No pressure

02/23/2013

It was a long week.
This time A. was sick,
but we were able to treat her
naturally
here at home.

We had a lot of time at home,
and surprisingly
even with illness...
got a lot done.

I saw a lot of creativity,
following interests,
and
pursuing new things.
I saw a passion for learning.

With no pressure to stay on schedule
or complete a set number of lessons or pages from a book,
we were free
to rest when we needed to
and enjoy learning
in our own way...
at our own pace.

That is why we love this relaxed homeschool life.

I followed my interests too
and did a little rearranging on the blog
I added a Natural Health page
which I hope to update regularly:)

And now, since everyone is well today,
we have a baby shower to attend
and volunteer work to do
at the emergency children's home.

Before I go,
here are the highlights of our week of interest led learning:

Little House on the Prairie reruns
Archery practice
Baking and cooking dinner (the girls are handling supper at least one night a week now:)
Bald Eagles- we saw another one fly over the house this week...so beautiful and majestic!
How It's Made episodes
Hugo, the movie (the girls read the book earlier in the year). I liked it!
Lego building
Brainbox games- so fun, and we found them online too
Discussion on how a bill becomes a law
BrainPOP- watching videos, taking quizzes, and playing games, especially Law Craft and Executive Command:)
Words with Friends
Adam of the Road (read aloud)
Life in the Middle Ages
Armor of God
Settlers of Catan board game
Wii Fit
Public speaking and making a video- The girls went with me to video one of my speech students who is competing in a speech contest. They learned a lot about what goes in to making a professional video and got to get a little hands-on with the equipment!
College gymnastics- we love it:)
Business math for both, also A. is interested in pre-algebra, so she read and worked a few problems there
And I can't forget comparison shopping and calculating tax
Piano
Elements of poetry
Science Experiments- Science Wiz Light kit, by Penny Norman
Sign language
Art- drawing, painting, lettering...we got lots of inspiration from Deep Space Sparkle and A.'s new favorite site smART class!

Blessings to you this week!
Linking up here so I can see what every one else has been up to;)

Comments

Lisa link

02/23/2013 10:47

I just LOVE reading about your weeks. They are everything I want to do here! :-) I am going to click on your natural health page. I am trying to move in that direction here, too. In fact, I just gave my son some honey for his cough! lol. :-) I hope your daughter is feeling 100% soon. Have a great weekend. Many blessings, Lisa P.S. Did I tell you that my kids loved your book so much they asked to read it again from the beginning? :-) :-)

Jenn link

02/23/2013 18:47

Thanks, Lisa! You made my day:) Tell your kiddos I am finally back at work on book two after a very long break!

Hope your son's cough is better soon! A. is feeling much better now:) And I'll keep adding to the Natural Health page each week.

Theresa link

02/23/2013 12:17

Glad to hear that A is better :)

Sounds like a great week! What is Elements of Poetry and Life in the Middle Ages? Are they books?

Jenn link

02/23/2013 18:55

Thanks, Theresa:)

The elements of poetry are just some handouts I have from teaching middle school writing...not sure where they originally came from, but I'd be happy to share if you like:)

We checked out a stack of nonfiction books from the library on the Middle Ages, but we took them back and I can't remember the name of even one of them. The Door in the Wall, by Marguerite de Angeli and Adam of the Road, by Elizabeth Janet Gray are the two fiction books we read that started the interest in that time period. They are booth good books:)

Savannah link

02/23/2013 12:30

This is just wonderful. It has been a while since I've been to your site, but as usual, I am always glad I visited. I hope you'll consider adding this to my end of the week link up, Its A Wrap. -Savannah

Mary link

02/23/2013 12:57

I love all the art work!

Sandra

02/23/2013 12:59

It's amazing how much learning can happen even if the kids are sick isn't it. Last year at this time Miss 12 was pretty sick for almost 5 weeks but still managed a fair amount of learning. We loved Hugo as well. Have you and your girls read Brian Selznick's Wondsrstuck? I think we enjoyed it even more than the Invention of Hugo Cabret. I remember it sent us down all sorts of rabbit trails, learning wise.

Jenn link

02/24/2013 07:41

Oh, we loved Wonderstruck! I think we've checked it out from the library two or three times!

kirsten@tonyandkirsten.org link

02/23/2013 13:33

Sounds like a ton of great learning...we love Settlers of Catan around here too. My husband and I are so excited we finally have two kids old enough to "get" it (though the almost six year old can't keep a secret at all of what cards he has). ;-)

Mary link

02/23/2013 16:26

I really like the format of your post today -- it was almost like poetry in the beginning and made me want to keep on reading!

I just love reading how well interest led learning works for your family. It's inspiring to me!

Jenn link

02/24/2013 07:43

Thank you, Mary:) Your photo collage Friday is my favorite thing every week and my motivation to catch the high points of our week! Without it, I'm afraid I would forget half the time.

Dawn link

02/24/2013 06:59

What a great week despite illness. I hope everyone stays well for awhile.
Blessings, Dawn

Karen link

02/24/2013 09:49

So sorry that A was feeling bad. Hope she is all better now. I love the way you wrote this post too. And I agree with what you said to Mary, without her Collage Friday I don't know when I would get around to posting. She is motivating! :) How cool that you saw a bald eagle!! And HUGO, we loved the book and then the movie too. Several people have told Keilee she reminds them of Chloe Moretz but we don't see it. :) I am about to check out A's smART site. Happy Sunday!

Susan link

02/24/2013 13:27

I am glad that A. has recovered. How was the baby shower? We're having one for my sister in another couple of weeks :)
We loved the Invention of Hugo Cabret and the movie Hugo.
I am going to check out your Natural Health page next!

Jenn link

02/24/2013 15:21

The shower was fun:) I love baby girl showers because everything is just so adorable. Is your sister having a boy or girl?

I added a couple of things to the Natural Health page just now, I am hoping to add a little every day...it seems like I have notes all over the place about natural remedies, etc. I'd like to have it all in one location, so it's easier to find when I need it;)

Susan link

02/24/2013 16:43

She's having a girl :)

I'll check out the things you added. It's a great idea to organize it like this. I think I might end up doing something similar...even if it's just for myself and not a public page. It seems like I have ideas scattered all over the place!

Susan link

02/24/2013 16:50

I just checked out your additions...I had a comment or two, and a question. I've used that exact recipe for cough syrup (the one with the vinegar, honey, and spices in it). Jenna did use it, too. She found it spicy, but didn't mind it too much. I need to try the essential oil rub!
Would the tick spray be ok on people...on clothing, maybe? We have a huge tick problem in our area, and they carry Lyme disease. I am looking for a good natural remedy.

Jenn link

02/24/2013 21:39

We use a different recipe on us when we are out in the summer and need an insect repellent, but that's only because I don't like the smell of the one we use for the pets that much.

I just posted the other recipe and also a link to Wellness Mama's site. She makes insect repellent from a similar recipe and also one from dried herbs too...thought you might be interested in that:)