Our last few weeks

Well, the last few weeks have been full of twists and turns and some set back, other gains, as we all come to expect in the wonderful world of homeschooling. I will do my best to give a good overview of what all has been going on in the Brown household.



My eldest son has faced his first heartbreak. It has been a tough time with him learning the hard lessons in life. He has been really struggling to make it through the day of intense schooling so I let him take some time, work on the movie he wrote, produced, directed, filmed and edited. He has poured his everything into making it the way he wanted it. I am trying to find a way to upload it but I am having some difficulty. I will try to get it uploaded in the next couple days. He has also taken to guitars. He was in his room and next thing I know, he asked me to come down and listen to what he just wrote. Now, mind you, he has never really played an instrument before, although he is quite musically gifted. He worked and worked on the song until he came up with a bass line and an electric guitar part. He called his friend over and he started playing the electric as Patrick plunged away at the bass and low and behold, they have it sounding really good. They called another friend over and he started on the drum set and wow... they have made a little band. They still don't have lyrics, but they have only been at it for 2 weeks now. They have 2 songs they have worked up. He is getting back on track with his school, but all in all, I don't think he wasted his time while he was struggling. He has built confidence in himself and seen the gifts God has given his and is trying to develop them. That is what we all want for our kids, am I right?

Kelsey has been working away on her school. She has finally hit a spot in Algebra she can work on her own. It may take her 2 years to finish this book, but that is my goal for her. She will benefit from that greatly. Her science is working out quite well and she is learning a lot through her health class. I love hearing little revelations from her as she learns something new. She has struggled with the debate class more because of her own procrastination than any other reason. We have decided we aren't really in the class for her to get graded. We would just like to have her learn something of value without the pressure. She has a pretty full load this year as is. Her spelling is still going great. She has been reading lots of books this year. I have warned her though, for her to get more credit for the books she reads it would be to her benefit to stop reading the same book over . ha ha

Ryan is doing terrific with his school this year! He has been working hard on his explode the code and is through his first book this year. He will start the next one next week. His handwriting is getting so beautiful. He finished last years book and now I am debating on starting on the new one or just having him practice through his assignments instead. He is working on an old school reading book as well. He had his first experience with a story making him cry. He was so surprised that words can be so powerful when you read them. He has been working on a comic book in his spare time. At this point, I am deciphering everything he is writing, because he isn't ready for me to have his correct his spelling, but I think I am going to work on that soon and see if he wants to give his comic book as a Christmas gift to someone. It could be a fun project actually. He hit a bit of a slump on his math this past week. It was the whole, subtraction, then checking with adding. There were so many problems and he was missing the problem by one number, so it was frustrating him. But we passed that and are on to his refresher on multiplication. :D He really enjoys math.

Well, that is the update on our school this past few weeks. We are looking forward to Christmas break. Darrel is off for a couple weeks, so that will be a nice break. I will try to get that video on here in the next couple days so you can see it! He got 5th place at the thespian festival with it! For the limited resources he had, I think he did a great job.

What's up with this?

So, this past week or so has been eventful to say the least. We have had about 2-3 days where we have just plain struggled to do much of anything , but we have worked hard when we worked. lol

Ryan is working really well on his stuff and I must say that most of the time when he doesn't get his work done, it's because of my lack of motivation not his. He is really making wonderful strides in his handwriting. You should see his cursive Gs! Beautiful! We are going to re-do his spelling lists from the beginning. Mainly because I want to build up his confidence and be assured he is really getting it. I really need to work on getting him reading more books. He is doing excellent on his explode the code and reading the words well enough he has been doing some of it on his own without me right there. I am quite proud of that. His math is going amazing as usual and he has taken to the show word girl on PBS which is really expanding his already vast vocabulary. I love that in him. That's the part of him that reminds me of Joselynn. Patrick has a pretty vast vocabulary as well. Now to get him spelling it right...

Kelsey is struggling with her math. We are doing algebra and to be honest it is more of a struggle against mom than it is a struggle against the concepts. I know teenage girls want to be independant and it is hard to ask for help, but when she does she gets upset if I am not able to come exactly when SHE is ready instead of when I am ready. It makes for a pretty stressful situation at times. I think for a while I am either going to have Patrick take over and explain things to her or have her dad. I'm not the greatest communicator, so it is hard for her to understand what I am trying to tell her. Other than the algebra issue, she is doing really well in the rest of her classes. She is one of those natural spellers, so that is going very well. She gets upset if she misses one and most of the time it's just a simple mistake that gets her, like doubling her letters or putting an i instead of an e. She is still working diligently on her maps and her geography and she is doing VERY well this year with her science. We tried note booking with her a couple years ago and it didn't go as well as it is this time. I guess she just needed some time to figure it out. She is doing very well with her class at the school. The one advantage of doing Spanish at the school is I know she has the ability to go through 4 levels of Spanish. It's a little more difficult to do that at home without a knowledge of Spanish.

Patrick is going working hard on all of his school, with the exception on Latin. He doesn't know where to get started in it and frankly I don't either. I think we need another book for him to be able to get it going right. I just really would like him to have that so he has the ability to go to a college if he chooses to. His geometry is going very well. Darrel has been checking on him occasionally since geometry is a weakness of mine. He has made another movie script for the thespians festival this year. After he gets it made, I will try to post it on here. It's quite funny! Patrick has been amazing me with his spelling. That is one thing he lacks in, but he comes by it naturally... so do I. But he has been really trying hard to do the best in his spelling skills and it is obvious the effort he has been placing into it.

We have been struggling with the school system this year more than ever in the past. Apparently the aids are having some problems with our children being there, so it has gotten to the point Kelsey and Patrick were pulled into the office and told they are not allowed to go in the hallways after they get out of their classes. I can see a point if they are disrupting the school or if they are making others late, but it's to the point they are being watched all the time. Kelsey was walking down the hall to remind her teacher she wouldn't be there because of activity day and was followed down the hall by this aid who told her she couldn't disrupt her during her lunch. It made my daughter feel like she was doing something wrong when she wasn't. It just bothers me. If we have any more problems I am hoping my husband will go in and speak with the principal. I could understand if our kids were causing problems, but they are good kids.. and despite what the aids believe, our kids have a right to be in that school as much as any other kid in that school.
Well, that's my rant for the day... if you could pray for this situation so it can be resolved without conflict and the kids and us as adults will ALWAYS be a shining example for Christ even when they are confronted by adversity, I would appreciate it.

I have so many details I wanted to write about, but this school issue really was weighing heavy on me, so it took over. I will try to get more detailed fun next post next time.

Wow.. time flys

Gee... since September 10th since I posted... a lot has gone on!



My youngest has been amazing me with his eagerness to work.. until this week! That is probably more my problem than his though. If I get over there and sit with him while he does his work, he is getting everything done by 11. But I haven't been doing as well the last week. He is staying right on track on everything but spelling, but the last time I gave him a test it was a bit overwhelming to him, so I am just letting him work on spelling out the words and getting them correct for the next time I give him a test. He is doing amazing in his math. He needs to do a bit more reading on his own though. His handwriting is so pretty. He has been doing cursive handwriting and is about to start capitals. He is a very good imitator. He is making progress on his reading with Explode the Code. I can see the leaps and bounds improvements he has made from last year to this year already. He is growing up on me. We finally made it to activity day with Ryan this past week. It was the same day as homecoming so I was a bit concerned if he would rather go to activity day or stay here and get candy from the parade.. that was a tough decision,but in the end I think he was quite happy he picked activity day.



Kelsey is working hard at her science , even though she claims it as her worst subject. She is doing really well with the note booking approach with Science. She puts a lot of time into it and is gaining a lot from it. She is amazing in her spelling skills... I didn't realize how much so until this year to be honest. She really is a natural speller. She struggles with pronunciation of certain words though.. I wonder sometimes if that has something to do with her hearing... but it could just be the wrong coaching on how to decode. She has been working diligently on her geography. I am so happy with how much she wants to do everything with it.. not skip over this part, but really work at it. Her biggest struggle this year has been Algebra. She is dreading it so much she isn't coming to me with problems.... so we need to focus on that the rest of this week. She is a bit behind, but I don't really care if she is behind, I care if she is actually learning the materials. She has been taking Spanish at the schools this year. It has been going really well. She is one of those kind of kids that really wants to impress people with her intelligence.. so she won't stop until she is getting the best grade in class. That's just the way it is. I am thankful that the class she is in only has 4 students. That eases her into the learning of this language without the distraction of 14-20 other students.



Patrick has been so quick at doing all of his school this year... I was a bit concerned maybe he was just rushing through things and then yesterday he came up to me and asked me to read this poem he read in his English Lit book. Just for a bit of history on my son... he doesn't like to read, he has spent his entire life trying to keep from reading... and he came up to ME and had me READ something that he REALLY LIKED! I about cried! He was even talking to me about the poem today! That really put my mind at ease. He is struggling with the whole Latin thing, but I haven't taken the time to sit with him and give him some guidance on what to do with it either. I did tell him today that this Latin book will count for 2 years, so I plan on it taking the 2 years. That made him not feel so overwhelmed with the idea of it again.



Well, that is a general overview of what has been going on around here with their school.





Oh and before we go, Ryan wrote a poem the other day! I was so proud. He came up to me in this eager voice and asked if he could read the poem he just wrote. Of course I said "Yes". He got all serious and almost read it like I picture someone in a dimly lit coffee house with the black barre' would read.



"The leaves are falling

The wind is blowing

The birds are chirping

To be continued..."

It loses some of its effect written out, but it was super adorable!

First Week of School!

Well, we started our school on Monday. Things have been going very smoothly so far. Ryan and I work on his stuff while Kelsey and Patrick are at band and choir at the school. It gives us 2 hours of alone time and he works real hard to get done most of his work without fuss. Plus he likes to say "I was the first one done again today!" lol

We are just in the review portions of the books. Ryan is finishing what he didn't get done with his handwriting last year, which happens to be cursive. He just has beautiful handwriting and at times, I have troubles distinguishing his writing from mine. Well, after doing his handwriting, he began his new adventure of spelling. He is doing a little better than I expected for where he is with his reading. Yesterday he was sitting down, ready to write his first word and he hesitated, looked at me, put his hand on his head and said, "Oh man! Cursive is taking me over!" I thought it was so cute! It made my day, anyway.

Patrick has been working very diligently to not get behind with football practice every evening. He comes home, works on his school after eating something really quick, then is usually done with everything before his practice. But for now, it is basically introductions to subjects that I know are going to get a lot more intense. He is taking Chemistry at the school this year. So far he is enjoying it. He is keeping a steady B I do believe. He is getting ready to take Latin here this year. I am quite excited about it, but a bit nervous because I have never taken it. He is just reading over the introduction now. I still have one more book to get for him that should help out a lot for the course. He is taking Geometry and can't understand at all why he is writing sentences for a book about geometric shapes. lol I think he will understand once he gets into it more. He is also doing a class on Critical Thinking. He isn't complaining about that one, which is a pretty good indication he almost likes it. Joselynn went through that class her senior year and has said time and time again how much she learned from it and that we should make EVERYONE take it. I hope Patch gets as much out of it as she did.

Kelsey is working hard at figuring out the right schedule for her. She is doing choir, band and then interrupting the day and taking Spanish at the school. It is different for her to not be the first one done, but I think she is realizing it isn't about being the first one done, but doing your work to the best of your abilities. She is reviewing her Easy Grammar from last year and then continuing on with the rest of the book. I am having her notebook her science this year. She has a desire to write, so this will only foster more of that and maybe develop into a passion. My main objective for her this year is for her to work on her work slowly enough she really learns what she needs to and develop a passion for learning. Geography is going to stress her out a bit, but it is soooo important she learns about the world and knows where things are in this world. Once her sister leaves to go across the country, I think that will be more important to her, but for now, we will work on getting her aware of life outside our little bubble. She says she is loving Algebra. That's a good sign! lol


Well, that is an overview of our week thus far. I would add pictures, but my eldest took over my camera for her journalism class. We will eventually end up with it back, I just have no clue when! I am going to have Kelsey work on a post for here this weekend so until then, have a blessed day/week!

Mama Brown

And yet another reason I am glad my kids aren't in the public highschool...

So, I got our papers all turned in today. That's a plus. Now..to get them enrolled into the classes at the school....

I don't know if they have a new system or if something is just that messed up this year, but they had a line 50 deep trying to change their schedules around and get new schedules. It is crazy! I was able to talk to the new high school music teacher and work out a plan for Patrick with his new desire to join band in his junior year. He will be a floater for the moment until they can find where he needs to be and he is willing to give him the bass lessons he is wanting! He was organized, friendly and actually KNEW music! I was amazed! He can even play piano! How cool is that?! You may laugh, but for Melcher, that's saying something, and I can say that... I graduated from there and was very involved in the music department.

So, I went in to talk to Mr. Horseman about the schedules by advise of the assistant helping Mr. Snook, the guidance counselor, and was told to come back Friday! He said things were just too busy and if they would have known before, they would have done it. Oh well, from the sounds of it they aren't going to have it figured out for anyone else either, so it's not just the homeschoolers.

I think the kids will be glad to have some down time before their school starts. Get everyone adjusted to the new schedules and figure out what we need to do as a family. Wow... Kelsey's first day at high school... it goes so fast.

Cherish every moment with your kids. You blink and they are all grown up.

New school year excitement!

So, today I had my son drive up to get the mail, expecting Ryan's math book for the year. It was here! Yay! Shortly after Ryan woke up, I told him that his new math book was here. He was sooo excited. He took his new book and BEGGED to do some in it. He has completed 2 pages so far. You can't say no to that kind of excitement.

:D

2008-2009... They grow so fast!

You know, I remember when the 3 oldest were little... I thought, what will it be like when they are all teenagers? You blink, and next think you know, it happens! I was in the living room, overlooking the kids as they were all 3 in the kitchen, interacting, loving each other, joking, enjoying time together...It was a good moment. Soon, Joselynn went back to her house, the other two went about their business and Ryan taps me and says, mom, can I play a game?



This school year is going to be different. Last year Joselynn came home every weekend to hang out. This year, she is married and busy with all her life is bringing.



My oldest son, Patrick will be a Junior in High school! He is going to dual enroll with Melcher-Dallas Schools for Chemistry with Mr. Oliver, his first year of band as a percussionist, and choir. That will take the first three hours of the day, so the afternoon is going to have to be used pretty precisely before football practice.

His classes for home will include :



Geometry with Harold Jacobs



Critical Thinking-- Critical thinking press--Problem solving , reasoning, logic and arguments



Latin--Wheelock's Latin



British Literature--Abeka Book 2 semester



The Basics of Screenwriting-- an online course 1st Semester



Government--Abeka 2nd Semester



Economics--Abeka 1st Semester





Now for Kelsey... She will be joining the Melcher-Dallas Schools for band, choir and she is trying to talk me into Spanish. That one is yet to be decided. At this point, I think I will see how the first couple days go and decide if she is going to do a homeschool spanish instead. Her at home courses will include::



Elementary Algebra by Harold Jacobs



Easy Grammar Plus

The Write Stuff Adventure



Physical Science--Abeka

and Health --Abeka



World Geography --Abeka

and maps studies with Geographic Literacy



Photography for Homeschoolers--an online course

Line Upon Line--An Art course through Christian Liberty Press





Ryan is going to be fun this year. He is kinda caught between the 3rd and 4th grade levels so we will be working on his reading a lot! I keep reminding myself that every child is at different levels and he is making a lot of progress.



Math--Modern Curriculum Press level D



Spelling--Spelling Power



Phonics--Explode the Code



Language 3--Abeka



Reading--Various reading materials at home and library

Science--Christian Liberty Press

History--Christian Liberty Press

I am going to try to work in some fun stuff, especially with Ryan's school. '

My plan for this blog is to get my older kids blogging some of their stuff on here too. Maybe poems, overview of their week, or even an exciting new adventure in their lives. It will be a good tool for them. I think I am going to make that a bi-weekly assignment... maybe a weekly thing. We will see how it turns out.

I am excited about this year for the first time all summer. I guess I got so consumed with everything else, it just didn't hit me our school was starting in 2 weeks! AH! Well, I hope I will get some feedback and people will keep me accountable on posting to this new blog. I need to use my time wisely so this will be good for me. Plus I love posting pictures and hearing from others!

Thanks for reading, and I will get more detailed as things progress.