Busy Fun

A lot has happened since I last wrote! First of all, the WALSHES came!!!!

So happy about this!!! We were feeling a bit lonely. We've made friends here, but there's nothing like old friends who speak English really well and totally understand where you're coming from.

I'll be honest though, getting ready for guests, having guests, and Christmas(!!!) can definitely put some brakes in school schedules.

We were really busy getting our guest house all shiny and done. There was tiling, painting, varnishing, making doors and cupboards, cleaning, and creating paintings.  It took a definite chunk out of school.

And I forgot to get any good photos of the result.

But one cool thing happened in school's favour as a result of their coming: I was able to get the programs "Toe by Toe" and "Stareway to Spelling" sent to Vanuatu in one of their suitcases.

I've heard rave reviews about Toe by Toe for about a year, and although Barton works, it takes thousands of dollars, lots of levels, and a few years to work. I'm curious about Toe by Toe which is about $35, one small book, and takes less time. I'm going to try William on it when he's done with Foundation in Sounds.

Mostly I'm doing this so I can help other Dyslexics. I know Barton works, I want to know if other things work.

Also, I've already started "Stareway to Spelling" with Maxwell. It's Toe by Toe's spelling system. I''m quite excited about it. Even after all the Barton and picture cards and reading and etc etc etc Maxwell's spelling is in sore need of help. I'm optimistic.

Also in preparation for the Walsh's coming was SCUBA DIVING LESSONS. (The Walshes scuba dive, and we want to go with them.) Well, lessons for just Dustin and I. But it has to count for school a little since I watched ALL of my instructional videos in front of the whole family while painting the paintings for the guest house.

I'll be honest. Scuba diving intimidates me. I'm out of my comfort zone big time. And now all my kids ask me if I've been holding my breath while having my lessons, and remind me that my lungs will explode if I do. Thanks kids.

(Very flattering photo, I know.)

The Walshes came just in time for Christmas. Christmas in the tropics. We spent Christmas Eve swimming in waterfalls, and the boys went swimming in our pool before opening presents!

Our usual "Friday fun day" chart was practically out of commission for three weeks, which tells you a lot about our school.

I also made a new chart, which I put on this blog, but I'm not going to put that post in my yearbook, so here's a photo of it here:

This is part of our devotionals now. Well--- we make sure we watch videos that go along with it for devotionals, and we LOOK at it and talk about it on Sunday and FHE. We're still reading the Book of Mormon for family scripture study, and don't plan to change.

My individual study is lacking, I won't lie. Has been for a long time. I think this is an awesome opportunity for me to focus on my individual study, and give me direction. I just need to get it into gear.

Okay now for school subjects:

Not sure where this goes, but Maxwell's college 3D printing class has inspired the whole family. They're all making things. Maxwell is the only one on Fusion 360, but the others are doing things on the other programs Maxwell's used in this class.

This is Maxwell's lesser projects. Couldn't fine the cool ones.

And here are some 2D things from the rest of the family even though they're doing 3D now too. The first one is by Abraham age 4:

Maxwell's getting excited because he's learning how to scan things to print. Too cool.


SCIENCE

Remember my last post where I was complaining that I didn't have enough kids at science club? Behold this week's science club's class:

Boom yeah! Friends a plenty.

The week before the Walshes came it was just our family though. Which was sad because it was a fun week. We learned about friction. We had one of my favourite activities as part of this: skating on shaving cream!

I decided to take a break from the laws of physics for when the Walshes are here (They're here for 2 1/2 months) so I can do my light unit, which is pretty fun. I brought special things from Canada with me for this unit. I also lucked out on getting an optical illusion kit HERE in Vanuatu (who'd have thunk?) that had a zoetrope, which is exactly what I needed for the lesson!!! Never seen a zoetrope for sale before. Serendipity.

We talked about light speed, light behaviour, and cameras. As part of this, I got out my light sensitive paper. It didn't work. Quite bummed. It worked later in BRIGHT sunlight and if it was left for a long time.

This is us trying:

Also, (I guess this goes in science) my kids are always asking the best questions! Daniel just asked a couple days ago "Why do white peoples skin burn and black peoples skin doesn't? Doesn't light bounce off white and black absorb light?" Isn't that an excellent question? Some thing for a science fair. I mumbled something about melanin, but I really have no idea.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Hmmm.....well, we've continues to watch Liberty Kids.

Before the Walshes came we learned about Common Sense and the Declaration of independence and the Boston Massacre. As an activity one time, we made secret messages out of lemon juice and sealed them with real sealer's wax!

We've also had a tea party as I read out of our Canadian text book about the revolutionary war. Hahaha the irony.

No picture so....

Yeah, our's wasn't quite so glamourous. We did learn about how the Revolutionary war refugees were the founders of Toronto! Didn't know that before.

And of course, we're learning tons about Vanuatu social studies. We went to a fire show for New Years Eve!

I didn't take that photo, but I was there when it was taken.

We've also been to the Turtle and shark zoo, to the water falls, to the bigfella nubunga, to Eton by the river, and so many other places (hoping the Walshes don't regret their choice to come LOL) that I was quite wore out and had to BEG Dustin to slow down so we could just have some normal school.

Of course, it was my birthday the other day, so we did celebrate that, and although the kids didn't go, (so it wasn't school,) I just HAVE to share this epic photo:

Anyway...on to

LANGUAGE ARTS

We've read The Christmas Carrol by Dickens as a family this Christmas season. It's so fun how true to the book the Muppets are. That's my favourite rendition.

William:

Okay, so I know he's not in Westwind school yet, but whatever, this is my blog and I'm teaching him anyways.

Anyway, so William has been doing Foundation in Sounds because he couldn't pass the entry test for Barton (which means he's my most dyslexic child yet-yeah) and it's not been easy. I always knew he couldn't hear the difference between "eh" and "ih" but I didn't realize that he couldn't hear the difference between "uh" and "awh" either.

It's been really hard, and he tries and tries and then says "It's too hard!" Finally, I said "uh-as in uhhhh what is that? uhhhhh who are you? uhhhh what?" While making a funny face, and then compared it to "Say awwwww for the dentist and open up!"

That did the trick and he can do it now.

Also, although this might be more about math, but it's William/dyslexia related so I'm just going to say it now-William is doing great with numbers (as most dyslexics who are taught right do.) He can even do long addition:

BUT now is the time that Rightstart math changes to real English words. Im' sure I've mentioned this before, but Rightstart has the kids say "two ten six" for 26 or "three ten eight" for 38 etc. This make sense when you think of "two hundred six" is 206, or "three thousand eight" is 3,008.

But now is the hard part: learning the REAL words. Now rightstart is transitioning to the "real" way to say numbers.

This was my experience with his older three brothers. One transitioned just like the book said. One begged to do the "real" words earlier, so we did. But one struggled and struggled.

I knew my six year old, who is my most dyslexic, would struggle too, but I now have the ammunition to help him (thanks to my experience with his older brother.)

Get it? Anyway

Maxwell:

a Laura Secord essay: (Hehehe....I had him do a Paul Revere essay "the British are coming" and now a Laura Secord essay "The Americans are coming" hehehe)

Hyrum

So one day as I was about to ask Hyrum to do his daily "Stand Alone Book" reading, he was already reading this book:

If any of the "Mister" books describe dyslexics, it's this one. I thought it quite fitting for him to read this book instead of Barton. I find it hard to read (as a dyslexic myself) because of the nonsense way of saying things, and William tries to come up with Topsy turvy ways of saying things and the end, and is so funny.

The Warrior Elements (Continued....)

He instantly spotted Flame and Vipe. He turned and started skating away. Flame and Vipe started chasing him. Then Flame remembered about the scattered crystals. He looked up and they were hovering just above his head. He collected all he could but left two because they were too far away, and he didn't have time.

He found his broken board which was now broken into four pieces. He had an idea. He got two crystals out of the bag and tied them to the end of two of the broken pieces. He tied the rest of the vine around him so the board pieces were on his back. 

He ran and jumped, hoping that it would make him fly. It went so fast. Faster than the board. He was flying. Actually flying. He started doing loop-d-loops and twirling around. Pink sparkles of magic were coming off the crystals because he was going so fast.

One loop-d-loop brought him high up in the air, but he ran out of thrust and was quickly dropping to the earth. But just before he hit the ground, he arched his back which made him shoot forward.

He saw Vipe and the water element. He zoomed and caught Vipe.

Flame said "Hold on!" He instantly placed Vipe right in front of the water element. Flame landed next to then and swung his jet pack around to his front to use as a shield just in case the water element tried to eat him.

The water element was catching his breath from all the running, and then he grinned.

The water element suddenly created a sphere of water between his hands which he threw at Vipe which made Vipe freeze instantly. He then threw a ball at Flame, but Flame did a back flip to avoid the attack. Flame made a firewall which encircled the water element who could not get away.

Flame ran to Vipe to unfreeze him so Vipe wouldn't suffocate. When Flame got close to Vipe, he could tell Vipe was not actually frozen. He was just acting it out.

Flame said "Come on! Let's go!"

"I can't. I'm stuck!" said Vipe.

Daniel's

He's reading his Barton Stand Alone books better and better. He just finish one about Martin Luther King Jr. This inspired a quick unit on cotton (King Jr.'s grandparents were on a cotton plantation.) and I was bummed that I didn't have my real cotton with real seeds. I decided that I if I brought it with me to Vanuatu, airpot inspections wouldn't like it.

The Adventures of Digital 3s....Continued

The queen asked us who our leader was. Jack said "We haven't picked a leader yet."

The queen said "well, why don't yo vote? All in favour of Jack?"

Jack said "How do you know my name?"

I can read every water element's mind of course. Including Drooplet's."

I said "Well then, Let's vote on who should be captain." A few minutes later, we had all chosen. Jack had voted for Twister, I had voted for Jack, and Twister voted for Jack also. Drooplet had voted for me. Jack was the leader.

The Queen asked Jack to go to her. She touched him and said "There is a 20% chance your team is the chosen ones."

I was confused. The light had said we had a quest to protect this land. I guess that doesn't guarantee that we are the water people's chosen ones.

Then suddenly the ground shook. The Water Queen's eyes grew wide with fear. "It's here." she said. There was a loud booming sound.

A guard said "A thunder dragon has come. A thunder dragon is the deadliest thing for the water people." I said.

"Why?" Twister asked.

"When a thunder dragon attacks, it can hurt a lot of water people because his electric lightning will make them all electrocuted and evaporate."

Out of all of the groups of three that were in the large room, there were a few that had the highest percent chance of being the chosen ones. These people were sent to face the dragon first. We were not sent with them. 

Suddenly the water, gold, plant, and fire people that were in the room with us fell to the floor. "The thunder dragon has hit this room." I said. 

"Why didn't it harm us?" Jack asked me.

MATH

Maxwell's

Hyrum's

And Daniel's