Accuplacer! (15/180)

R went to parkour.

We went to Pennypacker Mills Historic Site with a group of homeschooling friends.  Here are the kids reporting on their attempt to describe archival items (one of two activity centers, followed by a tour of the house):

We went to the pool and for a few walks.  

W took his Accuplacer tests for dual enrollment at Montgomery County Community College.  We are proud of his scores, and possibly prouder that he persisted calmly and effectively for three hours.  We had practiced for the reading and math sections but didn't know there was an essay portion, plus his workstation wasn't working correctly so he had to cut and paste to make corrections to his writing, so it took him an hour to write the essay!  He is now enrolled for English 101 and on a waitlist for Computer Science 1: Programming/Concepts.  If he can't get in to that he may take Music Appreciation or a movie appreciation course, both of which would count for his planned major and would also count as an art or music course for 10th grade.  He is disgruntled to learn that he still has to do math this year (since he still has to do two more years of math for PA homeschool law ....)

D and J went to their religious education classes.

I read to the girls:  

A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon by Suzanne Slade
Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Pena
Always in Trouble by Corinne Demas

R and W read independently.

D and J began working with LOF, Explode the Code, and Handwriting Without Tears.

This week included 5 days of instruction.

Day's birthday week (10/180)

D turned 10!  For her actual birthday, she baked and decorated herself a cake:

She also had a pool party with a bunch of friends and a sleepover with her bestie.

R went to parkour.

We went to Commonwealth Classic Theater Company's production of Measure for Measure, and Shakespeare in Clark Park's production of King Lear.

J is now confidently swimming in the deep end and going down the slide without a floatation device!

D and J attended their religious education classes.

I read to the girls:

Buddy: The Story of Buddy Holly by Anne Bustard

What Elephant? by Geneviève Côté

R finished reading

I Survived the Children’s Blizzard, 1888 by Lauren Tarshis
independently.

This week included 3 days of instruction.

Year's End & Year's Beginning (7/180)

R continued going to Parkour.

All the kids continued attending their religious education classes.

We fit another trip to an art location in to the end of our year: Philly's Magic Gardens:

And celebrated after evaluations with Rita's:

We enjoyed our annual camping trip to Hickory Run State Park with MAHC and other homeschooling friends!

Then we traveled to Syria, VA outside the Shenandoah National Park where we enjoyed 5 days of time with cousins and aunts and uncles including dam building, pool time, Dungeons and Dragons, horseback riding, fireworks, and a hike up White Oak Canyon:

D and J went to the Franklin Institute with cousins from the other side of the family:

And then we all went to Harvey Cedars, NJ for more time with cousins, aunts, and uncles, wading in tidal pools, climbing Barnegat Lighthouse, and lots of swimming.

The first three weeks of July included 7 days of instruction. 

Grounds for Sculpture (180 days + 11 weeks)

R went to Parkour.

We went to the Grounds for Sculpture.  It was a really enjoyable outing, with lots of art and outdoors. 

D and J attended their religious education class.

W read independently.  R read independently.  D mastered The King by Bobby Lynn Maslen.  This is the last book in the Bob Books series!  She is very, very excited to graduate to supported reading of picture books and we immediately started The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner.  J mastered Summer by Bobby Lynn Maslen.

W began an Outschool class on essay writing, R practiced writing, D worked with Handwriting Without Tears, and J worked with Explode the Code.

W and R worked with Life of Fred.

W cooked a meal for the family.  W and R exercised.  R, D and J went to the pool.

Recital! (180 days + 10 weeks)

R went to Parkour.

All the kids attended their final classes at MAHC for the year.  Here is D performing a song from Singing in the Rain with her Broadway Bootcamp class:

All the kids attended "Dream On", a musical performance created by many of their friends through Staging Journeys.

J attended multiple dance rehearsals leading up to her end of year recital.  She danced with her ballet class and with her hip hop class.  We didn't get a lot of good pictures, but here she is with her hip hop class , third from the left.  W, R and D attended the performance which also included solos by the graduating seniors in her dance school, most of which were amazing.

D attended her book club.

W and R attended a Free at Noon concert by Jr Jr.

D and J attended their religious education classes.

W babysat.

W read independently.

R read independently and with support, and practiced spelling.

D and J practiced reading.  D worked with Handwriting Without Tears and J worked with Explode the Code.

W and R worked with LOF, and cooked meals for the family and exercised.

W worked on Art History.

We went swimming.

I read to the girls:

Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller,

What Will Hatch? by Jennifer Ward, A Blue Butterfly by Bijou Le Tord

The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons by Natascha Biebow


Dorothea Lange by Mike Venezia

Frida Kahlo by Mike Venezia

Mozart Tonight by Julie Downing

Penguin Problems by Jory John

Greenwitch (180 days + 9 weeks)

R went to parkour.

All the kids attended their MAHC classes.

R attended an Outschool class on Endangered! When Species Invade.

J went to Hip Hop and Ballet and a rehearsal for her end of year recital.

D and J attended the Flower Communion service.

W babysat.

W read independently: Greenwitch by Susan Cooper.  He said it was much better than the second book in the series.  R read with support and independently: I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944 by Lauren Tarshis.  D and J practiced reading.  R practiced spelling.  D worked with Handwriting Without Tears and J worked with Explode the Code.

W and R worked with LOF.  D and J played addition card games.

W and R each cooked a meal for the family.

Level II! (180 days + 8 weeks)

R went to parkour.

All the kids attended their MAHC classes.

Day performed in a class exhibition at the end of her Aerials & Acrobatics I class.  She is ready to move up to level II!

Day attended a book club at a friend's house.

J went to Hip Hop and Ballet.

W played D and D.

D and J attended their religious education class.

W and R worked with Life of Fred.  D and J played addition card games.

W read independently.

R read independently and with support.

D and J practiced reading.

W and R each cooked a meal for the family.

W and R exercised.

We went to the pool!

I read to the girls:

Dumpling Soup by Jama Kim Rattigan

You and Me by Martine Kindermans

If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson


The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig.

And to everyone:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling.