2-23-06
Another Thursday full of Patience
I had therapy this morning or I would have slept in like the rest of my family. Oh, how I'm so very tired now that I'm finally feeling better. The medicines I'm on are doing a number on my mind and sleeping habits. The cough syrup makes everything seem like a screen saver.
After all the kids were ready for the day we did three experiments. We are learning the difference between natural and chemical weathering. We put some pea seeds in wet plaster of paris to see what natural weather can do. We then put steel wool in a glass of vinegar and limestone in another glass of vinegar. Of course we won't see the results until tomorrow if not later. What we are supposed to see are that the plaster of paris will be broken but still be plaster of paris whereas the steel wool will have changed chemical composition. The limestone rock will also have had a chemical change. Here is hoping they work.
Before it started raining too hard we went out to look for signs of water erosion. But before we took our walk around the neighborhood we made our own dirt box and watch erosion first hand. We took some dirt and put it in a shoe box and then tilted it and let water run down it. We watched a gully form as the water ran out of the box. We also observed that some of the dirt and rock was taken with the water run off. We then put a piece of sod on the dirt and redid the experiment. We noticed that it was harder for the dirt to be carried away.
We have had one of the wettest winters on record and on our walk (we only walked to the corner and back) we noticed all sorts of erosions and erosions management. It started raining harder and since I was the idiot who forgot her coat, we headed back for home to write in our lab books what we had done and seen.
The kids had math and a their daily stuff to get done.
As much as the write up looks like it was a great day, it was actually a pretty miserable day. The kids and I fought over assignments again. I don't know what I'm going to do, but I must start at the top and work down. Kray is the leader and the others follow his suit. We are arguing about music lessons, writing, spelling and reading. Jason is even more hard nosed than Kray. This from kids who BEGGED us to buy their instruments, get them lessons and promised to practice. I've got a lot of praying and thinking to do on this.
Kray wants to make jewelry and sell it. He spent the afternoon going through websites finding out how much it would take him to get set up. He came up with a shopping list. He wants me to take him to the craft store. Maybe tomorrow if he gets his work done.
Chris is advancing very well with his reading! I can't believe how quickly he is getting a handle on the sounds and his ability to put it all together. Jessie is jealous that she isn't as far as Chris, but she is learning to recognize all the letters and even some of the sounds.
Matt is bored with his math and I don't blame him. I think I'm going to take his book away and put him in 4th grade math. I know that is a bit much, but he can do it if we go slowly. Saxon takes the first 40-60 lessons to review basic math skills so I think if we start at the front we can do 3rd grade math while doing the first 40 or so lessons. I'm sure he will be happy about that.
Mike can't get his head out of a book, which I guess is good.
During all this mess I had a therapy session which was probably a good thing as it let me cool off.
Tonight I went to a mom's night out in Monroe. I was so glad I did. It never ceases to amaze me how much I need the little pick me up. Even after 14 years of homeschooling I still need to chat and get support. I guess now more than ever I need it because these teens are pushing the limits.
I had therapy this morning or I would have slept in like the rest of my family. Oh, how I'm so very tired now that I'm finally feeling better. The medicines I'm on are doing a number on my mind and sleeping habits. The cough syrup makes everything seem like a screen saver.
After all the kids were ready for the day we did three experiments. We are learning the difference between natural and chemical weathering. We put some pea seeds in wet plaster of paris to see what natural weather can do. We then put steel wool in a glass of vinegar and limestone in another glass of vinegar. Of course we won't see the results until tomorrow if not later. What we are supposed to see are that the plaster of paris will be broken but still be plaster of paris whereas the steel wool will have changed chemical composition. The limestone rock will also have had a chemical change. Here is hoping they work.
Before it started raining too hard we went out to look for signs of water erosion. But before we took our walk around the neighborhood we made our own dirt box and watch erosion first hand. We took some dirt and put it in a shoe box and then tilted it and let water run down it. We watched a gully form as the water ran out of the box. We also observed that some of the dirt and rock was taken with the water run off. We then put a piece of sod on the dirt and redid the experiment. We noticed that it was harder for the dirt to be carried away.
We have had one of the wettest winters on record and on our walk (we only walked to the corner and back) we noticed all sorts of erosions and erosions management. It started raining harder and since I was the idiot who forgot her coat, we headed back for home to write in our lab books what we had done and seen.
The kids had math and a their daily stuff to get done.
As much as the write up looks like it was a great day, it was actually a pretty miserable day. The kids and I fought over assignments again. I don't know what I'm going to do, but I must start at the top and work down. Kray is the leader and the others follow his suit. We are arguing about music lessons, writing, spelling and reading. Jason is even more hard nosed than Kray. This from kids who BEGGED us to buy their instruments, get them lessons and promised to practice. I've got a lot of praying and thinking to do on this.
Kray wants to make jewelry and sell it. He spent the afternoon going through websites finding out how much it would take him to get set up. He came up with a shopping list. He wants me to take him to the craft store. Maybe tomorrow if he gets his work done.
Chris is advancing very well with his reading! I can't believe how quickly he is getting a handle on the sounds and his ability to put it all together. Jessie is jealous that she isn't as far as Chris, but she is learning to recognize all the letters and even some of the sounds.
Matt is bored with his math and I don't blame him. I think I'm going to take his book away and put him in 4th grade math. I know that is a bit much, but he can do it if we go slowly. Saxon takes the first 40-60 lessons to review basic math skills so I think if we start at the front we can do 3rd grade math while doing the first 40 or so lessons. I'm sure he will be happy about that.
Mike can't get his head out of a book, which I guess is good.
During all this mess I had a therapy session which was probably a good thing as it let me cool off.
Tonight I went to a mom's night out in Monroe. I was so glad I did. It never ceases to amaze me how much I need the little pick me up. Even after 14 years of homeschooling I still need to chat and get support. I guess now more than ever I need it because these teens are pushing the limits.
posted by Doreen @ 11:28 PM
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