #4

Reading: My brain is a bit broken and so I have turned to manga to help myself out. Currently, I’m reading multiple series, but my current obsession is Parasyte.

Watching: We started watching Alice in Borderland S1 and I am so in love with the series.

Listening: All Stray Kids all the time!

Making: I got back into making scones this week and now I just want all of the scones. So good! My lemon poppy seed mini scones are still my favorite to make and eat.

Feeling: My sleep has been trash lately and I am so incredibly tired.

Planning: We’re heading to Indiana at the end of April for Alex’s college graduation. I’m planning a stopover in Chicago before and another after to hit a few museums.

Loving: Stray Kids dropped their new Mixtape a few days ago and I am absolutely obsessed! “Escape” is my absolute favorite song, but all four new songs are good. “Truman” is really growing on me, but will not be surpassing “Escape” as my favorite. Definitely love my Bang Chan/Hyunjin pairing!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Homeschool W26: Weather Again!

What We Studied

We had a full week planned with multiple activities and the last week of Academic Co-op. Unfortunately, a blizzard hit us on Tuesday night cancelling our Wednesday Joslyn visit and Thursday co-op meeting. Oh well. At least we finished up a ton of schoolwork.

Literature and Poetry

Arthur is primarily using Hearth and Story G5 for his language arts this year. Arthur took a break from novels to focus on some short stories. We also covered more grammar and extra language arts assignments.

• Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

Quentin is primarily using Blossom & Root G1 for his language arts this year. We will pull some elements from Build Your Library Level 2 and random books that we have around the house. We started a fun book of a young girl and an intelligent squirrel. So much comedy in this story. We love it.

• Poetry: The Tree That Time Built

• Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

Math

Arthur is using Singapore’s Math in Focus Course 1. Effectively this is Singapore’s 6th grade math text. We got back into our math textbook and started a chapter about the Area and Circumference of Circles.

• Math in Focus Course 1 Book A

Quentin is using Singapore’s Primary Mathematics Common Core edition 2B and 3A. We moved onto 3A starting slow to easy back into our lessons. Taking it slow but moving along.

• Singapore Primary 3A

• Primarily Logic

Social Studies

Arthur is using Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 this year. We covered two more sections of history focusing on Victorian Britain and British Imperialism. We actually only have two more sections left in the curriculum. We also watched more PBS Eons vides. Getting closer to finishing the entire series.

• Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1

• DK History

• DK Timelines of Everything

• DK Timelines of Everyone

• DK A Child Through Time

• You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Victorian Servant, by Fiona MacDonald

• You Wouldn’t Want to Work in a Victorian Mill!, by John Malam

Quentin is using History Quest Middle Times with Build Your Library Level 2 as his main history curriculum. We covered two chapters exploring the Mughal Empire and the Ottoman Empire. We have two more chapters left in the curriculum.

• History Quest Middle Times

• DK When on Earth?

• DK History

• DK Timelines of Everything

• DK Timelines of Everyone

• DK A Child Through Time

• DK Explorers

• Taj Mahal by Cynthia Kennedy Hanzel

• Where is the Taj Mahal? by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler

Science

Arthur is using RSO Biology 1 this year has the main science text. Our academic coop will also be using RSO Biology 1 as a basis for the fall and spring semester courses, so we will be just supplementing at home. We will also be doing some of Blossom & Root’s Book Seeds and various other small units in between. We read some more chapters from the Story of Science.

• RSO Biology 1

• Story of Science Vol. 3 by Joy Hakim

Quentin is using RSO Earth & Environment and RSO Astronomy 1 as a base. Of course, we have a ton of extra science resources laying around the house. And I will be hosting some one-off science exploration days that align with the units. We covered extreme weather which was appropriate given the blizzard.

• RSO Earth and Environment

• DK First Earth Encyclopedia

• DK Eyewitness: Weather

• Wind by Grace Hansen

• What on Earth? Wind by Isabel Thomas

• Cloud or Fog? by Kelly Doudna

• Hail or Freezing Rain? by Josh Plattner

• Extreme Weather by Ann O. Squire

• A Child's Introduction to the Environment

• Hurricane or Waterspout? by Josh Plattner

• Tornado Alert by Franklyn M. Branley

• Tornado or Dust Devil? by Josh Plattner

• Tornadoes by Gail Gibbons

• Tidal Wave or Tsunami? by Kelly Doudna

• Winter Storm or Blizzard? by Kelly Doudna

• All About Heat Waves and Droughts by Steve Tomecek

Academic Co-op

With the cancellation, our spring semester has ended.

Art and Music

Art will be very sporadic this year, but we do have some fun excursions planned. And I will incorporate art projects into a lot of other subjects and unit studies.

For music, we are using Music Lab: We Rock! as our spine. Each week we will be learning about a different rock musician and focus on a particular song. I have also created Spotify playlists so we can listen on the go. We covered Madonna this week. The boys were not huge fans, but it was better than last week’s selections.

• Music Lab: We Rock!

• DK Music and How it Works

• DK The Arts

Field Trip/Activities

On Friday, we attended board game club at a local coffee shop. I had a nice time chatting with other homeschool moms.

High

Tuesday we renewed our Fontenelle Forest membership to meet up with friends to play at the new nature play area. And then we went on a nice walk on the boardwalk. It was lovely to get out in nature, especially as a blizzard came in that night. .

Low

Sad that we couldn’t finish out our Academic Co-op semester.

Next Week

• Finishing our read alouds

• Moving forward with our math textbooks

• Traveling to the Ireland (A) and Europe (Q) for history

• Exploring astrophysics (A) and climate (Q) for science

• Listening to Parliament-Funkadelic and Hatt & Oates

• Going to the park for a playdate and the nature preserve for a hike

Next up on the TBR pile:

Homeschool W25: Another Normal Week (We're on a Roll!)

What We Studied

Another week full of regular schoolwork, co-op, and a few activities. Very very normal.

Literature and Poetry

Arthur is primarily using Hearth and Story G5 for his language arts this year. Arthur finished the co-op book club selection. We cannot wait to discuss it in two weeks. We also covered more grammar and extra language arts assignments.

• Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

• The Elephant in the Room by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Quentin is primarily using Blossom & Root G1 for his language arts this year. We will pull some elements from Build Your Library Level 2 and random books that we have around the house. We finished our read aloud at the end of the week. Perfect timing.

• Poetry: The Tree That Time Built

• Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Math

Arthur is using Singapore’s Math in Focus Course 1. Effectively this is Singapore’s 6th grade math text. We ended up taking a short break from our textbook to explore more logic and algebraic expressions and do some review and catchup.

• Math in Focus Course 1 Book A

Quentin is using Singapore’s Primary Mathematics Common Core edition 2B and 3A. We moved onto 3A starting slow to easy back into our lessons. Taking it slow but moving along.

• Singapore Primary 3A

• Primarily Logic

Social Studies

Arthur is using Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 this year. We covered North America and the attempts at colonization.

• Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1

• DK History

• DK Timelines of Everything

• DK Timelines of Everyone

• DK A Child Through Time

Quentin is using History Quest Middle Times with Build Your Library Level 2 as his main history curriculum. We covered a chapter about Russia and the Ivans.

• History Quest Middle Times

• DK When on Earth?

• DK History

• DK Timelines of Everything

• DK Timelines of Everyone

• DK A Child Through Time

• DK Explorers

• The Mongol Empire from Britannica Educational Publishing

• Follow Me Around: Russia by Wiley Blevins

• Let's Explore Russia by Walt K. Moon

• Living In Russia by Jesse Burton

• Russia ABCs by Ann Berge

• Matreshka by Becky Hickox Ayres

• The Flying Witch by Jane Yolen

• The Black Geese by Alison Lurie

• Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave by Marianna Mayer

• Grandma Chickenlegs by Geraldine McCaughrean

• Baba Yaga and the Wise Doll by Hiawyn Oram

• Baba Yaga by An Leysen

Science

Arthur is using RSO Biology 1 this year has the main science text. Our academic coop will also be using RSO Biology 1 as a basis for the fall and spring semester courses, so we will be just supplementing at home. We will also be doing some of Blossom & Root’s Book Seeds and various other small units in between. Other than co-op, we watched a ton of PBS Eons videos this week.

• RSO Biology 1

• Story of Science Vol. 3 by Joy Hakim

Quentin is using RSO Earth & Environment and RSO Astronomy 1 as a base. Of course, we have a ton of extra science resources laying around the house. And I will be hosting some one-off science exploration days that align with the units. We started a small unit about weather But we also just watched a ton of PBS Eons videos.

• RSO Earth and Environment

• DK First Earth Encyclopedia

• Nat Geo Kids: Weather

• The Child's Introduction to the Environment

• What Will the Weather Be? by Lynda Dewitt

• Weather Words and What They Mean by Gail Gibbons

• DK Eyewonder: Weather

• Boy, Were We Wrong About the Weather by Kathleen V. Kudlinski

Academic Co-op

We’re entering the home stretch of this semester of co-op. For biology, the kids learned about reptiles and birds. In art, they covered blind contour drawing. And for writer’s workshop, we conferenced the fictional narratives. Only one week to go!

Art and Music

Art will be very sporadic this year, but we do have some fun excursions planned. And I will incorporate art projects into a lot of other subjects and unit studies.

For music, we are using Music Lab: We Rock! as our spine. Each week we will be learning about a different rock musician and focus on a particular song. I have also created Spotify playlists so we can listen on the go. We covered Donna Summer and The Bee Gees, so I guess it was disco week. The boys liked The Bee Gees more than Donna Summer, but neither were favorites.

• Music Lab: We Rock!

• DK Music and How it Works

• DK The Arts

Field Trip/Activities

No specific field trip this week, but we did finally get back to the zoo. We visited the desert, jungle, and aquarium with some friends. It was lovely to get back to our favorites.

High

The boys got to attend the winter homeschool dance on Thursday night and then sketchbook club on Friday afternoon. So two big activities with friends.

Low

I’m getting some attitude and laziness from both of the boys. I’m annoyed…

Next Week

• Starting our new read alouds

• Moving forward with our math textbooks

• Traveling to the Victorian Britain (A) and the Mughal Empire (Q) for history

• Exploring weather and climate for science

• Listening to Madonna

• Moving into the last week of Academic Co-op

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #3

Reading: I’m almost finished reading Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld. It’s our book club selection this month and I have some mixed feelings. Waiting until I finish the book before making my official determination.

Watching: J and finally started watching Alice in Borderland as I finished the manga series last month. I am enjoying the changes while retaining the basic ideas from the manga.

Listening: Stray Kids all the time, every day. That’s all.

Making: J and I have officially started our podcast about War and Peace. I’m excited to get into the book more and establish a routine.

Feeling: Since Christmas, I’ve been feeling weirdly disconnected. My depression has been harder to keep at bay.

Planning: The Enrichment Co-op is starting at the beginning of April. I need to start planning my lessons, but I guess I need to reconfirm the weeks that I am actually teaching.

Loving: I finally got my birthday cake this past weekend and of course it was German chocolate. Love it so much!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Homeschool W24: Back to Normal?

What We Studied

We had a pretty normal week. Lots of schoolwork, a few activities, but also weather that interrupted some plans. We had a big blizzard blow through on Tuesday night that cancelled our Wednesday plans. We pivoted by covering more schoolwork and watching some more documentaries. Not a big deal.

Literature and Poetry

Arthur is primarily using Hearth and Story G5 for his language arts this year. Arthur dove into our next coop book club selection. We’re both really loving it! It’s a gentle story, but with a lot to say. We also covered more grammar and extra language arts assignments.

• Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

• Science Verse by Jon Scieszka

• The Elephant in the Room by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Quentin is primarily using Blossom & Root G1 for his language arts this year. We will pull some elements from Build Your Library Level 2 and random books that we have around the house. We started our next read aloud that aligns with our Blossom and Root curriculum. We’re both really loved it!

• Poetry: Out of This World: ICE Poems About Polar Life by Douglas Florian

• Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Math

Arthur is using Singapore’s Math in Focus Course 1. Effectively this is Singapore’s 6th grade math text. We ended up taking a short break from our textbook to explore more logic and algebraic expressions.

• Math in Focus Course 1 Book A

Quentin is using Singapore’s Primary Mathematics Common Core edition 2B and 3A. We moved onto 3A starting slow to easy back into our lessons. Taking it slow but moving along.

• Singapore Primary 3A

• Primarily Logic

Social Studies

Arthur is using Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 this year. Because of our changes in scheduled, we ended up covering three sections of history this week. We learned about the Latin American Revolutions in South America, the revolutions in Brazil and Mexico, and the African Zulu Empire and Central African caliphates

• Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1

• DK History

• DK Timelines of Everything

• DK Timelines of Everyone

• DK A Child Through Time

• Simon Bolivar: Latin American Liberator by Frank de Varona

• A Kid’s Guide to Latino History: More than 50 Activities, by Valerie Petrillo

• Latinitas: Celebrating 40 Big Dreamers, by Juliet Menendez

• Where Is the Amazon?, by Sarah Fabiny

• DK Eyewitness: The Amazon

• Fiesta Femenina: Celebrating Women of Mexican Folklore, by Mary-Joan Gerson

• Tales Our Abuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection, by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy

• Brazil: Enchantment of the World, by Ann Heinrichs

• Mexico: Enchantment of the World, by Liz Sonneborn

• A Kid's Guide to Latino History by Valerie Petrillo

• Shaka Zulu by Richard Spilsbury

Quentin is using History Quest Middle Times with Build Your Library Level 2 as his main history curriculum. We covered two chapters, one about the Inca Empire and one about the Renaissance..

• History Quest Middle Times

• DK When on Earth?

• DK History

• DK Timelines of Everything

• DK Timelines of Everyone

• DK A Child Through Time

• DK Explorers

• Ancient Civilizations: Aztecs, Maya, Incas! by Anita Yasuda

• The Inca Empire by Sandra Newman

• 20 Fun Facts About Machu Picchu by Janey Levy

• Inca by Lawrence Kovacs

• Lost Treasure of the Inca by Peter Lourie

• A Look at Renaissance Art by J. Jean Robertson

• Raphael by Mike Venezia

• Leonardo, Beautiful Dreamer by Robert Byrd

• Leonardo da Vinci by Mike Venezia

• The Renaissance by Enzo George

Science

Arthur is using RSO Biology 1 this year has the main science text. Our academic coop will also be using RSO Biology 1 as a basis for the fall and spring semester courses, so we will be just supplementing at home. We will also be doing some of Blossom & Root’s Book Seeds and various other small units in between. Other than co-op, we watched a ton of PBS Eons videos this week.

• RSO Biology 1

• Story of Science Vol. 3 by Joy Hakim

Quentin is using RSO Earth & Environment and RSO Astronomy 1 as a base. Of course, we have a ton of extra science resources laying around the house. And I will be hosting some one-off science exploration days that align with the units. We jumped back into RSO Earth & Environment to cover the atmosphere. But we also just watched a ton of PBS Eons videos.

• RSO Earth and Environment

• DK First Earth Encyclopedia

Academic Co-op

We’re entering the home stretch of this semester of co-op. For biology, the kids learned about fish and amphibians. For art, they focused on abstract and absurdist art. And for writing, we started our unit on Fictional Narrative. Only two weeks to go!

Art and Music

Art will be very sporadic this year, but we do have some fun excursions planned. And I will incorporate art projects into a lot of other subjects and unit studies.

For music, we are using Music Lab: We Rock! as our spine. Each week we will be learning about a different rock musician and focus on a particular song. I have also created Spotify playlists so we can listen on the go.

• Music Lab: We Rock!

• DK Music and How it Works

• DK The Arts

Field Trip/Activities

No specific field trip this week.

High

We got a lot of curriculum covered…

Low

The weather brought a fun winter storm and some terrible road conditions that disrupted our week. We had to skip our nature walk due to sleet and soggy ground. And our social meetup was cancelled due to the blizzard.

Next Week

• Finishing our read alouds, probably starting our next ones

• Moving forward with our math textbooks

• Traveling to the United States and Russia (A) and Russia (Q) for history

• Exploring weather for science

• Visiting the zoo

• Attending a nature class

• Moving into the last two weeks of Academic Co-op

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

• I’m currently reading six books right now. It might be a bit much.

• A blizzard came through on Tuesday night, disrupting my plans for yesterday. No birthday dinner out for me. Instead, we have pushed it to this weekend at some point.

• Trying to take advantage of all the birthday offers from various places. We’ll see what I can work into my plans for Sunday.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Homeschool W22-23: Lots of activities, a Flex week, and a trip!

What We Studied

We had a week of a ton of activities. Seriously, we only did book work school one day between a birthday party, a parent meeting, co-op, and the Valentine’s Day party. And then the next week was technically a flex week, but we pushed in some school. So that we could leave on Friday to go on a mini trip to Kansas City and Great Wolf Lodge with friends. We’re back this week on Tuesday, but will be taking a bit of a break from school to regroup. Plus we have co-op as usual on Thursday, so we won’t be just sitting around.

Literature and Poetry

Arthur is primarily using Hearth and Story G5 for his language arts this year. Arthur started and finished the next Co-op Book Club selection. It was written in verse, so something a little different for him. We also covered more grammar and extra language arts assignments.

• Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

• Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Quentin is primarily using Blossom & Root G1 for his language arts this year. We will pull some elements from Build Your Library Level 2 and random books that we have around the house. We dove into a modern classic. Q even tried to read it himself, but said that the words were too hard. It is above his independent reading level right now, but we’ll get there.

• Poetry: Out of This World: Star-Studded Haiu by Sally M. Walker

• The Tale of Despeareaux by Kate DiCamillo

Math

Arthur is using Singapore’s Math in Focus Course 1. Effectively this is Singapore’s 6th grade math text. We took a short break so Arthur could catch up on some independent work, and then dove back into area of polygons and triangles.

• Math in Focus Course 1 Book A

Quentin is using Singapore’s Primary Mathematics Common Core edition 2B and 3A. We moved onto 3A starting slow to easy back into our lessons. Taking it slow but moving along.

• Singapore Primary 3A

• Primarily Logic

Social Studies

Arthur is using Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 this year. Arthur covered the Industrial Revolution and the Rise of Romanticism. From there, we learned about Napoleon. We are blazing through this history curriculum this year.

• Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1

• DK History

• DK Timelines of Everything

• DK Timelines of Everyone

• DK A Child Through Time

• Crossing on Time: Steam Engines, Fast Ships, and a Journey to the New World by David Macaulay

• Cars, Trains, Ships, and Planes: A Visual Encyclopedia of Every Vehicle, by DK and the Smithsonian Institution

• Train: The Definitive Visual History by DK and the Smithsonian Institution

• Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein by Linda Bailey

• She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lynn Fulton

• DK Eyewitness Books: Judaism by DK

• Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Composers: Ludwig van Beethoven, by Mike Venezia

• Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Composers: Frederic Chopin, by Mike Venezia

• Gris Grimly’s Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley and Gris Grimly

• Beethoven’s Heroic Symphony, by Anna Harwell Celenza

• Blades of Freedom: A Tale of Haiti, Napoleon, and the Louisiana Purchase (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales 10), by Nathan Hale

• Napoleon vs. the Bunnies, by J. F. Fox

• Battles that Changed History, by DK and Smithsonian Institution

• The Game of Hope, by Sandra Gulland

• Who Was Napoleon?, by Jim Gigliotti

Quentin is using History Quest Middle Times with Build Your Library Level 2 as his main history curriculum. We covered the chapter about the Aztec Empire.

• History Quest Middle Times

• DK When on Earth?

• DK History

• DK Timelines of Everything

• DK Timelines of Everyone

• DK A Child Through Time

• DK Explorers

• The Aztec Empire by Sunita Apte

• The Aztec Empire by Ellis Roxburgh

• The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes by Duncan Tonatiuh

• Ancient Aztec: Archaeology Unlocks the Secrets of Mexico's Past by Time Cooke

• Ancient Civilizations: Aztec, Maya, Incas! by Anita Yasuda

Science

Arthur is using RSO Biology 1 this year has the main science text. Our academic coop will also be using RSO Biology 1 as a basis for the fall and spring semester courses, so we will be just supplementing at home. We will also be doing some of Blossom & Root’s Book Seeds and various other small units in between. We did read some chapters from our Story of Science to keep up. Added science bonus, we watched more PBS Eons videos.

• RSO Biology 1

• Story of Science Vol. 3 by Joy Hakim

Quentin is using RSO Earth & Environment and RSO Astronomy 1 as a base. Of course, we have a ton of extra science resources laying around the house. And I will be hosting some one-off science exploration days that align with the units. Lots of science this week! We covered Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and beyond. We finished the documentary series The Planets. But we also just watched a ton of PBS Eons videos.

• RSO Earth and Environment

• DK First Earth Encyclopedia

• RSO Asttonomy 1

• DK Eyewitness Astronomy

• DK Space

• DK First Space Encyclopedia

• DK Eyewitness The Planets

• 13 Planets: The Latest View of the Solar System by David A. Aguilar

• Professor Astro Cat's Frontiers of Space by Dominic Walliman and Ben Newman

• Goodnight, Astronaut by Scott Kelly

• Starry Messenger by Peter Sis

Academic Co-op

Back at it with weeks 4 and 5. In biology, they covered climate change and started the unit on evolution. Art focused on perspective. And in Writer’s Workshop, we started our opinion writing project.

Art and Music

Art will be very sporadic this year, but we do have some fun excursions planned. And I will incorporate art projects into a lot of other subjects and unit studies.

For music, we are using Music Lab: We Rock! as our spine. Each week we will be learning about a different rock musician and focus on a particular song. I have also created Spotify playlists so we can listen on the go. We listened to Earth, Wind, and Fire and Chic. Not our favorites, but a good exploration.

• Music Lab: We Rock!

• DK Music and How it Works

• DK The Arts

Field Trip/Activities

So many incredible activiites over the last few weeks. So many activities…

High

It finally snowed properly! The boys got to play outside multiple days. It was even powdery snow, perfect for sledding down to the neighbors yards. Their record was sledding four houses down.

Low

We had our co-op Valentine’s Day party at a bowling alley. A great idea, and the planners did awesome. Unfortunately, there was some logistical miscommunication and my group of boys that wanted to bowl together lost their lane and we had to split them up on other lanes. Q was especially upset that he couldn’t bowl with the kids he had originally wanted to bowl with. The planners and I chatted about how to avoid that issue next time we do a bowling party.

Next Week

• Starting new read alouds

• Moving forward with our math textbooks

• Traveling to Latin America (A) and the medieval Incan Empire (Q) for history

• Exploring the atmosphere for science

• Moving into the last three weeks of Academic Co-op

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

• We caught another cold. The boys got over it fairly quickly; I have not. I’m still feeling pretty terrible, Just in time for our trip tomorrow. Really sucks.

• Between sickness and general crap, my depression really kicked in these past few weeks. I’ve slowly been sinking, frantically trying to keep myself afloat. My usual tricks hav not been working at all. Because of that… my broken brain has gone into obsession-mode.

• My current obsession — Stray Kids. They have been on repeat in my ears this week. Between the music and watching their videos and stupid TikTok videos, I’m staying somewhat afloat. But not really. It’s bad.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #2

Reading: Finishing reading The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang for Dirty Book Month for book club. I actually have liked it a lot more that I was expecting.

Watching: J got me addicted to Pantheon. I’ve been watching some episodes during lunch, but wasn’t going fast enough. We’re watching the rest of S2 at night to finish before my trip.

Listening: My mom got me addicted to Stray Kids. I am obsessed now…

Making: I made a version of Kimchi Jjigae (just Kimchi stew with tuna and tofu) and we loved it. I think this needs to go into regular rotation.

Feeling: After being sick last week, I haven’t really slept well lately. Consequently I am tired. The cloudy weather is not helping me.

Planning: I’m finalizing the travel plans for the end of the month. I have just a few things to finish before we leave.

Loving: As a result of my Stray Kids obsession, I’ve been listening to more dancing music while making dinner. Makes the tasks a little less annoying.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Homeschool W21: More Sickness

What We Studied

Another week of winter 2025, another sickness impacting our scheduled activities. I really hope that we can get back to some activities this next week. As a less of an impact, co-op was cancelled due to multiple families being sick.

Literature and Poetry

Arthur is primarily using Hearth and Story G5 for his language arts this year. We finished our read aloud and doc into a short unit involving the stories of Hans Christian Andersen. We also covered more grammar and extra language arts assignments.

• Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

• The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

• Hans Christian Andersen storie collection

Quentin is primarily using Blossom & Root G1 for his language arts this year. We will pull some elements from Build Your Library Level 2 and random books that we have around the house. We finished The Hobbit. Q is definitely liking it more than our last one. For Friday movie night, we watched the 1977 animated version of the book.

• Poetry: Out of This World: Poems and Facts About Space by Amy E. Sklansky

• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

• The Tale of Despeareaux by Kate DiCamillo

Math

Arthur is using Singapore’s Math in Focus Course 1. Effectively this is Singapore’s 6th grade math text. Arthur continued the second book of the course, exploring more about coordinate planes. We finished the chapter and took a short break so Arthur could catch up on some independent work.

• Math in Focus Course 1 Book A

Quentin is using Singapore’s Primary Mathematics Common Core edition 2B and 3A. We moved onto 3A starting slow to easy back into our lessons. Taking it slow but moving along.

• Singapore Primary 3A

• Primarily Logic

Social Studies

Arthur is using Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 this year. Arthur covered the slave revolts in Haiti and other colonies. We then fit in a chapter about the United States expanding.

• Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1

• DK History

• DK Timelines of Everything

• DK Timelines of Everyone

• DK A Child Through Time

• Blades of Freedom: A Tale of Haiti, Napoleon, and the Louisiana Purchase (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales 10) by Nathan Hale

• Toussaint L’ouvertrue: The Fight for Haiti’s Freedom by Walter Dean Myers

• Haiti: Enchantment of the World by Liz Sonneborn

• Freedom Soup by Tami Charles

• Olaudah Equiano: A Voice for Africa; Nigeria Heritage Series by John Adoga

• No More!: Stories and Songs of Slave Resistance by Doreen Rappaport

• The Kidnapped Prince: The Life of Olaudah Equiano by Olaudah Equiano and Ann Cameron

• A New Nation: The United States: 1783–1815, by Betsy Maestro

• Blades of Freedom: A Tale of Haiti, Napoleon, and the Louisiana Purchase (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales 10), by Nathan Hale

• Brick by Brick, by Charles R. Smith Jr.

• Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library, by Barb Rosenstock

• Worst of Friends: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and the True Story of an American Feud, by Suzanne Tripp Jurmain

• Where Is the White House?, by Megan Stine

• Who Was Alexander Hamilton?, by Pam Pollack

• Buffalo Bird Girl: A Hidatsa Story, by S. D. Nelson

• Gift Horse: A Lakota Story, by S.D. Nelson

• Sacagawea: Journey into the West, by Jessica Gunderson

• Star People: A Lakota Story, by S.D. Nelson

• The Lewis and Clark Expedition, by Jessica Gunderson

• Thomas Jefferson and the Mammoth Hunt: The True Story of the Quest for America’s Biggest Bones, by Carrie Clickard

• 50 Fearless Women Who Made American History: An American History Book for Kids, by Jenifer Bazzit

• Lewis and Clark for Kids: Their Journey of Discovery with 21 Activities, by Janis Herbert

• You Wouldn’t Want to Explore with Lewis and Clark!, by Jacqueline Morley

• Sacajawea, by Joseph Bruchac

• What Was the Lewis and Clark Expedition?, by Judith St. George

• Who Was Sacagawea?, by Judith Bloom Fradin

Quentin is using History Quest Middle Times with Build Your Library Level 2 as his main history curriculum. We covered the chapter about the Age of Exploration.

• History Quest Middle Times

• DK When on Earth?

• DK History

• DK Timelines of Everything

• DK Timelines of Everyone

• DK A Child Through Time

• DK Explorers

Science

Arthur is using RSO Biology 1 this year has the main science text. Our academic coop will also be using RSO Biology 1 as a basis for the fall and spring semester courses, so we will be just supplementing at home. We will also be doing some of Blossom & Root’s Book Seeds and various other small units in between. We did read some chapters from our Story of Science to keep up. Added science bonus, we watched more PBS Eons videos.

• RSO Biology 1

• Story of Science Vol. 3 by Joy Hakim

Quentin is using RSO Earth & Environment and RSO Astronomy 1 as a base. Of course, we have a ton of extra science resources laying around the house. And I will be hosting some one-off science exploration days that align with the units. Lots of science this week! We covered Mercury, Venus, Mars, and the Asteroid Belt. And we started watching the NOVA/BBC series The Planets.

• RSO Earth and Environment

• DK First Earth Encyclopedia

• RSO Asttonomy 1

• DK Eyewitness Astronomy

• DK Space

• DK First Space Encyclopedia

• DK Eyewitness The Planets

• 13 Planets: The Latest View of the Solar System by David A. Aguilar

• Professor Astro Cat's Frontiers of Space by Dominic Walliman and Ben Newman

• Mars: Earthlings Welcome by Stacy McAnulty

• Mousetronaut by Mark Kelly

• Mousetronaut Goes to Mars by Mary Kelly

• Comets by Kristen Rajczak

• Shooting Stars by Kristen Rajczak

• Caroline's Comets by Emily Arnold McCully

• Comet Chaser: The True Cinderella Story of Caroline Herschel, The First Professional Woman Astronomer by Pamela S. Turner

Academic Co-op

Multiple families were sick, so we canceled this week’s meeting. I’m so glad that the remaining families are understanding and flexible while still communicating with each other.

Art and Music

Art will be very sporadic this year, but we do have some fun excursions planned. And I will incorporate art projects into a lot of other subjects and unit studies.

For music, we are using Music Lab: We Rock! as our spine. Each week we will be learning about a different rock musician and focus on a particular song. I have also created Spotify playlists so we can listen on the go. The chapter covered the music of Michael Jackson. We listened to some early songs and then dove into the best of the music videos.

• Music Lab: We Rock!

• DK Music and How it Works

• DK The Arts

Field Trip/Activities

Nothing…

High

It wasn’t the week that I wanted to have, but we managed to finish a ton of school work and get ahead on our lessons. This should mean that the week after our Kansas City trip, we can take a break. The boys are looking forward to that.

Low

Sickness. I really hate having to cancel activities.

Next Week

• Continuing our read alouds

• Moving forward with math lessons

• Traveling to Europe from the Industrial Revolution (A) for history

• Exploring Saturn and Jupiter for Q’s science

• Listening to Earth, Wind, and Fire and Chic

• Hopefully getting back to our activities including a friend’s birthday party

• Starting Opinion Writing for Writer’s Workshop at co-op

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

• The kids are sick again. 2025 is really not off to a great start. I really wish that we could move past this.

• On the bright side, we’ve got a ton of school work done while not going anywhere.

• And J and I have watched a ton of great television.

• I think we are going to start a podcast about our reading of War and Peace. Hopefully I can fit some prep work in this weekend.

• Thinking about what I should read next. I have no idea… So many options, but I think I want to lean into whatever mood I am in after finishing my current read.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Homeschool W20: School, Dentist, Car, Co-op, and Play!

What We Studied

I think we are officially back on track for the spring semester. We managed to balance school work, some errands, and a bit of play this week without too much stress. I’m very excited to see how far we got in our curriculum. It will make it easier when we take some days off bookwork to go on our trip at the end of February.

Apparently I was absolutely terrible at taking picture this week. Here’s to doing a better job this week!

Literature and Poetry

Arthur is primarily using Hearth and Story G5 for his language arts this year. We continued a new read aloud and it’s been much better than the last one. As an added bonus it appears in Hearth and Story G5 and as a Build Your Library Lit Bite. And it’s our co-op book selection for this month. We’ve got just a few more chapters to cover this coming week to finish off the book. We also covered more grammar and extra language arts assignments.

• Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

• The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

Quentin is primarily using Blossom & Root G1 for his language arts this year. We will pull some elements from Build Your Library Level 2 and random books that we have around the house. We got deeper into The Hobbit and are really enjoying it. Q is definitely liking it more than our last one.

• Poetry: Out of This World: Poems and Facts About Space by Amy E. Sklansky

• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Math

Arthur is using Singapore’s Math in Focus Course 1. Effectively this is Singapore’s 6th grade math text. Arthur continued the second book of the course, exploring more about coordinate planes. This chapter has been a lot easier for him to conceptualize than the last one.

• Math in Focus Course 1 Book A

Quentin is using Singapore’s Primary Mathematics Common Core edition 2B and 3A. We moved onto 3A starting slow to easy back into our lessons. Taking it slow but moving along.

• Singapore Primary 3A

• Primarily Logic

Social Studies

Arthur is using Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 this year. Arthur covered the French Revolution and Culture Corners on Mozart and Jacques-Louis David. I must say that those French names really throw us off, but we got through it with a little help from some videos.

• Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1

• DK History

• DK Timelines of Everything

• DK Timelines of Everyone

• DK A Child Through Time

• Who Was Marie Antoinette? by Dana Meachen Rau

• Joseph Bologne Le Chevalier de Saint-George: The First Black Classical Composer by Amelie-Mai Wright

• The Magic Flute: An Opera by Mozart by Kyra Teis

• Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Composers: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart by Mike Venezia

• Who Was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart? by Yona Zeldis McDonough

• You Wouldn’t Want to Be an Aristocrat in the French Revolution!: A Horrible Time in Paris You’d Rather Avoid by Jim Pipe

Quentin is using History Quest Middle Times with Build Your Library Level 2 as his main history curriculum. This week we explored Yuan and Ming Dynasties China. He really got into the sections about the Great Wall and the Grand Canal. Plus we watched a NOVA Episode about the construction of the Forbidden City.

• History Quest Middle Times

• DK When on Earth?

• DK History

• DK Timelines of Everything

• DK Timelines of Everyone

• DK A Child Through Time

• DK Explorers

• Kublai Khan, The Emperor of Everything by Kathleen Krull

• No Year of the Cat by Mary Dodson Wade

Science

Arthur is using RSO Biology 1 this year has the main science text. Our academic coop will also be using RSO Biology 1 as a basis for the fall and spring semester courses, so we will be just supplementing at home. We will also be doing some of Blossom & Root’s Book Seeds and various other small units in between. We did read some chapters from our Story of Science to keep up.

• RSO Biology 1

• Story of Science Vol. 3 by Joy Hakim

• Amazing Evolution: The Journey of Life by Anna Claybourne

Quentin is using RSO Earth & Environment and RSO Astronomy 1 as a base. Of course, we have a ton of extra science resources laying around the house. And I will be hosting some one-off science exploration days that align with the units. We moved on to lessons about the Earth and our Moon. For documentary time, we started a series on NOVA with BBC Earth titled Universe Revealed. We watched the episodes about the Age of Stars and the Milky Way. We are also still watching the PBS Eons videos here and there.

• RSO Earth and Environment

• DK First Earth Encyclopedia

• RSO Asttonomy 1

• DK Eyewitness Astronomy

• DK Space

• DK First Space Encyclopedia

• DK Eyewitness The Planets

• 13 Planets: The Latest View of the Solar System by David A. Aguilar

• The Planets by Gail Gibbons

• Earth: My First 4.54 Billion Years by Stacy McAnulty

• Our Planet! There's No Place Like Earth by Stacy McAnulty

• Professor Astro Cat's Frontiers of Space by Dominic Walliman and Ben Newman

• Storybots: The Moon's Time to Shine by Scott Emmons

• Moon! Earth's Best Friend by Stacy McAnulty

• The Moon by Gail Gibbons

• Moon's First Friends: One Giant Leap for Friendship by Susanna Leonard Hill

Academic Co-op

Another week of co-op with more changes to our line-up. I really hope that we are done with all this and can focus on the lessons. Quentin decided that he was going to pay attention during lessons and so we participated in homeroom and art and listened during biology. Um. I guess so… But it did mean that the stuff I had planned for him to do during co-op did not get done. Not terrible but definitely a chance in plans. Arthur learned about value in art, biomes in biology, and writing with voice in writer’s workshop. Overall we had a good day. And afterward, I got to solidify our travel plans with the two families joining us for the Kansas City trip.

Art and Music

Art will be very sporadic this year, but we do have some fun excursions planned. And I will incorporate art projects into a lot of other subjects and unit studies.

For music, we are using Music Lab: We Rock! as our spine. Each week we will be learning about a different rock musician and focus on a particular song. I have also created Spotify playlists so we can listen on the go. We covered our last artist in the punk chapter: Talking Heads. I love Talking Heads and the boys seemed to also enjoy them. We watched their famous concert Stop Making Sense. I’m excited that we are in the timeline when we get to watch music videos for some of these songs.

• Music Lab: We Rock!

• DK Music and How it Works

• DK The Arts

Field Trip/Activities

Not a field trip, but we did have an open playdate at Backyard Playworld on Friday afternoon. The boys ran, jumped, and climbed for three hours. I call that a win! Plus they got to hang out with some friends.

High

Not necessarily homeschool related but we did get an estimate to fix the van (late February appointment) and the boys had their dental cleaning. I have literally been in the dentist office every week for an entire month (and I have to go in on Tuesday for my crown). Thankfully the boys had no problems. They even seem to enjoy going to the dentist (weirdos).

Low

Changes in co-op made us recalibrate once again. I am very annoyed with people who try to gaslight me. Some people apparently really want to burn bridges this January.

Next Week

• Finishing our current reads; maybe pivoting to a fun non-study read aloud

• Moving forward with math lessons

• Traveling to Haiti and then the US (A) and all over the oceans (Q) for history

• Exploring the rocky planets for Q’s science

• Listening to Michael Jackson

• Going to the zoo for animal watching, the Luminarium for science play, OPPD Arboretum for a hike, and a friend’s house for a playdate - a busy week ahead!

• Starting Opinion Writing for Writer’s Workshop at co-op

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #1

Reading: Currently in the middle of a Book of the Month, Unread Shelf book The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas. It’s the spooky ghost story that I was really needing this week.

Watching: J and I started watching Rivals S1 and I’m absolutely obsessed with the campy 80s drama. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

Listening: I put on a big music mix, but mostly it’s been podcasts. And in particular, it’s been You’re Wrong About. I am official in summer 2020 in their back catalog.

Making: Today it’s supposed to hit 57 degrees, but it’s been super cold for the last week or so. I’ve focused on making warm meals, dare I say comfort food.

Feeling: After a crap January, I am feeling so much better this week.

Planning: Enrichment Co-op starts in April and I have to hold all the informational parent meetings before then. They litter my calendar for February and March. Now to finish up my documentation.

Loving: My preferred breakfast this week has all been banana bread. I always forget how much I love it!

Next up on the TBR pile: