A Plantation Homeschool

Today dd#1 turns 16.  It is so amazing how the years have flown by!  I still haven't the nerve to let her drive yet.  I was not as scared with my ds starting to drive as I am with my dd.  Have others felt this way with their daughters?   We are "caked" out.  Saturday I gave her a big party with her friends, so there was one big cake with leftovers.  Last night the youth at church gave her another little party with a big cake left over.  We are swimming in cake!  Alas, they are not home made,  so at least I'm not as likely to eat as much! 

I thought I might give a little review on the books I used last year with my dc.  It seems that the biggest hits as usual were simply the novels that they read.  I've tried both a Charlotte Mason approach and a Classical approach, but school is school to my dc.  They prefer to do their "own thing".  I guess this is simply the foolishness of children.   They prefer to eat cake instead of their veggies.  No wonder the Lord has made "parents" as the authority figures in children's lives.   Well here are some thoughts:

Literary Lessons from the Lord of the Rings.  I enjoyed reading the author's "take" on each chapter, but the rest of the book was too work booky for us.  I sold it.

Paradigm's Integrated Physics and Chemistry.   The reading portion of the program was great, but then again these were too work booky for us too.   I still may use it with my younger dd, but we'll definitely skip the workbook portion.

Math Relief Videos:   My dd didn't get very far with these.  I felt that the videos dragged too much.  They are very thorough, but the approach just didn't work with my dd.  I'm using a different Algebra 1 program this coming school year.

Italian Now!  I think that my dd is doing well with this book.  We will continue with it and supplement with various cheap Italian software.  I'm hoping to get Rocket Italian as a download.   I heard the samples and the speakers speak slow enough for me to "get it".  This will be a big plus for dd.  I can't afford Rosetta Stone.  However I might check out e-bay. 

Susan Wise Bauer's Ancient History of the World.   My dd didn't enjoy this book, but I like it.  So I'll at least keep it for me to read. 

Well, I may continue this another day.  I'm having computer difficulties. 

Blessings,

Jan

I have been terribly busy with homeschooling and injuries that I haven't been diligent to post on my blog.  We are still homeschooling, but in about a week we will be finished for the 2007-2008 school year.YEA!!

It has been very hot and humid here in South Carolina.  Many days the temperature has been well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.   I can attest to the hot weather because last Saturday I was helping out at the local stable.  I was soaking wet from sweat.  Not only was I close to heat exhaustion, but a horse kicked me in the right arm.  Fortunately it isn't broken, but it does make typing a bit difficult.   

I hope everyone is having a lovely summer.  I dream of trips to the beach or picnics in the mountains.  For now I will have to be happy with dreams!  This gas crunch is keeping me close to home.  However, the beach is only two hours away, so maybe I can justify a quick visit and a dip. 

Have a great day!

Jan P.

Here is a wildflower that my dd captured in her photo shoot.  Isn't it lovely!

My camilia bush is in full bloom.  The flowers are gorgeous!!

My oldest dd and I are recovering from the flu today.  I think the worst has passed (at least for dd), and so we are watching some of our old movies.  So far we've been enraptured by "Everlasting",  "The Importance of Being Earnest", and "What a Girl Wants".  You can tell that we are Colin Firth fans, and yes, I own the BBC "Pride and Prejudice" movie.   While we were recuperating, my youngest dd took her new digital camera with her on a walk in the countryside.  Here are a few photos I think you will enjoy.

This is our dog, Beau.  He loves walking along the old dirt road adjacent to our property.

Well,  I'm having difficulty with uploading pictures for now.  I"m getting messages that there is not enough space in my photo album.   I have some great shots of flowers, but that will have to come another time. 

Peace in Him,

Jan

 Here are some photos taken last Wednesday during the Lunar Eclipse.

 This was the first phase of the eclipse.   It was terribly cold standing there watching this happen, but what a show!

Here is the full lunar eclipse.    I think I'll count this as a science lesson.