Lacie Files

The past two days have been fairly productive.  Like you, we constantly balance home-school lessons around Co-op and a busy schedule.  We finished Algebra 1 test 7, quizzed on Latin first declension terra,mterrae, checked WBE, and worked on History.  Lacie is completing Chapter 4 in order to organize her notes to prepare for the mid-term.  Yesterday, I introduced second declension nouns, and  assigned the lab report for Chemistry.  Lacie finished and corrected the lab report. Chemistry has Christmas work, sewing a mole and preparing a time-line for the development of Atomic Theory.  I’m assigning Christmas work early; the kids can complete it before the holidays.  After Chemistry today, Lacie is doing the time-line and completing the History materials.  We have class and lessons next week; but, I need to focus on Latin, Theology and Algebra.  

Right now, Lacie does WBE and Bible readings at home.  She reads her Lit at home, too.  Lacie is reading Oliver Twist.  I think the kids need to struggle through the original (or listen to an audio version) before they resort to Sparknotes.  Once she has read OT, she will work through the entire study guide.  Then, we’ll work through questions from her syllabus and materials I have.  At that point, Lacie can write an analysis paper and study for the Final.

Lacie has three upcoming papers in Theology.  I assigned the Bible readings.  Next week, I’ll have her read Laux and answer the study guide questions.  I reviewed the paper topics.  I did some of the research for her.  The first theology paper requires Lacie to locate verses in the Gospels where Jesus quotes Psalms.  I did it and decided Psalm 22, 110, and 118 with specific verses from the Gospels would serve as the basis for her paper.  The last thing I did was write several questions for her to answer before she organizes and writes her paper.  We are working on essays.  Lacie is still learning how to craft a robust thesis and develop her ideas.  I think it’s important to guide this development.

Lacie’s writing needs work.  I’m supplementing WBE, too.  For example, she is learning how to hone  a thesis statement.  WBE has one or two examples.  Lacie needs ten.  I made up ten.  For example, Abortion is controversial.  Instead, Abortion tears apart the fabric of society.  Another, Football players need a good diet.  Alternatively, NFL athletes must balance a strict diet and exercise regime in the off-season to remain fit.  She and I spend time practicing.  

I have three goals: finish the curriculum by July, teach Lacie how to study, and help her to write a cogent essay.  

Brit Lit: Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice

Once we finish Romeo and Juliet, we’re reading Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.  I’m starting with the BBC lessons.  Anna and Angel are reading the original and are selecting adaptations, such as  Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I just read Unmarriageable, a Pakistani Pride and Prejudice.  It’s a bit risqué.  There are a number of adaptations and films.  We’ll use Stobaugh and this guide.  One goal for Brit Lit is to include literary analysis.  Here is a list of writing prompts. The girls and I determine the assignments together.  I like some of the essay topics.  We may discuss a few together, write a few paragraphs, and determine a project.  I can’t wait!  I love Jane Austen.  I believe I’ve read all of her work.  We should have fun!

Lacie 12/3-5 update

The past two days Lacie had Chemistry, worked on WBE, did Algebra, and started Latin.  The entire first chapter in Latin is complete!!!!   This morning, the Marine Corps Museum in Woodbridge, VA held a workshop for home-schoolers on projectiles.  Lacie went.  Projectiles is Physical Science or Physics; the other home-schoolers are her friends.  I wanted her to go.  After lunch, Lacie did more Algebra and started Latin.  At home, she is reading Oliver Twist and working on WBE.  Tomorrow, after Chemistry, I plan to tackle History.  She has to review Chapter 3 and work through Chapter 4 to prepare for the Mid-term.  Theology resumes after we complete the History Mid-term.  I'm putting out one fire at a time.

After Chemistry and a short bike ride, Lacie completed and corrected her balancing equations quiz.  After lunch, she studied for 45 minutes memorizing first declension noun endings for a quiz and took a Latin vocabulary quiz.  Then she worked in History.  I want to finish Chapters 3 and 4 and prepare for the Mid-term.  We might retest Algebra Lesson 25, Test 7 after History.  Lacie’s homework is to complete all of the Latin notecards and work on WBE.

Rocks and Minerals

One of my friends is teaching Physical Science, which includes the Rock Cycle.  Kids should study Rocks and Minerals.  I’ve taught Earth Science several times—honestly, not my favorite subject.  But, it’s important.  Kids like to learn how to identify rocks and minerals.  Clemson’s guide is excellent.  It begins by asking if the item is even a rock.  Here’s my tip: have 15 or 20 rocks from a set where they have been identified. Start with these introductory activities: observation of minerals, salt, Epsom salts, table salt, calcium chloride, compare the color of the mineral with its streak,

 Clemson’s guide uses typical tools: iron nail, unglazed tile, a magnifier, a penny, UV flashlight (fluorescence),  vinegar, a magnet, and a piece of glass.  (Here is an elementary introduction.). Here are several fun labs.).  This set has a huge mix of rocks, minerals, geodes, and fossils.  There are several tests to perform: density, (This lab uses density by displacement.), Moh’s harness,  Streak test, luster, cleavage, fracture,  color, magnetism, reaction with acid, striating, odor, and fluorescence.


Here is a good general mineral identification lab.  Here are detailed instructions for the tests. (This is another excellent guide.  It’s a college level guide.). Use a mineral ID flow chart. 


What are we going to do?
1. Use a magnifier to observe the crystal shapes of sugar, table salt, Epsom salt, copper sulfate, and calcium chloride.
2. Take each sample and make observations: color, luster, odor, layers, etc.
3. Test for hardness.
4. Test for streak.
5. Use vinegar to see if any of the rocks bubble.
6. Take the density by displacement.
7. Test with a magnet.
8. Test with a UV flashlight.
9. Use this table and density chart to identify the minerals.
10. Make Epsom salt and alum geodes.
11. Smash geodes.
12.  Collect rocks outside.

Weather Science: GLOBE

GLOBE is an international environmental program sponsored by NASA in the U.S. and by UNESCO in many other countries.  Over 36,000 schools around the world participate.  GLOBE has hundreds of activities.  Don’t be overwhelmed.  Instead, look at GLOBE Weather.  There is a detailed teacher guide, student activities, a bundle of protocols, , and resources, such as this cloud chart.  The tools and models are easy to replicate.  I’ve used GLOBE protocols and resources with my science classes.  I had quite a bit of training; the issue for newbies is the sheer volume of resources.  So don’t drown, start by reading over the Weather materials before examining the other protocols.  If you like GLOBE’s content, try these weather related projects.

Human Biology: update

Anna needed time to finish two formal lab reports.  She finished the second today for me to edit.  Anna is juggling several classes; we have some flexibility.  Next we are doing a

several molecular activities.

Brit Lit Update

We’ve been a bit side-tracked.  Anna and Angel needed time to work on their essays for Taming of the Shrew and Othello.  Anna finished her rough draft: she and I spent two classes this week editing her draft.  The girls are reading Romeo and Juliet.  They watched Westside Story eons ago.  I have several fun activities planned.  Angel is out of town.  We’ll catch up when she returns.

The girls finished their grant proposal.  Let’s see if the library wants to send off their proposal!

Lacie: Still wandering in the wilderness 11/21

This week we FINALLY finished Robinson Crusoe’s final exam.  Lacie took a nomenclature Test in Chemistry, too.  Yesterday the take-home Chemistry Test occupied the morning; guitar and Algebra took up the afternoon.  This afternoon we need to do more math before we can test.  Next, we are finishing History to prepare for this mid-term exam.  Lacie is working on WBE at home—with brief instructions.  I gave her another two hundred Latin vocabulary words to use to make note cards.  I’m serious about the number—I wrote out the vocabulary in Henle for the semester.  Lacie started reading Oliver Twist.  She was side-tracked by The Blindside.  We want Lacie to read for pleasure.  My husband, Rob, suggested sports novels.  I think it worked too well!  Again, one day at a time.

After Chemistry, Lacie needed to work on balancing equations.  She did that after Chem and after lunch until 3:00.  Then she did more Algebra.  Good new!  She has a good grasp on balancing equations and is starting to understand simplifying and solving algebraic equations.  Yeah!  BTW, there are a few errors in the solutions key for Saxon Algebra 1.  My husband and I do some of the problems to check for errors.

Brit Lit: Romeo and Juliet

I’m prepping Romeo and Juliet. My eighth grade English teacher taught us Shakespeare.  She explained that Juliet’s nurse lost her own child, Susan.  The nurse weaned Juliet at three or four by rubbing ‘wormwood’ on her breast—like putting a bitter solution on a child’s thumb to get them to stop sucking the thumb.   I remember being riveted.  My teacher explained some of the bawdy jokes and explained the 5-act structure.  I want to do a good job with this play.  The girls have watched West Side Story.  Angel mentioned Gnomeo and Juliet, too.

   8 Great Teaching Tools for Reading Romeo and Juliet first casts Romeo as a manipulative villain.  I’m giving the girls this graphic for character studies—not the text. I plan to tackle suicide, humor, love and hate, and give the play some context.  Scroll down this site for an overview of the five act structure review.  Films and books often follow this structure, too.  Look for more once I finish rereading the play.

Brit Lit: Grant Writing Abstract for Star Struck

Today, we finished our rough draft of the abstract and basic budget in Excel.  Here are copies.
Budget and Abstract

Grant writing and budgeting are different forms of writing--almost technical writing.  But, one uses a thesaurus, edits, and revises.  The difference?  The kids are excited about a project.  They argue and get animated over ideas.  Does it consume quite a bit of time?  Yes.  Now, we are going to shop the project idea around to the librarians.  We still need to map out specific ideas and events.  Fun!

Lacie 11/11, 11/12, 11/13 update

We are doing a good job with Chemistry.  After class, Lacie worked on Algebra until Dad came for her to go to soccer practice.  I went over her Chemistry nomenclature.  She needs to finish the Chem nomenclature, study for RC midterm, and work on Composition, WBE.  Tuesday afternoon is RC and Algebra.

After Chemistry and a 20 minute bike ride, Lacie studied and studied for her Theology test.  Done!  She easily spent eight hours studying for her test.  Done!!!

Today was odd.  Lacie came today instead of Wednesday.  She completed most of the notes.  Lacie and I corrected her Chemistry homework.  All ordinary mistakes.  She and my husband spent four hours studying for her Theology midterm.  Really.  Our grandson, Paul, was off school; we spent 2:00 to 4:30 doing science experiments for next summer’s science camp with five kids and three teens.  Arrggh!   Lacie went on a bike hike.  After dinner and more study, she took her Theology midterm.

Tomorrow, we’ll do the same for the Robinson Crusoe test after Chemistry.  I added a class to Google Classroom: PE.  Lacie uses a Fitbit; the app tracks fitness.  I’m adding outings, her soccer practices, bike hikes, and Fitbit reports to the PE classroom.

More thoughts on ‘batch’ work...

Lacie is my main responsibility to home-school.  But, I’m working with Anna and Angel in Brit Lit and Anna in Human Biology—all in addition to the Chemistry Co-op class.  Only the Chemistry class is highly structured.  I’ve taught the subject for 25 years and have ideas regarding pacing in Chemistry.  Anna’s Human Biology began last summer.  Recently, she has done several labs.  Right now, she is finishing her lab reports and working on Fluids and Electrolytes.  I have POGIL exercises for her once she finishes the enzyme lab.  

I’m working with Angel, Anna, and Lacie in ‘batches’.  Anna and Angel just finished Shakespeare plays, contemporary literature (Hogarth Shakespeare), and films based on the plays.  The assignments included reader guides to complete.  Now that the background material is complete, we spent time today making comparisons, and drawing up questions for their next papers: Do contemporary film or literature capture Shakespeare.  The girls are making character studies form the plays, lit, and films for comparison.  They need to study Elizabethan social structure and marriage as an economic contract versus modern society.  It is really a project.  We plan to study one more play, Romeo and Juliet, before moving on to Jane Austen.

Meanwhile, Anna, Angel, and I are writing a STEM grant—writing with a purpose!  We are tackling this in a big batch.  We’ve spent several hours.  The grant proposal should be ready next week for approval and then submission.  Anna had to learn a little Excel to assemble the budgets.  Angel is working on the abstract.  She and I will hone it next Tuesday.  

While I work with Anna and Angel, Lacie has a project.  Right now, she needs to finish her notes and study for the Theology and RC exams.  She worked nine or ten hours on notes.  Last week, she worked nine hours on a paper.  We plan to finish the History material and take the midterm next.  Lacie need to learn how to study.    We invested loads of time writing notes, converting the notes into quiz cards—all before studying for her exams.  

Lacie is also working in batches on WBE.  We’ll see how this plays out.  When we really begin Latin and Grammar, I do not want the distraction of vocabulary or WBE.  

Guess what?  Lacie is starting to take charge of her studies and plan her time.  She decided to work on Algebra over the weekend to stay on track.   Yeah!  We’ll keep trying to find a balance.

Lacie 11/6/19 Notes

Update: Lacie spent the afternoon today working on notecards for RC final exam.  After Chemistry, she worked with Chris in her Chemistry class to make up a lab on paper chromatography.  Lacie usually works with one of the other students after Chemistry class Tuesdays and Thursdays while I teach Brit Lit.  At least she likes Chemistry.

Lacie is working on WBE independently.  I looked over the first six lessons and made comments.  Lacie has several articles from the WSJ.  She is reading them to determine the purpose, comparisons, or problems identified.  Lacie is working on thesis writing and outlines.  I’m using the articles to find more interesting topics.

She is working through notes.  We’re preparing for mid-term exams in Theology, History, and a final for Robinson Crusoe.  Lacie finished her study guide questions and papers for Theology and RC for the mid-term.  She is making note-cards for RC and Theology.  I’m helping her to learn how to study.  The tests are largely based on her study guides.  Which questions are most likely to be tested?  What are the major themes?  Which key events are important?  Lacie has read the material, written the study guide questions, and made Quiz note-cards.  This is a process to help her learn how to organize and review material for a test.

Tomorrow, we’ll complete Chapters 3 and 4 in History.  Then, she can rewrite all of the notes for the first four chapters and make note cards.  We are staggering the mid-term exams.  Tomorrow, we need to do Algebra, Latin note cards, and Guitar.

Lacie is reading Oliver Twist in the evenings.  We are using the same approach.  She’s reading the entire book, completing all of the study guide questions, writing the papers, and then creating note-cards.  The study guide questions force her to reread the book.  I want her to create character studies for all of the protagonists and antagonists.  I have an excellent packet for Oliver Twist we’ll use, too.  It has a bit of background about Dickens, Victorian industry, and social classes.  We’ll use Kolbe’s syllabus, notes, and assignments, too.  Right now, we continue to work in batches.

Step away from the calculators and microscopes!

Are you familiar with Good Will online?  This is where I buy used calculators and microscopes—pretty much any type of science equipment.  My laser printer, overhead projector, and calculator collection are mainly from Good Will online.  I bid on TI84 models all the time.  Right now I have over a dozen graphing calculators.  I need to step away!  Honestly?  I just bid on two TI 83s at $7.99 each and one penny shipping.

Good Will usually has microscopes.  I do have six.  However, digital microscopes work well; these microscopes are document cameras.  They plug into a laptop.  The kids focus the microscope on a slide, capture a good image, and take a screen shot.  Then the kids sketch and label the image.  Genius!  One of the kids had the idea.  This past summer in Human Biology, this was the only technique we used.  In General Biology, I think it’s a good idea to learn the parts of a microscope and how to focus a microscope.

Project Based Learning

Are you familiar with Project-based learning?  It’s a great approach to integrating lessons.  The idea is to have a large idea and loads of activities.  One popular project is Watershed Project Based Learning.  I’ve used Biology is Outdoors and Inside-out to plan watershed projects. 

Where to start?  Start with a Cub Scout or Girl Scout patch.  Try Potomac Highlands Watershed eSchool. (Click on the door to access the activities.)

For years, my students did a variety of watershed activities and projects: plant trees, install a green roof, build raised beds, bioswales, and rain gardens.  Here’s what I learned.  Let the kids lead.  Try simple activities first: Color Me a Watershed, Crumpled Paper Watershed, or Build a Watershed.  

Trouts Unlimited has an excellent education guide for monitoring a riparian buffer along a creek or stream.  The guide has a macroinvertebrate identification key; clean streams have a wide variety of insect larvae.  The greater the number and variety of larvae,  the cleaner the stream.  The macroinvertebrate key helps to identify different insect larvae.  

I like to test water quality.  These test strips are quick, easy, and accurate.  This kit is pricier but has a bit more science.  If you plan to do stream tests, bring an armored thermometer. Attach the thermometer to your wrist with a rubber band so it doesn’t fall in the stream.  Bring pH strips to test the pH of the water. In fact, the basic equipment includes a bucket, net, thermometer, ice cubes trays, forceps or tweezers, and a hand lens or magnifying glass.  This guide explains how to catch macroinvertebrates and sort them in a tray.  White ice cube trays are perfect for sorting.

Don’t be overwhelmed.  Look at some of these ideas and decide if a big project like Watersheds might be a way to incorporate loads of science.

Here is another blog with information.

Algebra 1 Project

The graphing exercises with a graphing calculator went well.  So, I looked for other Algebra 1 projects and found Algebra Road Trip.  Lacie can plan summer trips for the family.  There are seven in her family; she’ll need to research the mileage the family van gets and the actual distances from home to summer vacation destinations.  I like it!

Algebra 1 Statistics as a Project

Lacie is in Algebra 1.  Both public and private schools include elementary Statistics in Algebra 1.  I include graphing calculator exercises in my Chemistry class.  Lacie has had some exposure.  I’m going to work through some stats exercises because they’re useful in Chemistry. This unit, Data and Statistical Anaysis is comprehensive.  This packet has the basics.


Start with Khan Academy’s Displaying Quantitative Data.  Then work through Summarizing Data.  Finally, try Bivariate Numerical Data.


The first topic is Mean Median and Mode. (with key). The second topic is Box, Stem and Leaf, and Histograms. (Key).  Then do ( Scatter plots (with key).  The last topic is Linear Regression (with key).

My husband and I work in tandem with Lacie when she learns math.  I’ll show her how to do the operations on the graphing calculator; my husband explains the concepts.

Medieval Projects

History and Art go together.  In high school, two of my teachers in History and Art were married.  We did art in History often.  Medieval History has many possibilities for projects.  The Met has a teacher resource for Medieval art.  The Walter’s Museum has a series of images with background and questions.  I want to use some of these, such as Essay 2, the Diptych with Virgin.

This mom has 12 weeks of medieval project ideas.  Make catapults!  Make a trebuchet! (Here are complicated instructions and include all manner of slinging mechanisms.  Here’s my favorite diy catapult. We nail our block to the wood plank.)


The BBC offers ideas for a Medieval Feast.  If you are planning a feast, don’t forget Medieval games.   
Take a look at this Medieval History guide from the U.K. 


What are we going to do?  I’ll start with a poster project debunking common Myths.  We’ll combine History with British Literature.  (I’m using these books for Anna and Angel.  We’ll do a few readings from this period.). I’m thinking about Chaucer bumper stickers—definitely doing bumper stickers for Shakespeare.

We won’t spend hours on any of these projects.  Instead, I’m going to add 30 minutes activities to her regular schedule.

Projects: How about some art?

Lacie is enrolled in Kolbe Academy.  Kolbe has detailed syllabi and a rigorous curriculum.  But, I want her to do more projects.  This past week, Lacie did an extensive timeline and a large mapping project of the Roman Empire.  I like to assign projects for the times when the week is disrupted, like it as this week with Halloween and All Saints Day.  We worked on the projects around events.

Two upcoming topics in History are the early Christianity and early Islamic development.  I want to insert some art.  Khan Academy has Early Christian Art and Islamic Art articles.  We’ll use these two articles for some background.  The Art of Mathematics, Islamic Patterns uses simples geometric shapes to create Islamic tiles as an art project.  We’ll start with paper tiles on graph paper and use these images as inspiration.  Several of our neighbors are devote Muslims.  I want to invite the children to make some art.

The Vatican has good information about the catacombs and early Christian art and symbols.  In Ephesus, Turkey, there are well preserved Christian symbols.  We’ll try print making.  I think we can carve images in clay or styrofoam and use acrylic paints to make prints.  

We may need Christian symbols coloring pages and Islamic art tiles to color for the younger children.        Here’s hoping this will be a fun project.  I’ll post pix when the kids do this project.

Lacie October 31

Over the past two days, we worked on projects: timeline of Roman emperors, maps of the Roman empire and provinces of Italy, carefully annotated with mountains, rivers, and streams.  Then Lacie worked through a packet on linear equations for Algebra.  She edited her Suffering paper for Theology.  Today, we did several algebraic exercises in Lesson 23 and 24 and some more graphing on the calculator.  Finally, Lacie spent several hours making Latin 1 vocabulary cards.  I took the JCL  Core Novice vocabulary list and looked up all eight pages of words.  Originally, I was going to have Lacie look up all the terms.  It took me four or five hours to locate all of the vocabulary using two dictionaries, a book of Latin verbs, and Google.  Lacie is making notecards with the Latin and English.  I asked her to write any English word with a similar meaning.  Yes, this is loads of work.  I believe you pick up some of the terms when you write them.   Yes, we're going ahead with my plan to do all of the exercises in Writing Better Essays as homework.

Lacie 10/29/19

Today after Chemistry, Lacie has travel soccer try-outs.  So class ended at 2 pm.  After Chemistry, she worked on some Chem homework and retaking her covalent molecules test.  After lunch she edited her Suffering paper for Theology.  Lacie started doing exercises in Writing Better Essays (WBE).  I decided that WBE is going to be her homework until all of the exercises are finished.  Then we’ll do the same thing with vocabulary exercises.  Tomorrow are projects!

Algebra 1 Graphing Exercises for Lacie

I was looking for graphing exercises for next year.  I should find some for Lacie to do in Algebra 1.  Duh!  While I’m at it, I need to see what’s available for Chemistry.

Here is one exercise.

History: Roman Empire Project and Timeline

Lacie is studying Western Civilization using Light to the Nations from the Catholic Textbook Project.  I’m planning two projects: a Timeline of Roman Emperors and a Roman Empire Map Project.  I’ve been researching resources: Ancient Roman Map Instructions and another Ancient Rome Mapping Activity.

We’ll start with the timeline of emperors.  I think Lacie needs to make a few notes.  One excellent resource is this History of the Roman Empire Study Guide.  It’s from the Florida JCL to use to study for Certamen, part of JCL.  Certamen is a competition and a rich source of documents to study Roman history, culture, and Latin.

Eventually, we need to dive into Latin.  Right now, Lacie is in the middle of Roman History.  Some map studies and timelines might help.

Home-school Philosophy

I have been a teacher for a loooonnng time at private,public, and Co-op schools.  But, teaching Lacie all of her classes is helping me hone my teaching philosophy.  Lacie is enrolled with Kolbe.  I’m using their syllabus, study guides, and tests.  (Chemistry and Algebra are Co-op classes.). But, the direct instruction is at my discretion.  How should we structure the lessons?  Some families have a detailed daily syllabus with short assignments in each subject.  Lacie meets with me three days a week; Chemistry is three hours twice a week.  Honestly, it runs a little over.  Lacie needs time after class to process the lesson.  We’re working on all of her classes in blocks.  Tuesdays, after Chemistry,  we work on Theology and History.  We may work two hours editing a paper assigned from Kolbe.  (I keep copies of each edit in a folder on the computer.). Wednesday, Lacie spent six hours fixing a paper and two hours doing ?Chemistry nomenclature.  Today, after Chemistry, she corrected a test, took a guitar lesson, and worked the rest of the afternoon on Algebra.  By working in blocks of time, Lacie has time to do an exercise, correct it, and then test.  The material we do finish is done well.

Now, I’m starting to worry about Latin, Grammar, Vocabulary, and Composition.  So, Lacie does some work at home: Bible reading, novels, outlines, etc.  I’m going to have her work through the entire book, Better Writing, at home over the next month: exercises, tests, writing samples, everything.  Then, I’m doing the same thing with Vocabulary.  I’ll have her do every exercise at home until the Vocabulary D is completed.  Now we just need to carve out time for Latin and Grammar.

Three fun and inexpensive labs to try

On Tuesday next week, my chemistry class is doing the paper chromatography lab, JCE's Colorful Lather Prints, and Water Marbling Nail Art.  All three labs are relatively inexpensive.  Colorful Lather Prints has a little science background and a few questions.  I grouped these three labs together because they're all artsy.  All of them are fun and relatively inexpensive.  I took a pix of the materials below.

Paper Chromatography can be performed with food dyes, colored markers, and pens.  We're using several black pens (on hand), water-based colored markers, and food coloring.  I have coffee filters and filter paper to cut into strips.  The kids will use both water and isopropyl alchol (rubbing alcohol) as solvents.  I have ethanol (ethyl alcohol) on hand if the rubbing alcohol doesn't work with the pens.

The lather prints require shaving cream, index cards, food dyes, toothpicks, and rulers.  (I'll post pix next week.)

The Water Marbling Nail Art requires nail polish, tape, and containers for the water.  I'm hoping the yogurt containers work; I won't mind if these are stained with nail polish.  I bought the nail polish because I don't wear polish.  You may have some on hand.

I spent $5 on the lab for shaving cream and nail polish--to be sure to have enough supplies for eight kids.  With a little luck, you'll have the supplies on hand and it won't cost a dime.

Brit Lit: Grants

BTW we had a good discussion.  Why study Shakespeare?


The girls are doing tons of readings outside class for their Shakespeare projects.  Meanwhile, we are working on grants.  The girls are writing a grant for materials to supplement the Maker Space in the local library.  Grant writing is a very different style of writing.  I’m a grant writer and do workshops.  The girls have brainstormed lists of STEM ideas.  Angel has a good rough draft of the Abstract.


Today, Anna and Angel had a great discussion of their grant, Star Struck!  The girls are combining gardens, 3d printers, Life Hacks, Art, and STEM into one grant.  The girls are getting up their nerve to talk to the librarians about their grant proposal.  Fun, right?

Sewn in circuits

Make turntable

Pay less for science equipment.

Update again!  Look at this set of test tubes with a rack!  This set would be fine with micro-scale labs,  such as Making Ionic Compounds.  The lab uses ten drops of chemicals; small amounts shouldn’t etch the plastic test tubes.  These paint palettes work well as substitutes for reaction plates.  Yes, in the past, I have used paint palettes.


Update: Metal thermometers are fine for many experiments.  This digital thermometer is even cheaper at $1.32 each.  I paid $3.34 for a similar model with Prime delivery to calibrate and test.  I’ll update this post after we test the thermometer. FYI the range is narrow.

I’m a science teacher.  Many of you are not.  Where do I buy equipment?  This post has a description of the digital scales I use.  I save yogurt cups, haunt Walmart and IKEA, and shop online for equipment.

This year, my basement is my classroom and lab.  We're teaching Chemistry, Human Biology, Physics and Statistics in the basement--which is large.  We set up white boards, a printer, lab stations, and class tables.  I bought extra tables and chairs from Walmart; the tables were $34.88 each. (Walmart had a few tables which were damaged.  We asked and earned a 10% discount when we bought them.)  We had a few folding chairs and bought a few more for $10 each.

The printer is a laser printer I bought from www.shopgoodwill.com.  We're using it for quick copies; our library offers free copies.  The overhead projector is from Good Will, too.  BTW the white board I use and these my husband uses are cheap as whiteboards.  As long as the board is wiped with a wet rag frequently, these whiteboards are fine.

As you can see, we use crates to set up supplies for labs or activities.

Here are plastic beakers and cylinders for a good price.  We use craft sticks and wooden coffee stirrers for chemical experiments.  Here are the colorful safety glasses we use.

 I bid and buy calculators from Good Will.  It's easier to buy TI 83 models than TI84.

     Amazon has a good price for test tubes and racks.  Check Home Science Tools for prices and materials, too---especially if you are teaching one or two children.

Note, I use household chemicals whenever possible.  They're much cheaper than lab grade chemical reagents.  We use an electric kettle for hot water and electric burners to heat solutions rather than an alcohol burner whenever possible.  Alcohol burners tip easily and are dangerous.  Take a look at my science blog for more lab ideas.

Lacie 10/24: Update

Lacie spent the morning doing chemistry.  After a late lunch, she spent the afternoon working through several Algebra exercises (Lesson 14).  We squeezed in Guitar.  She is correcting her Chemistry test and Algebra problems.  I sent home Lesson 1: Exercise 1,2,3 in Writing Better Essays in 20 Minutes a Day and her Suffering paper in Theology.

Next Tuesday, after Chemistry, Lacie needs to finish the Better Man paper and edit the Suffering paper.  We need to complete the tests for History before we start Chapter 4.  Theology on Tuesday is finishing Suffering.  On Wednesday, we have to do several Algebra exercises, Warnier's, and Latin.  Chemistry next week is lab.  We should have time on Thursday for Guitar, Latin, Warnier's, and Writing.  Let me dream....and add Vocabulary to my plans.  Or not.  I might try to complete all of the exercises in Writing Better Essays in 20 minutes a Day over the next few weeks.  That would allow more time for Grammar and Vocabulary. 

Where can I find used science kits?

Good Will  and eBay frequently have eScience Lab kits.  This Geology kit on eBay is a good example.  What are eScience kits?  Students taking online science kits both at community colleges and four year schools often do labs at home.  Instructors at college can customize these kits for their classes.  Sometimes used kits have a cd with labs.  Sometimes, the student taking the online science class manages to pass without doing any of the labs.  Students sell used kits online.  Often the contents are pristine.

I have purchased several used kits—mainly from Good Will, occasionally from eBay.  If I can get a kit for $25-30 with shipping and plenty of equipment, I’ll buy or bid on it.  Often the lab kits have digital scales, plastic cylinders and beakers, pipets, etc. (I’m not buying the kit for the chemicals.).   Look at the contents first.  For example, this geology kit looks exciting.  However, rock or mineral kits are only $16 each.  Amazon has digital scales like those in the lab kits.  The price varies—right now a scale is $7.42 with shipping on Amazon.  (I learned about these scales from an eScience kit.  One of these scales were in a lab kit.  I searched until I found similar scales on Amazon.  BTW the scales work well and withstand hard use.)

If you had your heart set on buying the Apologia MicroChem kit, eBay has them, too.  Home Science Tools has fair prices on all of their goods.  With that said, I compare prices for science equipment individually, in sets, or in kits from Amazon, eBay, and Good Will.  Keep an eye on eBay and Good Will for these eScience or Apologia kits.  I cannibalize the labs for the equipment; the small bottles of indicators or chemicals are just a bonus.

Lacie 10/23 Better Man

Lacie spent six hours working on her Better Man paper for Robinson Crusoe.  It’s much better.  Not finished—but vastly improved.  (I did a great deal of work on Shakespeare for my Brit Lit class. ). Lacie completed two nomenclature worksheets yo catch up in Chemistry.  Just like that the day vanishes!  Lacie spent two hours working on her Chemistry homework today.  My goal is 30 hours per week of instruction.  When Lacie reads the novels or Bible assignments, we are close to meeting my goal.

Lacie 10/22/19

Lacie wrote two rough drafts for Better Man and Meaning of Suffering.  Yeah!  She finished her timeline for Chemistry and made up the ionic and covalent lab.   Yeah!  Lacie was only a little behind in Nomenclature in Chemistry.  While I read her essays and made notes, she worked on History quizzes and tests from the supplemental study guide from Kolbe.  We have one more chapter before the History Midterm.  Lacie will use her notes, activities, quizzes, and tests as study guides for the Midterm.  She’s read all three chapters.  It can be difficult to glean meaning.  The study guide, quizzes, and tests help.

We are finishing and correcting History and Chemistry nomenclature today.  Tomorrow morning Lacie will make a first revision of her two papers.  Then, we’ll do Algebra, Language Arts, and Latin.  After Chemistry class, Thursday, we’ll complete nomenclature, do Guitar and more Algebra.  Wish me luck.

What are the plans for this week?

Last week Lacie was two days of the three.  I assigned two papers to write: Better Man (R. Crusoe) and Suffering (Theology).  If she finished her lab report for Chemistry and read Job, we can catch up in Chemistry, start Oliver Twist, cover some History and Algebra, and finally make a serious start in Latin and Grammar.  Am I an optimist or what?

Science Equipment: Chemicals

I want to point out  Chemistry Lab kit and Chemistry kit.  Both are good values and save time.  eBay often has used MicroChem kits.  If you have one child taking Chemistry, it doesn’t make sense to order large quantities of chemicals.  This kit is microscale.  That means you are using drops of chemicals—not vats!  Much safer!  BTW, these labs align with Apologia Chemistry 2nd edition.  If you do the labs in the textbook and supplement with this kit, your child will have had a sound base in Chemistry.

How do you make up work?

I have Co-op Chemistry and Brit Lit classes twice a week.  The kids miss class and get behind.  Shocking.  I do a lot of make-up, catch-up, or tutoring once a week, on Thursdays.  Now, Anna is taking Human Biology during Thursday mornings.  I get her started and then work with two or three other kids.  Today, Anna and Andrew worked through some Stat exercises on the graphing calculator: linear regressions, variance, r coefficient, and residuals.  Anna missed the graphing lesson before class on Tuesday.  Andrew is going out of town for a week; he needed to review the graphing.  (I do the graphing exercises on the TI 83/84 with my husband’s kids.  He can’t get the knack for using the graphing calculators.). Andrew #2 needed help with metric conversions.  I had given four worksheets as homework and he had many mistakes.  It turns out he was entering data incorrectly in his calculator.  (Here is how to enter numbers in scientific notation.). He got a free lesson in nomenclature with Gen, who’s out all next week, too.  I gave Gen some notes, practice, and a quiz.  In between, I worked with Anna, who has the patience of Job.  If you have a Co-op class, carve out extra time for individual help.  Tomorrow, Andrew is taking a metric quiz before class and Joe is staying after for help.  Joe and Lacie need to do a lab; I’ll have them complete it right after Chemistry class while I teach Brit Lit.

Human Anatomy Links for Kids

I was putting together resources for a kids version of Human Anatomy.  I thought I would share the links with you.

Anya

1. Apologia Young Explorer’s Science: https://www.apologia.com/product-category/science/elementary-science/?a_cid=11111111
2. Human Body Systems: http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/human-body-systems.pdf
3. http://media.openschool.bc.ca/osbcmedia/bi12/etext/SCI_BodySystems.pdf
4. Free Human Body Printables. https://www.myjoyfilledlife.com/free-human-body-printables/
5. Brain hat http://www.ellenjmchenry.com/homeschool-freedownloads/lifesciences-games/documents/BrainHatIndividualDownload.pdf
6. Life size skeleton printout. http://eskeletons.org/sites/eskeletons.org/files/files/resources/000646791.pdf
7. Human organs https://iteachly.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/HUMAN-ORGANS.pdf
8. Skeleton in parts https://iteachly.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/HUMAN-BONES.pdf
9. Human Body Project https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/unit-plans/teaching-content/human-body-project/
10. Another Human Systems Body Project (source of skeleton and organs, has lessons). https://iteachly.com/human-body-project/?gclid=CjwKCAjwndvlBRANEiwABrR32CRwG4GK0m-LSnVQLkiykplvMj5jFdQQzRfOukgxzD5QZze0VX2ezRoCm7kQAvD_BwE
11. What is in blood: https://www.icanteachmychild.com/what-is-blood-made-of/
12. Heart model for kids https://www.steampoweredfamily.com/activities/heart-model-heart-stem/
13. Lung Model for Kids. https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/cub_human_lesson09_activity1
14. Diy Stethoscope. https://www.fantasticfunandlearning.com/diy-stethoscope-tutorialscience-experiment-for-kids.html

Lacie 10/17 plans

Thursday, my plans are to start with Warriner’s grammar, some composition, and start vocabulary.  Thursdays are hectic.  I need to review Chem material with two students, make up a lab with Lacie, and teach Human Biology to Anna.

In the morning, I must review Lacie’s homework: the R. Crusoe outline, Bible readings, and the Chem lab report.  After lunch is Algebra.  We need to do a guitar lesson and History.  I still have two quizzes and tests to give her in History.  The History study guide and tests will serve as review guides for the Midterm.  I hope to do some Latin.  Friday, we need to do more Algebra and Latin after Chem.  Then we’ll work on R.Crusoe Better Man paper.  Wish me luck.

Lacie update

After Chemistry, Lacie worked on the R.Crusoe outline until lunch.  After lunch was Theology.  We are on Week 5.  Kolbe has Bible readings, study guide questions, and a timeline.  Lacie completed the questions.  I had her rewrite the answers into complete questions.  Lacie is doing the timeline, rewriting the outline for RC, reading the Bible, taking notes on Joshua, Ruth, Saul, David, and Solomon, and writing the lab report.  If she finishes this, we will have time Thursday to do Algebra, Latin, and language arts.

Brit Lit: Shakespeare in Progress

Update: The girls are still completing the readings and watching films.

The girls are reading Vinegar Girl and New Boy.  The girls are also reading Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew and Othello.  I asked the girls to complete the reader’s guide questions.  Angel was ill.  Anna and I brainstormed the Maker Lab grant she and Angel are doing.  I’m using this as a writing exercise.  I want the girls to submit their proposal to the local library for consideration and submission.  It’s a chance to try some technical writing.  I teach grant writing workshops.  Step One is to brainstorm every possible idea for the Makerspace.  Friday, we’ll work on the abstract and excel budget.  This gives the girls time to finish the readings.


I located guides to teach Othello and The Taming of the Shrew.  The movie, Ten Things I Hate About You, is based on The Taming of the Shrew.  Watch it first before you decide if your teen should watch this film.  I’m sticking to books.

My plan is for each girl to research Shakespeare and do character studies on each play.  It’s a work in process.

GLOBE NASA Fall Data Challenge 2019

Are you familiar with NASA’s GLOBE program?  I used the program and it’s protocols when I taught for my environmental classes and clubs.  GLOBE is an international program and has over 23000 schools across the world participating.  Home-school Co-ops participate and send their data to NASA.  Participating schools or Co-ops collect and send data weekly or monthly.  I found keeping to a schedule of regular data collection arduous.  However, I’ve used programs and protocols for countless classes and projects.  October 15-November 15th, GLOBE is sponsoring a Fall Data Challenge.  The only equipment necessary to participate is a cell phone.  Here is the cloud data collection overview.  Here is the teacher’s guide to clouds and this is the cloud training module.  All of the GLOBE resources for Atmosphere are available online and free.  Overwhelmed?  Don’t be.  Read over the Fall Challenge.  Now, look at the Cloud training module.  The training has examples of cloud charts, satellite images, and the data collection page.  Focus on clouds and contrails.  Say that again.  Clouds and contrails.  You and your family are ‘citizen scientists’ collecting valid data.  How cool is that?

Lacie and pacing

Our weekly schedule is three looonnng days a week with us and homework with Dad.  We are working in blocks.  Chemistry is a Co-op class which meets for 1 hour and 15 minutes Tuesday and Friday.  Chem runs over a bit; it has to end at 11:30 in time for Brit Lit.  After Chem, Lacie often works on her Chem homework or study guide material while I teach Brit Lit.  (She is close by so I can monitor her work.). Tuesday, Lacie and James, another student spent an hour finishing ionic formulas and making corrections.  

After Brit Lit, (which meets twice a week, too)  Lacie and I do a big block of Theology, History, or Literature.  Theology is always first on Tuesdays.  I like to work on Humanities after Theology.  On Thursdays, we schedule a big block of Algebra, Guitar, and  more History or Lit.  Fridays, right after Chem, Lacie finishes something: Chem, Study Guide, etc.  We added Latin and Warriner’s this week. We are spending more time on Algebra, Chem, Lit, Theology, and History.  Algebra and Chem have loads of math, which is a struggle for Lacie.  My husband, Rob, and I have Lacie correct the Algebra and Chemistry until it’s ALL correct.  Thankfully, History and Theology are fine.  Grammar is another issue.  I’ve done some grammar instruction; I need to do more.

I’m finding blocks of time are working.  I mean two hours on one topic.  We aren’t switching until the subject is clear.  We were stuck on multiplying signed numbers.  We did several sets last week.  This week, Lacie did several more sets, retested, and corrected until she understood multiplying signed numbers.  The same thing happened with metric conversions.  We gave Lacie conversion problems over the past two or three weeks.  This week, in Chem, I assigned the class several worksheets and a quiz.  It took over two hours to work and correct conversions.  Now, she can set up conversions, cancel the units, write the numbers in scientific notation, and solve.  

I think I’m going to do her composition in a big block, too.  Lacie read Robinson Crusoe and has nearly completed all of the study questions.  Once she outlines and revises her Crusoe paper and finishes the Crusoe exam, she will read Oliver Twist at home.  (I’m doing Lit in blocks, too.). While she reads the novel at home, I’ll use Lit time for Composition, Grammar, and Vocab.  I want to work through the entire Composition book and apply the lessons to all of Lacie’s papers.  We shall see.  It’s a journey.  We’re still learning.

Elapsed Time

Our grandson, Paul, was struggling with ‘elapsed time’ in math.  This ‘mountain’ strategy worked!  We had him write the new times under the mountains, hills, and rocks—which is described in the web site.  We are doing a few examples every day until he masters the concept.  This site allows you to tailor the level of difficulty for the elapsed time problem sets.  Hope this helps!

Lacie: Robinson Crusoe Where are we?

Lacie is enrolled with Kolbe.  I'm following their syllabus.  Lacie and I read all of Robinson Crusoe first--rather than in installments.  Next, she worked on the Study Guide questions.  Initially, I had Lacie work on the questions as she read.  Quickly, I switched approaches and had her read the novel.  We worked on essays after she read the book.  Once, I looked at the Final Exam Kolbe has for each novel, I realized she needed to answer all of the questions in the study guide to master the Final Exam.  (Yes, I'm already quizzing her on details, such as the name of the island.)  Now, Lacie has nearly completed all of the study guide questions.  Once these are finished, she's back to work on her Better Man paper.  I'm using a straightforward five paragraph essay model: introduction (with thesis), three supporting paragraphs (before the stay on the island, mid-stay, late stay, after the island), and the conclusion (with an explanation of what Crusoe learned about God and fellow man). 

Lacie's in the process of working through the novel and study guide for good examples of Crusoe's character before, during, and after the 35 year sojourn.  Next, she'll work on a rough outline--just the parts in order.  After the outline is the rough draft and revisions.  I mark up the first draft and save it.  The final revision is ready for submission. 

Since Lacie is an emergent learner, I work closely with her as she edits.  We read sentences out loud and look for clarity after all of the grammar and punctuation is corrected.  Lastly, we revise the paper into third person, present tense, active voice, and indicative mood.  It takes at least two hours to edit an essay.  Here's hoping all this work results in a good paper.

Lacie 10/9 Work Update

Update: With the exception of Vocabulary Workshop, we've officially started all of the course work for Kolbe.  Yeah!!!!  I can anticipate Algebra, Grammar, and Latin are going to be a challenge.  Yeah!!!  We have a plan to integrate all of Lacie's subjects into 30 hours a week, 24-25 of which are concentrated into three days.

We spent the morning working through Chemistry because Lacie is going to be absent Friday during class--three hours.  Chemistry has four worksheets and a conversion test Friday.  After making corrections several times, Lacie has a better understanding of conversions and metric prefixes.  Happily, she understands significant figures.

Yesterday, we did a diagnostic test for parts of speech Warriner's Handbook (WH).  We need to start at the beginning; Lacie did exercise 1 to identify parts of speech: nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, and prepositions.  Yesterday, we clarified contractions and conjunctions.

After a late lunch, Lacie had a guitar lesson.  BTW, I'm recording all of her completed assignments and lessons in Google Classroom.  I don't want any issues when I submit her grades to Kolbe.  Lacie keeps hard copies of her completed work, too.  I take photos of some of the work and save it to Google Drive--just in case a notebook is lost or misplaced.

After Guitar, we did Latin vocab, History Chapt 1 quizzes and test, and more Robinson Crusoe Study Guide in preparation for the Final Exam.  We are doing several quizzes and tests to use for mid-term and final exams. We’ve worked through Chapter 3 in History; I’m concerned about her retention and readiness for the upcoming mid-term.  I have some more review and tests in History before we move forward.  I've given Lacie several chapters of Latin vocabulary.  Next week, I'll start first declension nouns with her.    Below are my instructions for Lacie as she lists and outlines her Better Man paper.  


Work on the Better Man paper.  Use the study guide and novel to identify quotes (write the page) that explain Robinson's Crusoe's character before his 35 year sojourn on Despair.  Locate specific examples (write the page number) of his traits after he left the island.  Once you have a list, it's time to write a rough outline.  The question is "How did Crusoe's stay on the island make him a better man? What did it teach him about God and his fellow man?  Cite specific examples from the book."  The thesis for your paper is "Robinson Crusoe's thirty-five year stay on the island, Despair, made him a better man.  As you work on the outline, think about the introduction: the thesis statement, a brief overview of Crusoe's character, and a few key events.  In the second, third, and fourth paragraphs, use specific examples with quotes from the book which support those characteristics.  For example, if Crusoe was proud or haughty, locate a quote that describes him as haughty.  In the fourth or fifth paragraph for the outline, list the examples which support the changes Crusoe underwent.  In the outline, think about the conclusion: a restatement of the thesis, a description of Crusoe before the Island, during the Island stay, and after the Island stay.  In the outline's conclusion, explain what the Island stay taught Crusoe about God and about his treatment of his fellow man.  Work on notes and quotes.  Once you have a list, organize the list into a rough outline: introduction, Crusoe before the Island, Crusoe early Island, Crusoe with Man Friday, Crusoe after the Island, Conclusion with what Island taught Crusoe about God and man.

Writing Essays

Many college use a Common Application.  Here are the writing prompts for the essay for 2019/2020.  This is an excellent writing exercise.  Kolbe uses Writing Better Essays.  This is an excellent tool.  Brit Lit and Lacie are both going to use this resource.

Lacie Update 10/08

Today after Chemistry, Lacie spent an hour or so completing the ionic compounds for Chemistry.  She worked for another hour on the RC study guide questions—almost finished.  Then we worked on Algebra, Problem Set 12, and retest for Multiplying signed numbers—which are proving to be a problem.  Some examples, Lacie had to redo several times.  We retested three times and she has it!

We stopped 6:20 after three diagnostic tests: Write Better Essays and these two on parts of speech.

Brit Lit: Writing papers

The two young women in Brit Lit are writing papers on Robin Hood and King Arthur.  In their papers the girls are providing some information about the history, the way the story has changed over time, and why the stories or character has stood the test of time, why he remains popular.

The Brit Lit (We are using the older edition.) has an excellent question (p. 65 Lesson 4 Essay), "What are the abiding qualities of biblical Christianity that transcend time, place, and culture,...?"  I asked the girls to  identify the themes, events, or qualities which are consistently in each story as it changes over time, such as the fight against injustice or the theme of betrayal.  In these human qualities, there are aspects of universal truth.  I'm going to have the girls add a bit about the themes.

In any case, the girls wrote rough drafts.  I encourage them to keep copies of the revisions as evidence of their work for a Brit Lit portfolio.  We are going to do more work on their papers.

The girls are also reading Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler, and New Boy by Tracy Chevalier. (Angel is using these Reader's Guide questions.  Scroll down for the questions alone.)  Initially, the girls are reading the novels and answering the reader's guide questions.  I think it's fine to look at author interviews after they write their answers to the questions.  We'll all read Taming of the Shrew and Othello after the novels.  (I read both before assigning them to the girls.)  The governing question is, "Do these novels from Hogarth Shakespeare compare to the original plays?"  The larger question is, "Can adaptations, contemporary literature compare to the original classic?"

The girls will select films, novels, songs, etc. to support their opinions.  By the way, in this recent article in the Wall Street Journal, "Paul McCartney has said that he was inspired to write that philosophical wrap-up by Shakespeare's practice of ending plays with a rhymed couplet." (Abbey Road's "The End".

I'm trying to make Brit Lit fun.  Certainly, this is proving to be a challenge!

Latin 1: Now what?

Lacie has done a little vocabulary in Latin.  Her grammar is weak.  Tomorrow, I’ll give her some more vocab and have her write first declension nouns.  I had two years of Latin in High School a looonnnng time ago.  I’m relearning Latin.  Henle Latin is replete with grammar and translations.  I need to know the declensions, grammar, and vocabulary.  This means writing out the declensions and learning the vocabulary right along with Lacie.  I’m working through the translations and diagramming a few of the sentences.  Lacie will need to diagram many of these phrases.

Unless you are using a tutor or an online program, I don’t see how a parent could teach Latin without learning it along with the child.  I can hear you screaming.  I work on Latin while Lacie is struggling through a study guide or history questions.  I think the best time to lesson plan is when the kids are working.  I’m working through Lesson 2 exercises and translations.  I think it’s important initially to do all of the exercises—especially the diagramming and identification of the noun case.  That is a gap in the Latin 1 answer key; the answer is to consult the grammar book.

The grammar doesn’t bother me; but, grammar is one of the biggest hurtles to mastering any language.  As you learn the first and second declension nouns, write the meaning of the cases and the translations.  Write out the declension for bellum, nominative case, subject, the war, belli, genitive case, of the war, etc.  Write out nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, ablative, over and over until you know the cases.  It takes ten or more times to learn the noun declensions.

Leave out your declensions as you translate.  One skill is recognizing the case, another is its meaning—before you can translate the phrase or sentence.  Do the whole exercise and check your answers.

Lacie Files Week of Oct 7

Lacie is out Friday; we’re working Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  Her Chemistry timeline is due tomorrow.  She had worked on it over the week-end.  There were mistakes and she redid it.  Today, Lacie spent the morning 10-1 on Theology, completing Week Five.  I reviewed the objectives and had her make a chart of the ten plagues and Egyptian idols, identifying typologies (Crossing the Red Sea and Baptism, etc.), Passover or Seder and the Passion and Holy Mass, etc.  She finished the readings in the Catechism and the Bible.  She needs to make notes for all of the objectives for her midterm and final.

After lunch, she made corrections to the timeline.  She spent from 2:30-5:30 finishing all of the study guide questions in Robinson Crusoe and writing notes for the Better Man paper.  Lacie has a bit more work for her timeline.  Tomorrow, we have Chemistry in the morning.  She may work on her conversion homework for Chemistry during Brit Lit.  After lunch, we have to do Algebra, Guitar, and Better Man notes.  I hope to do a bit of Latin tomorrow.  Wednesday morning, we need to complete her Chemistry she’s missing Friday: a conversion quiz and two labs.  Once the Chemistry homework, quiz, and labs are completed, we must work on Latin, Grammar, and History.  I want to do some quizzes in History for review.

I’m looking ahead to Midterms and the Final for Robinson Crusoe.  Once Lacie completes all of the study guide questions and the Better Man paper, she may study for the RC exam.  We’ll use the study guide to prepare.   The exams are closed book.  Aaarrrrggghhh.

Today was typical.  The first day of the week, we generally complete Theology and either Literature or History.   One day at a time.

What’s my grade?

What’s my grade?  Most of the time, it’s not the grade at all.  I have a Chem class.  Everyone needs to memorize 50 key elements.  Six of the eight kids have them memorized.  Two of the kids are still testing.  I’ll retest until they have memorized all 50 elements they need.  One students earned 100% the first time on the elements test.  The rest needed more trials.  We retest before or after class.  Eventually, everyone will have an A on the test.

Most of my assignments are treated in a similar manner.  Labs, timelines, reports, quizzes are all returned and corrected before I submit the grade.  I keep a close eye on missing work.  I just emailed everyone (and their parents) about missing work.  We made arrangements to complete the work, tests, lab, etc.

I treat all of Lacie’s work in the same manner.  She completes questions or an exercise.  I evaluate all of her work.  Frequently, I ask for more details.  Her finished papers for submission are polished because I sat next to her and discussed every aspect of the paper.  

Now, in Chem, because it’s a class, I set an aggressive pace.  The course needs to conclude by early June.  I’ve had kids stay late, come on Thursday, or arrive before class so they don’t fall behind.  A few parents wanted more rigor.  I’m happy to supply more rigor.

But, Lacie’s grade isn’t a consideration.  Are we progressing quickly?  Not really.  I would like to complete all of the course work by the end of June.  We might.  Initially, we are investing a great deal of time developing independent study habits.  I’m willing to bet that if I go line by line through her papers three or four times, the essays are going to improve.  No one enjoys going line by line through an essay.  The same is true in Algebra, Grammar, History, and Theology If the answers are incorrect, they must be corrected.  Every. Single. Time.  

So, it’s not the grade.  Instead, is the child on track to complete Algebra 1 in one year?  History?  Theology?  Literature?  Latin?  I’m putting grades aside and focusing on completion and mastery.