Weekly Wrap Up—Testing Curriculum Samples, End of Year Evaluations, Extreme Nature Walk

We had a big week, considering I didn’t ever get to lesson plans over this past weekend. I landed in the garden and only stopped long enough to eat and sleep. So, Sunday around 8 pm, I decided it would be a week of curriculum samples to try it, complete our year end evaluations and unit studies. I mean really does it matter?

My children learned much character by having to be patient with me, as I threw different curriculum samples at them. We went over math samples, language arts samples, and unit study samples.

I am sure you are thinking, isn’t this the gal who said not to change if it is working? Yep, that is me, but well, there are a few glitches that have become apparent, so before I head off to our area homeschool convention next weekend, I am gathering all my ammo to pick out what we will be using for math and language arts. Part of it is that my children are surpassing my expectations. They are ahead in some areas that I did not expect them to be, so I have to plan ahead. I am busying filling out my curriculum price comparison form.

I am finished with our yearly evaluations. Monday, I didn’t really have anything planned as far as school, so I took the day and completed them. I am in the process of setting our goals for next year. Then I will break them down into quarterly goals.

This week we got quite a bit of rain, so I haven’t had to spend too much time watering the garden. However, the weeds have been abundant, and I have been working hard to keep them at bay. We have seen a few blossoms on our tomatoes, and got our farm rigged tomato cages up. I also transplanted several marigolds to their designated areas. We planted three more rows of green beans, so the time for freezing is soon upon us. Overall our garden is doing great.

On Wednesday, naptime was a bomb, and everyone was full of energy, however, our yard was muddier then a pig pen and with the cattle surrounding us, smelled just as bad. So, what is a mom to do with six wild children on a warm sunny afternoon? You take them to the nearby Wildlife Refuge and go on a nature walk.

We saw a lot of wildlife that will be shared on Tuesday in our Nature Study Tuesday post.

On our way home, we drove by Peace Creek and saw this

A raccoon swimming by a boat that is docked near a home. The other side of the bridge is our pasture land.

On Thursday, we had a day of curriculum samples again. We worked through some page of Character Quality Language Arts, and I am still trying to muddle through my thoughts here. Are the challenges that we are having due to the fact that I only have a few sample pages? My children? No teacher’s manual? Well, for now we are going to continue doing the sample pages and see if things smooth out. I also visited with a homeschool mom that has tons of information on struggling students. She has spoken at our area homeschool convention numerous times. She gave me some ideas to work on with our dysgraphic son, as I am getting to the end of my knowledge. I can’t wait to hear more what she has to say next weekend. After I finished my conversation with her, I finished checking email. I was weeding through it when I found an email from TOS Review crew. I yelped when I read the first line:

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Yep, written just about like that. I will be on the 2010-2011 TOS Homeschool Review Crew. I am super excited to offer homeschool curriculum companies my opinions on their products and most excited to be able to help other parents to be able to make informed choices for products for their families.

Friday, we had a slow start to the day. We had lots of laundry to fold, because for the first time in weeks, there is no Mount Washmore in our basement. We are caught up on the washing, and just about caught up on the folding. Now to keep it that way. I am praying I can get a clothes line soon, as that will help out a ton. We have a high capacity washing machine, and a regular sized dryer. So, my dryer runs two times for each washer load of clothes. Not savvy washing.

Hubby has been busy working on equipment and getting in the field some. Our hay by our house is down and should, weather permitting be baled by Tuesday. Today is he is swathing another field, and then tomorrow one more. That will complete first cutting. Now, will we start second cutting or wheat harvest first? Anyone willing to guess?

That’s a wrap!!