This Homeschool Mother's Journal: 19 Feb. 2011

19 February 2011
The Homeschool Mother's Journal


In my life this week...

Well, this week was pretty hectic, but nothing really out of the ordinary. Monday was Valentine's Day (and since the hubby is deployed) I couldn't have that romantic dinner out, but had a wonderful substitute and had a nice lunch date with my boys.

For the rest of the week, with school in-between, I helped some church lady friends with running some errands around town, had my first dental appointment (in the German community)--which wasn't bad at all, FRG meeting, kids had guitar lessons, and dinner at a friend's home on Friday...


In our homeschool this week...

Our school is going fine so far...nothing extraordinarily different.

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

I am going to have to take them on a nature walk soon, probably we will go to a nearby park or lake, the weather is getting to be much nicer now...though it's still freezing some days.

Also planning a trip to the Friedensreich Hundertwasser museum...here in town. We have been planning to go ever since my oldest got runner-up in the entire art contest and for a prize he received a book about the artist/architect. This of course sparked his interest in the painter's life and work. The guy had quite the fascinating life. I actually like his paintings.


My favorite thing this week was...

My Valentine lunch date with my boys...it was special & nice.


What's working/not working for us...

Well, my Total Language Plus books finally arrived!! I am excited to start, but wondering if I should just wait to start them for next school year?? I mean I still love the Rod & Staff...and they (my boys) will still do their work...it's just a pain to get them to do it. So, I am not sure. So far looking through the material, it seems like a great language arts program. It's very detailed and I would say it is comprehensive.

I just wished they had more titles to choose from...so maybe by next year they'll have some more. The reason I say this is that we've already read most of the books in their catalog, but I suppose since we didn't go into detail like TLP does...it wouldn't hurt to go over the same titles through their program.


Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...

Going off the question that Sue had on her journal entry about standardized testing: "Do any of you do standardized testing with your kids?"

Well, since we are overseas, and looking forward to PCSing (moving back to the States) within the next school year~there were several reasons why we will let them take the Terra Nova with the local schools this year...

1. Not only do we NOT know where we are headed to (which state) --I don't have a clue of the homeschool requirements are in that variable state. So, I figured that if they took a standardized test this year...I will have something to go off of (IF I need it).

2. Hey, I am a new homeschool mom, this is our second year, and I know deep down that our homeschool is for the Lord and our focus is on Him, but that Type A personality still comes out...sometimes the enemy wants to say--"You don't think you're doing a good job, do you??" and the doubt and fear come through, but I pray as always and I get through that moment of doubt. It's also nice to know that they are doing a good job with their school work by showing their scores... although I wouldn't solely base our homeschool on the outcome of this test. I know better than that.

3. Well, I really don't have any other reasons, but to say it's just another piece of paper to go into their notebooks...


A photo, video, link, or quote to share...


Since the boys are taking the Terra Nova in March this year...the school notified me that the Friday before the week of testing, they will have a practive test day. They can attend and it's just for practice...but I didn't know there were test prep books for these particular stantardize tests and grades... we all know of the ACT and SAT study guides, but I didn't know of the others because I never looked into it before...

My homeschool friend showed me some helpful test prep books and a link just this last week:

www.studytosucced.com and Scoring High on the TerraNova CTBS(Grade 1-8) Published by: McGraw Hills, U.S

So I order for the 4th and 7th grade and hopefully I'll get them before their test taking...but I am not holding my breath, if you know what I mean.


Thanks for stopping by!! :)

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2 comments:

Sam said...

We don't have to test, so we don't. I think everyone had a hectic week!

Unknown said...

We don't have to test here either, but looking ahead because we will be moving within the year and not sure to which state either. So, they are going to take the Terra Nova this year... Yes, hectic week(s) indeed. ;)

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Thank you for sharing your thoughts!! Come back soon! Sincerely, Jessica

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